Author: Atoyebi Adenike
By Atoyebi Nike Nigeria has begun updating its National Biotechnology Policy as the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency hosts a two-day review workshop in Abuja. The event, running from December 8 to 9, brings together officials and experts to align the 2025 policy with global scientific trends. Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Dr. Kinsley Udeh said the policy must be adaptable and forward-looking. He urged stronger research investment, improved laboratories and a reliable regulatory system. Director General Abdullahi Mustapha noted that the current policy, approved in 2001, must now reflect advances in genomics, synthetic biology, gene editing, bio-manufacturing…
By Atoyebi Nike The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has launched the Student Venture Capital Grant programme, which will provide up to N50 million in equity-free funding for student-led ventures. The initiative was unveiled in Abuja on Monday, with applications scheduled to close on January 23. Alausa said the programme is designed to drive innovation, support research excellence and build a strong entrepreneurial culture across universities, polytechnics and colleges of education. He noted that not every idea will become a startup but added that some submissions may grow into patents and licensable technologies with local and global potential.…
By Atoyebi Nike Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has said the kidnapping of schoolchildren is a “lesser evil” compared to killing soldiers, arguing that Nigeria must negotiate with bandits to prevent greater violence. In an interview with the BBC, Gumi acknowledged that abducting minors is wrong but insisted it remains less severe than murder, especially when victims are later released unharmed. His comments come amid the abduction of more than 315 people in Niger State, where some students have escaped or been freed. The cleric defended his long-held belief in dialogue with bandits, saying negotiation is a global and practical…
By Atoyebi Nike The Kogi State Government says security operatives have intercepted a group of underage children trafficked into the state in what appears to be a covert recruitment attempt for banditry training. Commissioner for Information and Communication Kingsley Fanwo disclosed in a Tuesday statement that NSCDC personnel under the Yagba Area Command stopped the operation following credible intelligence from community hunters. According to him, officers intercepted a truck at about 3 p.m. on December 5 conveying 21 children aged between six and 17 into Kogi. The adults moving them failed to provide any legitimate explanation for the journey. Fanwo…
By Atoyebi Nike The United Nations has reduced its 2026 humanitarian aid request to $23 billion, almost half the amount sought last year, as global donor funding continues to decline. The appeal forms the core of the $33 billion Global Humanitarian Overview (GHO) 2026, which aims to deliver urgent assistance to people affected by conflict, climate shocks, disease outbreaks, and food crises. The UN announced the new appeal on Monday, warning that record levels of humanitarian need now exceed available resources. Rising hunger, mass displacement, and increasing attacks on aid personnel have forced the organization to limit support to the…
By Atoyebi Nike The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has renewed concerns over its persistent funding challenges, prompting a visit by the Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Dunoma Ahmed, to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation on Monday. Ahmed met with the Accountant-General, Dr Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, to push for steady financing and quicker disbursement of the ministry’s approved budget. Delays have repeatedly hit Nigeria’s missions abroad, leading to unpaid bills and disruptions in operations. A statement issued on Tuesday by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the discussion centred on improving the ministry’s financial flow, especially the timely release of funds…
By Atoyebi Nike The Nigerian Air Force has addressed reports on the diversion of its C-130 aircraft to Burkina Faso, stating that the crew acted strictly in line with aviation safety procedures. The aircraft, on a ferry mission to Portugal, landed in Bobo-Dioulasso after the crew detected a technical concern shortly after departing Lagos on 8 December 2025. Air Force spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said the crew chose the nearest airfield as required under international safety protocols. All personnel on board are safe and are receiving courteous treatment from Burkinabe authorities. Ejodame noted that arrangements are in progress to…
By Atoyebi Nike Governance expert and corporate executive Funmi Ekundayo has been elected president of the Corporate Secretaries International Association (CSIA), the global body representing corporate secretaries and governance professionals. Her election, announced on the Association’s official website, is seen as a major boost for Nigeria’s corporate governance community and underscores her rising influence in the legal and financial services sectors. Ekundayo is the Group Managing Director of STL Capital Group and a Harvard Business School alumna. She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Law from the University of Lagos and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries…
By Atoyebi Nike The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecast dust haze, cloudiness, and isolated thunderstorms across the country from Monday, December 8, to Wednesday, December 10, 2025. In its Sunday outlook, NiMet predicted moderate dust haze over northern states, including Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Adamawa, Taraba, Borno, and Yobe, with visibility ranging from 2km to 5km. Slight dust haze is expected in the rest of the northern region and the central states throughout the forecast period. Southern Nigeria is expected to experience a cloudy atmosphere with sunshine intervals, alongside isolated thunderstorms and light rains over parts of Cross…
By Atoyebi Nike Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to restoring the dignity and rebuilding the lives of victims of insurgency, including Nigerian refugees living in Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. During a visit to the Minawao Refugee Camp in Cameroon’s Far North region, home to over 12,000 Nigerians displaced from Gwoza Local Government Area, Zulum assured refugees that comprehensive security measures have been established in their communities to support voluntary return. “The welfare of refugees, internally displaced persons, and returnees remains a priority for us,” the governor said, noting that rehabilitating insurgency survivors is central…