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Remi Tinubu Flags Off Historic Measles-Rubella Vaccine Campaign, Targets 100 Million Children.
According to Nivo News, Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Monday inaugurated the National Measles-Rubella Vaccine Introduction Integrated Campaign in Abuja, describing the initiative as a renewed national commitment to end preventable childhood diseases and secure the nation’s future.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The First Lady emphasized that the campaign marks a bold declaration by Nigeria to say “No More” to diseases that threaten children’s lives. She explained that measles and rubella remain leading causes of blindness, disability, and child mortality, noting that rubella infections during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects such as blindness, deafness, and heart disorders.
She highlighted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at ensuring every Nigerian child enjoys a healthy start in life. The First Lady appealed to mothers to take their children for vaccination and to fathers to support them, stating, “A vaccine in a vial does not save a child until it is administered.”
Senator Tinubu called on traditional and religious leaders to help dispel misinformation, stressing their influence in driving public trust, just as they did during the successful HPV vaccine rollout. She pledged to work closely with State First Ladies, wives of local government chairmen, and women’s groups to ensure no child is left unprotected.
Commending the Federal Ministry of Health, NPHCDA, WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, and the Gates Foundation for their collaboration, she assured Nigerians that the vaccines are “safe, effective, and free,” adding that the campaign represents “a pathway to hope and a promise of progress.”
The nationwide exercise aims to reach over 106 million children aged 9 months to under 15 years, in what the Coordinating Minister of Health, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, described as the largest integrated health campaign in Africa. Pate stated that the initiative would cover vaccines against measles, rubella, polio, HPV, and other preventable diseases.
He noted that the Renewed Hope Agenda has revitalized Nigeria’s healthcare delivery, with primary healthcare visits rising from 10 million per quarter in 2023 to 47 million in 2025. The government, he said, plans to make an additional 4,800 PHCs functional before the end of the year.
In his remarks, Pate praised the First Lady for her dedication to maternal and child health and lauded traditional and religious leaders for supporting immunization efforts. “The children we vaccinate today will define the health legacy of this generation,” he stated.
Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, also emphasized the link between health and education, warning school administrators against obstructing vaccination teams. “A healthy child is a teachable child,” he said, pledging his ministry’s full support for the campaign.
Representatives of development partners reaffirmed their commitment to Nigeria’s public health agenda. Gavi’s Senior Programme Manager for Nigeria, Tarcile Mballa, announced a $103 million support package for the campaign, while the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation reaffirmed its long-term investment in Nigeria’s health sector.
Traditional and religious leaders also expressed strong support. The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, stressed the need for greater awareness about rubella, describing it as a “silent but deadly disease.” The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, urged advocacy rather than enforcement, recalling that Nigeria defeated polio through education and community engagement.
Similarly, CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, commended the initiative as a vital step toward reducing childhood deaths and strengthening public health systems.
The integrated campaign, which combines measles-rubella, polio, and HPV vaccines, represents one of the largest child health efforts in Nigerian history, uniting government, partners, and communities under a shared goal—to protect every child and safeguard the nation’s future.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed that his push for an opposition coalition was initially rejected by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the disclosure during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, where he reflected on events following the PDP’s defeat in the 2023 presidential election. According to him, he warned party leaders after the election that the PDP could struggle politically without forming alliances with other opposition forces. “To be honest, I was one of the major initiators of this coalition. After the PDP lost the last election, I told the party clearly that I did not see a future for the PDP without a coalition,” he said. Atiku said his advice was rejected at the time, despite his conviction that Nigeria’s political history had shown the importance of alliances. “They disagreed with me then. I have studied Nigeria’s political transition over the years and saw how previous alliances worked, so it was not difficult for me to foresee this,” he stated. The former vice president added that his support for coalition politics was also influenced by his desire to encourage the emergence of younger leaders he believes are vital to Nigeria’s future. “I saw some of these younger politicians as the future leaders of this country, and I felt it was my duty to point that out,” he said. However, Atiku claimed the resistance he encountered within the party was driven more by personal feelings than by disagreement over the substance of his proposal. “They disagreed with me simply because they did not want to see my face, not because of what I was suggesting,” he said. Atiku added that recent political developments have now vindicated his position on the need for a broad opposition alliance ahead of future elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will first pursue a consensus arrangement before considering a primary election for its 2027 presidential ticket.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made this known during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday while discussing the party’s leadership and strategy ahead of the next general election.
He said he is open to backing a consensus candidate if that becomes the party’s collective decision, stressing that such support should not be interpreted as stepping aside.
“It is not about stepping aside, but whether I am willing to support, and yes, I will,” Atiku said.
According to him, the ADC’s first priority is to build internal unity and reach an agreement among stakeholders before considering a competitive primary process.
“Our first option will be to work out a consensus. If that doesn’t happen, then of course we will explore other options. And yes, I will support whoever eventually emerges,” he stated.
Atiku also expressed confidence in the political experience within the party, saying he believes a consensus is achievable and may make a full-scale primary contest unnecessary.
“That remains our preferred path. We will go for primaries if consensus fails, but I honestly do not expect it to get to that stage because we are dealing with mature and experienced politicians,” he added.
His comments come amid growing political consultations and coalition talks as parties begin to position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has significantly strengthened his chances of winning the 2027 presidential election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday. Speaking on what makes his latest presidential bid different from previous attempts, Atiku said the ADC coalition brings together key political figures from across major parties, including the APC, PDP and Labour Party. He described the alliance as a broader and more strategic political arrangement ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to him, the coalition has created a stronger platform that improves his prospects. “Now, we have a broader coalition — a combination of APC, PDP and LP — which gives me a better chance of becoming president in 2027,” he said. Atiku also noted that the coalition reflects both experience and generational inclusion, which he said shows a clear succession plan. “You see people of my generation, and you see younger people coming behind us, so you can clearly see a succession pattern,” he added. Meanwhile, Atiku described former President Goodluck Jonathan as a decent but inexperienced leader. According to him, Jonathan’s lack of experience contributed to shortcomings in governance and played a role in his defeat in the 2015 presidential election. “I know Goodluck Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but he was also inexperienced, and that contributed to his failure in managing the affairs of the country,” Atiku said. He made the remarks while stressing the need for experienced and capable leadership in Nigeria.
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