The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Lagos trains 1,000 health workers

    Lagos State Government has trained 1,000 health workers from public primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities in emerging infectious diseases.

    The training was held on Monday and Tuesday during a two-day Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme organised by the Ministry of Health at Alausa, Ikeja.

    Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health Dr. Titilayo Goncalves said CME was geared towards enhancing the state’s preparedness and response in the prevention and control of the outbreak of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, such as Ebola, Lassa Fever, Monkey Pox and other viral haemorrhagic diseases.

    She added that the training was also organised to improve competencies and relevance of workers, build robust relationship between health workers and clients as well as maintain a high level of professionalism in health service delivery.

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    Goncalves said topics on health care, workers’ attitude, communication and coping with stress were treated.

    Said she: “The year 2019 State Continuing Medical Education Programme with the theme – ‘Improving Quality Health Care’, was organised for health workers to boost their capacity and enhance effective service delivery in the health sector.

    “The theme was carefully selected to set a landmark in providing quality health for the citizenry. I am enthusiastic about the topics because there is need for health care workers to be prepared for any emerging infectious disease, have a positive attitude and mindset towards our clients and be well equipped to be productive in the face of daily stress.”

    The permanent secretary said the best dividend of democracy any government could offer its citizens was the provision of quality health care, which is made available, accessible and affordable.

    A guest lecturer, Mr.  Akin Osibogun, a Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, who spoke on the topic: “Emerging Infectious Diseases: Role of Health Care Workers in Prevention and Control”, said health workers must ensure watchfulness over emerging diseases in order to prevent them from spreading.

  • Man charged with issuing dud cheque

    A 45-year-old man, Olufemi Godwin, has been arraigned at a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for alleged issuance of a dud cheque for N1.5 million.

    Godwin, whose address was not given, was arraigned on Wednesday on one- count charge, but he denied committing the offence.

    Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Clement Okuoimose said Godwin committed the offence on July 14, at 11am, at Mr. Right Hotel on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

    Read Also: Security guards arraigned for allegedly stealing hotel guest’s laptop

    He alleged that the defendant issued a dud Diamond Bank cheque numbered 0041626039, for N1.5 million to Mr Gideon Oladipo.

    The prosecutor alleged that when Oladipo presented the cheque, it was dishonoured on the grounds of insufficient funds.

    He said the offence contravened Section 321 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Chief Magistrate Mr. Aka Bashorun granted the defendant N100, 000 bail with one surety in the like sum.

    The case continues on October 15.

  • Fish farmer’s trial for ‘chopping off boy’s hand’ stalled

    An Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday adjourned till October 2, the trial of a 67-year-old fish farmer, Jeremiah Obrifor, who allegedly chopped off the right hand of an 11-year-old boy, Goodluck Amaechi.

    The court fixed the date following the absence of Chief Magistrate A. O. Adedayo, who is on annual leave.

    The Nation learnt yesterday that Obrifor and Amaechi’s family are exploring an out of court settlement.

    The State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Yaba brought Obrifor before the court on June 15, on a four-count charge of attempted murder, grievous harm and unlawful assault.

    Read Also: Court sentences 25-year-old man to death for killing friend over N20 loan

    Prosecuting Inspector Chinalu Uwadione told the court that the defendant committed the offences at about 8:40pm on June 7, at 14, Issa Ibrahim Street, Okokomaiko, Lagos.

    He alleged that the defendant chopped off Amaechi’s right hand with a machete, for allegedly attempting to steal fish from his (Obrifor’s) pond.

    The offences, according to the prosecutor, contravened sections 173, 230, 245 and 246 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty and was granted N1million bail.

  • Car hire operator returns N888,000 passport to passenger

    A driver at the Airport Car Hire Association of Nigeria (ACHAN), Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, Mr. Adeniyi Olayinka, has returned N888, 000 and an international passport forgotten by a passenger in his car, to the owner.

    Olayinka told reporters on Wednesday at the airport that he discovered the items in an envelope left by the passenger at the back seat of the car shortly after he returned to the airport from Ibese, Ikorodu, the passenger’s destination.

    “Although it can be tempting to some people to see such money and pocket it, especially when their income is very low, for me, it never crossed my mind to do so, because it will create sorrow in another family and also such idea is against the orientation we are given at ACHAN by our leaders,” he said.

