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BEFOCUS NEWS DESK — Daily Highlights (November 18, 2025)

BEFOCUS NEWS DESK — Daily Highlights

Published: Tuesday, November 18, 2025 • Africa/Lagos
Theme: Youth • Leadership • Security • Climate • Opportunity

  1. Gunmen kidnap 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State; vice-principal killed

    NigeriaSecurityEducation

    Armed attackers struck a boarding school in Maga, Danko-Wasagu (Kebbi State), abducting 25 female students and killing a staff member in a predawn raid. Authorities launched a manhunt and opened talks with security partners to recover the pupils. The community and parents demand urgent rescue and long-term protection measures for schools.

    Youth impact: The attack underscores the urgent need for safe-school initiatives, youth community resilience programmes, and fast-response protection systems for students nationwide.

    Source: Dawn

  2. South-East Asia leads global TB cases; WHO warns 2025 End-TB targets at risk

    GlobalHealthPolicy

    The World Health Organization reports South-East Asia now accounts for over one in three new global tuberculosis cases, warning that 2025 End-TB milestones are off track without immediate scale-up of detection and treatment services.

    Youth impact: Young health professionals and community volunteers can play decisive roles in awareness campaigns, digital screening tools and youth-led outreach to close treatment gaps.

    Source: WHO — SE Asia

  3. Gombe-born aerospace engineer unveils self-built rocket in Nigeria

    NigeriaScienceInnovation

    A Nigerian aerospace engineer from Gombe announced and demonstrated a locally built rocket system, marking a notable step for homegrown STEM achievements and signalling growing interest in DIY aerospace innovation across universities and maker communities.

    Youth impact: Inspires STEM clubs, university programmes and young inventors to pursue applied science and aerospace entrepreneurship.

    Source: Punch NG

  4. Canada and Sweden reaffirm support for Ukraine during state visit

    GlobalDiplomacySecurity

    Canada and Sweden announced joint measures to sustain diplomatic and material support for Ukraine amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, underscoring coordination between NATO partners on assistance and reconstruction planning.

    Youth impact: Young professionals in policy, reconstruction tech and humanitarian fields will find roles in rebuilding efforts and international partnership programmes.

    Source: Government of Canada

  5. Arcadis wins USACE Europe environmental services contract covering 26 countries

    GlobalEnvironmentContracts

    Global consultancy Arcadis was selected by USACE Europe to deliver environmental services across multiple countries, a contract expected to advance infrastructure resilience and environmental management programmes.

    Youth impact: Project roles and sustainability internships open for young environmental engineers, policy analysts and green-economy innovators.

    Source: Arcadis

  6. Nigeria provides regional support to flush out violent extremism in the Lake Chad Basin

    NigeriaSecurityRegional

    Nigeria announced coordinated operations and regional support measures aimed at degrading militant groups and restoring security in the Lake Chad Basin, highlighting cooperation with neighbouring countries and regional security agencies.

    Youth impact: Stabilisation opens space for youth reintegration programmes, vocational training and education initiatives in affected communities.

    Source: ChampionNews

  7. Photos reveal widespread violence in Nigeria affecting both Christians and Muslims

    NigeriaSocietyHumanitarian

    Graphic photo reports document scenes of communal and extremist violence across multiple states, showing civilian displacement and hardship that cut across religious lines and stressing urgent humanitarian responses.

    Youth impact: Youth-led peacebuilding, trauma counselling and community media projects are critical to heal divisions and empower recovery.

    Source: CityNews / Halifax

  8. Nigeria’s intra-African trade volumes rise, unlocking regional economic potential

    AfricaTradeEconomy

    Official figures report that intra-African trade volumes and values grew significantly in the first half of 2025, reflecting improved customs coordination and regional supply-chain links that can accelerate economic recovery.

    Youth impact: Growth in regional trade creates opportunities for young entrepreneurs in logistics, export services and cross-border e-commerce.

    Source: PR Newswire

  9. India to host inaugural Earth Summit (Nov 20) focusing on rural innovation and sustainability

    GlobalSustainabilityInnovation

    India will convene the inaugural Earth Summit later this week with an agenda prioritising rural innovation, regenerative agriculture and inclusive climate solutions aimed at scaling grassroots impact.

    Youth impact: Training hubs, fellowship programmes and rural innovation labs will be prime pathways for young changemakers in green tech and agri-entrepreneurship.

    Source: Times of India

  10. President Tinubu promises modernised borders to boost intra-African trade

    NigeriaPolicyTrade

    At an Abuja event, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to modernising border infrastructure and customs cooperation to enhance trade flows across Africa and strengthen economic integration.

    Youth impact: Improved borders and trade corridors mean more jobs in logistics, customs tech, export services and regional startups for young professionals.

    Source: State House — Nigeria

Editorial Note

Today’s headlines (Nov 18, 2025) show a continent and world at once resilient and vulnerable. Security challenges at home, recordable public-health gaps, trade expansion and homegrown innovation sit alongside urgent climate and humanitarian warnings. For young people, this mix is both risk and opportunity.

At BEFOCUS Children & Youth Foundation and Witty Global Industries Ltd., our priority is to convert these headlines into programmes: safe-school initiatives, youth-led peacebuilding, STEM incubation, climate jobs and cross-border trade training. News is the map — youth are the builders.

BEFOCUS NEWS DESK — Inspiring Minds. Building Excellence. Empowering Generations.

© 2025 BEFOCUS Children & Youth Foundation • Witty Global Industries Ltd. • Published from Abuja (preferred location)
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