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First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Calls For Innovative Health Financing In Africa, Says “Foreign Aid Unsustainable”

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1 month ago

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Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady, has stated that Africa needs to develop creative financing strategies tailored to its distinct challenges in order to build a strong healthcare system.

A statement released on Friday by Busola Kukoyi, the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the First Lady, revealed that Oluremi made these comments during a high-level meeting on domestic health financing, organized by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda at the 38th African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Oluremi emphasized that without guaranteed access to essential healthcare for Africans, the continent’s efforts to achieve economic growth will remain unfulfilled.

“Africa cannot continue to rely solely on donor funding and foreign aid, which, although helpful, are often unpredictable and unsustainable,” the statement reads.

Instead, we must develop innovative financing strategies tailored to our unique challenges and circumstances.

“Given the increasing funding gap for health on the continent, I urge us all to come together and commit to advocating for increased national health budgets.”

The First Lady noted that, in light of recent policy changes in the US, Africa must seek local and sustainable solutions to fill its funding gap.

On January 20, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the US from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Trump also froze funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which supports most health institutions in Africa.

With this freeze, the World Health Organisation (WHO) projects a significant rise in health crises across the continent.

However, the President’s wife stressed the need for effective resource mobilization and use to ensure short, medium, and long-term impacts, stating that the health of the people is key to the continent’s prosperity.

“In line with the Abuja Declaration, our governments should allocate at least 15% of their budgetary allocations to health,” Oluremi said.

“We must also support innovative financing mechanisms and explore sustainable models, such as expanding health insurance coverage, health endowment funds, and investments from the African diaspora.

“Accountability and transparency must be ensured, as funds allocated to health must be used efficiently and effectively.”

The event saw the participation of presidents and heads of state from several African countries, including Rwanda, Ethiopia, Botswana, Kenya, Senegal, Zimbabwe, and Barbados, as well as donor agencies and funding partners, discussing global and regional approaches to domestic health financing in Africa.

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BIG STORY

BREAKING: Nigeria’s Inflation Rate Drops To 23.18%

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4 hours ago

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March 17, 2025

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The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has reported a decrease in Nigeria’s inflation rate, which fell to 23.18% in February from 24.48% in January.

The announcement was made in the February 2025 Consumer Price Index (CPI) released by the NBS on Monday.

According to the bureau, the headline inflation rate in February increased slightly by “1.30% points when compared to the January 2025 headline inflation rate.”

The NBS stated:

“In February 2025, the Headline inflation rate eased to 23.18% relative to the January 2025 headline inflation rate of 24.48%.”

“Looking at the movement, the February 2025 Headline inflation rate showed a decrease of 1.30% compared to the January 2025 Headline inflation rate.”

On a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 8.52% lower than the 31.70% recorded in February 2024.

The NBS further noted:

“This shows that the Headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) decreased in February 2025 compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., February 2024), though with a different base year, November 2009 = 100.”

Additionally, the month-on-month inflation rate for February 2025 was recorded at 2.04%.

 

More to come…

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Rivers Assembly Accuses Fubara, Deputy Of Misconduct, Issues Notice

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8 hours ago

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March 17, 2025

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The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued a notice accusing Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, of alleged misconduct.

A total of twenty-six members of the assembly made these allegations against Fubara in a notice submitted to Speaker Martin Amaewhule on Monday.

According to the lawmakers, their actions are based on “Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and other existing laws.”

They accused Fubara of various offenses, including unconstitutional and reckless spending of public funds, hindering the Assembly’s activities, and appointing individuals to government positions without undergoing the required screening and confirmation.

Additional allegations include withholding salaries, allowances, and funds designated for the Rivers State House of Assembly, as well as blocking the salary of Clerk Emeka Amadi.

The lawmakers also accused Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu of “conniving and supporting the illegal appointment of persons to government positions without the required screening and confirmation.”

After receiving the notice, Amaewhule forwarded it to Fubara, stating that the allegations had been brought forward by “not less than one-third (1/3) of the membership of the Rivers State House of Assembly.”

He then urged the governor to respond to the allegations, citing Section 188(3) of the Constitution, which states, “Within 14 days of the presentation of the notice to the Speaker of the House of Assembly (whether or not any statement made by the holder of the office in reply to the allegation contained in the notice), the House of Assembly shall resolve by motion, without any debate, whether or not the allegation shall be investigated.”

Amaewhule further advised the governor to take appropriate action and extended his “esteemed regards.”

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BREAKING: Lagos Court Orders Oba Otudeko To Appear For ‘N30bn Fraud’ Trial

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10 hours ago

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March 17, 2025

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The Federal High Court in Lagos has instructed Oba Otudeko to appear before the court and enter a plea in response to the charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The directive was issued on Monday by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke.

The EFCC had previously filed a 13-count charge against Otudeko and three others over an alleged N30 billion loan fraud.

During the proceedings, the judge ruled that Otudeko must take his plea before the court could address an application contesting its jurisdiction in the matter.

The case has been adjourned to May 8.

 

More to come…

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