NEWS
FG Committed to Providing Accessible, Affordable Healthcare in N’Delta – Tinubu
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu has on Thursday promised that President Bola Tinubu’s administration was committed to providing accessible and affordable Health care to rural communities in the Niger Delta region and other parts of the country who have suffered neglect for years.
The first lady, while speaking during the launching of access to health insurance services for poor and vulnerable people and the commissioning of the Cottage hospital and Community School done by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in collaboration with Renewed Hope Initiative in Otuasega, Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State, added that the federal government focused is significantly aid in saving lives and ensure that the various communities receive prompt medical attention when needed in order to reduce health mortality rate in the country.
Tinubu who also flag-off the commencement of the NDDC 2025 free medical outreach and donation of medical equipments to some health facilities in the region, explained that the introduction of health insurance scheme that is specifically designed to cover rural communities in the Niger Delta will provide thousands of family with access to affordable and reliable medical care.
She said: “I am honoured to be in Bayelsa State after my first visit, and it is a great delight for me to officially flag off the NDDC medical outreach programme, health insurance scheme and the distribution of school desks, benches and textbooks in collaboration with the Renewed Hope initiative, the beneficiaries of this programme are the nine states of the Niger Delta region, namely; Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Rivers, Edo, Imo, Abia and Ondo states, with Bayelsa State graciously hosting us today.
“The NDDC/RHI collaboration began in 2024 to provide further support in critical areas of development by empowering communities and improving the quality of lives in the Niger Delta region in line with our renewed hope initiative model towards a better life for families.
“You may recall that the NDDC earlier interventions in Education provided over forty-five thousand preloaded educational tablets and textbooks to upper primary schools, junior and senior secondary school students in both urban and rural communities in all the NDDC States.
“Also, the NDDC RHI internship scheme has begun disbursing N50,000 monthly stipends to 500 pre-identified beneficiaries for a period of one year in all the nine states, through the office of the state first ladies, this is more like a conditional cash transfer.
“Today, the medical outreach programme which I was told is conducted quarterly is aimed to deliver a special health services directly to the Communities, it will address common health issues, provide preventive care and raise awareness about health concerns that is proportionately affecting rural residents, particularly in the area of maternal and child health, in addition, the donation of 11 fully equipped ambulances along with the supply of personal protective equipments to enhance healthcare delivery and emergency response, health facilities in each NDDC States, will be given one ambulance, while Bayelsa and Delta will be given two ambulances each.
“This contribution is significantly aid in saving lives and ensure that the various communities receive prompt medical attention when needed, also the introduction of health insurance scheme that is specifically designed to cover rural communities in the Niger Delta will provide thousand of family with access to affordable and reliable medical care, that is why the distribution of thirty two thousand school desks and benches to public school will ensure that children learn in more comfortable and conducive environment.
“All these initiatives are in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, particularly the priority area of education, health and social investment which aimed to build a healthiest, more educated and empowered populace.” she said.
Earlier, the Managing Director of NDDC, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, said the essence of the partnership between Renewed Hope Initiative and NDDC, is to make sure the commission deliver the dividends of development in the areas of health, education and other social services that affects women and children and the youth in the Niger Delta
He said for the past one month, NDDC has been busy commissioning road projects in the region initiated by the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu.
He said some of the key elements of the NDDC Renewed Hope Vision includes, building partnership which is a projects and programme of specific partnership with public and private institutions are key to boosting the commission’s interventions in infrastructure, transportation, agriculture, health, youth capacity development and will in turn boost regional economy and facilitate sustainable development.
Ogbuku said other areas are lightning up of Niger Delta, sustainable livelihoods, improved youth capacity and skills base, efficient and cost effective projects, amongst others.
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, appreciated the federal government for several developmental projects executed in the state, especially the linking of roads to some coastal Communities.
Diri therefore used the occasion to appeal to president Bola Ahmed Tinubu to not only start the coastal road from Lagos state but should also mobilize contractors to Calabar axis in Cross River state to fast track the project.
A Non-Governmental Organisation, MAHCare Foundation, has called for increased awareness and support to address period poverty among women and girls in the country.
