National Coordinator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) Nigeria, Mrs. Ibironke Olubamise, says only genuine political will can develop environmentally friendly technology.
Mrs Ibironke Olubamise, Nigeria National Coordinator, UNDP GEF-SGP
Olubamise said this during an interview on Monday, April 28, 2025, in Abuja.
She noted that environmentally friendly technology would have significant impacts, add value, and sustainably enhance livelihoods.
“Any technology that is not environmentally friendly will eventually fizzle out,” she said.
The coordinator stressed the importance of developing inclusive strategies, policies, and plans that supported data collection and management, awareness creation, and advocacy.
“Policies must be designed to promote learning that reduces environmental impacts, especially among youth and women,” she said.
Olubamise also emphasised the need to enhance national and local digital education platforms and to invest in energy-efficient infrastructure.
According to her, energy-efficient infrastructure will empower communities to engage in sustainable practices and improve the management of solid, plastic, and electronic waste.
“UNDP GEF SGP strongly encourages technological ideas and solutions that address environmental challenges,” she said.
According to her, the programme discourages unsustainable traditional practices that no longer serve environmental goals.
“For instance, traditional tree planting ceremonies have often proven unsustainable, as there is usually no follow-up to ensure the survival of the trees,” Olubamise explained.
She advised the adoption of sustainable, technology-driven tree-planting initiatives aimed at conserving and restoring natural ecosystems.
Olubamise noted that the UNDP GEF SGP was supporting the use of technology and applications to monitor and manage plastic waste, flood, and erosion, as well as to report pollution, especially in remote areas.
Stakeholders from Guinea and across Africa are organising a summit to draw a seed roadmap for the West African country.
Hybrid seeds
The consortium includes the Government of the Republic of Guinea, Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) of the African Development Bank, the Building an Economically Sustainable Integrated Cassava Seed System, Phase 2 (BASICS-II) project of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and Sahel Consulting.
The three-day Seed Business Summit, with the theme “Building a Harmonised Roadmap for Seed Sector Transformation,” is being organised in collaboration with the Guinean Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the country’s National Institute for Agricultural Research (IRAG) and other stakeholders.
The summit will be held from April 28 to 30, 2025, in Conakry, the Guinean capital. The summit aims to catalyse an agricultural revolution in the Republic of Guinea by establishing an economically sustainable seed system for priority crops like Rice, Cassava, Maize, Groundnut, and Soybean.
The Guinean Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Felix Lamah, notes that “this summit represents a direct response to the need to hold a more comprehensive audience consultation to identify major challenges, develop solutions, and advocate for more investments in Guinea’s agriculture.”
“This seed summit will bring together policymakers, international financial institutions, scientists, the private sector and farmer organisations to a roundtable discussion to broker investments for Guinean agricultural transformation with quality inputs, particularly seed as a primary entry point,” Lamah added.
“The summit will address factors limiting growth in Guinea’s agricultural sector, including the underdeveloped seed sector characterised by poor quality seeds, a weak seed regulatory framework, a struggling research system for variety maintenance, and a feeble private sector participation in the seed system,” says Dr Solomon Gizaw, the Head of TAAT Clearinghouse.
“A solid seed system will surely change the country’s agricultural landscape. In this summit, TAAT and partners will share the models currently strengthening the seed system in Nigeria, Tanzania, D.R Congo, Benin, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire and Kenya,” Dr Gizaw added.
The BASICS-II Project Manager, Prof Lateef Sanni, explained that “the seed summit aspires to produce outcomes that will form the basis of future investment in the Guinean seed system. It will produce recommendations to help forge a roadmap to feed into the country’s agricultural policies and plans.”
The Guinean Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Felix Lamah, will chair the summit’s opening ceremony, supported by other dignitaries and development partners.
In addition to the conveners, several national stakeholders, including farmers, seed producers, and International Development partners, will participate in the summit.
They include the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Islamic Development Bank, the Gates Foundation, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the World Bank, and the European Union.
Others include the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), the AfricaRice Centre, and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).
Nigeria-based non-governmental organisation, The Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), has trained journalists in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on how to access credible data in upscaling their tobacco control reports with specific attention on how they can explore the rich information in the Tobacco Control Data Initiative (TCDI) developed by the Development Gateway.
Tobacco smoking
The training had prominent tobacco control experts including Professor Patrick Shamba – Technical Advisor, TCDI Programme, DRC; Caleb Ayong, founder, Vital Voices for Africa (VVA); Achieng Otieno, founder, Being Africa; Oluchi Joy Robert, a UK-based tobacco control expert; and Philip Jakpor, executive director of RDI, the convening organisation.
In his welcome words, Executive Director of RDI, Philip Jakpor, explained that the training is the first that the organisation is organising with support from Development Gateway, and that in conceiving it, RDI realises that the media is key not only in keeping the public informed as part of its watchdog role, but also in eliciting robust discourse that ultimately translate into policy responses and actions.
Jakpor said that the indispensability of the media to tobacco control is exemplified in the amount of money that the tobacco industry expends annually to market its products using media channels.
He revealed that the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the U.S. recently revealed that in that country alone the amount that the tobacco industry spent on visibility activities including cigarette advertising and promotion increased from $7.84 billion in 2020 to $8.06 billion in 2021. In 2022, it was $8.3 billion.
He revealed that tobacco companies have also been linked to social media influencers who covertly promote tobacco products, using subtle company campaigns.
He went on to say that, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) just like other countries on the continent, smoking is a major public health problem with significant impact on morbidity and mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
He lamented that tobacco control in DRC hardly makes the news, even as he added that the training is premised on the need for more robust and educative reports on tobacco control coming from journalists in the DRC.
