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Zulum Advocates Youth Empowerment, Skills Acquisition, and Scholarships to End Youth Restiveness

Zulum Advocates Youth Empowerment, Skills Acquisition, and Scholarships to End Youth Restiveness
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has called for the implementation of robust skills acquisition programmes, enhanced educational opportunities and scholarship schemes as strategic measures to combat youth restiveness and unemployment in society.
Speaking at the 7th National Council on Youths Meeting (NCYM) held at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the Government House in Maiduguri on Thursday, Governor Zulum emphasized the need for governments to prioritize youth development. He described the youth as “future leaders” who require adequate support to fulfill their potentials.
Themed “Transforming and Repositioning the Nigerian Youth to Thrive and Catalyze Economic Development,” the meeting provided a platform for dialogue, innovation, and collaboration aimed at advancing youth development in Nigeria.
Governor Zulum, the Chief Host of the event, expressed pride in Borno State’s role in hosting the significant gathering.
He highlighted his administration’s unwavering commitment to youth empowerment since assuming office in 2019, despite the challenges posed by the prolonged Boko Haram insurgency.

Governor Zulum also underscored the immense potential of Nigeria’s youth population, noting that recent statistics reveal that 70% of the country’s population is under the age of 30. “This demographic is a significant asset, offering the potential for a highly productive economy in the near future,” he remarked.
He noted that since inception into office in 2019 to date, the present administration which has been battling with over a decade old Boko Haram crisis has been very committed to supporting youths through implementation of various initiatives aimed at empowering the youths, which include; provision of vocational training skills programmes, education, scholarships, distribution of Keke Napep, electric motor vehicles, establishing mechanical village at Molai and other entrepreneurship support programmes across the 27 local government areas of the state.

“In our society, the youths have faced numerous challenges, ranging from economic uncertainties, educational barriers and insufficient opportunities among many others.
“However, it is inspiring to see how many of our young people are stepping up, driving change and becoming the architects of their destinies and our tomorrow.”
“It is on record that youths in Borno have greatly contributed to peace and security and the overall socio-economic development of the state. The emergence of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) has brought a great
respite to the security architecture of the state.
“Borno indeed has reclaimed its glorious position of Home of Peace and Hospitality. So please feel at home and enjoy the centuries long hospitality of the good people of Borno State.
“As a government, we recognize that our youth are the backbone of our society and it is our responsibility to provide you with all the necessary support and resources to thrive and develop to your full potentials.
“We believe that investing in our youths is investing in our future and we are committed to creating opportunities for you to grow and be successful”, the governor stated.
He therefore commended the Federal Minister of Youth and Sports Development (FMYD), Mr. Ayodele Olawande, Borno Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Saina Buba, and all other stakeholders for choosing Borno as venue of the meeting, even as he urged participants to feel free and brainstorm critically towards complementing efforts of the government in revamping the future of youths in society.
In his address, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, expressed deep appreciation to Borno State government for hosting the NCYM.
“This meeting reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s collective commitment in advancing the interest of Nigerian Youths in line with his Renewed Hope Agenda,” Olawande said.
He called on other state governors to emulate and follow the good steps of Governor Zulum in revamping the future of youths for the best.
Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Saina Buba highlights the importance of youth in national development.
He said Governor Zulum, who has passion for the youths, has spent billions of naira in establishing 17 skills acquisition centres, sponsored thousands of indigenous students on scholarship in various tertiary institutions within and outside the country, with empowerment and jobs creation for the teeming and vulnerable youth groups across the state.
During the event, the National Youth Workers Association (NYWA) decorated Governor Babagana Zulum with fellowship award and renamed its national headquarters after the governor.
Zulum Advocates Youth Empowerment, Skills Acquisition, and Scholarships to End Youth Restiveness
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Alliance, a rescue mission, not for power-grabbing – Gombe coalition

