The Nation Newspaper

Category: Discourse

  • Seeking lasting relief from sickle cell disease

    Seeking lasting relief from sickle cell disease

    The 2017 edition of the World Health Organisation (WHO) World Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Day has came and gone. The day observed on June 19 offered a platform to draw global attention to the suffering and agony brought about by sickle cell disease and further stimulate multi-dimensional interventions worldwide to mitigate the acute distress occasioned by the condition. It was to galvanise actions to reduce its occurrence as well as promoting effective ways of managing the disease through access to affordable care and support.

    Sickle cell disease is a common life-threatening haematological disorder or genetic disease that affects millions of people worldwide. The World Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Day was declared by the 63rd United Nations General Assembly in 2008 and was celebrated for the first time in 2009. The goal is to increase the awareness about the disease through effective campaigns and promote curable activities including early diagnosis and management.

    Though sickle cell disease occurs predominantly in Africa with figures indicating that more than 1000 babies are born every day having the disease in Africa, it is still a global health issue with about 90,000 to 100,000 people affected in the United States and in other countries as well.

    In Nigeria, according to Mr. Dozie Nwafor, Program Officer, Sickle Cell Aid Foundation (SCAF), Abuja, about 150,000 children are born daily with sickle cell disease while1 out of every 4 adults is an active carrier. The implication is that 1 out of every 4 couple stands a 25% chance of having an offspring with the disease.

    In general, the term sickle cell disease is used to describe a group of genetic blood disorders of red blood cells characterised by an abnormal predominance of haemoglobin S. Hemoglobin (Hb or Hgb) is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. In the person with sickle cell anaemia, red blood cells that contain the sickled haemoglobin become rigid, elongated and take the form of a sickle. Due to the rigidity and shape of the sickled red cells, there is automatically an obstruction of blood flow leading to distal tissue ischemia and inflammation. Additionally, because of the fragility of the red cells, they do not have the life span of a normal red cell (which is usually 90 days). This reduced lifespan means that the blood cell levels remain low and cannot meet the oxygen demand of the body tissues.

    Or in simpler terms, the normal red cell is flexible so that it can maneuver smaller blood vessels. Unfortunately, the sickle cell is too rigid to do this and so gets stuck while trying to pass through these really small blood vessels (called capillaries). This blockage of the blood vessels prevents blood and oxygen from getting to tissues and cells leading to serious damage to these cells.

    The main manifestations of the disease are chronic anaemia (or persistently low red blood cell levels) and organ damage caused by the blockage of blood flow and reduced oxygen supply to the cells. Though sickle cell anaemia is hereditary, it is not contagious. It is also autosomal, meaning it is not gender sensitive as it can affect both boys and girls equally.

    A “sickle cell crisis” is the trademark of sickle cell disease and it is characterised by excruciating pain when the tissues deprived of oxygen begin to suffer significant damage. This can affect any part of the body.

    According to Sylvia, a mother of one, and who  has lived with sickle cell for over 25 years ‘If I had to describe it, it would be like repeatedly being stabbed with a butcher knife in the same spot, nonstop’. It is physically disabling, socially disruptive, a cause of absenteeism in schools and work, as well as, emotional disturbance for sufferers and their family members.  Sickle cell crises often affect the bones, lungs, abdomen, and joints. Other symptoms of sickle cell disease include shortness of breath and/or dizziness, severe headaches, swollen hands and feet in children, pale skin/transient yellowish tinge of the skin or eyes due to anaemia, jaundice, or yellow eyes and skin, chest pain, leg ulcers       take a very long time to heal. Repeated sickling and ongoing haemolytic anaemia (breakdown of the hemoglobin) can lead to organ damage causing substantial morbidity and early mortality.

    The objectives of sickle cell disease  care are to prevent or relieve pain; avert or treat infections, prevent organ damage, and strokes; treat anaemia; and reduce complications.

    Mild to moderate pain, particularly during crises is often treated with over-the-counter medicine and heating pads. Severe pain must be treated in a hospital. In the hospital, the usual treatments for acute (short-term) pain crises are fluids and pain-controlling medicines. Fluids which can be administered orally or intravenously help prevent dehydration. Common medicines used to treat pain crises include acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and narcotics. Treatment for mild to moderate pain usually begins with NSAIDs or acetaminophen. If pain continues, a narcotic may be needed. Moderate to severe pain is often treated with narcotics. The narcotic may be used alone or with NSAIDs or acetaminophen. Hydroxyurea, though controversial can also be used to prevent painful crises, however not to treat them when they occur.

