They’re our real heroes, says First Lady

Teachers across the globe were yesterday celebrated to mark the World Teachers Day. Every October 5 is set aside to celebrate them for the invaluable contributions they make towards moulding the minds of children.

This year’s celebration had ‘Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession,’ as its theme.

In Nigeria, First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, Education Minister and state governors showered praises on teachers while advocating better remuneration, improved working conditions, and reforms to attract more young people into the profession

In her message, the First Lady described teachers as ‘true heroes’ who shape minds, nurture dreams, and guide generations.

She eulogized educators across the country, acknowledging their invaluable role in nation-building and the future of humanity.

‘Teachers are true heroes, shaping minds, nurturing dreams, and guiding generations,’ she said.

Mrs. Tinubu noted that as a lifelong teacher herself, she holds deep respect for the profession and those who dedicate their lives to it.

The First Lady said the theme of this year’s celebration: ‘Focusing on the Global Teacher Shortage’, is a timely reminder of the urgent need to address the dwindling number of teachers worldwide.

She called for an urgent solution to the current teacher shortage, saying it is a challenge that must be confronted with seriousness.

Mrs. Tinubu noted that this would be achieved by empowering educators, investing in their professional development, and encouraging more young people to pursue teaching as a noble profession.

‘The shortage of teachers is a challenge we must confront with urgency, by empowering educators, investing in their growth, and inspiring more to join this noble profession,’ she stated.

Senator Tinubu, who praised teachers everywhere, urged Nigerians to recognise their efforts not just in classrooms but also in shaping the moral and intellectual foundation of society

‘As a lifelong teacher myself, I salute you all on this special day. Happy World Teachers’ Day 2025,’ Mrs. Tinubu added.

Federal Government seeks teachers’ collaboration

Calling for strengthened collaboration to deliver quality education, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, commended all stakeholders for the positive milestones achieved nationwide.

‘I implore community leaders, teacher unions, parents, and development partners to strengthen their efforts so that together we can effectively deliver on the promises of the Education for Renewed Hope Agenda and the Education targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4),’ the minister said the theme resonated with Nigeria’s education reform agenda.

‘Our experience has shown that when teachers are supported to work together through peer mentoring, joint lesson planning, co-teaching, and the use of digital platforms, learning outcomes improve, and teachers themselves experience professional growth and fulfillment,’ the minister said.

According to Alausa, the ministry has initiated policies to revitalise the teaching profession including the National Teacher Policy which ensures that teachers are professionally empowered and motivated.

He added: ‘Peer support structures are being encouraged at school and zonal levels nationwide. The sector is also leveraging ICT to connect teachers across states and provide access to global best practices.

‘We have a robust continuous professional development opportunity through the Teachers Registration Council (TRCN) of Nigeria, National Teachers Institute (NTI) and Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC). The current situation being that TRCN concentrates on licensing, monitoring compliance to standards, registration and regulating the teaching profession while NTI focus and sustain in-service teacher training and continuous professional development at the basic and post-basic levels.

‘Teaching is often viewed as an individual practice, which can make some teachers resist collaboration for fear of interference or added workload. To address this, it is essential to build and sustain a culture of trust, openness, and shared responsibility.

‘We must note that teachers shape all other professionals working behind closed classroom doors with little exchange of ideas, experiences, or support. Today, as education faces increasing demands and rapid change, the role of the teacher has evolved to become collaborative.

‘A collaborative teacher understands that education is not an individual task but a shared responsibility. Such a teacher freely shares lesson plans, resources, and teaching strategies, while remaining humble enough to learn from others. They demonstrate strong communication skills while showing a willingness to build consensus even when opinions differ.

‘Above all, they are committed to lifelong professional growth, both for their personal advancement and for the enrichment of the wider teaching community,’ he said.

Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Ahmad said the ministry was strengthening teacher collaboration through initiatives such as the National Teacher Development Policy (2022), the Digital Literacy and Skills Framework, and the promotion of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) across schools.

According to her, these efforts are in line with the government’s commitment to raising teacher quality, professional pride, and overall learning outcomes.

ASUSS applauds tuition free technical education

In its message, the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) praised the tuition-free Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme as a model of effective partnership between policy and practice, commending the federal ministry not education for including ASUSS representatives in the expanded Governing Council of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).

ASUSS President, Comrade Sola Adigun, also decried the failure of 16 states to implement the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act, 2022 despite court rulings.

Adigun recognised states like Ekiti and Bayelsa for pioneering tuition-free technical education, while applauding governments that respect teachers’ right to freely associate with ASUSS.

He called for collaboration by all stakeholders to save the country’s education sector, describing it as ‘ailing’.

He also highlighted challenges such as examination malpractice, poor welfare, decaying infrastructure, and insecurity in schools, noting the urgent need for unity in tackling them.

