General
Nigeria Health Watch Trains Journalists on Solutions Journalism
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria Health Watch has kicked off the second cohort of newsrooms working to expand the practice of Solutions Journalism in Africa.
Solutions Journalism adopts a solutions-oriented approach to journalism; telling rigorous, investigative, and compelling stories of responses to various social problems so that they can be scaled up or replicated elsewhere.
It differs from traditional, often problem-focused journalism because it highlights what works, as opposed to what does not, and goes further to investigate why an intervention or solution to a social problem was able to bring change.
Three nominees from 10 newsrooms from across Nigeria participated in a two-day in-person training in Abuja to learn why solutions journalism matters and the framework for producing it.
The Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) also produced the first set of student cohorts to grace the training.
The training is part of the Solutions Journalism Africa Initiative project implemented by Nigeria Health Watch with support from the Solutions Journalism Network (SJN).
The first cohort received their training in 2021 and was supported by the project team to produce and publish solutions-focused stories across multiple platforms.
Speaking at the training, the Managing Director of Nigeria Health Watch, Mrs Vivianne Ihekweazu said, “It is important to look at how communities and individuals are solving various social problems and provide them with platforms to show what they are doing despite the challenges.”
The initiative, she said, therefore, presents a unique opportunity to redefine the way news is reported in Nigeria – providing an alternative news option and empowering Nigerians by showing where solutions have been found to everyday problems in the country, and not only reinforcing the often-accepted narrative.
In her remarks, Ms Ruona Meyer, the Africa Initiative Manager at the SJN said negative reporting has denied audiences of a holistic view of the news and denied journalists the power to build society through constructive reporting. She encouraged the participants to be part of this movement that is ensuring that audiences are empowered with the contents they consume.
The training culminated in a visit to the Wassa Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs) camp where participants interacted with community members to not only learn about their challenges but also how they are working hard to respond to those challenges.
According to Mr Abijola Amzat, the Managing Editor, International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), one of the 10 newsrooms participating in the second cohort, “The ICIR is happy to partner with Nigeria Health Watch to mainstream Solutions Journalism in Nigeria.
“We know that the material conditions of Nigerians are difficult now, but there are efforts from various sectors to improve situations. We believe journalists should report both the problems and the solutions people are seeking to improve lives.
“Therefore, this collaboration matters. Our goal is to produce journalists with a complete sense of awareness of the negative and the positive experiences of the people. We hope this project will bring us closer to the achievement of that objective.”
The practice of Solutions Journalism has continued to grow in Africa and the Nigeria Health Watch Torchlight series uses the approach to report on responses to health problems in Nigeria, with the Torchlight Africa series providing narratives of solutions in other African countries. To further expand the practice in Africa, the Solutions Journalism Africa Initiative will train newsrooms in Nigeria and Kenya on solutions journalism.
Following their training, the journalist nominees from the newsrooms will be supported and mentored over five months to investigate, write, produce, publish, or broadcast their solutions stories.
NHW Announces 2022 Solutions Journalism Africa Fellowship
Also, a fellowship known as the Solutions Journalism Africa fellows was launched by the organisers as part of the initiative. These fellows also joined the newsroom nominees in the training. They will also be supported to produce their stories and other fellowship deliverables in the next four months.
The 2022 Solutions Journalism Africa Fellows are:
- Israel Olatunji Tijani
- Umo Akwang
- Adam Alqali
- Blessing Oladunjoye
- Rasheed Ademola Adebiyi
- Usman Aliyu
- Abiodun Jamiu
- Folakemi Ajala
- Misbahu el-Hamza
- Emiene Erameh
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) have deepened their collaboration to integrate Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) into the procurement process for goods, works, and services as part of efforts to align public procurement with national economic priorities
This step is part of the federal government’s Nigeria First policy under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The initiative draws its authority from Paragraph 13 of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Circular Ref No. 59780/S.2/B/532 dated May 27, 2025, which mandates prioritisation of Made-in-Nigeria goods and the requirement for all procurement activities to conform to established Nigerian standards.
According to a joint statement, the partnership was strengthened at a high-level strategy meeting held on July 10, 2025, at the BPP Headquarters in Abuja. Both agencies affirmed their commitment to integrating NIS into the federal procurement framework, to improve the quality of government projects, protect public investments, and bolster local production and services.
