The Nation Newspaper

Category: Life – The Midweek Magazine

  • NGO unveils Health Education On The Go

    For the purpose of providing qualitative cancer screening for early detection to Nigerians, Mass Medical Mission (MMM), a Non-Profit Organisation, has launched a community mobilisation campaign called Health Education On The Go!(HETGo!).The campaign is targeted at expanding the impact of various free live-saving initiatives to the general public. It is also aimed at complementing the efforts of the government to improve the health indices of Nigerians.

    To carry out the campaign, the organisation has deployed five fleets of special vans, which are designed to combine provision of health education wi th public transportation. This is to create mass awareness so that members of the public can take advantage of all aspects of the programme.

    At the launching, Executive Secretary of the organisation, Dr Abia Nzelu, said there are five buses which will ply designated routes along the Lagos Mainland, Ikorodu axis, Surulere and the Island. She added that there will be videos and jiggles that will be playing and telling people about different health conditions and what they can do to prevent them.

    Other initiatives that the organisation offers include Mission PinkCruise, a mobile van fully equipped to carry out screening and treatment of pre-cancer and early cancer for cancer, Mission PinkVission, the eye aspect that aims at achieving the goals of Vision 2020, Wellness Wednesday, a free invite every Wednesday to all at their base centres in Surulere, Lagos for free cancer and general health screening and also for Premarital Promotion Programme (PHPP), Oral Health Foundation and Foundation for Imaging in Life and Medicine (FILM), which seeks to make life saving and life enhancing radiologic, endoscopic and laboratory interventions accessible to the underprivileged.

    Speaking on some perceptions of cancer, Nzelu said ignorance is the major contributor to mortality rate from cancer and other killer diseases, which account for Nigeria currently having the seventh lowest life expectancy in the world. “Cancer and its related risk factors are the major causes of untimely death in Nigeria and the global cancer burden has risen to 18.1 million new cases and 9.6 million cancer deaths in 2018. To address this problem, our organisation marked the last World Cancer Day by deploying four of the pilot set of Mobile Cancer Centre also known as PinkCruise to take holistic preventive healthcare to Nigerians,” she said.

    She stated that PinkCruise is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for screening and treatment including mammography, endoscopy, colonoscopy, colposcopy, vaccination and surgeries for pre-cancer and early cancer. “The PinkCruise operates from fixed Based Cancer Centres (BCC) that are equipped for follow up and treatment cases as well as screening for those who did not participate in the community-based health mission. So, we want Nigerians to take advantage of this programme, the mobile cancer centre is available to all and free,’’ she added.

    Mass Medical Mission (MMM) is an initiative of the National Cancer Prevention Programme (NCPP), the foremost effort towards national cancer control in Nigeria. NCPP is involved in advocacy/awareness, screening, vaccination and treatment of early and precarious cases.

    MMM has four fixed centres currently in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Asaba. The Mobile Centres will operate from each fixed centre to service those states.

     

  • Urhobo College honours Whitehouse boss

    It was an evening of glamour, glitz, reunion and thrills, when students of the premier Urhobo College, Efurum, Warri, Delta State, recently gathered at the Alvan Ikoku Hall, Radisson Blu, Ikeja, Lagos, to honour the President, White House Group, Dr. Austin Avwero Eruotor and others including Prof. Joseph Abuju, Mr. Ogaga Orovwuje and Barrister Lucky Nengite, as pillars of the Urhobo College Old Students’ Association and for their uncommon service to humanity.

    The well attended event was a threefold in one annual event, tagged: The 2018 Annual Dinner, Lecture and Award’. The event   chaired by Chief Oghenekpobo Jonathan Idudu, the Ughegbe of Agban Kingdom, was attended by prominent old students of the institution and their spouses who have carved a niche for themselves in their various fields of human endeavours. Some of the eminent men present at the dinner include Mr. Victor Hammond, Chief E. F. Esisi and Mr. Tajudeen Adegboyega Akande, President Lagos Country Club, who was the guest speaker. He spoke on Successful Succession Planning, which he treated excellently and professionally to the admiration of the audience.

    President of the association’s Lagos Branch, Mr. Igho Okor, expressed his excitement on the turn out of the members and called on them to wake up to the clarion call of seeing that the great institution that would turn 70 years on January 24, 2019, takes her rightful place as the admirable and enviable champion it used to be.

