General News
CIFF Marks ‘Nutrition for Growth’ First Anniversary

Ensuring affordable access to nutritious food is the key to preventing nearly half of global child deaths.
Under-nutrition is the largest single contributor to child mortality worldwide and directly causes 11% of the global disease burden.
At a micro level, it has a devastating impact on vulnerable children and families as stunting caused by poor nutrition impairs brain development.
If a child does not have adequate nutrition in the first 1000 days of life, it means by two or three years old, they will simply never be able to reach their full potential.
On Wednesday, world leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the pledges made on the 8th of June 2013 at the inaugural Nutrition for Growth summit in London, where the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), together with the governments of the UK and Brazil, co-hosted the high-level international meeting entitled ‘Nutrition for Growth: Beating Hunger through Business and Science’.
The one year anniversary invites reflection on progress made against the pledges made.
The verdict: global prosperity is still being undermined by the silent crisis of under-nutrition. The urgency of concrete and coordinated action has never been higher.
Last week DFID published its “One Year On Update” which outlines its progress over the last year and priorities for the coming year.
It is working closely with the Government of Brazil, which plans to host a nutrition event at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
Marking the anniversary, Michael Anderson, chief executive officer of CIFF, called for more cross functional collaboration to tackle the crisis head on.
Hailing the progress made in Rwanda, for instance, by developing and delivering a clear multi-sector plan, Anderson argued “innovation is important, but the focus should be on basic execution – we know what needs to be done”.
The Commitment: Bringing together business leaders, scientists, governments and civil society, more than 100 stakeholders signed the ‘Global Nutrition for Growth Compact’ in 2013 and collectively committed to reduce the number of stunted children by 20 million, saving 1.7 million lives by reaching 500 million women and children with effective interventions.
The UK Government committed an additional £375 million for direct nutrition programmes between now and 2020 and an additional £280 million if matched by others. 29 companies have signed up to the Nutrition for Growth Compact and CIFF committed $700 million. In addition the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pledged $800 million to support work on nutrition and agriculture.
The anniversary marks the first in a series of milestones to drive the agenda forward.
Reports such as “The Cost of Hunger in Africa”, the HANCI report to be published later this month and the first Global Nutrition report in November 2014 all contribute to raising awareness and accountability for nutrition and will build up to the new post-2015 development goals to be launched in 2015 and a nutrition event at the Rio Olympics in 2016 to mark concrete progress in the fight against under-nutrition.
The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) is an independent philanthropic organisation which aims to bring about demonstrable improvement in the lives of children in developing countries, through large-scale, effective investment.
Also, the Department for International Development (DFID) leads the UK’s work to end extreme poverty.
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General News
NIMASA Embraces Technology to Strengthen Regulatory Mandate

