The Nation Newspaper

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  • Nigeria in global spotlight as WHO launches traditional medicine advisory group

    Nigeria in global spotlight as WHO launches traditional medicine advisory group

    The World Health Organisation’s decision to launch its first-ever Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (STAG-TM) has resonated far beyond Geneva and New Delhi. For Nigeria, it marks a moment of validation—and opportunity—in a field long practised by millions but historically side-lined by global health governance.

    Announced last week, December 18, the new advisory group is central to implementing the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, an agenda designed to bring scientific rigour, policy coherence and regulatory clarity to a rapidly expanding sector of health care. Traditional medicine, WHO officials acknowledge, is no longer peripheral. It is embedded in cultural identity and increasingly forms the backbone of primary health care systems, particularly in Africa and other parts of the Global South. “This is a pivotal moment for traditional medicine,” said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Systems, Access and Data. “It embodies cultural heritage and national health identities, and increasingly, it constitutes a vital component of primary health care strategies.”

    For Nigeria, the symbolism is especially strong. One of the two newly appointed co-chairs of the advisory group is Prof Martins Emeje, Director-General of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA). His appointment places Nigeria at the centre of global decision-making on how traditional medicine is researched, regulated and integrated into formal health systems. WHO Chief Scientist, Dr Sylvie Briand, explained that the rapid growth of traditional and complementary medicine has not been matched by strong evidence standards or sustainable governance. “The STAG was created to close this gap. It is not an academic exercise, but a formal WHO advisory mechanism providing independent, strategic and scientific guidance,” she said.

    The 19-member advisory group, selected through an open global process, will guide WHO on research priorities, technical standards, integration into national health systems and policy options for Member States. Its inaugural meeting, held in New Delhi on December 17 alongside the second WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit, identified urgent priorities that mirror Nigeria’s long-standing challenges and ambitions: evidence generation, preservation of indigenous knowledge, digital innovation, regulation, and community engagement.

    For decades, Nigeria has grappled with how to harness its vast traditional medicine ecosystem—rich in biodiversity and indigenous knowledge—while addressing concerns around safety, efficacy and standardisation. The elevation of Prof Emeje, a long-time advocate of evidence-based natural medicine and pharmaceutical innovation, signals a shift from informal acceptance to structured global recognition. Beyond symbolism, Emeje said the implications are practical.

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    Emeje said the significance of the WHO’s action lies in the global attention it places on Nigeria, noting that the world is watching, expecting, believing in, and trusting the country to provide leadership on the global discussion table in this critical area. He described the development as further evidence that the WHO is a highly inclusive institution, with demonstrable policies aimed at promoting the health and wellbeing of all people. According to him, the decision has also strengthened his personal resolve to continue serving Nigeria and the global community without expectation of reward. “This action by the WHO further fuels my passion to serve my country and the world selflessly,” he said.

    The NNMDA DG added that traditional medicine should not be framed as a competing or alternative system within Africa’s healthcare landscape. “Traditional medicine is not an alternative to any other form of medicine in Africa—at least for now,” he stated, stressing the need for complementarity, scientific validation and responsible integration into existing health systems.

    As WHO moves to draft the STAG-TM workplan for 2026–2027 and establish thematic sub-groups, Nigeria stands to influence global norms that could shape funding, research collaboration, intellectual property protection and the integration of traditional medicine into universal health coverage frameworks. In a country where millions still rely on herbal and traditional remedies as first-line care, the WHO’s move—and Nigeria’s prominent role within it—suggests that traditional medicine is no longer being asked to justify its existence. Instead, it is being challenged to meet global standards, while finally being given a seat at the table where those standards are set.

  • Medical Lab Guild urges LASG to resolve JOHESU strike

    Medical Lab Guild urges LASG to resolve JOHESU strike

    The Lagos State Chapter of the Guild of Medical Laboratory Directors (GMLD) has called on the Lagos State Government to urgently intervene in the ongoing industrial action by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), warning that continued disruption could endanger the health and lives of residents.

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    In a statement, GMLD Lagos expressed concern that the strike, which has led to the withdrawal of services at critical screening centres, is significantly affecting laboratory testing essential for safe blood transfusions and effective patient care. The Guild highlighted that delays in diagnosis and treatment are becoming increasingly common, placing vulnerable patients at serious risk. The Guild also cautioned that the substantial progress achieved by the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee (LSBTC)—including investments in safe and reliable blood services—could be undermined if the strike continues without resolution. “No resident of Lagos State should suffer preventable illness or loss of life over matters that are ultimately resolvable through dialogue and negotiation,” the Guild said, urging Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to facilitate constructive engagement among all stakeholders. GMLD Lagos reaffirmed its commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen healthcare delivery and safeguard the wellbeing of all Lagosians.

  • Fidson launches N21bn rights issue to boost capacity, expand across Africa

    Fidson launches N21bn rights issue to boost capacity, expand across Africa

    Fidson Healthcare Plc, Nigeria’s leading pharmaceutical manufacturer, has formally launched its highly anticipated Rights Issue, following the receipt of final regulatory approvals from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX). The signing ceremony, held on Friday, December 12, 2025, at the company’s head office in Lagos, marks a major milestone in Fidson’s growth strategy. The Rights Issue is expected to raise up to N21 billion in gross proceeds, providing fresh capital to strengthen production capacity, drive product innovation and accelerate the company’s pan-African expansion plans.

