By Deji Abdulwahab, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

On May 9 in Owerri, Imo, Vice-President Kashim Shettima inaugurated the maiden flight for the 2025 Hajj operations.

Afterwards, stakeholders in the Hajj operations have been sharing their experiences on the just concluded Hajj exercise.

From Nigerian pilgrims and Hajj administrators to designated Nigerian air carriers and Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards/Commissions, it has been commendations on the tremendous improvement in the 2025 Hajj operations in comparison to previous years.

Nonetheless, some participants highlighted areas like toilet facility and pilgrims’ visit to some holy sites that need to be improved upon.

Alhaji Mashood Jimba, the Chairman, Kwara Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board (KMPWB), said the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) performed creditably well in areas of food, accommodation, transportation, coordination and service delivery.

Jimba said the feat enabled the pilgrims to perform their Hajj rites with ease, adding that the commission needed to improve on the provision of consular matters and adequate toilet facilities for pilgrims during future exercises.

He, however, said that the toilets provided for the pilgrims at the camps in Mina needed to be improved upon in the upcoming 2026 Hajj operation.

“NAHCON needs to improve in the area of toilets.

“For example, Kwara comprising 2,206 pilgrims, were given only one toilet of 10 rooms, which really stressed us as there was too much congestion.’’

Jimba said that one had to wake up at midnight when there was no congestion to be able to go to the toilet without stress.

The chairman added that NAHCON needed to work closely with the Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia and the Consular General’s Office in Saudi Arabia to get things done on time.

He said that aside the aforementioned, other things like food, accommodation, transportation were fantastic.

“NAHCON has shown us that if Nigerians want to do something, they can do it as they have the capacity, intelligence, and manpower.

“So, all these things put together, we’ve seen in NAHCON this year what we have never seen before, in terms of proper coordination, connectivity, and service delivery to the pilgrims,” he said.

Jimba said that the commission provided buses, which conveyed Nigerian pilgrims on a tour to the holy sites.

In the same vein, Malam Kadiri Edah, the Chairman, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Board, praised NAHCON for recording feats in the transportation of pilgrims.

“NAHCON did well when compared to previous years.

“The transportation operations for the pilgrims were very smooth, because the airliners that were allocated, especially to FCT, if I may talk about FCT, had the capacity to transport as many as 400 as against 200 last year.

“And then coming to menu, they did pretty well, because as we observed, the tents provided were much spacious than they used to be, and the food was commendable.

“On health, they did well too, because for issues that we had, there was prompt attention, prompt responses; I think it was a fair mark for them.”

Edah said although there were issues of visa as 1500 pilgrims were granted visa out of 1,531.

He said that the remaining 31 pilgrims could not go for Hajj due to visa closure by the government of Saudi Arabia.

Edah said the board was able to manage the health challenges facing its pilgrims, citing a case of a staff member who collapsed and was rushed to the health centre with the ambulance during Arafat Day.

“In fact, at a point, he was almost unconscious but he got resuscitated and came back to the tent late in the night and he is well now,’’ he said.

More so,  Alhaji Daiyabu Daudu, Executive Secretary, Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Plateau, commended NAHCON for providing quality facilities in Mina and Arafat to ensure a hitch-free Hajj operation.

Daudu, who lauded the 2025 Hajj operation, said it was better organised than that of 2024.

He said that the tents put in place in Mina and Arafat were much better than last year.

“When we were in Mina and Arafat, I was so happy because the tents there were much better than last year.

“Also in Mina, it was not as bad as last year or previous years; it was okay; we thank NAHCON for their good arrangement this year.

“Last year, we raised some issues like the tents in Mina, clinics, and toilets. We complained to them last year, and this year, we see a lot of improvement ‘” he said.

Alhaji Auwal Suleiman, Seriki Hausawa and Amir Hajj of Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Imo, said that NAHCON had recorded tremendous achievements in the areas of accommodations and feeding.

Suleiman said the experience had been awesome.

“We thank NAHCON for all the things they have done to ensure that we are okay in terms of feeding, accommodation and hospitality,” he said.

Malam Muritala Fakunle, Executive Secretary, Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Osun, described facilities put in place in the holy places: Mina and Arafat for the 2025 Hajj rites as “superb and wonderful.”

Fakunle also described as wonderful the hospitality service rendered to the pilgrims, especially in Osun pilgrims’ camp.

According to him, the bedding is superb, as it has been modernised and places where pilgrims can hang their bags and shoes have been provided within the tent.

“We have more space than the number of people; so, we have access; and that is part of the kudos to NAHCON,” he said.

Alhaji Abubakar Mahmud, Secretary, Amiru Hajj Team, Taraba, commended NAHCON for making pilgrims’ Nusuk cards ready in Madina before proceeding to Makkah for Hajj rites.

“I want to tell you that we are highly impressed with the hospitality and the way our people were organised in an orderly manner.

“We commend the NAHCON for its effective handling of the general Hajj operations but they need to improve on the pilgrims’ visit (Ziyarah) to Prophet’s graveyard (Rawdah), that is only problem we have. It is usually hard for people to get access to Rawdah.

“Apart from this, we visited other places like the Prophet’s mosque, Haram al-Nobawi, Masjid Quba, Masjid Uhud,” he said.

Worthy of mention,  Malam Ibrahim Muhammed, National Coordinator, Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a faith based Civil Society Organisation (CSO), commended the stakeholders involved in transporting pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for smooth conduct of operations.

Muhammed said that available information showed that almost everyone involved in the airlift and reception operations was up and doing, hence the successes recorded.

“Special commendation also goes to all officials across the states who promptly mobilised their pilgrims to transit camps and the airlines for always arriving on time for departure.

“We commend the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for the seamless visa processing procedure, one of the critical challenges to pilgrim’s airlift in the past.

“We are also unaware of any pilgrims’ complaints regarding issuance of BTA, room allocation in Madina or feeding,” he said.

Speaking at the Post-Arafat Stakeholders’ Meeting in Makkah, the Chairman/CEO of NAHCON, Prof. Abdullahi Usman, attributed the successes recorded in the 2025 Hajj operation to teamwork, hard work and dedication by all stakeholders.

Usman thanked the stakeholders for their tireless efforts towards successful 2025 Hajj operation.

