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Nigerian govt backs rollout of Measles-Rubella Vaccine

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The Federal Government has pledged robust communication and advocacy support for the upcoming nationwide Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign scheduled for October 2025.

This assurance was given by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, during a courtesy visit to his office by the Centre for Well-Being and Integrated Nutrition Solutions (C-WINS) on Tuesday.

Idris praised the team’s commitment to public health and child well-being. He affirmed the Ministry’s readiness to champion public sensitization efforts that will ensure the campaign’s success.

“You have come to the right place,” the Minister said. “The Ministry of Information and National Orientation exists to support and amplify initiatives like this. We will work with you and relevant agencies under our Ministry, including the National Orientation Agency and public media institutions, to ensure Nigerians are well-informed about the dangers of rubella and the need for vaccination.”

The Minister described the C-WINS presentation as both emotional and enlightening. “Today, I have learned a lot,” he said. “Many Nigerians, like myself, may be familiar with measles but are unaware of rubella and its devastating effects. That children can be born blind, deaf, or with heart defects due to maternal rubella infection is a tragedy we must work together to prevent.”

He emphasized the Ministry’s readiness to co-develop strategic messaging and support public education efforts nationwide. The Minister also encouraged the team to engage the National Assembly for broader legislative support. “We don’t want this to be a one-off meeting,” he said. “Let’s make this partnership continuous, impactful, and far-reaching.

“Prevention is better than cure and this is one area where information truly saves lives.”

Earlier, the delegation from C-WINS, led by Project Lead Dr. Nihinlola Mabogunje, briefed the Minister on the urgent need to raise public awareness ahead of the October campaign and also delivered a comprehensive presentation on the life-saving importance of the Measles-Rubella vaccine.

She highlighted the highly infectious nature of measles, which continues to cause severe illness, complications, and death, particularly among malnourished or immunocompromised children, stating that Nigeria currently accounts for nearly 20% of global measles cases, with the Northeast region bearing over 60% of the national burden.

On rubella, she explained that it’s an often-overlooked threat, especially to pregnant women. Contracting rubella in the first trimester can result in Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS), leading to babies born blind, deaf, or with severe heart abnormalities.

Dr. Mabogunje assured the Minister of the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness, noting that the Measles-Rubella vaccine has been used worldwide for over 50 years and is credited with saving more than 94 million lives. She also praised NAFDAC’s stringent regulatory review and endorsement of the vaccine for safe use in Nigeria.

Calling for unified action, she urged the Ministry to lead a national communication effort to combat misinformation and build public trust. “To reach the target of 95% vaccination coverage, we need accurate, trusted, and consistent messaging delivered through the channels that everyday Nigerians rely on,” she said.

In response, the Honourable Minister directed that the Ministry’s communication team collaborate closely with C-WINS to co-create culturally sensitive campaign materials that will be disseminated through both public and private media channels nationwide.

Health

Beatrice Ekweremadu Returns To Nigeria After UK Prison Release

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Wife of former Deputy Senate President Ekweremadu returns home following custodial sentence, while her husband remains imprisoned in UK.

The wife of former Nigerian Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Beatrice, has returned to Nigeria after being released from a prison in the United Kingdom.

Her arrival in the country on Tuesday, January 21, 2026, followed the completion of the custodial portion of her sentence for her role in a high-profile organ-harvesting conspiracy.

Mrs Ekweremadu was received by family members and close associates at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, marking her first time on Nigerian soil since the legal saga began in mid-2022.

While her return has sparked celebrations in her hometown of Mpu, in the Aninri Local Government Area (LGA) of Enugu State, it came amid the continued incarceration of her husband in London.

The return of the former Deputy Senate President’s wife followed her May 2023 conviction by the Old Bailey in London.

She was sentenced to four years and six months in prison for conspiring to facilitate the travel of a 21-year-old Lagos Street trader to the UK for the purpose of harvesting his kidney.

The organ was intended for the couple’s daughter, Sonia, who suffered from a chronic kidney condition.

