News Agency Of Nigeria

A retired civil servant, Mr Olabamiji Ogundepo, has prayed to a Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan to dissolve his 11-year-old marriage with his estranged wife, Aminat, on grounds of her persistent fighting and intolerable ineptitude.

Ogundepo noted, with sadness, that <a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.pulse.ng/articles/news/local/shes-promiscuous-man-counters-wifes-claim-of-battery-as-court-dissolves-marriage-2024122017065652227">his wife’s frequent troublemaking </a>with not only him but also, with neighbours in their rented apartment had caused their premature expulsion before they eventually built their own house. Ogundepo stated;

<blockquote>For instance, my lord, Aminat threatened to beat up our landlord, as a result of which he forcefully ejected us, fearing that my wife might make good her threat.This is in addition to her constant fighting with me and other people.</blockquote>

<blockquote>I just don’t know why Aminat gets angry over little and irrelevant things. In fact, she is too intolerable and she often uses sticks and broken bottles to threaten me.Worst still, she comes home late in the night and most of the time, she will refuse to give our little children food.As if these were not enough, Aminat brought a pot often used by Osun traditional worshipers&nbsp;into my home and I told her to take it out, but she disobeyed my instruction</blockquote>

However, Aminat, who is a hairdresser, stated in her testimony that she became frustrated as a result of constant starvation. Aminat told the court;

<blockquote>My lord, Ogundepo usually gives the three children and I just ₦500 weekly feeding allowance and he expects us to be okay.I only got married to him when I lost my first husband.Ogundepo could go if he wishes but please, tell him that he must be responsible for our children’s upkeep</blockquote>

In his judgment, the court’s President, Mrs S.M. Akintayo, held that there was nothing to be dissolved between Ogundepo and Aminat, as there was no valid customary marriage between them in the first instance.

Akintayo said that the duo had testified that there was no payment of the bride price and that they were merely living together as husband and wife after wooing each other in 2014. He cited various sections of the law to support her judgment.

Akintayo said that a customary marriage recognised by Nigerian&nbsp;law required payment of bride price to the parents or guardians of the bride, presentation of gift items, consent of the parents or guardians and formal giving away of the bride.

She, however, granted the <a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.pulse.ng/articles/news/husband-laments-wifes-constant-abuse-court-dissolves-15-year-old-marriage-2025011713352696512">order restraining the respondent from further threatening</a>, harassing, disturbing and interfering with the private life of the petitioner henceforth.

Also read: <a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.pulse.ng/articles/news/local/pastor-seeks-divorce-alleging-wife-demands-bribe-before-sex-2024081309190505150">Pastor seeks divorce, alleging wife demands 'bribe' before sex</a>

Husband said his wife’s frequent troublemaking with not only him but also, with neighbours in their rented apartment had caused their premature expulsion before they eventually built their own house.

My wife might kill me with persistent troublemaking - Husband tells court

A Grade A Customary Court sitting at Mapo in Ibadan has dissolved a 15-year-old marriage between Sunday Oyadele and his estranged wife, Adeola on grounds of alleged constant domestic violence and lack of care.

Delivering judgment, the court’s President, Mrs S.M. Akintayo held that <a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.pulse.ng/articles/news/local/court-dissolves-gandujes-daughter-16-year-old-marriage-2024072606583996710">there was no need to allow Oyadele and Adeola to continue to stay under the same roof</a> since the former was no longer interested in the union especially as it bordered on the threat to life.

Akintayo added that the court believed Oyadele’s submission on marriage validity because Adeola did not controvert the petitioner’s evidence of payment of dowry in court. She consequently<a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.pulse.ng/articles/news/local/court-dissolves-20-year-old-marriage-as-wife-accuses-husband-of-constantly-beating-her-2024121317161975430"> granted the order restraining the respondent from harassing</a>, threatening, disturbing and interfering with the private life of the petitioner henceforth.