“We thank you all for being part of the 2025 Hajj Operation; we recorded so many successes this year, and these were possible because of your teamwork, hard work and dedication.

“I thank you for your tireless work to ensure the success of this year’s Hajj.

“I have no words to express my deep appreciation and gratitude for your efforts in this regard, I only pray Almighty Allah to reward you abundantly,” he said.

In addition, Mr Aliyu Abdulrasaq, NAHCON Commissioner of Policy, Personnel and Finance, stressed the need for stakeholders to plan ahead of 2026 Hajj to mitigate the challenges of visa, accommodation and other logistics.

“I want to make it known to the public that preparation for Hajj 2026 has begun; the Saudi Authority has warned that we must keep the timeline of all the activities.

“The idea of not getting visa, not preparing, not getting accommodation, and all other logistics are not going to be entertained in the 2026 Hajj Operation.”

The NAHCON commissioner emphasised the need to open some accounts to mitigate the challenges of Business Travel Account (BTA), cash and card issues.

“It is advisable that we look at the issue of accommodation properly and carefully. We can renegotiate before going back to Nigeria,” he said.

He expressed optimism that if all necessary documents were well prepared for the 2026 Hajj operation, the accommodation will be comfortable and meet all the standards.

Prof. Abdulrasak Alaro, while delivering his report on behalf of the NAHCON Ulama Team, lauded the smooth 2025 Hajj operations.

Alaro said that 2025 Hajj exercise, as far as the national ulama was concerned, went smoothly.

“We engaged in so many activities, all tailored towards achieving the slogan of this year’s Hajj, which is Hajj and positive change.”

He said that the Ulama team engaged pilgrims in the area of awareness creation and personal guidance.

“There was intensive awareness creation and guidance when they were approached.

“For the first time, we had four flags in our own local languages, that Nigerian pilgrims can just click their phones and seek guidance of any area of the pilgrimage or Hajj rights.

“A total of 10 maps were distributed to scholars who are multi-faceted and competent to give guidance on areas of Hajj practices in Hausa, Igbo, Fulani, Yoruba, Kanuri, and other local languages,” he said.

All in all, observers say that while there is room for improvement, the organisers of the 2025 Hajj operations have creditably acquitted themselves.(NANFeatures).

***If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.

By Abiemwense Moru, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

When Rahab Micheal had her first menstrual cycle, as a Junior Secondary School student in Abuja, she told no one.

Silently, she endured the cramps, discomfort and confusion, until her stained school uniform forced her to run home in tears.

It was only then that her mother explained what menstruation meant.

Her experience reflects a common reality for many girls in Nigeria, a reality that is beginning to shift.

At a recent meeting in Abuja involving school principals, government officials and representatives of civil society organisations, stakeholders agreed on an audacious goal.

It is to make Nigeria a period-friendly nation where menstruation no longer hinders girls’ education, dignity or well-being.

Central to this effort is the Always Keeping Girls In School (AKGIS) initiative.

The programme seeks to break menstrual stigma, expand access to sanitary materials, and ensure no girl is left behind because of her period.

For years, menstruation has quietly disrupted girls’ education.

According to baseline research presented by the Tabitha Cumi Foundation (TCF) at the AKGIS dissemination meeting, over 140 girls were surveyed.

The findings revealed limited menstrual education, poor access to sanitary products, and a lack of safe hygiene facilities in schools.

Many were forced to use unsafe alternatives such as rags and tissue paper. Some missed school for up to a week every month.

Across Nigeria, the picture is similar.

A 2022 report by UNICEF and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs estimated that 1 in 10 Nigerian schoolgirls miss school during their periods due to period poverty and poor sanitation.

Meanwhile, research by WaterAid Nigeria found that only 16 per cent of schools in the country have basic gender-sensitive sanitation facilities, including private changing rooms and access to clean water.

“We discovered that harmful cultural taboos, low awareness of gender-based violence, and poor sanitation conditions made menstruation a monthly ordeal,” said Mrs Nendirmwa Ohah, Programme Manager at TCF.

“This is not just a hygiene issue, it is a human rights issue”.

What sets AKGIS apart, she added, is not only the distribution of sanitary pads, but also the empowerment it brings to marginalised girls.

Funded by CAF America and implemented by Tabitha Cumi Foundation in Abuja, Lagos, and Benue States, the initiative targets 1,600 schoolgirls with accurate menstrual health information, hygiene kits, and peer support through school-based clubs.

“Menstruation is not a disease,” said the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.

“No girl should have to choose between her education and her period”.

She called for policy reforms that support, rather than stigmatise, menstruating girls.

It is worthy to note that the involvement of the ministry, alongside the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), signals a shift in national priorities.

This, however, places menstrual health firmly on the development agenda.

Dr Safiya Tamanuwa of UBEC explained that before AKGIS, many school principals, especially men, lacked the knowledge to support menstruating girls.

“This project has opened their eyes,” she said.

One such principal, Mr Abdurazaq Ademola of the Abuja School of the Deaf, revealed how students previously relied on rags during their periods.

“Now, they have access to pads and knowledge. Even our girls with special needs feel empowered,” he said.

Similarly, the Principal of Junior Secondary School, Area 11, Hajiya Gold Fatima, noted a dramatic shift in behaviour.

“Our girls used to miss school during their periods. Now, they seek help and remain in class,” she said.

To mark Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025, themed “Together for a Period-Friendly World,” other organisations also joined the advocacy.

Rotary District 9127, for instance, distributed reusable sanitary pads to nearly 90 girls in Wuse, Abuja, as part of efforts to promote menstrual dignity.

“Menstruation is still seen as dirty or shameful,” said Ms Frances Bekey, Chairperson of Rotary’s Empowering the Girl-Child Initiative.

“We’re changing that narrative by equipping girls with the knowledge and tools to manage their periods with confidence”.

The campaign also promotes sustainable practices, such as eco-friendly reusable pads and the establishment of hygiene facilities, including toilets and wash stations in schools.

In Lagos, UNICEF and the Nigeria Girls’ Guild collaborated to mark the day with hundreds of girls.

Discussions extended beyond menstruation to include sexual health education and promotion of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

“When a girl begins her period, it should be celebrated,” said Mrs Aderonke Akinwole, UNICEF’s Social and Behavioural Change Specialist.