    He revealed that the 70th anniversary celebration would be used primarily to raise N100 million   to revamp some structures in the school that require urgent attention.

    He appealed to the old students to use their positions and engage individuals and corporate bodies that they know, that can do something for the college in furtherance of their corporate vision and social responsibility.

    Lifting from Mr. Okor’s words, Chief Idudu told the old students not to rest until they ensure that, their alma mater has taken back the championship position she was known for worldwide when students and teachers came from all over the world.

    “From the caliber of the men assembled here you can achieve much more than your intent to do if you all direct your energies and pulled your resources together with the quest to achieve the extra ordinary success in the shortest time span. It is achievable…” he stated.

    He added that, where there is a genuine will, there must surely be a way to actualise one’s dream and Urhobo College, Effurum, Warri should by no means be an exception.

    He emphasised that, a school that produced such people like Justice (Mrs) Roseline Bozimo, immediate past Chief Judge of Delta State and Justice Gladys Ekperin, who did their Higher School Certificate (HSC) should not be left to decay and die, while she should actually lead the pack of prominent sought- after post primary schools in the country.

    The special guest, Prof. Chris Ugolo, National President, UCOSA Worldwide, who spoke through a representative frowned at the neglect and pitiable state of the infrastructures in the college and the living condition of the staff and called on the relevant authorities to collaborate with the students’ association in bringing back the glory of the school for the good of the state and for the betterment of the heritage of the Urhobo nation.

    He advised that the anniversary celebration committee should focus more on raising funds for the purpose of rebuilding the dilapidated buildings in the school.

    This, he said, should be given an urgent attention. The speeches were punctuated with soul lifting music and comedy performed ‘ostensible’ by Emma Sax and the ace comedian Micky Mouse who came all the way from Warri, to add flavour to the occasion.

    Chief E. F. Esisi, the immediate past President of the body worldwide presenting the certificate and plague to Dr. Eruotor on the behalf the body, said that rewarding and recognising him for what he has done is encouraging him to do more and inviting him to always stand up to the occasion when there is a genuine opportunity to do so.

    He mentioned that, for Dr. Eruofor to be chosen as a UN global peace Ambassador, an honour given to very distinguished and well tested select few, is a well-deserved call for him to do more. And that the college is proud to have him as her product.

    Dr. Eruofor, who spoke on behalf of the award recipients, said his passion for excellence, hard work, innovation, versatility and astute interest and zeal for knowledge and capacity, endeared and motivated his induction into the famous London Institute of Banking as member.

    In the same vein, the reputable Pacific Western University, Denver, Sate of Colorado, USA, awarded him honourable doctorate degree-Doctor of Philosophy, Business Administration.

    ‘For a body like UCOSA with very highly placed people in different spheres of life and well recognisable eminent and erudite international scholars as members, to choose to honour us, especially in Lagos, Nigeria’s center of excellence, is a gross way of humbling us…It also means more responsibilities like Chief Esisi, the elder statesman mentioned earlier…’ he stated.

    He added that with his little knowledge, he believed that, for every soul on earth there is a designed divine purpose to be of immense benefit to humanity. That charity and good works is not only meant for the so-called rich. That every person no matter on which societal strata he or she is,has contribution to make for the good of the larger human society.

    He called on the millennia generation to be focused, patient and direct their vibrant energies positively and shun vices that are the surest way to doom, not only for the individual involved but their immediate family and the global human society.

    He promised to do more to help the youth in his little way indirectly growing a peaceful and crime-free society.

    Chief Mudiaga Okumagba, a member of the Organising Committee, thanked the Pillars and members of UCOSA and reminded them that all is expected to wake up to the task, for there is too much work to be done. To live this dream all hands must be on deck, for a smooth sail.

     

  • Bio-Chem graduate turned-artist shows Remilekun

    After an initial four-month apprenticeship with Founder, Nike Art Gallery, Mrs Nike Okundaye, in the production of wearable arts in 2014, Miss Morenikeji Badmus, a graduate of Bio-Chemistry, Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State rejected a NAFDAC job for the production of tie and die (adire) as an entrepreneur.  Badmus’ interest in textile art was inspired after a chance meet with Nike Okundaye at Osogbo during the Osun Osogbo Festival the previous year.