Earlier, Oyadele had told the court that after presenting all the marital rites to Adeola’s parents in 2010, she suddenly became&nbsp;disobedient to his instructions, fighting him at any slightest opportunity.

Oyadele, a retired civil servant added that Adeola was in the habit of fighting and quarrelling with him. Oyadele stated;

<blockquote>I’m tired of one day, one trouble in my home and I’m even more tired of someone who doesn’t care for me and my wellbeing. From all Adeola’s disposition so far, she does not love me</blockquote>

However, Adeola was not in court when she was called to start her defence. The case had been adjourned several times at her instance, but she had not made any appearance. The bailiff said that he had served several hearing notices on her, but that she chose to stay away.&nbsp;

Also read: <a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.pulse.ng/articles/lifestyle/i-tell-my-daughters-to-slap-their-husbands-back-if-they-slap-them-emir-sanusi-2024121013542711998">I tell my daughters to slap their husbands back if they slap them - Emir Sanusi</a>

The case had been adjourned several times at her instance, but she had not made any appearance. (Image generated using ChatGPT)

The husband added that his wife is disobedient to his instructions and always fighting with him at any slightest opportunity.

Husband laments wife's constant abuse, court dissolves 15-year-old marriage

Kano State Fire Service has confirmed the death of a husband and wife in a midnight inferno at Rangaza (Inken) Layin AU, Ungogo Local Government Area.

The service named the victims as 67-year-old Muhammed Uba, and his wife, 52-year-old Fatima Uba.

The Director of Kano State Fire Service, Hassan Muhammad disclosed this in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Service, Saminu Abdullahi on Friday in Kano.

Muhammad explained that the incident occurred at midnight on Thursday, Dec. 12.

According to him, “We received a distress call at about 01:45 a.m. from one of our staff, Ahmad Abubakar and immediately sent our rescue team to the scene at about 01:51 a.m,” he said.

Muhammad said it is a bungalow of about 50 by 25 feet used as a dwelling house, with two rooms engulfed by the fire and were completely well alight.

He said that the victims were trapped by the smoke from the fire but were rescued unconscious with burns on some parts of their bodies.

He said that their corpses were handed over to the Ward head of Rangaza in Ungogo Local Government Area, Muhammad Rayyanu.

“The cause of the fire is under investigation,’’ he said.

The spokesman, however, advised the general public to comply with safety regulations to avoid unforeseen circumstances.

Muhammad said it is a bungalow of about 50 by 25 feet used as a dwelling house, with two rooms engulfed by the fire and were completely well alight.

Husband, wife burnt to death in Kano midnight fire incident

A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, on Thursday remanded a 30-year-old woman, Mercy Michael, in a correctional facility for allegedly killing her daughter with rat poison.

Michael was charged by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) with culpable homicide, contrary to Section 189 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law.

The NSCDC prosecutor, Mr Marcus Audu, told the court that on Dec. 11, one Godfrey Sunday of Fadia Bakut, Zonkwa, reported the case at the Corp’s office.

Audu said that on Dec.10, the defendant inexplicably fed her eight-month-old daughter with rat poison.

He explained that the baby was rushed to the General Hospital, Zonkwa but died the following day.

According to him, the matter was first reported to the Salama Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Kafanchan, but was referred to NSCDC for investigation.

The presiding judge, Samson Kwasu, did not take the plea of the accused, for lack of jurisdiction.

Kwasu directed the prosecutor to forward the case file to the State Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice.

He, thereafter, adjourned the case until December 17 for further mention.

Michael was charged by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) with culpable homicide, contrary to Section 189 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law.

The presiding judge, Samson Kwasu, did not take the plea of the accused, for lack of jurisdiction.

Woman accused of killing her 8-month-old daughter sent to prison

A Consultant Dermatologist, Dr Folakemi Cole-Adeife, says the use of unsterilised makeup brushes can cause skin infection, monkeypox, hepatitis or HIV.Cole-Adeife who works at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday. She said many women hired the services of makeup artists who use the same brushes for different clients without hygienically cleaning or sterilising in-between clients.