    Under the offer, Fidson is issuing 600 million new ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N35 per share. The shares are being offered to existing shareholders on the basis of one new ordinary share for every four ordinary shares held as of the close of business on November 12, 2025, which serves as the qualification date. The capital raise comes on the back of a strong financial performance that underscores Fidson’s growing dominance in the Nigerian and West African pharmaceutical markets. For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, the company recorded a 132 per cent year-on-year increase in profit after tax to N7.97 billion. Revenue rose by 56 per cent to N93.08 billion, driven by robust demand and wider market reach, while operating profit surged 92 per cent to N16.95 billion, reflecting improved efficiency and cost discipline.

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    Speaking at the event, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Biola Adebayo, described the Rights Issue as a pivotal step in Fidson’s long-term growth journey. “The successful formalisation of this N21 billion Rights Issue marks a critical milestone for Fidson. This capital will cement our position as the foremost healthcare company in Nigeria and a dominant player across Africa,” he said, adding that the company’s recent performance demonstrates its capacity to innovate and deliver sustainable value.

    Finance Director, Mr. Imokha Ayebae, said the offer was deliberately structured to be attractive and accessible to existing investors. He noted that proceeds would be deployed judiciously to optimise operations, upgrade technology and expand product lines, urging eligible shareholders to exercise their rights within the offer period.

    Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer of CardinalStone Partners Limited, the lead issuing house, Mr. Michael Nzewi, highlighted Fidson’s equity market journey. He pointed out that the company’s last capital raise in 2019 was priced at N4.50 per share, compared with the current offer price of N35, which still represents a discount to the prevailing market price. According to him, this reflects the strong growth trajectory of Fidson’s stock and its appeal to long-term investors. Shareholders listed on the register as of the qualification date are advised to complete the official participation form and submit it, along with full payment, to their stockbrokers or designated receiving agents before the closing date. With the Rights Issue, Fidson reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening pharmaceutical manufacturing in Nigeria, creating value for shareholders and advancing innovation across the healthcare value chain.

  • Staying Healthy Through the Festive Rush

    Staying Healthy Through the Festive Rush

    Before the calendar officially declares Christmas, the body already knows. Sleep becomes lighter. Meals become heavier. Roads grow longer. The days stretch, the nights shorten, and suddenly December feels less like a season and more like a race. If you pause for a moment and listen closely, you will hear it—not the carols or the generators, but your body quietly asking for mercy.

    The festive season is meant to be a time of joy, rest, and reconnection. Yet for many Nigerians, it has turned into a marathon of eating, travelling, spending, hosting, and explaining—often all at once. By the time January arrives, the body is usually the first thing to submit a complaint. But here is the truth we rarely say out loud: celebrating does not have to come at the cost of your health. You can enjoy the season fully without paying for it with exhaustion, illness, or regret. Let us start where December begins for most people—at the table.

    Festive eating is rarely planned; it just happens. One plate becomes two. A “small taste” turns into a full serving. Rice waits patiently. Meat appears endlessly. Soft drinks replace water. Alcohol flows as freely as laughter. For a while, the body copes. Then it pushes back—with heartburn, bloating, sluggishness, headaches, and restless sleep. Overeating is not simply about gaining weight. It stresses digestion, spikes blood sugar, strains the heart, and leaves you feeling drained in a season meant for joy. The goal is not to avoid the food you love; it is to slow down while enjoying it. Eat deliberately. Serve smaller portions first. Drink water before meals. Pay attention to fullness. Celebration is not measured by how much you eat but by how well you feel afterwards.

    Alcohol deserves special honesty. In festive Nigeria, refusing a drink can feel like breaking an unwritten rule. Yet December is one of the busiest periods in emergency rooms for alcohol-related problems—accidents, dehydration, heart rhythm disturbances, and liver stress. Alcohol dehydrates the body, disrupts sleep, and lowers judgment. A simple rule helps: for every alcoholic drink, take a glass of water. Decide your limit before the night begins. No celebration is worth waking up to a health scare.

    Now, let us talk about sleep—the most abused resource of the season. Late nights blend into early mornings. Travel plans steal rest. Social obligations stretch bedtime. Sleep deprivation may feel harmless, but it quietly weakens immunity, raises blood pressure, worsens mood, and impairs concentration. If full nights of sleep are unrealistic, protect quality where you can. Short naps help. Reducing screen time before bed helps. Going to bed at roughly the same time—even during festivities—helps more than you think. Sleep is not laziness; it is repair.

    The roads, unfortunately, are where the festive rush turns dangerous. December is Nigeria’s deadliest travel period. Fatigue, impatience, alcohol use, poor road conditions, and overcrowded vehicles collide. Many accidents are caused not by speed but by tiredness. Driving long hours without rest slows reaction time and clouds judgment. If you are travelling, plan breaks. Avoid night journeys when possible. Stay hydrated. And never drive under pressure—no destination is worth not arriving alive.

