Category: Nigerian Tribune

LAGOS State Government has been called to take urgent and lasting action to address the persistent flooding that continues to devastate the Lekki axis.

In a statement issued by the Lekki Chapter of the Neo-Black Movement of Africa, the group bemoaned the recurring floods that destroy homes, disrupt livelihoods, and hinder economic growth in one of Lagos’ fastest-growing districts.

Speaking, the Chapter President, Mr. Erauyi Agbon-Ifo, advocated for compensation and an insurance framework to support households and businesses affected by the floods, arguing that taxpayers deserve fair restitution for their losses.

He said the yearly flood inflicted pains on residents as they lost valuables worth millions of naira in the deluge

He canvassed the need for government, private organisations, and community groups to collaborate on sustainable solutions that go beyond temporary relief.

The group urged the state to improve drainage infrastructure, expand stormwater channels, and ensure consistent maintenance of existing systems. It also cited Rivers State as a model for effective flood management despite similar coastal challenges.

It also called for intensified public enlightenment on proper waste disposal, flood prevention, and climate adaptation measures.

Expressing solidarity with affected families, the NBM reaffirmed its commitment to continued advocacy until concrete government action is achieved.

The House of Representatives on Tuesday urged urgent measures to strengthen security infrastructure in rural communities nationwide, particularly in Kebbi State, where incessant attacks by bandits, cattle rustlers, kidnappers, and other criminal elements have continued to devastate lives and livelihoods in recent times.

This was followed by the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Ibrahim Mohammed, who drew attention to the growing insecurity in rural areas and its devastating impact on farming, education, and economic activities.

While moving the motion during plenary, Mohammed noted that rural communities in Kebbi State and several parts of the country have been repeatedly targeted by criminal groups, leading to widespread displacement, the abandonment of farmlands, and the shutdown of schools and health facilities

The lawmaker lamented that the situation, if not urgently addressed, could worsen food insecurity and deepen poverty in agrarian communities that serve as the nation’s food basket.

He raised the alarm that most of the affected communities lack adequate security presence, and in areas where security formations exist, they are often under-resourced, under-staffed, and poorly equipped to respond effectively to threats.

‘The absence of modern security infrastructure, such as patrol vehicles, reliable communication systems, surveillance technology, and properly equipped operational bases, has limited the capacity of security agencies to protect citizens in remote areas,’ he said.

Mohammed emphasised that while urban centres have benefited from recent security interventions, rural communities remain largely neglected despite bearing the brunt of violent attacks.

He therefore urged the Federal Government, through the relevant security agencies, to prioritise the deployment of modern security infrastructure to rural areas, enhance intelligence gathering, and ensure regular patrols in high-risk communities.

Lawmakers who contributed to the debate supported the motion, stressing that insecurity in rural areas directly undermines national food production and threatens social stability.

They noted that if farmers continue to flee their farmlands due to fear of attacks, Nigeria’s efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency will be severely compromised.

Adopting the motion, the House resolved to call on the Federal Government to strengthen the capacity of security formations in rural areas by providing necessary logistics, modern equipment, and technology-driven surveillance systems to improve response to emerging threats.

The House also urged the relevant committees to interface with security agencies to ensure proper implementation of the resolution and report back for further legislative action.

The motion underscores growing concern among lawmakers that, unless the government intensifies rural security interventions, the cycle of violence, displacement, and economic disruption in states like Kebbi could spread to other regions, worsening the country’s insecurity and food crisis.

The Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) judiciary, sitting at Gudu, Abuja, on today fixed Tuesday, October 28 to hear applications by parties on the custody of the child of Prince Abdulmalik Ado Ibrahim and his ex-wife, Adama Indimi.

Abdulmalik, a son of the late Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim and his former wife got married on August 8, 2020 but got separated after four years on August 26, 2024 with their divorce formalised at the Upper Area Court, Gudu, which issued a valid divorce certificate.

The marriage was blessed with a child as of the time of their divorce.

Based on Islamic law, which grants custody of an underage child to the mother, while the father is to be fully responsible for the child’s financial upbringing, counsel for Adama Indimi, Mohammed Aliyu, approached the Upper Area Court, Kado, to seek full custody of the child for the mother.

The Prince’s former wife in her processes, further asked for a monthly maintenance fee to be paid by the father, covering feeding, clothing, social amenities and salary for the child’s Filipino nanny at $2,000 plus ?100,000 monthly.