    Explaining how he found the money and passport, Olayinka, who has been operating at the airport for 15 years, said: “At about 1:30am on Monday, I met this passenger on arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. I negotiated with him and we agreed at N6,000 to take him to his destination in Ikorodu. I returned to the airport immediately I dropped him at his house. But no sooner I arrived and parked my car at the airport than I discovered that an envelope was left on the back seat of my car. I picked the envelope and opened it. What I saw was his international passport.

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    “I looked further into the envelope and discovered there was another white envelope inside. I opened the second envelope and discovered that something was wrapped in it. When I removed the wrapper I discovered it contained mint notes of US dollars. They were in $100 denomination. I counted and they were 24, totalling $2,400. When converted at the prevailing rate of N370 as at Monday morning, it amounted to N888, 000. Based on the orientation and instructions we received from the leadership of ACHAN on a weekly basis, “I reported the findings to the officer on duty at the arrival car park of the airport. I was instructed to drop the parcel and its contents at our secretariat at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Since I didn’t have the passenger’s phone contact, I had to go to the place where I dropped him to inform him or his family about the discovery. But by the time I got to the passenger’s home at Ibese – Ikorodu, I was told he had returned to the airport to look for the lost parcel. As I was leaving the house in Ikorodu, I got a call from our secretariat that the passenger was already at the airport to report the loss.”

    Speaking about the recovery, the passenger, Dele Ayeni, an engineer, who said he was a testimony to the advantages of taking cabs from registered point at airports, believed that there was hope for Nigeria.

    He said: “I arrived Lagos from Cairo, the capital of Egypt, on July 29, at about 1:30am. My intention when I arrived was to call an Uber operator to take me home, but as I was coming out of the terminal, I met this polite driver, who agreed to take me to my destination in Ikorodu at an agreed fee of N6000.

    While on the way, I decided to drop my jacket on the floor of the car to avoid being noticed  as a very important man sitting at the rear seat of the car.  Immediately we got to my house in Ikorodu, I removed my jacket from where I had kept it and also my luggage, without noticing that the envelope in the jacket had dropped on the back seat. Unfortunately, I didn’t open my luggage to bring out what I had for my family until after I woke up in the afternoon. That was when I discovered that the envelope was missing in my jacket. I exclaimed. I said all my suffering during the trip has resulted in total loss. My wife began to calm me down. She advised that we should look around the compound to see if it dropped in the compound, but I said no that if it had dropped in the compound I would have seen it as I was bringing in my luggage. I insisted that it didn’t drop on the premises but in the cab. My wife then asked me where I took the cab; I told her it was at the airport and she advised that I should go to the airport to inquire if it had been found. I told her I didn’t know the name of the driver or the vehicle number.  However, with her encouragement I came to the airport and went to the car park where I boarded the cab. Immediately I complained to one of the drivers, who happened to be the duty officer for that shift, he asked me my name and I told him. The next thing I noticed on his face was a broad smile; he then told me that the envelope was found in the car and had been deposited at their secretariat. And that the driver who took me home had gone to my house again to inform me about the discovery. This is a living testimony that Nigeria has hope.”

    Speaking while handing the items recovered in the car to the owner, the Chairman, ACHAN MMIA, Lagos, Elder Olubi Ojo, said Ayeni’s case was just one of the many cases the association handled regularly.

  • 8 things to avoid posting on social media

    Social Networking sites are like an addiction. We share so many details of our daily lives online, but we always seem to forget to be mindful of what we share about ourselves, our families, and our friends. There are some personal information that it is best not to share online.

    Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, YouTube, and Instagram are just some of the top networking sites that connect people around the world.

    Sometimes we become too excited to share our thoughts, feelings, and important events. It has become a habit for us to share details about our daily lives.

    Social Media

     

    Here are 8 things that must be avoided:

    * Unconfirmed news or Fake News – Imagine the trauma you can cause if the information is not verified. When the term “fake news” comes up, it is synonymous with creating or causing confusion which can lead to problems.

    * Screenshots of personal conversations – The word itself says “private” If you do so, you might get good numbers of appreciations (Likes) for once. However, no one will value you, or would rather not share anything personal with you as they will have the feeling that you might share that conversation too.

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    * Your Home Address – Just avoid sharing your home address and personal phone number, unless your social profile is a very narrow one with few trustworthy people. If your profile is exactly the opposite and contains unknown people, refrain putting this at any cost. Don’t post where you live as you are making things easy for the bad guys. There’s a lot a criminal can do using just your address.