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    Beyond the physical toll, the festive season also carries emotional weight. Christmas amplifies everything. Happiness becomes louder. Loneliness becomes sharper. Financial worries feel heavier. Family expectations resurface. For those grieving, the season can reopen wounds. For others, the pressure to appear joyful becomes exhausting.

    Here is an important reminder: you are allowed to feel however you feel. Not everyone experiences Christmas as a season of joy, and pretending otherwise takes a real toll on mental health. Anxiety and low mood often increase during this period, even among those who seem fine on the outside. Taking breaks from social events, setting boundaries, and choosing quiet moments are not signs of weakness—they are acts of self-care.

    Movement is another quiet ally many people abandon in December. Sitting becomes the default—at parties, in traffic, at home. Yet gentle movement improves digestion, stabilises blood sugar, lifts mood, and improves sleep. You do not need a gym or a rigid routine. Walk after meals. Stretch in the morning. Dance at events. Movement does not have to look serious to be effective. Hydration, especially during Harmattan, is easily forgotten. Dry air, alcohol, and sugary drinks quietly drain the body of fluids. Dehydration causes headaches, fatigue, constipation, and kidney strain. Water should remain your most loyal companion this season. If you feel thirsty, you are already late.

    For people living with chronic conditions—high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, heart disease—the festive rush demands extra caution. Skipping medications, abandoning routines, or indulging excessively can undo months of careful control. Carry your medicines with you. Monitor your readings. Eat mindfully. Festive freedom should never include medical neglect. One of the healthiest decisions you can make this season is learning when to stop. Not every invitation requires attendance. Not every gathering deserves your energy. Saying “I need to rest” is not selfish—it is intelligent.

    And finally, think about January. Health problems do not magically appear in January; they are often December’s unfinished business. The aim is not to enter the New Year thinner, stricter, or deprived. The aim is to arrive stable—physically, mentally, emotionally. Because the body is not an afterthought to celebration; it is the reason celebration is possible at all. So as you eat, pause. As you travel, rest. As you celebrate, listen—to your body, your limits, and your needs. Offer yourself the same care you extend to guests, family, and friends. This Christmas, may joy not come with exhaustion. May laughter not end in illness. May the season leave you nourished, not depleted. Celebrate meaningfully. Rest deliberately. Care for your body gently. And as the year draws to a close, may this Christmas bring you good health, quiet strength, and renewed hope for the year ahead. Merry Christmas.

  • ‘Zero-dose children drive majority of measles cases in 2025’

    ‘Zero-dose children drive majority of measles cases in 2025’

    Nigeria is grappling with a persistent measles challenge in 2025, as more than 77 per cent of confirmed cases involved children who had not received even a single dose of the measles vaccine, according to the latest report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). In its Measles Situation Report for November 2025, the agency revealed that of the 19,213 confirmed measles cases reported between January and November, approximately 14,801 were “zero-dose” children—those who had never received routine immunisation against the disease.

    The report highlights that children aged 9 to 59 months accounted for nearly half (48.9 per cent) of all confirmed cases, underscoring persistent gaps in Nigeria’s routine immunisation coverage and the urgent need to reach vulnerable populations. Between January and November, the NCDC noted that 26,866 suspected measles cases were recorded nationwide, resulting in 153 deaths, which corresponds to a case fatality rate of 0.8 per cent. While the figure may appear modest, each death is a stark reminder of the disease’s preventable nature.

    The burden of measles, the NCDC observed, continues to fall disproportionately on the northern states, which together accounted for more than 80 per cent of confirmed cases. Borno, Zamfara, Yobe, Bauchi, and Kebbi were among the states reporting the highest numbers, reflecting long-standing challenges in healthcare access, routine immunisation, and disease surveillance in the region. “In November 2025 alone, 71 suspected cases were reported across 20 states, with only one confirmed case and no deaths,” the report said, signalling progress in outbreak containment. The agency added that 187 local government areas (LGAs) across 27 states had ended their measles outbreaks by the end of November, while only Eti-Osa in Lagos State had an ongoing outbreak, albeit with no new cases reported during the month.

    Despite these successes, the NCDC cautioned that surveillance challenges remain, particularly low blood specimen collection rates, which can delay outbreak detection and response. The agency emphasised that measles is highly contagious but entirely preventable through vaccination, urging parents and caregivers to ensure that all eligible children receive full immunisation according to national schedules. Measles, caused by a virus primarily affecting unvaccinated children, spreads through coughing, sneezing, and close contact. Symptoms include fever, cough, and rash, and while many children recover, the disease can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, and death, particularly in malnourished or immunocompromised children.

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    Health experts warn that zero-dose children—those who have never received routine vaccines—remain the most vulnerable, not only to contracting measles but also to contributing to its rapid spread within communities. “Every unvaccinated child represents a gap in our collective immunity,” an NCDC spokesperson said, highlighting the need for targeted immunisation campaigns in underserved communities. The report also reflects wider efforts by the NCDC and partner agencies to strengthen routine immunisation and improve outbreak response. Vaccination campaigns, especially in the northern states, have been intensified, with mobile clinics, community engagement, and outreach to hard-to-reach areas forming key strategies.

