The Nation Newspaper

Category: Health

  • Vandalised Lagos ambulance wears new look

    Vandalised Lagos ambulance wears new look

    In a bid to enhance emergency response services and create a conducive environment for first responders, several ambulance points in Lagos, which had suffered vandalism in the aftermath of the October 2020 EndSARS protest, have been revitalised. Thanks to the Saving One Million Lives Programme for Results (SOMLPforR), a Federal Government initiative aimed at bolstering health service delivery, five key ambulance points have been refurbished. These points include locations at the Lagos Tollgate end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Mile 12 in Kosofe Local Government Area, Third Mainland Bridge, Anthony along Oshodi-Oke Expressway, and Mobil along Lekki-Epe Expressway in Eti-Osa Local Government Area.

     At the inauguration and handover ceremony of one of the revamped points situated at the Lagos Tollgate along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, the Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Ministry of Health, highlighted the significance of these efforts. The old, dilapidated, and vandalised ambulance points have been replaced with new prefabricated structures, providing an ambulance hanger and a workstation or office space for the ambulance crew.

    The initiative to construct ambulance points in strategic areas was initially conceived in 2001 during the tenure of then-Governor Bola Tinubu. The aim was to reduce response times for first responders at accident scenes, particularly in accident-prone areas. However, these ambulance infrastructures have been subject to hostility and damage during civil unrest, including the EndSARS protest of October 2020.

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     Dr. Ogboye highlighted the ongoing efforts by the Lagos State government to protect ambulance infrastructure and crews. Plans are underway to establish ambulance points in all local government secretariats, ensuring that ambulances can be deployed promptly at any time of the day. In the interim, refurbishing existing ambulance points became a priority, providing comfortable and efficient spaces for ambulance crews.

     The initiative was made possible through the support of SOMLPforR, coordinated by Dr. Mazeedat Erinosho. Prefabricated ambulance points have replaced the damaged structures, offering a comfortable workstation environment for first responders. These refurbished points not only enhance the productivity of emergency responders but also contribute to improving response times during emergencies. The project, overseen by Mr. Sulaiman Hammeed, CEO of Healthrange Equipment Solutions, ensures the durability and transferability of the prefabricated ambulance points. With a lifespan of 20 years, these structures can be relocated or expanded, providing sustainable support for Lagos State’s emergency response services.

  • Firm offers health service to 100,000 rural women

    Firm offers health service to 100,000 rural women

    Ultimate Health management service is making moves to provide about 100,000 rural women in Nigeria with health insurance.

    The Organization hopes to capture more women into the scheme after the commencement of the first phase which would capture 100,000.

    Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, Otunba Lekan Ewenla said the organisation is partnering with Unity bank Nigeria which would be providing small loans for micro and medium small businesses in addition to the health insurance scheme across the country.

    He said to achieve that, the are working with the Association of Nigeria Women Business Network (ANWBN), an organisation that comprises of about 75 women groups across the country with a membership of over four million.

    The MD said this at ANWBN’s 2023 summit/10th anniversary that took place in Abuja.

    Ewenla said, “The need for us to begin to systematically drive the new law to make health insurance mandatory for Nigerians and to expose Nigerians or begin to achieve the need for us to change the narration of our health indices this in this country.

    Read also: FG partners with MSH to improve quality of healthcare 

    “Ultimate is partnering with the Association of over 75 of women groups with a membership that runs in four to five million women. We want to rule to start with 100,000 women from this programme. And that is the first phase, we are driving this enrollment process or this insurance programme In partnership with Unity bank, so the moment a woman opens an account with Unity bank, ultimate provides health insurance programme for that woman to drive the process such that they will continue to be well and alive to to drive their business and also grow the economy.

    “As we speak, data from the National Bureau of Statistics reveals that 15% of Nigerians are about are those working in the formal sector and the remaining 85% Nigerians are in the informal sector and spread across everywhere. Majority of them are women in the rural areas. So our mandates is to focus more on the informal sector because that is where we have the bulk of Nigerians doing their daily business, having their subsistence income and are exposed to harsh weather.

    “So our main focus as an HMO that has been licenced to drive health insurance for Nigerians in this country is to meticulously drive the enrollments of the so called identified people in the informal sector, on the health insurance net so that they can be well and alive to do their business and to also begin to enjoy affordable health care.

    “What we are driving with them is a product of 20,000, Basic Plan of 15,000 added with group life policy, that is worth almost 1 million. The partnership with Unity bank provides soft loans for women engaged in micro, small and medium scale businesses across the nation. So it was on the basis of providing the fund that we backed it up with health insurance.

