Bold Strategy to Revolutionize Women’s Health Launched

By: Michael Mike

A bold, data-driven, tech-enabled, and financially intelligent strategy designed to revolutionize women’s health across Nigeria has been launched.

The project RenewHER (Renew Health Equity and Reform) is a Presidential Women’s Health Transformation Initiative, led by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women’s Health (OSSAP-WH) and championed by Dr. Adanna Steinacker.

The launching was held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja on Thursday evening with the Vice President Kashim Shettima representing President Bola Tinubu.

At the Gala, the Women’s Health Digital Media and Communications Hub, a national advocacy and story telling platform was unveiled, which is dedicated to amplifying women’s voices, spotlighting innovations, and driving conversations across six national priority areas: Maternal, Newborn and Child Health; Sexual and Reproductive Health; Adolescent Health and Menstrual Equity; Nutrition and Preventive Care; Healthcare Workforce and Access; and Coalition Building.

The evening also featured a Presidential Keynote Address, the premiere of the RenewHER campaign film, a cultural showcase, the Health Innovator Awards and a National Pledge Moment to mobilize long-term support for the initiative.

Speaking on the project, the SSA to the President on Women’s Health, Dr. Adanna Steinacker, said: “RenewHER is more than an initiative, it is a national call to action to redefine the future of women’s health and economic equity in Nigeria. Through the Women’s Health Nigeria Hub and Magazine, we a creating a movement that transforms policy, empowers communities, and inspires a new generation of champions for women’s health.”

Key strategic partners of the initiative include the Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF), the Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum (NGSF), the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), and the Women in Healthcare Network (WIHCN), all supporting RenewHER to deliver measurable health outcomes, while creating economic opportunities for women through financial incentives, digital wallets, microgrants, skills training, and women-led health innovations.

Bold Strategy to Revolutionize Women’s Health Launched

General Hospital Monguno to be transformed into a socialist facility

By: Bodunrin Kayode

In a bid to ensure a centralized sub referral system with a heavy dose of sophisticated equipments in the northern zone of Borno State, Governor Babagana Zulum has approved the upgrade of the General hospital Monguno to a specialist hospital.

The implication of this upgrade is that there would be more medical personnel to treat increased cases of emergencies from the entire zone and unless necessary, patients would not need to rush to Maiduguri for certain emergency operations.

When completed, the N 3 billion envisaged refurbished hospital project is expected to cater for at least ten council areas within the northern senatorial zone which has been brutally battered by the 15 year old insurgency war.

The Borno Governor made these pronouncement recently when he commissioned three land mark projects including a school of nursing in Monguno.

Governor Zulum regretted that in spite of the fact that Borno was created about 50 years ago, vital departments like the dental and eye clinics are unfortunately still domiciled in the state capital Maiduguri leaving the other zones deprived of such facilities even at the level of emergency.

Professor Zulum maintained that it was his intention to ensure that all the senatorial zones in the state have access to specialist treatments which the central zone dominated by Bama and Maiduguri is enjoying now.

To pin vital professionals on the ground, Prof Zulum assured that a befitting accommodation will be provided to all the staff so that they will be comfortable while serving the state in the two zones where new facilities are being built for the residents of the state.

The Governor assured that he will erect residential facilities for all the medical practitioners posted to the town to maintain the eye and dental hospital already commissioned adding that 100 houses will be built for the medical team and teachers helping to support the reconstruction processes.

When the Monguno specialist hospital is complete, certain residency courses shall begin to enhance the much needed personnel training which has badly affected the fabrics of the medical sector in the state.

“What matters is the human resources for the health sector which is key to training the younger ones to become nurses and midwives.” Said Zulum.

Prof Zulum noted that his visit coincided wth the flag off of the provision of free eye surgery service being conducted at the general hospital to residents of the zone.

The Governor vowed to complete the battered trunk A road connecting Maiduguri to Mairari before the end of his tenure in 2027 adding that Maiduguri to Mairari and Maiduguri to Tungushe are about the worse areas hindering free access to Monguno.

Wants military to monitor and protect the new edifices

Governor Zulum called on the Army and the entire security apparatus of the state to ensure that they secure the three projects commissioned this week

The Governor further commended the hospital management board for providing security to the entire general hospital area which has been serving hundreds of residents in the zone.

Commissioner of Health Baba Malam Gana described the commissioning as a milestone in the anals of the government adding that this can only happen when there is a visioner that places health at the centre of his focus.

