Author: NewsDesk

Rakiya A. Muhammad How to get election reporting right was a central focus at the International Press Centre’s workshop designed to enhance the professional skills of female journalists to engage in impactful, inclusive, and public-interest reporting of the ongoing electoral processes and, particularly, the 2023 elections. “Not getting it right means hindering the effective performance of the four core roles of the media in elections,” pointed out Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC). He listed such roles as civic and voter education, conflict management, public educator, and campaign platform/open forum. Embracing elements of good political…

Rakiya A.Muhammad With campaigns toward the 2023 general elections on, a former Governor of Sokoto State, Aliyu Wamakko, has advised against the politics of bitterness. The All-Progressives Congress (APC) leader in the State and Senator representing Sokoto North district made the call in Sokoto. He spoke against carrying any weapon during rallies. The Senate Committee chair on Defence called on his party supporters not to tamper with political billboards or signposts of other political parties in the state. He stressed the need to abide by the rules of the game.

President Nigeria Association on Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Comrade Ladi Bala, has urged the media and journalists to set the right agenda for gender and persons with disabilities inclusivity in the electoral processes. She also tasked them with providing accurate and verifiable information to help promote sane societies. Comrade Ladi Bala made the call in Abuja at the opening of a two-day training for female journalists. “As women journalists, let us be in the vanguard of promoting women’s issues, gender inclusivity and discouraging gender marginalization in the electoral process and after the elections,” she stated. “The media as the watchdog of…

By Shafa’atu Suleiman  Many residents of Goronyo in Sokoto State, Northwest Nigeria, have heaved a sigh of relief with measures helping to prevent floods from washing away farmlands and disrupting human activities in areas that hitherto experience perennial flooding. They recalled the detrimental effect of devastating floods in the locality and expressed joy over the measure they noted provides ongoing protection from it. Governor Aminu Tambuwal-led administration constructed a 7 -kilometre embankment to control the yearly flooding following Dam overflows. Goronyo Dam, commissioned 30 years ago, impounds the River Rima in the Goronyo Local Government area. “The flood control measure…

Rakiya A.Muhammad When completed, the new Premier Hospital in the Tambuwal Local Government area of Sokoto will boost health care delivery to people within and outside the State. “It would serve the interest of not only the eight local government areas that comprise Sokoto South senatorial district but also the neighbouring Kebbi State,” remarked the council’s Director of Works, Mainassara Abubakar Kilgori. Kilgori stated this while speaking with journalists on a visit to the area. He lauded Governor Tambuwal’s investment in the new hospital infrastructure, which would bring health care closer to the people at the grassroots. The Director noted…

Rakiya A.Muhammad United Nations Resident Coordinator Matthias Schmale has stressed the need to strengthen prevention efforts to curb gender-based violence. “The two elements for prevention are to strengthen justice response as a strong deterrent and education of girls,” he stated during a high-level UN-EU/Government Spotlight Initiative’s joint mission to Sokoto. He noted the GBV emergency, like other national crises, requires a response in an agile and fast manner. Schmale, Co-Chair of the UN-EU/Government Spotlight Initiative, commended the Sultan of Sokoto for his “wise and impactful leadership.” “You stand out for the leadership you demonstrate in supporting girls’ education and promoting the Child Rights…

The United Nations Children’s Fund will to provide pyschosocial support to the 21 rescued children in Katsina State. This was contained in a statement issued by the UNICEF Communication Specialist, Samuel Kalu, on Tuesday in Katsina. Kalu said that the therapy would help the children handle the trauma and also be reintegrated into society. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the children, mostly between 16 and 21 years, were kidnapped on Octobrr 30, while harvesting crops at a farm in Mairuwa, Faskari local government area of the state. The victims, compromised of 17 girls and four boys, were rescued…

By Rakiya A.Muhammad There are growing calls for the 27th Annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) to prioritize agroecology. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) describes the agroecology approach as the application of integrated ecological, economic and social principles to transition smallholder farming systems toward greater resilience. “The current crises show we should focus on the one vision that is regenerative and do away with the destructive and exploitative system,” asserted Edie Mukiibi, an agronomist. “While the industrial crop and livestock production system focus on taking away all forms of life from the planet, the agroecological approach to production…

Rakiya A.Muhammad Gender inequality remains a global concern even as cultural stereotypes, traditional practices and patriarchal societal structures continue to undermine women in several countries, including Nigeria, despite females making up a vast proportion of the population. Experts note women’s economic empowerment as central to realising their rights and equality. “Empowering women in the economy and closing the gender gaps in the world of work is key to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” UN Women notes. It is also vital in achieving the SDG goals, particularly Goal 5, to achieve gender equality, and Goal 8 to promote full…

VIDEO: GEP3, funded by the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office, FCDO, trained 2815 female school-based management committee (SBMC) members in 811 primary and junior secondary schools (JSS) in Sokoto State; 14,382 Mothers Associations in 330 primary schools; 758 mentors in 380 schools and 18,082 in 380 primary/ JSS for the Girls for Girls (G4G) initiative. RAKIYA A. MUHAMMAD Reports