News
Remi Tinubu Leads Drive To Cut Maternal Mortality, Empowers Midwives
The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Remi Tinubu, has flagged off the distribution of Professional kits to midwives provided by the Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI, in Nigeria’s North East Geopolitical Zone.
She was speaking at the flag-off for the Jalingo, Taraba State event.
According to a statement by her media aide, Busola Kukoyi, the First Lady believes that the demands of the health profession go beyond mere skills and compassion and pointed out that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration continues to move in the right direction to improve healthcare delivery in the country.
She said that the right tools and infrastructure are also being provided.
While commending the efforts and contributions of the midwives and the entire health workforce, Senator Tinubu said their efforts continue to be pivotal to reducing maternal and child mortality in Nigeria.
“This event complements the ongoing Federal Government retraining exercise for 120,000 frontline health workers nationwide.
“I am informed that 59,570 health workers have already completed their training, and that is why the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) procured 60,000 branded scrubs and 60,000 pairs of Crocs as an incentive to encourage and support the tireless dedication of our Midwives.
She appealed to Nigerians to continue encouraging health workers for their tireless efforts, especially the sector’s leadership.
“I commend the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, the Executive Director and CEO of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Muyi Aina, and their entire workforce for their dedicated focus on improving healthcare delivery for our citizens as an essential pillar of development, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu.
“All six geopolitical zones will receive 10,000 scrubs and 10,000 pairs of crocs, which will be distributed among the states in each zone. The North East Zone is receiving its allocation today”.
“Since its inception in 2023, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) has provided targeted interventions in agriculture, economic empowerment, education, health, and social investment to improve the lives of families across Nigeria.
RHI recognises that the demands of the health profession require not only skills and compassion but also the right tools and kits to encourage our Midwives as they serve others. We thank you for all your good work”.
The First Lady reassured Nigerians that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is committed to improving the nation and helping Nigerians live better lives.
She also announced an N50m Business Re-capitalization grant for 1,000 petty traders in the state, and the Governor promised to match this with an additional 1,000 petty traders.
“In the spirit of today’s event, the Renewed Hope Initiative will be presenting an additional grant of Fifty Million Naira (N50,000,000) to the First Lady of Delta State and RHI State Coordinator to support another set of 1,000 women petty traders with the sum of N50,000 each to recapitalise their existing businesses”.
In his remarks, Taraba State governor, Dr Agbu Kefas, said the nation is witnessing a significant transformation in the health sector that is gradually but consciously improving life expectancy and other outcomes.
He commended the First Lady for her strong determination and dedication to improving the lives of ordinary Nigerians, primarily through the visible activities of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) since its inception in 2023.
The Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, assured that the Federal Government is doing all it can to close the gap in accessibility and affordability of healthcare, especially for pregnant women and mothers.
He assured nurses and midwives that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appreciated their efforts and urged them to carry out their duties excellently.
The Professional Kits were subsequently presented to the wives of governors for the North East Geo-Political States by the First Lady and RHI National Chairman of the RHI, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Also, at the event, the RHI Small Businesses Recapitalization grant of N50 million naira for 1000 women petty traders was presented to the wife of Taraba State Governor, Mrs Agayin Kefas.
The First Lady also met with the Taraba State Council of Emirs and Chiefs, led by the Aku Zika of Wukari. She appealed for their support in the renewed campaign against HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, syphilis, and Tuberculosis.
-Leadership
Entertainment
Davido breaks silence after Grammy Award loss
Five-time Grammy nominee, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has reacted after losing the Best African Music Performance category at the 68th Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles, United States.
The Afrobeats star shared a message of faith and resilience following the outcome of the ceremony, which took place on Sunday night at the Crypto.com Arena in California.
In a post on his Instagram page, Davido shared photos with his wife, Chioma, from the event and wrote, “Oluwa Dey my side,” alongside prayer and music emojis.
Hours later, he posted another set of pictures of himself and Chioma at the Grammys, reflecting on the loss in a longer caption.
“I said baby listen we lost again let’s not go ! she said ‘Be humble in victory and gracious in defeat’ we outside,” he wrote.
Chioma also reacted via her Instagram page, praising the singer, “You already know that you’re the perfect one, @davido,” she wrote, while sharing photos from the awards night.
Davido was nominated in the Best African Music Performance category at the 2026 Grammy Awards but lost to South African singer Tyla, who won with her song Push 2 Start.
Other nominees in the category included Burna Boy (Love), Ayra Starr and Wizkid (Gimme Dat), Davido (With You featuring Omah Lay), and Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin (Hope & Love).
The win marked Tyla’s second Grammy Award, following her first victory in 2024 for her hit single Water.
Speaking during the awards ceremony, the singer revealed that With You, featuring Omah Lay, almost did not make the final tracklist of his album 5IVE.
“Man, it’s so crazy because that song almost didn’t make the album. With You was not in anybody’s top five.
“And now look at it go. Every time I was performing it, my heart would just start beating like, what if I didn’t put this song?” he told OkayAfrica.
Davido also recounted how he learned about the Grammy nomination, saying the news came unexpectedly while he was in Dubai, days before his birthday.
“I was in the car, actually, checking a car, and then my phone rang. They were like, ‘Oh yeah, another nomination.’ I was like, wow. Thank God,” he said.
“With You” was released in April 2025 as the 17th track on Davido’s fifth studio album, 5IVE, and has since become one of his most successful recent records, surpassing 100 million streams on Spotify.