    Experts emphasise that measles prevention requires more than one-off interventions. While outbreak response vaccination is important, sustained routine immunisation is critical. Children who receive all recommended doses of the measles vaccine are highly protected, creating herd immunity that prevents outbreaks from spreading unchecked. The NCDC’s November report serves as both a warning and a reminder: despite progress in containing outbreaks, large numbers of unvaccinated children continue to fuel the spread of measles in Nigeria. Strengthening surveillance, expanding vaccination coverage, and engaging communities remain essential to reducing preventable illness and death.

    For parents and caregivers, the message is clear: ensure children receive all recommended vaccines, and report any suspected cases promptly to healthcare authorities. Measles may be highly contagious, but with timely vaccination and vigilant public health measures, it remains entirely preventable. As Nigeria approaches the end of 2025, the challenge remains not just to contain outbreaks but to close the immunisation gap that leaves thousands of children at risk. For the country’s youngest and most vulnerable, timely vaccination is not just protection—it is a lifeline.

  • 2025 Christmas, a simple yet stupefying Jesus story (1)

    2025 Christmas, a simple yet stupefying Jesus story (1)

    Silent Night, Holy Night!. Like drunken or blindfolded persons, we stand again before indelible memories of a great Mission of Divinity to the earth in the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, in a Bethlehem manger. I shudder, however, at the thought that THE DARKNESS, until it is finally vanquished, will never permit mankind to find THE LIGHT through memories. That was why I said that like drunkards or blind persons, we may never understand the Mission or profit from it. Evidence of this assumption are the gloom, sorrow, confusion in social, political, economic and cultural systems, debauchery, conceit, cunning, hatred, wars, pestilence and wide spread disease, ignorance and poverty more than 2000 years after the Jesus Mission brought spiritual education to mankind about how, through Love, they may make the earth a paradise after their home in the Spirit World.

    Also, I say mankind appear drunken or blindfolded today, 25 December 2025, another Christmas day, because many persons either believe that the Jesus salvation story is a fairy tale or are mere believers out of habit. You only need to live in Lagos and be a regular radio listener from about 4 am to 8 am and sometimes after midnight to appreciate the gold mine that the Jesus salvation story has become in the hands of several self-annointed prophets. Today’s Christmas is a special one in the history of Christmas in Nigeria, or anywhere on earth. Many new generation churches are falling upon themselves to outdo one another in competition to make money out of the biblical story of THE FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND. Every competing prophet has stocked no fewer than 5,000 rice handbags. A rice handbag is enough rice to fill a bag which can be hand held. I have not cited one. However, from the image they paint of it, it should be something to fill a 10kg sack. The prophets say the first 5000 worshippers to arrive on the praying ground they have chosen for a CONVENANT CHRISTMAS event would each be given a SANCTIFIED bag strictly on the basis of “ first come first serve”. The “lucky” worshippers will take their gift home and share them with no one. For as long as these packs of rice are in their homes, they would not be in want of food throughout 2026. There would be a convenant with Christmas 2025, though. That convenant is that each person will pay to the church N5,000 in expression of gratitude for the forthcoming blessing of their creator, the memory of Whose Son’s Mission of Salvation to the earth they had gathered to observe.

    Can this be true Christianity?, . There are too many blemishes than can be mentioned here in the Jesus story taught by these churches. I will cite only a few. When a prophet says he spoke to the Creator and the Creator gave him power to loosen all bonds which debar congregants from material prosperity, I wonder which creator he talks about. Can any man hear the voice of the Creator and not dissolve into nothingness? Do men not flee from lightening and thunder? Did the Three Wise Men not fall on their faces when they beheld even the Heavenly Host who cannot behold God without evaporating? Did Peter, James and John, the three Disciples closest to the Lord Jesus, not fall on their faces at the transfiguration of the Son of God in earthly cloak? What did the appearance of Moses and Elijah with Jesus teach those disciples and the prophets of today? Does the church not teach that departed persons and their earthly remains stay in their graves until JUDGEMENT DAY when bone and flesh and blood and nerves, all rotten, would reassemble for a rapture or destruction? Did Jesus teach us so? Did he not say He would resurrect on the third day of his demise, and that whatever He could do, we, too, were capable of, if we had faith? Did he not teach us that Abraham and Lazarus were already in heaven to show us we, too, could go there after stepping out of the flesh body? Moses and Elijah were long departed before the transfiguration. Did their appearance not suggest that they came from their new abode as members of the Jesus Mission to the Earth? I do not wish to address, fullscore, the question of REINCARNATION which Jesus mentioned tangentially when he informed his disciples that Elijah had returned, but men had done with him what they did. Out of a sense of responsibility, I would say here that the reincarnated Elijah was not John the Baptist. Anyone who carefully reads the Biblical reference should easily recognise from the text that this was the personal opinion of the reporter, one of the Disciples. It was his own understanding of the statement of Jesus which the Lord did not expantiate.

    The second reference I would like to make in respect of today’s Nigerian Christian approaching the Jesus story like a drunken or blindfolded person has to do with the notion that God is the servant of man. First, many Yoruba Christian songs and statements refer to him in the first person singular, whereas we address our parents, elders, bosses and anyone senior to us in the second person plural (eyin d:r), (iwo d:r). We also tend to assume that he is an ARBITRARY GOD. The prophets promised us blessings from him that we may not deserve, making us to easily forget that the Lord Jesus taught us about infallible and adamantine mechanisms of THE LAW OF SOWING AND REAPING, one of The Laws of Nature which uphold His Holy Will. To worsen matters, the prophets make us believe God is our errand boy. That is why we ask Him to follow us everywhere, to destroy our enemies as if they are not, like us, His creatures and that there was nothing we did to make them become our enemies. Where is the law that whatever a man sows, he shall abundantly reap?

