News

11 Nigerian Labs Earn Global Diagnostic Standard

Published

7 months ago

February 17, 2026

Nigeria has taken a decisive step towards ending years of mistrust in medical test results, with eleven laboratories across public, private, military and research institutions attaining the globally recognised ISO 15189:2022 accreditation, a development health officials say could drastically reduce misdiagnosis, overseas sample referrals and preventable deaths.

The certificates were issued by the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria in partnership with Sightsavers, led by Acting Registrar Dr Donald Ofili, marking what stakeholders described as a turning point for diagnostics in the country’s healthcare system.

For decades, weak laboratory confidence has forced Nigerian hospitals and wealthy patients to ship samples abroad before major treatment decisions, delaying care and increasing costs. Authorities now say that culture must change.

Representing the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, Abubakar Ahmadu said the accreditation signals the beginning of reliable medical decision-making within Nigeria.

“This achievement marks a milestone in our collective commitment to strengthening healthcare quality within the Federal Capital Territory,” he said, stressing that accreditation “is not merely a certificate; it is a global affirmation of competence, accuracy, reliability and adherence to internationally recognised quality management systems.”

He noted that the process required strict documentation, staff competence verification, equipment calibration and multiple layers of audits, adding, “It has not been an easy journey.”

Dr Ofili described the certification of eleven laboratories, including two military, two private, five public and two research facilities, as a defining shift in Nigeria’s health infrastructure.

“Today, we formally present ISO 15189:2022 accreditation certificates to 11 distinguished medical laboratory facilities that have successfully satisfied the stringent requirements for international accreditation,” he said.

According to him, the development goes beyond prestige and directly affects patient survival, improving diagnostic accuracy, disease surveillance and treatment outcomes.

“ISO 15189:2022 accreditation confirms competence, impartiality and consistent laboratory operations in accordance with internationally accepted standards. It enhances patient safety, supports accurate clinical decision-making and strengthens disease surveillance,” Ofili said.

He warned, however, that certification brings higher responsibility. “Accreditation is not a destination but a journey; sustaining it demands continuous audits, management reviews and staff competency development.”

Representing the Sightsavers Country Director, Prof. Joy Shaibu, Perpetua Ojoma Agbi said Nigerians can now trust local laboratory reports without doubt.

“When you say something has become world standard, it means Nigeria is on the map of the world and that we can go into any lab with our full chest and say a test that comes out of there is what it is, not what it’s not,” she said.

She explained that the organisation provided equipment upgrades and facility restructuring to meet international requirements and confirmed that more laboratories are still undergoing certification.

In academia, Prof. Sunday Akinde, representing the Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University, said improved diagnostics would directly reduce medical tourism and overseas sample shipment.

“Once we get it right with diagnostics, then it will be very easy to manage health. We’ve had ailments that forced us to take samples out of the country because we lacked trust in our laboratory system,” he said, adding that the accreditation must be renewed periodically to maintain standards.

He credited the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Sightsavers for supporting research laboratories to meet global benchmarks.

From the military sector, Anastasia Nkechi Ossai of the Nigerian Navy said the certification means military hospital test results are now internationally acceptable.

“The diagnostic results produced by the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospitals meet globally accepted standards and practices,” she said, describing the development as “a victory for Nigerian healthcare.”

Health stakeholders say the broader implication is national: if expanded nationwide, the reform could shorten treatment time, strengthen epidemic response and restore public confidence in hospitals, effectively transforming healthcare outcomes from diagnosis to survival.

News

Six Corps Members Receive N10m Grants To Boost Agribusiness

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Six members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have received a total of N10 million in grants to expand their agribusiness ventures under the Farmers for the Future Programme.

The programme was organised on Monday by the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage young Nigerians to embrace agriculture and develop sustainable businesses.

Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries in Abuja, the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, urged Corps members to maximise the opportunities provided by the service year by venturing into commodity marketing and other viable businesses.

Nafiu said agribusiness remained a viable avenue for young people to build sustainable enterprises, create employment and generate wealth.

He also stressed the importance of value addition to the success and sustainability of business ventures, while commending BATNF for placing Nigerian youths at the centre of its entrepreneurship initiatives through value-chain development, employment creation and its partnership with the NYSC.

