The Nation Newspaper

Category: Health

  • 10 ways to get fit without the gym

    10 ways to get fit without the gym

    Getting in shape isn’t about punishment or drastic changes; it’s about building sustainable habits that nourish the body and mind. Experts say the goal is to move more, eat better most of the time, and create a lifestyle that can be maintained in the long run.

    Here are 10 effective ways to get in shape without a gym:

    1. Bodyweight Exercises: Squats, push-ups, lunges, planks, and burpees are great for building strength and toning muscles.

    2. Cardio: Jumping jacks, jogging in place, and dancing can get your heart rate up and burn calories.

    3. Yoga and Stretching: Improve flexibility and balance with yoga poses and stretching exercises.

    4. HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training): Short bursts of intense exercise followed by rest periods, like burpees or jump squats.

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    5. Daily Activities: Turn household chores into workouts, like vacuuming or gardening.

    6. Walking or Running: Explore your neighborhood or a nearby park for a low-impact exercise.

    7. Dancing: Put on your fave music and groove your way to fitness.

    8. Stair Climbing: Use your stairs for a cardio boost.

    9. Indoor Obstacle Course: Create a fun obstacle course using household items.

    10. Play with Kids/Pets: Get active with your loved ones.

  • WHO urges healthy eating in schools to shape lifelong habits

    WHO urges healthy eating in schools to shape lifelong habits

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on countries to prioritise healthy eating in schools, highlighting the crucial role of school food environments in shaping children’s long-term health. In a statement, the organisation released a new global guideline offering evidence-based policies and interventions aimed at improving nutrition for students worldwide.

    For the first time, WHO recommends a whole-school approach to ensure that all food and beverages provided and available within school environments are nutritious and supportive of healthy diets. The organization said this approach is critical in addressing the so-called “double burden of malnutrition”—where childhood overweight and obesity rise alongside persistent u ndernutrition. “In 2025, about one in ten school-aged children and adolescents—roughly 188 million—were living with obesity worldwide, surpassing for the first time the number of children who are underweight,” WHO noted, underscoring the scale of the problem.

    WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, stressed that the foods children consume at school—and the environments shaping their choices—have profound implications for both learning and lifelong health. “Getting nutrition right at school is critical for preventing disease later in life and creating healthier adults,” Ghebreyesus said.

    Children spend a significant portion of their day in school, he added, making the school setting a powerful platform for instilling healthy dietary habits and reducing nutrition inequities. Yet, despite the fact that an estimated 466 million children worldwide receive school meals, there remains limited information on the nutritional quality of those meals. The new guideline urges countries to improve school food provision to encourage greater consumption of nutritious foods while limiting unhealthy options. Among the recommendations are the adoption of standards that increase the availability of healthy foods and beverages, alongside interventions that “nudge” children toward better choices. Such nudges could involve changing the placement, presentation, or pricing of food items to make healthier options more appealing and accessible.

    However, Ghebreyesus emphasized that policies alone are not enough. Effective implementation requires strong monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to ensure consistent compliance. According to data from the WHO Global Database on the Implementation of Food and Nutrition Action, as of October 2025, 104 member states had policies promoting healthy school food. Nearly three-quarters of these include mandatory criteria guiding the composition of school meals, though only 48 countries restrict the marketing of foods high in sugar, salt, or unhealthy fats.

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    The guideline was developed by a multidisciplinary team of international experts through a transparent, evidence-based process, reflecting the latest research on childhood nutrition. Ghebreyesus described it as a cornerstone of WHO’s broader mission to create healthier food environments, implemented under initiatives such as the WHO Acceleration Plan to Stop Obesity and the Nutrition-Friendly Schools Initiative.

    The recommendations also recognize the importance of local action. National, state, and city authorities all have roles to play in advancing school food initiatives, adapting policies to the realities of each community. WHO has pledged to support member states through technical assistance, knowledge-sharing, and collaborative efforts to implement the guideline effectively. Ultimately, WHO’s call underscores a simple but powerful idea: schools are not just places for learning mathematics and language—they are vital settings for shaping lifelong health habits. By improving what children eat at school and guiding them toward better choices, countries can make meaningful progress against obesity, undernutrition, and chronic disease, laying the foundation for a healthier, more resilient generation.

  • From resolution to relationship: rethinking health as a lifelong practice

    From resolution to relationship: rethinking health as a lifelong practice

    For many of us, health arrives in bursts. A New Year’s resolution sparks a sudden diet. A doctor’s warning prompts a gym subscription. A trending detox plan beckons with promises of instant transformation. We treat health like an event—something to start, fix, or restart. But health does not live in bursts. It lives in patterns, in the small, almost invisible choices we make when no one is watching.