    Another misnomer in today’s Christianity is that some of us believe we have the potential to BLESS God Who is Blessing! We own nothing, not even our existence which is owned by God, LIFE, Who does not need anything, any creature, Angel, man or beast to be God. Out of spiritual poverty, we always say in church or at prayer gatherings that “I bless you”, “I bless you”, waving the right hand, eyes closed or opened.

    Another misnomer is PRAYER. We do not realise that prayer is what we do with our thoughts, the spoken word and our deeds. Thus, we are what we think, say or do, nothing more.The Lord Jesus taught a simple prayer…OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN. It is all about acknowledging the supremacy of the Creator and submission of self to him. We were also taught that our prayers should be thanksgiving, short on words, humble and not petitions. Nowadays, christians carry on as if their Creator is deaf or is hard of hearing. Hours or a whole night are devoted to praying, in the belief that the longer the prayer and the noisier the shouting, the more easily will the prayer be heard. It is little known that words are only channels through which a prayer is packaged and that those words are not the content. The content, which is the power of the prayer, is the deep inner feeling in joy or sorrow which gains connection with the POWER OF GOD in Creation. Bereft of deep inner feelings, that is serious movement or stirring of the spirit, the word channels are empty. Understandably, this is why prayers appear not to be heard because they hardly gain connection with the Power of God and cannot rise to the footstool of His throne. Our prayers are nothing but pure begging and begging and begging. Yet, we do not need to beg for anything if we stand aright. The Lord taught us to seek first the spiritual kingdom and that, if we do, everything we need will automatically come to us. To seek the spiritual kingdom, we must know about THE WILL of our Creator and unconditionally fufil It. He makes HIS WILL abundantly known to us everyday, every moment, through our encounters with THE LAWS OF NATURE because they uphold this Will. The Lord taught us about the Law of sowing and reaping. We know about The Law of Motion. Anything, anyone, that is not in perpetual motion will perish. That is why the solar systems and the universe are in motion. Any person, any people who is not will retrogress, wither and perish. Compare our society with other societies where, through inventiveness, the spirit is in motion. Haven’t we even in our understanding of what we are, where we came from and what we are here for not retrogressed and perishing? Wasn’t that why THE JESUS DIVINE MISSION TO THE EARTH was undertaken? It takes REVEALED KNOWLEDGE which is on the face of the Earth today, to remind us of how far we have fallen as the archangels Who guided” the seven churches of Asia” were informed in the book of revealations. Asia is the spiritual name for the worlds which lie below the spiritual realms. Spiritually speaking, according to revealed knowledge, THE SEVEN CHURCHES correspond to the seven universes over each of which an archangel presided. The judgement that was to come to our universe, Ephesus, was revealed to John The Baptist.

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    At the risk of being considered a fantast, I would continue. Before I come to the JESUS STORY, I will like to make one more comment. The prophet speaks in tongues to bamboozie the congregation. He does not understand what happened to the Disciples on the day of Pentecost or that the event was not a one- time occurrence but what has happened on a particular day throughout the Universe before the Lord came to the earth and has continued to happen till this day. For Pentecost is the outpouring of power by the Holy Spirit into Creation. The outpouring takes place in the highest Temple in the primordial spiritual world, which is far above the spiritual realms, the last Outpost of which is our home, paradise. This is telling us that the Holy Spirit created the Universes, maintains them and will judge them all, each one at his own time. John the Baptist, on the way to his own home in the fifth primordial spiritual realm was privileged in the seventh primordial spiritual realm in a location called PATMOS to behold events which were soon to happen in our own universe, the spiritual name of which is EPHESUS. It was this vision that he passed on to a person on Earth who was competent to receive it that we now call THE BOOK OF THE REVEALATIONS OF JOHN.

    On the day of Pentecost, power streams down from the Holy Spirit into the worlds to maintain them. Every creature who is spiritually open for it can receive of this power in the measure of the receptivity. The outpouring is like the power of the heart beat which drives blood circulation round the body to maintain it. Only humans drunken in spiritual ignorance and blindfolded as such neglectfully lay their spirits before tongue- speaking prophets who are no better than spiritual highway men.