He reminded the participants that policy makers rely on what they read or hear or watch to be able to make laws that are rooted in facts and that the task of ensuring the right information gets to them is shouldered by the media.
Professor Patrick Shamba, Technical Advisor, TCDI Programme in DRC, while speaking on the current state of tobacco control in the Democratic Republic of Congo, explained that smoking is a major public health problem in the DRC with significant impact on morbidity and mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Shamba revealed that tobacco control in the DRC is hampered by lack of specific regulatory measures, lack of detailed provisions for the effective implementation of the 2018 framework law, tobacco industry interference, illicit trade in tobacco products, and difficulties in controlling and regulating the parallel market.
To address these issues he said that the media has the task of raising public awareness, Informing the public about the dangers of tobacco and promote preventive measures, Monitoring industry actions and the expose of tobacco industry’s attempts to interfere in public policy. The media must also support legislative initiatives, and report on progress and challenges in implementing smoke-free legislation, among others.
He called for collective engagement, especially greater collaboration between government, civil society and the media to achieve effective tobacco control measures. He also wants the development of detailed regulatory measures; and setting up monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
The don also took the participants on a tour of the TC Dashboard of the Development Gateway explaining that the platform wharehouses data and information cutting across six themes – Prevalence of Tobacco Use, Tobacco Control Legislation, Tobacco Industry Interference, Tobacco Taxation, Morbidity, and Illicit Trade. The dashboard is regularly updated with new information as it becomes available.
In his intervention on Using Data to Make Tobacco Control Stories Relevant, Caleb Ayong, founder of Vital Voices for Africa (VVA), said that data is information collected, stored, and processed for analysis or decision-making. They can be numbers, text, images, or any other form of recorded details.
On their relevance, he stressed the quality of being closely connected or appropriate to a given topic or situation and he added that data determines how useful or meaningful something is in a specific context.
He told the journalists that in presenting their facts it must be relatable and speak to emotions. For example, when it is said that approximately 25,000 die every year from tobacco-related deaths in DRC, it is relatable to the number that fills a stadium.
On the kinds of stories that expose the industry he said that poverty caused by tobacco, corruption, health emergency, environment and human rights violations top. He also cited various case studies to drive home his point.
Picking up from there in a presentation on How Tobacco Industry Targets Young People in Africa, Achieng Otieno, founder, Being Africa, said that rising tobacco use especially among African youth is influenced by urbanisation and western cultural imports.
Otieno also said that tobacco and nicotine use have devastating conasequences especially on the health of the smoker and represents a growing burden on healthcare systems across the continent.
He revealed that the youth demographics show that Africa has the world’s largest youth population, making it a prime target for tobacco marketing. There is also a market shift from the west to Africa as a result of declining sales there. The industry is also adopting aggressive marketing tactics, often targeting vulnerable populations.
Weak enforcement of tobacco control laws also allow for continued exploitation of loopholes. He revealed some of the strategies of the industry. They include introduction of flavoured products, social media and street advertising as well as product visibility.
In her presentation on Tobacco and Conflict, Oluchi Joy Robert, a UK-based tobacco control expert, said that the tobacco industry’s history of profiteering from war and crisis spans centuries. Citing an opinion piece published in the British Medical Journal blog in October 2024, she said that the report noted that there are no winners in war, just terrible pain, destruction, and fatalities.
Nevertheless, the tobacco industry continues to make money by taking advantage of humanitarian crises and human suffering, making money in war-torn places while leaving consumers hungry, homeless, and displaced.
Oluchi explained that since World War I (1914-18), tobacco companies have targeted troops with free cigarettes, direct mail, branded merchandise, and “welcome home” events, thereby creating a new market and normalising smoking.
In World War II (1939-1945) cigarettes were included in soldiers’ rations, further solidifying smoking’s popularity.
With the onset of the Cold War (1947-1948) tobacco companies started targeting developing countries, expanding their markets.
She explained that with more recent conflicts in regions like the Middle East and Africa, tobacco companies have been exploiting weak regulations and targeting vulnerable populations. Their approach has only been modified with the distribution of tobacco products and nicotine to soldiers, promotion of tobacco products in countries weakened by conflict, involvement in illicit trade, etc.
She revealed that after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, many large transnational corporations, including tobacco companies, said they would pull out of Russia but Philip Morris International (PMI), British American Tobacco (BAT), and Japan Tobacco International (JTI) did not, prioritising profits over human rights and health.
In May 2024, JTI announced that it would continue its operations in Russia to satisfy investors, despite previously announcing that they were leaving. In 2022, the two companies JTI and PMI earned a whopping $7.9 billion and $7.4 billion in profits, respectively, and paid hundreds of millions of dollars in corporate taxes to Russia – Philip Morris $206 million and Japan Tobacco $193 million respectively.
She also pointed out that, in Ukraine, PMI controls 24 % of the cigarette market.
After temporarily suspending production in 2022, it continued to supply its cigarettes to Ukraine from eight factories located outside the country and by partnering with Imperial Brands which still operates in Ukraine.
In 2024 the UK and Ukraine government agreed to provide cigarettes, nicotine sachets and electronic cigarettes to Ukrainian soldiers who came to train across the Channel. The products were donated by an anonymous international tobacco company, and distributed to the soldiers as part of their rations.
An unnamed source claimed that smoking “poses a smaller threat to these brave soldiers than fighting Putin’s illegal invasion of their country.”
Going further, she said that, in Syria, the civil war since 2011 has led to forced displacement of more than 12 million people disrupting agriculture, yet the country remains a tobacco exporter. In 2023, the World Bank database recorded Syrian exports of cigars or cigarettes to importers Lebanon, Jordan and Qatar.