    Imagine your life as a river. The water never stops moving. It is never stagnant, never static. Health is the same. It is continuous, evolving, and shaped not only by the obvious choices—what we eat, how we exercise—but also by the rhythms of our work, our sleep, our relationships, and even our stress. Health is not a destination. It is a lifelong practice, a way of being that grows from small, repeated acts over years, not sudden leaps.

    Think about the simple act of brushing your teeth. You do it every day, not because of a resolution, but because you know the consequences of neglect accumulate quietly. Decay does not happen overnight; it builds in silence. Chronic illness works the same way. High blood pressure, diabetes, burnout, fatigue—these conditions rarely arrive in a single, dramatic moment. They build, layer upon layer, through repeated neglect or through habits we barely notice. And yet, just as slowly, small, consistent acts of care—choosing water over soda, taking a brief walk, resting a little earlier, checking in with a friend—accumulate in the other direction. They create resilience, stability, and wellness over time.

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    To embrace health as a lifelong practice is to shift from guilt and panic to curiosity and awareness. Ask yourself: when did I last feel genuinely well? How often do I rest, nourish myself, and pause from the rush of life? What habits quietly chip away at my body, my mind, or my spirit? These questions are not meant to shame you; they are meant to illuminate. Awareness is the first step in building a sustainable health practice. Without it, we stumble blindly from one “fix” to another, always chasing an ideal that is often unrealistic.

    Living in Nigeria adds another layer to this conversation. Life here moves fast, and the systems we rely on are imperfect. Traffic, long work hours, irregular power supply, financial pressures, and crowded spaces shape the realities of daily life. Health cannot exist in isolation from these pressures. Any lifelong health practice must be rooted in context. It must be flexible enough to fit around real challenges while still providing genuine care for the body and mind. You may not have time for a gym session, but the daily walk to the bus stop counts. You may not afford imported “superfoods,” but local vegetables, legumes, and fish are rich in nutrients when eaten mindfully. Health is not about perfection; it is about sustained, realistic engagement with your life.

    This practice goes beyond food and exercise. It encompasses mental and emotional wellness. Chronic stress can raise blood pressure. Loneliness can worsen heart disease. Poor sleep can impair immunity. Trauma can live in the body, shaping posture, breathing, and energy. The way we treat our minds, relationships, and emotions is inseparable from the way we treat our bodies. Health is not just about the absence of illness; it is about presence—the presence of balance, resilience, and connection.

    Preventive health is one of the most powerful expressions of a lifelong practice, though it is rarely glamorous. Checking your blood pressure, monitoring blood sugar, attending regular screenings, and managing stress before it becomes overwhelming are not newsworthy acts. Yet, they quietly prevent crises, catching small problems before they grow. In Nigeria, many people encounter the healthcare system only after illness becomes urgent. Lifelong health shifts the focus from emergency response to early, deliberate care. Hospitals are not where health begins; they are where neglected health ends.

    Health also evolves with life’s seasons. The body and mind at 25 are different from those at 45 or 65. What worked in youth may no longer suffice in midlife; what sustained wellness in adulthood may need adjustment in older age. Embracing health as a lifelong practice means adapting without shame. It means accepting that what counts as self-care will change over time, and that every stage of life demands new attention, new habits, new awareness.

    For many, guilt sabotages the journey. We miss workouts, indulge in sugary foods, or fail to rest, then berate ourselves and give up entirely. Lifelong health does not reward guilt; it encourages curiosity. Instead of asking, “Why did I fail?” we can ask, “What made this hard? What small adjustment can I make today? What is realistic now?” Health thrives not on perfection but on persistence—the willingness to return, to adjust, and to continue. Missing a day, a week, or even a month is not the end. It is a point of reflection, a chance to resume with renewed awareness.

    The questions we ask ourselves are small but transformative. Did I move my body this week? Did I eat a meal that nourished me? Did I rest without guilt? Did I speak honestly about my stress, seek help, or nurture relationships? Did I listen to my body and respond kindly? These micro-questions build awareness, and awareness builds choice. Choice builds health.

    Community, too, is part of this lifelong practice. Health thrives when it is social. Walking with a neighbour, sharing meals mindfully, exchanging honest conversations about stress and fatigue—these interactions strengthen individual wellness while reinforcing collective resilience. In Nigeria, where communal life is culturally central, harnessing this social connection for health can be transformative. Imagine if discussions about blood pressure and mental wellbeing were as common as debates about football or fuel prices. Imagine a culture where rest and recovery were valued, not stigmatised.

