Author: NewsDesk

Rakiya A.Muhammad From climate change advocacy, adaptation and mitigation, tree planting and ecological restoration, efforts are intensifying in Sokoto State to tackle the climate crisis, which the United Nations e as ‘the defining issue of our time.’ “We are at a defining moment. From shifting weather patterns that threaten food production to rising sea levels that increase the risk of catastrophic flooding, the impacts of climate change are global in scope and unprecedented in scale.” UN states. “Without drastic action, today, adapting to these impacts in the future will be more difficult and costly.” In Sokoto, raising awareness of climate…

Rakiya A.Muhammad There is an increasing emphasis on the effective management of soils towards achieving the global goal of food security. “Soils not only give us 95 per cent of the food we eat but also silently provide us with almost all ecosystem services and functions that enable life to exist on Earth,” points out Ronald Vargas, Secretary Global Soil Partnership, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. “This thin skin of the planet on which humans stand up every day is also responsible for cleaning, filtering and storing water, recycling nutrients, regulating the climate and floods and removing…

Rakiya A.Muhammad Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has attributed the delay in the admission of students to the new mega secondary in the Gudu local government area to insecurity. He disclosed this while fielding questions from journalists in Sokoto. It could be recalled that the present administration had 2016  embarked on the school project in Balle, headquarters of Gudu, as it was the only local government area in Nigeria without a secondary school. “The Gudu Mega school is one project that is very dear to my heart, but unfortunately, the insecurity denied us access to the facility,” he said.…

By Rakiya A.Muhammad The low participation of women in active politics has remained increasingly of global concern. The UN General Assembly Resolution on women’s political participation observes:” Women in every part of the world continue to be largely marginalised from the political sphere, often as a result of discriminatory laws, practices, attitudes and gender stereotypes, low level of education, lack of access to health care and the disproportionate effect of poverty on women.” GENDER GAP The situation is even worse in some countries, such as Nigeria, where the Global Gender Gap Index 2022 rankings placed 123 out of 146 countries globally and…

Some parents in Abuja on Sunday expressed concern about the negative influence and effects of cartoon videos on their children. Parents, in separate interviews with the Nigerian News Agency , said that watching cartoon shows had a significant effect on children’s behaviour. They said the impact was both negative and positive, adding that most children behave by copying the behaviors they see on the shows. Mrs. Amaka Ezukwuoke, a housewife in Kubwa, said that her children had neglected their studies and housework due to cartoons on TV and were hallucinating most of the time. “My son screams in his sleep…

The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has urged political parties to consider picking females as running mates for their presidential and governorship candidates. National President of the association, Ladi Bala, who made the call in a statement weekend, said it was in the interest of inclusive society and development. “While NAWOJ applauds the processes and the demonstration of the sense of responsibility by the political parties in the conduct of their primaries, there is, however, the need for a gender-sensitive representation in the entire political equation and balancing,” she stated. “It’s worrisome to note that rumours making the rounds…

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) handed over two fully built and fully equipped health centers to the Cross River government for use in the local government area of Ogoja. UNHCR Country Representative, Ms. Chansa Kapaya, who launched the health centers in Ogoja, thanked the Federal Government and Cross River in particular for hosting the Cameroonian refugees. The Nigerian News Agency reports that the health centers are located in the communities of Adagom and Ukende. Kapaya said the statistics of 85,000 refugees in Nigeria were the refugees officially registered by the National Commission for Refugees, adding that Cross…

By Rakiya A.Muhammad The fisheries sub-sector plays significant social and economic roles in Kebbi State, northwest Nigeria. Small-scale fisheries are critical for the livelihoods and food security of the coastal communities, with thousands engaged in artisanal fishing, processing and marketing in over 500 fishing settlements. According to the State Ministry of Animal Health and Fisheries, “about 150km of the River Niger traverses Kebbi State, with an estimated surface area of 87,500 ha. In addition, 50,000 ha of the Kainji lake (representing over half of its area) is in Kebbi State.” It added: “The Sokoto Rima River also flows through the…

Rakiya A.Muhammad Ali Bello, only age four, confronts the ever-present challenge of surviving on the streets of the Sokoto Metropolis, situated in the northwest region of Nigeria. Desiring to cater to his needs, he begs his way from one location to another. The young boy endured a lost childhood due to unfavourable circumstances resulting from the stress of securing sustenance during early childhood. Experts consider this period crucial for cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. “Early childhood offers a critical window of opportunity to shape the trajectory of a child’s holistic development and build a foundation for their future,” points…

WATCH: “Inside Nigerian Community Living the Climate Crisis,” a 10-minute documentary that explores the impacts of climate change on the Kwanni community of Sokoto State in northwest Nigeria. Centering the voices of mothers, shopkeepers, grandfathers and children, Rakiya Abubakar Muhammad reveals how flooding and erosion are compounding existing problems of poverty and marginalization. The documentary is a contender for a 2023 Covering Climate Now Journalism Award; Muhammad, a member of EJN, is a finalist under the Long Form Video category.