Despite the song’s success, Nigeria did not record a win at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
Davido said he is now focused on touring and releasing new music.
He is also billed to perform at Coachella 2026, where he will be the only Nigerian artiste on the festival lineup, performing on April 11 and April 18, 2026, in Indio, California.
-Guardian
Entertainment
Kunle Afolayan gives reasons to marry many women
Nollywood filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, has stirred reactions after advising men to “marry many women” while reflecting on his upbringing in a polygamous home.
The actor and producer made the remarks at the watch party of Aníkúlápó: The Ghoul Awakens, with a clip from the event going viral on Tuesday.
Speaking at the event, Afolayan linked his existence and achievements to his late father’s decision to marry several wives.
“Without my father, there wouldn’t have been a KAP Village or even Kunle Afolayan. I am the seventh born of my father because my father had ten wives. For the men, marry many women, or rather be involved with many women. You know why? If my father didn’t, he would not have born me, and that is the honest truth. But today, a few of us are lifting his legacy. Life is short, death is constant. Nobody has life forever. Everybody has a period. Use your period,” he said.
While his daughter, Eyiyemi Afolayan, joined him on stage, the filmmaker compared his childhood experience with his relationship with his children.
“They are lucky. For her, staying by my side is luck. Do you know why? I couldn’t stand it with my father. My father didn’t know my school. My father didn’t know my date of birth. He did not know anything about me other than, ‘He is the son of that person.’ But today, I’m so proud of my father,” he added.
Afolayan also spoke about fatherhood.
“Sometimes when people say ‘Happy Father’s Day,’ I’m always saying whether he pays child support or not, he’s still a father. I have been going to court because I want to get a divorce. I don’t mind being in the witness box, and I experienced the shit, so that I can marry many wives,” he said.
He thereafter prayed for his daughter, praising her role in the series.
“Hephzibah, her mother is the one who gave her the name. I don’t care, but I am proud of you. You started with the film, you did the first season, and now with the second season, you did amazingly well. My good Lord will continue to increase you in wisdom, in knowledge, and in understanding. If this is your path, the good Lord will see you through.”
However, this is not the first time the filmmaker has spoken about his late father’s polygamous lifestyle.
In March 2021, Afolayan told BBC Pidgin that his father, Adeyemi Afolayan, who died in 1996, married 10 wives and had 25 children, a decision he said took a toll on the family.
“I would not want to marry many wives because my father had 10 wives and I knew what happened throughout that period. I knew that really distracted my father. In this age, nobody needs to tell you before you know what’s right,” he said at the time.
He also disclosed that growing up in a polygamous home affected bonding among the children due to language and other barriers.
Afolayan further narrated how he battled poverty in his early years, revealing that he once lived in a one-room apartment in Ebute-Metta and sometimes had to deal with flooding.
“I was born in Ebute-Metta and have lived in one-room apartment before that we even have to grapple with flood sometimes. It’s not shame to say have been poor before. But if you see how l made it, it’s a matter of consistency. My father was a very popular filmmaker and ordinarily, people would expect me to life the kind of live akin to Hollywood stars,” he said.
“But that wasn’t the case. How would one live such life when you’re living in a room with ten women. That doesn’t mean there was no love among us.”
He had advised young filmmakers to start with the little resources available to them while working towards their dreams.
-Guardian
Article
Court adjourns Ganduje’s corruption trial to April 15
A Kano State High Court has adjourned until April 15 the trial of former governor Abdullahi Ganduje, his wife, Hafsat Umar, and son, Abdullahi Umar, alongside five other defendants, over alleged misappropriation of public funds amounting to billions of naira.
The defendants are facing an 11-count charge bordering on bribery, conspiracy, misappropriation, and diversion of public funds. The remaining accused persons are Abubakar Bawuro, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd, and Lasage General Enterprises Ltd.
At the resumed hearing, the prosecution told the court it was ready to proceed and drew attention to a motion dated November 24, 2025, seeking leave to file additional proof of evidence.
However, defence lawyers raised objections, informing the court that multiple applications were pending and must be resolved before the trial could continue.
Lydia Oluwakemi-Oyewo, counsel to some of the defendants, said the defence had filed a motion dated July 17, 2025, seeking a stay of proceedings.
Adekunle Taiye-Falola, representing the third and seventh defendants, also referred to a separate motion dated May 23, 2025.
In addition, Muhammad Shehu, counsel to the fifth defendant, told the court that an affidavit had been filed notifying it of a pending application for stay of proceedings before the Court of Appeal.
Abubakar Ahmad, counsel to the sixth defendant, informed the court that he had filed a notice of preliminary objection and an application for extension of time to respond on points of law dated February 2, urging the court to fix a date for hearing.
Only Faruk Asekome, counsel to the eighth defendant, indicated readiness to proceed with the trial.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the presiding judge, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu, adjourned the matter to April 15 for the hearing of all pending applications and preliminary objections.
The trial has suffered repeated delays due to legal challenges. The high court had earlier dismissed preliminary objections raised by the defence as “incompetent” and affirmed its jurisdiction to hear the case.
That ruling was appealed by the defendants, who argued that the trial court lacked jurisdiction. However, in October 2025, the Kano Division of the Court of Appeal struck out the appeal, citing failure to properly transmit the record of appeal.
-Guardian
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