News

Measles: UNICEF To Vaccinate 3.8million Children – Official

Published

2 years ago

November 1, 2024

Mr Patrick Akor, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Bauchi Field Office’s Health Officer, says that no fewer than 3.8 million children would be vaccinated against measles across four Northern states.

Akor, who stated this in a news conference in Bauchi on Friday, said the vaccination exercise would commence on Saturday and would last for seven days.

He highlighted the four Northern states where the integrated measles campaign would take place to include; Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe and Adamawa.

“For the measles campaign, we have a target of 3.8million children from nine months to 59 months which we are targeting across the four states.

“We have received in all the states a total of over 4 million doses of measles vaccines which have been supplied across the four states,” he said.

According to the Health Officer, UNICEF is also going to launch an oral vaccination campaign against polio across five Northern states.

He said “For the oral polio vaccination, we have a target of 6.8million children that we are going to reach from zero to 59 months which is less than five years across five states of Taraba, Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe and Adamawa.

“The total number of vaccines that have already gotten to them is 7.4 million doses across these five states.

“We are looking at it that no child should be left behind, all children of an eligible age group should be reached and be vaccinated”.

Akor urged all the media practitioners across the states to help in disseminating the message across to the general public especially, people at the grassroot areas.

Also, Mr George Eki, Social Behavioural Change Specialist, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, said it became imperative for UNICEF to support the Nigerian government in protecting children against measles and other vaccine preventable diseases.

He explained that for the last couple of months, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, alongside with other partners have been working with the government right from the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency and to the state agencies to ensure that different aspects of the campaign are covered.

“There is logistic support we provide to the state. We made vaccines available across the states for the campaign, there are also commodities that are also made available through the support of UNICEF.

“The cold chain system that supports cooling and storage of vaccines has also been provided by UNICEF.

“More importantly, the advocacy, communication and social mobilisation is sorely the UNICEF mandate in this exercise where we are providing support to all the states to ensure that people get to know when this campaign is going to happen.

“Through this, people also get to know the age bracket of children that are eligible for this vaccination as well as where to go or how to receive this vaccine,” he said.

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

2 hours 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.