Nigeria

How cellphones reduced maternal deaths in Nigeria

Eugene Ohu | 03 February 2013

Ondo State in western Nigeria is leading a two-year revolution through the astute use of communication and technology. By distributing cell phones to poor pregnant women in rural areas, it has reduced maternal and infant mortality by 30%. While lobbyists and nations with population agendas are busy bandying doubtful statistics about the causes of maternal and child deaths, officials from this little state of 3.4 million people, located 100km from Lagos, discovered why so many women were dying.

Boko Haram Declares a Cease Fire: Really?

Nwachukwu Egbunike | 30 January 2013

Boko Haram recently announced a cease fire in its violent campaign in Nigeria. Since 2009, Boko Haram has created a fountain of blood, bullets and bombs, claiming over 1,000 deaths. Although the announcement may have momentarily doused tense nerves, it has not translated into a national jubilation. The reasons are legion.

Nigeria sticks to traditional values over same-sex marriage, says Senate President

Eugene Ohu | 28 January 2013

Nigeria is set to criminalize same-sex unions, and defaulters when convicted will spend 14 years in jail. This is contained in a bill which has passed all required readings in the senate and should soon be signed into law by Nigeria’s president Goodluck Jonathan. Many nations of the West such as the United States are worried by this and since the announcement of this bill early 2012, have been mounting pressures, overt and subtle on the Nigerian government and legislators, to kill the bill.