Category Nigeria News

In response to the escalating global health issues, international leaders have pledged to give the World Health Organization (WHO) at least an additional $170 million.

Leaders at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, where they reiterated their support for multilateral cooperation through contributions to the WHO’s Investment Round (IR), made the pledges at a high-level pledging event on Tuesday.

The Fourteenth General Programme of Work, WHO’s strategy for global health, is raising money to fund its potential saving of 40 million lives over the course of four years. Significant contributions have been made by both government and philanthropic partners as of today’s pledges.

Member states approved raising assessed contributions, adding a separate US $90 million in annual income, and completing another significant step in the direction of sustainable development.

“I’m appreciative of every partner and member state who contributed to the investment round. These funds will aid us in continuing our life-saving work in a challenging environment for global health, according to WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. They demonstrate the viability of multilateralism.

The meeting attracted contributions from ELMA Philanthropies (with the WHO Foundation), Fondation Botnar, Laerdal Global Health (with the WHO Foundation), Nippon Foundation, Qatar, China, Gabon, Mongolia, Qatar, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, and Nippon Foundation. The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation made a further US$ 13 million commitment to increase funding.

At least US $170 million is allocated for the Investment Round, which will help to support WHO’s base budget for the years 2025 to 2028. The most important type of funding, which eight donors have received, and four of them have been repeat donors.

Nearly 8000 people from all over the world have signed up as “Member Citizens” through the One World Movement, making almost US $600,000 in donations, many of them monthly. This is a powerful declaration of global solidarity and an affirmation that every voice counts.

Read more about the rising demand for gold, minerals, and other topics.

Contributor: A new funding round for WHO investment round

Following the technical glitch discovered in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has dismissed allegations of conspiracy theories against a portion of the nation.

The five South-East zone and Lagos states, which many claim the Board purposefully influenced the candidates’ outcomes, were affected by the technical glitch.

However, Prof. Oloyede refuted the claim at a meeting with the board’s management prior to Wednesday’s release of the rescheduled UTME Exam results.

He added that the meeting observes a minute of silence in honor of the candidate who passed away as a result of the examination. &nbsp,

Every candidate is a Nigerian and has equal opportunities, insists Professor Ishaq Oloyede, who claims there was no intentional attempt to denigrate South-East students.

His denial comes after complaints from some circles, particularly South-East region legislators, that he resign due to the technical glitch that affected over 300,000 students.

“National shame”

Due to the technical glitch, Oloyede’s resignation was requested by the South-East Caucus of the 10th House of Representatives on Tuesday.

Additionally, it demanded that the entire examination be completely canceled and a new start date for the nationwide exercise.

The lawmakers referred to the outcome of the exam as a “national shame” in a statement signed by the caucus leader, Igariwey Iduma Enwo.

They urged the immediate suspension of those in the JAMB’s digital operations and examination logistics in response.

The JAMB registrar is portrayed as a good man, but then leadership has to have consequences. We therefore urge Professor Ishaq Oloyede, the JAMB’s Registrar, to do the necessary by stepping down in order to allow for a thorough investigation and remediation of this national embarrassment.

A story that claimed a Christian convert from Zamfara State to be tried in Sharia Court on Friday is being refuted by the Zamfara State government has been refuted.

Sulaiman Bala Idris, the spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor, refuted the report and said it was caused by social media platforms that were intended to drive traffic.

Idris claimed beyond a shadow of a doubt that no such case had been brought before any Zamfara State Sharia Court.

The Zamfara State Government’s attention has been drawn to a 22-year-old woman who is facing the death penalty for converting to Christianity, according to the statement.

We want to blatantly state that it is the work of peace’s enemies, who are determined to stoke tension wherever there is.

“The fake news, which was spread on social media by a platform known for distributing falsehoods and unverified information, is nothing more than a failed attempt to disrupt the peace,” said one person.

The Zamfara State Government immediately called all relevant authorities and security personnel to verify the story’s truth, which the Sahara Reporters ultimately uncovered as a blatant falsehood.