    In order to realise her dream, she sought for redeployment from Edo State to Osun State while on the one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. Today, that venture into the art is not only yielding results, but also providing fulfillment for the young artist, who said that apart from entrepreneurship opportunities, she has been able to express herself through textile.

    “I went to study Bio-Chemistry in the university because of societal pressure and demands, but today entrepreneurship is it in Nigeria. In fact, after graduation, my parents assisted me in getting a job at NAFDAC, and I turned it down because I am more fulfilled with art. It is more of fun than the money even though I have not made much money from it,” she said.

    Badmus who has Moolori Wearable Art as brand name in textile art business, disclosed that when she founded her outfit in April, last year, she set a target of holding her first solo exhibition within the first one year of operation. Expectedly, her debut show titled Remilekun will open from December 23 till 29 at 21B Eleganza Garden, Opposite VGC, Lekki in Lagos.

    It will feature a collection of 25 unisex wears, T-Shirts, shawls and wall hangings made from adire enriched with mainly Yoruba motifs and designs. According to her, the exhibition is about her journey, struggle and politics in fashion.

    She described her works as a blend of pop culture and the rich Yoruba heritage in textile. “I have been trying to solve the problem of fading challenge in adire, which often raises the cost of my production and sale. Again, I am trying to incorporate pop art into my adire in order to make it eco-friendly while promoting Yoruba culture,” she said at a preview session at her outfit at Ago Palace Way, Okota in Lagos at the weekend. She disclosed that her choice of a garden for the exhibition was informed by refusal of many galleries to host her show.

    Badmus who was at this year’s Pan African Festival, Los Angeles USA,stressed that she is not in a hurry to return to Bio-Chemistry noting that ‘the only reason I will be interested in Bio-Chemistry is in the area of environment. For now, I am done with Bio-Chemistry until I am involved in environmental issues as a way of giving back to Nigeria. However, in a way, it impacted the content of my art especially the drawings. So, it was not a lost knowledge.’

    To enhance her skill in the industry, Badmus who reveres Nike Okundaye as her mentor and mummy, is currently at a fashion school in Lagos learning illustration and merchandise aspects of textile art.

  • Peaceful cities on time bomb

    • Cultists, fraudsters, ritual killers hold Osun communities ‘hostage’
    • No cause for alarm –CP

    Theirs is an esoteric world. Their thinking is warped, their value system beclouded by their love for lucre. To them, good character is an arcane concept meant for a world different from the one we live in, hence they cannot relate to the concept of Omoluabi so proudly espoused by the immediate past administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in Osun State where they hold sway. They seem to derive special pleasure from inflicting pains on fellow human beings, particularly if they know that doing so could fetch them some money or material items. The end, as they say, justifies the means.

    The foregoing is the state of affairs in some major towns in Osun State. In Osogbo, Ilesha, Ede, Iwo, Ile-Ife, Ikirun and other major towns in the state, many youths are on the loose, engaging in cultism, internet fraud otherwise called yahoo yahoo or money rituals known as ‘yahoo plus’ in street parlance. Their common trait is to inflict pains and sorrow on other people without batting an eyelid once they know that doing so will translate to some dubious financial gains.

    Already, their presence is a huge source of worry for the hapless residents of the affected towns as they are usually on drinking spree between the hours of 9 am and  noon in some discreet or, in their own parlance, ‘coded’ guest houses and hotels. The festive mood continues at night and runs into the wee hours of the next day as they consume all manner of hard drugs.

    For instance, the ever busy Olaiya area in Osogbo  was once thrown into confusion because of  face-off between yahoo boys and the police. In a recent case, commotion was said to have ensued when the police tried to flag down some yahoo boys at a place on Dada Estate, but the boys refused to stop. In their bid to avoid the police, however, their vehicle knocked down a passer-by. The incident reportedly resulted in chaos before normalcy was restored.

    The story is also told of how a syndicate of yahoo boys killed a middle-aged man (name withheld) recently. A  source told our correspondent that the victim, who was allegedly “used” by his friends who were into yahoo plus (money rituals), was gainfully employed while his friends were fond of poking fun at him. They were said to have invited him many times to join their ‘club’ but he rejected their invitations.

    The source said: “On the day he was going to be ‘used’, he was invited to a party. His wife said she  became worried when her husband did not return the second day. When his body was eventually found, he was dead and his brains had been removed.”