Also, Yemen, which has been in conflict for nine years, and facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, imported 3,361,440Kg worth of cigarettes in 2019, mostly from the UAE.
Then British ambassador to Yemen attended the opening of a tobacco manufacturing plant jointly owned by the Yemeni government, cigarette manufacturer Kamaran and BAT in late 2019, as revealed by the University of Bath Tobacco Control Research Group.
For journalists in the DRC she said that their area of interest should be that two major tobacco corporations – BAT Congo and Pan African Tobacco Group (PTG) with subsidiary Congo Tobacco Company – operate in the country and across six other countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
The corporations have significant presence and influence in the DRC tobacco market. Additionally, the DRC government faces challenges in regulating the tobacco industry, with issues such as illicit trade and the need for stronger tobacco control policies.
She urged the journalists to take up the following issues:
The tobacco industry exploits vulnerable situations, including conflicts, to market and promote their products, Targeting of vulnerable populations especially youth, women, and low-income communities with aggressive marketing tactics, Illicit trade, weak regulations, and tobacco in humanitarian settings, among others.
The training was supported by the Development Gateway, an IREX Venture.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, on Thursday, April 24, 2025, announced a ban on the issuance of waivers for the importation of threaded pipes for use in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
Dignitaries at the commissioning of Monarch Alloys Limited’s concrete weight coating plant at Ikorodu
The directive, which signals a strong push to support local manufacturing, was handed over to the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) at the commissioning of Monarch Alloys Limited’s concrete weight coating plant at Ikorodu, Lagos State.
The plant has an annual external capacity coating capacity of two million square meters and an internal square meters coating capacity of one million square meters. The facility supports onshore and offshore pipeline requirements where increased line lengths and sea-bed depths demand advanced corrosion protection and deploys full range of coating systems.
The event attracted several dignitaries including the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh, federal legislators and the Secretary to Lagos State Government, Ms. Bimbo Salu-Hundeyin.
In his speech, Lokpobiri emphasised that investments like the Monarch Alloys Limited’s must be patronised, to encourage similar projects in the sector. He underlined the importance of the local content policy to the nation’s economy, assuring that the Federal Government would continue to support manufacturers, with a view to creating jobs in the country.
“We would not allow dumping of pipes or such things anymore, we have a duty to support our industries to grow,” he stressed.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment lauded the promoters of Monarch Alloys Limited’s for decreasing Nigeria’s dependence on importation and expanding the value chain. He said the investment aligned with the agenda of his ministry to promote value addition, job creation and partnership for the growth of the economy.
The investment also serves as a model for continuous collaboration between the private sector and government and created opportunities, he said. Enoh stated further that Nigeria’s economy would only grow through industrialization, assuring that government would continue to provide enabling environment for investments to thrive.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Felix Omatsola Ogbe, commended the investment, noting that it underscored the mandate of the Board.
The facility, he added, aligns with the intent of the Nigerian Content Equipment Certificate (NCEC) – a key instrument under the NOGICD Act, which is issued to manufacturers and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) who commit to establishing production in Nigeria for components, equipment and systems used in the oil and gas industry.
The NCDMB boss confirmed that such manufacturers and OEMs are given priority consideration during technical bid evaluations in the oil and gas industry. This means companies like Monarch Alloys are not just contributing to industrialisation but are also positioned to benefit directly from local contracting opportunities, he noted.
He admitted that sourcing critical elements such as pipeline coating from abroad drains both opportunity and value from our economy. He noted the the situation had started to change, with the implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act by the NCDMB.
Speaking further, the NCDMB boss remarked that the new facility brings high-performance 3LPE and concrete weight coating capability into the country, delivering not only technical excellence but economic benefit that stays within our borders.
He pointed out that “the economic implications are significant, including job creation, skills development, stimulation of local manufacturing and logistics. Monarch Alloys is not only serving a sectoral need; it is actively contributing to national development.”
He also challenged industry stakeholders, especially operating companies to deepen their collaboration with local players such as Monarch Alloys.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Managing Director of Monarch Alloys Limited, Mr. Atul Chaudhary, confirmed that the company completed the investment within 18 months. He also announced the company’s plans to establish an LSAW pipe mill in the country to meet the needs of the oil and gas industry.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Pakistan‘s Ministry of National Health Services have sounded the alarm over a sharp rise in malaria cases across the country, linking the surge directly to the impacts of climate change.
Pakistani Federal Health Minister, Syed Mustafa Kamal
With more than two million cases reported annually, officials warned that intensified action is urgently needed to contain the growing threat to Pakistan and the wider region.
The warning was issued on the occasion of World Malaria Day, with both WHO and Pakistani authorities calling for a collective push to combat the disease.
“Malaria is a major global threat, and we are seeing first-hand how climate change is increasing both the risk and the cases in our country,” said Federal Health Minister, Syed Mustafa Kamal.
He emphasised that ending malaria is not only a health priority, but also an investment in a safer, healthier, and more equitable future for all nations.
Under the international theme “Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite,” WHO urged governments, organisations, and communities to step up support for malaria elimination efforts. Pakistan’s battle against malaria was severely impacted by the catastrophic 2022 floods, which triggered an additional 6.6 million cases over the 2022-2024 period.
Cases peaked in 2023 at 2.7 million, a steep rise compared to 399,097 reported in 2021. Consequently, WHO‘s Eastern Mediterranean Region saw malaria cases spike to an estimated 10.2 million in 2023, marking a 137 percent increase since 2015.
Despite the surge, Pakistan has made notable progress over the past decade in malaria prevention and treatment. Working alongside WHO and with funding from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the country screened more than 11.4 million suspected cases and treated 2 million confirmed malaria patients in 2024 alone.