“I charge you to spread the news around. We have seen the outcome, and it is a good idea,” he said.

The beneficiaries are Dominic Olufemi (FC/25C/1143), who received N3 million; Temitope Adewole (ED/26A/2251), N2 million; Abdulwaheed Bala (ED/25B/1402), N2 million; Olanike Mayungbe (OG/26B/1037), N1 million; Kingsley Udoeyen (KG/26A/1735), N1 million; and Lorember Lorsue (JG/25B/1742), N1 million.

Speaking on the selection process, the Acting Director, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), Mrs Winifred Shopeka, said the programme began with an online registration portal through which Corps Members engaged in agribusiness submitted their business plans.

She said nearly 3,000 Corps members applied and underwent a rigorous selection process that produced 20 finalists.

According to her, the finalists participated in a boot camp and a final pitching session, which produced the 10 best presenters before the six ultimate winners were selected.

Shopeka said the beneficiaries had also been mentored and attached to established market operators to assist them in marketing their products.

She added that Corps Members who did not make the final stage of the competition were also trained by BATNF.

The BATNF Team Lead, Mr Oludare Odusanya, congratulated the beneficiaries and urged Corps Members engaged in agribusiness to master the fundamentals and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.

“We are happy with our collaboration with the NYSC, and it will continue,” he said.

Odusanya explained that BATNF was an independent organisation established to contribute to poverty reduction in Nigeria through sustainable agricultural practices and other interventions.

He said the Farmers for the Future Programme was instituted in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage Corps Members to venture into agribusiness and become job creators.

He added that the beneficiaries would be attached to mentors who would guide them towards achieving success in their respective businesses.

According to him, the programme has, since its inception, continued to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of Corps Members.

News

CBN Reduces Interest Rate To 23%

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday announced the reduction of the interest rate, also known as Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 23 percent.

Briefing the media in Abuja, the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, said at the 307th MPC meeting held on September 22, 2026 agreed the resetting of the MPR and recaliberation of the monetary policy market.

According to Cardoso, the committe is satisfied with the disinflation progress, adding that members noted stable banking sector following successful recapitalisation.

Meanwhile, according to Nigerian Tribune, reports that that the MPC, at its 306th meeting in July 2026, disclosed its resolution to retain the interets at 26.5 percent.

According to the Governor of the CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, “the Committee’s decision to maintain the current policy stance followed a thorough assessment of the balance of risks. Although headline inflation moderated marginally in June 2026, global uncertainties have heightened, due mainly to the renewed hostilities in the Middle East.

“In view of the evolving developments, maintaining a cautious monetary policy stance remains appropriate. In arriving at its decision, the Committee noted the recent resurgence of hostilities in the Middle East, with particular attention to its spillover effects on global energy prices and the potential pass-through to domestic inflation.”

News

NURTW: KWAM1 Settles Long-time Rift Between MC Oluomo, Tafa Sego

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Nigerian Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1, has brokered a peace deal between the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) National President, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, and the Lagos State Chairman of the union, Mustapha Adekunle, aka Tafa Sego.

The reconciliation took place at Ojusagbola in Ijebu, Ogun State, where several NURTW chieftains gathered for the meeting.

The development was announced on Tuesday on KWAM1’s digital media page on Instagram, alongside photographs from the meeting.

According to the post, the two union leaders have resolved their differences after years of strained relations.

“After years of an age-long rift, MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego have finally settled their differences. And from what we know now, this is final,” the post said.

The musician was said to have intervened as the Mayegun of Yorubaland, with the aim of bringing an end to the longstanding disagreement between the two NURTW figures.

“K1 acted in his role as the Mayegun of Yorubaland by seeking an end to the long-standing rift, once and for all,” it said.

The post also described the meeting as a significant step beyond previous public displays of reconciliation.

“This time, it was not just another handshake for the cameras. The two old friends and colleagues came together at Ojusagbola, with King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1) playing the peacemaker.”

Both MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego were reported to be pleased with the outcome of the intervention.

“Both parties are delighted about the new development,” the post said.

The two men had previously been allies and prominent figures within the Lagos NURTW before their relationship became strained amid disagreements linked to leadership of the union in the state.