    * Personal Phone Number(s) – While you may want your friends to be able to contact you, your real phone number can fall into the wrong hands through a social networking site.

    * Your Financial Status – Whether you are a millionaire or middle class, don’t share your financial status with your online friends to avoid any negative exposure that might cause criminals to start haunting you.

    * Explicit content – Never share such content even when you are out of your mind. The internet is huge, and things get heated up pretty quickly. The content shared on the internet never gets deleted. You might remove it from your social profile but however, you don’t know how many sites would have already captured and preserved it. Protect your online reputation

    * Current Location – Many people don’t realize that when they post a status update or a tweet, they may also be revealing their current location through geo-tagging. Giving out your location information can be risky because it tells potential thieves that you are not at home.

    * Anything you don’t want to be online FOREVER

    When you put something on social media, you have to assume it’s out there permanently. In the age of screenshots, there is no ‘taking it back’, even if you’ve made a big mistake. Before you post anything remotely personal or sensitive, ask yourself, “Do I want this to be online forever?” If the answer is no, don’t hit the ‘post’ button!

    Before you post anything remotely personal or sensitive, ask yourself, “Do I want this to be online forever?” If the answer is no, don’t hit the ‘post’ button!

  • Why Southwest should continue to resist RUGA, by Akintoye

    Renowned historian and Second Republic Senator Banji Akintoye on Tuesday urged the people of the Southwest to strengthen the resolve of the six governors from the region to reject the proposed Rural Gracing Areas (RUGA).

    He also warned about the consequence of incessant attacks, kidnappings, rape, killings and maiming by suspected intruders and invaders from outside the zone, saying that the people may resort to self-defence.

    Akintoye said: “To succeed in rejecting and rejecting it, we must re-orientate our approach to our governors. Our governors are our frontline of defence, and we need to understand the situation in which they stand. Under the current chaotic and unitary constitution of Nigeria, all power and control in Nigeria reside in the hands of those who control the federal establishment in Abuja.

    “Each governor, to be able to rule his state at all, must cautiously manage its relations with the Abuja federal community. So, each of our governors finds himself perched between the jaws of a pair of nutcrackers. While Abuja controllers demand that each governor must grant land in his state for cattle colonies, our people are threatening fire and brimstone, if any governor grants even one square inch of Yorubaland.

    “Certainly, our governors are our own men, and none of them would consent to having our Yorubaland overrun by anybody. Therefore, I humbly propose that we leaders of Yoruba nation should come close to our governors and give them support for the purpose of giving them confidence and strength to reject the Abuja demands.”

    Read Also: Governors row over Ruga

    The eminent scholar urged Southwest governor to instead, promote the establishment of modern ranches by Southwest entrepreneurs in the region, adding that the move will open up businesses and create job opportunities for the people.

    Noting that accusing fingers are allegedly pointed at many suspected herdsmen from a region, Akintoye, a retired Professor of History, urged them to “call off this campaign of killing, maiming and destruction,” stressing that “no ethnic group commands a monopoly of violence”.

    The elder statesman spoke on: ‘Power and Politics, and the Conflict of Ethnic Identity in Nigeria,’ at a one-day Summit on Peace-Building and Conflict Prevention in Lagos. It was organised by ‘Journalists for Democratic Rights, led by Wale Adeoye.

    The theme of the summit was: ‘Engaging the media and community-based organisations for post-election reconciliation and conflict prevention in Lagos State. It was attended by representatives of Arewa, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, an official of the Meyetti Allah Organisation, Mekudi Usman, leader of  Supreme Egbesu Assembly, Chief Digifa Werinipre, and rights activist Omoyele Sowore.

    Sowore, who unfolded plans by his group to start what he called a revolutionary protest on August 5, lamented that the current leadership lacked a workable solution to the prospects of a failed state.

    Miyetti-Allah Organisation official Usman said the group was sensitive to the growing concerns, disclosing that its members now have identity cards to identify them and distinguish them properly from the unscrupulous elements.

  • Alaafin’s advice gave us electoral victory, says Makinde

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Tuesday said one of the secrets of his electoral success at the 2019 governorship election was the advice offered him by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, during his campaign four years earlier.

    Makinde spoke at the Alaafin’s palace, Oyo when he paid a working visit to the monarch’s palace.