Pakistan also distributed 7.8 million insecticide-treated nets across 22 high-burden districts, which contributed to a decline in cases from 2.7 million in 2023 to 2 million last year.
“WHO is proud to partner with Pakistan to continue saving lives by preventing and treating malaria,” said Dapeng Luo, WHO Representative in Pakistan. However, he warned that climate change is undermining hard-won gains and poses a threat not only to Pakistan but to the entire region.
“We know how to end malaria, and we can do it if all stakeholders invest and work together to reinforce the response and adapt to the new risks triggered by climate change,” he said.
Data collected from 5,575 medical facilities across 80 endemic districts reveals a clear upward trend in malaria cases linked to rising temperatures and frequent floods. Other contributing factors include deepening poverty, limited access to quality diagnostics and treatment, security challenges in Balochistan, the tribal areas, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as gaps in healthcare access in parts of Sindh.
While malaria control efforts have proven effective, experts stressed that sustained, coordinated action will be crucial to overcoming the impacts of climate change, protecting lives, and securing a healthier future for Pakistan.
Uganda on Saturday, April 26, 2025, declared the end of the Ebola disease outbreak, less than three months after the virus was confirmed in the capital Kampala.
Dr Kasonde Mwinga, WHO Representative in Uganda
During this outbreak, 14 cases, 12 confirmed and two not confirmed through laboratory tests (probable), were reported. Four deaths, two confirmed and two probable, occurred. Ten people recovered from the infection. A total of 534 people were identified as having been in contact with the confirmed and probable cases and were closely monitored.
The last confirmed patient was discharged on March 15, 2025, triggering the 42-day countdown to officially declare the end of the outbreak, in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.
This was Uganda’s second Ebola outbreak in less than three years. It was confirmed on January 30, 2025. The country’s long-standing experience in managing outbreaks enabled a fast, coordinated, and effective response.
With support from WHO and partners, the Ministry of Health activated national coordination structures, deployed rapid response teams, strengthened surveillance systems and established treatment units. Border health measures, particularly in Kampala and at points of entry, were reinforced to prevent cross-border transmission.
WHO mobilised more than 130 national and international staff to support the response in the areas of case investigation, contact tracing, laboratory diagnostics, and case management. More than 1500 samples were tested with WHO providing logistics, training and quality assurance to ensure biosafety.
WHO also facilitated the deployment of Emergency Medical Teams and anthropologists to reduce stigma, build trust and work with affected communities, which was critical in driving behaviour change.
“This outbreak challenged us in new ways. It touched both urban and rural communities across the country and unfolded against the backdrop of significant global funding constraints,” said Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa. The response demonstrated Uganda’s long-standing leadership in tackling public health emergencies. As WHO, we are extremely proud to have supported these efforts every step of the way.”
The Ebola strain that has been contained in Uganda is of the Sudan virus disease (SVD) subtype. This strain is a severe, often fatal illness affecting humans and other primates. In past outbreaks, SVD killed four in 10 of the people infected.
Despite the absence of licensed countermeasures against this species of Ebola, candidate vaccines are in various phases of clinical trials. Within four days of the government’s declaration of the outbreak, a randomised clinical trial for vaccine safety and efficacy using the ring vaccination approach was launched. In addition, the administration of Remdesivir treatment under the Monitored Emergency Use of Unregistered and Experimental Interventions (MEURI) protocol was initiated.
“Uganda’s leadership and resilience were crucial in containing this outbreak,” said Dr Kasonde Mwinga, WHO Representative in Uganda. From day one, WHO worked hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Health, deploying expertise, providing essential supplies, and ensuring every suspected case was investigated. The people of Uganda have shown extraordinary resolve.”
Although the outbreak is over, the Ministry of Health, with continued support from WHO and partners, will continue investing in surveillance, survivor care, and preparedness to ensure Uganda remains safe.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted thunderstorms and haziness across Nigeria from Sunday, April 27 to Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Thundery weather
In its weather outlook released on Saturday, April 26 in Abuja, NiMet forecasted moderate dust haze over Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Borno, Kano, Yobe, and Jigawa states.
It also predicted isolated thunderstorms in parts of Adamawa and Taraba states throughout the forecast period.
“In the North-central region, NiMet expects partly cloudy skies in the morning with isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon/evening hours over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Benue States.
“The South is likely to experience morning thunderstorms in parts of Lagos, Cross River, Rivers, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom states, with thunderstorms expected later in the day in several southern states.
“On Monday, NiMet anticipates sunny skies across the northern region, with morning thunderstorms in parts of Taraba and Adamawa states.
“Thunderstorms are expected to extend to Kaduna, Bauchi, and Gombe states later in the day.
“In the North Central region, morning thunderstorms are likely over Plateau, Nasarawa, and Benue states, with thunderstorms forecasted for the afternoon/evening in various parts of the region.”
In the South, NiMet predicted morning thunderstorms in Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Edo states, with thunderstorms expected later in the day over several southern states.
On Tuesday, NiMet forecasted sunny skies with patches of clouds in the north, with morning thunderstorms in parts of Adamawa and Taraba states.
“Thunderstorms are expected later in the day over parts of Kaduna, Adamawa, and Taraba states.
“The North Central region is expected to see partly cloudy skies in the morning, with thunderstorms in the afternoon/evening in parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi, Kwara, Benue, and Niger states.
“In the southern region, morning thunderstorms are likely in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Bayelsa states, with thunderstorms predicted later in the day in several states.”
NiMet urged the public to take adequate precautions as strong winds might precede the rains in areas with expected thunderstorms.
It also advised people in the North to be cautious, as dust particles could be suspended in the air.
