The Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Development in Niger marked this year’s World Day Against Child Labour on Friday, urging concerted efforts to eliminate the menace. The ministry celebrated the day in collaboration with the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse, and Labour (NACTAL) and the Child Protection Network (CPN). The event’s theme was “Red Card to Child Labour: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults.” In a lecture, Uma Mohammed, Director-General of the Niger Child Rights Agency, described child labour as “any form of work that harms a child’s development, dignity, health, or education.” She highlighted that child…
Author: Newsdesk
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has disbursed over ₦282 billion to more than 1.5 million students across 288 tertiary institutions nationwide. Mr. Awati Muhammed, Head of Loan Repayment and Reconciliation at NELFUND, disclosed this during a Democracy Day event organized by student union leaders across Northern Nigeria on Friday in Yola. The event, themed “Thank You President Tinubu for Making Democracy Work for Students,” aimed to bring together students and stakeholders to discuss educational opportunities under the Federal Government’s initiatives. Muhammed stated that the Northern Project Coordination Office (NPCO), in collaboration with NELFUND and the Presidential Initiative on Compressed…
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has adopted the first international labour standard for work conducted through digital platforms. The new standard, the “Decent Work in the Platform Economy Convention, 2026,” officially took effect on Friday during the closing of the 114th International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland. Platform workers are individuals earning income through digital platforms or apps that connect them with customers, such as Uber or Bolt drivers. The adoption of the convention will strengthen labor protections for Uber, Bolt, and other platform drivers worldwide. It establishes decent work standards for digital platform workers. According to an ILO…
Mr. Glad Ali Gashi, a 66-year-old retired civil servant, stole the spotlight on Friday after successfully completing the 21-kilometre “Peace and Unity” Marathon Race in Abuja. Organized by the Apo Progressive Foundation (APF), a non-governmental organization, the second edition of the marathon was held to celebrate Democracy Day 2026 and promote national unity. Gashi, an indigene of Adamawa who retired from the Ministry of Federal Capital Territory, finished 21st out of numerous participants. He told reporters that his passion for long-distance running started in 1980 during secondary school. He explained that his routine running became well-known among Abuja residents during…
The Cross River Government has activated emergency measures to prevent the outbreak and spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the state. The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, disclosed this on Friday while briefing journalists in Calabar on the state’s preparedness to prevent any importation of the virus from Uganda or the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where outbreaks have occurred. Ayuk said the action followed recent warnings from the Federal Ministry of Health after Ebola outbreaks were reported in Uganda and DRC. He noted that the outbreak had been declared a public health emergency of international concern under…
Participants from Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East attending international seminars in China have commended the country’s approach to ethnic unity, governance, and economic development, describing it as a model worth studying by developing nations. The participants spoke in separate interviews with reporters on the sidelines of training programs organized by the Academy for International Business Officials (AIBO) under China’s Ministry of Commerce. They said China’s development experience, governance practices, and management of ethnic diversity offered valuable lessons for countries seeking sustainable growth and social stability. Mr. Kaomo Mohammed Lawan, Head of the Liaison Office in Abuja for Nigeria’s…
The rainy season has led to increased demand for disposable rain ponchos in Lagos, as residents turn to affordable protective wear to shield themselves from frequent downpours. A survey shows that single-use ponchos, commonly sold by roadside vendors, cost between N200 and N500, making them an affordable option for many residents. In contrast, reusable raincoats sell for between N5,000 and N12,000, depending on quality, which puts them out of reach for some low-income earners. Some residents told reporters that disposable ponchos have become essential during the rainy season due to their affordability and ease of use. Mrs. Aminat Yusuf, a…
The President of UNESCO Read and Earn Federation (UNESCO REF), Prince Abdulsalami Ladigbolu-Oranmiyan, has called for increased investment in education and child protection programs to help eradicate child labour. Ladigbolu-Oranmiyan made the call in an interview with reporters on Friday in Abuja, to mark Nigeria’s Democracy Day and the International Day Against Child Labour. He described education and child protection as vital components of national development and security. He emphasized that child labour remains a major challenge in Nigeria and other developing countries, depriving millions of children of access to education and personal growth opportunities. According to him, children involved…
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has trained 160 youths from Kebbi and Zamfara states in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Analytics to enhance their digital skills and employment prospects. Mr. Luka Dalang, Programme Coordinator of RimaFin Consulting, disclosed this in an interview with reporters on Friday in Kaduna, at the conclusion of the five-day training program. Dalang explained that the participants, consisting of unemployed youths and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, were trained under NCDMB’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. He stated that 80 participants each from Kebbi and Zamfara benefited from the program. According to…
Kaduna State Government has become the first state to domesticate the National Ward Development Committee (WDC) Guideline, tailored to address the state’s unique healthcare realities. It was reported that this domestication was adopted at the end of a three-day workshop on primary healthcare delivery organized by the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board (KSPHCB) in partnership with an Engender Health-led consortium. Speaking at the closing session, Dr. Joseph Wuya, a representative of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), described the initiative as innovative and groundbreaking. He praised Kaduna for leading the way in adapting the national guideline to…