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HPV Vaccine: UNICEF Targets 400,000 Girls In Bauchi

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The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), says it has targeted 400,000 girls for inoculation against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in Bauchi State.

Dr Emmmanuel Emedo, UNICEF’s Health Specialist, Bauchi Field Offfice, said this in an interview in Bauchi on Monday.

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HPV is a virus transmited through skin-to-skin contact that could develop among sexually active persons.

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The virus is a primary cause of cervical cancer and other cancers, including cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis or anus.

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Emedo said the exercise targeted girls within the age of nine and 14, adding that it would protect them against cervical cancer when they get to the reproductive age.

He said the HPV vaccine also protects young girls before exposure to the virus to reduce incidences of the devastating disease.

“We are monitoring the campaign across the 20 local government areas of Bauchi State.

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“We have personnel from the state government, UNICEF, World Health Organisation and other partners in the field monitoring the exercise.

“The reports we are getting is that there is impressive turnout across the entire state and this has to do with the level of preparedness.

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“We anticipated that we needed to prepare adequately by collaborating with all the relevant stakeholders like the parents, caregivers, the schools where we find the girls within the age group.

“We prepared them by informing them adequately about the vaccine. We have had about three weeks of preparation and we are not surprised that we are getting massive turnout,” he said.

The UNICEF official attributed the high level of acceptability of the vaccine to the diligence of an organisation, Mama2Mama support group, towards mobilisng participation in the exercise at the grassroots.

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He said the group deployed 6,450 women across the 323 wards in the state, who engaged in mobilising girls for the exercise.

He, therefore, urged parents and caregivers to allow their girls to get HPV vaccine to protect them against cancers.

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Immigration Officer Gets N5m For Arresting Fleeing Ritualist

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An immigration officer, Ugochukwu Orji, who arrested a fleeing Enugu State-based native doctor accused of killing and kidnapping people for rituals, has been rewarded with N5 million for his efforts by an industrialist, Ebuka Onunkwo.

Onunkwo, who is also a senatorial aspirant for the Anambra South senatorial by-election on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, hosted the immigration officer at his residence in Ihembosi, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, according to a press statement released by his media team on Tuesday.

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Orji was at his duty post along the Seme Border area last month when the fleeing native doctor, popularly known as “Ichie Billion” attempted to use a motorcycle to cross over to the Benin Republic from Nigeria at Seme Border, but having seen his face on the internet, he quickly intercepted him.

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Recall that “Ichie Billion”, who hails from Umuojor village in the Isiagu Community of Enugu State, had been on the run after being declared wanted by the Nigerian Police Force in connection with the kidnapping of a 13-year-old girl and alleged multiple ritual killings.

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The native doctor was thereafter intercepted by the Nigerian Immigration Service and subsequently handed over to the Lagos State Police Command following his arrest at the border by the immigration officers.

Onunkwo, an industrialist, while presenting a cheque of ₦5 million to the immigration officer at his residence, said the gesture was part of his company’s Corporate Social Responsibility and encouragement for moral renaissance in the society.

 

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Tariff Hikes Won’t Solve Nigeria’s Power Crisis, Expert Tells Tinubu

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Attempts by the current administration to rely on increased electricity tariffs to resolve Nigeria’s chronic power supply issues are unlikely to succeed, according to energy expert Nick Agu.

Speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Tuesday, Agu argued for a fundamental restructuring of the power sector, prioritising infrastructure over tariff hikes.

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Responding to the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu’s optimism and recent celebration of Nigeria reaching a new peak generation of over 5,000 megawatts, Agu acknowledged the incremental increase as “a good thing, is good news.”

However, he quickly added, “But should we celebrate? The answer is probably not.”

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Agu underscored Nigeria’s severe “energy poverty” by drawing comparisons with other nations.

He noted that while Nigeria, with over 200 million people, struggles with around 5,000 megawatts, South Africa (65 million people) boasts 55,000 megawatts, Brazil (200 million people) supplies 150,000 megawatts, and even Qatar (3 million people) provides 8,000 megawatts.

So, you can see that three million people are enjoying more electricity than Nigeria, which has 200 million people,” he highlighted.

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Agu underscored Nigeria’s severe “energy poverty” by drawing comparisons with other nations.

He noted that while Nigeria, with over 200 million people, struggles with around 5,000 megawatts, South Africa (65 million people) boasts 55,000 megawatts, Brazil (200 million people) supplies 150,000 megawatts, and even Qatar (3 million people) provides 8,000 megawatts.

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“So, you can see that three million people are enjoying more electricity than Nigeria, which has 200 million people,” he highlighted.

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From 158 To 351: Lagos Teen Excels In UTME After Initial Glitch

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A 16-year-old student, Oyindamola Apampa, has achieved a remarkable aggregate score of 351 in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, with 65 in English Language, 98 in Mathematics, 98 in Physics, and 90 in Chemistry.

Apampa, a student of Lagoon Secondary School in Lagos, described the feat as the result of determination, strategic preparation, and divine favour.

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A statement on Tuesday revealed that it was her second attempt at the UTME, explaining that her initial score of 158 was later invalidated due to technical issues experienced at her exam centre.

She said, “In my first UTME attempt, I scored 158. However, the results were widely criticised and later acknowledged by the authorities as inaccurate due to technical glitches affecting several examination centres, including mine.

READ ALSO: Mass Failure: UTME Candidates To Sue JAMB Over Technical Glitches

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“Consequently, the examination body authorised a resit to address these irregularities. In the resit, I achieved a score of 351.”

She added that her parents played a crucial role in supporting her academic journey by fostering a learning-friendly environment at home.

“My parents made our home a positive place for studying. We have a full library in the family living room, in addition to a separate multimedia study room where the whole family often gets together to talk about different topics and help each other learn,” she shared.

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Apampa also credited a learning centre in Lekki, Lagos, for providing her with additional academic support through UTME preparation classes and frequent mock examinations.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: JAMB Admits To Errors In 2025 UTME

The frequent mock exams at our learning centre were a great help in my preparation for UTME,” she said.

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In his reaction to the learning centre head, Osayi Izedonmwen, stellar 98 per cent pass rate in the 2025 UTME, attributed the achievement to its hybrid learning approach.

“At Teesas, we are fully IT-equipped to seamlessly support both online and physical learning within a convenient and friendly environment. This has played a key role in helping our students excel,” Izedonmwen stated.

Apampa is no stranger to academic excellence. She was placed on her school’s Honours list after securing 10 As and one B in her Junior WAEC.

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She has also represented her school in international competitions, such as the Conrad Challenge, where her team reached the final stage and earned a special mention.

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