“As a lady, if you love to have your makeup done by makeup artists, make sure you have your own set of makeup brushes or insist the brushes are sterilised properly.“This is because there are several infections you can get from unsterilised makeup brushes.“Remember that when you are doing your makeup, they may have to shave or shape your eyebrows, and there will be micro-cuts from that, and then they are using that makeup brush on your skin.“So, sometimes, if there are any germs, fungi, bacteria or viruses on those makeup brushes, they can get into your skin,” she said.

The dermatologist said she had seen patients who had developed skin infections or severe breakouts after having their makeup done.&nbsp;Cole-Adeife said there were cases of patients developing monkeypox or hepatitis from makeup, stressing that it was possible to get viral infections, such as Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV), from unsterilised makeup brushes.&nbsp;The dermatologist urged makeup artists to invest in proper sterilising equipment for their brushes.“You can use hot water or methylated spirit to clean and also learn about basic sterilisation of your makeup brushes and equipment.“Sterilise your brushes in between clients, and do not forget to wash your hands before you begin to touch anyone’s face,” Cole-Adeife added.

A Consultant Dermatologist, Dr Folakemi Cole-Adeife, says the use of unsterilised makeup brushes can cause skin infection, monkeypox, hepatitis or HIV.

The dermatologist said she had seen patients who had developed skin infections or severe breakouts after having their makeup done.

Unsterilised makeup brushes can cause monkeypox, HIV and hepatitis – Dermatologist

A lifestyle medicine practitioner, Dr Abiodun Adelowo, says individuals in toxic relationships are exposed to factors that can damage their bodies, leading to chronic medical conditions.Adelowo, also the Vice-President of the Society of Lifestyle Medicine of Nigeria, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos. He listed some of the conditions as hypertension, diabetes, cancers and depression.

According to him, living in toxic relationships stresses individuals and can cause the release of chemicals that are harmful to the body.“When people are living in toxic relationships, they have this bitterness; they are angry with each other, they are always fighting.“The body becomes stressed, it releases stress chemicals like adrenaline, cortisol, and free radicals, in response to these situations.“Once these chemicals persist in the body, they have a way of causing damage to the body and with time, all these chronic conditions start cropping up,” he said.

He, however, said that studies had shown that laughter is medicine to the body. He said that people in cordial and happy relationships had people to laugh and joke with, making the body secrete chemicals that can reverse the effects of toxins in the body. He said that some of these chemicals included oxytocin, serotonin, dopamine and epinephrine.The expert urged individuals to ensure that they create atmospheres that could help foster good relationships in various aspects of their lives.He cautioned against the use and exposure to harmful substances, including alcohol, as well as second-hand and third-hand exposure to tobacco.

He recommended that those already suffering from chronic diseases should adopt lifestyle changes in their diet by eating more plant-based foods, and fish and chicken, instead of red meat. Adelowo further recommended regular exercise, adequate sleep, mental health and stress management.“When you move your body, good chemicals are released, which are benefitting your body to help control blood pressure.“It does a lot of wonders. It is anti-depression, anti-anxiety and makes you sleep better,” he stated.

The expert urged individuals to ensure that they create atmospheres that could help foster good relationships in various aspects of their lives.

Living in toxic relationships stresses individuals and can cause the release of chemicals that are harmful to the body.

Toxic relationships can lead to cancer, hypertension and diabetes - Medical expert

Abiola, the President of Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospital Yaba, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

He cautioned that prolonged days of sleeplessness could be an indicator for a mental health problem that needed to be checked.

Abiola, who described poor sleep as gateway to mental illness, said that depression, stress, lack of happiness, sudden loss of interest and anxiety disorders were other factors that could trigger mental illness.

The psychiatrist said that mental depression had became rampant among the populace, attributing the development to the present reality of economic hardship in the country.