Airline operators were urged to obtain airport-specific weather reports from NiMet for effective flight planning.
Residents were encouraged to stay informed through weather updates from NiMet, available on their website at www.nimet.gov.ng.
In a small village of Unguan Kanawa, Tankarau, Dutsen-Abba Ward, Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State, a tragic reality has sparked a life-saving transformation.
Polio vaccination in Adamawa State
Many residents in the village had lost their children to measles due to their resistance to vaccination.
This true call confession cane to the fore on Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Kaduna at a medical outreach organised by the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board with support from UNICEF.
A cross section of the residents of the community said at the event that after witnessing the devastating effects of the disease, they were now embracing immunisation.
The medical outreach is in commemoration of the African Vaccination/World Immunisation Week which holds from April 24 to 30.
Its has the theme: “Vaccination for all is Humanly Possible”.
The field visit to the village was meant to be an opportunity to monitor executive supervision of the ongoing polio campaign.
It was also to observe and document the impact of mobile outreaches in a zero-dose ward/LGA.
One of the residents, Saudatu Safiyanu, said she lost four children out of six to measles and others to severe fever.
She added that whenever medical teams for vaccination of any kind visited the village, they shied away and hid their children.
Safiyanu said her husband was totally against vaccination.
She said she pleaded with her husband to let their children get immunised but he refused.
Safiyanu recalled: “One day, some of the medical teams came for another vaccination in the village which my husband still refused to let the only two surviving children we have to be immunised.
“I then spoke to one of the officials to talk to my husband, which he did and my husband agreed.
“Since then, my only surviving children are healthy and have not been critically ill to a point that we loose hope or even think of death.
“The vaccinators usually come to our village to persuade and plead with us to bring out our children for immunisation, only few houses comply.
“I observed that those complying are having healthy children who don’t usually fall sick.”
According to her, the refusal is always from the men, adding that the women were always willing to give their children for Immunisation.
“Every mother wants to see her child healthy.
“You could imagine the pain of loosing four children after the whole suffering of carrying them for nine months each in the stomach, and then giving birth to them and they die,” the traumatised mother lamented.
Also, Adamu Musa of the same village, who lost two children to death, said they all died of measles.
Musa said he never believed in the vaccination thinking it was an evil plot against the rural children.
He, however, said he has now been much aware of the benefits and now allows all his children to be immunised.
He urged all men in the village to be informed and avail their children for the immunisation, emphasising the positive health changes he has seen on his surviving children.
The Village Head of Unguan Kanawa, Tankarau, Dutsen Abba Ward, Nasiru Yunusa, said two third of the villagers were avoiding all the kinds of vaccination being brought to them.
He, however, said with constant enlightenment and awareness, the villagers have now accepted the vaccination, decrying that only few of them were yet to do so.
“Those houses that were very stubborn, unfortunately got hit by measles which result to deaths.
“Now, we also have children that are on admissions because of the measles,” Yunusa lamented.
He urged the villager to to accept all the different vaccinations that the government and its partners bring to the people.
He again emphasised that they were not harmful, but aimed at ensuring healthy children and the society.
Speaking to newsmen at the sideline of the outreach, the UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Kaduna, Dr Gerida Birukila, stated the importance of the week, adding that they were also engaging in polio vaccination.
She said that the community had 100 per cent refusal for vaccination three years ago.
“As you have observed for yourself, there is now a serious measles outbreak.
“Several children have never been immunised, and as a result, they are suffering from measles.
“In one family of nine, they have already lost two children and others are still sick.
“So, it is very important for the community to immunise their children,” she said.
Birukila lamented that under the backdrop of vaccine shortages, they were trying to find vaccines for measles.
“There is a shortage in the country, and it is really important that we secure predictable vaccination supplies for the children.
“We are facing many challenges, mainly parental refusal due to lack of belief in immunisation,” the UNICEF top-notch official lamented.
She, however, said through interventions by the community, religious leaders and the government, the community had started accepting immunisation.
Birukila stated that the government was also supporting other services like healthcare to ensure that the community was well supported.
She appealed to parents, community, religious and traditional leaders, the government as well as partners to encourage the uptake of immunisation in order to save lives.
Birukila hoped that predictable funding for vaccination and immunisation would continue.
Also, the Director, Disease Control, Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, Hamza Ikara, emphasised intensifying routine immunisation to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates nationwide.
He lamented that many children in Ungwan Kanawa had fallen victim to measles due to.the lack of immunisation or missed vaccinations, largely due to parental refusal and non-compliance.
Ikara said that efforts were underway to strengthen surveillance, conduct re-vaccination, and sensitise household heads, securing men’s consent for vaccinations.
“Teams will visit the community today to vaccinate the children.
“The goal is to quickly stop the measles outbreak in the community and across the local government area through vaccination and outreach efforts,” he said.
The Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KSPHCDA) has inaugurated a house-to-house polio vaccination campaign to protect children from the debilitating effects of the poliovirus.
The campaign marks the commemoration of the Integrated 2025 National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs) and African Vaccination Week (AVW).
While inaugurating the campaign on Saturday, the Kogi Commissioner for Health, Dr Abdulazeez Adeiza, emphasised that vaccines save lives.
He highlighted that the key objective of the campaign was to increase immunisation coverage and reduce vaccine-preventable diseases.
Represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Dorcas Enehe, Adeiza urged parents and caregivers to welcome vaccinators and ensured their children were protected through vaccination.
The commissioner stressed that the campaign was focused on prevention, protection, and the collective future of Kogi’s children, urging everyone to work together to keep polio out of the state.
Earlier, Dr Musa Muazu, Executive Director of KSPHCDA, emphasised the importance of immunisation in saving lives and building healthier communities.