    “The uniqueness of this programme stemmed from the fact that there is a partner of us who has secured funding from Switzerland for the direct enrollment of these women on this programme, so the premium for this exercise programme is going to be paid directly by our partners into the National Health Insurance authorities account and the women would start paying the premium instalmentally through their accounts in Unity bank.”

    On her part, the National Coordinator ANWBN said, “One of the things we’re looking at is that every woman should be a global participants in the economy. And so we’re pushing exports. That’s great for us. Another thing we’re looking at is that it is a healthy woman that can make money. And so the NHIA act that has made health insurance compulsory in the country. We have made plans to campaign for women so they can pay at their convenience every month.

    “Most women we work with are in the rural areas and can bearly afford N15,000 for medical attention so we are saying look, the payment has been done for you have access to health, you must never be sick, you must be able to go to the hospital and have no problem and then you can pay conveniently every month. It’s 800 Naira now so that’s easy for them.

    “We are also launching our ecommerce platform where we showcase our women from those producing food, to processesing and packaging to showcase to the entire world and we can get markets for them and working with partner financial institutions, to see how they can give startup capital at single digit interest rates.”

  • FG partners with MSH to improve quality of healthcare 

    FG partners with MSH to improve quality of healthcare 

    The federal government is looking for ways to partner with Management Sciences for Health (MSH), a global health advisory organization, to strengthen the quality of healthcare and disease response within the Nigerian health system. 

    Possible areas of collaboration being looked at include strengthening the Basic Health Care Provision Fund to effectively implement Universal Health Coverage for Nigerians, e-training of health workers, and designing effective ways of managing medical waste.

    The coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this during a meeting with the MSH President and CEO, Mariam Wentworth. Also in the meeting are the departmental directors of the ministry and the Country Representative of MSH, Ezechukwu Chidozie. 

    Pate said there is a need to partner with MSH, which he said is an expert in global health to support the training of Nigerian health workers on proper ways to manage medical wastes at the tertiary, secondary, and primary health care levels, so as to reduce dangers associated with improper disposal of medical wastes.

    The minister said: “Other areas of collaboration is maintenance of equipment in our hospitals. Every year the Federal Government buys a lot of equipment, but then they break down and our hospitals don’t have ways to maintain them.

    “We have a lot of equipment across our hospitals that have broken down. Some of them have just minor problems, like a faulty fuse, and the vendors that supply this equipment tie us down. They maintain them at a high cost. So, we can collaborate with MSH to set up a bio-medical engineering program for us.”

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    Pate said MSH’s expertise would also be vital in developing a training guideline for the ministry on e-training of its workforce.

    He said: “We want practical things that can work. We have been training and retraining our staff, but I want you to present something that is practicable. Something that can enable us to move from where we are, not something that we have been doing 20 years ago. We want to move away from complicated things to practical things.” 

    The minister said the training would be targeted at health workers at the community level.

    Earlier in her remarks, the MSH president and CEO said the organization is working in 150 countries and has been present in Nigeria for the past 20 decades delivering health programs across the country, covering health systems improvement, HIV, malaria, and other non-communicable diseases.

    The MSH Country Representative, Chidozie, said potential areas of partnership with the Nigerian government include health financing, supply chain and health security, leadership and management, and health workforce.

    He said MSH has achieved tremendous feats around supply chain and logistics, using local health workers to deliver healthcare commodities to consumers, adding that this is one area the government can tap from the expertise of MSH.

    He said although the delivery of quality health services in the country is being threatened by the migration of skilled health workers, MSH will continue to train health workers on data collation and other aspects to improve the quality of the health system.

  • Expert decries shortage of mental health practitioners in hospitals

    Expert decries shortage of mental health practitioners in hospitals

    A medical expert, Iyanuoluwa Balogun from Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta has said the majority of hospitals in Nigeria do not have enough medical personnel to manage mental health issues. 

    She lamented that the shortage of personnel to manage mental illness is making early detection of mental illness almost impossible in Nigeria. 

    Speaking on a programme tagged “Citizens Forum” on Rock City 101.9FM Abeokuta organised by the National Association of SeaDogs Pyrate Confraternity, Ash Montana Deck, in collaboration with Grund Zero Deck and Long Island Deck to commemorate this year’s World Mental Health Day, Balogun described mental health as emotional, psychological and social well-being.

    She stated that assessment of mental health care is a fundamental human right for all citizens which the government needs to make available to all. 

    Balogun, who said mental health is a universal human right, emphasised that the brain drain and the exodus of medical practitioners are affecting mental health care delivery. 

    She explained that many psychiatric hospitals in the country lack psychiatric doctors, nurses and social workers. 

    According to her “Assessment of mental health care is a fundamental human right for all citizens which the government needs to make available to all.”

