News

Polio: Community Leader Leads Successful Campaign Against Vaccine Rejection In Bauchi

Published

1 year ago

May 1, 2025

Bano Usamatu, a retired Director at the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board, has leveraged his experience and expertise to help the Nasarawa community overcome its hesitancy toward polio immunisation.

Speaking with newsmen on Thursday, Usamatu said he combined his experience with sensitisation efforts by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to overcome resistance.

Usamatu is currently the community leader of Nasarawa in Itas-Gadau Local Government Area of Bauchi State,

Usamatu told newsmen that he successfully mobilised community members who had previously rejected the vaccine to now embrace it.

“I tapped from my wealth of experience as a health expert, along with UNICEF’s extensive sensitisation campaigns, to engage skeptical households and convince them of the benefits of the lifesaving polio vaccine,” he said.

According to him, the resistance stemmed from widespread myths, particularly the belief that the polio vaccine was a Western ploy to cause infertility and reduce the African population.

“This misconception has long hindered immunisation efforts in the area.

“Today, I can confidently tell you that no household in this community rejects the polio vaccine. The era of rejection is over.

“We are now focused on securing our children’s future.”

Usamatu commended UNICEF and the Bauchi State government for their support in addressing vaccine resistance, describing their role as instrumental to the community’s success.

He also called for enhanced training for the ad hoc staff responsible for vaccine administration, stressing that building their capacity would further strengthen immunisation efforts.

In Anguwan Tsangaya, another community in Itas-Gadau, 48-year-old Haruna Idris shared a similar experience.

He admitted to initially rejecting the vaccine due to fears fueled by misinformation.

“The popular myth that the polio vaccine causes infertility influenced my decision,” Idris said.

“But thanks to UNICEF’s continuous sensitisation, I now understand the truth. All my eight children now participate in every vaccination exercise.”

He added that witnessing the debilitating effects of polio on children in his neighborhood also contributed to his change of heart.

With the growing acceptance of polio vaccines in Nasarawa and Tsangaya communities, the fight against the crippling disease has gained renewed momentum in Bauchi State.

Dr David Audu, Health Specialist at the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, affirmed that efforts were underway to reach all hard-to-access settlements across the state to ensure every eligible child is vaccinated.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

4 hours 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

4 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

6 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.