The President of the foundation, Maryam Musa, made the call during a “Walk for Her Dignity” awareness campaign in Kaduna on Saturday, organised to highlight challenges surrounding menstrual hygiene and access to sanitary products.
Musa said the initiative was to educate the public on the dangers of period poverty and the health risks associated with the use of unhygienic menstrual materials.
She added that “period poverty is not something to be neglected, it is something to be tackled. Sanitary pads are so expensive that many women and girls now use unhygienic products that affect their health, education and daily activities.
”She explained that the awareness campaign would continue beyond the walk, adding that the organisation planned to distribute sanitary products to vulnerable groups and communities.
She noted that the foundation was also promoting the use of reusable sanitary pads to support girls who could not afford disposable products.
“We educate them on how to properly manage reusable pads because not everybody can afford disposable ones. We are also trying to correct misconceptions that sanitary products are against religion or culture”, she said
She added that women and girls should understand that using sanitary pads was important for their health and hygiene.
Sahura Maidoki, the Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), said the campaign was necessary to educate communities on menstrual hygiene and end the stigma surrounding menstruation.
Maidoki stressed the need to involve men in menstrual hygiene education, noting that “some parents failed to educate their daughters on proper menstrual care.
“We also have issues with some men because they do not educate their children on the importance of taking care of themselves during menstruation.”
She explained that sensitisation talks would help people to understand the importance of providing sanitary pads for their daughters and wives and ensure that menstruation was not seen as a barrier for the girl-child.
A Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) advocate, Doris Zakama, who spoke at the event said many girls, especially those in rural communities, lacked access to menstrual hygiene products and adequate education on menstrual health.
Zakama urged the government to subsidise menstrual hygiene products, make them affordable for girls and women struggling with rising cost of living.
Getting into a tertiary institution is only half the journey. Staying in school, paying fees on time, and having the right support system can be the bigger challenge. Over the past year,
OPay has stepped into that gap, not just as a fintech company, but as a partner in the ambition and aspirations of thousands of students.
Through its long-term scholarship initiative, OPay has committed N1.
2 billion over 10 years to support outstanding and indigent students across more than 20 partner tertiary institutions nationwide. What began as tuition support has grown into something more profound, a structured investment in young people who have the capacity but need financial backing to stay focused on their studies.In campuses from Ife to Zaria and Calabar, OPay scholarship beneficiaries have shared stories of relief and renewed confidence. For many, the scholarship meant their parents no longer had to borrow money for school fees. For others, it meant more time in the library and less time worrying about part-time work. In a country where education remains one of the strongest ladders to upward mobility, this kind of support goes beyond money; it restores dignity and hope.
But OPay’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) journey is not stopping at the scholarship initiative.
Building on the strong foundation already laid, OPay is launching OPay Scholars, a bold expansion that moves from financial support to full career development. The 2026 edition will introduce OPay Futures and a National Innovation Challenge, where students can propose practical solutions to real-world problems. It will also feature a focused webinar session and a bootcamp led by industry experts, providing scholars with direct access to knowledge in technology, entrepreneurship, and career growth.
Most notably, the 2026 edition will create a structured career development pathway, culminating in a grand finale of OPay’s second annual Empowering Futures Conference.
This platform will not only celebrate academic excellence but also spotlight creativity, leadership, and innovation among Nigerian students.
At a time when many young Nigerians are asking, “What next after school?”, OPay is helping to answer that question. By combining financial aid with mentorship, exposure and opportunities for innovation, the company is positioning education as both a safety net and a springboard.
OPay’s impact over the past year proves one thing clearly: when businesses invest consistently in people, communities grow stronger. And in 2026, OPay Scholars is set to support ambitions and actively shape the future, one student, one idea, and one opportunity at a time.
By Attah Ede, Makurdi
The Benue State government has debunked reports in some sections of the media including DAILY ASSET NEWSPAPER over alleged owing of Workers’ Salary.
Deputy Governor, Dr. Sam Odey who refuted the media claims on Sunday in Makurdi said the state government was only carrying out workers verification exercise, which according to him, they will be paid accordingly after the conclusion of the exercise.
Odey, who said the state government remains committed to the welfare of workers, urged media organizations to always verify the sources of their information before going public.
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