    Ultimately, health as a lifelong practice is neither dramatic nor glamorous. It is ordinary, flexible, and profoundly human. It is choosing to care for yourself even when life feels busy or chaotic. It is listening to your body without fear. It is seeking help early, not enduring silently. It is understanding that health is not a reward for discipline—it is a responsibility, to yourself and to those who depend on you. So let us rethink our approach. Let us stop chasing health in bursts and begin living it in patterns. Let us embrace curiosity over guilt, adaptation over rigid rules, and presence over perfection. Let us recognise that every small, repeated choice—every nourishing meal, every intentional rest, every moment of connection—shapes our bodies, minds, and lives over decades.

  • Expert calls for multidisciplinary panel in Chimamanda’s son inquest

    Expert calls for multidisciplinary panel in Chimamanda’s son inquest

    A consultant clinical pharmacist and Chief Executive Officer of Hugeworth Pharmacy, Pharmacist Adebola Lawal, has petitioned the Lagos State Government, warning that the ongoing inquest into the death of Chimamanda Adichie’s son risks being compromised if pharmacists and nurses are excluded from the investigative panel.

    Speaking in an interview with journalists in Lagos, Lawal commended the state government for instituting the inquest, describing it as a commendable step that reflects a commitment to justice and accountability. However, he cautioned that the credibility and effectiveness of the process would be undermined if the panel remains dominated by a single professional group.

    According to him, cases involving drug therapy, medication use, administration, monitoring, and clinical decision-making require broad, multidisciplinary expertise. “Any inquiry that limits itself to one professional group, especially in a case where medication issues are central, risks becoming superficial, biased, and ultimately ineffective,” Lawal said. He argued that excluding pharmacists and nurses amounts to “investigating drugs without drug experts,” noting that such an approach has contributed significantly to systemic weaknesses in Nigeria’s healthcare sector. “Nigeria’s healthcare system has suffered greatly from this culture, and the public is watching closely,” he added.

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    Lawal stressed that the inquest goes beyond a single tragic death, describing it as a test of institutional integrity. He urged the Lagos State Government to demonstrate that justice is neither selective nor cosmetic. “Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done thoroughly and competently,” he said. He further warned that failure to broaden the panel’s composition could reduce the inquest to a symbolic exercise, with no meaningful outcome for the bereaved family or for Nigeria’s healthcare system as a whole.

    Speaking more broadly on the rising cases of medical negligence in the country, Lawal called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive action. He maintained that until pharmacists and nurses are fully integrated into clinical care, health policy formulation, and leadership, Nigeria would continue to experience preventable medication errors that cost innocent lives.

  • Johns Hopkins researcher leads free cardiovascular screenings for elderly in Delta

    Johns Hopkins researcher leads free cardiovascular screenings for elderly in Delta

    In this interview, Johns Hopkins cardiovascular health researcher Dr. Elohor Oborevwori speaks on a recent medical outreach that delivered free cardiovascular screenings to more than 250 elderly residents across Delta State, helping to close critical gaps in preventive healthcare for underserved communities. The outreach was organised by the You Matter Charity Foundation (YMCF), where Dr. Oborevwori serves as a director, and provided comprehensive cardiovascular assessments to older adults who rarely have access to routine medical care. The initiative reflects her broader commitment to translating cutting-edge global cardiovascular research into practical, community-based interventions that improve public health outcomes. She spoke with SIMON UTEBOR. Excerpts:

    Brief introduction and motivation for the outreach

    I am Dr. Elohor Oborevwori, a researcher with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, United States. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, yet many elderly Nigerians have never had their blood pressure checked or undergone any form of cardiovascular risk assessment. Our goal was simple but urgent: to bring evidence-based screening and health education directly to communities that need it most.

    The programme offered blood pressure monitoring, cardiovascular risk assessments, cholesterol screening, and targeted health education focused on hypertension and heart disease prevention. According to World Health Organisation data, hypertension affects between 30 and 40 per cent of Nigerian adults, yet a significant proportion remain undiagnosed.

    Why early detection matters

    Early detection is critical. For many participants, this outreach marked the first time they learnt about their cardiovascular health status. Beyond screening, we provided practical guidance on disease prevention and long-term management. Working closely with Dr. Ejiro Orhewere, head of the medical outreach team, we identified several cases of previously undiagnosed hypertension and ensured immediate referrals for follow-up care. In practical terms, this intervention may have prevented serious cardiovascular complications for dozens of elderly residents who would otherwise have gone unscreened.

