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  • New year resolutions: Nourishing your chakras (2)

    New year resolutions: Nourishing your chakras (2)

    I have been re viewing my biological systems to decide which one needs what attention this year. I encourage you to do likewise. In Nigeria, we hardly take care of our bodies until they begin to ache, sometimes when it has become too late to help them. Last month, I told a septugenarian he was running his car to the mechanic’s probably every month and had only just thought of himself when he received from his doctor a shattering diagnosis. Do not imagine this is about the prostate gland or the colon. Ailments of these organs , like erectile dysfunction (ED), do not make much news these days. I am touching on something far more serious that I do not as yet have permission to discuss for the benefit of other aging men.

    The chakras

    So, what are the chakras that I ask their health be included in our 2026 Resolutions? They should be better understood from the outset if I state that there are TWO SCHOOLS OF HEALTH in the practice of Medicine and that chakra medicine is not well known in Nigeria. The basic schools are THE MECHANIST and VITALIST. The mechanists believe that man is his body, and nothing else. For them, the body comprises various tissues, organs and systems of all sorts , works synergically like a machine, and is controlled by the brain. To the MECHANISTS, everything is over when the system fails for whatever reason, and the body falls apart in what we call death. This is the foundation of Orthodox or Western medicine which doctors practice in our hospitals. The trend has been changing gradually though, with acknowledgements of MIND OVER MATTER in some cases.

    Vitalists

    This school of medicine holds the opposite view, separating the physical earth or dust body from MAN, who is said to be an immaterial, yet tangible consistency in a material cloak or garment which the body is said to be for it.

    They say the body we are familiar with and literally worship even in the practice of Medicine is lifeless in the womb until the animating immaterial consistency, MAN, enters into it, glows through it and warms it up. According to this conception, the physical earth body falls back in death whenever it’s animating, immaterial core drops it or ceases to animate it, that is to give it existence.

    According to an expert opinion: “The Mechanist and Vitalist Schools of medicine represent two distinct approaches to understanding health and disease

    The mechanists View the body as a machine, focusing on physical and chemical processes in health and disease, often using reductionist approaches.

    – Typically, they rely on conventional medical interventions like pharmaceuticals and surgery

    “ On the other hand, vitalists see the body as a dynamic, holistic system with a vital energy or force.

    They emphasize the interconnectedness of body, mind, and spirit in health and disease and focus on promoting balance, harmony, and self-healing within the individual. Often, they incorporate alternative or complementary therapies like acupuncture, herbalism, or homeopathy.

    These two perspectives have shaped medical practices and philosophies, influencing how practitioners approach patient care”.

    Nigerians and Asians

    While Western European nations propagate the MECHANIST SCHOOL, the Asians and other parts of Eastern Europe look after their health under the VITALIST conception as well.

    Being Africans, we cannot ignore the VITALIST view-point. Even our doctors trained in the Euro American MECHANIST SCHOOL cannot deny their roots, when the chips are down for them. The custodians of Nigerian Traditional Medicine (NTM) have a glimpse of the CHAKRAS, but are too moored in superstition and over-rely on the conception that DEMONS and PHANTOMS cause disease and death. I do not deny existence of DEMONS and PHANTOMS and the roles they play and will continue to play in disease and death. The question that has not been well asked and answered, in my view, is…WHERE DO THEY COME FROM? The disciples of VITALIST MEDICINE and CHAKRA MEDICINE point out to MAN that immaterial consistency inhabiting the earth body as the origin of demons, phantoms and the furies. CHAKRA MEDICINE explains, for example, why inferiority complex may cause paralysis in the legs and feet. It explains, also as another example, how the pain of loss of control over a situation may cause prostate gland and erectile dysfunction (ED) questions in men, uterine fibroids and gynaecological problems in women, and fertility questions in both genders. I gave hints of this chakra challenges in the first part of this column. Other problems such as those which worry the liver, intestine or cause diabetes or breast cancer in men and women are also explained, thereby de emphasizing superstition.

    The seven chakras

    A chakra is an energy vortex, something like a whirlpool or tornado, energy or power center. Asian medical wisdom describes such seven points or centers as points on the astral body ( or shall we say the soul of man ) through which the perishable physical body and the inhabitant within which animate it interface with each other, the inner man passing energy to the inert outer body, thereby giving it warmth and the possibility of existence.

    These chakras or vortices are located 1) at the base of the spine, sacral region 2) pubis, region between the navel and the sacral region, 3) solar plexus region ( where the soul or the astral body is attached to the physical body by the SILVER cord, equivalent of the UMBILICAL CORD which connects a foetus in the womb to its mother), 4) The chest or heart region, 5) The throat, 6) The forehead or the third eye, and 7) The hallo of the head.

    Tissues and organs in these parts of the body are said to receive etheric energy from the chakras or vortexes which govern them. In that regard, we may imagine a chakra as the Sun which governs our solar system. If the sun weakens or shuts down, all planets in our solar system will weaken or shut down.That is why chakras may also be likened to the neighbourhood ELECTRICITY TRANSFORMERS which connect our homes to the municipal electricity supply. When something goes wrong with the transformer and electricity supply to our home is cut off, no electrical appliance works. The things we keep in the freezer or refrigerator may lose integrity, spoil, be invaded by germs to disintegrate them in accordance with The Laws of Nature, become rotten and decay! That is what happens to our bodies when CHAKRAS or ENERGY VORTEXES shut down, sag or lose content and form. CHAKRA or ENERGY MEDICINE says chakras do so when our ATTITUDES or MIND SET is against natural phenomena and, thus, shuts down the chakra and prevents energy supply from them to the body. Thus, we can ask: What goes on in the mind of a man or of a woman that may impair or SHUT DOWN the SECOND CHAKRA and cause uterine fibroids or infertility questions or PROSTATE GLAND CHALLENGES?

    School of life

    We may not successfully answer the last question or any other related to other chakras without appreciating THE SCHOOL OF LIFE that earthly existence is said to be. I gave hints of this school of life in the first part of this column. I said we were to develop capabilities as lessons of life or wisdom every seven years from birth, and that each of the seven years represents a chakra class. If we do not learn the lessons in a particular class, we “ carry over the course” into the next or other classes. Thus, we may not be well grounded on earth and suffer, thereby, from inferiority complex from the cradle to the grave. We may also not understand the meaning of power and the concept of power relations which we are to learn from the age of 8 years to 14 years, and this may cause all kinds of emotional disturbances which may affect the uterus and prostrate gland, for example. We did not create ourselves or our world, says chakra teachings. Also, there is a purpose for everything, including man’s existence on earth. This purpose is for development or evolution from a semi-conscious spiritual germ or seed grain to a fully self conscious HUMAN BEING. As in earthly school with a curricular, the spiritual earth school has divided its own into SEVEN CHAKRA PHASES, each of which covers a period of SEVEN YEARS, NUMERAL SEVEN, being the most powerful number in numerology throughout the universe. Thus, there are lessons we are meant to learn and master every seven years of our lives. We move on to the next class, the next seven years in our calendar rating with a CARRY OVER “course” or “courses” if we did not make the mark in some lower classes. That is why, it is said, we may be 50 years old and not grown up, each of our failings causing CHAKRA animation difficulties which leave the respective organs WILTING or DYING, having been left energy- deficient. Had these organs any life of theirs, or was the body created to be independent of its animating core and the CHAKRAS , we would feel no pangs of aging for nutritional supplements alone would be able enough to weather any storms of energy cracks.

