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The Federal Government has disclosed that between 60 and 70 per cent of Nigeria’s primary and tertiary health facilities experience frequent electricity outages or have no power supply, warning that the situation is affecting healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at the official launch of the Rural Electrification Agency-Renewable Asset Management Company (REA-RAMCO), themed ‘Powering Sustainable Growth: Launching Nigeria’s Renewable Asset Management Company.’

Salako said about 40 per cent of functional Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) have no access to electricity, while most of the remaining facilities receive only between six and 10 hours of power daily.

He added that teaching hospitals, which require between three and eight megawatts to operate optimally, receive an average of about five hours of grid electricity daily and spend between 40 and 50 per cent of their operating expenditure on energy, much of it on diesel.

Speaking as a physician before his role as a minister, Salako described electricity as a critical clinical input rather than an infrastructure amenity in healthcare facilities.

‘In a hospital, electricity is not an amenity; it is a clinical input. It is the cold chain that keeps a vaccine potent, the concentrator that keeps a child breathing, the theatre light above a woman in obstructed labour at two in the morning, and the incubator on which a preterm infant depends.

‘When power fails in a health facility, what is lost is not comfort. It is time, it is quality of service, and sometimes it is life,’ he said.

The minister said the Federal Government had initiated several interventions to address energy poverty in health facilities, including the Energising Education Programme, which has benefited federal tertiary health institutions, including teaching hospitals in Maiduguri and Calabar.

He said under the Nigeria Electrification Project, 100 health facilities had received 50-kilowatt containerised solar hybrid systems, while a second phase was targeting 400 PHCs.

Salako, however, said sustainability remained a major challenge, noting that evidence from solar systems installed in Nigerian PHCs showed that more than 30 per cent became non-functional within three years of commissioning.

According to him, the problem was often not the technology but inadequate preventive maintenance, unavailable spare parts, lack of dedicated budgetary provisions and the absence of clear responsibility for systems after the completion of projects.

He said the challenge informed the Federal Government’s decision to establish the Nigeria Power-for-Health Initiative following the first National Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Power in the Health Sector held in September 2025.

The dialogue produced a Compact for the Sustainable Electrification of Public and Private Health Facilities, signed by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Federal Ministry of Power, subnational governments, the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors, private sector, development partners and civil society organisations.

Salako said the initiative had set a target of ensuring that at least 30 per cent of health facilities nationwide have steady electricity supply by the end of 2027.

He said the launch of RAMCO was particularly significant to the health sector because it could provide a sustainable framework for managing renewable energy infrastructure after installation.

‘RAMCO is not new to us. It is, in substance, what the health sector formally asked for,’ he said.

According to him, the company’s model of building, operating, optimising, aggregating, refinancing and reinvesting would transform renewable energy systems from projects with limited lifespans into managed assets with defined ownership, performance standards and maintenance schedules.

The minister proposed four areas of collaboration between RAMCO and the Nigeria Power-for-Health Initiative.

He called for health facilities to be recognised as a distinct asset class within RAMCO’s portfolio, beginning with teaching hospitals and other facilities already equipped with solar systems.

He also advocated the integration of RAMCO’s professional asset management system with Facility Energy Management Teams being institutionalised in hospitals with support from UK PACT.

Salako further called for RAMCO’s asset register to be integrated with health facility energy audits and for part of the capital recycled by the company to be directed towards PHCs, particularly facilities that may be less commercially attractive but critical to maternal and newborn survival.

He said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare would offer RAMCO a seat on the Inter-Agency Technical Committee of the Power-for-Health Initiative and work towards making electricity a dedicated budget line across all levels of healthcare.

The ministry, he added, would also continue updating energy audits, enforcing certification and installation standards, including NEMSA certification, and coordinating development partners and private sector investments to reduce duplication.

Salako said sustainable asset management would also help attract private capital, development finance and climate financing into healthcare electrification.

‘If renewable assets are professionally managed, performance data are transparent, maintenance is predictable, and revenue or payment structures are credible, then these assets become more attractive to long-term capital,’ he said.

He said the government would no longer rely on repeated procurement to replace failed infrastructure, but would focus on preserving existing investments while mobilising additional capital for expansion.