He said that the increase of depression cases made it pertinent that more attention should be paid to the situation to avert adverse effects on the populace and economy.

“Engaging in positive activities that give happiness, while avoiding anger could help prevent depression.

“People should learn to control and manage their feelings/emotions at any given time in order not to fall into depression.

“Setting achievable goals and time management are also key to coping with stress/depression because our expectations sometimes may be unrealistic and it put us on a lot of pressure,” Abiola said.

According to him, prolonged stress reduces the body immune system, too much/accumulated stress affects both the mental health and physical health.

The psychiatrist regretted that many people had suddenly slumped and die due to accumulated stress.

Abiola urged Nigerians to pay attention to their health, prioritise their sleep and rest as the practices were fundamental to mental health.

“If you work and die today; someone will replace you at the workplace, but no one replaces you in the family.

“Don’t work Monday to Friday, and also during the weekend without making out time to rest.

“Even during the working hours, there should be a ‘timeout session’ for a short break because work can be overwhelming sometimes,” he told NAN.

Abiola further urged people to create time for relaxation and look beyond the economic situation of the country, adding, ‘’focus on positivity in every bad situation.

“Go for holidays, vacations, get involved with things that makes you happy and socialise with positive people,” he said.

The psychiatric doctor explained that every human being was expected to spend one third of his/her lifetime to sleep, stressing that an individual was supposed to sleep for six to eight hours per day.

Abiola said it implied that a 45-year-old person was supposed to have slept for 15 years, while a 10-year-old child was expected to have spent four years of his/her life to sleep.

According to him, the reason is that the nerves of the brain repairs and positions itself for better functioning during sleep.

He said that sleep deprivation impacted on one’s level of productivity at workplace, adding that it could also lower alertness and concentration.

“Getting a good sleep is extremely important for your health, it is just as important as eating a balanced diet and exercising.

“Sleep deficiency has been linked to depression, anxiety and mental distress.

“If you have problem with sleeping, you might be more likely to be anxious, depressed or suicidal; poor sleep can make it difficult to cope with even relatively minor stress,” Abiola said.

A Psychiatrist, Dr Salawu Abiola, advises Nigerians to get adequate sleep and rest to reduce the risk of mental health conditions&nbsp;&nbsp;especially with the current economic challenges.

Psychiatrist Warns Poor Sleep and Stress Are Major Risk Factors for Mental Health Issues

<h2>President Bola Tinubu says Africa holds a significant portion of the world’s mineral reserves, including 92% of global platinum, 56% of cobalt, and 54% of manganese, yet underdeveloped.</h2>

The president attributed the continent’s underdevelopment to the fact that the resources were primarily extracted and exported to foreign countries for refining and manufacturing.

Tinubu, represented by his Vice, Kashim Shettima,&nbsp;stated this in a keynote address, during the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) meeting, held on the sidelines of the ongoing 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States.

A statement on the event was made available to newsmen in Abuja by Stanley Nkwocha, the spokesperson of the president. In the statement, the President noted that extracting raw minerals in Africa had continued to keep the continent in a state of poverty.

According to him, the extraction of raw minerals without local processing only deepens Africa’s underdevelopment and prolongs its economic challenges. Tinubu, therefore, stressed the urgent need for the continent to break free from the dependency.

“This has left the continent at the mercy of foreign markets, forcing it to repurchase finished products at much higher prices.

“A situation in which the raw minerals are extracted from our countries, exported, refined, and sold to us as finished products merely consolidates the foundations of our misery and pushes us further down the depths of underdevelopment,” he said.

The President called on African nations to adopt a new agenda that prioritised local value addition, which was essential to industrialising the continent and providing sustainable economic growth.

On the evolution of lithium-ion technology, Tinubu noted that the development had enabled the swift production and manufacturing of portable consumer electronics such as laptops, computers, cellular phones, and electric cars.