The case, which was prosecuted under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act 2015, marked the first time the legislation was used in a human organ-harvesting prosecution.

Under UK law, non-violent offenders are typically eligible for release on license after serving half of their custodial term.

Reports indicated that Mrs. Ekweremadu’s release was further facilitated by her good conduct record and by a broader UK government initiative to address severe prison overcrowding.

Despite his wife’s return, Senator Ekweremadu remains in a UK correctional facility serving a significantly longer sentence.

In May 2023, the former lawmaker was handed a nine-year and eight-month term, as the court deemed him the primary driver of the conspiracy.

Efforts by the Nigerian federal government to secure his release or repatriation have so far been unsuccessful.

In late 2025, a high-powered diplomatic delegation visited London to explore a Prisoner Transfer Agreement (PTA) that would allow the Senator to serve the remainder of his term in a Nigerian facility.

However, the UK Home Office reportedly rejected the proposal in November 2025, citing concerns over the guarantee of the sentence’s continued enforcement if transferred to the Nigerian jurisdiction.

The third convict in the case, Dr. Obinna Obeta, who was described by the prosecution as the medical “middleman,” continues to serve a 10-year prison sentence in the UK.

Meanwhile, the couple’s daughter, Sonia, who was cleared of all criminal charges during the 2023 trial, remains in the United Kingdom, where she is reportedly receiving ongoing medical treatment for her condition.

 

 

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Elon Musk Claims Going To Medical School Is Now Pointless Because Robots Will Replace Human Surgeons By 2030 (Video)

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Elon Musk has asserted that medical degrees may soon become obsolete, as AI-powered robots are expected to surpass human surgeons in performance.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO claimed that humanoid robots like Tesla’s Optimus will outperform the world’s best surgeons within three years.

Speaking on the Moonshots podcast hosted by Peter Diamandis, Musk argued that human doctors are slow to train, prone to error, and fundamentally limited.

“Right now there’s a shortage of doctors and great surgeons,” Musk said.

“[It takes] a super long time to learn how to be a good doctor Doctors have limited time, they make mistakes. How many great surgeons are there? Not that many,” he added.

“So don’t go to medical school?” Diamandis asked Musk.

While robotic surgery is advancing rapidly, experts warn that medicine cannot function without human judgement, accountability and ethical responsibility.

Watch video below:

Stop Calling Me ‘Bro’ or ‘Blood’ – 22-Year-Old Ondo Monarch Issues Warning To The Public

 

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Anu’s Mother Shares Alleged DNA Test Result Amid Partenity Dispute With Davido

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In a recent development, the ongoing controversy surrounding Ayo Labinjoh, the mother of Anu and Afrobeats superstar, Davido, over partenity dispute has intensified.

‎It’s worth noting that Ayo Labinjoh and Davido have been in the headlines over paternity dispute, with the singer claiming five DNA tests yielded negative results

In a fresh Instagram post, Ayo shared an existing DNA test result contradicting Davido’s earlier claim.

She emphasized that the DNA test result was valid, while investigative journalist, Kemi Olunloyo has fought vigorously for her daughter.

Her post reads,“The ONLY DNA 🧬 TEST Fake‼️ No swab, just bl00d 🩸 Not 2, Not 5.We still haven’t seen David post today online and in newspapers”.

Meanwhile, Davido has revealed that his father, Dr. Adedeji Adeleke, played a significant role amid his paternity dispute with Ayo Labinjoh.

In a recent tweet on X (formely Twitter), the ‘Feel’ crooner shared that his father insisted that he undergo DNA test.

“You guys don’t know my father..He’s even the one that forced me to go. Adeleke’s we don’t play about Blood on this side”, The tweet reads.

Meanwhile, Cubana Chief Priest’s alleged baby mama, Helen Atti, has weighed in on Davido’s paternity dispute.

She took to the singer’s comment section, writing, “Please just help her, you can still adopt her, it doesn’t mean anything. I know you love children a lot, not like Pascal Okechukwu, big belle for no reason”.

See below…..

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