    Bacterial infections can be a major problem of sickle cell disease. Both adults and children are at risk for a variety of infections, such as pneumonia and bone infections. However, they can be prevented or treated. As it is the case with all children, all routine vaccinations, plus vaccination(s) against Streptococcus pneumonia are to be observed. It is advised that adults who have sickle cell disease should also get vaccinated against pneumococcal infections. If a child or adult, who has sickle cell disease shows early signs of an infection, such as a fever, difficulty breathing, or localised bone pain, treatment should be given right away. They should be examined whenever they experience fevers since early diagnosis and treatment result in better outcomes. Research has shown that about 1 in 14 children with sickle cell anaemia particularly those aged 2-16 have a high risk of developing strokes (overt or silent). This debilitating complication can impede their mobility and/or impair their intellectual ability. However, stroke can be prevented, if children at risk of developing it can be identified through Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound scan.

    Blood transfusions are commonly used to treat worsening anaemia and sickle cell complications. Most patients with the sickle cell disease have at least occasional blood transfusions. Patients with severe complications–such as stroke and acute chest syndrome–may require months or years of regular transfusions every three to four weeks to prevent organ damage.  To ensure that safe blood is available in Lagos State, Lagos State Blood Transfusion Services, an agency under the Lagos State Ministry of Health in collaboration with District 9110 Rotary Club made voluntary blood donation a signature project and this was launched in November 2016 with the aim of donating 1000 units of blood in one year.

    According to the Honourable Commissioner for Health in the State, Dr. Jide Idris, a total of 104 donor drives were also carried out in various corporate organizations by LSBTS between 2016 and 2017 resulting in the recruitment of 3,694 voluntary blood donors. This state regulatory body also screened 86,419 units of blood for both private and public blood banks during the last one year out of which 82,016 were approved for use. In the course of one year, 6 new private blood banks were registered for accreditation while 4 were closed down because of the inability to maintain the State’s criteria for registration.

    Recent and ongoing researches reveal that new therapeutic options are in development, including gene therapy and gene editing. Recent advances include systematic universal screening for stroke risk with Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound scan and other point-of-care diagnostic devices.

    It is widely agreed that bone marrow transplant can bring the hope of better treatment for sickle cell disease. To this end, the Lagos state government gave a financial support of 200 million naira to Nigeria Sickle Cell Foundation for bone marrow transplant to ensure that many more Lagosians benefit from this intervention. However, though, bone marrow transplants can cure sickle cell disease, the procedure has significant risks because transplants are not appropriate for every patient. Transplants are used primarily in young patients who have severe sickle cell disease. But, the decision to give this treatment is made on individual basis.

    Bone marrow used for a transplant must come from a closely matched donor most likely a close family member who doesn’t have sickle cell disease. Researchers continue to look for ways to reduce the risks of this procedure and to widen its application. Scientists are also studying gene therapy as a possible treatment for sickle cell disease. Researchers want to know whether a normal gene can be put in the bone marrow of a person who has sickle cell disease which would cause the body to make normal red blood cells. Researchers are still studying several new medicines and medical intervention for sickle cell anaemia. Some of the interventions include unsickling of haemoglobin; preventing the cells from sticking to blood vessel walls, and some the possibility of raising and sustaining the levels of fetal haemoglobin (HbF) which is normally present in all individuals (including patients with the sickle cell gene) before birth and the first few years of life (which is why some patients with the sickle cell disease do not show signs or symptoms in in very early life).

    Early diagnosis of sickle cell disease is very important because many difficulties can be prevented with early diagnosis and treatment and the chance of surviving can be enhanced. Sickle cell disease and sickle cell trait can be diagnosed with a simple blood test and can also be diagnosed before the baby is born.

    In Lagos state, testing for sickle cell disease will soon become a compulsory part of the newborn screening program. The purpose is to diagnose affected babies early in life and thus introduce timely and lifesaving interventions that will manage avoidable suffering and possibly prevent death. This test will utilize blood from the blood samples used for other routine newborn screening tests. It can show whether a newborn infant has sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait.

    The prenatal (before birth) screening is done using a sample of amniotic fluid or tissue taken from the placenta. The placenta is the organ that attaches the umbilical cord to the mother’s womb. This test can be done in the first few weeks of pregnancy for people who are at high risk due to their genotype.

    The incidence of sickle cell disease can be reduced if intending parents have adequate information about genotype compatibility. According to a survey conducted in Abuja recently, 42% of the respondents do not know what genotype is. This information and genotype testing should be made accessible through religious and youth organisations.