    In another instance, an undergraduate in one of the higher institutions in the state was said to have lost her life to her yahoo plus boyfriend. A source told our correspondent that the lady, identified simply as Ronke, lodged in a guest house with her boyfriend so they could spend the night together. But not long after they had checked in, they engaged each other in a shouting match, causing the girl to leave the room for an unknown destination only for her dismembered corpse to be found the following morning with wads of naira notes placed on her head. It was believed that the lady also was ‘used’.

    Early in the week, an alleged leader of a notorious cult group named Badoo was allegedly shot dead on Gbongan Road in Osogbo after he was reportedly accosted by about 11 members of a rival group. Badoo was said to have been arrested by the police several times earlier only to be granted bail each time he was arraigned.

    According to a report, the last time he was arrested and granted bail, he returned to cause more trouble. “Immediately he was released, he attacked the son of a policeman and stabbed the boy. The poor boy almost died. His target was the policeman that arrested him, but he attacked the son of another policeman,” a source said.

    An eyewitness, who narrated how Badoo was killed, said he was accosted by about 11 members of a rival group who wielded dangerous weapons and ordered him to enter a vehicle but he refused. His refusal enraged them and made them to shoot him at close range several times.

    A source, who described the attack as retaliatory, said the rival cult groups had been at war for close to 10 years.

    There were fears of reprisals by members of the late Badoo’s cult group until the Osun State Commissioner of Police urged members of the public not to panic.

    While many cases like these were neither reported nor celebrated, the case of one Bose, who was allegedly ‘used’ by her  yahoo plus boyfriend in the state went viral early in the year. According to an online report, trouble started when Bose’s boyfriend accused her of flirting with another man.

    The boyfriend, who was alleged to be a yahoo plus member, had vowed to deal with Bose. True to his words, Bose was said to have fallen sick a while after he issued the threat and later passed on.

    Adamant lovers

    In spite of the mysterious death of many girls believed to have been ‘used’ by their wealthy suspected yahoo plus boyfriends, The Nation findings revealed that many of the girls are not dissuaded from dating with yahoo plus guys. Indeed, many of them regard going out with such boys as part of ‘hustling’.

    “My brother, if fish shits in the sea, does that make the water bad? Life is all about taking risks. The people you call yahoo plus boys are the ones that are ready to spend a fortune on you,” a lady in her early 20s said, adding: “Where there is no pain, there is no gain.”

    Findings revealed that that most of the yahoo and yahoo plus boys are buoyed by their belief that they have some form of immunity against arrest by law enforcement agents.

    “They will continue to ply their trade because only a few people report to the police their experiences in the hands of the bad boys. Many of the people they scam live abroad. Unless they are reported, it is impossible for the police to make any arrest,” a respondent said.

    Relations of many of the girls allegedly ‘used’ for rituals are also said to be wary of reporting to the police because apart from the fear of stigmatisation, such a crime is difficult to prove.

    “How do you prove that somebody used juju on your daughter when that person is not found at the scene of the crime?” the respondent queried.

    Moreover, the police in the state are said to be wary of grabbing people suspected to be yahoo boys for fear of being accused of infringing on their rights.

    Cultistsin the mix

    While the issue of yahoo boys has become worrisome, the activities of cultists have become a source of concern to many members of the public as they no longer restrict their operations to schools. It is now common to see them engaging in street wars which tend to paralyse economic activities in the affected areas.

    Last month, members of two notorious cult groups, Eiye and Aye Confraternity, engaged themselves in a bloody war at Idasa Area in Ilesha. At the end of the melee, four of their members were killed. About the same time in Ede, two cult groups, Apata and Apate, engaged in a bloody confrontation for one week. Our correspondent gathered that but for the intervention of the Anti-Cultism Squad of the Osun State Police Command and the Divisional Police Officer of Ede, the situation would have been worse.

    Early in the year, the Osun State Police Command arrested seven members of a secret cult accused of causing panic in Ile-Ife.

    Many are quick to blame the upsurge of cult groups in the state on the political class. They believe that the situation would not abate in Osun State and the country in general until politicians stop arming thugs.

    An Osogbo resident, who pleaded anonymity, said: “The way cultism is growing in this country, we will not be able to sleep again very soon. Politicians are using them. They arm the thugs during elections, and after the elections, they are no more useful for these politicians, so they become monsters.”