“It shows her body is functioning well, it is a sign of life, not something to hide”.

She advocated a cultural shift that replaces shame with pride.

Corroborating this, many say educating boys, not just girls, is also crucial to changing societal perceptions.

“We must teach boys to respect girls, much of the stigma comes from ignorance. That must end,” said Mrs Honfor Adesola, Director of Education in Lagos.

At the FCT Administration’s event, Mandate Secretary of Women Affairs, Dr Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, called for empathy and support.

“When you see a girl with a menstrual stain, help her, don’t laugh or mock. Be the reason she stays in school,” she urged.

Beyond dignity, menstrual health carries serious medical implications.

Dr Gladys Ohiomoba, a gynaecologist at Federal Medical Centre, Lagos, warned that unsafe practices could result in infections, infertility and long-term reproductive issues.

“Girls must be taught to use clean water, bathe regularly, and avoid scented washes or harmful substances. The vagina is self-cleaning,” she explained.

She also emphasised the importance of having separate towels and improved hygiene practices, especially in rural communities.

Indeed, the drive toward a period-friendly Nigeria requires a multi-sectoral approach, encompassing education, health, infrastructure, and policy reforms.

However, the challenge remains enormous.

An estimated 37 million girls and women of reproductive age in Nigeria are affected by period poverty, according to a 2023 estimate by the Menstrual Hygiene Day coalition.

For many, purchasing sanitary pads remain a luxury due to high costs, limited availability, and lack of awareness.

Miss Ethagah Divine, Head Girl of New Estate Baptist Secondary School in Surulere, Lagos, said: “We need more pads and more voices.

“NGOs, please come to our schools. We can’t do this alone”.

Her classmate, Emmanuella Azubuike, added: “This programme has changed how I see my body. It made me proud.”

Stakeholders and health experts say a period-friendly Nigeria is not just an ideal, it is a necessity.

They recommend clean toilets in every school, access to sanitary products, teacher training, and menstrual education for both girls and boys.

Menstrual hygiene, they stress, is about dignity and freedom, and that freedom begins when girls can bleed without shame.

As Menstrual Hygiene Day ends, they call for continued action from communities, schools, policymakers, and the private sector to ensure no girl is left behind. (NANFeatures)

***If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.

By Kayode Adebiyi, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Since 1989, World Population Day has been observed on July 11 to highlight the role that population-related challenges play in issues surrounding national and international development.

The commemoration was established by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), drawing inspiration from the 5 Billion Day marked on July 11, 1987, the day when the world’s population reached and crossed the 5 billion mark.

Between 1987 and 2011, the world’s population grew from 5 billion to 7 billion, with the UNDP estimating the world’s population to be more than 8.1 billion in 2025.

The observance of the day has become an exhortation for communities, institutions, governments, and the international community to understand the impact of a growing population on the well-being of the people.

The theme of this year’s commemoration, “Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world,” underscores the need for policymakers to prioritise the aspirations and rights of young people.

Although there is no universally agreed-upon international definition of the youth age group, reports from the UNDP and other multilateral organisations indicate that the world presently has the largest-ever generation of youth.

Therefore, the main objectives of the 2025 commemoration are to raise awareness about the growing global population and its impact; promote reproductive health and rights, especially for women and youth.

Others are to advocate gender equality and empower women to make informed family choices, and align with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3) and Gender Equality (SDG 5).

The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, said on the occasion of the 2025 commemoration that the potential and promise of the largest youth generation ever should be celebrated.

He said, apart from shaping the future, the world’s youth population was demanding a future that was just, inclusive, and sustainable.

“This year’s theme reaffirms the promise of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development: that every person has the right to make informed choices about their lives and futures.

“Many young people today face economic uncertainty, gender inequality, health challenges, the climate crisis and conflict.

“Still, they are leading with courage, conscience and clarity; and they are calling for systems that uphold their rights and support their choices.

“I urge countries to invest in policies that ensure education, healthcare, decent work, and the full protection of their reproductive rights.

“Let us stand with young people and build a future where every person can shape their destiny in a world that is fair, peaceful, and full of hope,” he said.

However, the question on the lips of many Nigerians is, how do policymakers empower young Nigerians when there is no accurate population data?

Experts say accurate population data not only serves as the basis for a nation’s sound economic planning, but its social fabric is also deeply intertwined with its demographic realities.

They say the success of social development and welfare programmes, such as health provision, housing and urban development and social protection, heavily depends on population data.

For instance, data on school-age children, literacy rates, out-of-school children, and educational attainment levels are vital for planning the construction of new schools, allocating teachers, developing curricula, and ensuring equitable access to quality education.

Mr Imoemiye Powei, a child education expert, said that without credible and up-to-date population data, Nigeria could reliably dispute unfavourable development statistics from foreign institutions.

He was referring to the 2024 global data on out-of-school children, where UNESCO put Nigeria’s out-of-school children figure at an estimated 20 million.

The report was disputed by the Federal Government, which stressed that it did not reflect the true state of affairs in the country.

The government said it used data from the population commission.

“Mind you, how many Nigerians register the birth of their children, especially those in rural areas?

“Meanwhile, how dependable is data, any data, from the population commission, which has not conducted a census since 2006?

“We should see the report as a wake-up call, not an indictment,” Imoemiye said.

Worthy of note, Nigeria has not conducted a population census since 2006 due to a complex interplay of factors, primarily rooted in politicisation, funding challenges, and logistical hurdles.

Yet, some stakeholders insist that conducting regular and reliable censuses is not merely a statistical exercise; it is the bedrock upon which effective national planning and sustainable development must be built.

In January, the Senate directed the National Population Commission (NPC) to conduct a census in 2025.

The NPC indicated its readiness and plans for a biometric-based exercise to enhance accuracy and credibility.

However, the exact date still needs to be proclaimed by the President, and a separate budget for the exercise will need to be approved.

During the budget defence of the NPC, Sen. Diket Plang (APC-Plateau Central) said that he felt bad to discover that the country did not have credible data on the population of its citizenry.

“I feel very bad that we are still living on estimated population figures.

“I also feel bad that we are still postulating and relying on data supplied by foreign bodies, which is more or less demeaning to us among the committee of nations.

“We want to know our population. Nigeria should be counted this year,” he said.

