News

SEASONAL CLIMATE PREDICTION WILL BOOST FOOD PRODUCTION – SEN. ABDULLAHI

 

The Hon. Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, has emphasized that the timely release of Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) will empower Nigerian farmers with the necessary information for better decision-making and agricultural planning, ultimately enhancing productivity.

Sen. Abdullahi made these remarks during the presentation of the 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP), themed “The Role of Early Warnings towards a Climate-Resilient Aviation Industry for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development,” by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) in Abuja on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

He explained that the SCP serves as an essential advisory tool for farmers, offering site-specific downscaling that, when implemented, would boost farmers’ resilience and adaptive capacity to the impacts of climate change. “Early warning systems and climate intelligence are crucial for resilience, adaptation, and economic stability,” said Abdullahi, stressing that the SCP is vital to Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

According to Abdullahi, the agricultural sector contributed 17.22 percent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product in the first quarter of 2024, with smallholder farmers comprising more than 70 percent of the workforce. He noted that the SCP will help farmers increase productivity, while also addressing issues like poverty, hunger, food insecurity, malnutrition, food imports, and unemployment. Furthermore, it will enhance women’s empowerment in agriculture and improve environmental performance.

The Minister praised the collaboration between NiMet and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in integrating climate intelligence into agricultural practices. He affirmed, “The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is fully supporting and committed to the early warning system, climate-smart agriculture, and all initiatives aimed at achieving food security and a resilient environment.”

Abdullahi also highlighted that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has prioritized SCP, with the office of the Presidential Special Envoy on Climate Action designated as the lead negotiator on climate-related matters and the coordination of climate-action initiatives across federal ministries.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

You may also like

Business Economy

NASENI and Caverton Helicopters Launch Training of Female staff on UAV

post-image

 

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and Caverton Helicopters have commenced the second batch of training for 10 selected female engineers and scientists from NASENI system-wide in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) technology.

 

The six-week training program, which kicked off on Monday 7th of April 2025 at Caverton’s training school in Ikeja, Lagos, is part of the NASENI-Caverton, (NASCAV) ongoing partnership agreement to strengthen the aviation mandate of NASENI.

 

The training is a key component of the SHEFLY project, a pioneering initiative by the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, aimed at empowering rural women to leverage drone technology for precision farming and increased agricultural yields, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

 

In his remarks, Dr. Abayomi Okesola, the team Lead NASCAV project, who spoke on behalf of NASENI management, welcomed the trainees to the epoch training exercise with CAVERTON, citing them…

Read More
Announcements Business Economy News Society Technology Technology Trends Telecoms

NCC Launches Groundbreaking Protection for Nigerians’ Unused Airtime, Introduces 12-Month Recovery Window

post-image

 

In a historic move for Nigeria’s telecom sector, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) today announced sweeping reforms that will safeguard millions of naira in unused airtime from disappearing when phone lines are deactivated. The bold new protections, unveiled during a national stakeholder forum, represent the most significant consumer rights advancement in Nigeria’s digital age.

Speaking at the virtual gathering, Mrs. Chizua Whyte, NCC’s Head of Legal & Regulatory Services, painted a vivid picture of the human impact behind the policy shift. “We’re talking about market women who save for weeks to buy airtime, students rationing credit for online classes, and entrepreneurs depending on every naira for their business communications,” she said. “These aren’t just numbers on a balance sheet—they’re the lifeblood of Nigeria’s digital economy.”

The centerpiece of the new framework gives subscribers an unprecedented 12-month window to reclaim unused airtime after their line is deactivated, a dramatic departure…

Read More
Business Culture Economy

NCC Introduces Progressive Guidelines to Protect Subscribers’ Unused Airtime

post-image

 

In a bold move to safeguard telecom consumers, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled a draft regulatory framework ensuring that subscribers can reclaim unused airtime on deactivated lines—a first-of-its-kind policy in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.

Empowering Subscribers

The proposed guidelines prioritize consumer rights by:

  1. Guaranteeing 12-Month Recovery Window: Subscribers can reclaim unutilized airtime within one year of line deactivation, preventing unnecessary losses.
  2. Banning Monetization, Promoting Service Benefits: While cash refunds remain restricted, users will have flexible service options (data, calls, SMS) to utilize their balances.
  3. Transparent Audits: Operators must conduct detailed audits of inactive lines and submit reports to the NCC, ensuring accountability.
  4. Mandatory Consumer Awareness: Telecom companies must notify users via SMS, websites, and multilingual campaigns about their rights under the new policy.