    As a Research Programme Coordinator at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, this outreach also reconnected me to my home community. My research centres on cardiovascular health equity. I currently coordinate the ADHINCRA study, a stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial on hypertension control in Ghana and Nigeria; the CROWN study, which evaluates salon-based cardiovascular interventions; and the THRIVE study, examining food-as-medicine approaches to hypertension management. This outreach allowed me to translate evidence-based research into real-world impact in Delta State.

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    Plans for expansion and collaboration

    Gender disparities remain a major challenge in cardiovascular care. Women’s symptoms are often under-recognised in clinical settings compared to men’s. During the outreach, we placed deliberate emphasis on educating women about their unique cardiovascular risks and encouraged them to advocate for comprehensive screening during routine healthcare visits. We are planning additional outreach programmes before the end of 2026, with the aim of ensuring more communities understand their cardiovascular health status and are empowered to make informed decisions about disease prevention and management.

    Through the You Matter Charity Foundation, I have been able to lead multiple community health initiatives across Delta State, including breastfeeding awareness campaigns, menstrual health programmes, and disability care services, with a strong focus on marginalised populations such as children with autism and special needs. This recent outreach strengthened early detection and prevention among the elderly while also offering a scalable model for equity-driven healthcare delivery. As preventive care remains a persistent gap in Nigeria’s health system, collaborations that blend scientific expertise with grassroots engagement continue to demonstrate their power to save lives and strengthen community health outcomes.

  • Nigerian doctors perform W/Africa’s first robotic gynaecological surgery

    Nigerian doctors perform W/Africa’s first robotic gynaecological surgery

    Nigeria has recorded a historic breakthrough in advanced medical care with the successful performance of West Africa’s first robotic gynaecological surgery, a feat that places the country firmly on the map of high-precision, minimally invasive medicine and signals a transformative moment for women’s healthcare in the sub-region.

    The landmark procedure was carried out on Sunday at The Prostate Clinic (TPC), Lagos, by a multidisciplinary team of Nigerian-based and international specialists. Medical experts describe the achievement as both a clinical triumph and a strategic leap—one that extends cutting-edge surgical innovation beyond its earlier focus on male urological conditions to address the long-neglected complexities of women’s reproductive health.

    At the centre of the breakthrough is Prof. Kingsley Ekwueme, Consultant Robotic Surgeon and Medical Director of TPC, whose facility introduced West Africa’s first surgical robot last year. Speaking after the procedure, Ekwueme said the decision to expand robotic surgery to gynaecology was deliberate and overdue. “Following our tradition of leading innovation in Nigeria and West Africa, we introduced the first surgical robot in the sub-region last year,” he said. “After focusing on men’s health and male-specific conditions, we are now transitioning fully into women’s surgeries. Today, we are proud to say that we have performed the first robotic gynaecological surgery in West Africa.”

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    The patient, a young woman diagnosed with a painful ovarian tumour, had endured months of discomfort that disrupted her daily life and productivity. Using robotic-assisted technology, the surgical team successfully removed two large tumours with exceptional precision. “This young woman has an ovarian tumour that caused pain, discomfort, and inability to live a normal life,” Ekwueme explained. “With robotic surgery, we removed the tumours. She will go home today and return to work tomorrow.”

    Robotic gynaecological surgery represents a radical departure from traditional open procedures that have long defined surgical care in Nigeria. Open surgery typically involves large incisions, significant blood loss, prolonged hospitalisation, and extended recovery periods that may keep patients away from work and family responsibilities for weeks or even months. By contrast, robotic surgery allows surgeons to operate through tiny incisions using robotic arms controlled from a console that provides magnified, three-dimensional visualisation and unmatched dexterity. The result is greater surgical accuracy, minimal trauma to surrounding tissues, and significantly faster recovery.

    “What people are used to is open surgery, where a patient may stay in hospital before surgery, spend five to seven days after surgery, and then require weeks of recovery at home,” Ekwueme said. “With robotic surgery, once vital signs are stable, within six hours the patient can eat and go home. Within 24 hours, she can return to normal daily activities.” He described the procedure as a “game-changer” for women suffering from gynaecological conditions such as fibroids, endometriosis, ovarian tumours, uterine cancer, and selected cases of ectopic pregnancy.