    “The brain drain and the exodus of medical practitioners is affecting mental health care delivery and psychiatric hospitals that are now lacking psychiatric doctors, nurses and social Workers.

    “All these factors hinder the accessibility of mental health care in the country. Mental illness in Nigerian society is still not widely accepted the way other illness is accepted.

    “People tend to discriminate and stigmatise people with mental illness. People attach mental illness to some myths which make the society to isolate people who have mental illness.

    “Isolation, stigmatiation and discrimination further cause more harm to the patient. The society needs to be well educated in mental health issues so that people can come out to seek for health.

    “Many are going into gambling to make more money which results in ‘addiction’ which is a mental illness, people also take to substance abuse in the view of forgetting their pains which is very dangerous to one’s mental health.

    “The society should come together and allow people to be open to talk about what they are going through in order to be able to seek help. People who talk about suicide or similar complaint should be taken serious as depression is real. 

    Read Also: Mental health experts link rising suicide rates to socioeconomic challenges

    “Children and teenagers also need to be monitored,  according to the doctors and not just waved off that they have no emotions that can’t lead to mental illness. Inability to sleep, loss of appetite, weight loss, excessive sadness or moodiness and self-isolation can be a cause for alarm or could be a cause for investigation as to someone’s mental state”. 

    She urged people not to go beyond their means in this current economy, take care of their physical health, eat good food/balanced diets with lots of fruits and vegetable, get enough rest, exercise regularly and go for holidays or vacation. 

    She discouraged the high use of alcohol and cigarettes and the use of illicit substances in any form which is on the rise today. 

    She however said more effort should be put in place towards improving the health facilities across the country by the Government and people should take good care of their mental health and their general physical health.

  • Nigeria races against time to save children amidst diphtheria outbreak

    Nigeria races against time to save children amidst diphtheria outbreak

    Nigeria has found itself in a race against time as it battles a severe diphtheria outbreak in multiple fronts across some states, the latest public health challenge to face the country. Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Borno, Kaduna, and Bauchi bear the largest brunt of this outbreak, together they account for a staggering 97 per cent of all reported cases. Among these, Kano is the epicentre of the outbreak as it carries over 84 per cent of the burden.

    This relentless disease is hitting the nation’s children the hardest, with over 73 per cent of cases occurring in children aged one to 14 years. The soaring number of victims is perhaps a reflection of poor preventive measures. A report by U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention says that diphtheria is a serious infection caused by strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae that make toxin. According to the Centre, diphtheria can lead to difficulty breathing, heart rhythm problems, and even death.

    The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Muhammad Pat, said 98 per cent of children infected with diphtheria in 19 states were unvaccinated. Pate said this at the Northern Traditional Leaders’ Committee on Primary Health Care Service Delivery (NTLC) Quarterly Review Meeting in Abuja. The worried Pate called for the implementation of a rapid vaccination campaign, adding that the ministry and other stakeholders must partner to aggressively tackle the diphtheria challenge.

    The victims of the diphtheria outbreak such as Mrs Mario Abbas are telling their stories. Abbas shared the harrowing story of her nine year-old daughter’s battle with diphtheria. According to her, during the early stage of contracting the infection, her daughter suffered from a severe sore throat, mild fever, and swollen neck glands. Like many mothers, she was unaware of the disease’s severity and the importance of vaccinations. Although her daughter has recovered, the road to recovery was long and arduous, leaving her the girl physically weak and emotionally scarred.

    Read Also: Past vaccination failure cause of diphtheria resurgence

    Abbas’s story underscores the urgent need for improved awareness and access to vaccine, especially among rural communities. Mallam Ahmed Yusuf, a farmer in Kwali Local Government Area, shared the plight of his 13 year-old son whose vibrant life was disrupted by diphtheria. The disease not only affected his physical health but also disrupted his education, potentially jeopardising his future.

    Diphtheria stands out due to the toxin produced by the bacteria, resulting in a dense membrane forming in the nasal passages, throat, or airway. This differentiates it from typical sore throat infections. Experts stress the immediate need for action to prevent further loss of lives. In response, the Federal Government has swung into action. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has established an Emergency Taskforce, co-chaired by Dr Faisal Shuaib and Dr Ifedayo Adetifa.

    Working alongside its partners such as WHO, UNICEF, Federal Government’s intervention so far has paid off with the spread of disease contained in many states while relief materials have been provided to affected communities. Two vaccines are being used namely the Pentavalent vaccine for children aged  six weeks to four years, and the Tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccine for children aged above four to 14 years.