Sen. Olalere Oyewumi (PDP-Osun West) shared Plang’s sentiment.

“The 2025 budget of NPC should revolve around the population census, which must be done this year because the demographic characteristics of the population figures being bandied about the country now are not known.

“The NPC should get its act together for the President to proclaim the population census, which in itself will facilitate provisions for the desired money,” he said.

As Nigeria joins other countries to celebrate the 2025 World Population Day, the importance of population data is once again emphasised because it provides the essential demographic intelligence required for evidence-based decision-making.

Experts say population data also ensures equitable resource distribution and the formulation of policies that genuinely address the needs and aspirations of the nation’s diverse population.(NANFeatures)

***If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.

By Abujah Racheal, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

While her peers were preparing to sit for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, 16-year-old Zuhara (not real name) was withdrawn from school in May 2025. The reason is that she became pregnant.

In her remote village of Shere, a community located about 13km from an urban centre, access to healthcare is limited and conversations about sex, menstruation and contraception are not robust.

Zuhara said she walked nearly 50km to school and travelled long distances to get basic medication.

“There are no youth-friendly clinics, no female doctors, and no spaces where I can ask questions. My pregnancy was unplanned and entirely preventable,” she said.

 Zuhara’s story mirrors the lives of many Nigerian female adolescents.

In a country with one of the highest adolescent fertility rates in the world – 117 births per 1,000 girls aged 15 years to 19 years, adolescents like Zuhara remain trapped in cycles of silence, stigma and lost potential.

This crisis formed the heart of the recent National Policy Dialogue on Improving Adolescent Access to Quality Sexual and Reproductive Health Services convened in Abuja by Nigeria Health Watch and partners.

With the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals deadline approaching and donor support shrinking, the desire of stakeholders is that Nigeria should do its best to adequately fund girls’ reproductive health and rights services. 

Nigeria’s commitments under the FP2030 family planning initiative are ambitious, with stakeholders hoping earnestly for its effective delivery.

A recent Integrated Community Listening Survey conducted in six states by Nigeria Health Watch revealed that 50 per cent of respondents, especially those aged 18 years to 34 years, still struggle to access Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services.

“Despite decades of investments, we are still battling low awareness, long distances to health centres, stigma and weak service delivery,” said Ms Anwuli Nwankwo, Knowledge Management Lead at Nigeria Health Watch.

Nwankwo said that cultural norms and misinformation remained major barriers to accessing the services. 

“While primary healthcare centres remain the first point of contact for most people, many of these facilities are poorly equipped to deliver comprehensive SRHR services.

“In many states, there are no budget lines, and, therefore, no services.

“While adolescent girls are paying the price in lost opportunities, state governments are being called to action to fund and own their reproductive health programmes,” she said. 

Dr Tomi Coker, Commissioner for Health, Ogun, said that the state got 0.04 dollars per capita in donor funding.

Coker said in spite of that situation, Ogun had remained committed to providing the services, funding its MAMI project, procuring essential medicines, and sustaining supply chains through state resources.

According to her, the success was made possible by a co-funding model introduced by The Challenge Initiative (TCI), which shifts responsibility from donors to governments overtime.

“We cannot keep waiting for handouts. This is about national sovereignty,” she said.

In Kano State, innovation is driving change, according to Mr Aminu Bashir, Permanent Secretary, Kano State Ministry of Health.

Bashir said that the state had established the Kano Health Trust Fund, which he described as the first of its kind in Nigeria.

Bashir added that the fund pooled resources from all 44 local government areas of the state and the state’s internally generated revenue, with a dedicated percentage allocated to family planning.

“For the first time, Kano State earmarked ₦500million in its budget solely for family planning,” he said.

He said that the commitment was supported through a tripartite arrangement involving the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Lafiya Project and the Kano State Government, enabling sustained funding for SRHR interventions.

For Malam Talle Ghali Dambazau, an Assistant Director of Education working on adolescents and reproductive health in Nigeria’s education sector, state-level implementation of the Family Life and HIV Education (FLHE) curriculum is key.

Dambazau called for deeper collaboration between national and subnational governments to ensure that trained teachers and linked health services would reach young people effectively.

He noted that in 2023, the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Ministry of Education jointly committed to a national framework for youths’ well-being, which aimed to integrate school-based education with health services, psychosocial support and hygiene interventions.

Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, emphasised that family planning was not just a health issue but also a strategic lever for economic growth, gender equality, and national resilience.

Pate reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to delivering integrated, rights-based SRHR services, highlighting strategic priorities such as expanding youth-friendly health services, deploying digital platforms and mobile clinics, and strengthening supply chains through the Procurement and Value Chain Advisory Council.

He also highlighted enhancement of data systems via DHIS2 to enable real-time disaggregated decision-making.

In all these, some stakeholders said that implementation across states remained patchy, arguing that with Nigeria’s education system, curriculum delivery in FLHE had often been inconsistent and poor for adolescent females in remote communities.

They emphasised the role of technology in the delivery of services.

Dr Fatima Bunza, Country Director of Tiko Nigeria, recommended a hybrid solution using smartphone-based services and eco-cards distributed by trained mobilisers.

“Low-tech isn’t a fallback. It is a core part of our model. We are reaching girls others cannot,” Bunza said.

Also, in an effort to provide solutions, Lola AI, a WhatsApp-based tool developed by Healthtracka, is providing confidential SRHR information to female adolescents.

“Lola speaks to girls kindly in their language on a platform they use daily,” said Ms Testimony Adeyemi, Marketing Lead of Lola AI.

Ms Mashishi Mokgadi, Africa Access Lead at Organon, shared the story of a 15-year-old Lucy, who became pregnant due to lack of contraceptives, dropped out of school, and was married off.

“Lucy’s story is a national economic loss. It touches every Sustainable Development Goal. We cannot keep watering the plants while the house is burning,” Mokgadi said.

She gave the assurance that Organon had committed to preventing 120 million unintended pregnancies by 2030.

She said that the organisation was already over halfway to achieving the goal.

She called on African governments to create specific budget lines for family planning, eliminate legal barriers that restricted adolescent access to services and begin to frame health budgets as an investment rather than a cost.

Ms Margaret Bolaji, Youth Partnerships Officer at FP2030, advocated youth-led accountability mechanisms and highlighted tools such as the “Lemon” STI self-testing kits for girls.