    Ekwueme stressed that the true value of robotic surgery cannot be measured solely in financial terms. While the technology is capital-intensive, he argued that the broader economic and social benefits far outweigh the costs. “Our people tend to quantify cost only in naira and kobo,” he said. “But the unquantified cost of illness is much more complex. If a woman undergoes open surgery and is away from work for six months, that is six months of lost productivity. With robotic surgery, she can return to work almost immediately. In real terms, society gains months of productivity for a fraction of the cost.” He disclosed that the surgery was performed at no cost to the patient as part of TPC’s corporate social responsibility initiative, noting that prolonged illness and loss of productivity impose a far heavier burden on families, employers, and the economy than the price of advanced surgical care.

    A key member of the surgical team, Prof. Yusuf Oshodi, Consultant Gynaecologist at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), said the patient was carefully assessed and found suitable for robotic-assisted surgery. “She is a 30-year-old woman who still intends to have children,” Oshodi said. “The tumour is benign, and the precision of robotic surgery allows us to remove only the affected tissue without compromising her fertility or damaging adjacent structures.”

    According to Oshodi, this level of precision is critical in gynaecological surgery, where damage to surrounding organs can have lifelong consequences. “Many Nigerian women suffer silently from fibroids, endometriosis, ovarian tumours, and abnormal menstrual bleeding,” he said. “Fibroids are particularly common—affecting up to 70 per cent of women in some communities—although only about 10 to 20 per cent develop significant symptoms.”

    He noted that delayed presentation often leads to complications such as severe anaemia, which can impair heart function and overall health. “Robotic and minimally invasive surgery offers us the opportunity to intervene early, treat precisely, preserve reproductive capacity, and allow women to return quickly to their normal lives,” he added.

     Another member of the team, Olaolu Aladade, a UK-based Consultant Gynaecologist with expertise in oncology and minimally invasive surgery, said the benefits of robotic surgery over open procedures are overwhelming. “With open surgery, you have more complications, longer recovery times, and potential reproductive issues,” he said. “With robotic surgery, patients recover faster, spend fewer days in hospital, return to work sooner, and experience better psychological outcomes. In advanced health systems, this is already standard practice. Seeing it firmly established in Nigeria is deeply encouraging.”

    Beyond the immediate clinical success, the breakthrough carries wider implications for Nigeria’s healthcare system. Ekwueme disclosed that TPC has partnered with the Imo State Government to establish Nigeria’s first dedicated robotic surgery centre, currently under construction. The initiative, he said, is designed to drive innovation, research, and training, while reducing the country’s heavy reliance on overseas medical care. “This revolution has just started,” Ekwueme said. “When governments have the vision and will to form these kinds of partnerships, citizens benefit. It will drive innovation, create research opportunities, and help stem brain drain.” He urged Nigerian women to take symptoms seriously and seek early medical attention. “If you have persistent pain or abnormal bleeding, don’t ignore it. A simple examination or ultrasound can save your life. Early detection allows us to treat problems before they become dangerous.”

    Health analysts say the successful robotic gynaecological surgery is both a clinical milestone and a powerful statement of possibility. It affirms the competence of Nigerian doctors, validates years of training and investment, and challenges the assumption that world-class care must be sought abroad. For women across Nigeria and the wider sub-region, West Africa’s first robotic gynaecological surgery represents a glimpse of a future in which advanced care is accessible at home, delivered by Nigerian hands, and defined by dignity, precision and hope.

  • 1,110 Abuja residents benefit from Doxa Health Foundation’s free hepatitis intervention

    1,110 Abuja residents benefit from Doxa Health Foundation’s free hepatitis intervention

    No fewer than 1,110 residents of Mogadishu Cantonment, Asokoro, Abuja, have benefited from a free Hepatitis B and C screening and vaccination programme organised by Doxa Health Foundation.

    The sustained intervention also provided treatment referrals, as part of efforts to curb the spread of the deadly but often undetected liver disease within the community.

    The outreach, which ran from July 28, 2025, to January 24, 2026, covered both civilians and military personnel, providing life-saving services to hundreds of families within the cantonment.

    Founder and Executive Director of the Foundation, Miss Glory Akawu, said the initiative was launched to close the gap in access to hepatitis testing and prevention, describing Hepatitis B as a “silent epidemic” in Nigeria.

    “Many people are living with hepatitis without knowing it until the liver is badly damaged. Through this programme, over 1,110 people were screened, vaccinated, and guided toward treatment where necessary,” she said.

    According to Akawu, the first phase of the outreach, which began on World Hepatitis Day, July 28, 2025, led to the identification of 31 residents who tested positive for hepatitis and were immediately linked to care and management.