Alliance, a rescue mission, not for power-grabbing – Gombe coalition
A coalition of opposition parties in Gombe State has formally adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Unveiling the platform in Gombe on Tuesday, Mr Idris Umar, a former Minister of Transportation and leader of the coalition in the state, said that the coalition’s aim was to rescue Nigerians and residents of Gombe State from “APC-induced hardship and pain.”
Umar said the coalition was not created to grab power, but to promote good governance and improve residents’ standard of living in Gombe State.
He explained that members of various opposition parties aligned with a national coalition to adopt ADC as a platform for the 2027 elections.
“We are unveiling this partnership in Gombe, built on mutual respect and a shared commitment to put Nigeria first,” Umar said.
He noted that the journey took 18 months of dialogue with political stakeholders, leading to ADC being chosen as the preferred platform.
“We are determined to recruit new members and work closely with ADC leadership in Gombe to ensure the party’s success,” he added.
Umar said the coalition had been tasked with expanding membership to help unseat APC in Gombe and across Nigeria.
A committee chaired by former Gombe deputy governor, Mr John Yoriyo, assisted by Shehu Adamu-Fura, was formed to drive registration.
“We will strengthen the party and open our doors to more members ready to rescue Gombe and Nigeria from present challenges,” Umar stated.
He emphasised the role of opposition in democracy, saying without it, national progress would be impossible.
Umar, a former Senator for Gombe Central, said coalition efforts are key to lifting Nigerians from poverty and securing a brighter future.
“Our focus is to move Nigeria forward, ease citizens’ lives, raise living standards and restore national security,” he said.
He urged youths to shun violence and thuggery, stressing the coalition promotes peace and democratic advancement.
In his address, state party chairman Auwal Barde praised members and urged unity to ensure ADC’s success in Gombe come 2027.
News
MSF Launches Emergency Measles Vaccination Campaign in Zurmi, Zamfara State

MSF Launches Emergency Measles Vaccination Campaign in Zurmi, Zamfara State
By: Michael Mike
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in collaboration with Zamfara state Ministry of Health and Zurmi Local Government Area (LGA) has launched an emergency measles vaccination campaign in Zurmi LGA, following an increase in the number of children suffering from the disease that has already claimed the lives of 24 children this year.
Most of the children who died were under five years old and had not been vaccinated.
The six-day campaign, which began today, 8 July, is targeting children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years. The goal is to stop the spread of measles quickly and prevent more deaths. During the campaign, MSF teams will also check children for signs of malnutrition using a simple arm measurement (MUAC) and refer those who are undernourished to nearby health centres for treatment.
As of early May, more than 1,600 suspected measles cases have been reported across all 11 wards in Zurmi. The number of cases is much higher than usual and has passed the level considered an epidemic. Many of the children who became seriously ill had other health problems like eye infections, malaria, and poor nutrition, which made their condition worse. The death rate is currently 1.2%.
To reach as many children as possible, MSF is using both fixed vaccination sites and mobile teams that can travel to remote and hard-to-reach areas. The aim is to vaccinate at least 95% of children in the target age group to protect the wider community and stop the outbreak.
A previous vaccination campaign in June 2024 only reached 59% of children due to a shortage of vaccines and security issues in some areas. The current outbreak is worst in communities like Zurmi town, Dauran Birnin Tsaba, Mayasa Kuturu, and Rukudawa, where regular vaccination services are limited and access to healthcare is difficult.
“Children in Zurmi are facing a double crisis of disease and hunger,” said Abdullahi Mohamed Ali, MSF’s Head of Mission. “We are seeing a sharp rise in measles cases, along with high levels of malnutrition, which makes children even more vulnerable.”
A nutrition screening carried out in June 2024 showed that more than one in four children in Zurmi were undernourished, and over 4% were severely malnourished, well above emergency levels set by the World Health Organisation. The MSF-run treatment centre at Zurmi General Hospital continues to receive more and more children with serious nutrition-related complications.
MSF is calling on all partners and health authorities to support this urgent response and help ensure that every child in Zurmi gets the care and protection they need.
MSF Launches Emergency Measles Vaccination Campaign in Zurmi, Zamfara State
News
Lesotho moves towards mass treatment of worm infections

Lesotho moves towards mass treatment of worm infections
By: Michael Mike
To address the severe impact of parasitic worm infections on children’s health, nutrition, and education, the Ministry of Health in Lesotho, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), has initiated steps to re-establish its Mass Drug Administration (MDA) programme for Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH).
This is done through the annual administration of albendazole tablets to target both preschool-aged children (1–5 years) and school-aged children (6–15 years). To prepare for the implementation of this critical intervention, a three-and-a-half-day multi-sectoral workshop was held in Leribe District, focusing on the development and validation of a comprehensive operational manual to guide future MDA implementation.
WHO has reported that over 1.5 billion people globally are infected with soil-transmitted helminths (STH), making it one of the most widespread infections. This parasitic disease is particularly prevalent in low-income and tropical regions.

