Adedini Joins 2027 Reps Race, Vows Inclusive Development for Ife Constituency

By: Michael Mike

A development advocate and grassroots mobiliser, Marcus Adedini, has formally declared his intention to contest the House of Representatives seat for Ife Federal Constituency in the 2027 general elections.

Adedini’s entry into the race follows his purchase of the All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination and expression of interest forms, signalling what he described as a decisive step toward deepening public service and advancing community-driven development across Ife land.

Positioning himself as a candidate rooted in grassroots engagement, Adedini highlighted years of involvement in community-focused initiatives spanning education, healthcare, youth empowerment, and social welfare. According to him, these efforts reflect a consistent commitment to improving living standards and expanding opportunities for residents.

In the education sector, his interventions have included scholarship schemes, distribution of learning materials, and support for infrastructure development aimed at enhancing the quality of teaching and learning. His healthcare outreach programmes, he noted, have provided medical services to underserved communities while promoting awareness on preventive health practices.

Adedini also underscored his focus on youth empowerment, citing initiatives that equip young people with vocational skills, entrepreneurial training, and startup support to tackle unemployment and foster economic independence. Similar programmes, he added, have targeted women and vulnerable groups, helping to strengthen livelihoods and social inclusion.

Beyond community projects, Adedini pointed to his legislative exposure, which includes contributions to policy discussions and drafting of bills in sectors such as education, healthcare, and social development. He argued that his understanding of budgeting processes and project facilitation would enable him to attract federal interventions to the constituency.

Calling on constituents to support his ambition, Adedini pledged to run a campaign anchored on issues, inclusivity, and accountability. He assured residents of effective representation and responsive leadership if elected, emphasizing that his vision is built on sustainable development and collective progress.

Adedini Joins 2027 Reps Race, Vows Inclusive Development for Ife Constituency

World Press Freedom Day 2026: NHRC Demands Zero Tolerance for Attacks on Journalists

By: Michael Mike

As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark World Press Freedom Day, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a strong call for zero tolerance against attacks on journalists, warning that press repression poses a direct threat to democracy.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu, said a free and independent media remains the “lifeblood” of any democratic society.

In a statement commemorating the 2026 observance, he stressed that press freedom is not a privilege but a fundamental right guaranteed under Nigeria’s constitution and international human rights obligations.

Ojukwu underscored the intrinsic link between a vibrant press and democratic governance, noting that societies where journalists operate freely tend to experience greater accountability, transparency, and citizen participation. Conversely, he warned that any attempt to silence the media undermines public trust and weakens democratic institutions.

“Every threat to a journalist constitutes a direct attack on democracy and the public’s right to know,” he stated, expressing concern over persistent cases of intimidation, arbitrary arrests, assaults, and online harassment targeting media practitioners across Nigeria.

The NHRC boss also condemned the killing of journalists in the line of duty, describing such incidents as grave violations that foster fear and self-censorship within the media space. According to him, these trends erode the quality of public discourse and hinder the media’s watchdog role.

In response, the Commission has begun systematic tracking and documentation of press freedom violations nationwide. Ojukwu said the findings will be made public to support evidence-based advocacy and strengthen accountability mechanisms for the protection of journalists.

He urged government authorities, security agencies, and non-state actors to refrain from actions that hinder lawful media operations, while calling on law enforcement bodies to conduct prompt and transparent investigations into all reported cases of abuse.

“Silence in the face of attacks on journalists emboldens further violations and erodes public trust,” he warned.

Ojukwu also challenged journalists to uphold professional ethics and remain committed to truth and public interest reporting, even in the face of mounting pressures.

He further called on Nigerians to actively defend press freedom, describing it as a shared responsibility and a cornerstone for safeguarding all other rights in a democratic society.

The annual observance of World Press Freedom Day serves as a global reminder of the importance of a free press and the need to protect media practitioners who risk their lives to inform the public.

World Press Freedom Day 2026: NHRC Demands Zero Tolerance for Attacks on Journalists

Abuja Hosts Groundbreaking Forum on Peacebuilding and Climate Resilience

By: Michael Mike

Abuja is set to become the centre of a critical global conversation as policymakers, climate experts and peacebuilding practitioners converge for the 2026 Peer Learning Forum on Peacebuilding and National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Processes, opening on May 5 at the Abuja Continental Hotel.

The three-day forum, co-hosted by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the NAP Global Network, is drawing participants from across Africa and beyond at a time when the intersection between climate change and conflict is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. From the shrinking Lake Chad Basin to farmer-herder tensions worsened by erratic rainfall, Nigeria itself sits at the frontline of climate-induced security challenges.

The forum comes against a growing global recognition that climate change is not only an environmental issue but also a threat multiplier. Across the Sahel and other fragile regions, rising temperatures, desertification and resource scarcity have intensified competition over land and water, often fuelling violence and displacement. Governments are now under pressure to design adaptation strategies that do more than protect ecosystems—they must also stabilise communities and prevent conflict.

It is within this context that National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) have emerged as a key policy tool under international climate frameworks, enabling countries to identify vulnerabilities, prioritise interventions and build long-term resilience. However, experts have increasingly argued that traditional adaptation planning has not sufficiently accounted for conflict dynamics, particularly in fragile and violence-affected settings.

Bringing together representatives of African country NAP teams, ministries responsible for environment, security and peacebuilding, as well as technical experts and development partners, the gathering aims to rethink how adaptation policies are designed and implemented. Discussions are expected to focus on the realities of implementing NAP processes in conflict-prone regions, where weak institutions, insecurity and limited resources often undermine well-laid plans.

Participants will also examine how climate adaptation efforts can be deliberately aligned with peacebuilding strategies. This includes showcasing practical examples where interventions such as sustainable land management, water resource governance and community-based adaptation have helped reduce tensions while improving livelihoods.

Beyond high-level discussions, the forum is structured to encourage peer-to-peer learning, with countries sharing experiences, lessons and innovations. Organisers say this approach is crucial, as many African nations face similar climate risks but operate within different political and security contexts.

The opening ceremony on May 5 is expected to set the tone, with calls for stronger collaboration across sectors that have traditionally operated in silos. Policymakers are likely to emphasise that without integrating peacebuilding into climate adaptation, gains in resilience could be short-lived in volatile regions.

Nigeria’s role as host also underscores its strategic position in regional climate and security discourse. As Africa’s most populous nation, grappling with both environmental stress and complex security challenges, the country offers a real-world case study of the risks and opportunities being discussed.

By the close of the forum on May 7, stakeholders are expected to outline priority actions and next steps for participating countries, with a focus on embedding peacebuilding considerations into national and subnational adaptation planning processes.

For many observers, the significance of the Abuja gathering lies not just in its agenda, but in its timing. As climate impacts accelerate and conflicts grow more complex, the push to bridge the gap between adaptation and peacebuilding is no longer theoretical—it is becoming an urgent necessity.

Abuja Hosts Groundbreaking Forum on Peacebuilding and Climate Resilience