    She explained that the Foundation followed up with a second vaccination exercise on August 27, 2025, reaching over 856 beneficiaries, while the final inoculation held on January 24, 2026, ensured that 715 individuals completed the full Hepatitis B vaccination schedule.

    “The joy on the faces of beneficiaries showed how much this intervention meant to them. Many families embraced the vaccination and even mobilised others to participate,” Akawu said.

    She added that despite logistical and operational challenges, the outreach recorded strong community acceptance and lasting impact.

    Akawu described the Mogadishu Cantonment programme as a comprehensive, phased intervention that moved beneficiaries from awareness and diagnosis to treatment linkage and full vaccination, significantly strengthening hepatitis prevention efforts within the community.

  • Labour, industry workers protest NAFDAC ban on sachet alcohol

    Labour, industry workers protest NAFDAC ban on sachet alcohol

    • ….warn of mass job losses

    Organised labour and workers in the food and beverage sector yesterday staged a protest at the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) office in Isolo, Lagos.

    The demonstration was in response to the Federal Government’s ban on sachet alcohol and other alcoholic beverages packaged below 200 millilitres.

    The protesters, drawn from the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), warned that the policy could lead to widespread factory closures and the loss of millions of jobs across the value chain.

    Speaking at the protest ground, the National President of FOBTOB and Lagos Deputy President of the TUC, Comrade Jimoh Oyibo, said the ban strikes at the heart of the industry’s survival.

    “The bone of contention is the ban on sachet alcohol and any packaging below 200ml. Those pack sizes are what sustain the companies financially. Once you ban them, it is as good as shutting down the entire business,” Oyibo said.

    He recalled that following earlier disagreements over the policy, the matter was escalated to the House of Representatives in 2024, where a stakeholders’ meeting was convened involving NAFDAC, labour unions, manufacturers, the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, the police, and other relevant agencies.

    According to him, the meeting resolved that implementation of the ban should be suspended for one year to allow stakeholders develop a National Alcohol Policy that would address public health concerns without destroying jobs.

    “NAFDAC was asked to hold on and allow one year for all stakeholders to come together to develop a national alcohol policy. Unfortunately, the Director-General of NAFDAC was not comfortable with that arrangement. Even the directive of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to maintain the status quo was ignored,” Oyibo alleged.

    He said instead, NAFDAC approached the Senate, which subsequently asked the agency to proceed with enforcement without hearing the perspective of labour and manufacturers.

    “That is why we are protesting today,” he said, adding that a stakeholders’ meeting scheduled for Wednesday in Abuja would determine whether the protest would continue.

    Also speaking, Comrade Anthony Michael Oyega of the TUC accused NAFDAC of acting unilaterally and disregarding previous agreements reached with stakeholders.

    Oyega said workers were shocked on February 6, 2024, when NAFDAC allegedly moved to shut down factories producing sachet alcohol, citing claims that minors were accessing the products.

    “If there was any agreement, manufacturers, workers, and government should have been part of it. Instead, NAFDAC acted alone. That decision threatens about 5.5 million jobs across the industry,” he said.

    He explained that following sustained protests, the matter was referred to the National Assembly, where all relevant agencies and industry players agreed to allow time for a workable policy that would balance regulation with job protection.

    “What happened to that resolution? Before the policy process was completed, NAFDAC went to the Senate late last year and obtained approval that factories should be shut down,” Oyega said.

    He also accused the agency of flouting the directive of the SGF to maintain the status quo while consultations continued.

    “One worker here represents at least 10 families. One woman here feeds five or six people. You shut down these factories, and you push millions into the labour market. This cannot be the agenda of President Bola Tinubu,” he added.

    Oyega argued that rather than an outright ban, the government should strengthen enforcement mechanisms to prevent underage access to alcohol.

    “If the concern is accessibility to minors, then regulate distribution and sales. Alcohol already carries warnings that it is not for underage consumption. Cigarettes are known to be harmful, yet they are regulated, not banned,” he said.

    He warned that rising unemployment resulting from factory closures could worsen insecurity and social instability.

    “If parents lose their jobs, children drop out of school, and society pays the price through crime and social unrest. We are saying, let us return to the negotiation table,” Oyega said.

    Protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as “Suspend the Sachet Alcohol Ban”, “Save Jobs, Save Livelihoods,” and “Regulation, Not Prohibition.”

    The protesters called on the Federal Government to suspend enforcement of the ban and reconvene stakeholders to finalise a national alcohol policy that protects public health without crippling the industry.

