Three decades on, what else can a two-star, if you like, a two-scar champion of Nigeria’s renowned June 12 presidential election do as a patriot elected to stay put in Nigeria other than uphold the cause infinitely? Yours sincerely lost a thriving journalism career to June 12 following the proscription of Concord Press and therefore on Abacha hangs my unpaid gratuity till date. Short of flying from frying pan to fire, subsequently I joined the nation’s premier civil rights group, Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), keeping me almost permanently on the precipice of jail. If not for the courage of the…
Author: Development Reporting
By Adejumo Kabir The conflict between crop farmers and herders has, over the past two decades, been a recurring issue, resulting in significant loss of life, displacement, and economic instability. What started with sticks has now snowballed into unending violence that involves use of AK-47s and military-grade firearms, causing killings and the displacement of more than two million people in various parts of Nigeria. Beyond climate change and resource competition, there is unseen cooperation between jihadi groups and criminal elements, exploiting farmers-herders crisis for their own gain. This infiltration has exposed a key gap in Nigeria’s approach to resolving the…
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Nigeria, has debunked rumours circulating on social media that the English Language paper in the ongoing 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates has been cancelled. WAEC has described the report as “false and misleading,” clarifying that the examination held on Wednesday, 28 May, remains valid and has not been annulled. According to the earlier circulated press release dated Friday, 30 May, “the English Language paper written on Wednesday, May 28, in the ongoing WASSCE for school candidates, 2025 has been cancelled, and a new date for the conduct of…
Introduction Africa stands at a critical crossroads in its development journey. The continent’s agricultural sector, which employs nearly 60 per cent of its workforce and underpins the livelihoods of millions, faces unprecedented challenges. Climate variability, diminishing arable land, water scarcity, and rapid population growth threaten food security and economic stability. Yet, amid these challenges lies a powerful opportunity: artificial intelligence (AI). As a transformative technology, AI offers tools to leapfrog traditional development hurdles, enabling precision, efficiency, and resilience in farming and beyond. Drawing lessons from global innovators who have harnessed AI to overcome similar constraints, African nations can craft tailored…
By Malik Samuel With foreign expertise now reshaping battlefield dynamics in the Lake Chad Basin, and raising the stakes for regional security, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) is proving that it is no longer just a localised insurgency. Ongoing developments suggest ISWAP is rapidly transforming into the central pillar of the Islamic State’s global strategy in Africa, with worrying echoes of the mid-2010s in Iraq and Syria. In two recent editorials published in al-Naba, the Islamic State’s official Arabic-language weekly, the group laid out its strategic thinking for the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, and what emerges is…
Prominent Nigerian authors have paid tribute to the renowned Kenyan scholar and writer, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, who passed away on Wednesday. The late author died at 87. He was a prolific writer of novels, plays, short stories, and essays that critiqued colonialism and explored Africa’s socio-political landscape. His death was announced on Facebook by his daughter, Wanjiku wa Ngugi, who said her father “lived a full life, fought a good fight.” “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our dad, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o. As was his last wish, let’s celebrate his life and his work.…
Introduction As Africa stands at the junction of a new era in development, the role of technology, especially artificial intelligence (AI), in transforming agriculture and other sectors has become increasingly clear. Across the globe, nations grapple with mounting challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and population growth. Yet, some countries have pioneered innovative responses that turn these challenges into opportunities for sustainable growth. Among them, one nation stands out as a beacon of technological and agricultural ingenuity, achieving remarkable results despite limited natural resources and complex geopolitical realities. This article explores the lessons Africa can glean from Israel’s innovative…
As conflict rages from the villages of north-east Nigeria to the refugee camps in Jordan, children are bearing the brunt of the violence, robbed of their childhood, education, families, and in many cases, their lives. A global movement of journalists, under the aegis of Reporters for Early Age Children in Humanitarian Crisis (REACH) Network, has raised an alarm over the deepening crisis facing babies and young children in crisis settings. In a communique issued after its second meeting hosted recently by the Moving Minds Alliance, and signed by its co-chair, Mojeed Alabi, REACH Network highlighted sobering data from five countries…
By Malik Samuel In a stark reflection of the deteriorating security situation in Nigeria’s northwest, communities in Bagega and Kawaye districts in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State have taken the extraordinary step of negotiating directly with bandits to secure a semblance of peace, especially as the rains set in and the farming season approaches. This move underscores the desperation of communities left vulnerable by the absence of effective government intervention. For nearly three weeks leading up to 8 May, these communities were under siege. Bandits imposed a blockade, preventing movement in and out of Bagega, shutting down its…
The pioneer Professor of Insurance at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Akoka, Tajudeen Yusuf, will, on Wednesday, offer fresh insights into the ethical and practical dimensions of Takaful, an Islamic alternative to conventional insurance. The don, who is billed to present his inaugural lecture at the university on Wednesday, 21 May, will be speaking on the theme: “Risk, Ethics and the Road Less Taken: Navigating the Journey from Insurance to Takaful”. Ahead of the ceremony, Mr Yusuf, in a summary note of his presentation obtained by this newspaper, critically examines how both conventional and sharia-based Takaful models handle risk and…