Author: Fatima Idera

In commemoration of 2025 World Press Freedom Day, Nigerian journalists, and media advocates have added their voices to the global discourse, reflecting on the future of press freedom in an era shaped by artificial intelligence (AI). At different forums, they highlighted both the risks and the reforms needed to safeguard ethical journalism. The United Nations General Assembly declared 3 May to be World Press Freedom Day, observed to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the…

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has said that Nigeria currently loses 45 per cent of its 3.9 million tonnes of tomato harvest to post-harvest waste and supply chain inefficiencies annually. He highlighted the challenge posed by the country’s heavy reliance on tomato paste imports, noting that despite Nigeria’s abundant production, it remains the world’s largest importer of the product. Speaking at the unveiling of GB Hub Africa on Monday in Abuja, Mr Kyari lamented the inefficiencies plaguing Nigeria’s agricultural supply chain, which he said were responsible for the massive losses. Mr Kyari, who was represented by…

In a bid to stem the tide of brain drain, Akwa Ibom State has introduced a new policy requiring medical trainees to pledge years of service before seeking opportunities abroad. The Head of Civil Service, Effiong Essien, announced at the weekend in Uyo, that all medical professionals sponsored by the state must now enter a formal bond, committing to serve Akwa Ibom for a period deemed sufficient for the government to recover its investment in their training. “No more quick exits. Healthcare workers will need to honour their home state first. The bonding is serious now, it’s a matter of…

ActionAid Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has criticised the Nigerian government for what it described as ignorance towards the deepening poverty crisis in the country.

As UTME 2025 kicks off nationwide, it’s a mixed bag for candidates. Smooth sailing in some centres, but delays, glitches, and extortion marred the experience in others.

Goloka Analytics, a spin-off of Dataphyte, has announced a new partnership with Meta to collect data in five Nigerian local languages for the training of Meta’s multilingual AI models and to promote digital inclusivity worldwide.   The initiative is part of Meta’s Local Language Partnership Program. Through this collaboration, Goloka Analytics, a technology company focused on point-of-interest data and insights using native intelligence, mobile, and geospatial tools, is contributing to an AI ecosystem where data is shared intentionally, owned by communities, and made to serve their interests. The founder of Goloka Analytics, Joshua Olufemi,  explained that the core aim is to…

No fewer than 80,000 out-of-school children in Oyo State, Nigeria have returned to the classroom following Governor Seyi Makinde’s decision to scrap the ₦3,000 public school fees. In 2019, the governor promised to scrap the N3,000 fee paid by pupils of all public primary and secondary schools in the state. Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, at the launch of a book titled ‘Defying Expectations: My Story of Perseverance From Conductor to Journalist,’ authored by Musliudeen Adebayo, the Oyo State correspondent for the Daily Post newspaper, Mr Makinde reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring that every child of school age…

A Nigerian academic, Solomon Rotimi, a professor at Covenant University, has recorded a significant milestone in cancer research by publishing a pioneering study on the genetic underpinnings of breast cancer among Nigerian women. The study, titled “Screening of Germline BRCA1 and BRCA2 Variants in Nigerian Breast Cancer Patients,” appears in the high-impact journal Technology in Cancer Research & Treatment and is being hailed as a breakthrough, both for local scientific capacity and the broader fight against cancer in Africa. According to the study, cancer burden poses a particularly urgent challenge in Nigeria, as women are often diagnosed at a younger…

The Africa Centre for Development Journalism (ACDJ) has announced a scholarship scheme in honour of Rotimi Sankore, a Nigerian development journalist who died a year ago. The scholarship, aimed at supporting brilliant but indigent undergraduate students of Lagos State University (LASU), is specifically open to those studying Communication and Media Studies, particularly students with interests in development and data journalism. Requirement According to a statement signed by the Rotimi Sankore Scholarship Award Panel Chairman, Lanre Arogundade, applicants must have completed at least one full academic session at LASU with evidence of academic excellence and justification for deserving financial support. Mr…

The Oyo State Government has launched a free vaccination exercise targeting over 88,000 livestock animals across the state, in a proactive move to prevent the outbreak of anthrax and ensure food security. The vaccination exercise aims to boost livestock productivity and protect animals from infection.  Anthrax outbreaks have been reported in parts of Nigeria, with confirmed cases in Niger State and Lagos Marina, as well as in other countries such as Ghana and Zambia. At the opening campaign exercise held in Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Hub, the Chairman, Steering Committee of Oyo State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), Debo…