    Recent months have witnessed comprehensive vaccination campaigns across affected regions, with a focus on high-burden areas as Nigeria races against time to halt the spread of the disease. Kano State has conducted three rounds of vaccination campaigns. The vaccine intervention has been extended to other affected states like Kaduna, Katsina, Bauchi, and Yobe. This is done alongside routine vaccinations at government healthcare facilities nationwide. The diphtheria affected are urged to institute the use of face masks in public gatherings to curb the disease’s spread as governments ramp up a raft of measures to contain the spread.

  • Hospital, NGO team up to promote voluntary blood donation

    Hospital, NGO team up to promote voluntary blood donation

    Esteemed Life Saver Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, collaborated with Randle General Hospital, Surulere, Lagos, to conduct a voluntary blood donor drive, aiming to encourage blood donation and create awareness about sickle cell disease during World Sickle Cell Awareness Month. The event, organised by the blood transfusion committee of Randle General Hospital, saw active participation from numerous voluntary blood donors.

    Dr. Olumide Sojinrin, the Medical Director/CEO of Randle General Hospital, expressed gratitude for the initiative, recognising it as aligned with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES Agenda to save lives. He emphasised the importance of working with NGOs to meet the demand for voluntary blood donation and underscored the state government’s commitment to partnering with private organisations and NGOs to enhance healthcare delivery.

    Read Also: Lagos shuts hospital for transfusing unscreened blood

    Dr. Abosede Adabale, a Consultant and Head of the Haematology Department, who represented Sojinrin at the event, highlighting the necessity for increased voluntary blood donors and advocating collaboration in combating sickle cell disease.

    Esteemed Life Saver Initiative board member, Mr. Adam Alimi, praised the partnership between the NGO, the state government, and the dedicated staff of Randle General Hospital. He explained that voluntary donors underwent thorough medical examinations, including blood pressure, weight, height, and blood quantity assessments to ensure their suitability for donation.  Mr. Husseni Muhammed, an Executive Secretary at Sick Kids Hospital Foundation and a blood donor, shared insights on the benefits of blood donation. He lauded the initiative and encouraged more stakeholders to join hands with the state government in this noble endeavour to save lives.

  • Mental health experts link rising suicide rates to socioeconomic challenges

    Mental health experts link rising suicide rates to socioeconomic challenges

    Prominent psychiatrists have linked the alarming surge in suicide attempts among Nigerians to pressing social issues such as economic hardship, violence, poverty, and the misuse of drugs.

     At a gathering organised by the Retreat Healthcare in Ikorodu, Lagos, commemorating World Mental Health Day under the theme “Mental Health is a Universal Human Right,” Dr. Olufemi Oluwatayo, the CEO of the Retreat Hospital, highlighted the urgent need for the government to devise strategies preventing easy access to materials that could facilitate such tragic acts.

    Dr. Oluwatayo, a United Kingdom-based Consultant Psychiatrist, emphasised the media’s role in responsible reporting, urging mindful coverage to prevent sensationalising these unfortunate incidents. He underscored the necessity for national policies to curtail easy access to harmful substances and secure public places, like bridges, where such incidents often occur. He urged unity among Nigerians, emphasising hope, community support, and vigilance in preventing violence.

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     Dr. Oluwatayo lamented the high cost of mental health services, which serves as a barrier for many Nigerians seeking help. He highlighted the inadequacy of mental health services in the country and stressed the importance of integrating mental health services into Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to expand accessibility. He also commended the passage of the Mental Health Bill into law but stressed the need for its full implementation.

    Renowned psychiatrist, Dr. Femi Olugbile, echoed the sentiment, urging individuals to prioritise their mental well-being. He emphasised the importance of action beyond the legislation, calling for provisions in health insurance to cover mental health services.

    Dr. Olugbile stressed the vital role of employers in promoting their employees’ mental wellness, recognising its significance for both organisational health and workplace safety.

  • Dana Pharma reaffirms commitment to children’s health

    Dana Pharma reaffirms commitment to children’s health

    Dana Pharmaceuticals Limited has introduced DanaCee, a new Vitamin C syrup aimed at bolstering children’s immune systems. The launch, which took place in Lagos, coincided with the relaunch of Ferrodan Plus Capsules, a blood enhancer, and marked the 27th anniversary of their flagship paracetamol brand, Paradana.

    The event, attended by medical professionals, distributors, partners, and patrons, emphasised Dana Pharmaceuticals’ steadfast dedication to children’s wellness and development.

     Mr. Bharat Vaswani, the firm’s Country Manager, expressed their commitment to enhancing children’s health and stated, “DanaCee is offered in a kid-friendly orange flavour, making it an exciting addition to daily routines.”