    There are four genotypes in humans – AA, AS, SS, AC (AC being a variant of AS gene). Intending couples should know both their own genotype as well as their partner’s genotype at the early stage of their relationship before they are well rooted in love and emotions. These can easily be checked through a blood test.

     

    Possible Outcomes of Different Genetic Combinations

    AA + AA = AA, AA, AA, AA

    AA + AS = AA, AS, AA, AS

    AA + SS = AS, AS, AS, AS

    AA + AC = AA, AA, AA, AC

    AS + AS = AA, AS, AS, SS

    AS + SS = AS, SS, SS, SS

    AS + AC = AA,  AC, AS,SS

    SS + SS = SS, SS, SS, SS

    AC + SS = AS, AS, SS, SS

    AC + AC = AA, AC, AC, SS

    It is noteworthy that the life expectancy of children with sickle cell disease has improved considerably since 1960 with causes of death identified as infection-predominantly Streptococcus pneumoniae sepsis, a low level of fetal hemoglobin, a low level of total hemoglobin, and an elevated base-line white-cell count.  In adults, chronic organ damage such as renal or cardiac failure, cerebrovascular accident (stroke), and complications of pregnancy are noted as threats to survival.

    Sickle cell disease is definitely not a death sentence. Having the right attitude and outlook to life marks the difference between having an enjoyable life and an agonizing one for those with sickle cell. Being positive about life, embracing healthy habits and following a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables and food having iron, calcium and potassium can really help. Observing personal hygiene and keeping the environment clean can actually contribute to reducing some of the challenges of sickle cell disease. Taking routine drugs religiously, avoiding strenuous activities and stressful situations, as well as extreme weather conditions, are also very important.

    There are also various non-governmental associations, both in Nigeria and beyond, who offer care for people with sickle cell disease. These often include counselling patients about the importance of self-efficacy and parental support, physical and mental stability and early presentation during crises and pregnancies. With adequate care and management, people with sickle cell can get pregnant and have babies as against widely held misconceptions. The NGOs also offer help in anticipating dangerous clinical situations, and in designing targeted therapy and clinical trials. For instance, the Nigerian Sickle Cell Foundation has mobile sickle cell clinics which provide free provision of drugs and some medical equipment in a few States in Nigeria.

    They also undertake, among other things, Prenatal Diagnosis and Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound scan. The Sickle Cell Aid Foundation also pursues the double mandate of reducing incidences and making life meaningful for those affected through various programs such as Know Your Genotype Campaign. The Foundation has mobile Sickle cell clinics that service communities with the intention of identifying sickle cell patients, profiling them and enrolling those who are indigent into the Beneficiary support program which offers free medication and surgery where necessary.

    As the World Sickle Cell awareness day is being celebrated worldwide, governments, at all levels, are enjoined to regard Sickle cell disease as a major public health issue deserving meaningful and targeted government attention. There is need to provide adequate safe blood for transfusion to save and support lives. The training and recognition of a cadre of Sickle Cell Nurses, the establishment of specialist Sickle Centres are also being advised in order to improve capacity to deliver better health care to affected individuals and families. Another source of concern is that of some drugs that are freely marketed in Nigeria with unproven claims of curative or palliative properties in the treatment of sickle cell disorder.

    It is expected that with this year’s celebration, great impact in terms of reduction in the number of sickle cell diseases cases and an increase in survival rate as well as a higher quality of life for those affected will be recorded.

     

    Adeola Salako is Public Affairs Director, Lagos State Ministry of Health

     

  • Nigeria: finding a closure to the June 12 crisis

    Nigeria: finding a closure to the June 12 crisis

    Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) Chairman Olawale Oshun chaired an event organised in Akure, Ondo State, to mark the 24th anniversary of the cancellation of the June 12, 1993 presidential election. Below is text of his remarks at the event.  The remarks of the Second Republic’s House of Representatives member are presented below.

    I will take a cue from Chief. Hon. Anthony Enahoro’s Alternative to Transition treatise delivered on Heroes day February 22, 1996 and start this short speech by paying tribute to our compatriots in the June 12 struggle. Where would one start from but in Ondo State, home of Chief Adekunle Micheal Ajasin, founding member of the Action Group, successor to the immutable Obafemi Awolowo, and a most hard working and disciplined leader of the June 12 Movement. I recall Hon. Chief Anthony Enahoro, the Parliamentarian reputed to have first moved the motion for Nigeria’s independence and NADECO (National Democratic Coalition) chairman, Senator Abraham Adesanya, Deputy NADECO chairman and Afenifere leader, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, and Air Commodore Dan Suleiman, both former military governors who embraced the fight against injustice and turned their backs on military dictatorship .