Salako congratulated the Rural Electrification Agency, Ministry of Finance Incorporated and InfraCorp on the launch of RAMCO, pledging the full partnership of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

He said the government’s target remained unchanged: steady power in at least one-third of Nigeria’s health facilities by the end of 2027.

‘We will not reach it by procurement alone. We will reach it by building assets that last, and by managing them as the national infrastructure they are,’ he said.

Residents and motorists in Ughelli have welcomed the commencement of the reconstruction of the failed section of Post Office Road, in front of Ughelli High Court 2, by the chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr Jaro Egbo.

The road had become a major source of concern due to its poor condition, causing difficulties and vehicle damage for road users accessing the court complex and surrounding areas.

Speaking during an inspection of the project on Tuesday, Egbo said the intervention was a comprehensive reconstruction aimed at providing a lasting solution to the problem.

He assured residents that quality materials and standard engineering procedures were being employed.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to delivering durable infrastructural projects that will improve the lives of residents and promote smooth movement in the area.

Residents commended the chairman for the intervention, expressing optimism that the project will improve traffic flow, enhance road safety and bring lasting relief to road users.

The Onu Egume/Okura District in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, Chief Ochimana Simon Anu, has expressed concern over alleged cases of youths selling their kidneys to raise money for the purchase of expensive motorcycles and other material possessions.

The traditional ruler raised the alarm at his palace in Egume, describing the alleged development as disturbing, dangerous and unacceptable.

According to a statement issued by Momoh Idris Ospaca, Media Custodian, Onu Egume Palace, the monarch warned youths against pursuing quick wealth at the expense of their health and future.

Anu also issued a strong warning to individuals allegedly operating as agents for kidney buyers within the community, directing them to leave the area or face sanctions.

As part of measures to investigate the alleged development, the monarch directed the establishment of a security committee to examine reports involving youths, particularly underage persons, who suddenly acquire expensive motorcycles.

The committee is expected to investigate the sources of funds used to purchase motorcycles reportedly valued between N1 million and N2 million, as well as determine whether any criminal or exploitative activities are connected to such acquisitions.

The traditional ruler expressed concern over what he described as the growing obsession among some youths with material wealth without corresponding legitimate sources of income.

He urged youths in the community to embrace lawful means of livelihood, acquire useful skills and engage in productive ventures rather than participate in activities capable of causing permanent damage to their health.

The monarch further warned that anyone found to be involved in the alleged kidney-selling activities would face appropriate sanctions under the traditional laws and customs of the community.

He also called on parents, community leaders and residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities that could expose young people to exploitation or life-threatening practices.

Anu stressed that human life and good health must take precedence over material possessions, urging youths not to be deceived by the apparent wealth of others or the attraction of quick money.

The Onu Egume reaffirmed his opposition to any alleged kidney-selling activities in Egume and directed that such transactions should cease immediately.

The National Orientation Agency (NOA), Bauchi State Directorate, has called on young entrepreneurs in the North-East subregion to key into over 30 Federal Government Empowerment, Skills Development and Entrepreneurship Programmes currently available under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The call was made by the Acting Director, NOA Bauchi State, Mallam Adamu Umar Sarkinyara, during the closing ceremony of the North East Young Entrepreneurs Summit held on Wednesday, 26 August 2026, at the Command Guest House, Bauchi.

The summit, with the theme: ‘Catalyzing Youth Entrepreneurship for Peace, Progress and Prosperity in the North East’, was organised by ZETSI Africa, the Federal Ministry of Youths Development, and the North East Development Commission (NEDC).

In his goodwill message, Adamu Sarkinyara said that under the leadership of the Director-General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, NOA has been repositioned and mandated to leverage its structures, platforms, strategies and coordination to take the gains and achievements of government to every community in Nigeria.

According to him, ‘We are the bridge between government and the people. By the mandate of the Director General, NOA is ready to deploy our 774 LGA offices, community structures, faith-based and traditional platforms to ensure that the Renewed Hope Agenda, NEDC achievements, and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development programmes reach the last man in the village.’

The Acting Director highlighted that over N900 billion has been committed to the North-East for road rehabilitation, energy, and resettlement, including the Damaturu-Maiduguri and Bama-Dikwa roads, and the Kolmani Oil Wells.