    Read Also: Gunmen kidnap pharmacist in Plateau

    DanaCee, in addition to fighting scurvy, serves as a valuable supplement for children and can be utilised by individuals of all ages. The firm also highlighted the relaunch of Ferrodan Plus Capsules, emphasising its benefits in boosting blood levels, energy, and immunity, especially for women planning to conceive or during pregnancy. 

     The company, a member of the Dana Group, acknowledged the support of Nigerians and healthcare professionals. As part of the celebration, loyal customers and distributors were rewarded with home appliances and electronics, showcasing Dana Pharmaceuticals’ gratitude for their integral role in the healthcare ecosystem.

    With over 37 years of experience, Dana Pharmaceuticals Limited operates three ISO 9001:2015 certified, state-of-the-art factories, providing genuine and high-quality healthcare solutions nationwide. The recent product launches underscore their ongoing commitment to advancing pharmaceutical care, innovation, and uncompromising quality standards.

  • NAFDAC to review sanction on exporters of substandard products

    NAFDAC to review sanction on exporters of substandard products

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has promised to review sanctions for exporters of substandard products.

       The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, said this at a news conference, while expressing displeasure at the level substandard goods were being rejected in some foreign countries.

    She said the agency has been able to identify some of the reasons, including non-compliance to guidelines established by NAFDAC to encourage participatory exports.

    Adeyeye stated that almost all exported food products were being processed in the country without the statutory testing by NAFDAC. According to her, some of the goods are exported without NAFDAC’s quality control and safety tests hence their rejection.

    Other reasons included the non-utilisation of hitherto free laboratory testing by NAFDAC for export samples, coupled with the connivance of unscrupulous agents. Also identified was the exclusion of NAFDAC’s requirements for its regulated products in the mandatory pre-shipment inspection in the National Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) as administered by the Federal Government appointed Pre-shipment Inspection Agents (PIAs).

    Adeyeye stated that some of the exporters were unwilling to comply with minimal sanitary and phytosanitary measures required for exports to countries with stringent market access, as well as poor packaging by some manufacturers.

    The NAFDAC boss noted that many exporters have formed the habit of disregarding importation requirements of trading partner countries. She also mentioned “penchant for sourcing from open markets for exports without any form of minimal safety or quality specifications and unwillingness to invest in pre-export activities that help to ensure sustainable export”.

    Read Also: NAFDAC destroys N5.4m of unwholesome drugs, food

    The DG boss said to ratify these challenges as part of the outcome of its recent meeting with the United Kingdom Food Standard Agency (FSA), the agency would be commencing six regulatory measures to address the situation. She listed immediate inclusion and implementation, as a matter of urgency, NAFDAC Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Hygienic Practices (GHP) and laboratory testings such as mycotoxin, pesticide residue, and heavy metals certification for regulated food and drug products.

    She said the National Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) would also be carried out on some of these products as administered by the Federal Government appointed Pre-shipment Inspection Agents (PIAs). Other measures, she mentioned, were the inclusion of NAFDAC in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Export Proceed (NXP) form processing and engagement with the Comptroller-General of Customs as the new administrator of the Nigeria Single Window Trade portal to facilitate this.

    She said NAFDAC had earlier engaged with CBN (Trade and Exchange Division) and the Federal Ministry of Finance (Home Finance) on this same matter. She said the agency would also be strengthening in-country regulatory infrastructure on export with the introduction of NAFDAC Regulations on Export 2022. Adeyeye added that the regulation was already hosted on NAFDAC’s website with e-copy sent to exporters, trade associations and professional bodies for their input and comments within the next 60 days, which began on October 11. She said the agency would also be collaborating with the Nigerian Exports Promotion Council (NEPC) on regulation of goods.

     According to her, the agency will continue with awareness meetings with the export trade operators on the NAFDAC’s guidelines.

  • Chris Ogunbanjo (1923-2023):The struggle continues

    Chris Ogunbanjo (1923-2023):The struggle continues

    About 20 unbroken years separated me from the fabulous Chief Chris Ogunbanjo when he passed on 7 October 2023, two weeks from his 100th birthday. I could have said how time flies when I heard the news if, since about 1977, I had not known that Time does not fly, that Time Stands  Still! We always change during our journey through Time and  sacrilegiously blame the downswings on time. It is the exercise of our freewill which tosses us hither and thither.Thus, standing before the death news, wondering which mountains on my side had blocked my memory of him,  I remembered many persons now live multiple lives in one. I believe that Chief Ogunbanjo, too, believed this. He was a student of existence and of the great universe. Many cycles of events we initiated thousands of years ago, or shall we say the seeds we planted, are ripening for the harvest and harvest them we must. So, in the state of rejoicing with Chief Ogunbanjo that he had separated from the flesh  and pray that he awakens to joyful life wherever he was. I also wished that our separation be not eternal. For it is possible that some of us friends here on earth, even husbands and wives, parents and children, may never meet again, and it would not be a case of one being in Paradise and others living in so-called hell fire.