    I have mentioned some of the leaders but the list is endless, cutting across class, nationality, age and professions. It may be impossible to do justice to all these people who suffered immeasurably, with some loosing freedom, some limbs and in extreme of cases their lives. Permit me therefore to mention a few other names, Chima Ubani, Ayo Opadokun, Abdulsalam Danladi, Femi Aborishade, Adegboruwa Ebun-Oluwa, Adeniji Adele, Olufemi Adesina, Micheal Ajayi, Kunle Ajibade, Samuel Asogwa, Moshood Fayemiwo, Ifowodo Ogaga, Frank Kokori, Olusegun Maiyegun, Sylvester Odeon Akhaine, Ladi Olorunyomi, and Bayo Osinowo. In another class of their own are, General Alani Akinrinade, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Dr. Amos Akingba, Senator Bola Tinubu, Chief John Oyegun, Dr. Beko Ransomekuti, Shehu Sanni, Gani Fawehinmi and Frederick Fasheun.

    These names can only be representative, they are not exhaustive and I therefore apologize to all those who deserve to be mentioned, but are not, particularly those who lost their lives including the thirty four young men who lost their lives on Ikorodu road, Lagos in a day of sheer madness when the military on the order of Sanni Abacha opened fire on unarmed demonstrators in Lagos.

    When Chief Enahoro spoke on the political heroes day, there was hope and expectations in the air. He was optimistic that the struggle for democracy would be won, and the sovereignty of the people would be restored. He was optimistic that there would be a monument in honour of the heroes, and that a message would reach them that they did not suffer in vain, and that ” by their labours , and their sacrifice, our heroes have earned immortality”.

    Chief Enahoro spoke twenty one years ago, a period when men and women threw themselves into the June 12 struggle, without counting cost. There was a determination that all would be done to ensure the reversal of the annulment of the June 12 elections.

    Chief Enahoro further contended that “whether Nigerians live in peace as respected and self respecting brothers in one family will not be decided by a corruptive primitive selection system.” He had gone on to recommend return to democracy through a three pronged approach, the kernel of which was the convening of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) to put together “a new Constitution restructuring the Federation of Nigeria”.

    That was clear two and half years before MKO Abiola was murdered, and the new military government of Abdul salaam Abubakar against all entreaties insisted on a transition to civil rule without the pre-condition of restructuring. Abubakar, was however aided in his one sided unitary constitution pursuit by some of our leaders. Those leaders anxious to contest elections, argued, wrongly in my view, that what was necessary was to participate, secure executive or legislative offices and that restructuring would be easily added on to it. In other words, it would be apiece of cake. It was also obvious that if these political adventurers would not have their way, they were ready to throw the bath water away with the baby. I could recall the agony within the NADECO leadership, and how those like Papa Enahoro, Abraham Adesanya, Alani Akinrinade, Bolaji Akinyemi and others anxious to prevent an irretrievable split in the group, for that loomed as an inevitable end to the “let’s contest now or nothing” group that individual members were allowed to act as deemed fit.

     

    Lessons to Learn

    Almost twenty years after, and with many of those who clamoured for “contest now or nothing” attaining various offices in government, Nigeria’s purported federal Constitution hardens daily as a unitary instrument of control and domination by Nigeria’s ruling clique.

    The consequence – continued socio-economic and political decline, as may be considered by any indices of assessment. And because, over ninety percent of Nigerians bear the brunt of sustained misrule and unthought-of depth of corruption, the clamour for restructuring is louder today than it was twenty years ago. President Mohammed Buhari has helped, thankfully, to remove the veil on the depth and complexity of corruption in Nigeria and what is exposed to my mind strengthens the argument to restructure Nigeria. The Central government needs not amass all the nations wealth to itself, when the federating units could more efficiently apply the same resources for the greater benefit of Nigerians.

    Add to this, the recent political developments – IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra) and MASSOB (Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra) – focus on seeking to exit from Nigeria,  and with the northern youths’ declaration, albeit a declaration that may be a northern red herring rather than the youths pursuit, that the Igbos leave their domain, the southern militants agitation to take control of their resources, and the still sublime Yoruba request for restructuring, now hardening up to include a hitherto unthought-of confederal arrangement or even exit from the Nigerian nation if restructuring is made impossible.

    And distinguished ladies and gentlemen, what other evidence do you need that the country is in a stranglehold of an invisible ruling clique, if almost 20 years into Abiola’s death, and almost 24 years into the annulment of his election as president of our country, some kind of post-hummus accommodation cannot be found for him. No recognition of his martyrdom, in any form, even by the beneficiaries of his struggle, and to think they argue that what you need is not restructuring. Is it that the country should die for them to exist, and like the parasite feasting on an organ, isn’t the death of the organ a precursor of the death of the parasite?

    Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) in a yearly ritual had been pleading with the ‘unitarised’ government in Abuja to recognise the freely given mandate of June 12, 1993, recognise Abiola’s martyrdom through a posthumous declaration, and build a national monument in his honour. The ruling clique would do nothing of such, as it digs deeper and moves further away from the founding fathers’ federalist concept, the deeper the crisis of nation state gets. We would be glad to have any other contrary evidence!

    Those who clamoured for the restructuring of our country twenty years ago knew there was deep seated crisis ahead of the country if it failed to restructure. I am certain however that they possibly couldn’t have imagined the depth and severity of the crisis now besetting us. If we fail to heed the warning now, can we truly imagine what would beset the country in 20 years’ time.

    And that brings me to what we ordinary citizens perceive should be the role of elected governments in Yorubaland. My message through you, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu to your other colleagues, is that if Nigeria would not acknowledge Abiola’s contribution, you have a responsibility to acknowledge it.

    It is immaterial what political party brought any of you into office, the quest to restructure Nigeria is for the benefit of all Nigerians, but it is remarkably clear also, that it is the only platform on which the Yoruba people can thrive. The question arises all the time, whether the only lot of Yoruba in Nigeria is to go down for any other to thrive. Why can’t we all thrive together.

    We implore you therefore, that you and your colleagues do more in the clamour for restructuring.  What if I may ask stops all Yoruba governments in coming together to build a joint monument in honour of Chief MKO Abiola? If the central government would not do it, should we be too timid to do it. As the various legal challenges ably handled by Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of Lagos State, Prof Yemi Osinbajo earlier on, showed the underbelly of the unitary constitution foisted on Nigeria, so is it possible that the six or seven of you can and should act together to test the resolve of those who are determined to enslave other Nigerians. It took the resolve of one governor, Zamfara’s Sani Yerimah to assert the fallibility of the nations’ Constitution as it affects the values and culture of his people and in great measure the inapplicable and nonsensical constitutional declaration on policing and the powerlessness of the unitary government there-on, that you are working together can do more for your people.

    That to me is the challenge of June12, and why we gather here today.

  • Igniting Nigerian socio-economic revolution via digital animation

    Igniting Nigerian socio-economic revolution via digital animation

    Text of a speech delivered by Information, Culture & Tourism Minister Lai Mohammed at the opening of the Seventh African Digital TV Development Meeting in Beijing, China.

    I will like to express my immense pleasure and gratitude for the invitation extended to me and my delegation to attend this 7th African Digital TV Development Seminar here at the scenic Yanqi Lake Resort. I am particularly delighted because I am among friends and staunch allies of Nigeria.

    It is no longer news that a 2014 BBC World Service poll revealed Nigeria to be the most pro-Chinese country in the world, with 85 per cent of Nigerians viewing Beijing’s influence in the world positively. Nothing has changed.

    The great Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu, once remarked: Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream.

    Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream. China is an undisputed power today because it has cultivated great success via boundless optimism and persistently finding and creating solutions.

    The world has watched the Chinese people unite in the face of difficult challenges, looked inwards for ways to nurture and actualise their dreams and have succeeded spectacularly.

    The Chinese story is an inspiration for the ages and one the Nigerian people can find some encouragement in. Like China, Nigeria continues to look for ways to harness and optimise its teeming human resources. Like China, it continues to look for ways to build a just, equitable and prosperous society for all its citizens while fighting waste, corruption and other socio-economic virulence. And of course, Nigeria keeps striving for organic, intuitive and homegrown solutions, undaunted by setbacks and false dawns, in its quest to turn problems to progress and claim its place amongst the global greats. This quest has led it to embrace and adopt digital technology solutions.

    Everywhere you look at these days, digital technology is defying and disrupting the old ways of doing things, democratising access to information and improved quality of life as well as proving a great leveller for people in Africa and other developing parts of the world.

    It’s a brave new world and the frenetic, live-at-the-click-of-a-button pace is not for the faint of heart. The lifespan of digital products continue to plummet. And the future predicted by popular science fiction, the future bustling with concepts like augmented and virtual reality, self-driving cars, artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, the Internet of Things, 3D printing and nanotechnology, no longer looks or sounds outlandish anymore. We seem to live it every other week.