‘Teaching has never been a job for lone rangers. The progress of a child is determined not by the teacher alone, but also by parents, policymakers, communities, and government. True collaboration gives teachers a voice in shaping the future of education,’ he added.

He criticised the hurried implementation of the new 9-year Basic Education Curriculum without adequate teacher training or resources.

‘Ambition without preparation breeds failure. Where are the trained teachers? Where are the teaching tools?’ he asked.

Adigun called on states yet to establish Senior Secondary Education Boards to do so urgently, recruit more qualified teachers, and ensure teachers’ welfare is protected. He also renewed the demand for ASUSS’s trade union certificate, approved 17 years ago but still withheld.

He pledged that ASUSS will continue to support the TRCN registration policy, noting that professional certification enhances dignity and competence

Edo absorbs 4,000 volunteers, recruits 500 others

In Edo State, the government announced the absorption of 4,000 volunteer teachers under the EdoStar Teaching Programme, adding that 500 new educators would be employed to strengthen the state’s education system.

The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, made the announcement in Benin City, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Iyamu said the initiative reflected Governor Monday Okpebholo’s commitment to rewarding dedication and addressing the shortage of teachers in public schools. He explained that letters of appointment would be presented to the 4,000 EdoStar volunteer teachers on October 15, marking the end of their three-year probation period.

The commissioner added that the absorption of volunteer teachers and recruitment of 500 more would bridge the manpower gap in schools across the state.

‘Even an apprentice does not train for three years without confirmation,’ he said, adding that the appointments would be officially handed out at a ceremony in Government House.

Iyamu also revealed that the government had built over 68 schools in less than a year and trained more than 6,000 teachers in digital and technical skills, including robotics and artificial intelligence, to improve classroom delivery. ‘When we build schools without teachers, they are just empty buildings. We are investing in people who will shape our children’s future,’ he noted.

He further announced that the government had institutionalised a Teachers’ Fitness Day to be marked every October 4 to promote teachers’ well-being, as well as a Best Teacher Award for outstanding performance to be held annually on November 25.

Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Edo Wing, Bernard Ajobiewe, commended the government for implementing the N75,000 minimum wage, promoting teachers, and renovating schools. He, however, called for more teachers to be deployed to rural areas where shortages are most severe.

Ajobiewe expressed concern over the poor state of infrastructure in many rural schools and urged the government to ensure the payment of accrued financial benefits for promoted teachers. He also opposed the proposed return of schools to missionaries, warning that it could lead to inequities and limit access for children from marginalised backgrounds.

Chairperson of SUBEB, Mrs. Ebanehita Omonzane, praised teachers for their patience and integrity, describing them as true nation builders.

Taraba teachers demand career rise to Grade Level 17

In Taraba State, teachers demanded career progression to Grade Level 17 (Permanent Secretaries) as applicable to their colleagues in the civil service.

State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers {NUT), Comrade Solomon Nathan, who made the call while speaking on the theme: ‘Together for Teachers, Together for Tomorrow’, noted the need for their service and commitment to be recognised.

‘Let qualified teachers be considered and appointed as Permanent Secretaries in the state, just as it is done in other sectors, because teachers too have the capacity and experience to lead at the highest administrative levels,’ he said.

He commended the governor for providing welfare for teachers but emphasised the need to prioritise education through better learning condition, recruitment of more qualified teachers and upskilling of existing ones through retraining..

In her speech, the State Commissioner of Education, Dr Augustina Yahaya. who represented Governor Agbu Kefas, assured the teachers that their welfare remains a priority to the government. She added that the government was investing on infrastructure in the schools.

Yahaya said: ‘The issue of implementing your promotion remains a burden in our hearts. We are here to prioritize the welfare of teachers.

‘We are building new schools. NUT, SUBEB and the Post Primary Schools Board; let us sit down and see how teachers can reach the level of Permanent Secretary. This is an education and teacher friendly governor’.

Radda praises Katsina teachers’ resilience

Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, commended teachers in the state for their resilience and professionalism.

He described them as the cornerstone of educational development and nation-building, whose dedication and sacrifices continue to shape the future of the state and country.

The governor said: ‘Teaching is not a solitary endeavor. It thrives on collaboration, mutual support and the collective commitment of all stakeholders to create enabling environments where our children can learn and excel.’

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to promoting collaborative teaching approaches through continuous professional development, modern infrastructure, digital learning tools, and platforms that encourage peer learning and knowledge sharing among teachers.

‘We’re committed to teachers welfare’

Reiterating his administration’s commitment to teachers’ welfare,

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, emphasized that the timely payment of salaries, entitlements, and other benefits remains a top priority.