She further sought an order of the court compelling Prince Ibrahim to pay both conventional and Islamic school fees once the child attains school age.

Also, she sought an order compelling the father to assist with all legal documentation for the child, including birth certificate, National ID, international passport and visa as well as any other orders deemed necessary for the child’s welfare.

However, counsel for Prince Ibrahim, Darlington Onyekwere, conceded custody of the child to the mother, following which the court entered part judgment accordingly.

The Prince, however, offered to be paying the sum of N1million monthly instead of the $2,000 monthly sought by his ex-wife and proposed that school fees be paid directly to the child’s school, not through the mother.

Later, the defence sought to amend its counterclaim in Paragraph 5, which had originally proposed the ?1 million payment.

Meanwhile, the claimant alleged that her witnesses could not continue testifying due to frustration.

The counsel for the former wife subsequently requested the court to compel Prince Ibrahim to personal appearance before the court and present his six-month bank statements to prove financial capacity.

The Upper Area Court granted this request.

However, following his dissatisfaction with the order of the lower court, Ibrahim filed an appeal at the Sharia Court of Appeal against the ruling that compelled his attendance with bank statements.

He alleged that the presiding judge is bias.

Despite the appeal at the Sharia appellate court, Indimi asked the Upper Area Court, Kado, to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of her former husband in order to ensure his appearance before the court.

The matter is pending at the Upper Area Court, Kado and has been slated for Monday, October 27 for continuation hearing.

Meanwhile, at the resumed hearing of Prince Ibrahim’s appeal at the FCT Sharia Court of Appeal on Tuesday, counsel for the appellant, Mark Asu-Opi, who held the brief of Darlington Onyekwere, told the court that the appellant’s former wife served him her counter-affidavit this morning.

He told the court that the appellant needed time to study the counter affidavit and subsequently file appropriate reply.

He then sought an adjournment to enable the appellant to respond.

While responding Indimi’s counsel, Mohammed Aliyu, told the court that though the respondent served the appellant her counter affidavit today, she was still within time.

While submitting that the court is not a court of technicalities, Aliyu asserted that nothing stops the respondent from moving her pending application and the appellant would then move his too.

After listening to parties’ arguments, the three-member appeal panel led by Grand Khadi Ibrahim Rufai Imam adjourned the appeal to October 28 to hear both parties’ applications.

The Gateway International Airport in Ogun State begins commercial flight operations, marking a significant milestone for the state’s economy and Nigeria’s aviation industry.

The airport’s launch is expected to ease congestion at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport, one of the busiest airports in Nigeria.

With its modern facilities and operational readiness, the Gateway International Airport is poised to become a catalyst for trade, investment, and tourism in the region.

The airport has secured an Aerodrome Operational Permit from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, making it the first airport in Nigeria to receive such certification under current regulatory standards.

This permit gives the airport an Aerodrome Reference Code of 3C and an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Services rating.

The airport’s strategic location along the Ilisan-Iperu Remo road makes it easily accessible.

The commencement of flight operations at the Gateway International Airport is a testament to Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration efforts to boost the state’s economy and provide modern infrastructure.

The airport’s impact on the region is expected to be significant, with potential benefits including job creation, increased economic activity, and improved connectivity.

Value Jet Airline will operate two flights per week between Abuja and the Gateway International Airport, while a global logistics firm has committed to operating two weekly cargo flights between London and the airport.

The airport’s designation as an alternate landing site for Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport increases its strategic importance for both domestic and international aviation.

As the airport begins operations, it remains to be seen how it will shape the future of air travel in Nigeria.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has flagged off a 14-day medical outreach to take place simultaneously in four hospitals in the Plateau North Senatorial District of Plateau State, with 25 foreign doctors participating.

Speaking during the flag-off of the outreach at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, the APC National Chairman mentioned that the exercise will also take place at Christian Hospital Vom and Sunnah Hospital, Angwan Rogo, allowing people from various parts of the senatorial district and beyond to have access to medical treatment.

He highlighted that the medical outreach was intended to complement and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s healthcare reform efforts, particularly through strategic interventions that extend medical services to the vulnerable and disadvantaged.

His words: ‘I’d like to thank everyone involved in this programme for their enormous contributions and enthusiasm to collaborate with us, particularly the donors from the U.S. and other countries. We have already conducted pre-medical outreach in the Southern and Central districts of the state. So, we have reached the point in the outreach when we need experts in specific medical areas.

