The Niger State Government has decried the paucity of data to aid research in health conditions affecting women.

It urged health-related agencies and the federal government to deploy resources as well as funds to build up a database to enhance research into the health conditions of the black woman.

The Niger State Commissioner for Health, Murtala Bagana, made this known during a stakeholders’ engagement and media interaction on the need to prioritise women’s menstrual and reproductive health through evidence-based research and policy leadership put together by Youterus Health in collaboration with White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria

In a chat with newsmen, Bagana lamented what he termed “years of inadequate attention to women’s health by policymakers and government institutions”, and stressed that the research conducted by White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria would help policymakers better understand and address long-standing health challenges faced by women.

“Niger State will be part of the entire exercise of the White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria. As a commissioner and with my team, we want to be involved in field research because we are the ones who will ultimately implement the findings.

“The state will advocate for the adoption of the research findings at the National Council on Health meeting scheduled for November 2026. I hope to champion discussions on the outcome of the study,” he said

The Commissioner commended Youterus Health and White Ribbon for their engagement with the state and for raising awareness on women’s reproductive health challenges.

The Chief Executive Officer of Youtherus Health, Dr Fatou Wurie and the Executive Director of White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria, Chief Tonte Ibraye, in their remarks, noted that issues related to African Women’s health are being shrouded in secrecy due to inadequate data.

“Because of the inadequate data on African Women’s Uterine health burden, issues related to African Women’s health have been shrouded in secrecy,

“However, an African-led company, Youterus Health and civil society White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria are calling for tailored research on African women’s womb health. It is past time to unmute the womb, they said.

The Youtherus Health boss added that women’s health should be given priority as it concerns developing data to aid research

“Nigerian women tend to develop fibroids at a younger age compared to women in Western countries. While the average age range in Western populations is between 40 and 46 years, Nigerian women develop fibroids much earlier, between 35 and 37 years.

“57.4 per cent of Nigerian adolescent girls experience heavy menstrual bleeding, and the average delay between the onset of symptoms and seeking medical care exceeds 20 years.

“The absence of a national screening programme, patient registries to track outcomes, and dedicated research funding for uterine health in Nigeria, women’s health remains under-prioritised, under-researched and under-measured,” Wurie stressed.

Popular Nigerian photographer and biker, Orowole Kolapoz, widely known as Kola Onifoto, has died following a lone motorcycle accident in Lagos.

The 32-year-old travel enthusiast and brand influencer was reportedly involved in the crash on Sunday during what he described as his first solo motorcycle trip outside Lagos.

Just hours before the accident, Kola had shared on his official Facebook page that he was heading to Akure on his bike. “Big shout out to those who have ridden their bikes to every state in this country, to Africa, and across the world, especially women. My eye see wheeen,” he wrote on Sunday, March 1, 2026.

Friends later disclosed online that he had been involved in the accident and was initially rushed to the emergency unit of the Federal Road Safety Corps at 7UP, Ojota. He was subsequently transferred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, where well-wishers continued to pray for his recovery on social media.

Tragically, Kola succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of Monday, March 2.

News of his death sparked an outpouring of tributes and emotional reactions from friends, colleagues, and followers. Facebook user Georgiana Onyinye wrote, “We prayed, we cried, and hoped to hear better news, but unfortunately, death had other plans. Kola fought so hard. You tried to stay alive, but death had other plans. You will be greatly remembered. Rest easy, K.”

Details surrounding the exact cause of the crash remain sketchy. In January, Kola had celebrated achieving his dream of becoming a biker, sharing a photo of himself posing beside his new motorcycle.

Victoria Ayagwu also mourned his passing while reacting to the news of his death on Facebook.

“All the posts was just me keeping my hopes up and hoping on miracle..oooooooo because I heard from his closest friend yesterday night that he’s gone, he died on the spot. I don’t know why we are here at all. Kola spoilt my night and my whole day,” she wrote.

“Hot tears rolled down my cheeks. Haven’t had any encounter with him, but the way he fights for people drew me closer to his page. Goodnight Mr Kola,” Emmanuel Collins wrote.

Naomi Balogun, who claimed to have just started showing interest in his write-up, also wrote: “I have never felt so bad about a stranger’s death like I felt for you. I hope it’s not true. I just started having an interest in your writeups. This breaks my heart. I’m not a close relation, and I am already physically down, how much more people close to you. Oh! What is life?”

The spokesperson for the Lagos Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Oluwadamilola Jayeola, did not respond to calls made to her telephone line.  A text message sent to her had yet to be replied to as of the time this report was filed.