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has announced its commitment to leveraging technology to enhance its regulatory functions, improve efficiency, and boost revenue generation for the Federal Government.
According to a statement by the agency’s Head of Public Relations, Osagie Edward, on Sunday, the move follows a comprehensive internal review of NIMASA’s operational systems aimed at closing gaps in monitoring and compliance.
A key component of the technological transformation is the deployment of the Maritime Enhanced Monitoring System (MEMS), which brings digital traceability to the core of Nigeria’s maritime operations.
“MEMS provides real-time visibility into vessel movements, operational logs, and regulatory interactions,” Osagie explained.
“With automated alerts, smart invoicing, and centralized data integration, NIMASA can now detect, document, and respond to maritime activities with greater precision and efficiency—eliminating unnecessary bottlenecks while strengthening compliance.”
He noted that one of the major targets for improvement is waste reception services—routine for both domestic and international vessels—which have historically lacked proper tracking.
This has resulted in unmonitored activities and substantial revenue losses. Through MEMS, each waste offload can now be logged, time-stamped, and automatically billed, ensuring environmental standards are upheld while generating consistent revenue.
Marine pollution control, another critical area under NIMASA’s mandate, has also suffered in the past from limited digital oversight.
“Without satellite tracking and automated reporting, pollution events often went unnoticed or were reported too late to mitigate environmental damage,” he said.
“Now, with modern surveillance systems, digital logbooks, and real-time alerts, NIMASA can respond swiftly to pollution incidents, recover environmental damages, and hold polluters accountable both legally and financially.”
Osagie further explained that past revenue shortfalls experienced by the agency were largely due to outdated manual processes, fragmented data systems, and inadequate digital enforcement tools—factors that external actors exploited for personal gain.
“The ongoing reforms at NIMASA are designed to overcome these systemic weaknesses. By investing in digital infrastructure and streamlining monitoring systems, the agency is positioning itself to fulfill its statutory obligations with greater transparency, efficiency, and accountability,” he added.
Responding to recent reports claiming the agency had commenced a concession of its operations, Osagie dismissed the allegations as false and misleading.
“There is no iota of truth in the reports suggesting that NIMASA has embarked on any form of concession. These are the handiwork of both internal and external elements attempting to exploit the existing system for personal benefit,” he stated.
“We urge the public to disregard these baseless claims and instead support NIMASA’s transformation journey, which aligns with the national objectives of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
He reaffirmed NIMASA’s commitment to enhancing maritime governance, environmental protection, and revenue optimization for national development.
General News
Nigerian Tech Prodigy sets World Record with Smallest GPS Tracker

Young Nigerian tech genius, Oluwatobi Oyinlola, has developed the world’s smallest GPS tracking device, a prototype measuring just 22.93 x 11.92 mm.
Recognised by the Guinness World Records, the device was created at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, on April 27, where he is employed as a researcher.
It has been hailed for its potential across industries, from logistics and personal safety to medical devices and wildlife monitoring.
Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu celebrated the feat in a post on X, praising Oyinlola for showcasing the ingenuity of the West African country’s youth. “You have just shown the world that Nigerian youth can!” he wrote.
Adding to the accolades, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, lauded the innovation as a symbol of national pride and technological potential.
He commended Oyinlola’s journey, noting his early support for the young inventor’s IoT startup. “Long before this global recognition, I had the privilege of backing Oluwatobi. His journey, now continuing at MIT, is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary potential of our people,” Tijani said.
The prototype not only marks a leap in miniaturised technology but also highlights Nigeria’s growing footprint in global innovation. Bosun added that as Nigeria intensifies efforts to nurture homegrown tech talent, Oyinlola’s success is a beacon for the next generation of innovators.
“The world is only beginning to see what you’re capable of,” said the Minister.
General News
Africa Looks to Solar Amid Electricity Challenges

Africa is becoming a global hub for solar energy development. The commercial and industrial sectors are driving this trend, with photovoltaic systems being installed on-site at businesses, educational institutions, and government facilities to meet energy demands.
This is according to CBi-electric: low voltage, which manufactures and supplies low voltage electrical distribution, protection, and control equipment.
2.5 gigawatts-peak (GWp) of solar capacity was built across Africa in 2024, with 194.34 GWp expected in 2025, according to the company.
Dr. Andrew Dickson, engineering executive of CBi-electric: low voltage, outlines how several reasons are hastening the continent’s transition to solar. “Energy poverty remains a major issue across Africa, with reliable grid electricity reaching only 14% of Zimbabweans, for example.”
He goes on to say that inconsistent power supply is another significant contributor, stating that “Persistent nationwide blackouts are affecting countries like Botswana, disrupting day-to-day operations. And in hydro-electric dependent countries such as Zambia, climate change is reducing water levels, leading to lower electricity generation and higher prices.”
Dickson believes that strategic system design and management are critical to realising the full potential of solar energy on the continent.
He said: “As Africa’s solar energy market continues to expand in 2025, organisations have an opportunity to capitalise on its long-term benefits. With the right technologies and safeguards in place, solar is not only a clean energy solution it’s a strategic asset that pays off.
“By combining surge protection, DC breakers, and monitoring tools, businesses can reduce unexpected costs, minimise downtime, and extend the life of their investment.”
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