     Isonyin connection

     Chief Chris Ogunbanjo came from Erunwon, a village about three kilometers from Ijebu ode . I come from Odole -Isonyin, a community about three kilometers from Erunwon. Isonyin lies between Odole and Erunwon. It was founded by Sade, a run away princess from the palace of the Awujale of Ijebu land. The Elerunwon of Erunwon at that time was her maternal  brother.  Prince Lasaoku , who founded Odole, was a paternal brother of Princess Sade. Whenever, respectfully , I teased Chief Ogunbanjo that Odole and Isonyin were greater than Erunwon, it was less because my father came from Odole and my mother from Isonyin, but more from the indelible messages from history.

       Unforgetable history

     The Kusas of Odole are descendants of rince Lasaoku. Reportedly, he left the palace over some differences to found his own  chiefdom. Princess Sade, young, beautiful and vibrant, was closer to him than to the Elerunwon, her maternal brother. She ran into trouble with the Awujale over a love relationship with a commoner that was considered unbefitting to her royal status.  She could be executed by being beheaded or through a sword being plunged into one of the eyes till it came out of the back of the head. Princess Sade fled  to the Elerunwon. He would not grant her cover for fear of a reprisal from the powerful Awujale. From Erunwon, Princess Sade fled to Odole where Lasaoku sheltered her. The Awujale demanded that Prince Lasaoku surrender his crown. Before Awujale’s soldiers arrived, Prince Lasaoku buried the crown where no one else knows till this day.  Prince Lasaoku then offered Princess Sade land in Odole on which to settle. He set the boundary with one tree Ijebus of those days called Ayin, from which the town derived the name Isonyin. Ayin is  African bush mango, the seed of which is cooked to produce Apon(Ogbono) soup.

     The Anglican Church built Emmanuel Church and Emmanuel Primary School in Isonyin. My father and other inhabitants of Odole went to school in Isonyin and went to the church every Sunday. So did Chief Ogunbanjo’s people. When Chief Ogunbanjo built the Church of the Epiphany Erunwon, some observers thought it was over investment among worshippers who may not be able to fill half of the seats with their numbers, let alone financially maintain it. They did not understand the driving motive. He was telling a story to challenge an indelible memory. He could not be world renowned in business and industry  and his people were dependent. But I always teased him, as a grown child may tease his father, that Odole-Isonyin made Erunwon. What would have been written on the pages of history today had Prince Lasaoku not stuck out his neck and staked his crown for Princess Sade? For this, his enemies in the Awujale court ensured he never became Awujale, after all traditional rites had been observed. Days before his coronation, he became stricken with a strange ailment from which he passed!

      The Comet

        It was in this royal garb of a prince from Odole that I met Chief Ogunbanjo about 1999 for the first time, to invite him to be a financial backer of The Comet Newspaper. The day I heard that Chief Ogunbanjo passed, I issued the following( edited) report on social media.

       ” He passed yesterday 7 October 2023, two months from his 100th birthday. A corporate lawyer, he was a leading light and captain of NIGERIA’S business and industry.

     He came from Erunwon, near Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

     He will be remembered by many persons, including those of us co-founders of The Comet newspaper who brought him into Nigerian newspapering ie Oyinlade Bonuola,John Olufemi Kusa, Olajide Ogundele, our senior professional colleauge and mentor Sola Oluwole  all journalists, and Dr Ayo Ojo, a radical medical doctor and younger brother of Chief Michael Ade Ojo of Elizade motors, a prominent backer of the project.

     ” Chief Ogunbanjo was the second chairman of Turning-point  Communications Limited, Publishers of The CometOMET newspaper. He will be remembered by fellow backers of The Comet newspaper who included Dr Christopher Kolade, first chairman of turning- point Communications Limited, former Chairman of Cardbury’s (NIG LTD) and academic staff member of Pan African University, Lagos …Oba Otudeko, CEO of Honeywell… Chief Olufalae, presidential candidate of the Social Democratic party (SDP) in the 1999 presidential election won by Gen Olusegun Obasanjo(rtd), as he then was…Chief Segun Osoba, one time governor of Ogun State…Otunba Gbenga Daniel, another former governor of Ogun State… President Bola Ahmed Tinubu…Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo…Dr Bukola Saraki, former governor of Kwara State and President of the Nigerian 8th Senate…Mr Akin Soname, a one time Governorship aspirant in Ogun State…Chief Dayo Sonuga, one-time chairman of the  Chambers of Commerce, Agriculture and Industry, who succeeded Chief Ogunbanjo on the Board of Directors of Turning-Point Communications Limited.