Sule spoke through the Executive Chairman, Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB), Dr. Kassim Muh’d, in Lafia, hailing teachers as role models and builders of future leaders. He urged them to uphold professionalism, discipline, and moral integrity while embracing continuous self-improvement and effective lesson delivery.

Dr. Kassim also unveiled a new initiative tagged the ‘A.A. Sule Leave No Child Behind Project,’ aimed at expanding access to quality basic education and ensuring that every child of school age in the state is enrolled and learning.

Cash gifts for two outstanding public school teachers in Lagos

To mark the day, a consumer finance company, Page Financials, celebrated two public school teachers whose commitment to their calling inspire hope and transformation in the country’s education sector against the odds.

Through a public nomination campaign, the company identified two deserving educators, Mrs. Ipinlola Olaiya of Ago Iwoye Methodist Primary School, Ebute Meta, and Mr. Fashina of Anglican Comprehensive High School, Ipaja. Each received a N100,000 cash gift during surprise visits to their respective schools.

Mrs. Olaiya, who began her teaching career in 1991, became emotional as she received the award, noting that she had been ‘trusting God for financial support.’ Her humility and long service moved both colleagues and Page Financials’ representatives present at the event.

At Anglican Comprehensive High School, Creative Arts teacher, Fashina, who has taught for over 24 years, reacted with disbelief and gratitude, shouting ‘Jesus!’ upon learning he was one of the recipients. He revealed that his mobility aid had broken down, and the gift came at a time of great personal need.

The school’s principal, Venerable Adeniji, praised the company’s gesture, describing Fashina as ‘a teacher who has won Best Teacher of the Year in the school more than twice; a true role model.’ He added that such recognition motivates teachers to remain passionate about their work.

Ola Moses, Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at Page Financials, said the initiative aligned with the company’s mission to empower everyday heroes. ‘Teachers build the foundation of our society, yet their sacrifices often go unnoticed. At Page, we’re committed to celebrating and empowering those who empower others,’ he stated.

Kosofe LG reaffirms commitment to teachers’ welfare

Teachers were also celebrated by the chairman, Kosofe LGA of Lagos State, Moyosore Ogunlewe, who pledged his administration’s resolve to prioritise their welfare and professional development. He pledged continued support through conducive learning environments, adequate resources, and progressive policies.

Ogunlewe commended teachers’ collaboration with colleagues, parents, and communities, noting that teamwork and shared expertise are vital for transforming education and ensuring sustained excellence in Kosofe.

APC group urges Eno to sack appointees loyal to ex-Gov

The Progressive Advocates, a group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State, has urged Governor Umo Eno to sack his appointees still be loyal to his predecessor Udom Emmanuel.

The group made the call on Monday in an open letter addressed to the Governor by its chancellor, Mr. Anthony Peter, secretary,Pastor Okon John and publicity secretary, Comrade Felix Ita.

In the letter in Uyo, it expressed worries that the Governor might not succeed with disloyal government functionaries most of they alleged were handpicked by his predecessor.

The letter reads in parts: ‘We write to express deep concern over the growing wave of divided loyalties among key functionaries of your government.

‘This development poses a serious threat to the success of your administration and the viability of your re-election bid.

‘It has become a matter of public knowledge that about 97% of your current appointees, including members of the State Executive Council, personal aides, local government chairmen, and members of the State and National Assemblies, were handpicked by the immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State.

‘While such political inheritance might have appeared strategic at the onset, it has now become clear that many of these individuals remain more loyal to their benefactor than to you or to the administration you lead.

‘Your Excellency, it would be an act of political naivety to expect such appointees to dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to your vision, your policies, or your political survival.

‘These individuals have, in various ways, frustrated government initiatives, leaked sensitive information, and undermined your authority in the execution of your Arise Agenda’.

The group said it was not a hidden secret that the immediate past Governor is not happy with Eno’s recent movement to the APC and may do anything to sabotage his administration.

‘They have become moles and viruses within your administration – serving as channels of internal sabotage while pretending to be loyal aides.

‘As part of their coordinated sabotage, these same disgruntled elements have taken to pushing false narratives in political and media circles, claiming that you have no appreciable scorecard to justify the huge resources that have accrued to the State’s coffers since you assumed office.

‘In doing so, they deliberately ignore the visible strides of your administration in infrastructure, education, rural development, and governance reforms.

‘Their objective is to erode public confidence in your leadership and create the impression of failure where tangible progress exists – a cynical plot designed to weaken your moral standing and embolden their godfather’s continued political relevance.

‘Worse still, reliable intelligence and observable political patterns indicate that these viruses within your team are working in active cahoots with the immediate past governor to systematically weaken the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State.

‘Their strategy is clear: to use their positions within your administration to undermine the credibility of genuine APC loyalists, frustrate grassroots mobilization, and sink the party’s structure ahead of the next election cycle’, the group added.