Nationally, he noted legacy projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Super-highway, and the Renewed Hope Housing Programme, with over 100 housing units in each of the 774 LGAs, creating over 250,000 jobs for youth artisans.

Adamu Sarkinyara unveiled a comprehensive list of 30 direct Federal Government opportunities for youth to access funding, jobs, and skills. Key programmes include:

Funding and Business: Presidential Conditional Grant of N50,000, Presidential Loan Scheme up to N1M, AGSMEIS, BOI YES-P, CREDICORP, NATEP, YEIDEP

Jobs and Skills: 3MTT for 3 Million Technical Talents, N-Power, LEEP, NELEX, GIGS, Digital Nigeria Academy.

In education, he listed NELFUND Student Loan, NJFP for NYSC, NEXIT, TVET, EDU REVAMP

Agriculture: FARMER MONI, GREEN IMPERATIVE, RAPID, WASTE TO WEALTH

Social Investment: SPW, NSIPA

He emphasised that information and free application guidance for all programmes is available at NOA offices in all 20 Local Government Areas of Bauchi State.

The NOA Bauchi boss urged youth to be ‘credible, skilled, and vigilant.’

‘Get your NIN, BVN, and register your business. All applications are FREE. Don’t pay anyone. Use only official links and verify through NOA structures nationwide,’ he warned.

He concluded that, ‘Government has provided the platform. NOA will provide the mobilization. You must provide the enterprise. The North East is rising. And with you, the future is Renewed, and the future is Hope.’

The event was attended by representatives of NEDC, SA to the Hon Minister Federal Ministry of Youth Development, ZETSI Africa, youth groups, and development partners across the North East.

Many people spend good money buying healthy food, cooking balanced meals, and taking vitamins to stay strong. However, eating good food is only half the journey. The real benefit comes from whether your digestive system can actually absorb the nutrients into your bloodstream.

When you combine certain everyday meals, natural chemical compounds inside them clash. One food item can easily bind to the vitamins or minerals in another, flushing them out as waste before your body receives any value.

In this article, Tribune Online examines five popular food combinations that secretly block nutrient absorption and explains how you can fix them.

Tea or coffee with cooked eggs and beans

Drinking a hot cup of black tea or coffee immediately alongside boiled eggs, akara, or beans is a staple breakfast for many. However, tea and coffee contain organic compounds known as tannins and polyphenols.

According to clinical reports published by Healthline Nutrition, tannins bind tightly to non-heme iron found in plant foods and eggs. This chemical bond makes the iron insoluble, reducing your body’s iron absorption by up to 60 percent. To protect your blood count, enjoy your hot beverage at least an hour before or after meals.

Milk or cheese with green leafy vegetables

Vegetable soups made with spinach, ugwu, or waterleaf are packed with plant-based iron and magnesium. Mixing heavy dairy products like milk, cheese, or rich cream directly into these meals creates a nutrient battle.

Dairy is exceptionally rich in calcium. Calcium and iron compete directly for the exact same absorption pathway in the small intestine. When consumed together in large amounts, calcium dominates the receptors, leaving the iron unabsorbed. Nutritionists recommend seasoning your greens with lemon juice instead, as vitamin C boosts iron intake.

Whole grains with high-calcium dairy

Eating whole grain oats or whole wheat bread alongside heavy cow milk seems like a wholesome fitness meal. Yet unrefined grains contain natural phytic acid (phytates), an anti-nutrient stored in plant seeds.

Phytic acid binds strongly to calcium, zinc, and magnesium in the digestive tract, forming an unabsorbable compound. To reduce phytates, soak your whole grains in water before cooking or choose fermented grain options like traditional sourdough.

Raw salad vegetables with zero fat dressing

Many health-conscious individuals eat fresh cucumber, tomatoes, and carrots completely dry to cut calories. This habit deprives the body of essential fat-soluble vitamins, namely vitamins A, D, E, and K, as well as antioxidant lycopene.

These specific vitamins cannot dissolve in water and require dietary fats to enter your intestinal wall. Adding a single boiled egg, half an avocado, or a teaspoon of cold-pressed olive oil ensures your system absorbs these vital disease-fighting compounds.