     Chief Ogunbanjo’s passing presents an opportunity of reminisces to these eminent persons to not only remember him for the roles he played in the company but to, also, remember their colleauges who, before their passages, were either members of the board or backers of the project. Among them were Mr Olatunde Olabode Vincent, better known on Nigeria’s paper currency as Ola Vincent, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) between 1977 and 1982…Chief Bola Ige, one-time governor of Oyo State and Attorney General and Minister of Justice  under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration… Chief Abraham Adesanya (SAN)…Pa Onasanya, a NADECO and Afenifere leader…Chief S.K Oluwo, former Managing Director of Bagco Super Sacks (Nig) LTD…Commodore Gbolahan Mudashiru(rtd) , former military governor of Lagos State… Chief Victor Abayomi Oduntan, the last Chairman of Turning Point Communications and a former Secretary to Ogun State Government (SSG)…Chief Nathaniel Idowu, progenitor of The Punch Newspaper, fellow journalist on Tell magazine, among others.

    Read Also: Ogunbanjo: Father of modern corporate law practice

     Chief Ogunbanjo will be remembered as well by Barrister Kieran Enechi, who was Company Secretary in the tenures as chairman of the company, of  Dr Kolade , Chief Ogunbanjo and Chief Sonuga.

     May Chief Ogunbanjo awaken to joyful life wherever he is”.

     I was distant from Chief Ogunbanjo before I had to meet him in respect of The Comet. What was true of my relationship with him was true of my relationship with other business men and leaders of industry, except one…Chief Adeyemi Olusola Lawson. Chief Lawson was the first person, through his activities with The Grail Message- In The Light of Truth by Abdrushin to lead me into the living knowledge of The Structture of Creation and The Purpose of  Existence. Chief Ogunbanjo and chief Lawson, who passed in 1993, were friends. In the search for Truth, Chief Lawson traversed some of the highest orders of Christianity and of the Rosicrucian order (AMORC) before he came to the Grail Message. Chief Ogunbanjo, too, was a well known figure in Christian leadership circles and AMORC. AMORC is self described as:

     ” The rosicrucians are a community of philosophers who study Natural Laws in order to live in harmony with them.

     Our mission is to provide seekers with the spiritual wisdom necessary to experience their connectedness with the miraculous world around us and to develop mastery of life.

      Our studies include:

     The mysteries of birth and death

     The illusory nature of time and space

      Awakening of the psychic consciousness…”

      Some of my roommates at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) were in AMORC. I had nothing against them and AMORC. I knew they were struggling inwardly to understand the universe  albeit from below upwards, but, nevertheless, in a more  practical manner that the blind faith of Christianity devoid of conviction. Conviction comes from objective weighing and examining  impressions on the soul and not blind belief in a teaching merely out of habit. However, irrespective of the beauty in the freedom of investigation, groping from below upwards has its own dangers in many snares on the way, some of which may bewilder or even psychically injure the investigator like a toddler left alone in a virgin forest.

     Intuitively, I sensed that I had travelled on that route  as not been on earth before? Do we know how many mistakes of many past eras in that circumstance that we have to redeem in the remainder of this life, living many earth lives in one earth life, trying to rid our souls of the deficits of many lives gone by in only this one?

     This was why I alluded  that Chief Ogunbanjo as a seeker of The Truth on whichever pathway, would understand which mountain on my side had been blocking my views of the mountain on his.

     Our paths may probably not have met had the exigencies of The Comet not arisen.  The Comet newspaper was to be born because we the co -founders were vacating The Guardian newspaper which had become inhospitable to pure professional existence. We had no money. We had been raised and  encased in the idea that the newspaper was purely a social institution where editors were only to be Heard, like judges, and not Seen, to protect them againat corruptive influences of big business (Please see details in my facebook account @ John Olufemi Kusa). With its editors locked in, The Guardian soon had money challenges. It belonged to the Big Business Family. His capitalisation was bigger than that of some banks, yet it was playing a Touch Me Not game with the big business family.

     With some of my colleauges, notably Jide Ogundele, Paul Okunlola, Abel Oshivere, Raheem Adedoyin, Akin Orebiyi, Harriet Lawrence etc, I was priviledged and honoured to resolve that challenge with editorial compartmentalisation, arguably the first time a Nigerian newspaper would do so. Credit goes, also, to publisher Alex Ibru who liked and backed the project and threw his weight behind it.