    Tough battle

    While the Commissioner of Police in the state is working to discourage youths from engaging in crime, the battle could be tough for the police as findings revealed that the police in the state is having serious manpower challenge. The proliferation of night clubs in almost all the major towns in the state is also a major cause for concern.

    Our correspondent gathered that it was a tough battle stopping the crisis that erupted when a fuji music artiste, Alabi Pasuma, performed at a function tagged Alora Night in Osogbo recently. There was only one police patrol team at the scene when a fight broke out during the show.

    In a bid to stem the tide, the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Fimihan Adeoye, has embarked on electronic campaign against cultism, yahoo yahoo, yahoo plus and drug abuse in the state. A short video aimed at discouraging the youth in the state from engaging in anti-social vices is currently trending.

    He believes, however, that crime rate in the state has not reached an alarming state, saying that there is no society that is crime-free.

    He said: “Osun State is safe. But that is not to say we do not have occurrences of crime, because there is no society that can be said to be absolutely crime-free. But the point is being able to deal with any rare incident that occurs.

    “We are not just interested in detecting the crime, we go the whole hug to see that the suspect in such rare occasion is apprehended, professionally investigated and those who are found culpable are prosecuted.

    “Our emphasis is on crime prevention because we consider it the most important aspect of police duty. We see this duty of investigation, detection of crimes and prosecution as means of preventing crime.”

  • Colours of Uhola: Celebrating Zuru heritage

    At a time many of his contemporaries are being driven by the dictates of the art market, Moses Oghagbon remains focused on documenting the hidden treasures of Nigeria using his paintings.

    In 2004, he initiated the Tour Nigeria Project to promote unity of the country using its cultural landscape to tell good story. In line with the objectives of the project, Oghagbon undertook documentaries on landscape of Nigeria, Argungu fishing festival in series and in two distinct genres of art; painting and photography.

    On Saturday, December 8, his latest collection of paintings on Uhola, a festival in Zuru Emirate, Kebbi State will be on show at Weave & Co Gallery, Moorhouse, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    The solo exhibition tagged Colours of Uhola, is another effort by Oghagbon to showcase the colours and thrills of the festival he has enjoyed over the years.  With 26 paintings, water colours and drawings of landscape and figuratives on the yearly celebration, the artist offers the many sides of the festival to viewers.

    From action moments to when the dancers and other participants in the festival are returning home, the artist captures all these on canvas. But the artist major concern is the need to use his paintings to promote peace, unity and love among Nigerians, especially at a time when terrorism and violence are common place.

    To Oghagbon, art can unify Nigerians than any other thing because it gives peace of mind to the viewers.

    According to the artist, ‘’all this while I have been enjoying the thrills and colours of the festival, so I decided to paint the scenes for the public to savour’’. Each of the 26 paintings and drawings is packed with actions, movements, use of colours that reflect the festive mood and season of Zuru Emirate. From many of the paintings, the dusty and sandy landscapes of the communities are evident to the eyes of viewers.

    Paintings, such as Collective effort and The way we are symbolise the spirit behind the project. Collective effort shows some men dressed in green and red attires with drums hanging on their shoulders, walk down home at the close of the festival. The harmonious use of bright colours in the painting tells much of the mood and peaceful co-existence between each of the participants at the  yearly feast.

    Other paintings are Somewhere in Zuru,Focus, Rhythm of Uhola, Zuru, Expereince, Conversation, Joy, Life is beautiful and In the spirit of Uhola.

    Oghagbon recalled that his passion for art dated back to his youth days at school when he reproduced comic magazines which were resold to his colleagues. “I used to keep my chocolate money to buy crayon for drawing. With arts, I have been to many places I never imagined I could enter. In fact, at graduation at Yaba College of Technology, I told my colleagues that I will never work for anybody, but for myself as a painter. And it has been paying my bills,” he said.

    Oghagbon’s Tour Nigeria project is not limited to the landscape of the north as he will be shifting attention to Badagry or Ile Ife in Southwest zone next year.

     

     

     

  • Alakijas to build 250-bed hospital at UNIOSUN

    When she was appointed Osun State University (UNIOSUN) Chancellor, Africa’s richest woman Mrs Folorunso Alakija and her husband promised to build a befitting teaching hospital for the institution. She laid the foundation of the 250-bed project on the eve of the exit of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from the Governor’s office, reports Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME.

