
BUA Foods Plc announced plans to significantly increase local food production and affordability following shareholder approval of a N504bn dividend at its fifth Annual General Meeting. The company's expansion strategy includes boosting flour milling and pasta capacities, launching a noodles business, completing edible oils operations, and rolling out an integrated feed mill. Chairman Abdul Samad Rabiu stated that these projects aim to make BUA the largest indigenous food manufacturing company in Nigeria by next year, driven by the need to strengthen the country's food manufacturing sector. He emphasized that the company's growth is not just about size but about creating a more competitive market for the benefit of consumers, investors, and the economy. BUA Foods also plans to focus on doubling capacity across its wheat-based products and expanding into noodles and edible oils to meet consumer demand. Despite inflationary pressures, the company is committed to affordability by improving operational efficiency, optimizing procurement, and diversifying energy sources rather than solely relying on price increases. Non-Executive Director Kabiru Rabiu called for increased public and private sector investment in agriculture, including subsidies for farm inputs and improved irrigation infrastructure, to enhance food security and domestic production.
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The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced that the Federal Government will conduct a comprehensive nationwide household survey to determine a more accurate figure for Nigeria’s out-of-school children. Speaking at the 2026 Annual Education Summit of the Education Correspondents Association of Nigeria in Abuja, Dr. Alausa stated that the Federal Ministry of Education is collaborating with the National Bureau of Statistics to generate reliable data for policy decisions. He acknowledged that current estimates, ranging from 15 million to 20 million, need updating, emphasizing the government's commitment to evidence-based statistics. The minister noted that while over one million out-of-school children have returned to classrooms in the past two years, accurate data is crucial for measuring progress. He also highlighted reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda, including Technical and Vocational Education and Training TVET, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics STEM, and digital transformation. Dr. Alausa mentioned that Nigeria has achieved three consecutive years without academic disruptions in tertiary institutions and now has 24 universities ranked among the world’s top 1,000. The summit, themed “Three Years of the Tinubu Administration: Assessing Reforms, Progress and Challenges in Nigeria’s Education Sector,” brought together policymakers, education stakeholders, and journalists. The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, and the Executive S
Must ReadThe World Health Organization WHO has stated that almost 45 percent of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by addressing lifestyle and environmental risk factors. These factors include smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and air pollution. The WHO released updated guidelines to help countries reduce the growing burden of dementia through early prevention and improved healthcare interventions. Dementia is the seventh leading cause of death globally and a major contributor to disability among older adults, affecting memory, thinking, and daily activities. While there is no cure, up to 45 percent of risks are attributed to modifiable factors such as tobacco, alcohol use, social isolation, physical inactivity, air pollution, and noncommunicable diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes. More than 57 million people worldwide currently live with dementia, with nearly 10 million new cases diagnosed annually. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for an estimated 60 to 70 percent of all cases. Devora Kestel, Director of the WHO’s Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, emphasized that dementia impacts individuals, families, and communities, affecting health, dignity, independence, and well-being. The revised guidance, building on 2019 guidelines, provides practical steps for countries to protect cognitive health, including encouraging cognitive stimulation, managing conditions like hypertension and diabetes, and integrating services for

Bauchi Central Senator Abdul Ningi has called on the Federal Government and security agencies to promptly prosecute and publicly parade suspects involved in the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State. Speaking during a Senate plenary, Ningi emphasized that those responsible should face the full force of the law to deter future crimes. He warned that any delay in prosecution could erode public confidence in the justice system. The call follows the rescue of pupils and teachers from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, LA Primary School, and Community Grammar School in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, who were abducted by gunmen and rescued after 56 days in captivity by a joint team of security operatives.