The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says it is seeking at least $8.5 million to reach 20 million young people in Africa by 2025 with sexual and reproductive health information through its Tech4Youth program.

Tech4Youth, a pan-African project conceptualised in 2018, is “an open and sustainable innovation platform supporting sexual and reproductive health on four pillars: community, co-creation, access and data,” according to UNFPA innovation and technology lead, Wilfried Rouamba.

The program is active in five West African countries – Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Togo, and Burkina Faso.

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Mr Rouamba, speaking at a Tech4Youth workshop held in Lagos on Monday, said the program has already reached 2.6 million young people, including 8,000 young persons living with disability.

However, funding remains a big challenge.

Africa has some of the highest rates of child marriage and adolescent pregnancy in the world amid an exploding population.

The UN expects Africa’s population to reach 4.3 billion by 2100 or 39% of the world’s total.

If it gets the required support, Tech4Youth will “empower at least 2,700 young girls in and out of school through innovative training and mentoring to improve their digital, creative problem-solving, communication and entrepreneurship skills,” Mr Rouamba said.

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The program is also leveraging natural language processing and artificial intelligence to ensure information is available in local languages such as Fulfulde and Hausa.

Talks are in progress with tech giant Google on some of the tech initiatives, according to Mr Rouamba.

Tech4Youth also seeks to “build at least 50 partnerships, including with the private sector, to scale the platform through an established community”.

UNFPA Says it's Looking For $8.5 Million For Sexual Health

The National Association of Nigerian Students has threatened not to allow any political campaign hold across the country till students of public universities return to classrooms.

Chairman, NANS National Taskforce, Ojo Olumide, announced this at a press conference in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Wednesday, some days to September 28, the official date for candidates to kick-off campaign as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“Our blocking of access to public roads and ports is just a warning. If the government fails to conclude all the negotiation and agreement with ASUU within the frame of two weeks, they will witness more protests and rallies all over the country, they will also witness the annoyance, anger and frustration of Nigerians Students who have been at home for the past seven months.

“As we promise them that we will not allow any political campaign to hold across the country until we are back to class. This government has pushed so many Nigerians students into depression. We say enough is enough; we can no longer bear the brunt from this avoidable crisis in our nation public ivory towers again,” he said.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has been on strike since February 14, 2022 as talks between the Federal Government and lecturers of public universities broke down.

And as a result, students have blocked access road to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos as well as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Ibadan-Ife Road, causing pains to thousands of commuters and passengers.

ASUU Strike: 'Campaign Won't Hold Until Strike is Called Off

Veteran actress Shan George has bared her feelings for Chairman of Lagos State Parks Management Committee, Musiliu Akinsanya aka MC Oluomo.

George, in an insta story post on Monday, admitted she is crushing on MC Oluomo.

The thespian shared a video of the 47-year-old dancing to one of Asake’s recent smash jam, “Joha”.

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Captioning the post, she described MC Oluomo as a ‘correct man’, adding her crush for him is aroused by her love for bad boys.

“I’m crushing on MC o. correct man. I just like bad bois,” she wrote.

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'I Have a Crush on MC Oluomo,' Says Shan George

Nine persons have been rescued from a sinking building in the Maryland area of Lagos on Monday, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said. 

The Lagos Territorial Coordinator of the agency Ibrahim Farinloye confirmed the development in a statement.

He said, “NEMA received a distressed alert on a sinking storey building where nine people are said to be trapped. The building is located at 47 Akinwunmi street, Akinwunmi North, Estate Mende, Maryland, Ikeja.”

“All nine trapped ladies have been successfully rescued,” he added.

The NEMA official quoted one of the rescued persons identified as Ms Blessing to have said the affected are mostly ladies.

Farinloye explained that “the landlord of the building had used a ladder to escape but NEMA questioned him for failure to contact emergency responders instead of one of the trapped victim’s office contacting the agency”.

He said: “The landlord just returned to the scene and he has been handed over to the Police for leaving the vulnerable ladies. About 35 buildings on Akinwumi Estate, 31 buildings on Arowojobe Estate, and Ebun Otti Estate are seriously impacted”.

Other agencies who were on the ground include the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA); the State Fire Service, and Police Disaster Management Unit.

The early morning rainfall, which lasted about four hours, caused floods in many Lagos communities.

Nine People Rescued As Rainfall Sinks Lagos Building

The Independent National Electoral Commission has begun recruitment of ad hoc staff in the 2023 general elections.

In a statement released Wednesday on its official Facebook page, the electoral umpire urged interested and eligible persons to visit its designated portal.

“The Commission has approved the re-activation of INECPRES both the Mobile App for Android phones only and the web portal (laptops only).

“To this end the portal will be open to eligible applicants for registration of all categories of ad-hoc staff (SPO/PO/APO/RATECHS/RAC Managers) except the Collation officers.

“The portal opens on Wednesday the 14th of September and ends on the 30th November, 2022,” the statement partly read.