    Nigeria’s quest to diversify its economy and stimulate business and employment growth has compelled it to examine the digital economy closely and invest in it more assiduously. For example, the advent of a fast-growing “digital age” in Nigeria, the growing popularity of the Internet, and the establishment of various media-distribution platforms have given rise to an increasing demand for content and services like animation and digital artistry. Ranked seventh in global internet usage, methods of communication and entertainment in the country are fast evolving. Corporate entities and advertising agencies are adopting new creative methods of getting information across. The creative industry, of which film and animation are an integral part, is developing and adopting new technology and the demand for content shows tremendous growth potential with the advent of various digital platforms. A widening gap has been opened and is barely being filled, hence the need for an animation industry to keep up with global trends.

    The animation market is exploding worldwide. It currently represents 25 per cent of the world audiovisual market, a figure that is only set to increase with the introduction of new delivery systems, changing scheduling patterns, and a proliferation of new media forms. The major animation markets include the United States, Canada, Japan, China, France, Britain, South Korea and Germany, while the major emerging animation markets include China, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia. In Africa, we have South Africa, Kenya, and Egypt.

    American animation has developed as America’s sixth largest pillar industry; in Japan, the animation industry has outperformed automobile, iron & steel industries to be the third largest industry; and South Korea has undertaken nearly one third of the global animation production business. Most of the segments in the animation industry are growing at the rate of 10 per cent year-over-year, and some segments are growing at 15 per cent year-on-year. The output value of global animation industry has reached over $300 billion, and animation-related derivatives have exceeded $500 billion. The animation industry has gradually become a pillar of the national economy and a new economic growth engine in some countries.

    The multinational animation studios leverage various forms of partnership, co-production and joint ventures with global partners (countries) who subsidise their national film industries, including animation. Funding flows for co-production from Hollywood to other countries and vice versa have become common practice. As co-production increases, animation studios in China and India have become popular co-production partners of studios in Europe, Japan, and North America.

    From the point of view of the major studios, co-production provides subsidised/cheaper production cost as well as flexibility, while working with small studios and bring new and fresh creativity from other countries.

    Outsourcing of animation has also become widespread. Many entertainment giants such as The Walt Disney Company and IMAX are beginning to outsource an increasing amount of their animation production to Asian countries, particularly India, while other companies are outsourcing animation from India for commercials and computer games.

    In all these, Nigeria, and indeed much of Africa, scarcely play a part in this industry, but aim to rectify the situation by making a grab for their share of the pie in this massive economic boom. Now, why does Nigeria believe it has a shot at this? In the first instance, because it has a ready domestic audience and market, Nigeria has about 86.2 million people online, and that’s 46.1 per cent  of the population, ranking it number one in Africa and number seven in the world. It has 44 million TV viewing homes in the country. Nigeria is expected to switch over to digital broadcasting when all 44 million homes have to invest in purchasing Set-Top Boxes.

    In addition, Nigeria’s telecommunication industry has grown to $25 billion, and active lines are said to be well over 113 million, in comparison with 450,000 people and $500 million investment portfolio in year 2000, again ranking it No. 1 in Africa and 11th in the world.

    Nigeria’s smartphone penetration is estimated at 15.5 million. 70 per cent of the population are below 30 years of age, about 50 per cent are below 20 (approximately 80 million), and over 40 per cent of the total population are children under 14 (over 70 million), while about 20 per cent of the population are teens (approx. 30 million). These demographics amply demonstrate that the uptake of animated content is already guaranteed.

    Secondly, the Nigerian film industry, ranked third in the world on the scale of output, has content consumed nationally and globally and is a ready-made conduit for animation-based content.

    Thirdly, the country boasts of an incredible treasure trove of literature, brimming with exciting classics such as a Forest of a Thousand Daemons, a book translated from its original Yoruba language to English by the Nigerian Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, The Lion and the Jewel, The Passport of Mallam Illia and Things fall apart.  These works are crammed with wondrous worlds and richl-realised characters that can be successfully adapted into animated feature length movies and TV series, all capable of astounding and entertaining global audiences. Finally, the country has an English-speaking workforce that can potentially provide a large supply of low-cost, high-quality, creative talent for a thriving animation industry.

    So, what are the challenges Nigeria and other developing African countries facing in joining the animation party? For one, lack of adequate training for creative talent and animators. To build a competent workforce capable of meeting global manpower demands, Nigeria needs to train competent animation, graphic artists and post production professionals. This will cover all the needs of the animation, film and entertainment industry at large. Secondly, it suffers from lack of funding. Insufficient financial support affects the quality of production. This derives directly from inadequate investment in skill development and production tools to achieve competitive global standards. It also prevents independent producers from taking advantage of the global animation space. As far back as 2008, the top four animation producers spent between 150 -250 million euros per country on animation. With just 20 per cent of this, Nigeria can achieve the same production output of animation content that these countries boast of.

