In a world where communication is supposed to be easier than ever, misunderstandings still thrive and at the heart of many of them lies one quiet but powerful culprit: assumption . Assumptions have taken more from us than we often care to admit. They have shattered meaningful relationships, weakened friendships, disrupted beautiful unions, and even derailed dreams that once held so much promise.  Many things that were meant to last have ended, not because of truth, but because of what people thought was true. I remember one time, I had a health challenge and received help from someone. It was a moment that required support, and thankfully, help came.  However, what should have remained a simple act of kindness became something else in the eyes of onlookers. People who did not understand the situation began to interpret it through their own lenses. Their assumptions became visible, not just in whispers, but in their expressions, their tone, and even their greeting...

On the morning of 19 November 2025, a frantic call reached the Advocacy desk of CSAAE, which I manage as the advocacy officer. A group of university students in Eziobodo, a community that hosts parts of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), reported that a newborn baby, barely 18 hours old, was on the brink of being trafficked. It was a distress signal that would unravel one of the most disturbing trends quietly spreading across Owerri West LGA of Imo State and Southeast in general: The targeted trafficking of newborns delivered by young, vulnerable girls. Precious, a 20-year-old 200-level student, left her home in Mbaise determined to make her family proud. But her dreams began to crumble when she discovered she was pregnant. Like many girls in similar situations, she hid the pregnancy out of fear. A medical abnormality known as cryptic pregnancy meant she still saw her period and showed few physical signs until she was already five months in. When she final...

In a bold effort to tackle food insecurity and promote eco-friendly agriculture, Favour John, a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the Federal Capital Territory, has trained 50 women and youth from Wassa Community and the Wassa IDP Camp on sustainable and organic farming practices.  The three-day community impact project, themed “Green Futures: Sustainable Agriculture for Improved Livelihood and Climate Action,” was implemented in partnership with the Heinrich Böll Stiftung (HBS) Abuja, Be The Help Foundation (BHF Agroforestry Farms), and the Alliance for Action on Pesticides in Nigeria (AAPN).  Held from October 24–26, 2025, at the Wassa Community Palace Compound, the project empowered participants with practical skills in organic farming, pesticide-free crop production, and climate-smart agricultural methods, while also addressing behavioral change towards safer, healthier, and more sustainable food systems.  Day 1: Raising Awarenes...

  The federal government's vision to establish a well-coordinated and regulated drug distribution system across Nigeria is one of the most vital reforms in our healthcare sector.  Designed to eliminate the chaos of open drug markets and improve public health outcomes, the Coordinated Wholesale Center (CWC) project was meant to bring order, safety, and accountability into the pharmaceutical supply chain. CWCs are designated hubs where pharmaceutical wholesalers can operate under strict regulation, ensuring the quality and safety of drugs sold to the Nigerian public.  In 2012, the federal government approved four pilot locations for the CWC project: Sabongari drug market in Kano, Idumota in Lagos, Headbridge in Onitsha, and Ariaria market in Aba. Today, Sabongari in Kano has successfully relocated and is operational. Onitsha and Aba have made significant progress. But Lagos, the commercial nerve center of Nigeria, has become the tragic exception. In Lagos, about 902 Idumota...

 By Blessing Iriaka In the grand theatre of Nigerian journalism, few names shine as brightly and consistently as Motunrayo Alaka. A woman of vision, conviction, and unmatched determination, she has carved a distinct path in the world of investigative journalism, leading not just with titles but with integrity and purpose.  Her journey reminds us that success is not a sprint, it is a marathon paved with consistency, sacrifices, and dreams too loud to ignore. The Spark from Secondary School Motunrayo's story began long before press passes and global fellowships. As a young student in secondary school, she found her first love, journalism.  It was during her time in the school press club, mentored by a teacher who also worked with the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation, that she learned the basics of news writing.  That early exposure left an imprint on her heart. The press club wasn’t just an extracurricular activity, it was the compass that pointed her future. A Deto...

By Innocent Sunday Okeke  The recent coordinated attempts by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu to pressure Governor Alex Otti into defecting from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC) should be condemned in the strongest terms. This desperate ploy is not just an assault on Governor Otti’s administration but a brazen insult to the collective will of Abians who voted for a new direction after enduring over two decades of failure, deception, and outright betrayal under the leadership of these same men and their cronies. It represents the clearest indication yet that the old political order, sensing its own irrelevance, is determined to use every weapon at its disposal; blackmail, manipulation, and propaganda, to pull Abia back into the cesspool of corrupt governance.  These men, whose records in public office are littered with scandal and ineptitude, are now arrogantly attempting to dictate the direction of a government that has been perfor...