The Nation reports there is cold war between Eno and his predecessor over the Governor’s defection to the APC.

A fruitful stewardship

Professor Mahmood Yakubu will in a few weeks be bowing out as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after 10 years in the saddle. He makes history as the longest serving helmsman of the electoral body, having been in office for two terms of five years each. He was tapped to the job subject to Senate clearance in November 2015 by the late President Muhammadu Buhari, who also reappointed him to a second tenure in December 2020.

Yakubu presided over two presidential elections (2019 and 2023), just like his immediate predecessor, Professor Attahiru Jega, who umpired the 2011 and 2015 polls although within a single tenure in his own case.

Besides the 2019 and 2023 general elections, Yakubu also presided over INEC’s conduct of no fewer than 19 end-of-tenure and off-cycle governorship elections, and more than 300 supplementary polls into legislative houses at both state and national levels. His tenure at INEC is hallmarked by extensive reforms – both in terms of changes to the electoral legal framework and digitisation of the electoral process.

It is under Yakubu’s leadership that election schedules have become calendared: for instance, national elections are slated for the third Saturday in February of an election year and state elections a fortnight after.

Following this pattern, the commission has already fixed the dates for the conduct of the next 10 general elections spanning 2027 to 2063. This should help all stakeholders, including political actors and election observers, to plan ahead and work towards better coordination with the electoral commission.

Among changes to the legal framework under Yakubu, the 2022 Electoral Act amendment has legally enshrined the use of digital tools in the electoral process, unlike the 2010 amendment that did not make that provision and allowed for successful legal challenge of the use of Smart Card Readers by the Jega-led commission in the 2015 general election.

Retaining permanent voter cards (PVCs) that was introduced by the former commission, Yakubu upscaled the use of technology by way of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), a digital device that combines fingerprint and facial recognition in ascertaining the identity of voters before they are allowed to cast their ballots. This has been a game-changer that severely curtailed voter impersonation and multiple voting – tendencies that had plagued the Nigerian electoral system.

His leadership also introduced the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, an innovative platform that allows the public to track polling unit results as they are uploaded in real time during polls, ahead of collation at constituency levels.

IReV has been successfully deployed at governorship and other lower constituency polls. It suffered a glitch during the 2023 presidential election, however, and the attendant controversy is the lowest point of Yakubu’s tenure at INEC. But its backup protected the election’s integrity.

The electoral body under Yakubu has also fully moved online nomination of candidates by political parties, applications by political associations to be registered as parties, as well as application for accreditation as election observers by observer groups and journalists, among other processes.

Another major stride of Yakubu’s leadership at INEC is the facilitation of increased access of voters to the polls. Hitherto, creation of additional polling units was a political hot button that compelled the previous commission to make do with splitting unduly large centres among the 119,973 polling units created in 1996 into sub-units known as voting points.

Yakubu, however, managed to pull off transforming those voting points into autonomous units, leaving the country with 176,846 polling units that were operated for the 2023 general election. The size of the voter register has also swelled from some 68.83million registrants that Yakubu inherited in 2015 to 93.5million registrants on roll before the 2023 general election.

Since 2023, there has also been continuous voter registration on a standardised – as opposed to previously ad hoc – basis that has brought millions more voters onto the register. The flip side, though, is that the ballooning voter roll has also translated into dwindling percentage turnout of voters, because increasing voter population that is not matched by proportionately increasing quantum turnout at elections only shows up as inverse percentage turnout.

A monument to Yakubu’s shortfall in office, however, is his failure to usher in electronic voting in Nigeria’s electoral system.

Perhaps the strongest point of Yakubu’s leadership at INEC was his entry point. He consolidated on the achievements of the Jega commission and didn’t go reinventing the wheel, and was thus able to tremendously improve the performance of the commission, more so with the advantage of time that he had.

Like his predecessor, the outgoing INEC boss comported himself with civilised restraint in the face of virulent criticisms. This has helped to keep political temperature on the leash and allowed no manoeuvring room for mischievous inciters; and naturally, the country has been better for it.

NBRDA urges farmers to adopt biotech to boost food productivity

National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) has called on Nigerian farmers to embrace biotechnology as a safe, proven, and effective tool for increasing agricultural productivity and ensuring national food security.

Speaking during a Sensitisation Workshop on Biotechnology and Biosafety/Farmers Field Day held in Jagwada, Keffi, Nasarawa State, the Director of Agricultural Biotechnology at NBRDA, Dr. Rose Gidado, highlighted the success of the BT Cowpea variety in improving yields and reducing pest-related losses across farms in the country.

Dr. Gidado explained that the workshop was organised to educate farmers who have not yet accessed BT Cowpea seeds and to showcase the remarkable progress recorded by those already cultivating the improved variety.

