Nigeria has called on multilateral institutions, development partners, philanthropies, researchers and the private sector to align efforts toward tackling Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) globally. Dr Iziaq Salako, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, made the call at the inauguration of OneSCD on the sidelines of the ongoing 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. OneSCD is a global partnership to advance equity and transform SCD care. Salako urged stakeholders to invest in country-owned systems and help move proven SCD interventions from pilot programmes to national scale. He said the call was important because the global response…
Author: Newsdesk
The Country Manager of Zoho Nigeria, Mr Kehinde Ogundare, has urged Nigerian businesses to prioritise data security, privacy, access control and business continuity in their technology decisions. Ogundare made the call during a fireside chat on data sovereignty and enterprise technology at the GrowthX by TechEconomy conference on Thursday in Lagos. He said the call had become necessary as Nigeria moves towards stronger data localisation and sovereignty requirements. According to him, data sovereignty should not be viewed by businesses merely as a regulatory requirement or a question of where data is physically hosted. “It should also encompass who controls the…
Dr Segun Obayendo, Technical Adviser to the Vice President on Transportation, Logistics and Innovation, has said Nigeria must unlock its economic potential by fixing structural gaps in the sector. Obayendo made the call while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Transport Industry Summit, organised by the Transport Correspondents Association of Nigeria (TCAN) on Thursday in Lagos. He identified delays, fragmented transport modes, multiple checkpoints, insecurity, poor coordination and informality as key weaknesses that significantly increase the cost of doing business. According to him, Nigeria should learn from Singapore, Germany and China, where integrated transportation systems, technology and infrastructure support…
The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 733 pharmacies, patent medicine stores and illegal outlets in Delta State. The PCN Head of Department, Enforcement, Mr Suleiman Chiroma, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Asaba on Thursday. Chiroma said the sealing was part of the council’s mandate to implement a structured and phased enforcement exercise aimed at sanitising the drug distribution system in Nigeria. “The Registrar, Ibrahim Ahmed, has directed the sustenance of continuous and sustainable enforcement exercises across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. In line with this directive, several states have already been…
Residents of Bugau community in Damau Ward, Kubau Local Government Area of Kaduna State, have appealed to the state government for urgent intervention over severe infrastructure shortages and lack of agricultural support. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Ibrahim Adamu of Bugau, a community leader, said the town’s lack of modern social amenities and government backing continues to hinder its socio-economic progress. He disclosed that the ancient settlement, home to more than 6,000 residents, struggles to meet growing demand for adult and female literacy programmes initiated by local community groups and international non-governmental organisations. “Our women are eager to learn, but…
The Federal Government/International Fund for Agricultural Development Value Chain Development Programme (FGN/IFAD-VCDP) has lauded Anambra farmers for increasingly turning cassava, rice and other farm produce into value-added products. The Anambra Programme Coordinator of VCDP, Dr Deborah Onyefulu, made the commendation at the opening of a two-day Interactive Commodity Promotion Show and Agricultural Fair in Awka on Wednesday. Onyefulu said the development was creating more opportunities for income generation and job creation among farmers. Represented by the Acting State Business and Market Development Officer, Mrs Mary Obiekwe, Onyefulu said the fair was designed to give farmers visibility, create market opportunities and…
Malaysia’s food security has strengthened, but heavy reliance on imported food and agricultural inputs leaves the country vulnerable to external shocks, MBSB Research has said. The research house said in a report on Thursday that geopolitical conflicts could push up the costs of energy, fertiliser, animal feed, freight and packaging, with possible knock-on effects on agricultural yields, food supplies and prices in 2027. It said climate change, El Niño, export restrictions and currency fluctuations could further increase the pressure on food availability and affordability. MBSB said the combination of adverse weather and high input costs could be particularly challenging for…
The Enugu State Government says skilled birth attendance for expectant mothers in health facilities increased from 40.9 per cent in October 2025 to 59.3 per cent in March 2026 statewide. The Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, said this on Wednesday in Enugu, noting that the increase reflected the government’s investment in healthcare and efforts to reduce maternal mortality. He said the nearly 20 per cent increase reaffirmed the administration’s increased investment in healthcare and focus on reducing maternal and child mortality under Gov. Peter Mbah. According to him, early service data also showed progress, with first antenatal care attendance…
Prof. Olalekan Akinbo, a plant breeder and environmental biosafety expert, says science can accelerate Nigeria’s socioeconomic progress by raising productivity, creating jobs and improving public services. Akinbo said this in an interview with reporters on Thursday in Abuja. He said science could help Nigeria build a skilled workforce capable of developing and adapting modern technologies. He added that stronger scientific capacity would also support economic diversification by strengthening agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, energy and the digital economy. “Science is a multiplier; it makes every sector more efficient, resilient and capable of generating wealth and jobs at scale,” he said. Akinbo said…
Orodata Science, a data and civic technology organisation, has called for stronger safeguards for passengers and drivers in Nigeria’s e-hailing sector. Orodata made the call in a report titled “E-Hailing After Uber: Protecting Consumers, Drivers and the Future.” The report examines the implications of Uber’s departure from Nigeria and the future of app-based transportation in the country. It also reviews the changing competitive landscape involving platforms such as Bolt, inDrive, LagRide, Rida, Shuttlers and SafeBoda. According to the organisation, Uber’s exit provides an opportunity to examine how Nigeria’s e-hailing industry can better protect consumers and drivers. It said the future…