Ms Peace Umanah of IYAFP said, “Stop being vague. Funders are moved by authenticity. We must speak from our lived experience.”

Analysts urge intensified efforts to prevent adolescents from dying in childbirth or getting stuck in poverty due to preventable pregnancies, saying that adolescents such as Zuhara should be seen, heard and empowered.

They strongly believe that political will and financial commitment are needed to achieve the aims, saying that funding adolescent SRHR is a long-term investment in Nigeria’s future.

They are hopeful that Nigeria will do more to increase and sustain investments in its female adolescents in an effort to achieve Sustainable Development Goals and build a bright future for them and the country at large.(NANFeatures)

*** If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

By Martha Agas, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Access to girl-child education remains a persistent challenge in Nigeria, especially in the northern region.

Stakeholders attribute this to the patriarchal system, which places greater value on educating boys over girls.

According to a UNICEF report on the state of Nigeria’s children, 10.2 million primary school-aged children and 8.1 million secondary school-aged children are out of school in the country.

Of this number, the Malala Fund estimates that more than five million are girls, with the north contributing the majority.

Reports show that the highest numbers of out-of-school girls are in the North-East and North-West regions, where they face multiple barriers such as child marriage, poverty, gender-based violence, and insecurity.

States in the North-East and North-West have female primary net attendance rates of 47.7 per cent and 47.3 per cent, respectively, meaning that more than half of the girls are not in school.

Sadly, analysts note these challenges are further compounded by low levels of investment in education, inadequate school infrastructure, cultural norms, a shortage of teachers and practices that discourage attendance in formal education, especially for girls.

While these challenges have been the focus of various interventions, experts argue that data from the past five years shows no visible improvement in access to girl-child education across the country.

Reports indicate that between 2020 and 2025, Northern Nigeria consistently recorded between five and seven million out-of-school girls, with only minor fluctuations despite ongoing efforts.

To foster meaningful progress in the region, stakeholders note that alongside a locally tailored, multi-faceted strategy, deliberate efforts must be made to engage men as active allies to champion girls’ education.

They say to strengthen efforts, it is imperative to engage men who hold key roles in families, communities, and governance as active supporters and advocates.

Also, education experts observe that in many northern communities, men, especially fathers, brothers, and other male relatives play a key role in deciding whether girls attend or remain in school.

As such, securing their support is crucial to reducing dropout rates and delaying early marriage.

Mrs Keturah Shammah, Executive Director of Girls Education Mission (GEM) International, affirmed that men’s influence within families, religious spaces, and policy circles can either open doors or close them for the girl child.

According to Shammah, male leaders shape policies as most political, religious, and traditional leaders are men, and they have the authority to enact and implement pro-girl policies, mobilise community resources for schools and champion girls’ education from the pulpit and the palace.

Their support, she says, can help reinterpret cultural norms that restrict girls’ education and promote inclusive practices.

Other analysts strongly agree that fathers play a crucial role in promoting girls’ education.

They say, those who value and support their daughters’ schooling can inspire other families, while personal testimonies from such fathers can help shift attitudes in communities that are resistant to change.

An advocate of girls’ education based in Bauchi State, Seun Onarinde, noted that in the North, men are the breadwinners in over 70 per cent of households.

They serve as religious leaders in most mosques, and as community heads whose words often resolve disputes and shape direction.

“So, when a father says, ‘My daughter must go to school’, it carries weight. When an Imam preaches that girls’ education is not against Islam, people listen.

“When a husband supports his wife’s dreams, the whole community begins to rethink its limits on women.

“We need more men to champion this movement, and when strong and influential men speak up not just in policy rooms but in their homes and streets, change happens faster,” he said.

Similarly, Benjamin John, an advocate based in Borno, supported this view.

He said men are the custodians of culture, religion, and the economic foundation of most households.

“If men decide that girls in the family will not go to school, that decision often stands,” he said.

John explained that men may tell their wives that educating a girl adds no value, and in some cases, the wives might agree.

As a result, these girls are sometimes made to hawk to bring in additional income for the family.

“But if men in rural areas are actively involved in ensuring that girls have access to education, it will lead to meaningful outcomes in those communities,” he said.

According to him, culture, religion, and poverty are three key factors where men wield significant influence.

To further drive access, gender advocates note that men can play key roles in creating safer environments by standing against gender-based violence in schools and along the routes girls take to and from school.

Other stakeholders say men can serve as role models for boys by shaping their attitudes to recognise that girls deserve the equal respect and opportunities to attend school.

This, they say, is key to raising a generation that values education for all.

In this light, Ziauddin Yousafzai, Co-founder of the Malala Fund, recently visited Nigeria to engage with traditional and religious leaders, local partners, and civil society advocates on advancing girls’ education.

The fund was co-founded in 2013 by Malala and her father Ziauddin Yousafzai.

It is rooted in Malala’s personal journey from a small town in Pakistan’s Swat Valley, where she survived a Taliban assassination attempt in 2012 for advocating girls’ education, to becoming a global advocate for girls’ education.

Today, the fund leads global advocacy for 12 years of free, safe, and quality education for every girl.

His visit underscored the need for coordinated action to tackle the barriers keeping girls out of school.

It focused on a critical theme: how to mobilise everyone, especially men and boys to stand with girls and defend their right to learn.

To build partnerships for change, he held a roundtable discussion with more than 40 faith leaders, traditional rulers, civil society advocates, and education stakeholders.

The dialogue focused on how men and boys can use their influence to challenge gender inequality, support girls’ education, and help end child marriage.

Among the participants were Rev. John Hayab, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (Northern States), and Hajiya Amina Haruna, Director at the Federal Ministry of Education.

She is also the National Coordinator of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project.

Yousafzai also visited Sokoto State, which has one of the highest rates of child marriage and out-of-school girls in Nigeria.

There, he met with the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, who affirmed his readiness to collaborate through his Foundation for Peace and Development, to support girls’ education.

While these strategic meetings are expected to yield positive outcomes, Malala Fund Fellows in Nigeria have already begun to share stories of how male engagement has made a difference in promoting girls’ education.

One beneficiary of such efforts is Halima Yusuf, a law graduate from Bayero University, Kano, and an alumna of the Malala Fund Girl Fellowship Programme.

