By Blessing Iriaka In many communities across Nigeria, conversations about development often begin and end with what government has failed to do. Roads remain neglected, public spaces deteriorate, and environmental concerns continue to affect the daily lives of residents.   Yet, amid these familiar challenges, a group of young people in Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State is demonstrating that community development is not solely the responsibility of government. On October 10, 2026, members of the Orluzurumee Youth Assembly (OYA), Ideato North Chapter, took a practical step toward addressing a local concern by organizing a road-clearing exercise along the Akokwa-Arondizuogu Road near High School, Akokwa . The initiative, conducted under the theme "Safe Roads, Safe Communities," sought to tackle the overgrown vegetation that had gradually encroached on sections of the road, creating visibility challenges and discomfort for motorists and other road users. While...

  Okparaku Josephine A child is supposed to be protected, cared for, and given the opportunity to grow, learn, and build a future. But for some children in Imo State, this is not their reality. Trafficking does not always involve strangers kidnapping children. Sometimes, children are taken by people they know or people who pretend to want to help them. In 2025 alone, the Imo State Police Command rescued 12 children between the ages of 5 and 13 who were allegedly being trafficked from Ngor-Okpala to Aba and forced into street begging. In Imo State, child trafficking happens in different ways. Some families as a result of poverty and economic hardship allow their children to go stay with relatives, who they trust to give their children the best care, but in turn these children are brought to the city to undergo child labor, sex exploitation and other forms of child abuse. Teenage girls are particularly vulnerable to trafficking. Some are promised jobs, education or better lives but l...

  By Adediran Ayomide Lagos, Nigeria — October 3, 2026.  The Sustainable Futures Development Initiative (SUFDI) mobilised residents, volunteers and community stakeholders for a large-scale environmental sanitation exercise covering 10 streets in Ijora-Badia, Lagos State, as part of efforts to promote cleaner neighbourhoods, healthier living conditions and greater community responsibility for environmental protection. The exercise, held on Saturday, October 3, 2026, formed part of Nigeria Cleanup Day 2026, a nationwide environmental action campaign convened by the Africa CleanUp Initiative (ACI). Organised under the theme “Clean Ijora, Breathe Better: From Cleanup to Community Action,” the intervention combined street cleaning, community environmental awareness and air-quality assessment to address sanitation challenges while encouraging long-term behavioural change. During the exercise, volunteers and community residents worked across 10 streets, removing accumulated refuse an...