    Read Also: Celebrating 60 years of ‘nourishing goodness’

    The first chakra

    Also called ROOT CHAKRA or MULADHARA, it is located at the base of the spine between the anus and the genital. Its spinning wave of energy is RED, and that is why RED colour (dress, under brief or light) positively affect it. This energy center is corrected with the influences of SAFETY, SECURITY and GROUNDING. In a state of balance, it makes us feel confident, stable and, what’s more, well connected with our bodies and the earth. Remember we are not our bodies and that we may be partially or calamitously disconnected from them. We are meant to be well connected to both body and the earth, full of confidence, in the first seven years of our existence on earth. Watch babies. Early in their lives, they trust only their mothers, then, perhaps father’s and siblings before strangers.

    First chakra education suggests that many of us lost groundedness in early life, and that this is why such persons are fearful, unstable, always feeling inferior in adult life, unable to look another person straight in the eye and put their feet down when they should. First chakra therapists say the problem begins when we do not fondly touch babies, cuddle them, massage them, make them to have skin-to-skin contact contact with us. Watch a baby who is sucking the mother’s breast. They fondly touch their mothers and smile at them.

    It would sound strange to many persons that letting children walk barefoot during play outdoor contributes to groundedness. It is a part of CONNECTION with nature. What about playing with sand, mud, clay, rain water or chasing lizards and goats, chickens and birds. Gardening is also part of this connection. Does this suggest to us why “village” children outsmart “city” and “get inside” or “ butter” children later in life? As children, my generation dug cricket holes and hunted crabs by the river side. We dug up cocoyam, knew how to plant and could tell maize, mango or papaya was ripe on the vine. Did we not climb trees as well? My children rejected their beautiful cot. They lay on my belly to sleep. If they tried to sleep and I tried to ease them onto the bed beside me, they woke and cried. And guess what? They enjoyed me strapping them to my back. Many parents have no understanding of what information the developmental phases of a child are providing them, so they can help him or her. This is understandable because such information is rooted in the knowledge of re-incarnation which religion has robbed many of them of. There is none of us on earth at this time who is here for the first time. The bodies we have always come and are still in is derived from the highest developed animal. Thus, as babies, we must first live out cycles of animal existence cramped into a few months before we take on characterisation of HOMO ERECTUS, the earth-man, who in the animal bodies, causes it to stand erect. Some children who delay in sitting, crawling or walking may be suggesting a ROOT CHAKRA or foundational energy imbalance. Delays in physical milestones such as these could be expressing feelings of insecurity, fear or instability. From multi talented Barrister Olusola Sowemimo, organic farmer and wife of Mr Seyi Sowemimo (SAN), I learned in the 1990s when she was bringing up a class of children in spiritual education and groundedness in Nature that some children may need extra support to correct their first chakra imbalances. So, when a child delays in crawling at the right age, or declines to crawl on fours but on hands (or paws) and toes, knees suspended, the way a bear crawls, the parents should have quality play time with him or her crawling on all fours. A child with a prolonged birthing process was probably afraid to leave the safe world of the womb for the insecure world outside. We often assume erroneously that babies in the womb have no idea what is going on around their parents, especially their mothers. What a misconception! Thus, it is possible “delaying” babies are seeking “safe” landing”.

    As I said earlier, children brought up in the villages tend to be more confident than city children. I was privileged to help to raise one of them as a foster daughter in the concrete jungle that Lagos is. She was 15, and was no match for older girls and boys around when matters had to be sorted out with guts and muscles. What surprised me one day was her response to an adult man who tried to jump the queue ahead of her. When he got in front of her, she squeezed herself past him. He said he would “slap” her. She replied that she, too, would slap him in return. Jeeringly, he asked her how she would do this, and she said she would climb the payment counter and do it. The man kept quiet and let go. This girl was not prococious. She was just courageous, well grounded and abhorred injustice. One other event I would also ever remember took place on the road beside my bedroom. I was writing an article on my bedroom desk and she was helping me with some books. I did not realise she was observing an event in the street through a window, and had sneaked out to partake in it. Her girlfriend was with a boy. Another girlfriend of hers came up and dealt the first one a slap across the face. The boy hit the intruding girl on the face, and she was crying. My foster daughter walked me right across to the boy and slammed her palm right across the face. The message was clear: Why would he hit one for another when he was central to both and roughening their emotions? We may say they were all acting above their ages in events they were physically immature for as teenagers. I took away the lesson of groundedness , that is CONNECTION with one’s body and the earth, and the TIMIDITY… a sign of fear, anxiety and lack of confidence, inferiority complex, or DISCONNECTION.

    Many problems

    In the lower back, hips, legs, SCIATIC nerves and feet we take for granted may be due to FIRST CHAKRA challenges. The examples include, but are not limited to “ fatigue or feeling ungrounded or difficulty standing feeling stable, anxiety or restlessness created the legs in risk of falls or fractures, circulatory issues in legs or feet, arthritis or joint pains in lower body and, in young persons, frequent falls or clawkiness may suggest “IMBALANCE”.

    First (root) chakra nurture

    The first chakra is the “SOCKET” in the Overself from which a “PLUG” in the body takes energy to nourish physical structures in the lower parts of the body. This chakra energy is said to physically manifest in RED COLOUR vibration, respond to RED clothes, under briefs, lighting and solarised water. To solarise water with RED ETHERS from the sun’s Rays, water is kept in a clear glass bottle for sunshine to fall upon.The bottle is covered with RED SUN FILTERS . The red sun filter blocks all but red ethers of the sun from entering the water. The ethers blocked are orange, yellow, Green, blue, indigo and violet. Only RED penetrates the water to make it medicinal water for unblocking first chakra blockage and strengthening the chakra.

    Nowadays, QUANTUM ENERGY minerals from precious stones are also used in shoring up chakra energy pathway. That is why today in Nigeria we hear of such quantum energy companies as sairu, chymall, shine way and double plus, among others. Talking about colour red, which is the favourite colour of Nigeria’s Ibo population, is it surprising that, behaviourally, they are a well grounded people, effervescent, self confident, fearless and overcoming?

  • Marital status doesn’t reduce HPV, cervical cancer risk — study

    Marital status doesn’t reduce HPV, cervical cancer risk — study

    • Experts call for universal cervical screening

    The central conclusion of a new study from the Federal University Teaching Hospital (FUTH), Lafia, Nasarawa State, is both simple and unsettling: marital status does not significantly influence a woman’s risk of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection or cervical dysplasia. In a country where reproductive health narratives are often shaped by social assumptions rather than scientific evidence, this finding strikes at the heart of how cervical cancer prevention has been framed in Nigeria.

    Presented by Mr Odeh Agabi, a Biomedical Laboratory Scientist, the study dismantles the quiet but persistent belief that marriage offers a layer of biological or moral protection against HPV-related diseases. Instead, it confirms what medical science has long established globally but Nigeria has struggled to operationalise in policy: HPV exposure is widespread, indiscriminate, and shaped far more by behavioural and biological factors than by marital labels.