She says, “For my dad and my brother Kabir, I will always be grateful for how they continue to believe in me and support my decisions.

“From encouraging my unexpected choice to study law, to guiding me through leadership roles in school,” she said.

Yusuf says, they continue to be shining examples of generosity and selflessness, values that have shaped how she sees the world and inspired her to give back.

For Aishatu Kabu in Borno, the decision to establish the Zenith of the Girl Child and Women Initiative Support was inspired by her personal experience and difficulties in accessing education in the state.

She actively works with male advocates, recognising their importance in influencing change, a strategy she says is already yielding results.

While stakeholders are hopeful of achieving this feat by securing the support of men and accelerating progress in girls’ education, analysts insist that meeting SDG 4 and 5 targets for girls by 2030 will require more than expanded access to free, quality education.

They emphasise the need to also tackle the deep-rooted gender inequalities outlined in SDG 5 such as child marriage, gender-based violence, and discriminatory cultural norms that continue to hinder girls’ learning.

In conclusion, experts opined that empowering girls through education and removing systemic barriers to equality are essential for achieving sustainable development.(NANFeatures)

***If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.

By Abujah Racheal, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

In the brightly lit corridors of a Nigerian hospital, an unspoken fear lingers, not just among patients, but among the very hands trained to heal them.

In spite of decades of awareness campaigns, scientific advances, and access to life-saving antiretroviral treatment, HIV remains a subject cloaked in silence even among healthcare workers.

Some flinch at disclosure while others lower their voices when discussing a diagnosis.

Mrs Gwanja Anja (not her real name), a senior nurse in a federal hospital, has been living with HIV for more than 11 years.

Anja said she had never told her colleagues about her status.

“I take my medication religiously and quietly; but if anyone here finds out, I do not know what that would mean for my job.

“Even some doctors joke about patients who ‘look HIV-positive’; that fear never leaves you.”

She said she was infected through a needle-stick injury early at work.

“Though I reported the incident, the post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) protocol was poorly handled,’’ she said.

Anja said months later, her test came back positive.

Since then, she has maintained her health in silence, hiding her pills and avoiding health worker clinics altogether.

Beyond individual experiences like that of Anja, the psychological impact of stigma is significant.

Dr Jumai Suleiman, a clinical psychologist who counsels healthcare workers, said that many of them bottled up their status, fearing judgment from colleagues who should be supportive.

“They carry it alone battling anxiety, shame, and burnout.”

She said that institutional silence worsens the problem as casual jokes, avoidance, and whispered gossip could isolate even the most resilient professionals.

“The internalised stigma among health workers is sometimes worse because they know the science, but still feel the shame,” she said.

According to stakeholders, Sub-Saharan Africa remains one of the regions most affected by HIV.

In Nigeria alone, an estimated 1.8 million people are living with the virus.

While antiretroviral therapy has significantly reduced HIV-related deaths, people living with HIV in resource-constrained settings like Nigeria still face psychological challenges and poor health outcomes linked to stigma.

According to the World Bank, the prevalence of HIV among Nigerians aged 15–49 was 1.3 per cent in 2021.

In 2025, Nigeria is estimated to have more than 2 million people living with HIV.

Available statistics indicates that the states with the highest prevalence rates are Akwa Ibom, 5.6 per cent, Benue, 4.9 per cent, and Rivers, 3.8 per cent.

Nigeria is working towards the 95-95-95 UNAIDS targets; 95 per cent of people living with HIV to know their status, 95 per cent of those to be on treatment and 95 per cent of those on treatment to achieve viral suppression.

Experts say that while the country has made notable progress in treatment coverage and viral suppression, testing remains a challenge.

Many still do not know their status, and stigma discourages both testing and disclosure.

While laws and policies attempt to shield all Nigerians from HIV-related stigma, key populations remain disproportionately affected and often unheard.

These include men who have sex with men, sex workers, people who inject drugs, and transgender persons.

Many face dual stigma: for their HIV status and their identity or behaviour.

Ms Jay Joy (not her real name) a 27-year-old sex worker living with HIV in Lagos State, shared her experience.

“When I tested positive, I was afraid to go to the hospital again.

“They kept staring, whispering, like I did not belong; sometimes, it is easier to suffer in silence than face them,” she said.

Meanwhile, the enactment of the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act in 2014 has increased the legal risks for men having sex with men and other transgender communities.

Advocacy groups warn that fear of arrest or exposure keeps many from accessing care or reporting abuse.

Young people in Nigeria represent a growing share of new HIV infections but remain overlooked in public discourse.

Adolescents, in particular, struggle with disclosure, school-based stigma, and consistent access to medication.

A 17-year-old minor was diagnosed at birth; she said she hides her status at school.

“I never take my drugs in front of friends, if they find out, they will stop talking to me,’’ the minor said.

Youth-friendly HIV services remain limited across the country, and advocates are calling for better peer support programmes, school sensitisation, and targeted campaigns that address young people’s realities.

Religious beliefs and cultural norms continue to shape the public narrative around HIV in Nigeria.

While some faith leaders have championed compassionate care and promoted testing, others reinforce stigma by framing HIV as a moral failing.

Malam Imam Bashir, a cleric, shared a different message.

“HIV is not a punishment; it is a disease, and like any other disease, it needs care, not condemnation.”

Bashir said that community education through religious institutions had proven powerful.

“Expanding partnerships with faith-based organisations could help dismantle entrenched prejudices and offer spiritual and emotional support for people living with HIV,” he said.

Dr Temitope Ilori, Director-General of NACA, weighed in.

“We cannot win this fight unless we create a society where people living with HIV feel protected, not punished,” he said.

Dr Leopold Zekeng, UNAIDS Country Director, said that ending AIDS was not just a medical effort but a human rights imperative.

“Every act of discrimination is a step backwards,” he said.

Zekeng said to achieve its 2030 goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat, Nigeria must match medical progress with social transformation.

He said that stakeholders must ensure all Nigerian states domesticated the HIV/AIDS Anti-Discrimination Act to ensure legal protection for people living with HIV across the country.

Zekeng said that health workers and communities must be equipped with comprehensive anti-stigma training to foster more inclusive and compassionate care environments.

