News

Bauchi Govt. Flags Off Polio Immunisation Campaign

Published

1 year ago

April 26, 2025

The Bauchi State government with the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other development partners have flagged off the 2025 polio immunisation campaign in the state.

Speaking during the flagging off at Tirwun community in Bauchi metropolis on Friday, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, the State Executive Chairman, Primary Healthcare Development Agency, said the campaign is aimed to vaccinate all under five children in the state.

According to him, special attention would be given to zero-dose children, which are those children who have not received any vaccination before.

Mohammed explained that Bauchi state received a total of 2.5 million doses of Novel Oral Polio vaccine(NOPV) for the exercise, saying the state engaged the services of 160 monitors, including CSOs that will ensure the smooth success of the polio vaccination exercise.

He said that the state’s Commissioner for Health, Emir of Dass, himself as well as the UNICEF’s Chief of Bauchi Field Office would be on special monitoring exercise in three LGAs of Ganjuwa, Bauchi and Ningi where there were zero dose of polio immunisation to ensure absolute compliance.

“We are moving with the security, the DSS, the police with armoured vehicles to ensure compliance.

“We are not doing this exercise like how we used to do it before where we will be begging and pleading.

“This time around, it will be compulsory that all children must be vaccinated and anybody that refuses to cooperate will be arrested.

“So much work has been done by UNICEF, WHO and the state government that has provided counterpart funding to support this exercise and other social mobilisation.

“Why are we worried that we have non-compliance in some quarters, is because we don’t want to miss any child. We will also use the security in areas where there is insecurity to ensure that every child is vaccinated,” he said.

Also Speaking, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, said that UNICEF was committed to supporting the state in the polio vaccination to ensure that every child is immunised.

She assured that more development partners were supporting the exercise this time around to ensure that there was total compliance during the exercise.

Represented by the UNICEF Head of Social Behaviour Change Specialist, Mr Eki George, Rafique said that the fight against polio was not over yet in the state, calling on all fathers to give consent to their wives for their children to be vaccinated.

“As a buildup to this flag-off, we provided support to the state to ensure that this campaign runs smoothly for us in Bauchi, which is our focus. We are working with the state to ensure that every concerned parent is reached no matter where the child is,” she said.

In his vote of thanks, the District Head of Tirwun community, Alh. Muhammad Tirwun lauded UNICEF and other partners for supporting the state in ensuring that every child is vaccinated during the exercise.

He further called on all the traditional rulers to participate actively during the monitoring to ensure compliance.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

1 hour ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

1 hour ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

4 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.