The state government has spoken with the Grand Khadi of the Zamfara Sharia Court of Appeal regarding any similar cases to ensure accountability and certainty. He claimed that Zamfara State has never heard such a case before a Shari’a court.

Where did this dangerous and divisive narrative come from, the question is? What are the underpinnings of it? What do those who are promoting this story hope to eventually achieve?

“We are living in fascinating times. Media outlets that should have verified stories are becoming content, only copying and pasting content from social media accounts eager to get likes and comments.

Further, the statement further revealed that the woman behind the “fake news” image is not Nigerian, and that her real name is Aalia, a Texas native.

The Zamfara State Government believes it is crucial to clarify the state’s lack of such things. We must all denounce yellow journalism in this circumstance.

Aliko Dangote, one of Africa’s richest men, has been chosen as one of the 100 most influential people in the world who will shape the direction of charitable giving, according to TIME Magazine’s inaugural TIME100 Philanthropy list.

Only one Nigerian is included on the prestigious 2025 list, Dangote.

The list, which was released on Tuesday, lists 100 philanthropists from 28 nations in the categories of “Titans, Leaders, Trailblazers, and Innovators.”

Dangote joins Michael Bloomberg, Oprah Winfrey, Warren Buffett, and Melinda Gates in the 23 global figures who have been named the “Titans.”

The Dangote Group’s founder and president was commended for his strong philanthropic impact and success in business.

Aliko Dangote, the group’s founder, president, and CEO, established a net worth of $ 23.9 billion through operations in Nigeria’s oil and agriculture sectors, according to the magazine.

His Aliko Dangote Foundation, which he established with $1.25 billion in 2014, aims to return to the continent that contributed to his success by putting an average of $35 million annually toward programs in all of Africa.

Read more about Ali Pate and Bako-Aiyegbusi’s inclusion on TIME’s 100 Global Health Influencers List.

According to Dangote, “any African nation needs five things first, education, economic empowerment, disaster relief, and food.”

The next generation of African leaders must be produced. Our contribution to putting Africans on the road to success lies in our investments in nutrition, health, education, and economic empowerment, Dangote said.

The Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) is currently implementing a $100 million multi-year program to treat children who suffer from severe malnutrition, among its recent initiatives. Additionally, it is reviving an initiative to distribute more than one million bags of rice in Nigeria this year, which was launched in 2024.

Prior to now, the foundation worked with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other partners to eradicate polio in Nigeria.

The World Health Organization declared that the nation was no longer polio-endemic in 2015.

Dangote recently announced a $10 million donation to Kano State’s Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology.

In addition to funding annual fellowships through the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders program, the foundation will also expand its regional efforts in 2025, including building school complexes, providing vocational training, and supporting local initiatives.

The Dangote Group referred to the TIME recognition as a significant affirmation of Dangote’s long-standing support for social development and philanthropy in a statement released on Tuesday.

The “Philanthropy 100” list on TIME aims to highlight those who are strategically influencing the world giving landscape in addition to giving money.

Four people were abducted from Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State’s Okoloke, an agrarian community, for the third time in seven days.

An unidentified number of armed men stormed the area on Tuesday morning in the early hours of the incident.

The attackers allegedly entered Ezekiel Durojaiye’s residence, which is a retired and well-known community leader, in nearby Okunran village.

READ MORE: Gunmen Abduct Traditional Ruler in Kogi

At gunpoint, the attackers kidnapped Pa Durojaiye and three others before shooting them in the bush. Residents are now more enraged and in fear as a result of the incident.

Recently, Yagba West has become a hotspot for kidnapping. Oba James Dada Ogunyamda, the village’s traditional ruler, was kidnapped on Thursday by gunmen.

Two vigilante members and a third person were also abducted three days after the monarch was taken.

Eight people have been abducted from the same community in a single week as a result of the most recent attack.

The 90-year-old monarch’s kidnappers reportedly demanded a ransom of N100 million, which was later reduced to N50 million. Since then, his family has contacted the government, businesses, and the general public for assistance in raising the funds.