    NAFDAC officials were yet to issue an official response at the time of filing this report.

  • AbdulRazaq has done well in healthcare, says Commissioner

    AbdulRazaq has done well in healthcare, says Commissioner

    Kwara  Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has recorded measurable and  visible achievements in the health sector and other areas, Commissioner for Health Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam said on Monday. 

    In a statement in Ilorin, El-Imam said any contrary ratings are mere political posturing.

    Citing examples, she said the administration has just procured a state-of-the-art 160-slice CT scan and a modern 1.5 Tesla MRI machine, which will soon be commissioned for public use by all Kwarans.

    “In addition, modern abdominal ultrasound machines have been procured and distributed to various health facilities across the state to further strengthen diagnostic capacity,” she added.

    “The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Kwara State University Teaching Hospital (KWASUTH), not previously available or functional in any state facility, has also been completed and fully equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including C-Arm machine, to enhance the care of critically ill patients and support complex medical and surgical procedures. There are a lot more.”

    Reacting to a recent commentary published in a newspaper questioning the availability of MRI services and the broader state of healthcare delivery in the state, El-Imam said it was important that discussions around healthcare services are guided by facts and an objective assessment of ongoing reforms.

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    “At the inception of the present administration, a comprehensive assessment revealed that most inherited health infrastructure and medical equipment were either dilapidated, obsolete, or non-functional. This situation cut across primary and secondary health facilities in the state. The report of the transition committee was as clear as were the several poor indices the administration inherited at the time,” she said.

    “Specifically, the MRI machine previously installed at the Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Centre (HADC) is a low field of 0.35 Tesla, which no longer met current diagnostic standards even then. Such low-Tesla machines are inadequate for modern diagnosis of neurological, oncological, spinal, and complex medico-surgical conditions.”

    Dr El-Imam said the administration acknowledged that the shortage of health personnel, particularly doctors, is a national and global challenge which has impacted negatively on the sector nationwide. 

    “Beyond infrastructure and equipment, the administration recognises that healthcare delivery is important and driven by human resources. It is widely acknowledged that the shortage of health personnel, particularly doctors is a national and global challenge, largely driven by the “Japa” syndrome, a trend that has become more pronounced in recent years. This has resulted in inadequate deployment of the requisite health workforce to many rural and hard-to-reach communities across the country,” Dr El-Imam maintained. 

    On medical and health workers salary structures, the Commissioner noted that Kwara State currently pays the revised CONMESS and CONHESS salary structures, in line with what obtains at the federal level, across all cadres of its health workforce. 

    “In response, massive recruitment of healthcare workers across all cadres—medical officers, specialists, nurses, pharmacists, and house officers was conducted while the recently approved recruitment of 150 nurses – is ongoing,” she said.

    “Regarding specialist training, 41 resident doctors are presently undergoing training in various specialties, supported by the state government through the regular payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF). Notably, Kwara State was the first state in Nigeria to commence payment of the MRTF in 2025, underscoring its leadership in health workforce development.”

    The Commissioner said the Kwara State Government initiated a statewide free medico-surgical outreach programme to deliver specialised healthcare services.

    “These services include medical consultations and treatments, provision of free drugs, eye and general surgeries, and the free distribution of eyeglasses to indigent Kwarans and residents of hard-to-reach communities across all 16 Local Government Areas of the state,” she said.

    “This intervention is designed to complement existing healthcare services while ensuring equitable access to care for all Kwarans. In 2025 alone, 10,374 Kwarans benefitted from the outreach programme.

    “This effort is further reinforced by the aggressive enrollment of residents into the KwaraCare (Health Insurance) programme, which continues to expand access to affordable healthcare. reflecting the administration’s commitment to universal health coverage.”

  • Foundation advocates stronger govt, donor autistic children support, empowerment 

    Foundation advocates stronger govt, donor autistic children support, empowerment 

    The Federal Government, sub-national governments and development partners have been urged to adopt a more strategic and sustained approach to autism in order to promote the growth, development and empowerment of affected children and enable them contribute meaningfully to national development.

    Stanley Effah, President and Trustee of the Ferdinand Effah Music Heritage Foundation (FEMHF), said urgent intervention is required to prevent thousands of children living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) from being trapped in a cycle of neglect, exclusion and wasted potential.

    Effah noted that many autistic children possess exceptional talents and inner strengths, but are often unable to fulfil their potential because their parents are often financially and emotionally overwhelmed.