    Thirdly, useful partnerships are nearly non-existent.

    Partnerships in terms of software, hardware, distribution, and animation production resources will need to be forged in order to derive maximum value from the investments in training and production.

    Finally, for a long time, previous regimes did not prioritise the animation industry and so it suffered from lack of government support and enabling policies. For the animation industry to thrive, the existence of favorable government support, policies and trade agreements is paramount. In China, for example, there has been a lot of encouragement to develop animation.

    What are we currently doing to rectify the situation and help build up the animation industry in Nigeria? In the words of Confucius: If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of 10 years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people. We must train an army of animation professionals.

    The current administration is committed to developing the animation/creative industry into a new growth sector by promoting Nigeria’s creativity and creating a highly-skilled workforce for the industry. Already, it has created a programme called N-POWER CREATIVE, a job creation and empowerment initiative by the Federal Government of Nigeria for the purpose of training and encouraging the development of creative and technological skills in young Nigerians such as animation, graphic illustration, script writing, story-telling, sequential arts and post-production.

    With such skills, young Nigerians will be able to find employment in the ever-growing creative and animation industry. Its target will be to equip about 15,000 creative industry professionals across story/script writing, graphics/illustration, animation and post-production this year and that figure should rise to 75,000 by 2020 year end.

    By next year, we shall have a pool of creative industry professionals, locally producing content for and providing services to enhance and grow other Nigerian industries and economic sectors as follows: television, education and training, architecture, Nollywood and entertainment, print, animation and visual effects, as well as gaming.

    We also aim to:

    • Be ranked among the top emerging markets in the global animation industry by the end of next year.
    • Rake in $5-10 billion additional revenues from overseas markets by 2020 through co-productions and outsourcing from other major animation and creative industry markets, especially United States (U.S.) and Europe.
    • Be ranked among the top 10 countries with major global animation producing markets for the global industry by 2022.

    We also aim to initiate government and private funding to jumpstart the animation industry. We are working on a slew of annual exhibitions for the creative industry.

    In conclusion, let us reiterate that global animation industry is at a thriving point with content from global locations taking key positions in annual growth. Nigeria’s entertainment in film has positioned itself as the third largest in the world and has content consumed nationally and globally.

    Noting the influence of already established Nigerian entertainment media, the Nigerian animation industry will extend this effect through producing home-grown animation content as well as becoming an outsourcing destination for global animation services.

    Within two years, Nigeria will also position itself as a global power house of the top 5 emerging market destinations for outsourced animation from key animation producing nations.

    All these might look daunting, but we are encouraged, once again, by the immortal words of Lao Tzu: “Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. With your kind support, we can achieve spectacular success.

  • NOUN students’ protest and matters arising

    NOUN students’ protest and matters arising

    It seems that as Nigerians we are always seeking world class infrastructure without the desire to make world class inputs. Nothing echoed this antithetical desire as much as this week’s petition–supposedly signed by students – calling for the sack of the vice chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Professor Vincent Tenebe and other top management of the institution.

    A statement signed by the Congress of NOUN Students accused the management of not responding to their claim that the institution has become a “den of endemic corruption”. Maybe one will also offer no response upon the realization that the entity being described has no relationship with where one presides over. But again, the management should for the sake of reducing ignorance, educate the student leaders and perhaps their sponsors about the reality of the quality of education that NOUN is delivering despite the limited financing available to it. This explanation would be useful for several reasons.

    First, there is that copycat tendency in some people. It could just be that the Congress of NOUN Students is out to replicate its own version of the #feesmustfall protest that recently crippled several South African universities over astronomical rise in school fees. From the Nigerians perspective, a simplistic view would be to conclude that #feesmustfall protest 10 – 15% hike in school fees for the 2016 academic year but the larger picture is to appreciate that the hike means an average of N700, 000.00 for each student.

    Should the NOUN students be looking at replicating the protest going by their recent moves? it is best they also compare their overall fees with what obtains not just in South Africa but in other countries.

    The second reason the management has to consider is the mere fact that the leadership of NOUN, since inception, has been superlative in the discharge of its duties. NOUN moved from being a concept, whose practicality and implementation was earlier doubted, to becoming a reliable institution. It even caught the attention of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who became a proud student, finished his degree and remained an ambassador of distance learning in Africa.

    The management has been able to place the institution among Nigeria’s top 25 universities. It has also secured Senate’s approval for its graduates to take part in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme. These are achievements the management of NOUN, under Professor Tenebe has to celebrate more than it currently does so that Nigerians and their prospective students can appreciate the efforts they are making to provide quality manpower for the nation.

