General News
WARIF Completes First Cycle of Its Rural Sensitization Program on Covid-19
In the months since COVID-19 was first reported in Nigeria, rippling effects with devastating impacts have been felt across the global economy and on individual livelihood.
The crisis, characterized by border closures and lockdowns, comes as a shock to the majority impacting not only the economical but physical and mental health of many within and beyond the Nigerian constituencies.
In Nigeria, rural communities make up the largest portion of these constituencies and in this crisis, these communities are particularly important, as they are among the most vulnerable. However, most of the burdens of COVID-19 in rural areas have been under the radar.
For rural households, the impact of the virus will likely be felt first in compromised livelihoods. The health impact, however, cannot be overlooked or understated. With the gradual ease of the lockdown coupled with a fast-rising number of reported cases, Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), one of the nation’s foremost NGOs tackling the prevalence of gender-based violence in Nigeria, have observed that the pandemic and disruption of the present moment is one which requires efficient sensitization on safety protocols for survival while also addressing the prevalence of domestic and sexual gender-based violence within their communities.
Shocking statistics by WARIF revealed that domestic violence has surged since the initial period of the coronavirus lockdown.
This led to the NGO re-opening its centre to cater to survivors of sexual violence. This decision was made after the NGO observed a 64 per cent increase in call cases, during the lockdown mandated by the Federal Government in March 2020.
Dr Kemi DaSilva-Ibru, Founder of WARIF, voiced the need for a more aggressive sensitization scheme for rural communities – “There is an urgent need for rural communities to be sensitized about these pandemics as they have little access to adequate healthcare facilities’’.
Building on this, WARIF has become more concerned with sensitizing rural communities around the state about the pandemic. Through a recently launched Covid-19 response initiative, the NGO commenced a one-month sensitization program designed to engage women in grassroots communities.
The relevance of initiatives like this cannot be overemphasized, as programs targeted at the most vulnerable individuals within the society ultimately influence the greater good of the society.
It is all about education, information and sensitization; and individuals, government and non-governmental organizations (NGO) all play a critical role in making sure the right information and materials get to the people within these communities.
In response to this urgent consequence of the pandemic, WARIF has also implemented safety planning protocols to assist survivors in need of help. These protocols designed and implemented by the organization to protect both adults and children are aligned with the recently released set of procedures by the UN to keep children safe while the pandemic lasts.
WARIF has noted that it is one thing to propose a sensitization program and another to maximize its efficiency. This is why the program has been implemented through the leverage the support of trained Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) from the WARIF Community Gatekeepers Project, a pre-existing initiative by the NGO.
The Traditional Birth Attendants were identified to carry out this sensitization as they are familiar with the people and the environment. These trained attendants, already educated on the prevalence of domestic and sexual gender-based violence within their grassroot communities and the immediate response and management of these cases, have been galvanized into small cell groups and are making house to house visits in their various communities to offer assistance to women who are residing with their spouses and partners.
The Traditional Birth Attendants will go into communities weekly to create awareness on services provided at the WARIF center and identify if there has been an increase in cases of sexual and domestic abuses. Cases of abuse in these households are being identified and recorded and are referred to the WARIF Rape Crisis Centre.
It is commendable to note that WARIF had successfully completed the first cycle of its rural sensitization program which engaged 10, 774 individuals in Alimosho, Kosofe, Apapa, Epe and Ikorodu LGAs of Lagos state. Regardless, there is still much work to be done as private sector inclusion and partnerships are encouraged by the NGO.
It is no news that women are still at risk during this period and this is why WARIF through its initiative aims to get first-hand insight to GBV cases within these communities and engage survivors with all the support they require. This is a major factor which lead to the NGO’s Police Awareness Initiative, which gives survivors access to a select number of police stations across Lagos.
In these stations, there are assigned officers to assist survivors with their cases and protect them from any further harm from the perpetuator. With collaborations such as this, WARIF is ensuring that survivors can get prompt and satisfactory responsiveness from the police in locations closest to them.
In its 2020 vision, WARIF aims to impact I million lives and as far has successfully influenced 340,000 people this year. The NGO continues to operate a 24-hour confidential helpline (0809 210 0009) to assist survivors of gender-based violence in Nigeria.