‘We have medical teams from America and Canada; they came with the requisite medical equipment to handle all the referral cases recorded at previous missions in the Central and Southern zones, including heart surgeries and hip replacements, with the new cases to be recorded in the Northern zone.’

The APC National Chairman further disclosed that the doctors would also be involved in training Nigerian medical personnel and imparting the necessary skills.

He said, ‘So, we are optimistic that within these two weeks of their presence here, they will train Nigerian medical personnel and provide manpower training so that they can improve the capacity of Nigerian medical doctors to perform surgeries that would have been difficult for them before.

‘They will support nurses, private clinics, and private hospitals to ensure they provide more than just doing surgery and going back to America. So, it’s a very outstanding programme that will have an influence on people’s daily lives.

‘At the party level, the APC would undertake similar missions across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria as part of its Corporate Social Investment programmes. A timetable for this will be announced soon.’

The team lead, Dr Emeka Anyanwu, who expressed optimism that the team would try to cover all cases within the period of the programme, added that the medical specialists include trauma surgeons, gynaecologists, ophthalmologists, and orthopaedic and general surgeons.

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has once again assured Nigerians that the 10th Senate under his leadership will remain open, accountable, and responsive.

Akpabio gave the assurance on Tuesday in his address to welcome his colleagues back to plenary after about ten weeks of annual recess.

In the welcome address titled ‘Steady Hands for a Great Nation,’ Akpabio said: ‘To the citizens of Nigeria, we say this: we hear you. We know your expectations. You ask not for excuses but for results; not for noise but for substance.

‘This Senate will remain open, accountable, and responsive. We will not shrink from scrutiny – indeed, we welcome it, for accountability is the lifeblood of democracy.

‘But it must be clearly understood: the foundation of every democracy is its legislature. Those who seek to weaken the legislature, in truth, seek to wreck the substructure of democracy itself.’

The Senate President commiserated with compatriots across the flood-ravaged states and extended a hand of fellowship and prayers of comfort to every home affected by other disasters, insecurity, hunger, and hardship.

Akpabio urged his fellow lawmakers to resume work with fresh vigour and legislate for future generations.

He said: ‘Our people do not look to us for lamentations; they look to us for action. The banners of terrorism and banditry still threaten the countryside.

‘The cost of living weighs upon the family table like an iron chain. The flickering of our national grid leaves cities in darkness and commerce in paralysis.

‘These trials summon us to service of uncommon urgency – and to partnership with the Executive Arm, that together we rewrite the story of our nation.

‘We must legislate with boldness. We must press forward with reforms to steady our economy, draw investment, broaden the tax base, and nurture growth.

‘We must strike hard at the enemies of ignorance and disease by strengthening education and healthcare. We must give the youths of Nigeria not only hope but opportunity.

‘We must revisit the Constitution – to make our federalism stronger, our governance more efficient, and our democracy more inclusive.

‘Above all, we must wield our power of oversight with vigilance, so that the people’s money is spent for the people’s good.

‘Our relations with the Executive shall remain frank and firm – neither obsequious nor obstructive. Where policies raise our people, we shall lend our strength; where they imperil them, we shall speak on their behalf.

‘We must continue to uphold the independence of this Senate, the dignity of this chamber, and the majesty of the Constitution which governs us all.

‘Distinguished colleagues, let history record that in our time, we did not shirk from truth, nor flinch from responsibility, but urged our people toward leaders worthy of their trust.

‘Let us resume our work with fresh vigour and steadfast resolve. Let us legislate not only for the Nigeria of today but for the generations whose faces we shall never see.

‘Let this Senate be remembered as an instrument of national transformation, a citadel of democracy, and a beacon of hope.’

The Kano State Executive Council has approved a total of N45.6 billion for the execution of key developmental projects across various sectors, including education, infrastructure, health, environment, and youth development.

Making this known in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, said the approvals were made during the 32nd meeting of the State Executive Council, presided over by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving critical public services and enhancing the welfare of Kano residents.

According to him ‘ the largest share of the funds, N32.5 billion, was allocated to the Works and Infrastructure sector, underscoring the government’s focus on road construction, drainage systems, urban renewal, and public facility upgrades.’