NCC’s Pro-Consumer Stance

The Commission’s draft addresses longstanding gaps in the sector, where inactive subscribers often lose unused airtime without recourse. By adopting global best practices while tailoring…

Read More
Announcements Business Technology Technology Trends Telecoms

NCC Opens National Conversation on Unclaimed Recharges, Says “Consumers Must Not Be Left Behind”

post-image

 In what many are describing as a bold step toward consumer-centric reform in Nigeria’s telecom space, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) today convened a virtual stakeholder forum focused on the growing concern of unclaimed prepaid airtime balances—a topic that has sparked debates across boardrooms, consumer circles, and policy spaces.

The event, which attracted major players from telecom companies, consumer advocacy groups, regulators, and tech analysts, was opened with a welcome address by the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, delivered on his behalf by the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Ms. Rimini Makama.

In his heartfelt message, Dr. Maida didn’t mince words about the urgent need to find clarity and fairness in how dormant prepaid balances are handled, especially as mobile communication continues to define life…

Read More
Announcements Business Culture Economy Opinion Society

Tributes Pour In as Prof. Ndubuisi Ekekwe Remembers Dr. Pascal Gabriel Dozie: “A Legend Ascends to the Ecclesiastical Heavens”

post-image

As tributes continue to flood in over the passing of Nigerian banking titan and business statesman, Dr. Pascal Gabriel Dozie (PGD), one particularly moving homage came from Professor Ndubuisi Ekekwe—renowned entrepreneur, inventor, and founder of Tekedia Institute—who described PGD as “a legend who departs the solid bounds of the earth to the ecclesiastical heaven.”

In an emotionally rich reflection, Prof. Ekekwe recounted personal memories, moments of transformation, and the remarkable legacy left behind by the late founder of Diamond Bank. His words painted a vivid portrait of Dr. Dozie as not only a pioneer of African banking but a compassionate leader who elevated countless young Nigerians.

“A legend departs from the solid bounds of the earth to the ecclesiastical heaven,” Prof. Ekekwe wrote, “where cymbals, tapestries and flutes, with cherubic melodies, welcome a man who raised…

Read More
Business Security Society Software Technology Technology Trends

Cyber criminals bypass code of ethics with concerted attacks on the world’s healthcare sector 

post-image

South Africa’s healthcare sector weakened by underfunding, lack of skills and fragmented infrastructure

Johannesburg, South Africa April 7, 2025 – “There was a time when cybercriminals held off from attacking the world’s healthcare institutions for reasons of ethics.  But no more,” says Shayimamba Conco, Cyber Security Expert at Check Point Software Technologies, a global leader in cyber security solutions. Conco comments come ahead of World Health Day on Monday April 7, 2025.

 

During the first three months of this year, Check Point Research has reported that the healthcare and medical industry experienced an average of 2,309 weekly attack attempts per organisation. This is an increase of 39% compared to the same timeframe last year.

 

Figures issued in a separate Check Point Threat Intelligence Report over the last six months show that a South African healthcare organisation is attacked on average 1626 times per week.

  Read More

Business

Personal Development is the Path to Exceptional Living” – Dr. Ifeoma Eze Advocates in Her Latest Book

post-image

 

Renowned author, pastor, and founder of The King’s Rubies, Dr. Ifeoma Eze, is urging individuals to embrace personal growth and development as a way to unlock purpose, happiness, and meaningful relationships. In her widely acclaimed book, “Becoming A Person Of Exceptional Value,” she makes a compelling case for why intentional self-improvement is essential in today’s fast-paced world.

“When you expand and grow yourself, you become more interesting because you learn more,” Dr. Eze writes. “You’re also more open to different viewpoints and perspectives as well as being more aware both of yourself and others around you.”

The book, which has sparked conversation among personal development enthusiasts and faith-based communities alike, outlines ten key benefits of personal growth—each backed with insights drawn from Dr. Eze’s experience and teachings.

According to her, personal development brings clarity and direction to life. “You are clearer on your purpose in life and you can quickly identify which…

Read More
Announcements Business Education Health International

The Night That Changed Trauma Care Forever

post-image

 

It was February 17, 1976, and Dr. James K. Styner, an orthopedic surgeon, was flying his wife and four young children home to Lincoln, Nebraska. They had just attended a wedding in Los Angeles and were making the long journey back, crossing the wide open skies over the American Midwest in their small private plane. The sun was setting as they neared Nebraska, casting a golden hue over the landscape. But that warm glow would soon give way to a night that would alter the course of Styner’s life — and eventually, emergency medicine around the world.

The weather began to turn. Low, thin clouds crept in. Dr. Styner wasn’t certified to fly using instruments alone, so he chose to stay beneath the cloud cover, navigating by sight. But dusk was fading quickly. Disoriented and flying low in near darkness, he misjudged his altitude. The plane skimmed the surface of…

Read More