Association of Set-Top Box Manufacturers of Nigeria (STBMAN) has accused the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) of sidelining indigenous manufacturers and flouting a subsisting court order in its push to launch a new satellite-driven Digital Switch Over (DSO) scheme, tagged ‘The Big Picture’.
Charles Ebuebu, director-general, NBC
The group is calling on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene.
STBMAN, in a statement issued by Sir Godfrey Ohuabunwa, its chairman, described the NBC’s approach as “incoherent and unfair”, alleging a consistent pattern of disregard for existing agreements and stakeholders.
“It is becoming routine for the Commission to embark on a course without the slightest consideration to agreements and for key stakeholders in the DSO ecosystem,” the group stated.
The manufacturers expressed concern over NBC’s plan to import five million hybrid set-top boxes from China, despite a presidential executive order promoting local content in procurement.
They argue this move contradicts the “Nigeria First Policy” and undermines years of local investment.
“NBC should therefore be a promoter of economic activities and not a destroyer of ideas and investments,” STBMAN said, highlighting that its members still hold unsold boxes manufactured to NBC’s original specifications.
READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW:
PRESS RELEASE BY THE ASSOCIATION OF SET TOP BOX MANUFACTURERS OF NIGERIA, ON THE JOINT PRESS RELEASE BY THE DIRECTORS GENERAL OF THE NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMMISSION (NBC) AND NIGCOMSAT ON THE UNVEILING OF SATELLITE DRIVEN DIGITAL SWITCH OVER (DSO) TAGGED ‘‘THE BIG PICTURE’’.
The Association of Set Top Box Manufacturers of Nigeria (STBMAN)is once again compelled to issue a statement on the very incoherent and unfair practices being pursued by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC)in its implementation of the FGN’s policy on the migration from analogue to digital broadcasting. Regrettably, it is becoming routine for the Commission to embark on a course without the slightest consideration to agreements and for key stakeholders in the DSO ecosystem.
The public is invited to note that STBMAN is a body of technology driven businesses and is not averse to the introduction and use of new technologies.
Similarly, it should be noted that the Association is not alluding to any inference that it should be the ultimate determiner of how the project is implanted.
For any keen follower of the DSO since its conception by the DigiTeam, it is not far- fetched to recall its decision on the adoption of the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) option as against the DTH on grounds of the cost that will be difficult to bear by the larger part of the TV viewing population.
Secondly, as at today the Federal Government of Nigeria has spent close to over N60Billion on DSO program, excluding Millions of Dollars spent by Broadcast Signal Distributors, local DTT factories and other stakeholders who have deployed DTT Infrastructure. This is not minding the over 10 million Poor Television Households that will be impacted by mindless action of hybrid box.
As we are not averse to any change of any government policy, it is on record that STBMAN at various times have encouraged NBC to partner with NIGCOMSAT to provide the necessary signal transmission/ coverage to ameliorate the heavy cost that was being paid to foreign satellite distribution/ carriers but the NBC outrightly refused to consider this.
It is heart-warming to note finally that NIGCOMSAT is now the latest and best to provide signal coverage.
Curiously, the Press Release stated that local manufacturers would be engaged to produce hybrid compliant reception devices yearly, yet there has been no form of engagement with the 13 licensed STB manufacturers who have committed huge financial cost in the manufacture of DTT boxes specifically ordered and made to specifications provided by the NBC/ Digiteam.
It is imperative for the public to note that the STB manufacturers have toiled and sacrificed for the success of the DSO but at each turn, there appears to be deliberate and calculated move to scuttle their efforts and investments.
For almost 10 years, members of STBMAN have been left with scores of boxes in their warehouses without being able to sell because of NBC’s inability to deliver on its obligations and contractual agreements.
The least that any well-meaning governmental body that cares for the growth of its economy should have done, would have been an engagement with the existing licensed manufacturers to work out an acceptable arrangement, considering the financial investments as well as the changes in technology that have become necessary to undertake.
The public is invited to note further that it was on grounds of this and NBC’s attempt to undermine the agreement and the exclusivity granted the pioneer manufacturers that the Association took out a Writ of Summons in Suit No: FCT/HC/GAR/CV/442/2024 to protect its interest by seeking Court intervention to stop any attempt at licensing new manufacturers of STBs. It is *instructive to emphasis here that on the 11th day of September 2024, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, sitting in Abuja made interim orders restraining NBC from taking any further step in relation to the reliefs being sought by the Claimants.