Seafood and grilled meat

Washing down grilled fish or suya with chilled alcohol is a weekend habit for many. However, alcohol irritates the intestinal lining and damages the digestive enzymes responsible for breaking down micronutrients.

Medical researchers note that alcohol drastically impairs the metabolism of zinc, iron, and crucial B-complex vitamins like thiamine and B12. If you are having nutrient-dense meats, pair them with fresh water or natural citrus drinks instead of alcoholic beverages.

Anambra State Governor, Prof Charles Soludo, on Wednesday lashed out at major opposition political parties as the approach of this Saturday’s local government area elections in the state.

He advanced the victory of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) with over 70 per cent to edge out opponents during the last governorship election as the reason why they decided to chicken out of the LGA contest this time.

Speaking during the local government election campaign rally held at Otuocha in Anambra East Local Government Area, the governor declared that government at the local government area is effectively working in Anambra, contrary to criticisms by many that it is not faring well nationwide.

He said, ‘There is a local government election that is coming up on Saturday, the 29th of August 2026. We are serious about the election, and we are mobilising all through the 21 local government areas of Anambra State.’

Soludo noted that, ‘It is in the tradition of democracy, adding that there will be voting on Saturday at least to tick all the boxes, adding that the local government system is working, and in Anambra State it is being mainstreamed to a model for local government administration.’

‘I thank the State House of Assembly; at least Mr Speaker is here for that local government administration law, which is aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability development and sustainability of the local government administration in Anambra state’

‘Our local government system is working, Primary School teachers are paid as at when due , their pensions and gratuities paid as at when due and the primary health workers paid as at when due and our Mayors all over Anambra state have been watering the ground’

‘I want to tell Nigeria that from Anambra state to the state government down to the local government we are not just wetting the ground but pouring drums of water on the ground’he stated.

He explained that, ‘the last Governorship election you gave me the 15 electoral wards in Anambra East local government area’

‘In the history of Governorship elections the first one was reelected with 33 percent of the votes , the second one was reelected with 56 percent percent of the votes and yours Sincerely was reelected with 73 percent of the votes and we say thank you very much and thank you for the confidence reposed on me.’

Soludo said that, ‘in this local government election there is no contest because Anambra is APGA and APGA is Anambra.’

‘It is a fortress for Anambra state because of that and following that election ; at the time for local government election, all the political parties said that it was a waste of time and their money and they failed to field candidates for the election and they all ran away.’

‘And in 20 out of the 21 local government areas no political party fielded candidates for the office of the Chairman of local government’ he pointed out.

The National Chairman of APGA, Chief Sylvester Ezeokenwa in his address said that the local government election is a done deal adding that no other political party is on ground and in control but his party .

He expressed optimism that the Saturday local government area in Anambra state would be a walk over for his party adding that it is going to be more of casting of vote in line with the electoral laws.

The National Assembly candidate for Anambra East and West Federal Constituency Chief Chinedu Obidigwe commended Governor Soludo for being able to ensure that basic amenities get to the door steps of all and sundry in the area.

He reiterated the maximum support for the party both on Saturday and during the 2027 general elections.

The State Chairman of the party, Chief Ifeatu Obi-Okoye carpeted the claims by opposition forces that APGA has hijacked the process.

He said that other political parties lack the capacity to defeat his party in the coming election adding that the Saturday election would put paid to the fate of other parties in subsequent elections.

A fresh look at the International Monetary Fund’s financial records shows that African countries with the highest IMF debt are not necessarily the continent’s largest economies. Egypt has emerged as the clear leader, while Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Kenya also carry billions of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) in the outstanding IMF credit.

The figures matter because IMF borrowing is different from a country’s total public debt. In this article, Tribune Online looks at the African countries with the highest IMF debt. The ranking below measures IMF credit outstanding, meaning the amount a member country still owes the Fund, rather than all domestic and external government liabilities.

According to the IMF’s latest record covering transactions from August 1 to August 20, 2026, Egypt had the largest outstanding IMF credit among African countries at SDR 7.86 billion. Côte d’Ivoire followed with SDR 4.14 billion, while Ghana and Kenya had SDR 2.99 billion and SDR 2.85 billion respectively.