Observers say it is essential to support youth-led and key population-led initiatives that drive awareness, advocacy, and peer support for people living with HIV.

They say faith leaders should be empowered to actively promote messages of dignity, inclusion, and care for people affected by HIV.

According to health experts, enforcement mechanisms must be strengthened, and access to justice expanded, to protect the rights of individuals facing HIV-related stigma and abuse.

“Stigma is not just a barrier to care, it is a barrier to hope; ending it begins with listening, supporting, and speaking openly,’’ they said.(NANFeatures)

***If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.

By Usman Aliyu, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

In the sleepy farming village of Ehor, Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of Edo, 47-year-old Mrs Ebun Aikpokpo sits on a wooden bench beside her grocery stall, holding up a small blue POS device.

The machine’s screen flickers weakly before going dark again.

For the third time in the week, she has been unable to complete a customer’s payment due to a failed internet connection.

“I tell my customers to come back later or bring cash; but these days, most of them do not carry cash anymore; some just go elsewhere,” she said with a weary smile.

More so, Mr Francis Ikharo, a 58-year-old widower and cassava farmer at Ayanran village in Akoko-Edo LGA of Edo, clutches his phone and sighs in frustration.

His son had told him that N25,000 was sent to his account under the NG Cares project, but weeks later, he still has not accessed a single naira.

NG Cares is a Federal Government programme, designed to restore the livelihoods of the poor and vulnerable, maintaining food security, and facilitating recovery of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.

“I went to the bank in Igarra and they told me the network was down;  I went again two days later, same thing.

“They said even if I had a smartphone and downloaded the mobile banking app, it would not work here; there is no service,” he said.

This is not peculiar to rural communities in Edo;  38-year-old Patience Ogah also experienced failure in internet connection in Karaworo, a quiet village in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi.

Ogah has run a small convenience store for nearly a decade.

In 2023, she began accepting digital payments after a mobile banking agent set her up with a Point-of-Sale (POS) device.

For a few weeks, business improved; then, reality struck; poor internet connectivity and frequent power cuts made the device nearly unusable.

“Customers get angry when the machine fails. Some think I am trying to cheat them. Others just walk away,” she bemoaned.

Similarly, in Ago Alaye, Odigbo Local Government Area, Ondo State, POS agent Idowu Ajayi has spent the better part of two years running a mobile banking kiosk that services six surrounding communities.

On a good day, he processes up to 40 transactions; on most days, though, he battles poor signal strength and queues of frustrated customers.

“I have bought two different routers; I even climbed a tree to hang my SIM card where the network is stronger; but when the network fails, there is nothing I can do.

“People just curse and leave,” he laments.

These residents noted that the problem was not limited to individual entrepreneurs; local schools and health centres in the areas struggle with integrating digital payment systems for school fees, hospital bills, or government reimbursements.

Rural teachers and primary healthcare workers often cannot receive salaries through mobile transfers because their bank branches are kilometres away, and mobile networks frequently break down.

These experiences reflect a deeper and growing concern in Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda — the rural-urban digital divide that risks leaving millions behind.

Across Nigeria, the use of digital payments has surged, especially in urban areas.

In Lagos, Abuja, Benin City, Lokoja, Akure and other major cities, USSD, QR code payments, fintech apps, and card transactions are part of daily life.

The cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) further accelerated this trend, pushing people towards contactless transactions and boosting the mobile money sector.

As Nigeria pursues its National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020–2030) as well as the Nigeria National Development Plan (2021–2025), which together aim to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty and expand the digital economy to 25 per cent of GDP by the end of 2025, digital financial inclusion is expected to play a pivotal role.

Interestingly, these digital payment systems are rapidly being adopted in the urban centres, but rural Nigeria, surprisingly, remains disconnected, with low broadband coverage, unreliable electricity, and limited digital literacy undermining access.

Despite the growing digital economy, which contributed an estimated 16 to 18 per cent to the country’s GDP in 2024, millions still remain digitally disconnected.

According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), more than 50 per cent of Nigerians still lack access to broadband, with the vast majority living in rural areas.

According to the NCC, as of January 2025, Nigeria had 98.8 million broadband subscriptions, representing a penetration rate of 45.61 per cent.

While broadband penetration is growing, it is still below the 70 per cent target set for 2025 by the Nigerian National Broadband Plan.

This digital exclusion, financial analysts said, is not just a missed economic opportunity, it is a national development challenge. They claimed as well that the digital economy’s contribution to GDP could even be higher if the rural communities are not left behind.

Globally, Nigeria is considered one of Africa’s top fintech hubs; yet, the Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA) in its study, reports that only 29 per cent of Nigerians have ‘regular access’ to reliable mobile internet, leaving out 71 per cent due to major infrastructure and regulatory barriers. 

The GSMA notes that the full promise of Nigeria’s Strategic Plan 2023–2027 and the National Broadband Alliance for Nigeria (NBAN) would only be realised when the country creates an enabling policy and regulatory framework that actively includes rural areas.

Acknowledging these facts, Dr Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, in May, unveiled the Federal Government’s plan to invest in 7,000 towers in these underserved communities.

According to him, the focus is to bridge the digital divide and promote inclusive development in the country.

Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the minister said that the government had directed his ministry to invest 7,000 towers in giving Nigerians access to telecom networks.

“The 7,000 projects would be delivered by the end of 2025 so that an opportunity can be given to Nigerians regardless of where they find themselves.

“There are about 20 million rural dwellers that still have no access to such facilities.

“The President demanded that money must be put into ensuring that this opportunity is not only available to those in the urban area, but every part of the North.

“This will, in turn, lead to the transformation of the Nigerian economy in all spheres, ranging from health, agriculture and security.”

The minister admitted that the importance of internet connection to Nigeria is profound, touching nearly every aspect of the country’s development.

“Nigeria’s digital economy is one of the fastest-growing in Africa.

“Internet connectivity supports tech startups, e-commerce, fintech, and digital services, contributing significantly to GDP.

‘’Online platforms enable remote work, freelancing, and access to global gig economies. Initiatives like the 3MTT programme aim to create millions of tech-enabled jobs.

“Small and medium enterprises benefit from digital tools for marketing, sales, logistics, and finance,’’ he said.

But Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), sheds light on why rural deployment remains unattractive to telecom providers, citing hostile policies by the subnational governments.