Notwithstanding the fact that NBC is not only seized of the pendency of the case/ action but has joined issues with the Claimants, it has chosen the path of contempt to short circuit the ends of justice.
An order of court, whether valid or not must be obeyed if it is subsisting by all no matter how lowly or lightly placed in society until it is set aside. This is what the rule of law is all about.
As if NBC is running a different Government, in the press release, they intend to import 5,000,000 Hybrid/DTH Set Top Boxes from China, in total disregard of the Presidential Executive Order “The Nigeria First Policy’ which makes it mandatory, that Nigeria comes first in all procurement processes.
No foreign goods or devices that are already produced locally will be procured without a clear justified reason. Accordingly, the policy reflects the vision of President Ahmed Tinubu GCFR in industrializing Nigeria, shielding the economy from global shocks and building sustainable local capacity. NBC should therefore be a promoter of economic activities and not a destroyer of ideas and investments.
In the light of the foregoing, we call on Mr. President, Alh. Bola A. Tinubu GCFR to urgently wage in and stop this rather dangerous trend sought to be perpetrated by the NBC leadership and its advisers.
Thank you.
For: ASSOCIATION OF LICENCED SET TOP BOX MANUFACTURERS OF NIGERIA. (STBMAN)
SIR GODFREY N. OHUABUNWA
CHAIRMAN
Jumia, Africa’s e-commerce platform, is celebrating 13 years of transforming the way Nigerians shop. Since its launch in 2012, Jumia has evolved into more than just an online shopping destination. It has become a catalyst for economic growth, digital inclusion, and everyday convenience for millions of Nigerians.
From small business owners and rural consumers, Jumia has played a key role in shaping a more inclusive digital marketplace. Over the past decade, the platform has helped hundreds of local and international brands reach customers across the country, while also supporting thousands of sellers with tools, training, and access to logistics and digital payments.
To commemorate this milestone, Jumia is launching the 2025 Anniversary Campaign under the theme “Enjoyment Overload”, running from June 2 to June 22. While the campaign will feature attractive deals from Nivea, Xiaomi, Itel, Diageo, Ecoflow, Skyrun, Oraimo, Adidas, Reebok, Unilever, Reckitt, and more, it also reflects a deeper celebration of the brand’s enduring impact.
“We are proud of the journey so far, not just in terms of business growth, but in the real-life stories of empowerment and access that Jumia has made possible. With this anniversary campaign, we’re pulling out all the stops to create a celebration that rewards loyalty, excites new users, and showcases the very best of what e-commerce can offer.
This is our way of saying thank you to the millions of Nigerians who have grown with us, challenged us, and inspired us every step of the way,” said Sunil Natraj, CEO, Jumia Nigeria.
“Beiersdorf Nigeria owner of Nivea Brand, is proud to partner with Jumia as the Platinum Sponsor for the 2025 Jumia Anniversary Celebration. This three-week event allows us to showcase our commitment to skincare innovation and reward consumers nationwide.
“NIVEA will highlight key innovations, including our new NIVEA SUNSCREEN – UV Face, re-launched Deep Maxx Tech Body Lotion, and Radiant & Beauty Even Glow, specially designed to meet the unique skincare needs of African skin.
“Through this partnership, we’re bringing trusted skincare solutions to more Nigerians, with exclusive discounts and a 4.5 million Naira grand prize for the top shoppers,” said Dele Adeyole, Country Manager, Beiersdorf Nivea Consumer Product Limited.
Shoppers can look forward to daily flash deals, brand days, games, treasure hunt, and exciting giveaways from Jumia and partner brands.
As Nigeria’s digital economy continues to evolve, Jumia remains committed to simplifying daily life through technology, innovation, and a customer-first approach.
Kaspersky has released its annual report on children’s digital interests, with the analysis covering the period from May 2024 to April 2025. It reveals a growing fascination with artificial intelligence (AI) powered chatbots, the viral rise of Italian brainrot memes like “tralalero tralala”, and growing attention to Sprunki — a rhythm-based game combining music and motion. YouTube remains the most popular app among children globally, while WhatsApp overtook TikTok for second place.
In today’s interconnected world, children are engaging with digital technology more than ever before. Recent studies indicate that 8-10-year-old children spend an average of six hours daily on screens, while preteens (ages 11–14) average about nine hours per day.