The AFRO region faces the highest burden, with more than 800 million people at risk. Around 290 million school-age children in this region require preventive chemotherapy.
All Saharan African countries are endemic for STH, underscoring the critical need for comprehensive health interventions.
Lesotho conducted its initial national STH mapping survey in 2015, which revealed an overall prevalence of 47.6%, with significant district level variations, some reaching as high as 99%. This led to the launch of an MDA program in 2017, which, however, ceased operations after 2019 due to various challenges,including the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving at-risk populations vulnerable once more. Population at risk in Lesotho is around 550,000.
STH infections are classified by the WHO as Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), characterized by their prevalence in populations with limited access to adequate sanitation and healthcare facilities. These parasitic infections contribute to adverse health outcomes, particularly among children, impacting their nutrition, growth, and educational performance.
A multi-sectoral approach is key to effectively and sustainably controlling and eventually eliminating STH infections in Lesotho and other high-burden areas. It involves not just the health sector (like mass drug administration), but also other sectors that address the main causes of transmission, such as poor sanitation, unsafe water, and poor hygiene.
Dr. Dhruv Pandey, the Technical Expert on Tropical and Vector-Borne Diseases, WHO Multicounty Assignment Team for the Southern Africa Hub countries, emphasized that the discontinuation of MDA since 2019 could have a detrimental impact on both public health and socioeconomic development in Lesotho.
He stressed the need for renewed political and intersectoral commitment, stating:
“It is essential for the Ministry of Health to prioritize the resumption of MDA by initially integrating it within existing health programmes, such as immunization and HPV campaigns.STH is not merely a health issue; it is a social issue, influenced by multiple social determinants and should be addressed through coordinated action.”
Ntsoaki Mamoeketsi Mokete, National Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) Focal Person at the Ministry of Health, highlighted the significance of the newly developed operational manual.
“Developing the operational manual is an important step towards controlling and eliminating neglected tropical diseases in Lesotho,” Mokete said. She outlined future plans, including five years of continuous MDA followed by an impact assessment survey to determine the status of STHs in the country.
“Our next steps will be to continue with the MDA for five years,which will be followed by the impact assessment survey to determine the distribution of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) among the general population. This will enable us to implement effective deworming strategies for the elimination of STH as a public health problem in the Kingdom of Lesotho.
In addition, we will focus on advocacy for the revitalization of school health programmes, developing NTD clinical guidelines, integrating NTDs into the IDSR strategy, and developing a coherent and well-coordinated approach in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and other related organizations.”
The Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) also affirmed its commitment to the program. Mpheng Molapo, Coordinator of the Learner Care and Welfare Support Unit at MoET, underlined the direct benefits for students.
“The Ministry of Education strongly supports the implementation of the (MDA) for (STH) as a key public health intervention with direct impact on learner well-being, educational performance, and school attendance,” Molapo stated.
Dr. Pabolo Nonyane, District Veterinary Officer and National Focal Point for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition, underscored the importance of the MDA to the agricultural sector.
She stated that: “This initiative is vital for achieving sustainable food and nutrition security, particularly within our high-risk agricultural communities. Farmers and herd boys are uniquely vulnerable due to their exposure to contaminated soil. By using this operational manual to protect their health, we preserve the human capital essential for our agricultural future. This effort truly reflects the ‘One Health’ principle, ensuring that our work on STH contributes not only to public health but also directly to Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger.”
“The development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the MDA campaign against Soil-Transmitted Helminths is essential,” stated Matebele Setefane, UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS) Focal Person, Ministry of Natural Resources.
“This manual provides a structured, standardized approach that ensures clarity of roles and alignment with broader health and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) goals. Given that STH infections are strongly linked to inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene, integrating WASH elements into the MDA operational SOPs helps address not just treatment but also prevention.”
Setefane further emphasized the collaborative nature of the initiative: “The success of the MDA campaign depends not only on drug distribution but also on addressing the environmental drivers of STH transmission. Our ministry is committed to supporting the campaign through WASH integration, by collaborating with the Ministry of Health to ensure safe water access, functional sanitation facilities, and hygiene promotion are prioritized in targeted communities and schools.”
The workshop convened a multidisciplinary team, including representatives from the Ministries of Education, Nutrition, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and Environment. This collaborative approach aims to ensure the operational manual is pragmatic and implementable across all levels of engagement, marking a critical step towards establishing a sustainable, multisectoral intervention for STH control and eventual elimination as a public health problem in Lesotho.
WHO, working with other partners, has been instrumental in operationalizing the implementation of MDA in many countries, providing support at every stage of the process. This includes ensuring the sustainability of high-quality MDA, facilitating annual reporting, and conducting a comprehensive impact assessment after five years of optimal coverage.
Lesotho moves towards mass treatment of worm infections
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