    A Few years ago, immediate past Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola suspended the medical programme of the state’s university, UNIOSUN, because of the institution’s inability to carry out  practical training.

    But for paucity of funds, Aregbesola wanted to provide a befitting medical and clinical facility for the university, which requires a huge capital outlay. Until penultimate Thursday, when the university held its seventh convocation, the project was still a dream.

    At that ceremony, Mrs Alakija donated a 250-bed hospital to the university, thus restoring the hopes of many as well as prompting the Senate and Governing Council to approve the process for re-accreditation of the medical programme.

    Speaking at the sod-turning, Aregbesola said: ‘’This project gives me so much joy. Few years ago, I had to stop and suspend the medical programme of this university because of the inability to even do any skeletal practical due to lack of clinical facility. My intention then was to provide befitting medical and clinical facilities, which require a huge amount of money’.

    “To the glory of God and delivery of quality medical education, the foundation stone of Osun State University Teaching Hospital (UNIOSUNTH) donated by Modupe and Folorunso Alakija is laid today, 22nd day of November, 2018,” he added. He praised the philanthropy of the couple.

    He  unveiled the magnificent 3-D image of the fully furnished world class 250-bed UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital at Oke Bale in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

    When completed, the facility will consist of a world-class Community Health Unit, Maternity & Neonatal Medicare, Research and Diagnostic Laboratories, state of the art operating theatres, cutting-edge diagnostic imaging, inclusive of C.T. scan, M.R.I scanning facility, ultra-sound scanning facilities, X-ray and radiotherapy suites, lecture rooms, necropsy and morgue.

    Aregbesola also commended the contributions of Prince Tunde Ponnle, an engineer, for his doanting his property at Ada for medical training and outreach to the university.

    At inception in 2007, UNIOSUN started the MBBS programme. Although the programme was granted full accreditation by National Universities Commission (NUC) in May 2012, it was suspended, partly due to poor finance and inability of the university to meet the Medical and Dental Council’s (MDCN’s) accreditation requirements to provide a teaching hospital for student’s clinical training.

    ‘’The decision to lay the foundation of the teaching hospital today is deliberate. Deliberate in the sense that I agreed with the proposal of the University Management that the foundation laying ceremony should coincide with the seventh convocation, and more importantly, as a mark of honour to the dynamic outgoing Governor of the State and Visitor to the University, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola before he leaves office.

    ‘’I, therefore, congratulate Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola that this event forms part of your amazing success story.  I also rejoice with UNIOSUN Community.  I must express appreciation to the Ataoja of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun, Larooye II, Ataoja of Osogbo and Chiefs for their magnanimous donation of a 30-acre piece of land for the development of Osun State University Teaching Hospital, which specialises on children and mothers’ health issues and diseases, and upon which the foundation stone of this hospital is being laid today, Mrs Alakija said.

    According to her the idea of the hospital was borne out of her love for the youths, mothers and humanity. She added that the donation is the fulfilment of her pledge when she was appointed Chancellor by the Visitor to the University, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

    “In Nigeria today, there are few children’s hospitals. If our children who are the future of this country do not have access to timely and qualitative medical services, then where lies the future of this country?  We must do everything in our capacity to ensure that our children and teens have everything necessary for them to grow and excel, and one of such necessities is good healthcare services,” she added.

    According to her, ‘’God is munificent to me beyond every imaginable measure.  He gives seeds to my sowers; and one of the ways I can reciprocate God’s grace in my life is to continue to sow bountifully, and impact humanity’’.

    She expressed optimism in the realisation of the hospital noting: ‘’I have no doubt that this 250-bed hospital, which we are laying its foundation today would bring about a driving force for advancement and progressive research, education, and awareness in the country. It would not only provide qualitative and specialised health care for all, but would also provide an avenue for medical excellence, job creation and bring relief to all. At this juncture, I have unflinching trust in the expertise and knowledge of all those who would be involved in the construction of the project starting from the contractor.’’

    UNIOSUN Vice Chancellor, Prof Labode Popoola said the Senate and Governing Council of the university have approved the process of re-accreditation of the programme, noting that the decision to recommence the MBBS programme is based the need for the university to play a significant role in the training of medical doctors in Nigeria.