He also disclosed that among the

‘major projects approved in this category are the reconstruction of Guda Abdullahi Road, Justice Dahiru Mustapha Road, and other link roads within Farm Centre, Tarauni Local Government Area, valued at more than N7.5 billion.’

Other key projects include the installation of solar-powered streetlights at 55 locations in Kano metropolis (N8.3 billion) and the construction of a rehabilitation centre at Dorayi Psychiatric Hospital (N2.3 billion)he said

He added that ‘ The Council also approved N7.7 billion for projects in the education sector, as part of ongoing efforts to revitalise schools across the state’

These include the rehabilitation of Government Technical College, Kano; Government Day Science College, Kano; GSS Rimi in Sumaila; and the School for Arabic Studies, Kano Municipal,he added

In addition, funds were approved for boarding school feeding suppliers (N1.7 billion), the renovation and furnishing of classrooms across all 44 local governments (N1.89 billion), and the rehabilitation of Audu Bako College of Agriculture, Thomas Dambatta (N546 million).

The health sector received an allocation of N802 million, covering the procurement of medical equipment for Imam Wali General Hospital, the upgrading of Unguwar Dabai Primary Health Centre in Gwale to a secondary facility, and the installation of quality control equipment at the state’s Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency.

Other approvals include N290.9 million for environmental and water projects such as the construction of 12 solar-powered boreholes and community fumigation exercises; N910 million for land and urban planning; and N796 million for internal security and neighbourhood watch operations.

In the area of youth and sports development, the government earmarked N430 million, which will fund the installation of solar streetlights at Sani Abacha Stadium and the sponsorship of athletes and officials to the 9th National Youth Games in Asaba.

The Religious Affairs Ministry will receive N1.006 billion to conduct the state’s mass wedding program, while N1.1 billion was set aside under the Water Resources Ministry for diesel and energy costs at key water supply installations.

A civil society organisation, Accountability Lab Nigeria, has raised concern over the weak enforcement of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) Act and the increasing abuse of personal data and digital rights in the country.

The organisation, known for its accountability and anti-corruption advocacy, said the situation underscores the need for stronger awareness campaigns to protect Nigerians’ digital freedoms.

The Country Director of Accountability Lab Nigeria, Friday Odeh, told journalists that the organisation was deeply worried about the rising misuse of personal information and the NDPC’s inability to effectively safeguard the digital rights of citizens. He said this prompted the organisation to partner with the UN Women, US Embassy, ActionAid, DigiCivic, Inclusive Friends Association, Paradigm Initiative, and others to organise the ‘Rights and Rhythm’ concert in Abuja on Friday.

Odeh explained that the concert aimed to advocate for safer digital spaces and freedom of expression through music and creative arts. ‘Nigeria’s online space is becoming increasingly restrictive. Surveillance, censorship, weak enforcement of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, arbitrary internet shutdowns, and unchecked disinformation continue to undermine freedom of expression and privacy.

‘These threats often target young people, artists, journalists, and human rights defenders. Unfortunately, many Nigerians still do not fully understand their digital rights or how to protect them, and low digital literacy, especially in rural and underserved communities, fuels this vulnerability.

‘Art and music have the power to cut across education levels, languages, and cultures, translating complex policy issues into relatable content and inspiring collective action. Hence, Rights and Rhythm leverages this power to demystify digital governance, promote rights-based dialogue, and link creative voices to policy processes,’ he said.

He recalled that in July 2025, Accountability Lab Nigeria, in collaboration with the NDPC and the Ministry of Youth, reported a surge in complaints about data and digital rights violations, particularly the misuse of data affecting youth, journalists, and grassroots social media users.

He further said: ‘Also, in July 2025, the NDPC fined MultiChoice Nigeria N766,242,500 for violating the NDPC Act. The violations included unlawful cross-border transfer of personal data and breaches of subscribers’ privacy. These developments are clear indications of the growing scale of data breaches in the country. While these cases show progress in enforcement, they also highlight a gap – that many citizens remain unaware of their digital rights or how to protect them.’

‘Without awareness and literacy, people will continue to be vulnerable to data privacy violations, surveillance, and misuse of their personal information. This moment calls for urgent and widespread sensitisation so that citizens can better understand their rights and take active steps to protect and defend their digital rights.

‘We also cannot ignore that democracy, elections, and governance are all shaped by online platforms. Digital spaces are central to civic participation. Yet the digital divide remains stark. Many in the villages are still offline, cut off from the conversations that shape policies and the opportunities technology creates. Until access is widened, until every Nigerian can connect meaningfully, our digital rights will remain uneven and incomplete.