    The hospital-based, cross-sectional study screened 75 women aged 18 and above in Lafia using Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA), Pap smear cytology, and HPV DNA testing. The results showed that 10.7 per cent of participants had cervical dysplasia, while 12 per cent tested positive for HPV infection. Married women recorded a slightly higher prevalence of cervical dysplasia at 11.5 per cent, compared to 7.7 per cent among single women. HPV infection, on the other hand, was marginally higher among single women at 14.3 per cent, compared to 11.5 per cent among married participants. However, statistical analysis demonstrated that these variations were not significant, meaning marital status could not reliably predict risk. This finding is critical. It means that screening strategies or public health messaging that implicitly prioritise unmarried women—or assume married women are safer—are not only misguided but potentially dangerous.

    The Lafia study instead identified well-documented risk factors as the real drivers of infection and disease progression. These include early sexual debut, multiple sexual partners, previous sexually transmitted infections, high parity, polygamous marital arrangements, and HIV positivity. In practical terms, this means that a married woman in a polygamous household, or one whose partner has had prior or concurrent sexual exposure, may face equal or greater risk than a single woman. HPV’s highly transmissible nature and long asymptomatic phase further complicate assumptions about “safe” categories.

    Significantly, 37.5 per cent of women diagnosed with cervical dysplasia also tested positive for high-risk HPV strains, reinforcing the established causal pathway between persistent HPV infection and cervical cancer. This link is not speculative; it is one of the most clearly defined relationships in cancer epidemiology worldwide.

    If the study’s conclusion about marital status challenges social assumptions, its findings on screening expose a far deeper systemic failure. According to Agabi, 86.7 per cent of participants had never undergone cervical cancer screening before the study. This statistic alone reframes the entire conversation. The problem is not whether married or single women are more at risk. The problem is that most Nigerian women are not being screened at all.

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    Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable forms of cancer. It develops slowly, is detectable at pre-cancerous stages, and can be stopped through routine screening and early treatment. Yet Nigeria remains among the countries with the highest cervical cancer burden globally. Public health experts note that many women only present at health facilities when symptoms become severe—often years after dysplasia has progressed to invasive cancer. At that stage, treatment becomes complex, expensive, and frequently ineffective.

    The Lafia findings are not an outlier. Studies from Southern Nigeria and other regions have reported similar patterns, with HPV prevalence cutting across marital categories. While some studies show slightly higher rates among single, widowed, or divorced women, researchers consistently conclude that the differences do not alter the overall risk landscape. What varies more dramatically is access to information, screening services, and healthcare infrastructure. Rural and semi-urban populations, such as those represented in the Lafia study, are often the least served, despite facing equal or greater exposure risks. Medical experts argue that Nigeria’s cervical cancer strategy has suffered from fragmented implementation. Screening services are often hospital-based rather than community-driven, vaccination coverage remains limited, and public awareness campaigns are sporadic.

    The study’s main conclusion has direct implications for national health policy. If marital status is not a predictor of risk, then prevention strategies must be universal, not selective. Screening programmes should target all sexually active women, regardless of age, marital status, or perceived moral standing. Agabi called for expanded HPV-based screening, wider vaccination rollout, and sustained public education. HPV DNA testing, now considered the global gold standard, offers higher sensitivity than Pap smears and can be integrated into routine primary healthcare services. Experts also stress the need to normalise cervical screening as a standard health practice, rather than a test associated with suspicion or stigma. Without this cultural shift, uptake will remain low, regardless of policy intentions.

    Beyond infrastructure and funding, the Lafia study highlights the role of social norms in shaping health outcomes. In many Nigerian communities, discussions around sexual and reproductive health remain sensitive. Married women may fear that seeking screening could raise questions about fidelity, while single women may avoid services due to stigma. Health advocates argue that men must be engaged more actively in prevention efforts. HPV transmission is not solely a women’s issue, yet prevention messaging often places the burden entirely on women, without addressing partner behaviour or shared responsibility.

    The most sobering takeaway from the Lafia study is not what it reveals about HPV biology, but what it exposes about Nigeria’s public health priorities. Cervical cancer continues to claim lives not because it is mysterious or untreatable, but because prevention remains uneven, underfunded, and shaped by outdated assumptions. By clearly demonstrating that marital status does not determine risk, the study removes one more excuse for inaction. The evidence is clear, consistent, and compelling: HPV exposure is widespread, screening is rare, and prevention efforts must be inclusive and aggressive. If policymakers heed the study’s core conclusion, it could mark a turning point. If they do not, Nigeria will continue to record avoidable deaths from a disease the world already knows how to stop.

  • ‘Uterine fibroids surgery requires preoperative care to reduce complications’

    ‘Uterine fibroids surgery requires preoperative care to reduce complications’

    Uterine fibroids—non-cancerous growths in the womb—remain a major reproductive health challenge for women globally, particularly in Africa, where prevalence rates are among the highest in the world. In Nigeria, studies suggest that 17.9 to 26 per cent of women of reproductive age are affected by fibroids, with the condition accounting for a substantial portion of gynecological consultations and a significant number of hysterectomy cases nationwide.

    While fibroids are rarely life-threatening, their symptoms—including heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, and pressure on surrounding organs—can severely affect quality of life. Fertility complications, including miscarriage and preterm birth, also make fibroids a critical issue for women seeking to start or expand their families. In severe cases, surgical intervention becomes necessary, yet surgery itself carries significant risks if not carefully managed.

    The tragic story of Mr. Samuel Eze, who lost his wife in 2023 following fibroid surgery in Lagos, underscores the human cost. His wife, in her forties, had suffered multiple miscarriages and opted for surgery to increase her chances of childbirth. Despite the medical team’s efforts, she succumbed to bleeding complications during the procedure. “If I knew my wife would not survive the surgery, we wouldn’t have gone ahead with it,” Eze recalled. “But she insisted on having the surgery to have her own children.”

    Medical experts note that complications from fibroid surgery can range from haemorrhage and injury to surrounding organs, to anesthesia-related risks and infections. Prof. Oliver Ezechi, Director of Research at the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) and professor of Maternal, Reproductive and Child Health at Lead City University, Ibadan, emphasised that many of these risks are preventable. “Pre-operative assessment before surgery is key to identifying potential complications,” he said.

    According to Ezechi, women typically opt for fibroid surgery to alleviate heavy bleeding, severe pelvic pain, suspected malignancy, or fertility issues. However, he stressed that mortality from fibroid surgery can often be averted through advanced treatments and thorough preoperative preparation. “Beyond surgery, other effective treatments include hormonal therapies like GnRH agonists, which help shrink fibroids and manage symptoms, and uterine artery embolization, which blocks blood supply to fibroids, causing them to shrink,” Ezechi explained. “There’s also MRI-guided focused ultrasound, a non-invasive method that uses ultrasound to destroy fibroid tissue, and endometrial ablation, which removes the uterine lining to reduce heavy bleeding.” The choice of treatment, he noted, should be individualised, taking into account a patient’s overall health, reproductive goals and personal preferences.

    Read Also: Uterine fibroids: Agitation from ‘pillar to post’ for a cure

    Dr. James Odofin, a consultant obstetrician and gynecologist at the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, highlighted another crucial factor: underlying medical conditions. “Most surgical complications aren’t always due to the surgical procedure itself,” Odofin said. “They can be exacerbated by pre-existing conditions such as hypertension or chronic illnesses. That’s why thorough preoperative evaluation and optimisation of a patient’s health are essential.”

    Odofin explained that while emergency procedures like cesarean sections can often be performed with basic investigations, elective surgeries such as fibroid removal require comprehensive preoperative workups. “Even a simple procedure can become high-risk if underlying health issues aren’t identified and addressed beforehand,” he said.