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, had last week said it will publish the final lists of presidential and national assembly candidates on September 20. The electoral body also said campaign will officially commenced on September 28.

INEC Begins Recruitment For 2023 Ad Hoc Staff

Five persons have died in a road accident involving a jeep and a truck at Enugu-Agidi by Awka-Enugu Expressway in Anambra.

According to the Federal Road Safety Corps, the incident, which occurred on Sunday night, was caused by speeding and loss of control.

Margaret Onabe, FRSC Public Relations Officer in the state, confirmed the incident on Monday.

“The fatal crash involved an unidentified driver of a black Lexus with registration number KJA182HS and an unidentified driver of a red truck with no registration number,” the corps said.

“According to an eyewitness report, the truck driver was on speed, lost control of the vehicle, and rammed into the Lexus SUV.

“A total number of five persons – three male adults, a female adult, and a female child, were involved in the crash. Five of them were killed.

“FRSC rescue team from the Sector Command took the victims to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka, where they were confirmed dead by the doctor on duty, and the corpses were deposited at the hospital morgue.”

FRSC Commander in the state, of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr Adeoye Irelewuyi, condoled with the families of the dead.

The Sector Commander cautioned motorists, especially truck drivers, to avoid speeding and keep to the recommended speed limit.

Five Persons Dies From Fatal Road Accident In Anambra

Peoples Democratic Party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, has affirmed that he will not succumb to calls from some quarters for him to resign his position.

Ayu stressed that such calls are coming from political amateurs who lack basic understanding of PDP principles.

The former senator asserted that he was elected by Nigerians and members of the opposition party to that exalted position based on the party’s guidelines.

According to reports, after losing the PDP presidential primary to former Vice Presidential Atiku Abubakar (from Adamawa State); Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, outlined conditions for remaining within the party.

One of the reported conditions is that Ayu, who hails from Benue State, also in northern Nigeria, must resign.

However, in his response during the interview with BBC Hausa, Ayu stressed that he will not resign because some people are not comfortable with having him around, as he was elected on the basis of PDP laws.

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“I was voted as PDP national chairman to serve for four years, I am not even a year old on the position,” the former senator said.

“Atiku’s victory at the national primaries has no nothing to do with the party’s leadership; I was the bonafide winner of the election. We acted within the dictates of PDP constitution.

“I have not violated any rules; in fact, I am working to bring reforms to the party. I am truly not bothered by the unnecessary controversy being generated,” Ayu said in the interview.

PDP Chairman Calls Politicians Telling Him to Resign Amateurs

A gas plant has exploded near the international headquarters of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Channels Television gathered that the explosion sent residents into panic mode in the Mowe area.  Though the gas plant is not owned by RCCG, it was situated close to the Redemption Camp.

The spokesman for the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Nosa Okunbor, confirmed the explosion in a chat with Channels Television on Monday afternoon.

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“The gas explosion occurred just before Redeemed main entrance. Incidentally, the thing is not owned by Redeemed but it is just by it, “Okunbor said. “It is by a filling station in a densely populated area.”

In an update obtained from LASEMA, the agency said the fire started from one of the cylinders before it escalated to the two other stationed trucks. It said the trucks and the affected cylinders were dampened to prevent the likelihood of a secondary incident. LASEMA also noted that there was no loss of life or injury recorded.

First responders at the scene include the Lagos State Fire Service and the Federal Fire Service.

Also, a statement by the Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Adeseye Margaret, identified the explosion site as Sun Contractor Project Services Limited.

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“The fire which was reported at 11:22 hours, Monday, was subdued from causing a secondary incident by the Alausa and Ilupeju fire crews, leaving four stationed gas trucks severely burnt,” the statement partly read.

“There was neither a case of injury nor death as damping down of the fire has been concluded. The cause of the fire is unknown at the time of this report as a preliminary investigation is ongoing and will be made public.”

Explosion Shakes Gas Plant Near RCCG Camp

The Nigerian economy grew by 3.54 percent year-on-year in real terms in the second quarter of 2022, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Friday in its latest Gross Domestic Report.

This is an improvement from the 3.11 percent growth recorded in the previous quarter.

On a year-on-year basis, NBS said the second quarter of 2022 growth rate decreased by 1.47 percent points from the 5.01 percent growth rate recorded in the corresponding quarter in 2021.

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According to the report, the non-oil sector GDP grew by 4.77 percent in real terms but was lower by 1.97 percent points compared to the rate recorded same quarter of 2021 and 1.31 percent points lower than the first quarter of 2022.

The oil sector economy declined with a 11.77 percent dip year-on-year in Q2 2022, compared to a contraction of 26.04% recorded in Q1 2022.

Nigerian's Economy Experiences Growth by 3.54 Percent in Q2

Inflation in South Africa accelerated to its highest level in 13 years in July, pushed mainly by surging food, transport and electricity prices, official data showed Wednesday as workers staged protests over the high cost of living.