  Every profession has its pathfinders, men and women whose footprints in the sands of time show others the way. In journalism, a field built on courage, curiosity, and commitment to the truth, veterans are not just professionals, they are living legacies. Welcome to the maiden edition of “Knowing the Veterans”, a weekly series I’m incredibly passionate about. Each weekend, we’ll profile one veteran journalist, both living and late, whose work, journey, and wisdom continue to inspire the media industry. This is not just a tribute, it’s an archive, a mentorship resource, and a window into the souls of those who have held the line for journalism in Nigeria and beyond. Why did I start this? Because stories matter and the stories of our veterans need to be told, not only in passing comments at media gatherings but in documented, inspiring detail. I want young and aspiring journalists to learn from those who came before their struggles, innovations, sacrifices, and triumphs. ...

 On the 14th of April 2025, the Office of the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Electronic and Creative Media, in collaboration with Africa Check, convened an intergenerational dialogue in Owerri, Imo State.  Themed “Amplifying Youth Voices and Accelerating Action Against Disinformation and Misinformation”, the event was held at Hotel the Copperfield and brought together journalists, bloggers, social media influencers, and security agencies including the Nigerian Police, Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigerian Correctional Service. The event served as a timely intervention in the era of digital misinformation, bringing stakeholders together to discuss practical ways to curb its spread.  One of the key facilitators, Dr. Ngozi Chuma-Umeh, Associate Professor of Law at Imo State University, highlighted the dangers and legal implications of misinformation and disinformation. She reminded participants, especially media professionals, of the risks of libel, slander, and defa...

Have you ever stared death in the face,not because you committed a crime, but simply because you were trying to make ends meet? This is Emmanuel Godwin’s story. A Bolt driver in Owerri, Imo State.  A hardworking Nigerian youth, one of the countless young men who have refused to go into crime, who’ve chosen to sweat rather than scam, who rise every morning with hope in their hearts and a steering wheel in their hands. On the night of April 3rd, 2025, around 8:02 p.m., at the Chukwuma Nwaoha roundabout in Owerri, Emma’s only crime was not having cash on him. That’s it. Stopped by a Nigerian Army officer allegedly attached to the 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, Emmanuel was asked to "find money" a coded phrase for “bribe me or face trouble.”  But Emma had no cash. As an Uber/Bolt driver, he explained that he could make a transfer instead. But the soldier refused. Apparently, he wasn’t in the mood for mobile banking, he wanted raw cash. Emma tried to reason with him, to show that h...

By Blessing Iriaka The sixth edition of the Report Women Fellowship, a flagship initiative of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), officially commenced on April 2, 2025, with a powerful call to action: to elevate women’s leadership in newsrooms and society at large. The three-day training brought together 12 exceptional female journalists selected from a competitive pool of 160 applicants across diverse media platforms in Nigeria. According to the organisers, the core objective of the fellowship is to improve the leadership status of women in news, within newsrooms, and across broader societal structures.  Since its inception in 2014, the Report Women Fellowship has consistently empowered female reporters with the skills, confidence, and strategic tools to ascend to top-tier leadership positions within the media industry. Speaking at the opening session, the WSCIJ management emphasized that the focus of this 6th edition is to equip participants for C-suite ...

  Blessing Bliss In 2013, I was a Senior Secondary (S.S.) 2 student preparing for my promotional exams. Like many students, I was eager to advance to the next class, looking forward to new challenges and opportunities. That same year, the people of Abba community in Nwangele Local Government Area, Imo State, shared a similar sense of anticipation. The community, along with Nkwerre, Njaba, and Isu, had just received news of an ICT Centre project, one that promised to bridge the digital divide, create job opportunities, and equip youths with vital technological skills. For the first time in years, mothers praised Chukwu Okike Abiama for remembering their community. Parents envisioned employment opportunities for their children, while young people dreamt of acquiring digital skills in the promised hub. However, 12 years later, the ICT Centre remains nothing more than an abandoned structure, an unfulfilled promise lost in the shadows of corruption, mismanagement, and neglect. I...

Imo State, a tropical region in southeastern Nigeria, is known for its abundant water bodies. From the famous Imo River to Otammiri, Onu Ukwu in Owerri North, Njaba River, Orashi River, and Oguta Lake, these natural blessings have long set the state apart from neighboring Enugu and Anambra, where access to water can be as difficult as climbing onto a camel’s back without help. For years, these rivers and streams have been the lifeline of farmers in Imo State. Many cultivate their farmlands near these water sources, ensuring they can grow crops in and out of season. Unlike their counterparts who rely solely on rainfall, these riverside farmers enjoy year-round farming. Corn, a crop typically associated with the rainy season, thrives even in the dry season, thanks to the consistent water supply. The farmers, a mix of full-time agriculturalists, retirees, and pensioners, depend entirely on their harvests for survival. Some specialize in growing lush, green curry leaves, which th...