‘Through music and rhythm, we affirm these truths. We affirm that the right to speak, to associate, to critique, and to dream belongs to us all. And we remind ourselves that protecting civic space, online and offline, is the heartbeat of any real democracy.

‘This is why Nigerians, government, and companies must renegotiate the rules of digital engagement. Regulation is necessary, and responsible speech is important. But political criticism should never determine who enjoys freedom after speech. The heart of this is trust that when we press ‘send’ on WhatsApp, the message will arrive, and trust that our data will not be misused,’ Odeh stated.

The Storytelling Development Officer at Accountability Lab Nigeria, Blessing Anolaba, described the ‘Rights and Rhythm’ concert as a demonstration of how creativity can drive civic change.

‘Conversations from the concert amplified critical issues around digital rights, strengthened advocacy around data protection, and could play a pivotal role in shaping the public narrative on freedom of expression and a safer, more inclusive digital space in Nigeria.

‘It is also a platform where young creatives used music, art, and storytelling to amplify digital rights issues, understand the provisions of data protection laws, the cybercrime act, and advocate for safer digital spaces,’ she said.

She added that partners at the event reaffirmed their commitment to promoting sanity in the digital space and ensuring the enforcement of users’ rights, particularly those of young Nigerians.

They observed that the civic space in Nigeria remains fragile, noting that while the constitution guarantees freedom of expression, association, and participation in public life, these rights are constantly tested by restrictive laws and practices. Some partners lamented the existence of vague legal provisions that criminalise dissent and the tendency of government institutions to suppress citizens rather than safeguard their rights.

It used to be sad tales of farmers losing every pod from their cowpea to the devastating maruca vitrata, also known as pod borer insect which has the capacity to destroy over 70 percent of cowpea pods while on the field. The story always ends in misery as rural farmers lose their money and investment.

But for Ogenomor Emmanuel, each leaf, each pod, is a testimony against pests, doubt, and fear that innovation can change the story of beans in Nigeria. For him, what was once a modest yield has become exportable quality, and with it, the promise of better nutrition, income, and a country less dependent on imports.

Cowpea is more than staples in Nigerian homes, they are among the cheapest sources of protein, rich in essential nutrients which include protein, fibre, iron, folate, and other minerals. For many households, cowpeas cushion against hunger, especially this period when meat prices have skyrocketed.

Yet Nigeria’s cowpea story remains regrettable. According to data from FAO and other studies, cowpea/dried cowpea production was around 4.3 million metric tons in 2023 yet demand and consumption deficits is still prevalent.

Nigeria is experiencing a deficit not just domestic. Poor quality, contamination (by pesticide residues, insects, pathogens), storage losses, and insufficient yields have meant that Nigeria often fails to capitalize on export markets or fully meet its own needs.

As Dr. Rose Gidado, Director of Agriculture biotechnology at National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) argues, Nigeria imports hundreds of millions of naira’s worth of beans annually to fill its own shortfall.

Estimates place Nigeria’s cowpea import bill at about N10 billion annually. Furthermore, export revenue is lost when standards are not met. The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) reports that failure to meet phytosanitary and pesticide-residue requirements costs the country some US$362.5 million annually in potential export revenue.

On nutrition, UNICEF data show that 32 percent of children under five in Nigeria are stunted, over 2 million children suffer from severe acute malnutrition, and more than 11 million children face food poverty.

This scary data means that improving access to affordable, nutritious legumes like cowpea (with high protein, minerals, and relatively inexpensive cultivation) could have major public health impacts.

At the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR), Zaria, a team of Scientists, led by Professor Mohammed Ishiyaku developed Bt Cowpea, a variety genetically engineered to resist the Maruca pod borer, a major insect pest that can ravage cowpea yields.

This move is in response to the need to address the ravaging effect of pod borer, increase yield, improve rural farmers’ livelihoods and drive economic prosperity for the nation at large.

With fewer pesticide sprays required and better resistance to insect damage, Cowpea can help raise yields, improve quality, lower costs, reduce environmental, health and residue risks, and support export compliance.

In 2023 Emmanuel began farming with 5 hectares of Cowpea; by 2025 he is also cultivating 7.7 hectares. He recounts how with local varieties he got 3-4 bags per hectare, often losing 60-70 percent of pods to insects despite spraying 7 or 8 times. With Cowpea, he sprays once every 15 days, and the plant endures.

