General News
PRESIDENT TINUBU LAUNCHES RENEWHER INITIATIVE TO TACKLE MATERNAL MORTALITY, BOOST WOMEN’S HEALTH
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has launched the RenewHER Presidential Women’s Health Transformation Initiative, aimed at safeguarding maternal health and promoting women’s well-being in Nigeria. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, announced this in a statement.
Nkwocha said President Tinubu described the programme as a critical response to one of the nation’s most pressing needs and a cornerstone of a healthier Nigeria, rating it as a national priority. Speaking at the Launch Gala and Awards at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, emphasized that women’s health is fundamental to Nigeria’s development trajectory.
“Maternal health is the heartbeat of every family, the compass of social stability, and the truest index of national welfare,” Tinubu said. The RenewHER initiative will introduce a Presidential focal office on women’s health, working with relevant ministries and the Governors’ Spouses Forum to embed women’s health priorities across the nation.
Tinubu announced the creation of an AI-powered National Women’s Health Digital Hub for geo-targeted campaigns on maternal survival, adolescent health, preventive care, and workforce strengthening. “Maternal mortality is a shame against which we must all rally. We owe every girl-child not just the eloquent promise of a better tomorrow, but the certainty of a healthier one,” he explained.
Nkwocha noted that RenewHER will complement initiatives like MAMII and align with international partners. Tinubu assured his administration would catalyze interventions until RenewHER delivers results. “With the mandate of the Nigerian people, I hereby unveil RenewHER—our Presidential Women’s Health Commitment,” he declared.
First Lady of Kwara State and Chairperson of the Nigeria Governors Spouses’ Forum, Prof. Olufolake AbdulRazaq, said RenewHER represents the Tinubu administration’s commitment to women’s empowerment. “The initiative will find support in every state through the Nigeria Governors Spouses’ Forum,” she assured.
Dr. Adanna Steinacker, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women’s Health, said RenewHER wouldn’t be possible without Tinubu’s vision. UN Women Country Representative Beatrice Eyong described RenewHER as “a turning point” and “bold initiative”, noting the UN stands ready to collaborate to expand access and ensure Nigerian women live with dignity.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has introduced an urgent, coordinated strategy to safeguard food security across West Africa and the Sahel, as global economic disruptions and rising oil prices continue to threaten agricultural production.
The decision followed an extraordinary virtual meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Agriculture held on March 23, 2026, where regional leaders assessed the growing risks to food systems.
The high-level meeting, convened by the ECOWAS Commission through its Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture under Commissioner Kalilou Sylla, brought together key regional institutions, development partners, and financial stakeholders.
Participants—including representatives from the West African Economic and Monetary Union and the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel—reviewed the impact of rising fertiliser costs, driven by global market volatility and increasing energy prices, on agricultural productivity across the region.
Deliberations resulted in the adoption of a medium- to long-term operational framework aimed at strengthening food sovereignty and building resilience within regional food systems.
Key measures outlined in the plan include the immediate establishment of regional agreements to secure strategic fertiliser supplies, as well as the creation of emergency reserves to cushion the effects of future price shocks.
The ministers also approved the introduction of liquidity swap mechanisms through central banks to address foreign exchange constraints faced by importers—an intervention expected to improve access to critical agricultural inputs.
“Our collective response underscores the urgency of safeguarding food security in the face of external shocks,” Sylla said, noting that enhanced regional coordination and targeted interventions would help sustain agricultural production and protect vulnerable populations.
The initiative highlights ECOWAS’ commitment to deepening regional cooperation and implementing sustainable solutions to emerging threats to food security across West Africa and the Sahel.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Monday paid a Sallah homage to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos.
The visit formed part of activities marking the Sallah celebrations, as top government officials and political leaders paid courtesy calls to the President.
During the meeting, President Tinubu also received members of the Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council, a key political body in Lagos State.
Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council
The engagements provided an opportunity for discussions on national issues and strengthened ties between the executive and legislative arms of government.
The Sallah homage is a long-standing tradition in Nigeria, where political leaders and stakeholders visit the President and other top officials during major Islamic festivities.
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has expressed concern over the reported arrest of a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Umar, describing the development as a threat to Nigeria’s democratic principles.
In a statement issued on Monday, Obi said he was informed that the cleric was arrested by authorities shortly after hosting him in Kaduna on Sunday. He described the situation as “deeply troubling,” warning that it reflects a growing pattern of intimidation and suppression of dissenting voices in the country.
Obi noted that such actions, if confirmed, undermine fundamental rights, including freedom of speech and movement, which he said are essential pillars of any democratic society.
He further stressed that harassment or persecution of citizens based on perceived political affiliations must not be tolerated, urging the government to uphold the rule of law in its dealings with Nigerians.
“This country must defend freedom and free speech, which are the hallmarks of every democratic society,” Obi stated, adding that suppression and intimidation of dissent have no place in a functioning democracy.
The former Anambra State governor called on authorities and all relevant actors to refrain from actions capable of weakening the nation’s already fragile democratic system.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official confirmation from security agencies regarding the alleged arrest.