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THAI ROYAL FAMILY HONOURS NIGERIAN HEALTH ICON, PROF. UCHE, AMAZIGO, AT GLOBAL LAUREATES EVENT

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Nigeria’s renowned public health expert, Prof. Uche Veronica Amazigo has been honoured by the Thai Royal Family as part of a global celebration marking 100 distinguished laureates of the Prince Mahidol Award (PMA).

 

Prof. Amazigo, a recipient of the award in 2012, was among global health leaders hosted by the Prince Mahidol Award Foundation during a special commemorative event held in Nan Province, Thailand, from February 2–5, 2026. The Foundation operates under the Royal Patronage of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

Established in 1992 by the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the Prince Mahidol Award recognises individuals whose work in medicine and public health has made a lasting global impact. The 2025/2026 celebration marked a historic milestone of 100 laureates worldwide.

 

Among the honourees are three Africans: the late Prof. Frederick Sai of Ghana (1995), Prof. Amazigo (2012), and the late Nigerian public health pioneer Prof. Adetokunbo Lucas (1999). Seven PMA laureates have also won the Nobel Prize.

 

According to the Foundation, Prof. Amazigo was recognised for pioneering community-directed treatment, a strategy that transformed the control of neglected tropical diseases across Africa. As Director of the WHO African Programme on Onchocerciasis (APOC), she expanded treatment for river blindness to millions of people across 19 African countries.

 

Under her leadership, the WHO/APOC Programme received the António Champalimaud Vision Award in 2011 for outstanding contributions to the prevention of blindness. She has also supported ECOWAS initiatives aimed at eliminating malaria through integrated vector control strategies.

 

Beyond her international work, Prof. Amazigo has continued to impact grassroots healthcare in Nigeria through the Pan-African Community Initiative on Education and Health (PACIEH) and the Goodwill Medical Centre (GMC) in Enugu, established with support from the TY Danjuma Foundation. The Centre provides affordable healthcare services, including maternal and child health, eye care and family medicine, to underserved communities.

 

In April 2025, the GMC commissioned the Avah River Bridge, improving access to healthcare and essential services for several Enugu East communities. The hospital has also partnered with the Enugu East Local Government to expand health insurance coverage.

 

Prof. Amazigo, a Knight of the National Order of Burkina Faso, is married to Emeritus Professor of Mathematics John Amazigo. Both are Fellows of the Nigerian Academy of Science.

 

The Prince Mahidol Award Foundation said the 2026 gathering aimed to strengthen collaboration among laureates and explore future strategies for advancing global health.

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PHILIPPINE LAWMAKERS SHUT DOWN IMPEACHMENT BID AGAINST MARCOS

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Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has escaped impeachment after the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to dismiss complaints filed against him.

 

The decision followed an earlier move by the House justice committee, which last week threw out two impeachment petitions, ruling that they lacked sufficient legal basis. The complaints accused Marcos of betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and violations of the constitution.

 

Announcing the outcome on the House floor, Deputy Speaker Janette Garin declared that all impeachment complaints against the president had been formally dismissed.

 

For an impeachment to proceed, at least one-third of the more than 300 members of the lower house would have had to support it. Instead, 284 lawmakers voted to dismiss the complaints, while only eight backed impeachment and four abstained. Under constitutional rules, no new impeachment complaint can be filed against Marcos until next year.

 

Attention is now shifting to Vice President Sara Duterte, who is facing fresh impeachment efforts after surviving a similar attempt last year.

 

Marcos, 68, was accused by petitioners of abusing his authority in the use of public funds, particularly in relation to a flood-control project scandal. He was also criticised for allowing his predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte, to be arrested and transferred to The Hague to face trial at the International Criminal Court over thousands of deaths linked to his controversial “war on drugs.”

 

One of the complaints further alleged that Marcos was unfit to govern due to supposed drug use an allegation he has repeatedly denied.

 

Since the restoration of democracy in 1986, only one Philippine president, Joseph Estrada, has been impeached. His 2001 trial, however, collapsed after prosecutors walked out when senator judges voted against opening an envelope believed to contain key evidence against him.

 

In the country’s history, five top government officials have been impeached, but only one; a former chief justice was ultimately convicted and removed from office.

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NIGERIA’S FOREIGN MINISTER LEADS DELEGATION TO AU EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SESSION IN ADDIS ABABA 

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Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to lead the country’s delegation at the 48th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Executive Council, scheduled for February 11–12, 2026.

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, said Ambassador Tuggar will participate in ministerial consultations, strategic dialogues, side events, and bilateral meetings aimed at advancing Africa’s unity, peace, security, democratic governance, and sustainable development.

Ambassador Tuggar arrived on Monday, February 9, and was received by Ethiopia’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Berhanu Tsegaye, alongside Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in Ethiopia, Ambassador Nasir Aminu, and officials of the Nigerian Mission.

The Executive Council meeting is a precursor to the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU, set for February 14–15, 2026. Nigeria’s engagement at the summit will focus on peace and security, democratic governance, institutional resilience, economic integration, development financing, health security, climate resilience, and the implementation of Agenda 2063.

On the sidelines of the session, Ambassador Tuggar is expected to hold bilateral discussions with counterparts from African and non-African countries to strengthen diplomatic relations and advance shared strategic interests. Nigeria will also lead and participate in high-level side events, including a forum on regional partnerships for democracy, highlighting the country’s ongoing commitment to democratic norms and institutional strengthening in Africa.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs promised to provide updates on outcomes and key engagements throughout the sessions.

 

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TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MOVES TO DISMANTLE CORE U.S. CLIMATE REGULATION FRAMEWORK

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The Trump administration is set to overturn a landmark Obama-era scientific finding that has formed the backbone of the U.S. greenhouse gas regulation for more than a decade, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has confirmed.

 

The finding, known as the 2009 Endangerment Finding, concluded that greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane pose a danger to human health and the environment. It provided the legal basis for federal limits on emissions from vehicles, power plants, and industrial facilities under the Clean Air Act.

 

By revoking the finding, the EPA would significantly weaken the federal government’s authority to regulate climate-warming emissions, clearing the way for a broad rollback of existing climate rules and making future regulations far more difficult to enforce.

 

The administration argues that the move will ease regulatory pressure on businesses and lower costs for consumers. However, environmental groups, scientists, and several U.S. states that it could lead to increased pollution, worsen public health outcomes, and spark years of legal battles.

 

Beyond the United States, the decision could have global implications. As one of the world’s largest historical emitters of greenhouse gases, U.S. climate policy plays a major role in international efforts to limit global warming. Analysts say the rollback could undermine global climate targets and weaken the U.S. credibility in climate diplomacy and slow momentum toward meeting temperature-reduction goals set under international agreements.

 

Some states, including California, are already preparing to strengthen their own climate policies, potentially creating a fragmented regulatory landscape as federal oversight retreats.

 

The EPA’s proposal is expected to face strong opposition and legal challenges, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle over the future of climate regulation in the United States and its ripple effects worldwide.

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