“Commercial operators face a dilemma. While they are obligated to expand coverage, return on investment is often poor in remote areas compared to urban centres with high demand.

“In addition, operators face hostile sub-national policies, from multiple taxation to outrageous right-of-way (RoW) charges, as high as N8,500 per linear metre, compared to the N145 per metre recommended by the Federal Economic Council,” Adebayo explained.

The ALTON chief added that these hostile conditions discourage investment, especially when some state governments disregard federal policies.

“You’ll hear things like, ‘That’s your Abuja approval; my state has its own rules.’ That inconsistency creates a wall too hard for operators to break through,” he said.

Ultimately, Adebayo said broadband access is not just about connecting villages; it is about connecting people to opportunity.

“Statistics show that a 10 per cent increase in broadband penetration boosts GDP by up to 2.5 per cent; so, when state governments block access, they are not just hurting telcos, they are undermining their own economic future,” said the giant telecom player.

Adebayo believes the solution lies in strategic policy overhaul, unified implementation across all levels of government, and long-term thinking.

“You cannot  tax the man building the highway; let them build the digital roads and then tax the users; government needs to recognise the socioeconomic value of infrastructure more than just the immediate Internally Generated Revenue (IGR),” he said.

The stakes of this digital divide are even higher when viewed through the lens of financial inclusion.

In 2024 alone, digital payments in Nigeria hit a record N1.07 quadrillion, according to the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS).

Notwithstanding the feat, a GSMA Mobile Gender Gap Report reveals that nearly 60 per cent of rural Nigerian women do not use mobile internet.

Similarly, the World Bank estimates that 64 million Nigerian adults remain unbanked, mostly in rural areas.

These statistics are not just numbers, they represent real people who are excluded from economic opportunity, government aid, and financial tools that could improve their lives as well as their contribution to economic growth.

For instance, in Ondo State’s Araromi Obu Community, 55-year-old farmer, Baba Adefemi, said he had never used a mobile banking app but depended on his nephew in Akure to help him send or receive money.

When the FADAMA NG Care funds were distributed via digital wallets in 2023, Adefemi received nothing.

“I heard they paid others; but I do not have the phone they use; I do not even know how to use the code they talk about,” he said.

This illustrates the compounding nature of digital exclusion. In many government social programmes, from Conditional Cash Transfers to COVID-19 palliatives and the National Social Investment Programmes, beneficiaries are now required to have National Identification Numbers (NINs) and mobile wallets.

Yet, for millions in underserved communities, these prerequisites remain out of reach.

Nigeria’s digital financial ecosystem is conspicuously expanding, but the enabling infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, is not.

According to a FinTech expert Hussein Olanrewaju, such digital exclusion has layered consequences, ranging from low financial literacy to lack of transactional visibility that prevents rural businesses from accessing credit or growth opportunities.

“There’s virtually no broadband in many rural areas; sometimes you go through hills and trees and cannot even make a phone call, let alone use mobile apps.

“Without power and a consistent network, even voice-based authentication fails,” Olanrewaju, founder of HAQ Technology Management Services, said.

He highlighted the ripple effect of poor infrastructure on trust and user experience such as failed transactions, lack of dispute resolution, and total absence of data trails for rural business activity.

“People still do cash hand-to-hand because they don’t trust the system. There’s no digital record of transactions, no credit profile, nothing to support them when they need loans or grants,” he said.

For Olanrewaju, the government’s failure to address these systemic issues is the core problem.

“The fault is largely on the government in the areas of regulations, power supply, broadband rollout, and even security to protect telecom infrastructure.

“We need tailored interventions, not copy-and-paste policies from other regions,” he said

He also demonstrated how financial literacy constituted the linchpin to economic empowerment.

“People do not realise that sharing your PIN is dangerous or that budgeting matters; even in semi-urban areas, many people live in survival mode, depending on others for financial decisions.

“We must build financial capacity from the ground up,” he submitted.

Both Adebayo and Olanrewaju agree that solving this crisis requires multi-level commitment, beginning with policy harmonisation across federal and state levels, investment in rural broadband infrastructure, and massive financial education campaigns.

They say that the path to Nigeria’s full digital potential is not only through innovation, but inclusion.

Sharing a similar sentiment, Dr Chinenye Okafor, a digital development analyst, argued that Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), needs to be treated like roads or power lines, which are foundational systems that link citizens to the economy.

“But right now, our DPI rollout prioritises markets, not marginalisation. That’s a structural flaw,” she said regrettably.

The digital development analyst, emphasised that bridging Nigeria’s digital divide requires bold, coordinated, and people-centred reforms.

As solutions to the concerns raised by Adebayo of association of licensed telecom operators, Okafor advocates incentives-backed policy frameworks that will mandate telecom providers to extend broadband access to rural areas. She said these incentives could be subsidies or a universal service fund.

According to her, fintechs and mobile money providers must be compelled to design inclusive platforms, ones that support voice commands, offline functionality, and indigenous languages; so that the digitally excluded, particularly rural women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, are no longer left behind.

Beyond infrastructure, she underscores the need for systemic digital literacy education across all levels, from schools to community centres, to equip Nigerians with the confidence and skills to thrive in a digital economy.

She further calls for intentional inclusion in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) initiatives and deeper public-private partnerships to establish community-based digital service hubs.

“Digital inclusion must be treated as a public utility, not a privilege,” she asserts, noting that Nigeria could not build an inclusive economy on a broken digital foundation.

Stemming from the foregoing, it is established that Nigeria stands at a crossroads.

Its digital economy has the potential to leapfrog traditional barriers, empower citizens, and transform governance; but unless digital public infrastructure is extended equitably and not just profitably, the country risks reinforcing the same divisions it hopes to erase.

As this story reveals, experts see the problem of digital financial exclusion as not just technological, but also political, cultural, and deeply human.

Bridging the divide will require more than bandwidth; rather, it demands political will, inclusive design, and a firm commitment to leaving no one behind.

Until that happens, observers say rural Nigerians like Aikpokpo, Ikharo, Ogah, Ajayi and Adefemi will continue to be disconnected, and left behind; not because they do not want to join the digital future, but because the system has not shown up at their doorstep. (NANFeature)

This report is produced with support from Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI)