By Abel Daniel, Lafia The Federal Government, in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development’s Value Chain Development Programme (FGN/IFAD-VCDP), has moved to institutionalize the Gender Action Learning System (GALS) as a state policy in Nasarawa. The initiative aims to promote gender balance, strengthen rural livelihoods, and enhance food security through agriculture. The proposal, which emerged during a policy dialogue on mainstreaming gender in agricultural development in Lafia, was supported by key stakeholders, who said a formal policy would remove systemic barriers to gender equity at both local and state levels. Dr. Fatima Aliyu, National Programme Coordinator of FGN/IFAD-VCDP—represented…
Author: National Update
By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse Stakeholders in Jigawa State have urged the government to establish a Child Nutrition Trust Fund to better coordinate resources, attract private sector and philanthropic support, and tackle the state’s worsening malnutrition crisis—where more than half of children under five (55.7%) are stunted. The call came in a communiqué issued at the close of a one-day breakfast meeting on the adoption of a Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) and the implementation of six-month paid maternity leave. The meeting, held at Tahir Guest Palace, Dutse, was jointly organised by the Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) and UNICEF.…
By Chuks Nzeh The Parish Priest of St. Augustine Catholic Church, Airport Road, Lugbe, Abuja, Very Rev. Fr. James Akpamoo, has announced that all preparations are in place for the parish’s 2025 Cultural Day Celebration and Fundraising for its ongoing church-building project. The celebration, themed “Our Culture, Our Heritage,” will take place on Sunday, 28 September 2025, beginning with a 9 a.m. Mass and Thanksgiving at the parish premises. Planning Committee Chairman Sir Andrew Yahaya Adejo, KSJI, said the event will be held under the distinguished chairmanship of Brig. Gen. Nwachukwu N.N. Nwanesi, PhD, KSJI, KSS. The Royal Father of…
Botswana’s President, Duma Gideon Boko, has appointed Nigerian business leader Farouk Gumel as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Botswana Sovereign Wealth Fund (BSWF)—a multi-billion-dollar vehicle aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on diamonds and driving economic diversification. The appointment was announced at the fund’s official launch in Gaborone. President Boko described the BSWF as “an investment in the future of our country… creating jobs, driving growth, and ensuring that our nation’s wealth works for all Batswana.” Gumel, Vice Chairman for Africa at Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group and former Chairman of Nigeria’s Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), will…
The Yobe State House of Assembly has come under sharp criticism for what many describe as its ignoble handling of allegations surrounding Damuli Investment, a limited liability company reportedly awarded billions of naira in state contracts. Damuli Investment, long familiar within Governor Mai Mala Buni’s administration, was accused by elders of Gujba Local Government of abandoning the construction and renovation of the Gujba Government Lodge despite receiving ₦1.49 billion in full payment. Their petition, dated July 1, 2025, urged the Assembly’s Committee on Human Rights and Legislative Compliance to investigate. Under public pressure, lawmakers set up a five-man ad hoc…
The Nigeria Police Force has summoned Ja’afar Ja’afar, publisher of the online newspaper Daily Nigeria, over allegations of criminal conspiracy, defamation, and incitement of public disturbance. In a letter dated September 8, 2025, and signed by ACP Bukar Babagana on behalf of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone One Headquarters, Kano, Ja’afar was directed to report to the Zonal Intelligence Department alongside one Audu Umar. The letter, endorsed by a Kano court, cited Section 53(2)(a) of the Administration of Justice Act, 2015, as the legal basis for the invitation. The development followed Ja’afar’s publication alleging that Abdullahi Ibrahim Rogo,…
Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate and former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, has joined voices across the globe in celebrating internationally acclaimed novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on her birthday, calling her “a literary Amazon whose brilliance continues to light the world.” In a heartfelt message posted Monday on his X handle, Obi praised Adichie’s discipline, humility, and unmatched storytelling gift, noting that her works have “enriched global literature while restoring pride and dignity to African narratives.” “Chimamanda has turned her extraordinary talent into a force for truth and transformation,” Obi wrote. “Through her books and mentorship, she has inspired young…
***Says attacks are revenge for Dangote dispute The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has dismissed as “pure blackmail” the allegations that its members collect illegal levies at petroleum depots, calling the claims a calculated attempt to smear its image and sway public opinion against the union. In a strongly worded statement yesterday, NUPENG accused its detractors—including interests linked to Dangote Refinery—of distorting facts and spreading misinformation in retaliation for the union’s victory in unionization disputes. “They are pained by our victory over unionization battles against them and are now out for revenge by attacking our reputation,”…
Kogi State’s partnership with China’s Hunan Province has officially moved from paper to action, beginning with a high-impact agricultural training programme that officials say will transform the state’s farming and food safety standards. Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, receiving the first group of returning participants in Lokoja, said the three-week programme in Changsha City represents the first dividends of the Kogi–Hunan pact, which spans agriculture, mining, and industrial development. Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Ismaila Isah in a statement indicated that the training, hosted at Hunan Agricultural University, focused on Heavy Metal Control and Prevention in Paddy Fields—a growing…
Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, has urged Christian pilgrims from the FCT to use their 2025 Easter pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan as a moment to seek divine intervention for Nigeria’s peace, unity, and development. Speaking at a pre-departure orientation on Monday in Abuja, Mahmoud described pilgrimage as more than a holy excursion, calling it “a sacred opportunity for renewal and intercession at a critical time for our nation.” The minister acknowledged that regional conflicts in the Middle East had delayed the pilgrimage but assured the intending pilgrims of their safety. “Pilgrimage is…