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By Sylvester Thompson Mr Ikechukwu Ikoh, Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), says Africa is positioned to benefit from the technology of genome editing. The minister said this while declaring open the Policy-Science Practice Dialogue to enhance the domestication and use of genome editing science in Africa and mini launch of the Continental Community of Practice (CoP) on Thursday in Lagos. He said genome editing was a revolutionary technology that led to the emergence of several editing strategies with application in agriculture, health, environment and industry. According to him, it is the responsibility of responsive governments to strengthen capacities to keep up with the dynamism of the technology. Ikoh maintained that Africa has recorded gian...

The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has supported the National Assembly’s resolve to compel the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to suspend the implementation of its cash withdrawal limit policy. The groups’ Spokesperson, Mr Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, said this at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja. Suleiman said that the group unequivocally backed the National Assembly’s resolve to compel the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefie, to suspend the policyIt will be recalled that the House of Representatives had last Thursday, asked the CBN to suspend the policy. The Senate also on Wednesday issued fresh order to CBN over the cash withdrawal limit policy, asking the apex bank to make upward adjustment of the proposed limitThe Senate called for the review upward of the limit from N100, 000 ...

The University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) in Gwagwalada, FCT, has honoured over fifty nine staffers and seven cooperate organisations for hardwork, dedication, excellence and positive impact to the development of the hospital. Prof. Bissala Ekele, Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, at the presentation of the 5th Staff Annual Award Ceremony 2022 said the tradition for reward for hardwork is aimed at encouraging and inspiring workers to give their best in the line of duty. According to him, the reward system was introduced in 2018 to encourage mass participation of the staffers, through a committee set up by the Management of the hospital. "The introduction in 2018 of the staff award was to celebrate staffers and partners and contributors to the development of the...

By Bridget Ikyado Venerable Ovie Ezimeruwe, Vicar of St. Philip’s Anglican Church, Gwarinpa, Abuja, has called on Nigerians to learn to live together in peace and harmony. The cleric gave the charge during the Church’s Carol of Nine Lessons with the theme “Light for the Night”. The cleric called on Nigerians to remain steadfast and continue to pray for peace and unity of the country. He said that Nigerians must be united and hope for a better future. According to him, religion has a critical role to play to strengthen peaceful co-existence in the country. He, however, advised religious leaders to continue to preach peace and not violence to their members. “Unity and peace are possible for the nation, if we can follow the man, the Prince of peace, who is Jesus Christ. ...

By Fortune Abang The Minister of State, Science and Technology, Sen. Adeleke Mamora, says the ministry remains committed to the use of scientific innovations to drive national growth. Mamora said this in his address at the inaugural ceremony of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Alliance for Innovation Research (TETFAIR) with the theme: "Translating ideas into innovation, solution and enterprise", on Wednesday in Abuja.o The Minister, represented by Mrs Monilola Udoh, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, said TETFAIR was apt, in line with President Muhammadu Buhari's Executive Order Five. The Executive Order seeks to entrench Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) in everyday life to achieve national growth. "The Executive Order number F...

By Olukayode Babalola/Salisu Sani-Idris The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, on Wednesday commended the Keffi Emirate Council for the preservation and projection of its rich cultural heritage through publication. Abubakar, who is the President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), made the commendation at a Book Launch on the History of Keffi and the 7th Anniversary of the Emir of Keffi, Dr Shehu Chindo-Yamusa III held in Keffi local government area of Nasarawa State. The traditional leader, who described Keffi as an emirate council with a very rich culture, applauded the emirate for preserving it rich culture through the writing and publication of a book titled "History of Keffi Emirate from 1708 to the present." According to Sultan, the bo...

By Chijioke Okoronkwo The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the revised National Social Protection Policy 2021 to 2022. Clem Agba, Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, announced this while briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting, presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday in the Presidential Villa, Abuja. According to the minister, the National Social Protection Council will be chaired by the Vice-President. "One additional memo that was also presented by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning is the revised National Social Protection Policy. "Council approved the revised National Social Protection Policy 2021 to 2025. "This revised National Social Protection Policy is an offshoot of a previous po...