Among the major resolutions from the meeting is a new requirement that companies bidding for government contracts must present a valid certificate of subscription to SON’s Digital Standards Platform (DSP). This certificate, which will serve as a prequalification document, confirms access to applicable standards for their products and services.
Additionally, all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) will now be required to utilise the DSP during procurement planning and specification writing. This ensures that procurement specifications are based on prescribed standards, allowing for early verification of compliance and guaranteeing quality from the outset.
In preparation for full implementation, MDAs have been directed to begin updating their procurement procedures, ensuring access to the DSP and integrating standard requirements into all bidding documents.
Meanwhile, companies and stakeholders in the procurement value chain are encouraged to begin subscribing to the DSP to access relevant standards and secure their subscription certificates in anticipation of enforcement.
The federal government stated that by mandating Nigerian standards in procurement, the initiative will help reduce substandard imports, stimulate local production, and reinforce Nigeria’s industrial capabilities.
The statement added that officials from SON and BPP expressed confidence that the integration of standards into procurement will improve the credibility of government projects, promote industrial self-reliance, and build public trust in procurement outcomes.
“All stakeholders are enjoined to embrace these changes,” the statement read, “as the resulting procurement system will not only champion ‘Nigeria First’ but also uphold a ‘Quality First’ ethos that benefits all.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has declared tomorrow, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, as a public holiday in honour of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Mrs Magdalene Ajani, this is furtherance with the seven days of national mourning declared by President Bola Tinubu on Sunday.
The Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who declared the public holiday on behalf of the federal government, following the approval of President Tinubu, said the work-free day was a mark of respect for the late President’s service to the nation, his contributions to Nigeria’s democratic journey, and his enduring legacy in governance and national development.
“President Muhammadu Buhari served Nigeria with dedication, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to the unity and progress of our great nation. This public holiday provides an opportunity for all Nigerians to reflect on his life, leadership, and the values he upheld,” the Minister said.
He urged citizens to use the day to honour the memory of the deceased by promoting peace, patriotism, and national cohesion, in line with his vision for a prosperous and united Nigeria.
The national flags are to fly at half mast for the seven days of mourning period from Sunday, July 13, 2025.
Earlier, the Governor of Katsina State, Mr Dikko Radda, announced the burial arrangements for the late Nigerian leader who died on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in a hospital in London at the age of 82.
At a press briefing on Monday, the Katsina Governor said following consultations with the late president’s family and close associates in London, it has been agreed that the remains of Mr Buhari would arrive in Katsina on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, by noon.
He disclosed that the burial would take place in Daura, the hometown of the late president, by 2 pm on the same day.
Mr Radda expressed deep condolences on behalf of himself, the state government, and the people of Katsina State, to the family of the late President and all Nigerians mourning the loss of a national icon.
The remains of the late Nigerian former president would be released once the documentations were perfected and will his remains will be brought to Nigeria.
Vice President Kashim Shettima and the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, earlier on Monday arrived in London, the United Kingdom, to receive the body of the late former president.
The late Buhari, who hailed from Daura, Katsina State, in Nigeria’s North-West zone previously served as the country’s military head of state between January 1984 and August 1985. He was elected in 2015 and was re-elected in 2019 and he was succeeded by President Bola Tinubu.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The burial of former President Muhammadu Buhari has been moved to Tuesday, July 15, 2025.
The late Nigerian leader was earlier planned to be buried today, Monday, July 14, 2025, after his demise on Sunday evening.
Mr Buhari, who governed Nigeria as a civilian president from 2015 to 2023, died at about 4:30 pm in a London clinic on Sunday after an undisclosed illness.
He remains were earlier scheduled to be moved back to the country from the United Kingdom today, but the latest information suggests his corpse will arrive in Nigeria tomorrow.
In a notice this afternoon, it was disclosed that his body would be laid to rest in his hometown in Duara, Katsina State on Tuesday.
“The body of the late President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to arrive in Katsina at 12:00 noon tomorrow, with funeral according to Islamic rites scheduled to take place in his hometown of Daura by 2:00 pm on the same day,” the new announcement said.
Yesterday, President Bola Tinubu directed the Vice President, Mr Kashim Shettima, and his Chief of Staff, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, to travel to the UK to bring the remains of his predecessor back home for a state burial.
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