Egypt

Egypt sits comfortably at the top of the August ranking, with SDR 7.86 billion in IMF credit outstanding as of August 20, 2026. The figure increased during the month after the country received SDR 1.313 billion in disbursements, although it also made SDR 119.4 million in repayments.

The latest increase comes against the backdrop of Egypt’s ongoing IMF-supported reform programme. On July 30, the IMF Executive Board completed its seventh review under Egypt’s Extended Fund Facility and second review under its Resilience and Sustainability Facility, allowing the country to draw about $1.8 billion.

Côte d’Ivoire

Côte d’Ivoire ranks second, with SDR 4.14 billion outstanding. Unlike Egypt, the IMF’s August record shows no new disbursement or repayment during the period covered, leaving the country’s outstanding balance unchanged from the end of July.

Its position reflects the scale of IMF-supported financing accumulated over recent years as the West African economy manages fiscal pressures while pursuing economic and structural reforms.

Ghana

Ghana’s outstanding IMF credit stood at SDR 2.99 billion on August 20. The country has remained one of the continent’s major IMF borrowers following its economic crisis and subsequent reform programme.

The figure also puts Ghana ahead of several larger African economies, illustrating why economic size alone does not determine a country’s position on an IMF-credit ranking.

Kenya

Kenya recorded SDR 2.85 billion in outstanding IMF credit, placing it fourth among African countries. The August record shows neither fresh disbursements nor repayments during the period, so its balance remained unchanged.

Kenya’s IMF relationship has become closely tied to efforts to strengthen fiscal management, rebuild buffers and address debt vulnerabilities. These pressures remain relevant as governments across sub-Saharan Africa operate with limited fiscal space.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo had SDR 2.43 billion in outstanding IMF credit, making it the fifth-largest African borrower in the latest record. The IMF data shows no August disbursement or repayment, leaving the balance unchanged.

The country’s position is particularly notable because the DRC’s enormous natural-resource base does not automatically eliminate financing pressures. Economic management, infrastructure requirements and external vulnerabilities continue to shape its financing needs.

Angola

Angola’s IMF credit outstanding stood at SDR 2.23 billion as of August 20. The balance was unchanged during the month, with no recorded disbursement or repayment in the latest IMF movement report.

As a major oil producer, Angola’s fiscal position remains closely connected to commodity prices, making economic diversification and debt management important parts of its long-term financial strategy.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia ranked seventh with SDR 2.09 billion in outstanding IMF credit. The country entered August with the same balance and recorded no new IMF disbursement or repayment through August 20.

Its inclusion near the top of the ranking highlights the financing pressures facing several large, fast-growing African economies as they attempt to fund development while managing external and fiscal constraints.

Tanzania

Tanzania’s outstanding IMF credit reached SDR 1.66 billion, putting it eighth. The August record shows no movement in its balance during the period.

Although Tanzania’s amount is considerably below Egypt’s, it still represents a substantial IMF exposure and places the country among the continent’s ten largest outstanding borrowers.

Zambia

Zambia recorded SDR 1.27 billion in IMF credit outstanding. The country has been navigating a prolonged debt restructuring process, making IMF support an important component of its broader economic recovery programme.

The IMF’s broader assessment of sub-Saharan Africa also points to continued fiscal and financing challenges across the region, with growth projected at 4.3% in 2026 amid significant downside risks.

Cameroon

Cameroon completes the top 10 with SDR 1.10 billion in outstanding IMF credit. The balance remained unchanged between the end of July and August 20, according to the Fund’s latest data.

The country narrowly stays ahead of Sudan, whose outstanding IMF credit stood at about SDR 991.6 million, while Uganda followed with SDR 920.6 million.

What August IMF ranking reveals

The numbers narrate a bigger story than simply identifying which country owes the IMF the most. Sub-Saharan Africa entered 2026 after an estimated 4.5% growth rate in 2025, but the IMF expects regional growth to slow to 4.3% amid commodity-price shocks, declining aid and persistent macroeconomic vulnerabilities.

Meanwhile, IMF credit outstanding did not mean total national debt. A country can rank relatively low on IMF borrowing while carrying substantial debt to domestic lenders, commercial creditors, bondholders and other international institutions.

The August figures therefore provide a specific snapshot of African governments’ financial exposure to the IMF, and not a complete ranking of which countries are most indebted overall.

The Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, has described the Federal Government-funded component of the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship scheme as a waste of public funds, saying Nigeria now has sufficient tertiary institutions to offer many of the programmes for which students are being sponsored abroad.

Alausa, who spoke in Abuja while fielding questions at the unveiling of the Tertiary Institutions National Laureate Prize, said the government was reviewing existing international scholarship arrangements to ensure that scarce public resources were deployed to programmes that provide greater value to Nigerians.

He said some of the bilateral scholarship agreements were established decades ago when Nigeria lacked adequate capacity in certain specialised fields, but that the situation had changed considerably with the expansion of universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and other tertiary institutions.

According to him, the government could achieve greater impact by investing funds used to sponsor a relatively small number of students abroad in strengthening tertiary education and supporting a larger number of students within Nigeria.

The minister cited a proposal he received shortly after assuming office for the approval of about 150 Nigerian students to study in Morocco at a cost of approximately N650 million for one year.

He said the proposal raised concerns because some of the programmes were already available in Nigerian institutions, while the students would have to spend an additional year learning French before commencing their academic programmes.

Alausa said: ‘We have built enormous capacities in our tertiary institutions, universities and colleges. Now we are asking where we are sending students.

‘We are sending students to Algeria, which is a French-speaking country, to study English. We are sending students to Morocco, a French-speaking country, to study journalism and psychology,’ the Minister said.

He said the government could not justify spending hundreds of millions of naira to sponsor students abroad for programmes that could be undertaken locally.

‘I felt this was not morally right. Number one, we have all those courses in Nigeria. Number two, they were going to spend the first year learning French before they started the programme. And number three, if we put N650 million to support students in Nigeria, it will support thousands of them,’ he said.

Alausa added, ‘So, the bilateral agreement was not making sense to us as a government. It was a way to waste government funds. And this President will not waste any funds, any public funds.’

The minister, however, clarified that the Federal Government was not opposed to international scholarships, stressing that countries willing to continue offering scholarships to Nigerian students would remain free to do so.

He said the government’s position was specifically against committing public funds to programmes where the benefits did not justify the resources being expended.

Alausa said the decision was consistent with the administration’s broader policy of ensuring that public expenditure delivers measurable outcomes and contributes to sustainable development.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged Nigerian journalists to put the safety, dignity, privacy and best interests of children at the centre of their reportage.

UNICEF warned that careless headlines, inappropriate photographs, sensational reports and unnecessary disclosure of children’s identities could expose vulnerable children to stigma, discrimination and further trauma.

The Chief, UNICEF Enugu Field Office, Juliet Chiluwe, gave the charge in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at a two-day zonal workshop on Ethical Reporting of Children, organised by the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State (BCA), in collaboration with the UNICEF Enugu field office.

Delivering a keynote address titled: Why ethical reporting of children matters in Nigeria, Chiluwe described journalists as ‘shapers of society,’ stressing that the stories they select, questions they ask, images they publish and voices they amplify could significantly influence public understanding of issues affecting children.

She said: ‘When a child appears in the media, that child is not simply a subject for a story. That child is a person with dignity, rights, aspirations and a future.’

According to her, journalists must go beyond determining whether a story involving a child is newsworthy to considering whether the manner of reporting it is in the child’s best interest.

Chiluwe said responsible reporting should take into account whether a story could expose a child to additional risks, compromise the child’s privacy or dignity, or cause further trauma.

She warned that the digital age had increased the risks associated with reporting children, as photographs, names and recordings published online could remain accessible indefinitely and reach audiences across the world within minutes.

Chiluwe particularly urged journalists to exercise caution when reporting children affected by violence, abuse, displacement, conflict, exploitation, disability and legal proceedings.

She said responsible journalism could help expose injustice, mobilise communities, influence policy, hold institutions accountable and amplify solutions to challenges affecting children.

‘When in doubt, protect the child,’ she emphasised, urging journalists participating in the workshop to emerge as champions of child rights.