     Oyinlade Bonuola, Femi Kusa and Jide Ogundele had to literally flee from The Guardian when ethnic emotions suffocated work environment. It is part of the lessons I have learned that, when you are in an overcharging equation, you would have peace of mind, irrespective of your initial losses , if you remove yourself from the suffocating equation. With no money in our pockets as you would expect, despite 17 years of bone breaking and blood drying Work in which I could sometimes work for 18 hours in one day or even overnight, all three of us had no money to register a company! I approached Barrister  Kierian  Enechi, one of my legal acquaintances, who did it for us on credit and discreetly, too. Mr Alex Ibru must not hear we were  leaving or he could fire us to damage our credibility.(Please see more details in my Facebook account@John Olufemi Kusa).

      Chris Ogunbanjo

     It was in this athmosphere that I had to approach Chris Ogunbanjo to be a shareholder of the company. I had been able to persuade Akin Soname who led me to Chief S.K Oluwo, and Dr Ayo Ojo, who led me to Chief Ade Ojo. Dr Omotosho Oguniyi,  our  consultant, invited by OyinLade Bonuola, led me to  Oba Otudeko, an Olivetian like he and I. I made a presentation to Oba Otudeko in the presence of his friend, Mr Segun Osoba, our boss at the Daily Times and former governor of Ogun State. Mr Osoba recommended us as impeccable journalists. Oba Otudeko waved Honeywell at me. I preferred The CometOMET. Impressed, he would have doubled the investment, but our rules limited participation.

      Success with Oba Otudeko strenghtened me to expect success with Chief Ogunbanjo. Going over to Chief Ogunbanjo, I asked Jide Ogundele to accompany me. He was more acquainted with him. Ogundele was business reporter, business correspondent and editor of financial Guardian. I had no background of big business interfaces to lock horns with a business giant like him and had to fabricate other keys to unlock the doors to his heart. Chief Ogunbanjo warmed up  when I teased him about Odole Isonyin and Erunwon. If he could cane me as a teacher does a schoolboy, he would  cane me. He said I lived in his backyard and he never knew me. I teased him that I was a prince descended from the Prince of the Awujale court in IJEBU ode and that I wasn’t even sure he had Erunwon royal blood. We were all literally rolling on the ground with laughter. Then, I announced  the prince of Odole had the floor. Chief Ogunbanjo always had a boyish disposition. He did not say he was old enough to be my father, or that he graduated in law the year I was born, but was all ears in humility.

     Next, I declined to proceed unless he promised no one outside the meeting, including his wife, would  hear what we were about to discuss. He looked up. I told him my life depended on protection of the information. He looked at me again. I told him Chief Lawson said they were friends and that this encouraged me to feel secure with him. He nodded several times. Then, I drove the nail home when I told him I was not rosicrucian but I knew great rosicrucians such as Abraham Lincoln, George Washington and Benjamin Franklin kept promises.

     He gave me his word. Before we left him, we were sure of another cheque and more cheques from some of his friends.

     The Boardroom

     In the board room, Chief Ogunbanjo was not just an understanding director but also fatherly to us. Nevertheless, he, Mr Ola Vincent, Mr Dayo Sonuga and Otunba Oduntan made us see our smallness  as businessmen. Indeed, how many designer clothes would a young man have that can number  the rags of an old man?  He did not mind throwing our accounts back to us for reworking. We had an accountant who was finance director. But the board did not seem to be pleased with his house keeping. I was not an accountant, but I followed the criticisms with common sense, and knew the grand old men were in the right. Mr Ola Vincent was Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Otunba Oduntan was in charge of the budget in Ogun State and was Head of Service. They all couldn’t be wrong. From their criticisms, I saw a shortcoming in the journalist transforming into a newspaper owner without prior business education or coaching of sorts. Successful business boils down to the knowledge of money.  When we couldn’t do anything about the man who kept an eye on the money, Chief Ogunbanjo announced his exit  and appealed to Chief Dayo Sonuga to succeed him.

     The struggle continues

     Legion are the forces which seek to debar the ascent homeward of a departing soul. Karma, earthly propensities, grieving,  funeral fun fairs, wrong conceptions and beliefs, Indolence of the spirit, immaturity of the spirit kernel are among them. Some souls re enter their bodies and may not become free of it until long after the decay. The kernel of a soul may be immature, like the kernel of a fruit prematurely discharged from the mother tree in a storm. Such a seed kernel may decay, unable to sprout into a plant.

    The same often occurs to human souls in the ethereal, no matter how long or how short they may have been on earth. Sometimes, short lived persons have mature kernels and are not easily overcome by inclement environment in the ethereal world. It is against these and many more forces that we all would have to contend when we leave the earth. We need strength to overcome. Therefore, it is wrong to wish that a departing soul Rest In Peace. It is in this regard that I say to our father and friend Chief  Chris Ogunbanjo…may you awaken to joyful, living activities wherever you are.