The Messenger of Hope International Foundation, has inaugurated four blocks of classrooms it renovated at the L.E.A Primary School, Durumi 1, a suburb in the Federal Capital Territory. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the foundation also donated 20 set of desks and chairs, notebooks, schoolbags, uniforms and stationery to the pupils of the school. Ms Chinwe Ogbujah, Founder of the foundation, said the project was part of its back to school project tagged: ‘Transform Education–One Child at a time’. According to her, a major component to achieving quality education was provision of conducive and enabling learning environment to motivate students to learn adequately. "There are a lot of public schools that have the structures but these structures are delapitated and ...

Federal Character Commission restates committment to fairness, equity, justice among Nigerians The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has restated its commitment to promoting fairness, equity and justice among all Nigerians. The commission made the commitment during its 2022 Public Affairs and Communications Department (PAC) Week which began on Wednesday in Abuja. Dr Chuks Okoli, Director, PAC Department, said the essence of the PAC Week was to update the general public on the achievements of the commission within a specified period of time. He added that the commission will continue to promote inclusiveness of all Nigerians and eliminate all feelings of marginalisation among Nigerians. "Nigerians should expect a lot of information about this commission and what we do, as a...

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has commenced distribution of food items donated by King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno State. The IDPs are located in eight Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps and host communities in Borno State. In a statement signed by Mr Manzo Ezekiel, Head, Press Unit, NEMA, on Wednesday, the food distribution was inaugurated at El-Miskin IDPs camp in Maiduguri. He said that the Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum and Director-General of NEMA, Mr Mustapha Ahmed, were present at the event. In his remark, Governor Zulum thanked King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia for the donation through King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre and NEMA f...

L-R; Vice- Chancellor University of Abuja, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na'Allah, Representative of Love and Light Uni Abuja Alumni Association USA, Mrs.Tracy Ejim; with Director Development Agency of University of Abuja, Prof. Ubom Bassey; during the Alumni Association's Lecturer Support Project in Abuja. The Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah has reterieted the universities commitment in the protection of life and properties of students and staff of the institution. Na'Allah who made the commitment in the university, during the support project of the Love and Light University of Abuja Alumni Association, USA Branch said security is one of the priority of the institution. According to him, on Nov. 2, 2021 gun men invaded the staff quarters of the Uni...

By Ikenna Uwadileke The Judy Alexis Foundation, a non-governmental organisation based in Abuja has commenced its mentorship series to develop youth population on capacity and productivity. Speaking at the maiden edition of the mentors programme on Wednesday, the founder, Ms Judy Melifonwu said it was targeted at accelerating the potential of young Nigerians and give professionals opportunity to give back to their local communities. According to her, this elevate mentorship forum held at Triple 9 Apartments, Pool and Spa in Lifecamp brought to light the importance of mentorship and how it can aid people in all stages of life. “Many times people feel that money is what they need so that they can move to the next level in life. This is not always the case. “The Judy Alexis Fou...

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) has commended lawyers with disability for their resilience in the struggle to have laws and institution to protect and assist Persons with Disability (PWDs) in the country. The Executive Secretary of NCPWD, Mr James Lalu, gave the commendation at the Nigerian Bar Association-Lawyers with Disabilities Forum (NBA-LWDF) Maiden Conference on Tuesday in Abuja. The Conference, with the theme “Lawyers with Disabilities in Nigeria: Realities, Challenges and Expectations”, was organised by NBA-LWDF under the leadership of its Chairperson, Mrs Asia Ahmed El-Rufai, and supported by Asia Ahmed and Co, Law Forte, A.U. Mustapha and Co and many others. Lalu said the NCPWD would remain grateful to lawyers w...