‘We are here to engage with farmers who have not yet had access to BT Cowpea and to demonstrate what is already on ground. Our farmer here, Emmanuel, has been growing the variety since 2023 and is now an outgrower for a seed company. He’s doing excellently well,’ she said.

Approved for commercial release in 2019 by the National Variety Release Committee, the BT Cowpea was developed to resist the destructive Maruca pod borer pest. Dr. Gidado noted that the variety continues to perform exceptionally well, proving the technology’s reliability, environmental safety, and resilience.

‘The technology is working. This variety matures early, is climate-smart, and significantly reduces pesticide use. That means fewer harmful residues in the grains,’ she stated, adding that one of the farmers now exports his BT Cowpea to the United Kingdom, where it has passed all quality checks.

The NBRDA director also cautioned farmers against misinformation about genetically modified organisms (GMOs), emphasizing that biotechnology crops are safe for cultivation and consumption.

‘Nigerian farmers should not run away from this technology. Don’t listen to rumor mongers. GMOs are safe. Look at this farm it’s full of life. You can see weeds, groundnuts, sorghum, insects, even ants. Everything is thriving,’ she said.

Describing the BT Cowpea as a testimony of Nigerian scientific success, Dr. Gidado commended the collaboration between NBRDA and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) in promoting biotechnology awareness and outreach across farming communities.

‘We are proud to be part of this success story. We are contributing to Nigeria’s food security and giving farmers access to quality, climate-resilient seeds,’ she added.

One of the host farmers, Mr. Ogenomor Emmanuel, shared his impressive results cultivating BT Cowpea on his 7.7-hectare farm. Beginning with five hectares in 2023, he said he expanded his cultivation area due to the crop’s exceptional performance.

‘For conventional cowpea, you spray pesticides seven to eight times, but with BT Cowpea, once every 15 days is enough. The difference in yield is massive,’ he said.

According to him, while local cowpea varieties produce three to four bags per hectare, the BT Cowpea yields between 21 and 22 bags per hectare, representing a dramatic increase in productivity and income.

Emmanuel also noted the variety’s shorter cooking time and resilience.

‘It cooks in about 35 to 40 minutes, unlike the local beans that take up to three hours,’ he explained.

Since October 2024, Emmanuel has been exporting BT Cowpea to buyers in the UK and the US, earning double what he would have made in local markets. He attributed the high demand to the grain’s purity and cleanliness, even during the rainy season.

‘Some farmers said it’s impossible to have clean beans during the rainy season, but BT Cowpea has proven otherwise. It can even be planted two to three times a year-that’s how resilient it is,’ he said, noting that he harvested 7.6 tons from five hectares in his first season.

Another participant, Master Balat Ishaya, a farmer from Kaduna State, described the workshop as a game-changer that could revolutionize farming if scaled across Nigeria.

‘This workshop is an eye-opener. If such programs reach more rural communities, it will replace the primitive way of farming and boost productivity. More productivity means more development,’ he said.

He emphasized that wider adoption of biotechnology could accelerate Nigeria’s journey toward food sufficiency and economic growth, noting that ‘a nation with enough food for its people is a nation on the path to prosperity.’

The NBRDA Sensitisation Workshop forms part of the agency’s ongoing national campaign to promote the safe adoption of biotechnology and biosafety practices.

It aims to empower farmers with innovative tools to improve yields, increase incomes, and strengthen Nigeria’s food system through science-driven agriculture.

TotalEnergies, Chevron push for faster permits, better seismic data in Africa

Industry leaders have said improved seismic surveys and faster permitting are critical to unlocking Africa’s frontier oil and gas potential

Africa’s oil and gas sector could be on the brink of a new exploration renaissance, driven by advances in seismic imaging, frontier data sets and faster permitting, industry leaders said at Africa Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies 2025 in Cape Town.

According to Emmanuelle Garinet, VP of Exploration Africa at TotalEnergies, Africa’s frontier basins hold significant volumes. She pointed to Namibia as an example of how seismic and subsurface data can de-risk projects: ‘When we decided to drill the Venus well, it was frontier, but we had a probability of success of more than 50 per cent because of the seismic data and direct hydrocarbon indicators.’

In the Republic of Congo, TotalEnergies’ exploration permitting process is moving at a markedly faster pace. ‘We got our permit in less than six months and are preparing for drilling by the end of the year,’ Garinet said. By contrast, South Africa’s permitting system has faced delays due to legal challenges, a problem she described as ‘unacceptable’ given limited budgets for global exploration.

Chevron’s CEO, Gavin Lewis, emphasised the critical role of comprehensive subsurface datasets in Africa. ‘Before you can do any AI-driven workflows, you need a dataset that illuminates what the subsurface looks like,’ he said.