    The Jesus story

    We learned: “In the beginning was THE WORD, THE WORD was with GOD and THE WORD was GOD”. I believe THE WORD is THE LAW and THE JUSTICE OF GOD. I believe, also, that THE BEGINNING is that of CREATION and not of the existence of Almighty God. Creation is the World of spirits. Our Universe and the earth developed after the image of creation. It is a place where we, the lowest of spirits are to develop and mature before we can return to our home, paradise, the lowest of the 14 realms of the Spirit world. THE WORD brought Creation into being when GOD decreed “ let there be light”. THE LAW is the HOLY SPIRIT, the Creative Will of God, Whose Spirit hovered over the land in the spiritual realms. Through Revealed Knowledge on the face of the Earth today, it is apparent that Christianity has failed to distinguish between THE HOLY SPIRIT Who, like JESUS is personal. We hold on to the personal Jesus and ascribe everything to Him because He is the only member of the Trinity humanity has seen and experienced in blood and flesh. However, the Yorubas of South Western Nigeria are more insightful when they say ESAN KO GBO O o GUN; ESAN L’ AKOBI OLODUMARE”. This means…JUSTICE has no remedy; JUSTICE is the first born of The Almighty God. They recognised the HOLY SPIRIT, but did not as yet recognise JESUS because he did not live and work among them. Colonisation was to bring to them, in the Evangelical mission, knowledge of this other Personality of the TRINITY OF GOD.

    In my view, the Lord Jesus taught that the justice of God was THE COMFORTER Who was coming to reprove the world of sin and to proclaim the judgement. He also called this personality THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH. To clarify for us that The Spirit of Truth or the Comforter was not “ the rushing of wind” which was experienced by the disciples, The Lord described him IN THE SECOND PERSON PRONOUN…” WHEN HE THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH IS COME, HE WOULD REPROVE THE WORLD OF SIN AND PROCLAIM THE JUDGEMENT”.

    Unmistakeably, the spirit of Truth is the HOLY SPIRIT, THE LAW, The Justice of God. Revealation 1:4-6 describes Him as “ which was, which is and which is to come” and speaks as well of The Lord Jesus, “ the first begotten of the dead”. I take that to mean the first son to live among spiritually dead humanity.

    To not waste time, the Trinity of God is purity, justice and love. Purity is Holiness. God alone is Holy. The Holy Spirit, still not well understood in Christianity, is THE WORD, THE JUSTICE and THE LAW. By him and through him God created everything, including humanity and our world. He maintains us and our world and will judge us according to The Word, the Law when the time is ripe.

    When it was seen from above our world that the time was ripening, that we were not maturing well, and that we were going to be lost in the harvest, the pleas of a few ones rose to the Throne of Mercy and, because the struggling ones would not be abandoned, even if it be a single soul, a mission of love was assembled for the redemption and salvation of anyone of us who longs for it. This is the Mission of Jesus to the earth.

    The Lord did not come from paradise or higher spheres in the spiritual realms, nor did he come from the substantiate Divine Realms, Abode of the Angels and Archangels. He came from unsubstantiate Divinity, the Abode of the Almighty God and the Holy Spirit, The Word, the Law, his Justice and creative spirit. ‘ From revealed knowledge’ which describes event from Above downwards whereas mankind investigates from below with limited vision and understanding, groping all the time, we now have a few glimpses through Grace of what lies beyond our origin, paradise. One of such glimpses is that surging flames, like oceans of fire spanning immeasurable distances by human estimation, seperate the abode of Angels from unsubstantiate Divinity.

    It was from here that the Lord Jesus as an integral part of the Love of God was sent to the earth by the Almighty Father. The judgement was coming, and it could not be annuled. For THE LAW, DIVINE JUSTICE never changes, Being of God and perfect like Him from eternity into eternity.

    Archangel Lucifer who led human spirits to the earth had cut them off from their home, paradise, and the Creative Will of God, The Holy Spirit, THE LAW and THE JUSTICE OF GOD. Darkness engulfed the ethereal prototype of the earth. Thus, the earth became denser and was sinking down towards the depths under THE LAW OF GRAVITY. Light on Earth would make it ascend again towards the Light, God. Darkened, it became denser, so more impervious that it now takes much longer time for volition or plans to become deed. Sinking further, the earth would be sucked down by gravitational forces of a FUNNEL OF DISINTEGRATION, which would swallow it. In the belly of this funnel, the earth would be pulverised into its primeval or primordial constituents of dust, fire, water and air. The human inhabitants would lose their ego consciousness and revert to their pre-conscious status of unconscious spirit seed grains which is equivalent to effacement from THE BOOK OF LIFE. That was what the Lord Jesus came to the earth to help us avert. After the judgement, the Elemental beings would reconfigure the primeval components of the earth into a new planet.

    • Note: This column is written in two parts, but only the first part is published in The Nation newspaper. The second part will appear beneath the first part on Facebook at John Olufemi Kusa.
  • FULL LIST: Top nine Africa’s most awarded artists

    FULL LIST: Top nine Africa’s most awarded artists

    African music has grown into a powerful global force, driven by artists whose consistency, creativity, and cultural influence have earned them widespread recognition. These musicians have collected hundreds of awards across local, continental, and international platforms, reflecting both their talent and their lasting impact on African and global music.

    1. Wizkid – 197 awards

       Wizkid sits at the top of Africa’s most awarded artists list. From his early days in Lagos to global superstardom, he has played a major role in exporting Afrobeats to the world.

    He is known for his smooth sound, genre-blending style, and major international collaborations. Winning top global awards and performing on the world’s biggest stages, Wizkid helped transform Afrobeats into a mainstream global genre and opened doors for a new generation of African artists.

    2. Davido  – 150 awards

       Davido is one of Africa’s most successful hitmakers, recognized for his high-energy music and strong global presence. His career is marked by consistency, chart-topping singles, and a massive fanbase across Africa and the diaspora.