    He said it was in response to this gap that FEMHF decided to deploy creativity as a strategic advocacy tool, using music, performance and public engagement to drive awareness, acceptance and inclusion of people living with autism across Nigeria.

    According to Effah in a statement on Monday, the Foundation’s innovative approach is anchored on the official launch and release of Ferdy’s Band’s first record label music album, A Voice for Autism, slated for April 2, 2026, which also serves as a prelude to the Harmony for Autism Music Charity Concert scheduled for the same day.

    The initiative, the Foundation said, is part of a wider strategy to position music as a social connector and advocacy engine for families affected by autism.

    According to the Foundation, the album release, the nationwide tour and the World Autism Day celebration on April 2 are designed to converge as a single creative platform to stimulate public attention, drive inclusion and place autism conversations at the centre of national discourse.

    Effah said the 2026 album features three songs in anthemic, jazz and ambient styles, carefully crafted to foster understanding and acceptance for autism.

    The tracks will be further developed in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese, and produced in audio and high-definition music video formats for public entertainment viewing on major music television channels such as MTV, especially if support and sponsorship are readily available to the cause, he said.

    One of the album tracks, True Colors of Autism, is currently being considered by FEMHF for presentation and endorsement as one of the official United Nations’ World Autism Day songs, Effah said, adding that the band is also scheduled to perform live at the inaugural Harmony for Autism Music Charity Concert on April 2, alongside other artistes.

    In the build-up to the global awareness event, he disclosed that Ferdy’s Band plans to embark on a one-month musical tour across the six geo-political regions of Nigeria prior to April 2, 2026.

    The tour will engage autism centres, public institutions, communities and stakeholders, while raising public awareness about the newly released album and the forthcoming charity concert, he said.

    Ferdy’s Band is led by multi-instrumentalist autistic musician Ferdinand Effah, supported by his siblings and non-autistic band members.

    Founded on Ferdinand Effah’s personal experience with ASD, Ferdy’s Band uses music as an advocacy driver, a therapeutic tool and a developmental pathway, FEMHF noted.

    “While the band is logically managed by the Foundation’s principal music therapist, Ferdinand Effah formally leads the group as part of his therapeutic growth and leadership development.

    “Ferdy’s Band is an emerging autism awareness voice that seeks to promote acceptance for autistic people and their families through the vigor of music as a uniting social force, bringing the larger society under one roof with the autism community in Nigeria.

    “It is one of the strategic cardinal advocacy channels of FEMHF and also the first progeny introduced by the Foundation before Autism Voice TV, to facilitate a more impactful awareness and acceptance campaign”, Effah said.

    He disclosed that the band is composed of Ferdinand himself, alongside a group of talented non-autistic individuals committed to creating an enabling, all-inclusive society through music.

    Band leader Ferdinand Effah, who is not often verbally inclined, expressed his journey through music, saying, “Lacking the social and communication skills to interact, mingle, and belong is the horrible world we find ourselves as autistic people.

    “However, with the passion I have developed for music as a source of inspiration to others in such similar circumstance, I am confident of a new world for Autism.

    “This is even though we cannot change the beginning, but as long as we can always shape the future for ourselves by the progressions we can continue to make in each day of our lives as autistic individuals”.

    Sharing their experiences, the band’s music therapist said, “It was a different world from ours. It was also a different approach and mind set dealing with the prospect of bringing out the hidden potential and talent of Ferdinand Effah in music. The cornerstone of it all is patience, commitment, and hard work”.

    The music coach added that having been involved with Ferdinand as an autistic child, he could strongly testify that music helps to develop better social skills and generate confidence in him.

    “While he plays his drum, you see that much confidence; and while he listens to the sound of violin he sits like the noble class,” he said.

    Ferdinand’s siblings, Miriam and Gladys Effah, who are also members of the band, said life with him required constant understanding and adjustment.

    “Being siblings to Ferdinand was not that easy for us. We had to struggle each day at the church, at the school, at every social event, and around the neighborhood to consistently create an atmosphere of friendship that can always accommodate his nature as an autistic person.

    “However, his passion for music and our compassionate involvement have changed the narrative. While he plays his drum, we support with the piano and violin. It is amazing to see how perceptions are beginning to change around him”, they said.

    Effah urged collective action, stressing that even though the majority of people are not affected by autism, they should let their voices count in promoting awareness and acceptance.

    “Our Drumming for autism acceptance and inclusion therefore demands a solemn call on us all as parents, siblings, immediate and extended families, neighbours, friends, employers and society at large to never leave anyone behind based on any form of disability,” the FEMHF president said.