“We live in a world of electronic mobility in which lithium-powered batteries provide higher specific energy, higher energy density, higher energy efficiency, longer cycle life, and longer calendar life.

“The global need for new battery technology has triggered a new scramble for Africa’s critical minerals.

“Africa possesses 92% of global reserves of platinum, 56% of Cobalt, 54% of Manganese and 36% of Chromium.

"These are the minerals employed in the manufacturing of the new batteries. In short, the world needs Africa today more than ever,” he added.

Tinubu further emphasised Africa’s determination to move beyond the historical exploitation of its resources, advocating the localisation of the entire mineral value chain within the continent.

He assured of his administration’s commitment to adding local value to Nigeria’s mineral resources as part of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group’s (AMSG) vision chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake.

Tinubu drew attention to Nigeria’s vast market of over 226 million people, adding that the success of the country’s 10 billion dollar telecoms market is proof of its growth potential.

"This is evident in the manufacturing of Lithium batteries, concentrates and components to set up their business and domesticate the value chain from extraction to production in Nigeria.”

He affirmed that the AMSG was focused on transforming Africa from a supplier of raw materials into a global mining industry stakeholder.

On his part, the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, who spoke in his capacity as the Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, laid out the group’s vision to transform Africa’s mining industry through local value addition and industrialisation. The minister criticised the traditional model of mineral extraction in Africa where raw materials are exported for processing abroad.

This, according to him, resulted in the loss of economic opportunities and jobs on the continent. He maintained that the pattern of trade had left African nations vulnerable, as they were forced to import finished goods at inflated prices.

Alake proposed a shift towards local value addition – processing raw minerals into finished goods within Africa – as a strategy for enhancing the continent’s economic independence and contributing more significantly to its GDP. He acknowledged that, although the continent faces significant developmental challenges, Africa’s natural wealth provides a pathway to prosperity if leveraged correctly.

The General Secretary of AMSG, Moses Engadu, called for a new vision and political will among African leaders to ensure value addition becomes a sacrosanct condition to granting mineral license to any investor. The roundtable had representatives from investors, development partners, multilateral institutions and major financial institutions in attendance.

President Bola Tinubu. [X, formerly Twitter]

President Bola Tinubu says Africa holds a significant portion of the world’s mineral reserves, including 92% of global platinum, 56% of cobalt, and 54% of manganese, yet underdeveloped.

Why Africa remains underdeveloped and in poverty - Tinubu

<h2>Experts estimate that more than 47,000 people died as a result of high temperatures in Europe in 2023, the world’s warmest year since records began.</h2>

The figure is revealed in a modelling study, led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, published in the journal Nature Medicine on Monday. However, the international research group also reports that society appears to have adapted to the heat.

The team used mortality data from the European Statistical Office (Eurostat) on 96 million deaths to estimate the heat-related mortality burden in 2023 for 823 regions in 35 European countries.

According to these estimates, there were 47,690 heat-related deaths in Europe last year. This is the second-highest mortality rate since such calculations began in 2015, with the highest rate recorded in 2022. The researchers found that the countries with the highest heat-related mortality rates are in southern Europe.

Greece (393 deaths per million inhabitants), Bulgaria (229), Italy (209), and Spain (175) occupy the top four places in the estimate. In comparison, Germany’s rate was 76 deaths per million inhabitants in 2023.

In absolute figures, the research group estimates the number of heat-related deaths for 2023 at just under 12,750 in Italy and 6,376 in Germany. In almost all of the countries analysed significantly more women than men died from the effects of heat, with older people particularly susceptible.

The Barcelona team, led by Elisa Gallo, also modelled the effects of heat-related mortality without adaptation measures. These include, for example, improvements in healthcare, social protection and lifestyle, progress in occupational health, greater risk awareness, and more effective communication.

Without these measures, heat-related mortality in 2023 is likely to be 80% higher in the general population and over 100% higher in the 80+ age group.