    Popoola said considering the importance of the programme and the need to demonstrate the continued relevance of the university to the society, the university authority considered it a challenge to proceed with the process of getting the programme back on tract.

    The ceremony was witnessed by Governor Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola, Mrs Alakija’s husband,  Modupe and Prince Tunde Ponnle, among other dignitaries.

  • Tubosun gets 18,000pounds for winning Morland scholarship

    Nigeria’s writer, linguist and cultural activist, Kolá Túbosún, has been selected as one of the four winners of this year’s Morland Writing Scholarship, according to the judges.

    “We had slightly in excess of last year’s record entry of 550 submissions,” the judges led by Ellah Wakatama Allfrey said on the foundation’s website. Other winners are Edwige Renee Dro (Cote d’Ivoire), Sibabalwe Oscar Masinyana (South Africa) and Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu (Zimbabwe).

    The winners each received a grant of 18,000pounds to allow them to take a year off to write a book. The awards are based on submissions, which include a book proposal and an excerpt of published writing.

    Miles Morland said: “All 20 people on the shortlist are capable of writing terrific books. The four writers the judges have chosen are special. I’m delighted that all four winners live in Africa and all four book proposals are books about Africa. Africa is a continent of stories and few people can tell them better than our new scholars. I also want to say a special thankyou to our three judges, Ellah Wakatama Allfrey, Muthoni Garland, and Femi Terry. They look under the surface in making their choices and Ellah is a brilliant chair.’’

    “This was perhaps the most challenging – and most rewarding – judging panel we’ve had, with a wide range of submissions that reflected astonishing imagination, dedication to craft and breadth of subject matter and approach. The four Scholars we have chosen each promise books that will be read across Africa and beyond,” Ellah added.

    Tubosun will follow in the footsteps of a giant with “Soyinka in the Bush”, a genre-bending biography of the Nigerian Nobel laureate that will focus on Soyinka’s love of nature and his work in restoring natural habitats, all the while paying tribute to the great body of work Soyinka has gifted the world.

    Masinyana’s novel The House of the Apostate will be an exploration of faith, identity and love set in South Africa. His proposal promises a literary novel of ambition and courage.

    Dro’s non-fiction book will bring to the world the extraordinary life of anti-colonial fighter Marie Sery Kore. In this book about a heroine with a complicated history, Dro will tell a pivotal point in the history of Cote D’Ivoire.

     

     

    Ndlovu will write The Murder of Emile Coetzee. In this crime novel, the writer delicately dissects the brutal realities of the third Chimurenga and promises us an introduction to a black detective, a tangled mystery, and nuanced reflection on motivation and loyalty in a time of conflict.

     

  • Vision of the Child gets German Consulate’s, Robert Bosch’s support

    TO tackle drug abuse in Nigeria, German Consulate and Robert Bosch Nigeria are partneringVision of the Child, an initiative of Creative Youth Community Development Initiative (CYCDI), to present ideas of 17 young girls from Lagos schools to curb the menace of drug abuse among youths.

    The ideas, which represent the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), were depicted in 17 beautiful oil on canvas paintings. They were creatively produced with the tool of SDGs to illustrate the girls’ understanding on drug-related issues that are of concern to youths, with applicable solutions.

    The project featured panel discussions moderated by Project Director, Folake Michaels.

    Nobel Laureate Prof Wole Soyinka commended the participants for their creativity and innovation, adding that the children have done their best in interpeting the theme as parts of their contributions to a better future.

    The event also coincided with the launch of World Health Innovation Summit in Nigeria as part of celebrating the creativity of the young girls who participated in the Vision of the Child (VOTC2018). It was also to help empower people and communities to improve their health and well-being in support of the United Nations SDGs.

    The exhibition, which held at the Children International School (CIS), Lekki, Lagos was tagged Make, Create and Innovate- #Solution17, was declared open by German Consul-General, Dr. Stefan Trauman.

    In his remark, he said youths are the future. He described education as the high point of any effort made towards securing a better future for the youth.

    He added that to build a  safe future, there was the need to fight drug abuse among youths, and to fight, people need to be creative about it.

    Some of the children advocated the use of social media to educate others while observing that youths already deep into drug abuse should be shown there is a way out through rehabilitation centres.