The Commissioner posited that Child healthcare is a challenge in the state adding that competent professionals who can meet up to the increasing problems in the sector do not exit which is why the College of nursing in Monguno is crucial in salvaging monguno from the list of 13 labeled council areas with maternal health in the state.

“Students who come here will carry the ability to save lives. No mother child or family must suffer due to the lack of adequate care givers

“I call on parents to take advantage of this privileges in the institution. This is leading to the building and saving of lives.The dental and eye clinic will assist in serving the ten LGAs in the zone said Prof Gana.

The Commissioner further himted that the school of nursing in Gwoza will soon be completed to serve and support the southern zone of the state.

Professor Gana commended the Governor for supporting the health sector with a budgetary provision of over 15% of the budget for the last two years.

When completed the Monguno specialist hospital will have multiple centres manned by specialized doctors.

General Hospital Monguno to be transformed into a socialist facility

Nigeria Creative Sector Takes Centre Stage with UK partnership

By: Michael Mike

The United Kingdom has expressed firm commitment to partnering with Nigeria in expanding the creative economy.

British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, made this known during Nigeria’s Creative Economy Week, themed Building Futures through Creativity. He described the sector as a vital engine for growth and job creation.

Montgomery emphasized that the creative economy is a “real priority for the UK government,” noting that it currently supports 2.4 million jobs in the UK alone. He said the UK is eager to support similar growth in Nigeria, particularly among the youth.

“The creative economy is one of eight sectors that are prioritized in the agreement between the UK and Nigeria called the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership,” he said.

Montgomery praised the vibrancy of Nigeria’s creative sector including Nollywood, Afrobeats, and fashion, noting its global impact and potential for further growth.

He said: “You’ve got a young, capable, innovative, dynamic population,” he said.

“You have already begun to take over parts of the world with some of your creative industries.”

Describing the partnership as mutually beneficial, Montgomery said the UK brings expertise and finance, while Nigeria brings innovation and cultural richness.

“We believe that the UK and Nigeria have a real opportunity for mutual benefit, for a partnership which will benefit both sides,” he noted.

He also acknowledged the Nigerian diaspora in the UK as a powerful bridge between both nations, bringing cultural understanding and collaboration.

Montgomery commended the British Council’s longstanding role in cultural diplomacy and youth development.

“I want to pay tribute to the longer-term work of the British Council,” he said, calling for applause in appreciation of the Council’s efforts.

As Creative Economy Week unfolds, Montgomery expressed hope that the event would spark new ideas and partnerships.

“Let’s hope some more partnerships come out of the week for the years ahead,” he said, marking the start of what many see as a new chapter in UK-Nigeria relations rooted in shared culture and innovation.

British Council Country Director, Donna McGowan emphasized the importance of celebrating creativity and its impact on the wider economy, employability, inclusive growth, and international connections.

She states, “It’s really about celebrating the importance of creativity to Nigeria and the impact that this has on the wider economy, employability, inclusive growth and international connections.”

McGowan further highlighted the huge potential for cooperation between the UK and Nigeria in the creative sector, particularly with a focus on policies, enabling frameworks, and skills development.

She notes, “So much more can be achieved given the huge youth population in Nigeria so there is so, so much potential and so much potential for cooperation between the UK and Nigeria.”

She also pointed to the theme of the Creative Economy Week, “Building Futures through Creativity,” and expressed her excitement about the various events and activities planned.

“So we think there’s lots to celebrate, there’s lots to be very positive about. And this is all under our theme of building futures through creativity, which we feel is very topical for this moment in time,” she stated.

Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musawa represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mukhtar Muhammad narrated that shared creativity forges strong bonds between nations.

“The most enduring bond between nations are often forged in the fires of shared creativity. They are composed in the rhythm of a song, stitched into the fabric of our fashion, framed in the lens of a film, and brought on the stages of our theatres.”

He noted Nigeria’s creative sector as a source of national pride and global recognition, stating how Nollywood, Afrobeats, fashion, and literature have become symbols of Nigeria’s identity and influence, projecting the country’s image to the world.

He said: “Nigeria’s creative sector is our new national pride, our undeniable global passport.”

Muhammad stressed the importance of partnerships, particularly with the UK, to develop a thriving creative economy. He said: “Together we are not just a combination, we are a collaboration. A fusion that has the potential to set a new global standard for what a creative economy can achieve.”

Nigeria Creative Sector Takes Centre Stage with UK partnership