The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Onaiyekan’s Foundation, NDLEA, Czech embassy rehabilitate 30 drug addicts

    The Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace (COFP) on Monday said it had rehabilitated 30 youths in Abuja who were subjected to treatment in 2018 for drug addiction.

    Rev. Sister Agatha Chikelue, Executive Director, COFP, made the disclosure on Monday during its “Youths Living Above Drug Addition (YOLDA)’’ programme in Abuja.

    The programme was supported by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Czech Republic Embassy in Abuja.

    Chikelue said the youth after their rehabilitation were trained on skills acquisition such as tailoring, hair dressing, hair cutting, makeup, cobbling, pastries and soap making, among others.

    She also announced that the foundation had engaged another 30 youths for rehabilitation this year.

    “The foundation will also graduate another 30 youths this year, so 60 youths are going to be graduating between 2018 and 2019,’’ the executive director said.

    Chikelue said that the objective of the programme was to ensure that youths were put on the right track to live more dignified lives in the future.

    The executive director said that the beneficiaries went through series of tests such as heart, liver, kidney and STDs in order to determine if they had been affected by the drugs, while those with issues started treatment.

    She said that the empowerment stage afforded the participants the opportunity to identify skills they had a passion for and the organisation paid for their training and gave them start up kits.

    Chkelue said the participants were made up of 21 males and nine females drawn from the FCT and environs.

    Mrs Beata Matusikova, Economic and Commercial Affairs, Embassy of the Czech Republic, Abuja, said that the embassy collaborated with the foundation to help Nigerian youths come out of the ugly act.

    Matusikova said that the embassy decided to come to their rescue and also engaged them in economic empowerment related skills acquisition.

    She urged the beneficiaries not to relent in whatever thing they are doing and assured them that the embassy would not abandon them after their graduation.

    Mr Boniface Donald, one of the beneficiaries, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the participants would continue to remained grateful to the foundation and other stakeholders.

     

    (NAN)

  • Burna Boy’s ‘Anybody’ featured in American TV series

    ‘Anybody’, a song by Afro-fusion star, Damini Ogulu aka Burna Boy has been featured on American TV series ‘Ballers’.

    The series, which was created by Stephen Levinson, features Dwayne Johnson and tells the story of Spencer Strasmore.

    Strasmore is a retired NFL player who must navigate his new career of choice as the financial manager of other NFL players.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ‘Anybody’ is one of the songs off Burna Boy’s recently released ‘African Giant’ album.

    The singer confirmed the song inclusion in ‘Ballers’ by retweeting the announcement which was tweeted by @black_nino.

    He tweeted, “Anybody was used in Ballers S0503 @burnaboy. My lord is blown.”

    Burna Boy, who is also on an international tour, recently appeared on Trevor Noah’s show and Jimmy Kimmel where he performed his song.

     

    Read Also: Davido, Burna Boy, Nasty C lead 2019 AFRIMA Continental Nominees’ List

    NAN reports that in July, Burna Boy released an album titled ‘African Giant’, referencing the Coachella incidence.

    The album contains fan-favourites and some of the biggest 2019 hits including ‘Killin Dem’ featuring Zlatan, ‘Anybody’ and ‘Dangote’ alongside a titular track ‘African Giant’ and several international collaborations.

    Amongst the artists featured are Jorja Smith in ‘Gum Body’, Manifest in ‘Another Story’, Jeremih and Serani in ‘Secrets’, Damian Marley and Angelique Kidjo in ‘Different’, Future in ‘Show and Tell’ and YG in ‘This Side’.

     

    (NAN)

  • Ekong, Etebo lead Eagles to Dnipro

    Italy –based defender William Ekong and England –based midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo are expected to lead Super Eagles to Dnipro, Ukraine today, ahead of Tuesday’s international friendly match with the host country’s senior team.

    It is the first outing for the three –time African champions since they finished third at the first – ever 24-team Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in Egypt, this year.

    Goalkeepers Francis Uzoho and Ikechukwu Ezenwa; defenders Olaoluwa Aina, Chidozie Awaziem, Ekong, Leon Balogun and Jamilu Collins, as well as midfielders Alex Iwobi and Etebo and forwards Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Paul Onuachu and Samuel Kalu were in Egypt.

    But there would be excitement about a rash of new faces alongside a couple of returnees. Defenders Bryan Idowu and Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, and Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho are back after being overlooked for the Africa Cup.

     

    Read Also: Intl friendly: Super Eagles to depart for Kyiv September 6

    Germany-based goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, midfielder Joseph Aribo of Scottish club Glasgow Rangers and forwards Joshua Maja (France) and Emmanuel Dennis (Belgium) are hitting the camp for the first time.

    Saudi Arabia-based Captain Ahmed Musa pulled out of the trip on Thursday night as a result of injury that has failed to heal as quickly as he expected, adding to the earlier forced withdrawals of defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Tyronne Ebuehi, midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and forward Henry Onyekuru.

    The Dnipro Arena is a 31,000 –capacity facility that was opened on September 2008.

    Ukraine is rated number 25 on the FIFA ranking while Nigeria is 33rd.

  • Nasarawa stakeholders demand increased funding for agriculture

    Nasarawa State stakeholders in agriculture have called on the State Government to increase its budget

    allocation to the sector to 10 per cent in line with the Maputo declaration.

    They made the appeal in a communiqué issued at the end of a 1-day workshop on “Agriculture Budget Priorities” for Nasarawa State, organised by Oxfam Nigeria, on Friday in Keffi.

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the communiqué read by Mr Joshua Jonathan, President of the Association of Small Scale Agro Producers in Nigeria (ASSAPIN), on behalf of other stakeholders, noted that increased allocation and funding to the sector would enhance economic development and food security.

    They also demanded for the inclusion of small holder farmers in the agricultural budget process in order to capture their needs and address their priorities.

    The stakeholders also stressed the need for the recruitment, training and retraining of extension workers in the state to augment the 100 currently serving them.

    They also encouraged the Nasarawa Agricultural Development Programme to collaborate with professional organisations, research institutes and non-governmental organisations to build the capacity of extension workers to impact on the production of small holder farmers.

    Similarly, the stakeholders urged the state government to encourage farmers to engage in dry season farming by providing water pumps and and other infrastructure.

    They maintained that irrigation farming was more profitable than rain-fed farming in the quest for sustainable food security.

    Other areas of intervention sought by the stakeholders from the state government included improved technology farm inputs, proper guidance on how to access available credit facilities.

    Also of concern to them was the need for the state government to make concerted effort through  appropriate legislation to provide land for women and youth farmers in the state.

    The group also encouraged the state government to upgrade all the seven grazing reserves in the state to boost livestock production.

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  • Kano, society on family health spend N14.2 billion to procure 8.4million mosquito net

    The campaign manager for Society on Family Health, Mr John Ocholi, has disclosed in Kano, that over N14.2 billion has so far been spent on the procurement of 8.4m mosquito treated nets for distribution to the 44 Local Government Areas of Kano State to curtail malaria Scourge in the state.

    Ocholi, and his team who were in the ancient of Kano on an advocacy campaign, to enlighten the Kano people on the advantage of using  mosquito treated nets, said the project was in conjunction with the Kano State government, as  over 33,000 adhoc staff, had been trained and engaged  to carry out an aggressive campaign to the grassroots in the state on the danger associated with malaria scourge.

    According to him : “We have designed a strategy by using technology, whereby citizens will collect cards, which would qualify them for free treated mosquito net  to avoid fake ones been paraded alongside the genuine ones in the markets.

    That is why we do not want the campaign for the elimination of malaria to die via the use of mosquito treated nets.’’Prior to using, the mosquito treated nets, the campaign manager of the project, said the launching will commence on 4th of October, and advised members of the public to ensure using the nets, so as to avoid mosquito bites, which often results to malaria.

    Read Also: World Malaria Day: KEDCO distributes 10, 000 mosquito nets in Kano

    Apart from that, members of the public must ensure to always sleep under treated  mosquito nets, adding that without such measures, they risk malaria, which often results to high rate of infant  mortality in the society.’’

    Mosquito treated nets must not be used, as wrappers or for decoration but only for the use of eliminate mosquitoes, which are the major sources of malaria, which poses serious danger to our infants.

    ’’Our advocacy campaign will be focused on rural dwellers, who are the major beneficiaries through enlightenment on the need to maintain high sense of hygiene and clean environment, in order to avoid stagnant pool of water around them.’’He charged the media to focus more attention on the reportage on the inherent dangers associated, with prevailing  malaria scourge, ravaging the society, which is put at 97 per cent.’

    ’We want every household  in the country to at least have one mosquito treated net, adding that they must allow air pass through the net before using them. Use mosquito treated nets, so as to reduce the burden of malaria, as the nets last for between three and four years.

    ’’When dirty, use mild soap to wash it but not medicated soap, so as to sustain its potency.’’ On a final note, he urged both the Print and Electronic media to provide adequate health publicity, so as to encourage the Private Sector to support the campaign, as part of their corporate social responsibility.

  • Nigeria confirms outbreak of yellow fever in Bauchi

    The Nigeria Centre for  Disease Control (NCDC)  on Friday confirmed an  outbreak of yellow fever in Bauchi State.

    Three  cases were  recorded in Alkaleri Local Government Area (LGA) of the state and the fourth case is a tourist from Kano State who visited the Yankari Games Reserve in the same LGA in Bauchi State.

    The NCDC has consequently activated the  Emergency Operations Centre to coordinate the response to the outbreak.

    The Director General of the NCDC,  Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said the centre  was first notified ”on the 29th of August, when we received the report of a confirmed case of Yellow Fever in Kano State from a laboratory in our Yellow Fever laboratory network.