“Our results show how there have been societal adaptation processes to high temperatures during the present century, which have dramatically reduced the heat-related vulnerability and mortality burden of recent summers, especially among the elderly,” said Gallo.

She said the minimum mortality temperature – the optimal temperature with the lowest mortality risk – has gradually increased on average across the continent since 2000, from 15 degrees Celsius in the period 2000 to 2004 to 17.7 degrees Celsius in the period 2015 to 2019.

“This indicates that we are less vulnerable to heat than we were at the beginning of the century, probably as a result of general socio-economic progress, improvements in individual behaviour and public health measures such as the heat prevention plans implemented after the record-breaking summer of 2003,” added Gallo.

Just recently, the same research group also presented “Forecaster.health,” an online early warning system that provides forecasts of cold and heat-related mortality risk by gender and age for 580 regions in 31 European countries.

The free tool provides forecasts up to 15 days in advance and is not only based on meteorological data but also incorporates epidemiological models.

Heat caused more than 47,000 deaths in Europe in 2023 – Study [Grist.org]

Experts estimate that more than 47,000 people died as a result of high temperatures in Europe in 2023, the world’s warmest year since records began.

How heat killed over 47,000 people in hottest year ever recorded

<h2>A Jos Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday sentenced a 51-year-old businessman, Posat Danfulani to two years imprisonment for swindling his colleague of ₦700,000.</h2>

The Magistrate, Shawomi Bokkos, summarily tried and sentenced Danfulani after he pleaded guilty to the charge. The magistrate, however, gave the convict an option to pay ₦50,000.

Bokkos also ordered the convict to pay ₦600,000 as compensation. Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp Ahmed Labaran told the court that the case was reported on April 14, at the ‘A’ Division Police Station Jos by Linus Damak, the complainant.

The prosecutor said that the convict was given ₦700,000 to buy fertiliser but he misappropriated the money. The offence, according to him, is punishable under the Plateau state Penal Code Law.

Court orders man who divorced wife after obtaining university degree to pay her compensation

A Jos Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday sentenced a 51-year-old businessman, Posat Danfulani to two years imprisonment for swindling his colleague of ₦700,000.

Businessman admits swindling colleague of ₦700k, judge orders ₦600k compensation

<h2>The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has arrested a woman over the alleged murder of her husband in the Pegi Area of Abuja.</h2>

The Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja. She said that operatives from the command, attached to Pegi Police Division, arrested the suspect on Tuesday at about 6:00 pm, following credible intelligence.

Adeh said the suspect was arrested while attempting to flee with the belongings of the paralysed husband who had been reportedly missing for about three days. The police spokesperson said the suspect was arrested in a mini-truck by the police operatives.

“Upon interrogation, the suspect admitted to killing her husband after a fight ensued between them.

“She subsequently led the police operatives to an uncompleted building where she had dumped the gruesomely burned body,” she said.

According to her, while the investigation is still ongoing, the Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of FCT, Benneth Igweh, has affirmed that justice will be served in the matter.

Adeh said the CP has enjoined FCT residents to be wary of their environment and any report of suspicious activities to the police through the following GSM numbers: 08032003913, 08028940883, 08061581938 and 07057337653.

Woman kills paralysed husband after dispute and burns body [quick news africa]

The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has arrested a woman over the alleged murder of her husband in the Pegi Area of Abuja.

Woman kills paralysed husband after dispute, burns body in uncompleted building

<h2>About 733 million people faced hunger in 2023, one in eleven globally, and one in five in Africa.</h2>

Also, 1.2 billion adults have been projected to be obese by 2030. This is contained in the 2024 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) Report.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the SOFI Report is a collaborative effort by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, and other world organisations. The others are the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the World Health Organisation, and the World Food Programme.

The report was made available to journalists by Victor Aguayo, the Director, of the Child Nutrition and Development Programme Group, UNICEF, on Thursday in Lagos.