‘What Africa has lost is the ability to sponsor multi-client subsurface datasets. The only basin that allows for large, regional high-quality datasets is the Gulf of America, which has allowed that basin to reinvent itself multiple times.’

VP of Exploration for bp, Bryan Ritchie, highlighted survey work in Egypt’s Nile Delta, where the company completed the first deepwater ocean-bottom node seismic survey over the Atoll field and noted that the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company plans to expand multi-client data coverage across a larger area of the delta. ‘We’re seeing new opportunities for these images,’ he said.

Beyond exploration, Woodside Energy’s VP of Exploration, Terry Gebhardt, said geoscience and subsurface data are also key to carbon capture and storage projects, as well as ‘maximizing efficacy and recovery’ in existing fields.

The panel discussion, sponsored by EnerGeo Alliance, also underlined the broader scale of investment in Africa’s oil and gas sector. Nikki Martin, President and CEO of EnerGeo Alliance, said African oil and gas capital expenditure is expected to rise to $54 billion by 2030, following a $6 billion surge in exploration spending in 2024.

Woman killed while attempting to break up fight involving husband

A 26-year-old woman was killed on Monday as she attempted to break up a fight involving her husband.

Aisha Masibu, a vendor at Kikindu market, is said to have been hit with a stone on the head as she intervened to separate her husband from two assailants.

Police said the fight between Masibu’s husband, who is a security guard at a parking yard, and the two suspects, aged 19 and 24, ensued following a disagreement over a Shs2,000 debt from one of the clients of the parking yard.

‘The two boys stormed the parking yard demanding to see one of the clients who reportedly owed them Shs2,000. The security guard attempted to block them, saying they should wait for the client from outside. The situation escalated when the two wanted to force their way in. They started beating up the man, and when his wife tried to intervene, they hit her with a stone,’ said Mr Ismail Gidudu, a boda boda rider at a nearby stage.

This publication learnt that after the fatal incident, the suspects fled to their home in Kisenyi cell, Nabuyonga Ward, leaving the security guard with serious injuries.

Residents mobilised and stormed the house in an attempt to lynch the suspects, but they were blocked by the military and police led by two Division Police Commanders (DPCs) of Mbale City Northern Division, SP Mubarak Sunday and Mbale Central Police Station, SP Kenneth Bakashaba.

Ms Amina Namakoye, a resident, said it took security operatives nearly five hours to arrest the suspects.

‘Property worth millions of shillings was destroyed while other items were looted by unidentified individuals. Some members of the mob were also seen pelting stones at the officers,’ Ms Namakoye said.

Elgon Region Police Spokesperson, Rogers Taitika, said the two suspects are currently in their custody on murder charges.

‘The two are accused of killing Masibu. After the incident, they fled the scene and hid in their house, but as security, we managed to rescue and arrest them. We emphasise that criminal liability is an individual responsibility. The actions of a perpetrator should not be used as justification to target or destroy the property of their guardian, parent, or any associated facility,’ SP Taitika said.

Police and residents alleged that the prime suspect, only identified as Yusuf, alias Fifty Fifty, is a serial offender in the area.

Nabiyonga Zone Security Secretary, Seku Abdulkarim, said Yusuf had recently been released after serving a six-month sentence, only to resume his criminal activities.

The Assistant Resident City Commissioner of Mbale, Mr Hussein Kadimba, urged parents to control their children and be more vigilant, noting that drug abuse among youths had become a major driver of crime and violence in the city.

Masibu’s body was taken to Mbale City Mortuary for a postmortem.

Male factor infertility: An untamed monster?

Once upon a time, in our ancestral homesteads of Kigyezi, when a couple struggled to bear children, the whisper of blame rose and inevitably landed on the woman’s head. She was the suspected vessel of barrenness, the silent culprit.

The man, by cultural decree, was deemed fertile by default. His masculinity was beyond question. Only when the winds of fate betrayed him, his wife leaving him,often times after a practice known as “okushenda” remarrying, and quickly cradling another man’s child would doubt creep in.

Then, and only then, would society begin to suspect that the king may indeed have no clothes as per Hans Christian Andersen’s epic, The Emperor’s New Clothes. In some parts of Uganda, specifically Kigyezi, Ankole, and beyond, a quiet cultural innovation was devised to safeguard the man’s honour.

The husband’s brother, in scandalous whispers, even the husband’s father, would be invited to ‘help’ in the noble duty of extending the family lineage. This delicate arrangement, known as “okwarira,” ensured the man’s name was preserved in history, though his seed was not. After all, as Shakespeare asked, what is in a name?

