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Nigeria Accounts For 30% Global Malaria Burden — Health Minister

Published

2 years ago

September 14, 2023

Editor

The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate has said Nigeria accounts for 30 per cent of the world’s malaria burden with Kano State being one of the highest.

This came as The Global Fund, GF, said it was committing over $50 million to tackle malaria and other diseases in Kano State.

Prof. Pate who spoke yesterday when he and a delegation of Global Health partners paid a working visit on Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, said the global health partners were in the country to work towards improving the health and well being of Nigerians.

While soliciting for the support of the government at all levels on counterpart funding to compliment each other’s efforts, he said: “We (along with our visitors) are here in Kano State as the first state we have decided to go to engage with leaders like you in order to improve the health of our population.

“Improved health is an investment in any society because that is the only investment that can guarantee productive, prosperity and investment. Health is at the centre of any serious country’s development agenda and our president Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken the bold move and in expectations, the Federal government is ready to partner and work with states towards improving the health population of the country so that we can unleash the population’s potential. Effectious diseases like malaria, we have almost 30 per cent of the world’s burden of malaria and Kano is one of the highest burden states.

“So it is so important, that some of the good works that are being done by Kano need to be sustained or expanded with the intervention from the Global Health Partners. The partners have seen the picture of things and they are ready to support Nigeria, only if the states are committed to work together to achieve the objectives,”

On the $1billion fund, the Executive Director of GF, Mr. Peter Sands said it would investing $1 billion in the next three years in the country out of which $50 million would be spent in Kano State.

According to him, “From Global Fund perspective, Kano is very important. We will invest about a billion dollars ($1 billion) in Nigeria in the next three years and 50 million of that will be invested in Kano. Nigeria does have the highest burden of malaria in the world with 200,000 Nigerians (mainly children and pregnant women) dying of malaria. Malaria is an evitable disease. Global Funds is fully behind you in your effort to beat these diseases, improve the health and welfare of the people of Kano.”

Similarly, the World Health Organization, WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi, expressed the WHO readiness to support Nigeria to eradicate the killer disease, and the Kano State government over its rapid response to arrest the diphtheria outbreak, describing it as an exemplary role model in the fight against the disease.

On his part, Governor Yusuf, said “Your intervention at this material time was very timely, I commend the efforts of developing partners, especially in the fight against HIV, tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases.

News

17-year-old Nigerian Named World Best In English At 2025 TeenEagle Finals In London

Published

1 hour ago

August 5, 2025

Editor

…Outperforms over 20,000 participants from 69 countries

Nafisa Aminu, a 17-year-old student of Tulip International College, Yobe State, has emerged world’s best in English at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals.

The 17-year-old was named the World Best in English Language Skills at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals held in London, United Kingdom.

The TeenEagle competition is an internationally recognised contest that tests English proficiency, critical thinking, and communication skills, attracting students from both English-speaking and non-English-speaking nations.

Nafisa’s triumph was confirmed in a statement by the head of her family, Hassan Salifu, who attributed her success to “dedication, discipline, and the enabling support of the state government.”

Representing Nigeria, Nafisa outperformed over 20,000 participants from 69 countries, a historic feat that has thrust her into the global academic spotlight and brought honour to Nigeria.

News

FG Promotes 30 Senior NCoS Officers To Assistant Controller General

Published

1 hour ago

August 5, 2025

Editor

The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board has approved the promotion of 30 senior officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service to the rank of Assistant Controller General of Corrections.

The announcement was made in a press statement signed by the NCoS spokesperson Umar Abubakar, on Tuesday.

“The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board has approved the promotion of 30 Controllers of Corrections to the prestigious rank of Assistant Controller General of Corrections,” the statement read.

Abubakar noted that the promotions were made in line with CDCFIB’s commitment to “merit-based advancement, professional excellence, and the continuous strengthening of leadership within the Nigerian Correctional Service.”

“Among the newly promoted officers are twenty-seven general duty officers who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, leadership, and operational competence in various formations across the country.

“In addition, three professional officers have also been elevated in recognition of their outstanding service and specialized contributions in the areas of Medical Laboratory Science, Nursing, and Public Health,” the statement read.

According to the statement, the promotion exercise was said to align with the ongoing reforms in the Service, a key part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The statement credited the reform momentum to the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, whose efforts were described as “unwavering” and “unprecedented.”

Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, congratulated the newly promoted officers, charging them to rise to the responsibilities of their new roles.

“I urge them to redouble their effort to service delivery, strategic leadership, and the core mandates of reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of inmates,” he said.

He further stressed that the promotions are not merely rewards for past service but “a call to higher responsibility in line with global best practices in correctional management.”

“The Service remains committed to building a motivated, disciplined, and professional workforce capable of meeting the complex demands of modern corrections and public safety,” Nwakuche added.

News

Adeleke Flies To US For Davido’s Wedding

Published

2 hours ago

August 5, 2025

Editor

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has travelled to the United States to attend the wedding ceremony of his nephew and music star, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido.

Recall, Davido confirmed that he and his wife, Chioma Avril Rowland, will have their white wedding in Miami, Florida, in August 2025.

He made the announcement during an interview on The Breakfast Club, aired on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

The governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, confirmed Adeleke’s trip in a statement issued on Tuesday, in response to concerns raised by the opposition All Progressives Congress over the governor’s whereabouts.

“Governor Adeleke left Nigeria for the United States via the family’s private jet a few days ago for the wedding of the global music icon, his beloved nephew, David Adeleke.

“His Excellency is extending an invitation to the opposition party to attend the event and share in the joy of the occasion with the Adeleke family.

“Those unable to attend may join virtually,” Rasheed stated.

He noted that Adeleke had not taken any official vacation since assuming office in November 2022 and said the current trip would be short.

“Additionally, from the November 2022 date, the governor has not gone on official vacation.

“For this current trip, the Governor has again chosen to make it a short one to continually attend to crucial state functions.

“Meanwhile, the Governor is in constant communication with his deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi, who is supervising activities of the government,” Rasheed added.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Osun APC had accused Adeleke of leaving the state without informing residents or formally transmitting power to his deputy. The party described the governor’s absence as “abnormal.”

In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, the party said, “The question being asked in hushed tones in some public places, inside commercial buses and by motorcycle riders and their passengers in the state, is where could be the whereabouts of their governor for this long.

“As the governor of all and sundry, we as a party need to know the whereabouts of the governor and who has been holding fort for him during his absence from the state since two weeks ago.

“Did the governor duly transmit power to his deputy who is constitutionally covered to temporarily step into the shoes of his principal in his absence?”