    Furthermore, the university should create awareness on the relationship between the fees it charges and the quality it turns out. People often desire free education. The reality however is that education is never free. Someone or some entity is paying for or subsidising education whenever students are able to get it for free.

    Another angle to this is that people should have realised by now that the word “cheap” and “quality” should not occur in the same sentence when they describe education. What the Congress of NOUN Students want, going by their statement and petition, is to either have “cheap” or “free” education. It is interesting to note that they made no reference to the quality of what they are getting out of distance learning, which affords many of them the opportunity to combine career growth with education.

    One of the things the Congress of NOUN Students is not comfortable as indicated in their statement is the increase in the fees charged for research projects. Perhaps, a starting point would have been for the leaders of this Congress to take a few minutes to do a Google search with the phrase “project research fees” or “research project fees” and then take a further few minutes to skim over the search results.

    They would then find that it is not a trend that is only associated with NOUN – other Nigerian universities charge the fee. If these students have the energy and patience to click on the links from the search query, they will further discover that project research fee averages N70, 000.00 at institutions that charge them.

    A suggestion for these students would thus be that they should hold NOUN management accountable to ensure they get quality supervision for their projects upon the payment of the prescribed fees. Also, while at it, they should actively explore the possibility of getting businesses and companies interested in funding their projects by working on viable research problems that have industry applications.

    On the issue of course materials, which the students said they do not get on time, a workable suggestion is for the student body to work with management to have all materials digitized and distributed through the institution’s portal or via mobile apps, since the era of hardcopy study materials has all but fizzled out anyway. Enterprising students should be happy to take up the creation of such platforms as a challenge.

    On its part, the Professor Tenebe-led management of NOUN must realise at this point that succumbing to erroneous demands from students is not an option here. If the management succumbs once then it will never stop giving in until the progress it has made in recent years becomes eroded.

    Yes, the students have threatened “peaceful protests” if the management of the school is not fired by President Muhammadu Buhari but the threat should not derail the school from delivering on its mandate. It should also not force the school to abandon the trajectory that has seen its profile rise to be the first choice for those who desire tertiary education through distance learning.

    Ibekwe, an educationist, contributed this piece from Enugu.

     

  • U.S. group hosts youth empowerment confab

    AUnited States (U.S)-based  group,  Women Empowered to Achieve The impossible (WETATi) in partnership with the University of Lagos (UNILAG), will host youths, men and women as well as professionals from both the public and private sectors to its maiden youth empowerment conference and awards banquet.

    The event theme is Empowering the Youth in Building a Nation Through Positive Mindset, Service, Volunteerism, Mentorship, Leadership with Integrity and Entrepreneurship– WETATi Style! It will hold between November 12 and 14 at the UNILAG Staff School Hall, Tafawa Balewa Way, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos.

    According to the organisers, the conference seeks to bring together individuals from different walks of life, gender and ethnicity to discuss issues ranging from gaining empowerment through a positive mindset to development issues and challenges in the country.

    The confab will provide a forum for Nigerian youth from different demographic populations and other African communities to meet and share information on how to move the country forward through empowering the youth and the society at large; the importance of political and social entrepreneurship and the third world countries, thereby saving the next through political and social entrepreneurship.

     

     

    “We are very excited about this conference because we are bringing together dynamic and diverse individuals from different parts of the country to hold the private and public sectors socially accountable in the communities in which they do business,” the organisers explained in a statement.

    It added that the conference would be a window for operators in the oil and gas companies, banking, media and private business sectors to share their personal, business and professional experiences; exchange ideas, encourage partnership relations and empower those in attendance, particularly the youth towards gaining knowledge, skills and relationship to make a difference in their communities through service, volunteerism and entrepreneurship.

    The group maintained that it was through positive mindset change, active engagement in civic responsibility and commitment by the youths to their communities that the better Nigeria envisioned by President Muhammadu Buhari’s government emerge.

    “It is focused on the issues of youths, men and women in leadership across various sectors including business, politics, education, healthcare, religion and public service and designed to train, equip and empower individuals to successfully lead, pursue entrepreneurship, build wealth and increase their access to executive leadership positions as well as help build their country with honesty and integrity.

    “The conference will equally feature an impressive roster of distinguished presenters and speakers; attendees, general session and panel discussions, networking events sessions geared toward young entrepreneurs, business aspirants and WETATi-Anne Reese Scholarship and Awards Banquet that would recognize trailblazers, emerging leaders,”  the organisers added.