    “Subsequent investigations led by the Kano State Epidemiology Team established that this confirmed case of yellow fever was from a patient who visited the Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi, in August 2019 with his father. Unfortunately, the father died with similar symptoms before a sample could be collected and tested.

    Read Also: Yellow Fever: Ebonyi to commence mass immunization of residents

    ”Subsequently, on the 3rd of September 2019, the Borno State Epidemiology Team reported deaths among students of Waka College of Education in Biu LGA Borno State. These students visited the Yankari Game Resort in August 2019.  Of the 95 Students that visited the resort, eight of them developed symptoms and six had died as at the time of the report. The others are in a stable condition. Samples from these cases are being tested.”

    Ihekweazu however noted that Intensification of surveillance activities led to the identification of three more confirmed cases who are all resident in Alkaleri Local Government Area (LGA), of Bauchi state.

    He also revealed that “ a multi-agency Yellow Fever technical working group coordinated by NCDC, has been leading the preparedness and response to yellow fever in Nigeria. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency is leading efforts to provide an additional opportunity of vaccination through preventive vaccination campaigns across the country.

  • Kwara moves to sack unqualified teachers

    Plans are underway to sack unqualified teachers in the Kwara State Teaching Service by December.

    Mr Olumide Awolola, Deputy Chairman, Kwara House of Assembly Committee on Education and Human Capital Development, said this on Friday in Ilorin.

    He spoke when the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education For All (CSACEFA) paid an advocacy visit to the Assembly.

    Awolola explained that the step was aimed at reforming the state’s education sector.

    According to him, a circular has already been issued to that effect as the state government is committed to providing qualitative education.

    Read Also: AbdulRazaq launches Malaria-Free-Kwara campaign

    He said the sack of teachers without professional qualifications would be carried out alongside other initiatives to restore the lost glory of the education sector.

    Earlier, the State Coordinator of CSACEFA, Hajia Nimat Labaika, urged the government to urgently address the rot in the education sector of the state.

    The rot, she said, was inimical to education and human capital development in the state.

  • Tribunal dismisses petitions against Wamakko, others

    The Governorship, National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal in Sokoto State on Friday  dismissed the petition filed by  Alhaji   Ahmad Maccido challenging the election of Senator  Aliyu Wamakko of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Read Also: Tribunal: Senator Wamakko properly elected – Dr Liman, SAN tells Court

    Maccido contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the last  election for Sokoto Central Senatorial District and was defeated by Wamakko.

    Unsatisfied with the outcome of the election, the petitioner approached the tribunal challenging the declaration of APC’s Wamakko.

  • Katsina, repentant bandits begin implementation of dialogue agreements

    The Katsina State government and repentant bandits operating in the state  on Friday in Geza, Danmusa Local Govern Area of the state, commenced the implementation of the  agreements reached during the  dialogue initiated by Governor Aminu Bello Masari The Governor, who had earlier met  another group of bandits and their Fulani leaders at Danmusa and Safana LGAs, announced the immediate release  from detention of two arrested bandits as demanded by them.

    He also directed the Chairmen of the two Local Government areas to immediately set up a committee each made up of the Chairman of the transition Committee, district heads and representatives of the bandits and the  herdsmen to resolve  areas of conflicts.

    Read Also: Masari to bandits in Katsina: enough is enough

    The CTC Chairmen are   also expected to ensure that the  herdsmen are granted free access to the markets with adequate security protection and that they are allowed to market their cattle  The governor  warned that he would not hesitate to sanction any traditional ruler or transition committee chairman found fueling banditry, kidnappings and other nefarious activities in the state.

    He said the state had sustained its reputation as a state of harmony for years despite multiplicity of people and would not allow avoidable security challenges tarnish its reputation and that of the citizenry.

    He said it was worrisome that bandits had brought wanton destruction of lives and properties of the citizenry in the state, hence the need for stakeholders not to support the heinous acts of the miscreants.

  • Osimhen wins Lille Player of the Month award

    Following his goal-scoring run in the French Ligue 1, Victor Osimhen has been named Lille Player of the month for August.

    Osimhen heralded his arrival in France by scoring four goals for the Great Danes in his first four games.

    The 20-year-old bagged a brace against Nantes to help Lille secure a 2-1 win on August 11 and another brace as they romped to a 3-0 victory over Saint-Etienne a week ago.

    Read Also: Osimhen on rampage scores brace in Lille’s 3-0 victory

    Osimhen joined Christophe Galtier’s side in July as a replacement for Ivory Coast’s Nicolas Pepe who left for Arsenal. He is expected to link up with Gernot Rohr’s team in Dnipro where Nigeria will take on Ukraine in an international friendly on September 10.

    After the international break, Osimhen will be aiming to continue from where he left off when Lille host Angers for their next Ligue 1 fixture on September 13.