    Experts also cited late presentation as a critical challenge in Nigeria. Cultural aversion to surgery, combined with limited access to quality care, often leads patients to seek help only when symptoms become severe, increasing the likelihood of complications. Both Ezechi and Odofin urged women to seek timely medical attention from competent specialists and to be fully informed about the procedure and its risks.

    Government intervention, experts argue, is equally important. Expanding access to advanced treatment options, increasing public awareness, and integrating preventive care into primary health services could dramatically reduce complications and mortality associated with fibroid surgery. “Availability of non-invasive alternatives and minimally invasive techniques should be prioritised in healthcare planning,” Ezechi emphasised.

    In addition to medical advancements, public education remains crucial. Women must understand that fibroids are common, manageable, and rarely cancerous, and that early intervention can prevent severe outcomes. Incorporating routine fibroid screening into reproductive health services, alongside counseling on treatment options, could save countless lives. Ultimately, reducing complications from fibroid surgery requires a multifaceted approach: robust preoperative evaluation, informed patient choice, advanced treatment availability, and systemic improvements in healthcare delivery. With sustained effort from healthcare providers, policymakers, and communities, many of the tragic outcomes associated with fibroid surgery can be prevented, allowing women to pursue both reproductive health and quality of life safely.

  • Why Most Health Resolutions Fail (2)

    Why Most Health Resolutions Fail (2)

    • Planning for Health Is Planning for Life

    For many Nigerians, illness is not merely a health crisis; it is a financial earthquake. The diagnosis comes first, panic follows, and then begins a desperate scramble for survival. Patients and families turn to media houses to broadcast their plight and solicit funds. There are frantic calls to relatives, messages in WhatsApp groups, appeals to religious communities, and, too often, the painful sale of assets built over a lifetime. Some resign themselves to fate, watching loved ones writhe in pain until death intervenes. The true tragedy is not that sickness occurs, but that most people are financially unprepared when it does.

    As conversations around New Year health resolutions fill the air, one critical question is routinely ignored: how will you pay if you fall ill? In a country where more than 70 per cent of healthcare spending is still out-of-pocket, this may be the most important health resolution of all. Pause for a moment and ask yourself: if you were admitted tomorrow, how long could you pay for treatment before finances, rather than your illness, decide the outcome?

    In Nigeria, delayed treatment is rarely about ignorance. People know they should see a doctor. What they lack is the means to do so without catastrophic financial consequences. Studies repeatedly show that many patients arrive at hospitals late—not because symptoms were mild, but because costs were feared. Health financing, therefore, is not a technical policy concept. It is the difference between early care and emergency intervention, between recovery and complications, between dignity and desperation. When healthcare is financed only at the point of illness, it becomes unpredictable, emotionally charged, and financially ruinous. Planning ahead changes that equation.

    Most Nigerians pay for healthcare the way they pay for emergencies—when they happen. This practice appears flexible but is dangerously inefficient. Paying out-of-pocket means that treatment is guided by what you can afford, not by what your body actually needs. Patients stop medications midway to stretch costs, preventive care is delayed indefinitely, and families bear the financial shock—often at great personal sacrifice. Ask yourself: have you ever skipped a test, postponed a scan, or refused admission because of money? If so, you are not alone—and that is exactly the problem.

    Enrolling in a health insurance scheme can be a lifesaver in more ways than one. Beyond the federal employees’ plan, all 36 states now offer functional health insurance schemes. Private insurance options are also widely available across the country, though generally more expensive and offering broader coverage. True, these health insurance schemes are not perfect, and the range of services covered can be limited—but they provide a vital financial safety net, shielding families from the crushing costs of illness.

    Yet, health insurance remains widely misunderstood in Nigeria. Many see it as synonymous with bureaucracy, delayed care, or public-sector inefficiency. Others dismiss it outright, thinking it unnecessary because they “rarely fall sick.” The truth is stark: illness does not schedule itself around your bank balance. Having insurance is not just a policy choice—it is a safeguard against life’s most unpredictable and expensive emergencies.

    But insurance is not a guarantee that you will never pay anything. It is a risk-sharing mechanism—a way to spread the cost of illness over time and across many people so no single episode becomes financially devastating. Insurance does not erase pain, but it softens the impact. Even when it is imperfect, it makes a real difference: it allows you to access care without paying upfront, encourages earlier visits to hospitals, makes healthcare costs more predictable, shields against catastrophic bills, and most importantly, replaces panic with planning.

    Yet many Nigerians still believe that being healthy today guarantees good health tomorrow. This is a costly misconception. Non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and kidney disease often develop silently. By the time symptoms appear, treatment is rarely cheap, optional, or brief. Health planning, therefore, is not a luxury for the sick—it is a necessity for the healthy who want to protect themselves and their families from financial and medical shocks.

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    This is where personal health budgeting comes in. You do not need great wealth to plan for your health; you need intention. A personal health budget means setting aside resources— daily, weekly, monthly or annually—for healthcare needs you cannot fully predict but are likely to face. How much you allocate depends on your income and lifestyle, but the principle remains the same: prepare before crisis strikes.

    A practical health budget has three layers. The first covers routine care—regular checkups, basic tests, and essential medications. The second ensures prepaid coverage through health insurance or cooperative health schemes. The third is an emergency buffer for costs that fall outside standard coverage, such as referrals or exclusions. Perfection is not required; consistency is what matters. Consider your own situation. Do you have health insurance? When was your last routine checkup? Could you cover a month of treatment without borrowing? Have you discussed healthcare planning with your family? If most answers are “no,” this is not a failure—it is an opportunity to start planning differently.

    Scepticism toward health insurance in Nigeria is understandable. Past experiences have left many cautious. But avoiding insurance entirely exposes you to far greater risks. The key question is not whether insurance is flawless, but whether unplanned healthcare costs are manageable. While regulation, transparency, and service delivery must improve, some protection is always better than none. Health financing is ultimately about dignity. Without preparation, illness can strip away autonomy. Choices shrink. People accept substandard care, postpone treatment, or rely on charity. Planning restores agency. It allows patients to ask informed questions, seek second opinions, and focus on recovery instead of fundraising. It protects families from irreversible financial decisions made in moments of fear. In the end, health financing is not just about money—it is about safeguarding dignity when it matters most.

    Unlike extreme diets or rigid exercise plans, health financing is a resolution that improves life even if you never fall ill. It reduces anxiety, builds resilience, and supports long-term wellbeing. This January, as Nigerians resolve to live healthier lives, it is time to add one more commitment to the list: plan not only how to live well—but how to pay for care when living gets complicated. Because in Nigeria, the cost of being unprepared is often far higher than the cost of planning ahead.

  • Why young Nigerians must monitor blood pressure

    Why young Nigerians must monitor blood pressure

    Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is often perceived as a condition affecting older adults. But evidence from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and research in Nigeria shows that this assumption is dangerously outdated. As the silent killer spreads across all age groups, including young adults, regular blood pressure monitoring has never been more important.

    High blood pressure occurs when the force of blood against artery walls remains persistently high—defined clinically as a systolic reading of 140 mmHg or higher, or a diastolic reading of 90 mmHg or higher. It significantly raises the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, heart failure and premature death. The only way to know one’s blood pressure status is through measurement. There are no reliable symptoms until serious complications have already developed.