    Beyond music, Davido has built a reputation as a music executive and influencer in the industry, helping to shape modern Afrobeats as both an artistic and commercial powerhouse.

    3. Sarkodie  – 121 awards

       Sarkodie is widely regarded as Africa’s most awarded and influential rapper. Rapping predominantly in Twi, he broke language barriers and proved that local African languages can dominate mainstream and international award spaces.

    His longevity, lyrical excellence, and independent success have made him a symbol of African hip-hop excellence and a role model for emerging artists across the continent.

    4. Burna Boy  – 114 awards

       Burna Boy’s rise has been defined by his unique Afro-fusion sound and unapologetic African identity. His music blends Afrobeat, reggae, dancehall, and global pop influences, often addressing social and political themes.

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    With major international awards and sold-out global tours, Burna Boy has positioned African music as both culturally rich and globally competitive.

    5. Shatta Wale  – 114 awards

       Shatta Wale is one of Africa’s most recognizable dancehall artists, known for his fearless personality and strong street credibility. His career reflects independence, resilience, and a deep connection with grassroots audiences.

    Despite controversy, his influence on African dancehall remains undeniable, and his awards highlight his dominance within the genre.

    6. Stonebwoy  – 107 awards

       Stonebwoy is a respected reggae and dancehall artist with strong roots in African music. His work emphasizes unity, peace, and African pride, earning him recognition both on the continent and internationally.

    Through collaborations across Africa and the Caribbean, Stonebwoy has helped bridge African music with global reggae and dancehall culture.

    7. Angélique Kidjo  – 100+ awards

       Angélique Kidjo is one of Africa’s most decorated and respected musicians. With a career spanning decades, she has earned numerous international honors and remains a powerful voice for African culture and humanitarian causes.

    Her success laid the foundation for African artists in the global world-music space and continues to inspire generations.

    8. Diamond Platnumz  – 100+ awards

       Diamond Platnumz is East Africa’s biggest music export and a leading figure in Bongo Flava. His dominance in digital streaming and pan-African collaborations has expanded East African music beyond regional borders.

    As both an artist and entrepreneur, he has played a major role in unifying African pop music across languages and regions.

    9. Fally Ipupa  – 96 awards

       Fally Ipupa is a modern ambassador of Congolese rumba and francophone African music. He successfully blends traditional sounds with contemporary pop, appealing to both older and younger audiences.

    His international recognition, particularly in Europe and Africa, has helped keep Congolese music relevant on the global stage.

  • Odunayo marks 100 days in office, promises more development in Itire-Ikate

    Odunayo marks 100 days in office, promises more development in Itire-Ikate

    The Chairman of  Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area (LCDA),  Hon. Daniel Odunayo, has promised more people-centered projects as he marks 100 days in Office.

    Odunayo, who  commissioned seven roads in the council,  also  donated three buses to the Council  Legislators, Office of the Chairman and National Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE), as part of the  activities marking the event.

    Speaking at the event, Odunayo stated that his administration has the goodwill of the Itere-Ikate people at heart and will work tremendously well to bring the best to them.

    He said, “We are going to develop the Itire-Ikate people and work tremendously to do the good things they deserve.

    Before this seven roads, we’ve done a lot of things, We’ve given back to the community, that is the dividends of democracy, I’ve showcased my capacity, and they should be at rest, we are working.”

    Odunayo further stated that there would be more youth inclusive ideas brought to the LCDA in terms of technology, sports and education.

    “They should know that I’m on my toes, they’ve not seen anything, we’ve commissioned secondary school, we’ve done some acquisition skills for the children in Itire-Ikate.

    “We have the sewing machines, they can sew the school bags, sandals, and so many other things, in the education sector, education is the key, It’s a power to fight against poverty, we gave them free GCE forms and they’ve done the exams.

    “A lot of good things are coming into Itire-Ikate, The market women, We’ve met them, We are going to develop more markets in Itire-Ikate.

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    And in the area of cleanliness, I’ve inaugurated a task force team, about 45 of them, because of the environment, our environment needs to be clean, we don’t want people to be dropping their refuse at the junction street. We need to clean up our environment. In order for us to share the sicknesses in our community,” he said.

    Addressing the youths, he said, “You should know, I’m on my toes, work has not started yet, this is a piece of the iceberg, we are still building more schools, Primary education, we are still going to build houses for our people in Itire-Ikate and also a lot of development for the youth, we want to build a basketball court, a football pitch for long-term use, for our youth to be active in their sports.

    Also, we will build ICT rooms for our children to develop them in their IT departments, work on their computers, Laptops, We need to bring a reform, a Renewed hope. We need to give them hope. We need to work on our youth.”

    Gracing the occasion was the Lagos State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, who commended the council boss  for policies aimed at improving residents welfare, further stating  plans were on the way  to deepen public accountability through engagements where achievements will be showcased and residents would  question elected officials, followed by an independent performance assessment of council chairmen by a designated committee.

    He added that  the  local government autonomy in addition to the tax reform starting in January would increase  councils revenue and enable them to embark on more developmental project.

    Ojelabi  urged   council officials to improve their  performance, warning that underperformance would be reported to the Local Government Service Commission for necessary actions.

