The recent disclosure by the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Owerri that over 73,000 young women in Imo State have tested positive for HIV is not just alarming, it is a national emergency. This stark figure reveals more than a health crisis; it exposes the cracks within our societal, cultural, and institutional foundations. When the future mothers of a nation are under siege from a preventable illness, the entire nation's well-being is at risk. This epidemic isn't confined to Imo State. Across Nigeria, similar trends point to a widening crisis fueled by poverty, inadequate healthcare, widespread ignorance, and a collapse of family and moral values. This isn't merely a governmental or healthcare failure, it's a reflection of systemic societal decay.

President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment to protecting the rights, dreams, and futures of every Nigerian child. The president made the statement in a message to mark the 2025 National Children’s Day. “Across every school, community, and home in Nigeria today, you are the most precious part of our national fabric, the heartbeat of our nation’s future, and the custodians of tomorrow’s promise, innovation, and leadership. “I, therefore, reaffirm today our constitutional, moral, and intergenerational duty and commitment to safeguard every Nigerian child, protect his rights, and nurture his dreams,” he said. According to Tinubu, this year’s theme, “Stand Up, Speak Up: Building a Bullying-Free Generation,” could not have been more timely as it speaks directly to the culture the country is building.

The Nigeria Labour Congress on Thursday demanded the review of the retirement age for all categories of civil servants. This is to align with conditions already granted to selected sectors. Speaking during the May Day celebration at Eagle Square in Abuja on Thursday, NLC President Joe Ajaero made the appeal. While presenting some of the demands of the NLC, Ajaero said, “It is imperative to extend the revised retirement age of 65 years or 40 years of service currently enjoyed by teachers, health professionals, and judges to all public servants.”