Author: Helen Okechukwu

CIA disability rights organisation, the Centre for Infrastructural and Technological Advancement for the Blind (CITAB), has urged all tiers of government to intensify efforts toward improving access to education and employment opportunities for visually impaired Nigerians. In a statement marking White Cane and Safety Day, CITAB’s Executive Chairman, Jolomi Fenemigho, emphasised that the annual event serves as a reminder of the strength and unity of the blind community. He described the white cane as a symbol of “determination, perseverance, and fortitude,” rather than an object of pity. Read Also:US govt sues Uber over alleged disability discrimination Fenemigho lamented the persistent…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended a 52-year-old businessman, Ejiofor Emeka, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, for attempting to smuggle cocaine into Nigeria. The Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi on Sunday disclose that Ejiofor, who reportedly runs boutique outlets in Lagos and Onitsha, was intercepted on 8 October, upon arrival from Bangkok, Thailand, aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 941. Acting on credible intelligence, it was noted that NDLEA officers subjected him to a body scan, which revealed that he had concealed illicit substances both internally and in his private…

The Kwara State Government has launched a 10-day integrated vaccination campaign to protect 1.8 million children against Measles, Rubella, and Polio. The exercise, beginning on Saturday, 11 October, targets children aged 9 months to 14 years for the Measles Rubella vaccine and those aged 0 to 5 years for the oral polio vaccine. Read Also: Nearly 40 US states struggle to combat measles outbreak Organised by the Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (KWSPHCDA) in collaboration with UNICEF, WHO, and other partners, the campaign aims to strengthen child immunity and prevent outbreaks. At the flag-off in Ilorin, the First Lady, Amb.…

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has taken new steps to strengthen its workforce as Nigeria positions itself to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The agency in a post shared on Friday, said in a recently held a one-day training session for its staff, organised by the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, to clarify NAFDAC’s role in ensuring safe trade across African markets. Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the AfCFTA marks a major turning point for Africa, offering vast opportunities for growth while demanding stronger regulatory oversight. Read Also: NAFDAC burns…

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, has urged the newly inaugurated Governing Council of the hospital to prioritise far-reaching reforms aimed at addressing manpower shortages and infrastructural decay in the institution. The appeal from the doctors comes on the heels of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s appointment of a new seven-member Governing Council for the institution, formalised in letters signed by his Chief of Staff, Segun Ogunwuyi. The newly inaugurated council is chaired by Prof. Banji Oyelaran, with Mr. Olatunde Oyelade, Dr. Bello Taiwo, Mrs. Isola Bolanle, Dr. Akintunde Ayinde, Prof.…

In a bid to strengthen public understanding and community participation in the fight against Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has launched an initiative to translate AMR awareness messages into Nigeria’s major indigenous languages. The initiative according to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), unveiled during the SayAMR Language Hackathon held on Friday in Abuja, seeks to improve grassroots communication on AMR by developing widely accepted terminology in Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, and Pidgin English. Dr Tochi Okwor, head of disease prevention at the NCDC and chair of Nigeria’s AMR Coordinating Committee, said the project addresses…

Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja, has fixed between 2 December and 3 December, 2025, for the continuation of the ongoing $4.5 billion fraud trial involving the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele. The court gave the dates after admitting additional documentary and digital evidence tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday. Despite strong objections from the defence counsels, Olalekan Ojo (SAN) and Kazeem Gbadamosi (SAN), Justice Oshodi admitted the EFCC’s documents as exhibits, including a company letter obtained from the CBN and a smartphone retrieved…

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has renewed calls for African governments to make mental health support a key part of emergency preparedness, warning that the continent’s fragile health systems are struggling under repeated crises. Marking World Mental Health Day, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, said conflicts, disease outbreaks and floods continue to cause deep psychological distress across communities. “Emergencies — whether outbreaks, conflicts or natural disasters — can devastate lives and communities,” he said. “While most people experience psychological stress, one in five will face a mental health condition requiring professional care.” This year’s theme, “Access to…

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has called on Nigerians to become advocates for eye health within their communities, stressing that regular eye check-ups and awareness are essential to preventing avoidable vision loss. The National Eye Health Programme, Dr Oteri Okolo made the call in Abuja on Thursday while representing the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, at an event commemorating the 2025 World Sight Day, themed “Love your eyes: People at the heart of eye health.” She emphasised that eye health is not merely a medical concern but a critical…

The Lagos State Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) has reaffirmed its determination to stamp out quackery in the health sector while assuring residents of improved access to safe and standard healthcare services across the state. This assurance was given during a one-day Sensitisation Campaign and Town Hall Meeting on “The Roles and Responsibilities of HEFAMAA in Lagos State,” held at the Ikeja Local Government Secretariat, says the Lagos State Government on Thursday. The event is part of HEFAMAA’s ongoing public enlightenment campaign to promote safe, ethical, and patient-centred medical practice in Lagos State. Read Also: Vision care crucial to…