 By Angela Atabo  The Canadian Government’s 10 million dollars Livelihood and Nutritional Empowerment (LINE) project implemented by Oxfam in Bauchi state has empowered 16,598 smallholder farmers. Dr Vincent Ahonsi, Country Director of Oxfam, made this known at the Line Project Close-out and Lessons’ Dissemination event which held from Dec. 12th to 13th in Abuja. According to Ahonsi, although the project targeted 10,000 smallholder farmers at the beginning, however, it ended up capturing a total of 16,598 smallholder farmers in six local governments in Bauchi with 60 per cent of the beneficiaries as women. He said that prior to the project in Bauchi state, farmers were facing challenges of inadequate farm inputs, poor agricultural yields, food insecurity, lack of awareness of healthy food ...

By Angela Atabo FlexiSAF Foundation and its partners have called on Federal and state  governments, political parties and candidates to prioritise increased education budget to tackle out-of-school children menace. Ms Amina Abubakar, Executive Director, FlexiSAF Foundation, made the call in Abuja at the Walk for Education 2.0 organised by the foundation to commemorate the World Human Rights Day. According to Abubakar, the foundation is among the group of more than 100 civil society organisations calling on the government to do something right now about education. ``We are not happy with the current budget for education, neither are we happy with the implementation of policies that are coming in. ``We are also not happy with the incoming leaders because their manifestos are ...

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer An author, retired Maj.-Gen. John Gbor says his book on "Nigeria: A Nation Yearning for Moral Regeneration" is to encourage nationalism that will put Nigeria on the global map of progressive and developed countries. Gbor made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Abuja. The retired army general said the 233-page book captured a vivid picture of contemporary Nigeria, which several factors have constituted bumps in the journey to nationhood. ":The book transcends the historical settings of Nigeria and explained the role of colonial Britain in the contraption of Nigeria. "It goes further to assess the colonial policies and British national interests and how they created divisive politics in the polity. "The book ...

Women Friendly Initiative (WFI) an NGO, has called on media practitioners to adequately report Adolescent and Youth Friendly Health Services (AYFHS) with Nutrition Strategic Plan of Action for Nutrition (NSPAN) to enhance health services. The Chief Executive Officer of the NGO, Dr Francis Eremutha made the call during the commencement of a three-day training session of selected journalists in Kuje.  The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training session held at AMOJ Hotel in Kuje Area Council, FCT, was presented by the Program Manager WFI - SSCALE Project, Mr Paul Aondofa and the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of WFI, Rosemary Adejo-Adaji. Eremutha said the training will boost journalists capacities to interrogate government policies relating to adolescents he...

A multitasking Nurse, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Holistic Wellness Lounge and Holistic Wellness TV on YoutTube, highly motivated, innovative, resourceful, emotionally intelligent leader and a philanthropist, Nanman Philemon Kash popularly known as NPK has emerged winner of the the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) showcase 2022 as MRS SDGs 3 (Good health and wellbeing) held in Abuja. The contest which was a non-bikini contest for the most beautiful, innovative, and passionate married women in the country that seeks to reward outstanding married women, strengthen the marriage institution, had contestants write on any of the 17 SDG goals they wish to advocate for it's achievement.The show, which had tasks for participant had the winner write on " Combating maternal and chi...

By Angela Atabo The Joint Delegation of the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI), have expressed worry over Nigeria' s readiness to hold  hitch-free elections in 2023. The  IRI and NDI delegations made this known while presenting the  Second Joint Pre-elections Assessment Statement to journalists in Abuja on Friday. The assessment conducted from Dec. 4 to 9, was built on the first assessment mission which visited Nigeria in July 2022.  The delegation included, Senior Fellow for Africa Policy Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations,Michelle Gavin, Judge  Pillay, Programmes Director of the Zimbabwe Election Support Network, Ellen Dingani, IRI Director for Africa, Gregory Kearns and NDI Deputy Director f...