    Globally, an estimated 1.4 billion adults aged 30–79 years were living with hypertension in 2024, representing roughly one‑third of the adult population in that age range. Alarmingly, nearly half of them are unaware of their condition, and only about one in five has their blood pressure under control. This means most people at risk are undiagnosed, untreated or inadequately managed.

    Uncontrolled high blood pressure is a major cause of premature death worldwide, contributing to more than 10 million deaths annually due to cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes. Despite being both preventable and treatable, the condition continues to escalate, particularly in low‑ and middle‑income countries where health systems often struggle to provide routine chronic disease care.

    In Nigeria, where the population now exceeds 200 million, hypertension is a growing public health challenge. According to health data, the prevalence of high blood pressure among adults varies significantly by region and study design, but rates are uniformly high. Estimates suggest that about one in every three adults has elevated blood pressure. Awareness, treatment and control rates are low in Nigeria, exacerbating the risk of complications at younger ages.

    A report by the Nigerian Hypertension Society shows that less than 2.5 per cent of Nigerians with hypertension have achieved successful blood pressure control — despite an estimated 31 per cent prevalence. Only about one‑third of those affected are aware of their condition, and only a small fraction receive regular treatment. This low control rate reflects gaps in screening, access to care, medication adherence and routine monitoring.

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    Research in Nigeria also reveals that young adults are far from immune. A study across several Nigerian states found that nearly one in five young adults (aged under 30) had raised blood pressure. This dispels the myth that hypertension is exclusively a disease of older adults and highlights the urgent need for targeted screening and education among younger age groups.

    Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is increasingly affecting young Nigerians, driven by lifestyle, stress, and broader social factors. Rapid urbanisation, sedentary work, unhealthy diets high in salt and processed foods, excessive alcohol, and tobacco use all contribute to early elevation of blood pressure. Chronic stress—from economic pressures, career demands, and social expectations—further strains the cardiovascular system. Rising rates of overweight and obesity among urban youth intensify the risk. Many young people assume they are “too young” for hypertension, delaying health checks until a life-threatening event, such as a heart attack or stroke, occurs. Unlike visible illnesses, high blood pressure is often silent, making routine monitoring critical.

    The World Health Organization emphasises that regular blood pressure checks—at clinics, pharmacies, outreach programs, or at home with validated devices—empower individuals to understand and manage their cardiovascular risk. Early detection enables lifestyle interventions such as reduced salt intake, regular exercise, stress management, limiting alcohol, quitting smoking, and timely medical treatment, all of which significantly reduce long-term complications. For young Nigerians, integrating routine blood pressure checks into annual health assessments is a simple, life-saving step. Awareness today preserves heart health, prevents costly complications, and ensures a better quality of life tomorrow.

  • Tax Laws’ effect on workers: Oshiomhole, Ajaero differ

    Tax Laws’ effect on workers: Oshiomhole, Ajaero differ

    • Obasanjo, Kukah, others honour first NLC president Sunmonu at 85

    How does the tax reform regime affect the worker?

    Two foremost labour leaders – Adams Oshiomhole and Joe Ajaero – differed sharply on the issue yesterday.

    Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), said the tax laws, which took effect from January 1, propose the taxation of minimum wage earners.

    However, Senator Oshiomhole, a former NLC president, insisted that minimum wage earners are exempt from taxation.

    They spoke yesterday at the presentation of a book: “Organise, don’t agonise,” written by the first President of the NLC, Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu, to mark his 85th birthday.

    Sunmonu served as the pioneer president of the NLC between 1978 and 1984, following the consolidation of the different labour movements.

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo chaired the event, while the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Mathew Hassan Kukah, reviewed the book.

    Ajaero accused the Federal Government of scheming labour out of the process that culminated in the passage of the tax bills.

    He said: “A tax law that imposes a heavy burden on workers and the poor is not progressive.

    “A tax policy that taxes the national minimum wage is not fair.

    “A tax that taxes the masses who are living in excruciating poverty is regressive.

    “That was why we were excluded from the committee, and that was why our warnings went unheeded.”

    The NLC president also urged the government to fully constitute the National Pension Commission (PenCom) Board and to immediately address Nigerians’ concerns over the tax laws, instead of what he described as the “present grandstanding by Mr Taiwo Oyedele of the Presidential Tax Committee and Zacch Adedeji of the Nigeria Revenue Service.”

    Both Oyedele and Adedeji have, at several fora, explained that the tax laws exempt minimum wage earners from payment.

    Echoing them, Oshiomhole, who spoke after Ajaero, chided the labour leader for making what he described as wrong claims.

    He said: “The minimum wage earner is exempted from tax.

    “So, when you (Ajaero) say minimum wage is being taxed, they will see that as a loophole.

    “The tax laws are subject to amendment in the same way you negotiated a benchmark for the minimum wage.”

    He added: “The lesson of Sunmonu is this: if it is wrong, fight it. If you know it (the tax law) is wrong, fight it. Do not lament it.

    “On the floor of the Senate, I always say I have not come to Abuja to lament imperfection.

    “What the people need is not our tears or emotional statements.

    “Those who do bad things don’t do them out of ignorance, and those who enjoy a particular order will not give it up.

    “You have to fight them to give up.”

    Ajaero also urged the government to prepare for an early review of the minimum wage, saying: “Let the government move from agonising the people to organising with them.

    “Let us build a democracy that delivers not just political freedom but economic liberation, where the wealth of the nation serves the welfare of its people.

    “On this note, we once again call on the Federal Government to urgently address the wages of Nigerian workers before next year’s statutory negotiation of the national minimum wage.”

    He also alluded to the controversy over alleged alterations in the tax laws.

    “Insisting on going ahead is akin to muddling along in confusion and darkness, since we do not know which one is truly the law.

    “Continuing with this is a dangerous pattern that seriously undermines the tax administration itself and indeed our democracy,” he said.

    Following the outcry, especially by the opposition, the National Assembly has released the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the tax bills as passed by it and forwarded for presidential assent.

    The author of the book urged trade union leaders to be upright in their dealings.

    He said: “Leaders, you are warned. You have the choice to stay clean and abide by the grace of God or join politicians to do the wrong thing, disgrace yourselves and incur the wrath of God.

    “Let us stay the course in the interest of the future of our children and grandchildren.

    Read Also: ‘New tax laws to plug revenue leakages in oil, gas sector’

    “The faith Nigerian workers have in us is a sacred trust that we should not betray.

    “If we betray it here and thereafter, the judgments are there. Let us stay the course.”

    Obasanjo recalled that he consolidated the labour movements during his tenure as military head of state between 1976 and 1979 to prevent labour unions from being sponsored by foreign agents.

    He said while one movement was sponsored by the Russian secret service (KGB), another was sponsored by the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

    “I needed for Nigeria a Nigerian labour union, organised by Nigerians, controlled by Nigerians and financed by Nigerians.

    “So, I decided there was going to be a labour union reform, and I think the man I put in charge was Justice Adebiyi,” Obasanjo said.

    He explained that Justice Adebiyi was appointed to lead the reform process, which ultimately resulted in the establishment of the NLC, with Sunmonu emerging as its first elected leader.

    “I don’t know how Sunmonu felt at that time, but I felt comfortable,” he said.

    Obasanjo praised Sunmonu for strengthening labour leadership and expanding its influence across Africa and globally.

    He also revealed that he wrote the foreword to the book, highlighting Sunmonu’s contributions to national development.

