The Kano State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating the mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B and Syphilis through improved antenatal care, early diagnosis and prompt treatment.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Yusuf, made the commitment on Thursday during a summit on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of the three infections held in Kano.

Yusuf said the infections are largely preventable, noting that syphilis can be completely cured if detected early and treated appropriately. He urged pregnant women and their partners to register for antenatal care as early as possible to enable health workers identify and manage any health complications affecting the mother or unborn child.

The commissioner disclosed that Kano is among the few states implementing the national **Triple Elimination Strategy**, aimed at ending the vertical transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B and Syphilis from mothers to their babies.

He expressed confidence that resolutions reached at the summit would strengthen the state’s response to the diseases and further improve maternal and child healthcare services.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the Kano State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (KSACA), Usman Bashir, said the summit was organised to showcase the state’s progress in tackling the three infections.

According to him, the initiative aligns with both national and global efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B and Syphilis.

Bashir noted that while considerable progress has been made in preventing the transmission of HIV from mothers to their babies, greater attention is still needed to address Hepatitis B and Syphilis.

He explained that Kano has expanded its interventions beyond routine testing by providing treatment and vaccination for Hepatitis B, as well as treatment for Syphilis.

According to him, pregnant women diagnosed with Hepatitis B are placed on **Tenofovir** where necessary, while newborns receive the Hepatitis B vaccine immediately after birth to reduce the risk of infection.

The KSACA director-general called on other states to adopt similar measures to accelerate Nigeria’s efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of the three diseases.

He added that the North-West region has one of the highest Hepatitis B prevalence rates in the country, underscoring the need for sustained preventive interventions.

The summit brought together policymakers, development partners, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders to assess progress and strengthen collaboration toward achieving the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B and Syphilis in Nigeria.

A Nigerian man has sparked widespread reactions on social media after claiming that a ₦270,000 loan obtained through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) changed the course of his life, enabling him to venture into content creation and eventually earn his first ₦1 million.

Sharing his experience online, the man said he applied for the NELFUND loan earlier this year despite the fact that his parents had already paid his school fees.

According to him, he decided to apply for the loan because he needed to replace his faulty iPhone 7 before graduating. He added that some of his friends criticised the decision and warned him against taking the loan.

Recounting how he used the funds, he said the ₦270,000 was paid into his Zenith Bank account, after which he purchased an iPhone 11 and paid for a three-month premium subscription on a social media platform to support his content creation efforts.

He explained that the investment enabled him to remain consistent in creating content, which he said eventually led to him earning his first ₦1 million.

Expressing gratitude for the outcome, he encouraged others to take calculated risks and invest in opportunities that could improve their future.

The post has generated mixed reactions across social media platforms.

While many users praised him for investing in tools that helped him build a source of income, others questioned whether funds provided under the student loan scheme should be used for purposes outside direct educational expenses.

Some commenters, however, argued that the story highlights how access to technology and digital opportunities can create new income streams for young people.

The viral account has continued to fuel discussions about the use of NELFUND loans, entrepreneurship among students, and the responsible utilisation of financial support provided through government education initiatives.