The report stated that, in 2023, 2.33 billion people faced moderate or severe food insecurity, with more than 864 million experiencing severe food insecurity. It added that more than 2.8 billion people were not able to afford a healthy diet in 2022, with 71.5% in low-income countries affected.

On exclusive breastfeeding, it said that progress had been made, with rates increasing to 48%. It, however, said that achieving the other global nutrition targets remained challenging.

On child malnutrition, the report said that stunting among children under five years was at 22.3%, with stagnation in low birthweight prevalence and increased anaemia in women. It said that adult obesity had risen to 15.8% in 2022 from 12.1% in 2012 with projections indicating 1.2 billion obese adults by 2030.

The report called on all governments to increase investments in proven, sustainable and cost-effective interventions to prevent child malnutrition, focusing on the critical first 1,000 days.

“Good nutrition in early childhood is a game changer for children and nations,” it said.

It urged governments to adopt fiscal and regulatory policies to promote access to nutritious, safe, affordable and sustainable foods for children and their families. It also enjoined governments to discourage the production, marketing and consumption of nutrient-poor and ultra-processed foods and beverages.

“Investing in data in these areas is important,” it added.&nbsp;

Over 733 million people faced biting hunger last year

About 733 million people faced hunger in 2023, one in eleven globally, and one in five in Africa.

Over 733 million people faced biting hunger last year - Africa most affected

<h2>Renowned music sensation, Daniel Anidugbe, a.k.a Kizz Daniel, has released his latest single, ‘Double’, a heartfelt dedication to his wife, Marian. Marian stars as the vixen in the accompanying music video.</h2>

The Chief Executive Officer of Artmatazz Media, a media company to the superstar, Christian Agadibe, made this known in Enugu on Friday.

He said the new single, marks a significant milestone in Kizz Daniel’s career as he embraces themes of love and family while continuing to deliver chart-topping hits.

“Double, showcases Kizz Daniel’s signature blend of Afrobeat rhythms, infectious choruses and soulful melodies, creating a vibrant and romantic anthem that resonates with fans worldwide.

“The song is a celebration of love, partnership, and the double joy that comes from sharing life’s journey with someone special.

“The music video, set to premiere on the same day as the audio release, features intimate and joyful moments between Kizz Daniel and his wife, offering fans a glimpse into their beautiful bond,” he said.

Kizz Daniel and his wife, Marian [instagram/Kizzdaniel]

Kizz Daniel and his wife [instagram/Kizzdaniel]

He added that Kizz Daniel had been steadily evolving his musical narrative, and "Double" was a testament to his dedication to family values.

“This single follows a series of successful releases that highlight his versatility and commitment to creating music that speaks to different facets of life and varying demographics.

“Recent hits such as ‘Twe Twe’, ‘Showa’, and ‘Too Busy to be Bae’ have captivated audiences with their relatable lyrics and infectious beats. Additionally, his latest EP, ‘Thankz a Lot’ has been praised for its heartfelt compositions and artistic depth,” Agadibe added.

He quoted Kizz Daniel saying, “I wanted to create a song that not only celebrates my love for my wife but also speaks to the beauty of partnership and family.

“Having her grace the screen with me makes this project even more special to me. I hope that ‘Double’ resonates with everyone who listens and reminds them of the importance of love and togetherness.”

Agadibe noted that with over four billion streams under his belt, two Shazam chart-topping singles, sold-out tours across Africa, North America, and Europe, and over 25 million social media fans, Kizz Daniel was one of the leading figures at the forefront of representing afrobeat on the world stage. Describing him as an enigmatic musician, Agadibe, said he is the epitome of an all-round entertainer with a magnetic tone, captivating lyrics, alluring stage and screen presence.

The Chief Executive officer that he had undeniably infectious musicality, which was just some of the irrefutable characteristics of all his songs, cutting across afrobeats, Pop and R&amp;B music, from classic cut "Nesesari"to chart-topper "Buga" to fan-favourite "Cough (Odo)", and most recently "Showa" and "Sooner".