Consumer prices rose at an annual rate of 7.8 percent in July, up from 7.4 percent in June, the national statistics agency StatsSA said in a statement.

The publication of the latest statistics coincided with protests in major cities over the worsening economic conditions, which have been particularly crushing for the poorest in the continent’s most industrialised country.

Strikers led by South Africa’s two largest trade unions called for government action to combat rising poverty and the cost of living in the world’s most unequal country.

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While the new inflation figure is bad news for consumers, economists see the country likely reaching a tipping point and believe inflation could ease in the coming months.

This “is likely the peak in the current inflation cycle,” according to Investec bank chief economist Annabel Bishop.

“Inflation will be lower this time next year,” said Dawie Roodt, an economist with the financial services firm Efficient Group.

Inflation has been soaring worldwide, fuelled by supply chain disruptions after the easing of Covid restrictions as well as surging energy and food prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

For South Africans, it has resulted in rising costs for necessities including food, electricity, fuel and medication, the statistics agency said.

Although grain prices are on the decline internationally, Roodt said, “it takes as much as two years before a price shock works its way through the economy.”

Prices for breads and cereals were up 13.7 percent in July, from 11.2 percent in June. It means a loaf of white bread now costs 17.84 rand ($1.05) compared to 15.57 rand ($0.91) a year ago, the statistics agency said.

The price of fuel increased by 56.2 percent on last year.

Rising inflation prompted the country’s central bank to impose the steepest hike to the benchmark interest rate last month, raising it by three-quarters of a percentage point to 5.5 percent.

Roodt said another hike is likely to come.

It will have a spiralling impact on the broader economy with higher rates resulting in higher debt repayments for consumers, which will hit household budgets, said Christie Viljoen, senior manager and economist for PwC South Africa.

“This, in turn, results in reduced spending power for consumers and companies. This is a challenge for South Africa which is a consumer-driven economy,” he said.

The rising cost of living is taking a toll on a population where the unemployment rate hovers near 34 percent.

The government called the unemployment figures a “major concern” on Wednesday, saying more needed to be done to improve conditions following the pandemic.

“Job creation and economic recovery remain the top priorities for government,” said cabinet spokeswoman Phumla Williams in a statement.

chart showing the inflation rate in South Africa

Inflation Hits Highest Point Since 2009 in South Africa

On Sunday, top football personalities made way to the Ataoja School of Science football pitch to witness the final match of the Western Nigeria Football Forum’ maiden Taiwo Ogunjobi Under-15 Tournament.

It was an exciting atmosphere to see all the chairmen of State Football Associations in the South West zone in attendance

Gani Majekodun, Bayo Olanlegbe (Ekiti), Otunba Sunday Dele-Ajayi (Ondo), James Adeniran (Oyo), Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi (Lagos) and Alhaji Mustapha Abulrasaq (Osun) all graced the event.

Bolaji Ojo-Oba and Ambassador Fanny Amun.

President of Nigeria Referees Association, Tade Azeez, was also there with two former Shooting Stars legends who played with late Ogunjobi both at club and national levels, Felix Owolabi and Idowu Otunbusi were also there.

President of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club worldwide, Dr Rafiu Ladipo and son of the deceased football icon, Lanre Ogunjobi, also witnessed the final.

Meanwhile, in the highly entertaining final match, Remo Stars U-15 team defeated host Osun 1-0 with the only goal scored via a penalty kick in the first half.

Top Personalities Makes Way to Osogbo For Ogunjobi Cup

The Federal Government has asked students to take the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to take legal action for compensation over the time lost since the varsity teachers began their latest round of strike. 

Education Minister Adamu Adamu said this on Thursday while fielding questions from reporters at the 47th Session of the State House Ministerial Briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

“You should take the leaders of the striking unions to court to pay them,” the minister said when asked if the government plans to compensate students over lost time due to the lingering university teachers’ industrial action. “Probable the court will award damages and we will see how they would pay.”

The minister also denied being mandated by President Muhammadu Buhari to end the six-month strike.

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According to him, at no time did the Nigerian leader order him to resolve the strike in six months.

He said the President instead told him to resolve the issues within the shortest possible time, contrary to what the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, told the media.

While he insisted that he will not succumb to the union’s demand for their members to be paid the backlog of salaries withheld within the period of six months that they were on strike, he said such is the penalty for their action.

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During the meeting, Adamu equally said five of the university-based unions may call off their strike within the next one week but admitted that ASUU’s case remains uncertain.

Furthermore, he accused ASUU of not appreciating what government’s investments in the education sector, arguing that N2.5 trillion was expended on education by President Buhari’s administration through the Tertiary Education Fund (TETFUND) as well as Universal Basic Education (UBEC).

This, he added, is well over the N1.2 trillion demanded by ASUU which he claimed embarked on a needless strike.

industrial action by academic staffs in Nigerian universities 

ASUU Strike: 'Take ASUU to Court,' FG Tells Students

Nigerian newspapers,on one page.