Cuban scientists have reached a potentially significant milestone in the country’s long-running effort to develop home-grown cancer treatments, with an experimental drug known as 2C12 ready to enter clinical testing in patients suffering from advanced melanoma. The candidate was developed by researchers at Cuba’s Center for Molecular Immunology (CIM) and is designed around an approach similar to that used by pembrolizumab, an established immune-checkpoint therapy used internationally against several cancers, including unresectable or metastatic melanoma. The development is attracting attention because 2C12 is moving beyond laboratory research towards testing in human beings — the stage at which its safety, tolerability…
Author: Abimbola Ogunaike
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Former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, has challenged the Abia State Government to move beyond the construction of physical infrastructure and build strong institutions, capable public servants and systems that will sustain development long after individual political leaders leave office. Chidoka, founder and Chancellor of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, made the call ahead of his keynote address marking the 35th anniversary of the creation of Abia State, scheduled for Thursday in Umuahia. The lecture, titled “Abia at 35: The Rise of a New Abia,” is expected to provide a broader assessment of the state’s development journey while…
By Mohammad Toyeeb Abdulsalam A Nigerian student walks through Xiaoying Lane and finds a different answer to a question his own country is still asking, thegazellenews.com reports There were old women sitting around a wooden table when I walked in, not waiting, not idle, working, their hands moved through thread and shell with a quiet confidence that comes from years of doing something the same way, and they were laughing, not performing happiness for the visitors but actually laughing, in the middle of the afternoon, in a room that had been built specifically for them in a neighbourhood that had decided they…
Nigeria’s healthcare and emergency response capacity is set for a boost as Israel has donated a first batch of ambulances, medical equipment and wheelchairs to the country in what officials described as a demonstration of the growing humanitarian and health partnership between the two nations. The consignment was handed over at the Port of Ashdod, Israel, with Nigeria’s newly appointed Ambassador to Israel, Ambassador Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu, receiving the items on behalf of Nigeria. The development comes barely three weeks after Ufochukwu formally assumed her diplomatic assignment in Israel, following the presentation of her Letters of Credence to Israeli President…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed deep sadness over the sudden death of Mr Dotun Oladipo, former Political Editor of The Punch newspaper and Publisher of The Eagle Online, describing his death as a painful loss to Nigeria’s media industry and the nation at large. President Tinubu acknowledged the deceased’s contributions to journalism, particularly his years of dedicated service in political reporting and his commitment to providing Nigerians with credible information through both traditional and digital media platforms. The President said Oladipo’s professional career reflected the important role journalists play in strengthening democracy by informing citizens, holding public officials accountable and providing…
By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has agreed to restrict teenagers from using its apps at night and impose a default two-hour daily limit on their combined use of the platforms. The measures formed part of a $16.7 billion settlement reached with US states over allegations that Meta deliberately designed its platforms to keep young users engaged, misled the public about the associated risks and unlawfully collected data from children under 13. Under the settlement, Meta will block teenagers from accessing its apps during designated nighttime hours, while their combined daily use across the…
By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola Okin Biscuits has resumed production at its factory in Offa, Kwara State, with biscuits rolling off one of its rehabilitated production lines for the first time in 17 years. The company announced the development on Wednesday, 26 August, 2026 through its official Facebook handle, describing the production milestone as a major step towards returning its products to the Nigerian market. Okin Biscuits said the production line was rebuilt after its cables, frequency drives, contactors, motors and other electronic components were stolen, leaving the facility unable to operate. The company, however, noted that further testing, calibration and…
By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola Veteran actor Dele Odule has mourned the death of his colleague and longtime friend, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, describing him as a brother whose contributions to Nigerian theatre and film would remain indelible. Odule, in a tribute following Hassan’s death and burial, said their friendship spanned nearly 40 years, growing from the days when they were young men navigating life into a bond of brotherhood. Recalling their relationship, Odule said neither of them could have imagined that their friendship would endure for decades and become one of the most cherished relationships of his life.…
By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola The Federal Government has introduced a N365 million annual National Laureate Prize to reward exceptional research, innovation and intellectual excellence among students and researchers in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, unveiled the initiative on Wednesday, 26 August, 2026, in Abuja, as part of efforts to reposition universities, polytechnics and colleges of education as centres of research, innovation, enterprise and national development rather than institutions focused mainly on awarding certificates. The Tertiary Institutions National Laureate Prize, according to Alausa, will provide national recognition and financial rewards for academic works capable of addressing…
The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a suspected drug dealer, Aliyu Suleman, 23, and recovered Sixty-Four bottles of Methylene Chloride, alongside 17 pieces of rubber solution, from him. The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, 26 August, 2026 by its spokesperson, Nafiu Habib, who said the arrest formed part of its efforts to combat drug abuse and safeguard public health. Operatives of the Vehicle Crime Response Unit arrested Suleman, a resident of the Tudun Salmanu area of the state, during an intelligence-led operation at Bayan Gari in the Bauchi metropolis on Tuesday, 25 August 2026, at…