He explained that the campaign, which was scheduled to run from April 26 to 29, targeted children, aged 0 to 59 months, with the aim of ensuring that no eligible child was left unvaccinated.
Muazu also lauded the efforts of frontline health workers, community mobilisers, partners, and volunteers who had made the campaign possible.
He reiterated the importance of ensuring equitable immunisation, stating that no child should miss out on vaccines due to their location or background.
Representatives from partner organisations such as WHO, UNICEF, and NPHCDA reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that every eligible child in Kogi State was vaccinated.
Traditional leaders, including the Ohiegba of Mozum, HRH King Bukar Khalid, also pledged support to encourage the community to ensure full participation in the vaccination effort.
The Wife of Sokoto State Governor, Hajiya Fatima Aliyu, has called on women and other stakeholders to intensify efforts in the fight against poliomyelitis and other immunisation campaigns.
Aliyu made the call on Saturday during her visit to communities in Dange/Shuni, Sokoto South, and Sokoto North local government areas as part of the ongoing national round of the polio immunisation campaign.
She stressed that the campaign was a critical public health initiative aimed at protecting children under five years old from the debilitating effects of polio and other preventable diseases.
She also called on local communities and health workers to collaborate with the government in overcoming challenges in reaching underserved areas.
Aliyu reaffirmed her commitment to the welfare of women and children.
She lauded the efforts of Gov. Ahmed Aliyu, the Ministry of Health, and the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (SSPHDA).
She also acknowledged the contributions of other development partners for their dedication to improving child health in the state
“Every dose of vaccine administered is a step closer to eradicating polio from our villages, states, and the entire nation,” she stated.
In addition, the State Commissioner for Health, Mr. Faruk Umar, emphasised the importance of collective commitment to eliminate polio in Sokoto.
He appealed to parents and traditional leaders to support the campaign, underlining the devastating impact of polio on children and the significance of immunisation.
Umar reassured the public of the political will to improve healthcare services in Sokoto and urged parents to ensure their children received the vaccination.
The national campaign was launched in Dange/Shuni on Friday.
The event was attended by notable figures including UNICEF Chief of Field Sokoto State Office, Mr. Michael Juma; UNFPA Programme Officer, Ms. Gloria Enueze; and officials from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Also present at the launch were Dr Larai Tambuwal, Executive Secretary of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (SSPHDA), and other stakeholders dedicated to improving public health in Sokoto.
The Kano State Government in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other partners on Saturday flagged off the 2025 polio immunisation campaign in the state.
Flagging off the exercise in Warawa Local Government Area, Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf said the exercise was aimed at curbing the spread of the virus and protecting children from the life-threatening disease.
Kabir-Yusuf, represented by his Deputy and Chairman, Task Force on Immunisation, Alhaji Aminu Abdulsalam, said the resurgence of polio was a serious concern that must be tackled with urgency.
“We will not relent until Kano is completely free from the virus,” he said.
He added that the government, in collaboration with its development partners, would intensify efforts to ensure that every eligible child was reached during the exercise.
The governor urged parents and caregivers to present their children for vaccination, stressing that the vaccine was safe, effective and free.
Kabir-Yusuf also commended health workers and development partners, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Dangote Foundation and other BN partners for their continued support.
Michael Banda, the UNICEF Senior Education Manager and Officer-in-Charge, Kano Field Office, said Nigeria remained central to global efforts to stop the transmission of circulating variant polio viruses.
He described Kano as a high-priority state, adding that strong leadership at all levels was crucial to ensuring that every child received life-saving vaccines.
“As the world marks Immunisation Week, it is important to reflect on the impact of vaccines, which have saved over 150 million lives globally in the past 50 years,” he said.
Banda noted that recent global funding cuts posed serious threats to immunisation progress, making unified local action more important than ever.
He said that the oral polio vaccine remained safe and effective, having reduced global polio cases by 99.9 per cent, but warned that just one case could trigger an outbreak.
“To eliminate it, every child under five must be reached in every round of immunisation,” he said.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran, said the campaign would target children under five across the 44 local government areas of the state.
He said thousands of trained personnel had been deployed to conduct house-to-house vaccination to ensure no child was left behind.
Also speaking, the 14th Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi II, commended the state government for launching the exercise in Warawa LGA.
Sanusi, represented by the District Head of Shanono, Dr Lamido Sanusi, urged parents to present their children for the oral polio vaccine, describing it as safe, effective and vital to global efforts to eradicate the disease.
Kano was declared polio-free in 2020 but has recently recorded new variant cases, prompting renewed efforts to contain the disease.
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in partnership with the Bauchi State Government has mobilised traditional rulers to ensure massive 2025 polio vaccine uptake and compliance in the state.
Speaking during the monitoring of the vaccination exercise in Ningi Local Government Area of the state on Saturday, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of UNICEF’s Field Office, Bauchi, lauded the Emirs for actively participating in the advocacy of the polio vaccine uptake in the state.
Represented by Mr. Eki George, UNICEF’s Social Behaviour Change Specialist, Rafique acknowledged that the role the traditional rulers would play to ensure massive vaccine compliance and uptake could not be overemphasised.
“It is a welcome development to see our royal fathers taking up the leadership role in leading our communities to do the right thing.
“We are indeed very grateful as we have sought for their roles in this campaign and here they are with us to ensure that our children are all vaccinated.
“We appreciate the presence of the traditional rulers during these monitoring exercises and this will definitely encourage and boost the uptake of the polio vaccine, especially by the non-compliance people in the state.
“This is a campaign where we want to ensure that all the zero dose children in the state receive the life-saving vaccine as well as ensure that the parents especially fathers continuously give consent for their children to be vaccinated,” she said.
