NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Human development slows to weakest pace in 35 years- UNDP

Human development slows to weakest pace in 35 years- UNDP

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Development

Human development progress worldwide has slowed to its lowest level in 35 years, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said in a report released Tuesday.

While Türkiye maintained its place in the “very high human development” category with a Human Development Index (HDI) score of 0.853, the global trend points to widening inequalities and stagnation.

The report stressed that projections for 2024 show stalled HDI progress in all regions.

“Rather than showing steady recovery after the exceptional crises of 2020–2021,” the report said, “global progress remains unexpectedly weak.”

With the exception of those crisis years, the projected growth in global human development for 2024 is the weakest since the index was introduced in 1990.

The report warns that development gaps between rich and poor countries are widening, driven by deepening debt, trade tensions, and jobless industrialisation in many lower-income states.

“For decades, we have been on track to reach a very high human development world by 2030, but this deceleration signals a very real threat to global progress,” said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner.

He cautioned that if 2024’s trend becomes the norm, “that 2030 milestone could slip by decades.”

The report said disparities between countries with the lowest and highest HDI scores have increased for the fourth consecutive year, reversing a decades-long trend of narrowing inequality.

Countries with low HDI scores face acute challenges as global pressures cut off traditional development paths.

The report also presents findings from a new global survey on artificial intelligence (AI).

Half of respondents worldwide believe their jobs could be automated, but 60 per cent view AI as a positive force likely to create new job opportunities — including roles that do not yet exist.

Only 13 per cent said they fear job losses due to AI.

In countries with low and medium HDI scores, 70 per cent expect AI to boost productivity, while two-thirds said they plan to use it within a year in sectors like education, health, or work.

The report calls for a “human-centered” approach to AI.

It urges investment in education and healthcare systems that match 21st-century demands and policies that embed human oversight throughout AI’s lifecycle.

It recommends building of economies where people collaborate with AI, ensure human agency from AI design to deployment and modernise key systems to manage digital transformation.

The report confirmed that Türkiye remains in the “very high human development” bracket with a score of 0.853 — marking a 42.6 per cent increase from its 1990 value of 0.598.

Since then, Türkiye has recorded significant improvements in several key areas.

Life expectancy has risen by 9.3 years, while expected years of schooling have increased by 10.9 years.

The mean years of schooling have grown by 4.5 years, and gross national income per capita has surged by 170.9 per cent.(AA/NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Nigeria major source for human trafficking in Africa  – Minister

Nigeria major source for human trafficking in Africa – Minister

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By Justina Auta

Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs, says Nigeria is one of the main source, transit and destination for human trafficking in Africa.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim stated this at the 2025 annual academic summit organised by the University of Abuja Faculty of Social Sciences, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The theme of the summit is, “Illegal Migration and girl-child trafficking in 21st century Nigeria: Changing the mindset through quality and functional university education.”

She said poverty and economic hardship, lack of education and skills, cultural and gender norms, and weak law enforcement, amongst others were factors that contributed to illegal migration and trafficking in Nigeria.

“Nigeria is one of the main source, transit, and destination countries for human trafficking in Africa.

“According to the Global Slavery Index (2023), Nigeria ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of trafficked persons.

“An estimated 1.4 million Nigerians are victims of modern slavery, with women and girls making up the majority.

“Over 60 per cent of Nigerians attempting to migrate irregularly are women and girls, many of whom are trafficked for forced labor or sexual exploitation.

“Reports indicate that over 50,000 Nigerian women are trapped in forced prostitution across Europe, particularly in Italy and Spain.

“The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) estimates that more than 80 per cent of Nigerian women who arrive in Europe through irregular routes are potential trafficking victims.

“The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports that Nigeria accounts for nearly 50 per cent of all human trafficking cases in West Africa,” she said.

She said the figures underscored the urgent need for policy, awareness, and systemic interventions to combat the menace of human trafficking and illegal migration.

The minister, therefore, stressed the need to improve access to education to break the cycle of trafficking and illegal migration.

” It remains the most powerful tool in equipping young girls with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make informed choices about their futures.

“Quality and functional university education must go beyond theory and be practical, relevant, and empowering.

” Our institutions must be intentional in preparing students – particularly young women for economic independence through.

She, therefore,urged universities and higher institutions to integrate human trafficking awareness and migration literacy into their curricula.

She also called on students, youth organisations, religious and traditional leaders, as well as CSOs to champion peer education and advocacy.

The minister reiterated government commitment towards advancing initiatives that promote education, skills development, and economic empowerment to prevent vulnerable girls from falling into the hands of traffickers.

She added that the ministry was working towards strengthening legal frameworks to review and enhance protection laws for women and children.

“The fight against illegal migration and girl-child trafficking is a fight for the soul of our nation.

” If we fail to act decisively, we risk losing an entire generation of young women to exploitation, violence, and despair,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

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