In his address, the director-general of BCA, Francis Nwubani, represented by the Director of News and Current Affairs, Blessing Egbu, said ethical reporting of children was both a professional requirement and a moral obligation.

Nwubani warned that sensationalism, intrusive interviews, inappropriate identification and stigmatising language could deepen the trauma of vulnerable children.

He said the workshop was designed to strengthen the capacity of journalists, editors and state correspondents from Abia, Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Rivers, Cross River, Benue and Delta states in child-sensitive journalism.

He said: ‘The way we report on a child who is a victim of violence, abuse, exploitation, conflict, displacement, poverty or other forms of vulnerability can either contribute to the child’s protection and recovery or, inadvertently, deepen their trauma.’

Nwubani urged journalists to always consider the consequences of their reports before publication, particularly whether such reports will harm or endanger children, violate their privacy and dignity, or fail to serve their best interests.

Also speaking, Dr Geoffrey Njoku, who presented a paper on Ethical principles in reporting children’s issues, identified early marriage, female genital mutilation, rape, child trafficking, child prostitution, child labour, war and violence, racial discrimination, refugee crises and displacement as issues requiring responsible media coverage.

Similarly, Dr Jide Johnson, in his presentation, ‘Media as protector or violator: Foundation of child rights’, said child rights involved the collective responsibility of the state, parents and society to ensure children’s survival, development, protection and participation.

On his part, Mr Lanre Idowu, who spoke on ‘Balancing public interest with child protection’, advised journalists to tell the story of the social problem rather than make the vulnerable child the story.

Tributes have continued to pour in for American country music legend Dolly Parton following her death at the age of 80, with some of the biggest names in global entertainment celebrating her music, generosity and influence.

Among those paying tribute is American singer Beyoncé, who described Parton as a trailblazer whose career offered lessons in originality, resilience and self-belief.

In a statement published on her official website, Beyoncé wrote, ‘Dolly, you were the barometer. The north star. Bold and brilliant. Talented and tenacious. You taught so many lessons on how to be uniquely oneself. I am grateful for your art, your heart, your generosity, your humor, your entrepreneurship.

‘I’m honored that I had the privilege to work with you. I will treasure that forever. Thank you for your profound impact on the world. You are an angel who has made this world a happier place because of your joyful art. You are truly one of one. Rest peacefully.’

Beyoncé had worked with Parton on her 2024 album, Cowboy Carter, where the country star featured on the interlude Dolly P and contributed to Tyrant.

The pop superstar also reworked Parton’s celebrated song Jolene for the album, a rendition that earned public approval from the country music icon.

British Broadcasting Corporation reports that Beyoncé was among several prominent musicians and public figures who reflected on Parton’s legacy following her death.

Taylor Swift described Parton’s passing as difficult to comprehend, while highlighting the lasting influence she had on generations of women in music.

Swift said, ‘A world without Dolly doesn’t feel possible, real, or right. But because of the eternally generous way she spent her time on this earth and the countless lives she changed for the better, her legacy will be an everlasting one. She was truly the gift that kept on giving.

‘Dolly gave us someone to look up to while encouraging us to be who we are as individuals. Somehow she was true grace and true grit, all in one dazzling person. She possessed the softest heart when it came to the struggles of others, and a backbone of steel to defend her own self-worth as an artist. Dolly, I’ll think of you each step of the way.’

Music legend Sir Elton John also mourned Parton, describing her as ‘a giant of an artist, unique and irreplaceable, with the kindest heart.’

He added that he was ‘shocked and devastated’ by her death.

Former Beatles member Sir Paul McCartney, who worked with Parton on her rendition of Let It Be for the Rockstar album, also remembered her as an exceptional songwriter and philanthropist.

‘The magnificent star Dolly Parton has died, and it is so sad. She was such a wonderful woman.

‘Her songwriting, her singing and her philanthropy were unrivaled in the world of country music, and it is hard to imagine living in a world without Dolly. Thanks, Dolly, for the beautiful music you gave me and the whole world. We will always love you; God bless and rest in peace. You were the best.’

Television personality Oprah Winfrey also joined those honouring Parton, saying the singer ‘brought the light’ and that the world was better because she had been part of it.

‘God bless you, Dolly; you earned your wings,’ Winfrey wrote.