Rafique expressed UNICEF’s readiness to support all the LGAs, the communities and the state at large in ensuring that all the qualified children are vaccinated and kick out polio from the state and Nigeria in general.
Also speaking, Alhaji Othman Usman, Emir of Dass, said that the traditional institutions in the state were very committed to ensuring that polio was completely eradicated in Bauchi State this time around.
The First Class Emir, who is the Chairman, Bauchi State Emirate Councils Committee on Health (BASECCOH), said the traditional rulers would be fully involved in the mobilisation of communities, especially the non-compliance for the vaccine uptake.
“There are many communities here that are very known for non-compliance of the polio vaccine and that is why I and the Emir of Ningi have decided to visit the communities by ourselves.
“We are here to sensitise the people of these communities to ensure that the health workers can be able to access each and every household to be able to vaccinate all the eligible children in these communities,” he said.
The Emir also explained that they had been working closely with some Malams and Imams who had been resisting the vaccine in the past, adding that they have all accepted it.
“It’s a very good effort and In-Sha-Allah, we are going to see successes because the issue of resistance is now being taken care of.
“Even the Imams that were resisting to some extent before are now with us and one of them just did a symbolic vaccination of some children,” he said.
The Emir of Dass was accompanied by the Emir of Ningi, Alhaji Haruna Danyaya and some religious and community leaders.
The Adamawa Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ADPHCDA) has launched a polio vaccination campaign targeting no fewer than 1.4 million children, with support from the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Speaking at the 2025 National Immunisation Day celebration in Malkohi, Yola South LGA, on Saturday, the State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, said the aim of the exercise is to protect the lives and future of children.
Fintiri, who was represented by Mr. Ibrahim Mijinyawa, Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, said healthcare is one of the priorities of his administration.
He called on traditional leaders to encourage parents and caregivers to present their children for vaccination during the campaign to eradicate polio from the state.
Fintiri urged all stakeholders to work together to ensure the campaign’s success.
In her address, UNICEF Chief of the Bauchi Field Office, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, also appealed to parents and caregivers to take advantage of the campaign as a final opportunity to eradicate polio.
She said UNICEF is working closely with the state government to improve the wellbeing of children in the state and the country at large.
She stressed that the vaccine is safe and effective, and called for the support and acceptance of the people.
Dr Yusuf Abdulkareem, Coordinator of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Adamawa, urged parents to take every immunisation exercise seriously to boost the immunity of children, who are the leaders of tomorrow.
Abdulkareem also called on the government to intensify efforts in the fight against malaria in the state.
Alhaji Zubairu Mustapha, District Head of Yola South LGA, appreciated the contributions of partners in the health sector and assured full loyalty to the state government in efforts to improve healthcare.
He further pledged to intensify efforts in sensitising their subjects towards promoting the wellbeing of their children.
By Sani Idris, Stephen Adeleye, Habibu Harisu, Muhammad Nur Tijani, Olaide Ayinde and Ibrahim Kado
At sunrise and sunset many Ghanaian households strike the match to burn charcoal or wood to heat water and prepare meals.
Biofuel clean cooking stove
Behind the familiar crackle of flames lies a glowing crisis: household air pollution, deforestation, and the rising cost of traditional fuels.
As Ghana seeks cleaner, safer alternatives, bioethanol fuel is emerging as a game-changer in the clean cooking revolution.
A Renewable Flame
Bioethanol is a renewable, alcohol-based fuel produced through the fermentation of organic materials like sweet sorghum, cassava peels, maize stalks, sugarcane molasses, and food waste.
When burnt in clean cookstoves, it emits little to no smoke, offering a healthier and environmentally friendly cooking solution.
“Bioethanol offers a triple win – for the environment, public health, and energy access. It is one of the most scalable solutions to Ghana’s clean cooking challenge,” says Benjamin Boakye, the Executive Director of Africa Centre for Energy Policy in a recent study.
A Country in Need of Change
Seven out of 10 households in Ghana rely on solid fuels such as firewood and charcoal for daily cooking, according to data by the Ghana Statistical Service.
This practice is not only a leading cause of indoor air pollution—linked to respiratory illnesses, especially among women and children—but also a major driver of deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions, says Dr Emmanuel Y. Tenkorang, an Associate Professor at the Department of Environment, Governance and Sustainable Development, the University of Cape Coast.
“We found out that most homes use charcoal and the danger is that some homes do not have kitchens. In most cases, it is just the corridor that has been converted into a cooking area, using thick plastic to cover so often the fumes easily travel to the main house,” he adds.
According to the Ghana’s Ministry of Health, indoor air pollution is responsible for more than 18,000 premature deaths annually.
The country loses about 135,000 hectares of forest every year, much of it to fuelwood extraction.
“Switching to clean fuels like ethanol could drastically reduce these losses while improving lives,” notes Prof. Tenkorang.
A 2023 study by the Energy Commission estimated that Ghana has the potential to produce over 200 million litres of bioethanol annually from agro-waste alone – enough to supply clean fuel to nearly five million households if harnessed effectively.
The Untapped Potential of Bioethanol Production
A quiet transformation is taking root in Ghana’s clean energy sector as researchers and local partners work to establish sweet sorghum as a reliable raw material for bioethanol production.
After months of agronomic trials and feasibility assessments, the initiative has successfully identified suitable sweet sorghum varieties and is now preparing to construct a dedicated 81-litter per day bioethanol refinery to convert the crop’s sugary stalks into clean cooking fuel.
Led by the Ecolinks in collaboration with researchers and private sector actors, the project marks a significant step toward reducing dependence on wood fuels and promoting locally sourced renewable energy.