With such a significant portion of their lives unfolding online, it becomes especially important for parents to understand what captures their children’s attention in the digital space — what they search for, what platforms they use, and which trends influence their interests and behaviour.
Every year, new digital trends shape the way children explore the world. In this year’s report, Kaspersky found a surge of interest in AI tools. While no AI apps appeared in the Top 20 most-used applications in 2023-2024 time period, “Character.AI” has now entered the list, showing that children are not only curious about AI but are actively integrating it into their digital lives.
More than 7.5% of all search queries were about AI chatbots, led by well-known names like ChatGPT, Gemini, and especially Character.AI — a platform that lets users create or interact with bots mimicking fictional or real characters. This marks a sharp rise from last year: in the 2023–2024 report, AI-related queries made up just 3.19% of all searches, increasing more than twice this year.
However, not all chatbot interactions are risk-free. Some bots may expose children to emotionally intense content, misinformation or age-inappropriate themes, especially when created or customised by other users.
Since these platforms often rely on user-generated content and may lack strict moderation, it’s crucial to talk openly with children about how they use AI tools — and to set up apps for digital parenting, such as Kaspersky Safe Kids, that help families stay aware, involved and protected.
In Nigeria, the top 5 of the most popular Android apps were WhatsApp (28,42% – the amount of time spent on the platform), YouTube (17,41%), Chrome (11,29%), Snapchat (10,33%) and Free Fire (5,16%).
While memes made up a small portion of searches this year, they still reveal another layer of children’s digital culture. Many of the most popular memes fell into what’s called “brainrot” — a kind of absurd, deliberately chaotic humour that spreads through short videos.
Among the most searched were the Italian phrase “tralalero tralala” and a meme track called “tung tung tung sahur”. These phrases may sound random to adults, but for many children, they represent shared jokes that move quickly from platform to platform.
Among the newcomers that caught analysts’ attention was Sprunki — a rhythm-based browser game that blends music and visual interaction. Players must hit beats in sync with fast-paced audio, making the experience both immersive and physically engaging.
Its bright, cartoonish design and addictive gameplay have made it increasingly popular with younger audiences. This is reflected not only in Google searches but also on YouTube, where Sprunki entered the top five most searched gaming topics, standing alongside long-time favourites like Brawl Stars and Roblox.
At the same time, more familiar habits remain strong. The most common online activity among children was searching on Google for streaming platforms — almost 18% of all queries were related to watching videos. Unsurprisingly, YouTube remains the clear favourite Android app, growing from 28.13% to 29.77% over the past year.
WhatsApp rose to second place with 14.72%, overtaking TikTok (12.76%), while Snapchat and Facebook continued to decline. This shift may reflect evolving communication habits — children are using chat apps more frequently to share links, memes and short videos with friends.
Video content and games also remained popular topics in children’s search behaviour. Platforms like Netflix, Twitch and Disney+ held strong — a trend that also echoed findings from Kaspersky’s recent streaming report, which highlighted how entertainment platforms often become targets for cybercriminals. At the same time, in the gaming world, children continued to favour Roblox, Minecraft and increasingly, the browser-based portal Poki — a portal offering hundreds of free games, often simple, fast-paced and instantly accessible in a browser.
“This year’s trends show just how fast children’s digital culture is evolving — one day they’re chatting with AI bots, the next they’re all humming an Italian meme song you’ve never heard of. But behind every trend is a chance for connection.
“When parents take time to understand what their children are watching, playing or searching for, it opens the door to meaningful conversations — and helps build safer, more trusting digital habits. Apps for digital parenting can be a helpful tool in this journey — not only to protect, but to stay involved,” comments Anna Larkina, privacy expert at Kaspersky.
To keep children safe from online threats, Kaspersky recommends the following:
- Maintain open communication with children about potential online risks and establish clear guidelines to ensure their safety.
- Secure gaming experiences by installing a trusted security solution, such as Kaspersky Premium, to prevent malicious file downloads.
- Stay informed about emerging threats and actively monitor children’s online activities in order to create a safer digital environment.
- Introduce children to cybersecurity basics using educational tools like the Kaspersky Cybersecurity Alphabet — a free downloadable book that explains key concepts, cyber hygiene rules, and how to avoid fraud.
. Use digital parenting apps like Kaspersky Safe Kids to protect children both online and offline, manage screen time, block inappropriate content, and track their location for greater peace of mind.
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