  • Withdraw police from Bayero’s palace, Kwankwaso tells Kano CP

    Withdraw police from Bayero’s palace, Kwankwaso tells Kano CP

    • …reaffirms Sanusi as legitimate Emir of Kano

    Former Kano State Governor and National Leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has called on the Kano State Commissioner of Police to withdraw security operatives stationed at the Nasarawa Mini Palace, where the 15th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, is currently residing.

    Kwankwaso made the appeal on Tuesday while speaking at the official launch of the Kano State Government–owned Neighbourhood Watch Corps in Kano. 

    He criticised the continued security presence at the palace, insisting that it contradicts Kano’s traditions and could inflame tensions in the state.

    The call follows the decision of the Abba Yusuf–led state government to sack Bayero and reinstate the formerly dethroned monarch, Muhammadu Sanusi II, as Emir of Kano. 

    Kwankwaso maintained that Sanusi remains the only legitimate emir, warning that the existence of parallel traditional institutions could threaten peace and stability in Kano State.

    “The legitimate Emir of Kano is Muhammadu Sanusi II. He remains the rightful Emir of Kano,” Kwankwaso said.

    The Kano Emirate crisis dates back to March 2020, when then-Governor Abdullahi Ganduje dethroned Sanusi II, citing alleged insubordination and political differences. 

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    Ganduje subsequently split the Kano Emirate into four and appointed Aminu Ado Bayero alongside three others as first-class emirs.

    However, Ganduje’s successor, Abba Yusuf—widely regarded as Kwankwaso’s political protégé—reversed the policy by dissolving the additional emirates through a new law passed by the State House of Assembly. 

    The law restored the unified Kano Emirate and led to the reinstatement of Sanusi, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

    Despite the development, Bayero has insisted that he remains the Emir of Kano. 

    He vacated the main palace and relocated to the Nasarawa Mini Palace after a palace chief, Dan Agundi, approached the court seeking the enforcement of Bayero’s fundamental human rights.

    Kwankwaso has since condemned the deployment of security personnel to maintain Bayero’s stay at the Nasarawa Mini Palace, describing the action as provocative and a potential threat to lasting peace in the state.

  • FG warns MDAs: No accounts, no funds in 2026

    FG warns MDAs: No accounts, no funds in 2026

    The federal government has issued a strong warning to ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), stating that any institution that fails to prepare and render its statement of accounts to the treasury on or before December 31, 2025 will face sanctions. 

    The directive was contained in a circular signed by the Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr. Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, dated December 22, 2025.

    According to the circular, any MDA that fails to prepare and submit its separate annual financial statements will have its release of funds suspended indefinitely. 

    Dr. Ogunjimi added that such defaulting institutions will also face administrative consequences at the leadership level.

    According to Ogunjimi, “Any MDA that fails to prepare and render its separate (stand-alone) annual financial statements will have its release of funds suspended indefinitely, while a query shall be issued to the director/head of accounts and administration.”

    The circular, titled Guidelines of Financial Activities for End of the Year 2025, directs all MDAs to ensure that all revenues due to both the Federation Account and the Consolidated Revenue Fund/TSA Sub-Recurrent Account are fully collected and properly accounted for before the close of the financial year.

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    It further directed MDAs authorised to retain 50 per cent of their gross internally generated revenue (IGR) and remit the remaining 50 per cent to the TSA Sub-Recurrent Account to adhere strictly to the provisions of the applicable finance circular issued on December 28, 2023. 

    The Accountant-General stated that MDAs must “ensure due diligence in the collection, utilisation, and remittance of their revenue,” in line with the circular referenced FMF/CME/OTHERS/IGR/CFR/21/2023.

    The circular also stated that reports on the collection, utilisation, and remittance of IGR must be uploaded into the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) platform to ensure the completeness of accounting records.

    On the remittance of operating surplus, Dr. Ogunjimi directed all corporations, departments, and agencies listed under the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 — as revised by the same finance circular of December 28, 2023 — to restrict their total budgetary expenditure to 50 per cent of their gross revenue. 

    They are further required to remit 80 per cent of the remaining 50 per cent into the TSA Sub-Recurrent Account as interim or advance payment of operating surplus.

    Over the years, the Federal Government has maintained that unspent funds must be returned to the treasury at the end of every accounting year. However, compliance levels among MDAs have remained inconsistent. 

    The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) had earlier disclosed that more than N5 trillion in operating surpluses has been remitted between 2007 and 2024, but also lamented that the government has lost over N1.5 trillion owing to failure by some agencies to remit 80 per cent of their operating surpluses to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

    In addition, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, had warned MDAs that failure to comply with the revised cash planning policy could result in the blocking of their capital funds. He cautioned that strict adherence was necessary to improve discipline in public financial management.

    In July, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation issued additional financial control measures after observing what it described as a “surge in unretired advances and idle cash balances across several ministries and agencies.” 

    MDAs were instructed to submit comprehensive annual reports on unretired advances, with the warning that breaches could lead to the withdrawal of imprest privileges or further sanctions.

    The latest circular signals a renewed push for stricter accountability across federal institutions as the 2025 financial year draws to a close, with the treasury insisting that full compliance with reporting, remittance, and expenditure rules remains a critical condition for continued access to government funds.