    The event was attended by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN); Director-General of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Issa Aremu; President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Chris Piwuna; former NLC President, Ayuba Wabba; ex-ECOWAS Executive Secretary, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, and other dignitaries.

  • Court orders interim forfeiture of 57 properties linked to Malami

    Court orders interim forfeiture of 57 properties linked to Malami

    • Ex-AGF gets 14 days to prove they are lawfully acquired •Former minister, others get bail

    The Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) and members of his family.

    The properties, valued at about N213.23 billion, were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which invoked the Non-Conviction Based Asset Forfeiture provisions of the EFCC Establishment Act.

    Justice Emeka Nwite, who made the order, however, granted Malami, his sons Abdulaziz and Abiru-Rahman and any other interested parties 14 days to show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited.

    Failure to establish that the properties were lawfully acquired within the stipulated period may result in their final forfeiture to the Federal Government.

    The order followed an ex-parte motion moved by EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), who argued that the properties were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

    In granting the application, Justice Nwite ruled: “It is hereby ordered that an interim order of this honourable court is hereby made forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the properties described in Schedule 1 below which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”

    The judge further directed that the interim forfeiture order be published in a national daily, inviting any person or entity with an interest in the properties to approach the court within 14 days to contest the forfeiture.

    The case was adjourned to January 27, 2026, for a report on compliance with the court’s directives.

    EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Dele Oyewale, said the affected properties are located in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, and Kebbi states.

    They include luxury residences, hotels, schools, shopping complexes, oil and gas facilities, farmlands, and commercial buildings.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Court grants ex-AGF Malami, son, wife N1.5bn bail

    Among the notable properties listed in the schedule are:

    •            A luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja, purchased in December 2022 for N500 million, with its value reportedly enhanced to about N5.95 billion.

    •            A two-winged multi-storey building at Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki, formerly Harmonia Hotels Limited, acquired in December 2018 for N7 billion.

    •            A five-storey hotel complex in Jabi District, now operating as Meethaq Hotels Ltd with 53 rooms, reportedly valued at N8.4 billion after completion.

    •            A hotel property on Rhine Street, Maitama, purchased in 2018 for N430 million, now allegedly worth N12.95 billion after rehabilitation.

    •            Multiple properties in the Asokoro District, including terraces and plots along Yakubu Gowon Crescent.

    •            Commercial shops at Vegas Mall, Wuse 2, warehouse shops at Wuse Market, and residential buildings in Gwarimpa, Apo Legislative Quarters, and BUA Estate, Abuja.

    •            High-value properties in Nasarawa GRA, Kano, including residential and commercial buildings.

    •            Over 100 hectares of land along Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road, purchased in 2020 for N100 million.

    •            Many residential estates, schools, bungalows, and land assets acquired between 2023 and 2024 in Birnin Kebbi, allegedly through proxies and corporate entities.

    Court grants ex-minister, others N1.5bn bail

    The interim forfeiture order came in the course of Malami’s ongoing trial over alleged money laundering involving about N8.7 billion.

    Justice Nwite granted bail to Malami, his son, Abdulaziz, and Hajia Bashir Asabe, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited.

    The bail is in the sum of N500 million each, with two sureties each.

    The three defendants are being prosecuted on a 16-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, filed by the EFCC.

    The commission alleged that Malami and his two co-defendants conspired to disguise the origin of funds estimated at N8.7 billion.

    It said they acquired properties indirectly, and retained sums they allegedly knew were proceeds of unlawful activity, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 (as amended) and 2022.

    Justice Nwite had, on January 2, taken arguments on the bail applications by the three defendants and adjourned till January 7 for ruling.

    Ruling yesterday, Justice Nwite said: “I have critically evaluated the evidence adduced by both parties. I am not unmindful of the serious nature of the offence and the attendant economic consequences to our country, Nigeria.

    “But, like I earlier emphasised in the course of this ruling, the paramount concern of a judge, in granting or refusing bail pending trial, remains the applicant making himself available to stand his trial and/or not interfering with witnesses, especially when the offence is not a capital offence.

    “There is no gainsaying that the reasons adduced by the complainant/respondent on this point are not concrete enough, but tilt towards the realm of speculation.

    “In view of the foregoing, I am minded to grant the defendants/applicants bail in the interest of justice. Consequently, bail is granted to the first, second and third defendants in the following terms:

    •            Bail is granted to each of the defendants in the sum of N500 million and two sureties in the like sum, who shall each depose to affidavits of means.

    •            The two sureties shall be landed property owners in either Asokoro, Maitama or Gwarimpa within this jurisdiction, and the documents must be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court and deposited with him.

    •            The defendants shall deposit all their international passports with the Deputy Chief Registrar (Litigation) of the court and shall not travel outside the country without the permission of this court.

    •            The defendants and sureties shall deposit two passport photographs each, and the sureties’ residences shall be verified,” the judge said.

    Justice Nwite, however, cautioned parties in the case against attempting to reach out to him for any favour in the course of the proceedings.

    Although the judge did not state whether any of the parties had attempted to contact him, he stressed that nobody could influence the decision of his court in any way.

    Justice Nwite said: “Before concluding, I want to admonish and warn counsel and litigants that all judges are not the same.

    “When I am handling any case, please don’t approach me. When you are doing your case, you can get the best lawyers in this country to handle it, but don’t attempt to approach me for any help.

    “I am not that type of judge. I know what God has done for me by giving me this job, and I have vowed to do it to the best of my ability.

    “I have sworn before Almighty God and man that I am going to do my duty without fear or favour,” he said.

    Justice Nwite warned lawyers and litigants to desist from coming to him with the aim of perverting justice, adding:

    “Any attempt to try this will be vehemently resisted.”

    The judge advised that rather than seeking to compromise the court, parties should concentrate their efforts on prosecuting their cases and, if dissatisfied, challenge the court’s decisions by approaching the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

    Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until February 17 for the commencement of trial.

  • Aliko Dangote withdraws petition before ICPC against Ahmed

    Aliko Dangote withdraws petition before ICPC against Ahmed

    Africa’s foremost businessman, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has withdrawn his petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against the former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Alhaji Farouk Ahmed.

    However, the ICPC said there was no going back on its investigation of Ahmed, stressing that the matter is in the public interest.

    The anti-graft agency has activated a formal procedure to reach out to schools in Switzerland to verify whether Farouk’s children were, or are, enrolled in the institutions listed in the petition.

    Dangote had alleged that Ahmed expended, without evidence of lawful income, a humongous sum of over $7 million in public funds on the education of his four children in different schools in Switzerland, allegedly paying fees upfront for a period of six years.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that Dangote decided to withdraw his petition from the ICPC because a similar complaint is already being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    He reportedly asked the ICPC to allow the EFCC to proceed with the investigation, even though he had initially chosen to petition the two agencies.

    A source at the commission said: “We asked him to come in person to adopt his petition because our law does not allow representation in criminal matters.

    “We pleaded with Dangote to come to the ICPC headquarters in Abuja on December 29 to do the needful.

    Read Also: Aliko Dangote retires from Dangote Cement Plc

    “We have now received a letter of withdrawal from him. But he cannot stop our investigation because the petition falls within our mandate.

    “We deal with the public sector and public service. It is in the public interest, and we must see it to its logical conclusion.

    “There is also an inter-agency understanding that once ICPC or EFCC is handling a petition, one of us must stay action.

    “Despite the withdrawal of the petition, we are going ahead with our probe of the allegations against Farouk.