    The governor made the visit on his way to inspect the abandoned 10,000 metric tonnes silo embarked upon by the immediate past administration and the Ajila Value Adding Ventures Limited, Awe,

    In his brief remarks at the palace, the governor said unknown to many, he has and still enjoy the fatherly support of the first class monarch and he has always been treated as such.

    Noting that although he had visited the Alaafin in 2015 to seek his support for his support and blessings at the polls, Makinde said it was only the Alaafin who told him the truth of the situation on the ground and offered him advice on how to go about it.

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    He added that putting the advice into use in the 2019 elections subsequently helped his ambition.

    He told the monarch of his mission in the vicinity, but said he thought it wise to pay the traditional homage on him before continuing the visit.

    Makinde said: “We are actually on our way to Awe for inspection, but there is no way I will come around here without first visiting the palace.

    “I have told Kabiyesi that in two weeks’ time, I will come and visit him properly because we are actually at work now.

    “What many people do not know is the closeness between Alaafin and I. Some people have told me that they wanted to bring me to Alaafin, but I just kept it to myself not telling them that, if they had known the kind of relationship between Alaafin and I, they would have been the ones to ask me to take them to him.

    “During my campaign in 2015, it was only the Alaafin that told me the truth on how we have been doing and how we were not doing things right.

    “All he told us were put to use in the 2019 elections that gave us victory.

    “We are here to inspect projects on how our economy can improve and I am sure that when we finish the project, Oyo town will also know it for good.”

  • Oyo councils’ judgment: Court rejects motion for stay of execution

    An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan on Tuesday rejected a motion seeking to enforce the May 6 judgment obtained by the sacked local government chairmen in the state.

    It held that allowing the motion would amount to an abuse of court process since the state government has appealed the judgment.

    The May 6 judgment, delivered by Justice Aderonke Aderemi, has prevented the Oyo State Government, the executive governor, the House of Assembly or any of its agent from removing local government(LG) and Local Council Government Development Area (LCDA) chairmen and councillors from office.

    Governor Seyi Makinde had sacked the councils after he was sworn-in on May 29. He said they were illegally constituted.

    The sacked chairmen, under the aegis of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Oyo State Chapter, filed a motion seeking to enforce the judgment, saying the governor was planning to appoint caretaker chairmen for the dissolved local councils.

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    But, the state government launched an appeal against the May 6 judgment.

    Ruling on the motion for enforcement of the judgment yesterday, Justice Ladiran Akintola struck out the motion brought by the council bosses for lack of diligent prosecution, saying that since the state government has appealed the judgment, it would be an abuse of court processes.

    His words: “I am satisfied with the defendants’ (state government) application and I hereby grant the motion of notice of appeal of the defendant.

    “I hereby grant the stay of execution of the judgment, enforcing the judgment, giving effect to the judgment  by the claimants or their privies.”

    Counsel to ALGON, Kunle Sobaloju, was absent at yesterday’s proceedings and was not represented in court.

    In a letter sent to the court, he asked for an adjournment of the case to October 10 and also filed a counter-affidavit against the resolution of the House of Assembly on July 9, which supported the governor’s action.

    The defendants’ lead counsel, Mr. Adeniyi Farinto, opposed the application and urged the court to reject the letter and the counter affidavit.

    One of the claimants, Basorun Bosun Ajuwon, who spoke on behalf of ALGON when probed by Justice Akintola if he has anything to say since their lawyer was not present in court, appealed  for adjournment, saying: “Our lawyer is handling a tribunal case and election petition is time-bound. We are appealing to you to give us some time.”

    Justice Akintola, however, adjourned the case till October 15 for hearing.

  • 189 Osun retirees share N1.13b as Oyetola presents bond certificates

    No fewer than 189 retirees in Osun State will share over N1.13 billion naira as part of their retirement benefits.

    Many of them were full of smiles on Tuesday as they received their bond certificates from Governor Adegboyega Oyetola at a ceremony in Osogbo, the state capital.

    It was hope rekindled for the beneficiaries as the governor, accompanied by top government officials, including Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi, announced that N474,753,13 would be shared among retired 105 local government employees.

    He added that N538,696,783 will be for 84 retirees, who were primary school teachers.

    He also reiterated the commitment of his administration to the welfare of all active and retired workers.

    Read Also: Oyetola mobilises contractors back to site

    Oyetola said: “I want to thank all pensioners in the state for your patience and understanding, which most of you have demonstrated from the inception of this administration.