    The 17 change makers were awarded by Robert Bosch Nigeria. Mr Samson Ajayi, who represented Managing Director, Mr Grislain Nounbessy, restated their support for educational creativity development in Nigeria. “Robert Bosch is excited to be part of promoting Vision of the Child initiative. The Sustainable Development Goals are blueprints to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, education, climate, environment degradation, prosperity and peace and justice. The Goals interconnect and to leave no one behind, it is important that we achieve each Goal and target by 2030.

    “We believe that education is the key to Nigeria’s future viability. We want to help familiarise children and school students in particular with technical and vocational topics at early age. One of our goals is to encourage girls to pursue careers in this field,” he said.

    The Vision of the Child is a yearly event and is supported by EU and UNODC . It was inaugurated in April 2012 with the theme The vision of the child.

     

     

  • Auchi Poly hosts conference on gender equality

    Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, will hold an international conference at the school’s main auditorium from January 21 to 24, 2019.

    With the theme: Implementing and sustaining gender mainstreaming in a globalised world,  it is being coordinated by the institution’s Centre for Gender Studies.

    Participants at the conference will address sub-themes, such as strategies for ending poverty in all forms, strategies for making our cities and human settlements safe, inclusive and sustainable, strategies for effective implementation of international action programme on climate change, strategies for achieving gender equality and strategies for economic empowerment of women and girls, among others.

    The four-day conference will feature a keynote address by Dr. Kwame Nyamekhe, a lead paper by Prof. Agatha Eguavoen of Faculty of Social Sciences, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State and technical session and gala night.

    The Rector Auchi Polytechnic, Dr. M. S Jimah, is chief host.

     

  • Ikenga as god

    Ikenga means a place of strength in Ibo. It is a horned alusi (deity) found among the Igbo in Southern Nigeria. It is one of the most powerful symbols of the Igbo people and the most common cultural artifact.

    Ikenga is mostly maintained, kept or owned by men and occasionally by women of high reputation and integrity in the society. It comprises someone’s Chi (personal gods) his Ndichie (ancestors) aka Ikenga (right hand) as well as spiritual activation through prayer and sacrifice.

    Ikenga is found among the Northern Igbos of Anambra, Enugu, Delta and in some parts of Kogi State. It is exclusively an Igbo symbol. Nevertheless, various people of southern Nigeria have slightly different notions of the components of individual personality, but all agree that these various aspects can only be affected through ritual and personal effort.

    Ikenga requires consecration before usage. Normally, an Ikenga is consecrated in the presence of one’s kinsmen or age mates by lineage head. Offerings of things like yam, cock, wine, kolanut and alligator pepper are sacrificed to it.

     

    Functions of Ikenga

    Ikenga is a personal god of human endeavour achievement, success and victory. Ikenga is grounded in the belief that the power for a man to accomplish things is in his right hand.

    It governs over industry, farming and blacksmithing, and is celebrated every year with an annual Ikenga festival. It is believed by its owners to bring wealth, fortune as well protection.

     

    Types of Ikenga

    Warrior Ikenga: This type of Ikenga depicts a well human figure with horn and fierce expression seated on a stool. It corresponds to the stage in life when man are expected to demonstrate their military power, owned by many of the younger member of the age grades.

     

    Community Ikenga

    This Ikenga has a super structure with human animal images or both.

    The community Ikenga stands for group rather than an individual achievement and prestige, demonstrate community between the individual and the society.

     

    Title Holder Ikenga

    This Ikenga is an advanced super structure type. It is a title stages in a man’s life, e.g. Ozo title in Igbo land. The stage indicates authority and comes in a complex hierarchy from a simple wooden one to a rod of forged iron with brass rings.

    Common features among Ikenga figures. Human figure with sharp horns (horns symbolise power).

    This is sometimes reduced to only a head with horns on a base.

    Some horns are straight, others are spiral and others even more elaborate.Some super structure consists of two horns circling the sides of the head and continuing upwards to form another circle terminating in snakes head.Protruding novel, girdle round and waist.

    Rings on the neck

    Two projections on each sides of the horns. Many Ikenga holds a carved tusk.The right hand sometimes holds the representation of the iron title staff.

     

    • Mrs Nwazue is Principal Technical Officer (Guide), National Museum, Onikan, Lagos.