In our cultures, apparently, everything. Indeed, history is not short of great men whose thrones were warmed by heirs they did not sire. Even kings in distant lands, royalty draped in gold, sometimes failed to father children.

King Henry VIII is suspected to have suffered infertility. But like in our hills, arrangements were quietly made, dynasties preserved, and the illusion of invincible manhood upheld. Science, that relentless investigator, has exposed what our grandmothers suspected but dared not say aloud: men, too, can be infertile.

And more alarmingly, the evidence shows that global male fertility has been in decline over the last two decades. Why? The jury is still out, but the suspects are plenty.

Extreme exercise, the kind that turns boys into muscle-sculpted statues but quietly kills their sperm. The cocktail of cigarettes and alcohol that numbs the body but also sabotages reproduction. Recreational drugs that offer fleeting highs but permanent lows in the testicular department. And then there is the environment plastics, toxins, and pollutants that sneak into our bodies and alter the delicate architecture of sperm.

Sometimes, despite the brilliance of modern laboratories, the cause remains unknown. A mystery wrapped in biology. For the man who grew up on tales of indomitable masculinity, this is an uncomfortable truth. The hunter, once certain of his quiver, discovers his arrows are blunt.

But unlike in the days of okwarira, science has armed us with new tools.

In poetic terms, science has become the benevolent brother, the discreet helper who ensures men otherwise doomed to childlessness can father their own children. And so, the untamed monster of male infertility is slowly being caged. What was once a silent curse is now a treatable condition. Couples who would once have turned to cultural compromises can now find solace in clinics and laboratories. Brothers, fellow Old Boys, we must speak of this matter with honesty. Male infertility is not a punishment. It is not witchcraft, as some of our patients come in convinced of who could have even been responsible for the witchcraft. It is not even a failure of masculinity. It is a medical condition, sometimes lifestyle-induced, genetic, and environmental.

Like hypertension, diabetes it can affect anyone, regardless of wealth, status, or charm…should I add cohort? In our youthful days, we were taught to conquer the world. Today, we must also learn to conquer silence. To those who suffer quietly, know that the doors of science are open. To those who still mock, know that the laughter may yet echo back. As a community of men, let us lead with compassion. Let us support the science that is giving hope to thousands of families. And let us remember, in love and humility, that the measure of a man is not merely in his ability to sire, but in his ability to care, to nurture, and to stand by his family whether with one child, 10, or none. In the grand story of life, children are indeed a blessing. But so is truth. And it is only when we face the untamed monster of male infertility with honesty and courage that we shall tame it not just for ourselves, but for generations to come.

KCCA Ladies defeat Sport-S to win National Championship

KCCA Ladies defeated Sport-S 3-0 in the final of the National Club Championship held in Gulu over the weekend to qualify for next year’s Africa Club Championship.

Shilla Omuriwe’s charges, who defeated Nemostars and VVC in the quarters and semifinals respectively, made light work of Sport-S to add yet another piece of major silverware to their cabin.

Having won the league in 2022, the Club Championship victory is the second biggest honour under Omuriwe’s tutelage.

The Kasasiro Girls got out of the blocks early, tearing through the Sport-S net defence to take the tightly contested first set 25-23.

New signings Moreen Mwamula and Phiona Naziite added steel to the Kasasiro Girls and proved too much for the league champions to handle.

KCCA claimed the second and third sets 25-21 and 25-19 respectively to seal the deal and kick off celebrations.

The two-day tournament was affected by rain on Day One, with several pool matches pushed to Day Two.

‘It was unfortunate that we had to play four games on Day Two but it was a good tournament overall,’ Omuriwe told Daily Monitor after the victory at Pece Primary School in Gulu City.

‘We are grateful to God that He gave us the strength to push through one game at a time,’ the tactician added.

KCCA came out on top of Pool B after defeating Kampala University and Seroma.

Meanwhile Sport-S had to go a five-set thriller against KCB-Nkumba in the semis.

With the victory KCCA now qualifies to represent Uganda in the Africa Club Championship next year.

‘We came to the tournament with an aim of representing the country in the African championship and thank God we got the win,’ Claire Najuuko, the KCCA captain, revealed.

Meanwhile the men’s final between Nemostars and KCCA could not be played to completion due to poor lighting that forced a postponement.

Nemostars took the first two sets 25-21 and 25-20 respectively to move to within a set of defending their crown.

The opportunity to finish it off in the third frame, however, came down crashing when KCCA punched back to take it 25-23.

With the score at 2-1 and another set or two needed to determine the winner, a stop was inevitable.

The final will now be played in Kampala at a later date, with KCCA looking to replicate the heroics of the women’s team.

Nemostars, on the other hand, will be looking to defend their crown and return to continental volleyball next year. The two-day tournament attracted up to 27 teams.

