Northern Nigeria is going through one of the most challenging periods in its contemporary history. Insecurity remains widespread, unemployment continues to rise, and political fragmentation deepens the region’s vulnerability. At a time when the North is desperately searching for direction, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko’s message at the 25th anniversary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) offered not just a reminder of what has gone wrong, but a blueprint for what must be done. Speaking in Kaduna during the ACF celebration, Wamakko declared that “the North must now move together in unison as against what was happening hitherto.” It was a…
Author: TheStories
The Vice Chancellor of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), Prof. Bashir Garba, has assured that his institution will continue to support the Northwest University, Sokoto (NWUS) as its NUC-appointed academic mentor. In the same vein, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Professor Sabir Anas, has pledged to support NWUS in all areas of need. Professors Garba and Anas pledged when the Vice Chancellor of NWUS, Professor Mukhtar Umar Bunza, led a delegation on separate courtesy visits to UDUS and UDUTH on Thursday. “We are delighted to have you in our midst as the Vice…
This reflection is about a belief many Africans have carried for generations: the conviction that somewhere in our bloodline lies an extraordinary force like mystical, physical, or ancestral power that should naturally place us at an advantage in moments of crisis, conflict, or competition. If this power were as absolute as we were raised to believe, then Africa ought to dominate not only its own destiny but global arenas in events like sports, creativity, warfare, resilience, and the ability to confront hardship with a kind of supernatural ease. For centuries, especially in Nigeria, we were fed stories coated with enchantment…
The answer is far more profound than simply “bringing a child home.” It is a journey of re-creating meaning, rebuilding identity, and reclaiming hope. This truth surfaced vividly in a recent emotional outburst online. A desperate cry came from a childless woman who, behind her seemingly confident appearance, confessed to battling an emptiness that had quietly eroded her from within. Her story struck the internet like a quiet storm: “I may look strong, but I’m empty inside.” In her trembling voice, one could hear the echo of a pain many bear silently. The woman, Chinenyenwa, had married in her twenties,…
In recent times, my worry for Nigeria has grown heavier than ever. The first question that haunts me is simple yet unsettling: when people relentlessly announce that “genocide is happening in Nigeria,” how exactly do they imagine this helps a divided, polarized, and fragile nation? Are they trying to heal it, or to prepare its final grave? Their proclamations often read like an obituary written too early, a dirge so loud that it summons the very death it mourns. Rather than easing pain, these messages deepen fear, insecurity, captivity, and helplessness, leaving citizens, even the powerful, feeling exposed and abandoned.…
Public conversations about insecurity in Nigeria almost always collapse into one familiar argument: religion. From claims of an “Islamic agenda” to talk of “Christian persecution” or “Fulani jihad,” the narrative is often reduced to faith — a simple, emotional explanation for a complex national tragedy. But these labels, though loud and deeply internalised, miss the real story. Worse still, they are tearing apart communities that have lived side by side, shared food, and raised families together for generations. The uncomfortable truth is this: Nigeria’s insecurity is not a religious war. It is a criminal economy — organised, protected, and sustained…
In the annals of human history, there exist moments that crystallize the essence of bravery and selflessness. One such moment unfolded in the state of Kebbi, Nigeria, when the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, led a delegation to express solidarity with the government and citizens following the tragic abduction of students from GGCSS Maga and the heart-wrenching loss of Vice-Principal Malam Hassan Makuku. This incident, marked by profound sorrow, also illuminated the extraordinary courage exhibited by an individual who epitomized the values of public service and sacrifice. Malam Makuku’s actions on that fateful day serve as a…
Special Adviser to the President of the Senate on Diaspora and NGOs, Dr. Jibril Lawal Tafida, has reiterated the urgent need to integrate youth and women into Nigeria’s governance structure, describing their inclusion as critical to the survival and success of the country’s democracy. Delivering a keynote address at the Youth and Women Inclusiveness in Governance summit, organized by the Coalition of Northern Youth and Women for Good Governance, Dr. Tafida called for immediate policy reforms to dismantle the systemic barriers preventing meaningful participation of young people and women in national leadership. The event was held at the Sir Ahmadu…
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has honoured Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko (Sarkin Yamman Sokoto) with its Distinguished Service Award as the Forum marked its 25th Anniversary in Kaduna. The award was presented during the ACF Silver Jubilee celebration held at the Musa Yar’adua Conference Hall, Murtala Muhammad Square, and attended by prominent political leaders, business figures and statesmen. In his remarks, Senator Wamakko expressed appreciation to the ACF for the recognition, describing the award as “a historic honour” and a reflection of collective efforts toward societal development. He commended the Forum for consistently identifying and celebrating individuals dedicated to humanitarian…
UNICEF has introduced suggestion boxes and help desks in every ward across Zamfara State as part of a renewed push to strengthen feedback, accountability, and service delivery in the state’s health and nutrition sectors. The intervention follows the organisation’s latest assessment, which revealed persistent gaps affecting child survival, nutrition delivery, and education outcomes. The initiative was unveiled on Wednesday by Ms Wafaa Saeed, UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria, during a field engagement visit that highlighted weak feedback mechanisms, growing community dissatisfaction with Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) services, and lapses in monitoring critical nutrition supplies. A major concern highlighted by UNICEF…