    “I want you to develop trust in our government. My government will never renege on our campaign promises to all the good people of the state. Your welfare is our priority and we will continue to manage and utilise our meagre resources to the benefits of all the people, including the worker, both active and passive.”

    The governor once again debunked rumours that the state had received another tranche of Parish Club refund.

    “The Parish Club fund is not ready. Our government is transparent. If it is ready, everybody will know because it will be announced to the public and it will be utilised to the benefit of all. We crave for patience on the part of the retirees. My government loves and cares about you.

    “Whatever the state has is what we spend. Put trust in us and continue to be patient as better days are ahead. I pray that you all utilise this money for good things,” he said.

    Osun Head of Service Dr. Oyebade Olowogboyega said the beneficiaries were the eighth batch to collect their retirement bond certificates and he thanked Governor Oyetola for being a compassionate leader.

  • Azeez Adebayo discusses GTI’s role in empowering 20,000 individuals with engineering innovations and sustainability initiatives

    Azeez Adebayo discusses GTI’s role in empowering 20,000 individuals with engineering innovations and sustainability initiatives

    In this exclusive Q&A session, we delve into the inspiring journey of Azeez Adebayo, who has transitioned from his early days of mentoring young football talents to becoming a pioneering figure in engineering solutions and environmental sustainability. As a co-founder of the Green Technology Initiative (GTI), Azeez has played a pivotal role in empowering over 20,000 individuals across Nigeria, significantly contributing to the country’s progress in sustainable practices. Join us as we explore Azeez’s unique path, his motivations, challenges, and the impact of his work through GTI.

    Q: Could you share the story behind the name ‘The Avento Enterprise’ and its evolution?

    A: The name ‘Avento’ has its roots in my early days running a football academy where we trained young talents. It’s a name that has grown with me, symbolizing dedication and growth. The Avento Enterprise was later founded with a mission to create impactful engineering solutions, branching out into areas like system security, vehicle diagnostics, car tracking, and intercommunication systems.

    Q: How did your collective experiences in the engineering field lead to the formation of GTI?

    A: The formation of GTI was a direct result of our combined expertise in engineering. Daniel Karakitie’s work in sustainable material development, Fatahi Musa’s extensive research in renewable energy systems, and my own background in material science, system security and diagnostics collectively highlighted the potential of technology in addressing environmental issues. We recognized that by pooling our diverse skills, we could develop innovative solutions to tackle challenges like plastic pollution more effectively. This collaborative vision was the driving force behind establishing GTI, where we utilize our varied engineering proficiencies to revolutionize waste management and promote environmental sustainability.

    Q: What role does GTI play in waste management and environmental sustainability in Nigeria?

    A: GTI is at the forefront of revolutionizing waste management in Nigeria. We employ cutting-edge technologies like AI and Robotics for efficient plastic sorting and processing. Our mobile applications streamline waste collection, making it more effective and inclusive.

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    Q: How has GTI expanded its reach across Nigeria, and what impact has it made?

    A: GTI has successfully expanded to several states, including Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, and Edo. We’ve empowered over 20,000 cleaners and created numerous jobs, especially in the upcycling sector. Our impact goes beyond environmental cleanup; it’s about community upliftment and economic development.

    Q: What inspired the transition from engineering solutions like vehicle diagnostics to environmental initiatives?

    A: The transition was driven by a desire to address broader societal challenges. While my work in system security and diagnostics was fulfilling, I saw an urgent need to tackle environmental issues. GTI is a manifestation of this vision, where engineering solutions meet environmental advocacy.

    Q: How does your background in diverse fields influence your approach to GTI and its projects?

    A: My diverse background has taught me the value of adaptability and thinking outside the box. It influences GTI’s approach to problem-solving, where we constantly seek innovative and practical solutions to environmental challenges.

    Q: What are your future aspirations for The Avento Enterprise and GTI?

    A: For The Avento Enterprise, we aim to continue evolving and impacting the engineering sector. For GTI, our goal is to become a globally recognized model for sustainable waste management, expanding our reach and impact beyond Nigeria.

    Q: Lastly, what message do you have for young entrepreneurs aspiring to make a difference in technology and sustainability?

    A: My advice is to stay passionate and resilient. The journey is challenging but immensely rewarding. Whether in technology, sustainability, or any other field, your unique contributions can make a significant impact. Stay driven and keep innovating.