It started like a scene from a political thriller—an official-looking document on a presidential letterhead, bearing what appeared to be a legitimate signature, announcing that Mohammed Babangida, son of former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida, had rejected his appointment as Chairman of the Bank of Agriculture. The news exploded across social media, gaining traction and credibility when shared by none other than Dele Momodu, a seasoned media figure. But then came the twist: it was all fake. The public was stunned. If even experienced journalists could fall for such a fabrication, who among us is safe? This came on the heels…
Author: TheStories
Infrastructure development is both a catalyst and a barometer of economic prosperity, social inclusion, and institutional effectiveness. In Enugu State, the ongoing transformation under Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah—especially in road infrastructure—offers a compelling illustration of development governance rooted in planning, citizen responsiveness, and fiscal discipline. Governor Mbah’s administration is presently executing one of the most ambitious road infrastructure programmes in Nigeria’s Southeast. With over 80 roads under construction or completed—spanning both rural and urban areas—the reforms signal a clear break from previous regimes where road projects were often dictated by political patronage or elite capture. Mbah’s projects are driven by…
At a modest training hall inside Sokoto Guest Inn, the energy was palpable — not the usual medical seminar vibe, but one filled with the resolve and hope of young people ready to change narratives and save lives. Rose Mary Joseph, a 200-level medical student at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, adjusted her UNICEF tag and stood tall before her peers. “We are not just creating awareness — we are saving lives,” she said, her voice steady and full of conviction. “As a medical student, I understand the science. As a girl, I understand the fear and the misconceptions.” Rose is one…
In a renewed push to protect young girls from a deadly but preventable disease, the Sokoto State Government has intensified its campaign to roll out the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine across the state—bringing hope to thousands of families. The expanded effort, backed by UNICEF and the Canadian government, focuses on vaccinating girls between the ages of 9 and 14, a crucial age group for preventing cervical cancer, which remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in Nigeria. At a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held in Sokoto on Tuesday, health experts, community and religious leaders, and youth…
In every generation, there are those whose lives stand out—threads woven into the fabric of society that shine with values we all admire. The late Suleiman Abubakar, the revered Sarki of Tukur-Tukur, was one such thread. A man of deep faith, unwavering principles, and quiet strength, he was a beacon of hope and justice whose legacy continues to shape the lives of those he touched. From my earliest years, I saw in my father not just a leader, but a living example of what leadership truly means. For him, leadership was not about titles or power. It was a sacred…
So now, Governor Caleb Mutfwang and his government have suddenly discovered that soldiers are no longer effective, and that mobile police officers, yes, the same overstretched MOPO,L will magically solve what years of denial and silence have failed to address. How convenient. Let’s be blunt: the security situation in Plateau State is not failing because soldiers are stationed in the wrong locations. It is failing because the state government, past and present, has consistently refused to tackle the root causes of the crisis, particularly the unending farmer-herder conflict as well as the ethno-religious conflict that continues to fester like an…
By way of introduction, democracy is the government of the people, for the people, and by the people. Indeed, this is the commonest and the most widely accepted meaning of democracy. Similarly, democracy is a system of government where power is held by the people. Under it, the citizens participate through voting in elections, and the leaders are elected to represent the people and make decisions. By Bashir Rabe Mani The crux of the above is that in a democracy, the major preoccupation is service to the people. Put succinctly, under democracy, the people—and/or the electorate—hold sway as they own…
A powerful synergy between the Sokoto State Government, UNICEF, and local communities is reshaping the narrative of adolescent girls in the state, as the two-year REACH programme winds down with lasting impact across six local government areas. The initiative—Reaching and Empowering Adolescent Girls in North West Nigeria (REACH)—focused on reaching the most vulnerable girls: those who never enrolled in school, those who dropped out early, and others struggling to stay in school. But what truly set the programme apart was the deep-rooted community involvement that drove its success. UNICEF Nigeria’s Adolescent Development Specialist, Ngozi Izuora Songu, underscored the importance of…
The Sokoto State Government, in partnership with UNICEF and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), is concluding a transformative two-year implementation of the REACH Programme—an initiative dedicated to empowering adolescent girls through education, life skills, and community support. REACH, which stands for Reaching and Empowering Adolescent Girls in North West Nigeria, was implemented across six local government areas in Sokoto. The programme targeted girls who had either dropped out of school, never enrolled, or needed extra support to transition and complete their basic education. The number of female who graduated from Primary 6 across the 6 LGAs was 19,455,…
The Sokoto State Government in collaboration with UNICEF has launched a two-day capacity-building workshop for planning, monitoring, and evaluation (M&E) officers, in a bid to enhance planning and service delivery across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). The training, which kicked off at Azbir Hotel in Birnin Kebbi, brought together key stakeholders in governance and development to strengthen institutional frameworks for planning, documentation, monitoring, and reporting. Speaking at the opening session, the State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Abubakar Mohammad Zayyana, emphasized the importance of proper planning in achieving sustainable development goals. He said the training was timely, coming…