“The main focus for last season was to test the crop under different climatic conditions. We had a good outcome because even in the midst of the dry spell which affected cereals especially maize. The sweet sorghum did great,” Mr. Isaac Seidu Atayure, a project Officer at Ecolinks, says.
For this cropping season, the team is opening it up to farmers and testing additional varieties from Advanta international and ICRISAT.
A viable sweet sorghum variety that grows well in southern, middle and northern Ghana has been identified.
“The project will be operating on two models; one is to cultivate sweet sorghum on our production sites and the other is to engage Out-growers to grow sweet sorghum for us to buy. The initial phase is to develop 4000ha under both models to feed our refinery,” says Mr. Atayure..
“Sweet sorghum is an excellent feedstock for bioethanol production and unlike cassava it is not a stable food crop. Our model allows farmers to grow their food crops while ensuring a regular supply of feedstock for our refinery. We see sweet sorghum as a new revenue source for farmers to tap into,” he says.
Government welcomes initiatives that will explore the potential in bioethanol which include that of Eco links.
Mr. Seth Mahu, the Renewable Energy Director at the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, tells the GNA that the government supports biofuel production and adequate provision has been made for its development in the country.
Aside from it being a substitute for clean cooking, he says the country has made provision for biofuel to be blended with conventional fuel to reduce the carbon level and make it viable
Mr. Mahu explains that a national biofuel policy is being developed, with stakeholder consultations already conducted in some regions to guide feedstock choice, production standards, land use, and ensure food security is protected.
Persons with deep knowledge in the sector like Mr. Benjamin Boakye, say the potential is huge but manufacturers and governments must heighten research on the most efficient ethanol-based cookstoves to replace the existing ones with design and operational flexibility challenges.
Mr. Johnson Penn, Chief Executive Officer of EcoLinks, is also suggesting to the government to provide incentives, including tax exemptions on bioethanol fuel and stoves, to make clean cooking solutions affordable and accessible for low-income households.
For now, the flame is small – but with the right support, it could light the way for millions of Ghanaians toward a healthier, greener tomorrow.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the Federal Government to include critical voices in national climate change policy formulations.
Emmanuel Ugboaja, General Secretary, NLC
Mr. Emmanuel Ugboaja, General Secretary, NLC, made the call at the opening session of the Post COP29 Review Meeting held on Friday, April 25, 2025, in Abuja.
The meeting was organised by the NLC Climate Change, Green Jobs and Just Transition Programme with the support of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Ugboaja, represented by Mr. Ismali Bello, Assistant General Secretary, NLC, said such critical voices include the trade unions, women, youths, employees of labour and persons living with disabilities, among others.
He said that such inclusion would help address the problem of climate injustice happening in the country.
“The truth is that we cannot be complaining of climate injustice at the global arena and be perpetuating the same at the national level through the shutting out of critical voices in the development of national climate change policies for our country.
“I must remind us that as trade unions, we feel a sense of loss at the denial of the key demands made by the working class and even some slips in major wins secured at previous COPs and COP29.
“This includes the situation of workers and their communities as the epicentre of the Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP).
“In the processes leading up to COP29 especially the subsidiary bodies meetings, the emphasis on workers and their communities was subsumed under the general blanket of a people centred Just Transition.
“Well, the point is not lost. Even under the canopy of a people-centred Just Transition, we maintain that workers, their families and communities are the major people under consideration,” Ugboaja said.
He, however, said that climate change was a workplace phenomenon as most of the emissions happen in and around its corridors, adding that workers were also at the frontline of climate change impact and ruin.
Ugboaja added that this meant that workers through their trade unions must be around the driving seat of climate change policy formulations and actions at all levels as it’s action and associated response measures toll heavily on workers.
“Anything contrary would be an adventure in ghost chasing and grand greenwashing.
“It is on this note that we call for the review of the process for the development of the Just Transition Guidelines for Nigeria,” Ugboaja said.
Ms Inviolata Chinyagarara, ILO Senior Specialist Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV), in her remarks said that the workshop aimed at enhancing trade union advocacy for and contributing to a just transition and green jobs at local, national and international levels.
She said ACTRAV had been clear on the following key messages which were also a call to action for trade unions; for Trade unions to play an effective part in the Just Transition.
According to her, building trade unions’ capacity to navigate uncertainty and change, adapting to changing dynamics in the labour markets and changing needs of workers, and positioning themselves strategically for the future is crucial.
“The voice of workers and their trade unions need to be at the centre of just transition and green jobs policy dialogue.
“It is, therefore, crucial for trade unions to build requisite capacities to influence policy makers to develop and consider integrated policy systems.
“This is to ensure policy coherence on how climate and employment goals must go hand in hand. Indeed, this workshop is timely, and it is aimed at scaling up ongoing trade union interventions,” she said.
Similarly, Girzo Adamu, Director, Special Duties and Projects, Ministry of Labour and Employment, said the Federal Government was committed to the achievement of the Just Transition Guidelines.
“I want to assure you that the Just Transition Guidelines is about to be 80 per cent delivered.
“I want to encourage you all not to give up on the demands of labour in the inclusion the Just Transition Guidelines.
“Because we were so touched that labour issues were left behind in Just Transition Guidelines and even the consultant accepted the mistake,” he said.
Dr Peter Tarfa, a consultant on climate change, urged the NLC to participate in the development of the Nationally Determined Contributions 3.0, for climate action plans due for 2025.
He said the NDC is the road map that every country uses for its climate actions.
On the upcoming Climate Change Conference (COP) in Brazil, Tarfa advised labour to put in place work plans before attending the conference.
He also said that proper research should be done for the agenda setting, kind of negotiations that should be push forward among others.