    “The ICPC has initiated a formal procedure to reach out to all the schools in Switzerland mentioned in Dangote’s petition.

    “As a matter of fact, we are awaiting their feedback.”

    A statement by the Spokesperson and Head, Media and Public Communications of ICPC, Mr. John Okor Odey, last night confirmed the commission’s position.

    The statement said: “The ICPC is in receipt of a letter dated January 5, 2025, titled ‘Notice of Withdrawal of Petition against Engineer Farouk Ahmed’, submitted to the Commission by Dr. O.J. Onoja, SAN and Associates, legal counsel to Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

    “The letter states that the petitioner has withdrawn the petition dated December 16, 2025, submitted against Engineer Farouk Ahmed, the immediate past ACE/CEO of the NMDPRA, in its entirety, and that another law enforcement agency has taken over.

    “The ICPC wishes to state categorically that, in line with the provisions of Sections 3(14) and 27(3) of its enabling Act, investigations in the interest of the Nigerian people and the Nigerian state have already commenced and are presently ongoing.

    “The ICPC will therefore continue to investigate this matter in line with its statutory mandate and in the interest of transparency, accountability and the fight against corruption for the benefit of Nigeria.”

  • Are schools ready for full CBT in 2030?

    Are schools ready for full CBT in 2030?

    The alarm bells rang frantically last year when the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) experienced what it termed “logistical” challenges that necessitated the use of flashlights and candles in several states for its English Language examination to “preserve the integrity of the examinations”. Likewise, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) contended with a “glitch” that resulted in poor results. The former was just transitioning to partial Computer Based Test mode, while the latter had been operating the system. Thus the two scenarios, observers reckon, exposed weaknesses and a system susceptible to glitches. However, the House of Representatives ordered a suspension of the directive of the Federal Ministry of Education that WAEC and the National Examination Council (NECO) examinations will switch to full CBT mode this year. Expectedly, this was necessitated by the issues experienced by WAEC and JAMB which resulted in a massive backlash. The House, nevertheless, proposed 2030 for full switch. The question on the lips of many is: Will the country and schools be ready by then? DAMOLA KOLA-DARE examines issues that may prove to be stumbling blocks to its feasibility.

    With the “glitches” in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and the “logistical” challenges experienced by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) during last year’s examinations, the hazard lights flashed frantically and it was no surprise when the House of Representatives halted the planned switch to full Computer Based Test mode billed for this year.

    The Education Minister, Dr Tunji Alausa, had early last year, directed the West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) to go full CBT for all their examinations this year.

    According to the minister, full adoption of CBT for both objective and paper exams by May/June this year would help tame examination malpractice and enhance the quality of education.

    But upon critical review, the House of Representatives ordered a halt to the directive. It was inspired by a motion moved by Rep. Kelechi Wogu, entitled: “Need for Intervention to Avert the Pending Massive Failure of Candidates Intending to Write the 2026 WAEC Examination Using Computer-Based Testing (CBT), Capable of Causing Depression and Deaths of Students”, at the plenary.

    Wogu cited an instance when the WAEC result portal was temporarily shut down due to “technical glitches,” with candidates distraught.

    The House then mandated the ministry and state governments to make provisions in the 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029 budgets for the recruitment of computer teachers, supply of standby generators, construction of computer halls with internet facilities, and the monitoring of private schools’ readiness before the switch to full CBT in 2030.

    Observers, though countenance the deployment of technology in conducting examinations, the snag is the three-year window, will power, funds to construct robust digital infrastructure, adequate training of teachers, and most importantly digital literacy among pupils.

    The National President, Association of Nursery and Primary Education Instructors in Nigeria (ANPEIN), Dr Simeon Fowowe, noted that by 2030, unless there’s substantial investment in infrastructure, schools in remote areas may still struggle to provide an effective CBT examination environment.

    He emphasised the need to consider multiple aspects such as infrastructure readiness, digital literacy, teacher training, and the availability of necessary resources to conduct exams in the CBT mode, adding that by 2030, there could be significant advancements in digital infrastructure.

    The don said while 2030 may seem like a distant future, the gap between the current state of infrastructure, digital literacy, and examination preparedness and the requirements for a successful CBT WASSCE and NECO examination is significant.

    He posited that schools would need substantial investments in infrastructure, teacher training, cyber security measures, and digital literacy programmes for both teachers and pupils.

    Fowowe said if the necessary interventions are not made now, many schools might still be unprepared for a seamless CBT examination by 2030, meaning the objective of a fail-proof transition might remain unachievable.

    National President, Early Childhood Association of Nigeria (ECAN), Prof. Babajide Abidogun affirmed that despite efforts from the Federal Government, NGOs, and private sectors, many schools  still grapple with basic access to technology. He stressed that access to reliable internet, modern computers, and uninterrupted electricity is still inconsistent across regions, which poses a serious challenge to the successful implementation of CBT at high-scale.

    He said while the postponement of the CBT mode of exams until 2030 provides a much-needed window to address the digital infrastructure challenges, by that time schools should be fully equipped with the necessary technological infrastructure, teachers digitally literate, and pupils should have equal access to the tools needed to succeed in the digital era.

    “ECAN will continue to advocate for policies that promote digital inclusion and the integration of technology into the early years of education, ensuring that our future leaders are not only academically prepared but are also equipped with the skills to navigate the increasingly digital world.

    “We are committed to working with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that by 2030, Nigeria will not only be ready for CBT examinations but will be at the forefront of digital education in Africa,” he added.

    Issues around feasibility of 2030 window

    With state governments given the mandate to make provisions in the 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029 budgets for the realisation of the CBT policy, the earlier preparation starts, the better, as there are myriads of issues to address.

    Fowowe said: “Many schools in Nigeria, particularly in rural and underserved areas, still face challenges with access to reliable computers and high-speed internet. For the WASSCE and NECO exams to be successful in CBT mode, schools would need to have enough computers and consistent internet connectivity. This could be a challenge if the infrastructural gap is not bridged.

    “A school in a remote area might have a computer lab, but it only contains 10 outdated computers. This small number of devices can barely accommodate the number of students expected to take the exam, and the internet connection is intermittent.”

    Uninterrupted power supply

    “Reliable power supply remains a significant issue in many parts of Nigeria. For CBT exams, schools would need uninterrupted power to run computers for long periods, especially for large cohorts of students.

    “A school in Lagos may have the necessary computers and internet, but frequent power outages might disrupt exams. Schools would need backup power solutions like generators or solar panels, which many may not be able to afford by 2030 unless there’s significant government intervention.

    Digital literacy among pupils, teachers

    “While students are generally more tech-savvy than ever before, many still lack formal digital literacy skills required to take exams in a CBT format. Teachers also need proper training to monitor, guide, and troubleshoot during such exams.

    “Students may know how to navigate social media or play video games, but navigating an exam interface, understanding timed exams, or dealing with technical glitches could present challenges. Schools will need to train students on the specific CBT platforms used for the exams.

    “A student from a public school in Ogun State may know how to use a smartphone but has never taken an online test or filled out an answer sheet on a computer. Even by 2030, training students on how to approach CBT exams would require both time and resources,” Fowowe explained.

    Proper training of teachers

    The APEIN President also stressed the imperative of training teachers.

    He said: “Teachers must also be equipped with the skills to assist students during the CBT exams. This includes understanding the exam software, troubleshooting, and ensuring that no malpractices occur.