“After coming off of a very eventful 2022 that saw the global music sensation achieve huge milestones of being crowned the most streamed artist in Africa in the first half of the year.

“He has been releasing the biggest afrobeats song of the summer with ‘Buga’, and performing at the 2022 World Cup Opening Ceremony with Diplo and Calvin Harris, 2023 shaped up to be an even bigger year for Kizz Daniel.

“This includes the success of his fourth studio album Maverick, his Essence Festival headline performance, and chart-topping collaboration with Becky G among his many highlights last year.

“As we approach the end of the first half of 2024, the musical maestro has taken a further step at solidifying his name in the sands of time with the release of some of the longest charting songs and a sold-out show at the OVO Wembley Arena which has a capacity of 12,000."

Kizz Daniel drops new single 'Double' [Apple Music]

Renowned music sensation, Daniel Anidugbe, a.k.a Kizz Daniel, has released his latest single, ‘Double’, a heartfelt dedication to his wife, Marian. Marian stars as the vixen in the accompanying music video.

Kizz Daniel releases new single 'Double' dedicated to his wife

<h2>Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, the President of the African Development Bank(AfDB) Group, says Africa will drive a global agenda on renewable energy and green transitions.</h2>

Adesina said this at a media conference in Nairobi, on the sidelines of the ongoing AfDB Annual Meetings 2024.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event marks the 59th Annual Assembly of the AfDB, the 50th meeting of the African Development Fund (ADF) and 60 years of AfDB’s existence.

While articulating Africa’s inherent advantage in renewable energy, Adesina said the continent had abundant solar potential and a catalyst for driving green energy initiatives on a global scale.

“Globally, we have been talking about global energy transitions. "Everybody worries about continued CO2 emissions and the need to contain that through energy transitions and moving into more renewable energy.

“Africa will drive the global agenda on renewable and green energy transitions for two reasons. We have great sunshine, which has about 11 terawatts of solar potential.

“That is the highest solar potential you have anywhere in the world. And the level of solar radiation in Africa is the highest anywhere you will find in the world.

“So, therefore, as the world now transitions into renewable energy, Africa will be front and centre in terms of harnessing the power of renewable energy to drive our world,” he said.

According to Adesina, there is a lot of interest in green hydrogen, green ammonia, fertilisers, jet fuels, and other things that require renewable energy, such as solar energy. He said that Africa’s rich reservoir of natural resources, including platinum, copper, and lithium, positioned the continent as a key player in the burgeoning Electric Vehicle (EV) market.

He emphasised the importance for Africa to harness these resources strategically for its transformation and to assert its prominence in global value chains.

“And so Africa today has 90% of all the platinum in the world. It has well over 60-70% of all the copper you have worldwide.

“50% of all the other metals, whether nickel or lithium. Africa has a massive amount of these natural metals that will determine the future of electric vehicles in the world.

“And so how Africa harnesses that for its transformation will be critical, but also critical for how Africa positions itself globally in those value chains.

“So there are potential, opportunities, and positioning issues for Africa within the context of your global electric vehicles and battery energy storage systems."

On Agriculture, Adesina said it emerged as a linchpin in Africa’s transformation narrative. According to him, with most of the world’s uncultivated arable land lying within its borders, Africa holds the key to global food security.

He, however, underscored the imperative for Africa to leverage its agricultural potential to meet the needs of a burgeoning global population. Adesina said that the continent was poised to chart its course on the global stage and should ensure to shape the future of generations to come.

“So, what Africa does with agriculture will determine the future of food in the world. Africa’s transformation will have to happen not with what Africa does not have.

“It has to happen with what Africa has and how it harnesses those things, which will drive this fast-paced transformation."&nbsp;

Akinwunmi Adesina fights for his life as AfDB President (Bloomberg)

Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, the President of the African Development Bank(AfDB) Group, says Africa will drive a global agenda on renewable energy and green transitions.