National Volleyball Club Championship

Women’s final

KCCA 3-0 Sport-S

Men’s final

Nemostars 2-1 KCCA (to be replayed)

Ask the doctor: Can I use urine to clean a baby’s ears?

I know breastfed babies sometimes get milk in their ears, which can be wiped. Can the same be done for the eyes if milk or discharge appears? Is it safe to use urine for cleaning them, as some believe? Abooki Kuhurra

Dear Abooki,

Eyes are organs that help us see, while ears enable us to hear. Both are delicate and require proper care when they are unwell, which should only be done after a proper diagnosis of the underlying issue. It is a common belief that breastfeeding may lead to milk accumulating in the ears of infants, resulting in a condition where they require stopping breastfeeding to address the problem.

However, what is often perceived as milk is actually pus due to an ear infection, which can often follow a nasal or chest infection or be triggered by allergies.

Interestingly, children who are not breastfed tend to be more affected by these infections than those who are, suggesting that breastfeeding may help prevent ear infections along with other illnesses.

Treatment for such infections usually requires antibiotics prescribed by a doctor, as well as addressing any underlying causes, such as respiratory tract infections. Historically, urine was used for cleaning due to its high ammonia content, which acted as a cleaning and bleaching agent.

However, it has now been replaced by more effective and safer soaps used with water. While urine was once believed to have health benefits, there is no scientific evidence to support this, and using it can pose significant risks to the delicate health of the eyes and ears, making it advisable to avoid it altogether.

Since urine is a waste product, applying it to the eyes or ears could introduce toxins and germs, which may ultimately harm these sensitive areas.

Ugandans must prioritise annual eye and ear examinations rather than waiting until problems arise, as this can help prevent risks of blindness or deafness.

Sexual abuse: Why blame children?

While the laws are clear when it comes to Child Sexual Abuse (CSA), we can and should do better as a society to prevent this scourge. We have the knowledge and tools, and together we create a safer world for children.

The Uganda Children (Amendment) Act 2016 prohibits sexual exploitation: a person shall not engage a child in any work that exposes the child to activities of a sexual nature, whether paid or not. Sexual violence against children entails any sexual act with a child.

The World Health Organisation defines CSA as ‘the involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend, is unable to give informed consent to, or for which the child is not developmentally prepared and cannot give consent, or that violates the laws or social taboos of society.’

Child sexual violence includes touching and non-touching behaviours, sexual harassment, sexual jokes and comments, exposure to pornography and defilement. It happens due to abuse of power by the perpetrators who are always in a position of power as adults are older than the victim.

Other contributing factors include economic poverty and family breakdown, access to the Internet etc. It is exacerbated by negative cultural social norms that expose children, especially girls, to abuse by normalising some forms of sexual abuse.

Our society, for example, defines how girls and women should conduct themselves, for instance how to dress, speak, where to go, and when, otherwise they would be inviting abuse.

These negative social norms lead to secondary victimisation for survivors of child sexual violence. Secondary victimisation comes in the form of disbelief, blame, and rejection from adults; children are labelled liars or manipulative by the very adults whose role is critical in their protection. How prevalent is this?

The Uganda annual police crime report revealed that in 2024 alone, 12,317 children under the age of 18 were defiled and of these, 12,009 were girls while 308 were boys. Moreover, 1,447 of these were between the age of zero and eight years and 2,515 were between nine and 14 years. In Uganda, defilement refers to act of sexual intercourse with a person below the age of 18, whether they consent or not.

The consequences of child sexual abuse are both short-term and long-term and range from social, emotional, cognitive, educational problems, low self-esteem, and self-harm, and may lead to suicide.

Many victims are too young or too vulnerable to disclose their experiences or to protect themselves. But who should take responsibility for child sexual abuse?

Adults have a responsibility to protect children from sexual abuse and hold perpetrators of child abuse accountable.

Empowerment strategies for children like age-appropriate information helps them to know what constitutes sexual violence, be able to testify in court, to name the act, to identify abuse, but this awareness has little impact on the prevention of CSA since they are often abused by adults.

The burden of protection should not be left to children. There is a need to provide teachers and adults with sufficient training to be able to prevent, report and manage sexual abuse in their schools and communities because sexual violence, like other forms of violence against children, thrives in an enabling culture. Our societal norms need to align with and be protective of children. This process must start early by working with parents, caregivers, and Early Childhood Development (ECD) practitioners to provide gender-responsive pedagogies and information from a young age.

Children should be taught about gender equality and the harms of gender-based discrimination early on. This helps them to be gender-sensitive and respectful from the beginning. We also need to ensure the materials we use are translated into local languages to cater for the entire community as well as cater for children with disability since vulnerability to child sexual abuse is compounded by physical disability. We all have a role to protect children from sexual abuse and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.