‘This is my farm. It is about 7.7 hectare of land. I Started the farming business in 2023, I started with five hectares, and from five hectares is where we are today. As you can see, the crop is exceptionally doing well’, Emmanuel said as he wears a smile.

Today, he gets 19 to 22 bags per hectare from the Bt cowpea variety, roughly 5-7 times what local varieties would yield under similar circumstances.

Beyond yield, Emmanuel emphasises quality: ‘There’s one thing about this particular Cowpea, maybe because of the gene it contains, when it is being cooked, it takes less time to get done, unlike the normal cowpea variety that will take up to three hours, before it gets ready, but this new variety takes about 35 to 40 minutes before it gets ready’, he said.

Emmanuel, who is also an out-grower for seed companies, has been exporting Cowpea since October 2024, to buyers in the United Kingdom and the United States, fetching double what he would make in local markets because of purity. The export opportunity has been catalytic, not just for Emmanuel’s income, but he says it offers a model that can scale.

‘I have people who I export to in the United Kingdom and the United States, I sold it at double of what I usually sell in the local market. I started exporting beans in October 2024, the people that buy it from me talk about the purity of the particular Cowpea that was what made them actually key into doing business with me.

‘And it’s a kind of variety. The gene is so pure, the one I planted for the rainy season got me 19 bags and half bags per hectare’, he explained.

For the UK market, standards are strict, the regulatory agency there looks out for pesticide residues, traces of insect damage, moisture content, and overall purity are monitored.

Many Nigerian beans fail these tests, or are rejected, costing farmers and exporters. The NAQS figure of US$362.5 million in lost revenue annually reflects how big a prize is being missed.

But because of its pest resistance, reduction on the risk of insect damage and the need for lesser pesticide application, the Bt Cowpea can meet export criteria more reliably.

Also, the UK is a stable market, often willing to pay premiums for quality, clean, certified produce. For Emmanuel, the double value he gets for export versus local market underscores how much extra income is possible.

When Emmanuel visits his farm and sees the flourishing pods and leaves, his strides animate something larger than farming, his life has shifted. Where local cowpea variety gave him just enough, Cowpea has given surplus, export markets, dignity.

He recalled the pains of waiting, spraying eight times, losing half of the pods, then barely making enough to feed family and pay local bills. But now he sprays once every two weeks, the plants stand strong, the pods fill, the beans are clean.

He sells some locally, but more are packed for export. Buyers in the UK notice purity, no damage, minimal waste, grains that pass residue tests.

For Emmanuel, that means not just business, but also hope. Hope that other farmers in Nasarawa and beyond will follow. Hope that Nigeria can reduce imports and lose revenue. His farm is not just a plot of land, it’s a pilot, a beacon.

Cowpea may not solve Nigeria’s malnutrition overnight. But it is a powerful tool that bridges technology, markets, nutrition, and lives. For Emmanuel, for his neighbors, for thousands beyond the borders of Nasarawa, this seed is more than cowpea. It is a seed of change.

As the export boxes move toward the UK, they carry not just beans, but hope that innovation, when paired with support, can feed a nation, elevate its farmers, and heal its children.

LAUNCHED under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Federal Government, through Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL), the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), and private investors, is coming up to address the chronic shortage of accommodation in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

The initiative aims to deliver 38,400 modern hostel bed spaces across 24 tertiary institutions, encompassing 12 universities, six polytechnics and six colleges of education.

Each site will feature 1,600-bed hostels equipped with ensuite rooms, study areas, reading rooms, cafeterias, and essential amenities.

According to report, pilot projects are already underway in six institutions, three in the North (Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, and FCT College of Education Zuba) and three in the South (AkwaIbom State University, College of Education Warri, and SikiruAdetona College of Education, Ogun).

The hostels in Warri and AkwaIbom are nearing completion and set for commissioning, according to FHFL Managing Director, Abdul Mutallab Mukhtar.

He said the upcoming commissioning would mark a landmark achievement in transforming student welfare nationwide. He said the programme ensures that students ‘have the right environment to live and learn while reducing the risks of inadequate accommodation.’

With construction soon expanding to eight additional institutions, the project is expected to boost local economies, attract private investment, and provide safer, more conducive housing for students across all six geopolitical zones.