    “A teacher in a secondary school in Kano might be proficient in teaching but has limited knowledge of digital exam platforms. Without proper training, they may struggle to manage the logistics of a CBT exam, which could delay or disrupt the entire process.”

    Cyber security and system stability

    Fowowe also noted that cyber security is a major concern for any online or digital system. He said the integrity of the WASSCE and NECO exams depends on the ability to prevent cheating, hacking, or system failure during the exams.

    “Ensuring that all student records are securely stored and that their responses cannot be altered or compromised is critical for the success of a CBT-based exam.

    “In 2026, an attempt to implement CBT exams could be thwarted by cyber-attacks, with hackers targeting exam papers or attempting to change student results. By 2030, adequate protection measures must be in place, including firewalls, encryption, and continuous monitoring, which may require substantial investment in cyber security.

    Read Also: Excitement as Eno commences CBT exams for civil service recruitment

    “If the exam platform crashes during the exam, it could undermine the credibility of the exam process. There must be a fail-safe mechanism that ensures no data is lost and that exams can be resumed without unfair consequences.

    “In 2023, Nigeria experienced a massive internet failure during a nationwide exam, forcing many candidates to reschedule. This scenario could occur during CBT exams, and schools may need to invest in backup systems to prevent such failures by 2030,” he said.

    Government role crucial

    Fowowe noted that the government’s role in implementing these changes cannot be understated. He highlighted adequate funding, policy formulation, and the availability of resources will be crucial to schools’ adoption of the CBT model.

    “By 2030, the government should have developed a clear roadmap for transitioning to CBT exams, including providing subsidies for infrastructure development, teacher training, and cyber security investments.

    “A partnership between the Federal Government and private tech companies might be necessary to equip schools with the necessary technology and ensure the reliability of exam platforms. If such investments are not made on time, the transition to CBT could be slow, leaving many schools unprepared,” he said.

     Equitable access for all pupils imperative

    Abidogun stressed that equity must be at the core of any strategy aimed at implementing CBT examinations nationwide.

    “One of the pressing concerns is the digital divide that exists not only between urban and rural schools but also between different socio-economic classes. The introduction of CBT exams should not inadvertently create additional barriers for students who lack access to digital devices or internet services at home. Special considerations must be made to provide equal opportunities for all students, including the provision of public digital resource centres where students can access the required facilities.

    “The government, in collaboration with educational stakeholders, must invest in programmes that bridge this gap.

    This may include providing free or affordable access to digital devices for students in disadvantaged areas, as well as increasing the availability of internet access in remote regions,” he said.

    Multi-sectoral approach way to go

    The ECAN Chief said: “The implementation of CBT for national exams is not just an educational issue; it requires a multi-sectoral approach. The Ministries of Education, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) must collaborate closely to ensure that both the infrastructure and the skills needed for successful CBT exams are available. There is also a need for policies that prioritise digital literacy from an early age, creating a seamless pathway from early childhood education to higher education.”

    NAPTAN weighs in

    President National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, in a terse message, said: “I think the schools will only be ready for the CBT mode of exams in the year 2030 if the digital infrastructure and facilities, qualified teachers, electricity or solar are made available to prepare students in all post-basic classes by the government at all levels, for a foolproof WASSCE and NECO exams.”

  • NYSC to deploy corps members based on security conditions, policies

    NYSC to deploy corps members based on security conditions, policies

    The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, has said that the deployment of corps members must be guided by prevailing security conditions and relevant government policies.

    Nafiu stated this yesterday in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at the 2026 Batch A Pre-Mobilisation Workshop, themed “Enhancing Service Delivery Across the NYSC Mobilisation Value Chain.”

    He stressed that the safety, welfare and dignity of corps members remained non-negotiable, warning that any mobilisation process that compromises those values strikes at the heart of national service.

    “Deployment decisions should be guided by current security conditions, existing government policies, and the principles of equity, fairness and transparency,” he said.

    According to him, any mobilisation process that endangers the safety or dignity of corps members undermines the core of national service, adding that NYSC management remains committed to discharging this responsibility with patriotism and integrity.

    Nafiu described mobilisation as the heartbeat of the scheme, noting that when it was conducted with precision and integrity, the entire service year proceeded smoothly.

    Read Also: Fubara approves upgrade of NYSC facilities in Rivers

    He explained that the mobilisation process involved various organisations, including Corps Producing Institutions (CPIs), regulatory agencies, technology and data platforms, as well as security and welfare coordination mechanisms.

    The director-general observed that weaknesses persisted across different points of the mobilisation chain, leading to outcomes that fell short of expectations, stressing that the situation must be addressed decisively ahead of the 2026 Batch A mobilisation.

    He identified persistent challenges associated with some CPIs, including violations of mobilisation guidelines, uploading of unqualified graduates, inconsistent academic records, data discrepancies, record manipulation and weak internal verification systems.

    Nafiu said such practices undermined the credibility of the process and posed operational and reputational risks to the scheme, urging heads of institutions to exercise stronger oversight and ensure continuous training for desk officers.

    He also acknowledged internal operational gaps within the NYSC, including inconsistent application of guidelines, weak inter-departmental coordination, delays in resolving issues and undue human interference in automated processes.

    “These gaps diminish institutional efficiency and gradually undermine public trust,” he said.

    He assured that management was committed to strict adherence to standard operating procedures, improved collaboration, stronger monitoring, and enhanced professionalism and ethical conduct at all levels.

    On technology and data management, Nafiu said that in spite of progress in digital mobilisation, challenges such as poor data quality, limited technical skills, resistance to automation and weak feedback mechanisms remained.

    “Technology should serve as an enabler of service delivery, not a source of frustration,” he said, calling for sustained capacity building, regular system audits and minimal human intervention in automated processes.

    He also identified stakeholder coordination and communication gaps as sources of avoidable bottlenecks.

    He emphasised the need for stronger inter-agency collaboration, regular review meetings and data-driven decision-making anchored on clear timelines and responsibilities.

    Looking ahead, Nafiu said the mobilisation process must be repositioned to be efficient, transparent, accountable and people-focused.

    “This involves delivering timely and accurate results, free from undue influence, with clear accountability for actions and inactions, while remaining responsive to the needs of prospective corps members and stakeholders,” he said.

    He added that achieving this would require a collective shift from routine compliance to a culture of service excellence.

    Nafiu urged participants to see the workshop as a platform for honest engagement, practical solutions and measurable reforms, noting that the credibility of the NYSC depended largely on the integrity of its mobilisation process.

    “The credibility of the NYSC Scheme depends on the integrity of its mobilisation process.“It is the first promise we make to every young Nigerian who answers the call to serve, and it must never be broken,” he said.

    In her remarks, the Director of the Corps Mobilisation Department, Mrs Racheal Idaewor, described the pre-mobilisation workshop as a critical platform for strengthening collaboration among the NYSC, CPIs and other stakeholders.

    She said the workshop underscored the scheme’s commitment to improving processes that underpined mobilisation and sustaining stakeholder trust and confidence.

    Idaewor noted that Information and Communication Technology remained one of the scheme’s greatest assets, in spite of the challenges it posed.

    She added that effective use of advanced data management systems and digital tools would further streamline mobilisation processes.

    Idaewor urged Student Affairs Officers to discharge their duties with diligence and integrity, ensuring that data submitted accurately reflected the profiles of prospective corps members