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Category: Health

  • Nigeria in global spotlight as WHO launches traditional medicine advisory group

    Nigeria in global spotlight as WHO launches traditional medicine advisory group

    The World Health Organisation’s decision to launch its first-ever Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (STAG-TM) has resonated far beyond Geneva and New Delhi. For Nigeria, it marks a moment of validation—and opportunity—in a field long practised by millions but historically side-lined by global health governance.

    Announced last week, December 18, the new advisory group is central to implementing the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, an agenda designed to bring scientific rigour, policy coherence and regulatory clarity to a rapidly expanding sector of health care. Traditional medicine, WHO officials acknowledge, is no longer peripheral. It is embedded in cultural identity and increasingly forms the backbone of primary health care systems, particularly in Africa and other parts of the Global South. “This is a pivotal moment for traditional medicine,” said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Systems, Access and Data. “It embodies cultural heritage and national health identities, and increasingly, it constitutes a vital component of primary health care strategies.”

    For Nigeria, the symbolism is especially strong. One of the two newly appointed co-chairs of the advisory group is Prof Martins Emeje, Director-General of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA). His appointment places Nigeria at the centre of global decision-making on how traditional medicine is researched, regulated and integrated into formal health systems. WHO Chief Scientist, Dr Sylvie Briand, explained that the rapid growth of traditional and complementary medicine has not been matched by strong evidence standards or sustainable governance. “The STAG was created to close this gap. It is not an academic exercise, but a formal WHO advisory mechanism providing independent, strategic and scientific guidance,” she said.

    The 19-member advisory group, selected through an open global process, will guide WHO on research priorities, technical standards, integration into national health systems and policy options for Member States. Its inaugural meeting, held in New Delhi on December 17 alongside the second WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit, identified urgent priorities that mirror Nigeria’s long-standing challenges and ambitions: evidence generation, preservation of indigenous knowledge, digital innovation, regulation, and community engagement.

    For decades, Nigeria has grappled with how to harness its vast traditional medicine ecosystem—rich in biodiversity and indigenous knowledge—while addressing concerns around safety, efficacy and standardisation. The elevation of Prof Emeje, a long-time advocate of evidence-based natural medicine and pharmaceutical innovation, signals a shift from informal acceptance to structured global recognition. Beyond symbolism, Emeje said the implications are practical.

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    Emeje said the significance of the WHO’s action lies in the global attention it places on Nigeria, noting that the world is watching, expecting, believing in, and trusting the country to provide leadership on the global discussion table in this critical area. He described the development as further evidence that the WHO is a highly inclusive institution, with demonstrable policies aimed at promoting the health and wellbeing of all people. According to him, the decision has also strengthened his personal resolve to continue serving Nigeria and the global community without expectation of reward. “This action by the WHO further fuels my passion to serve my country and the world selflessly,” he said.

    The NNMDA DG added that traditional medicine should not be framed as a competing or alternative system within Africa’s healthcare landscape. “Traditional medicine is not an alternative to any other form of medicine in Africa—at least for now,” he stated, stressing the need for complementarity, scientific validation and responsible integration into existing health systems.

    As WHO moves to draft the STAG-TM workplan for 2026–2027 and establish thematic sub-groups, Nigeria stands to influence global norms that could shape funding, research collaboration, intellectual property protection and the integration of traditional medicine into universal health coverage frameworks. In a country where millions still rely on herbal and traditional remedies as first-line care, the WHO’s move—and Nigeria’s prominent role within it—suggests that traditional medicine is no longer being asked to justify its existence. Instead, it is being challenged to meet global standards, while finally being given a seat at the table where those standards are set.

  • Medical Lab Guild urges LASG to resolve JOHESU strike

    Medical Lab Guild urges LASG to resolve JOHESU strike

    The Lagos State Chapter of the Guild of Medical Laboratory Directors (GMLD) has called on the Lagos State Government to urgently intervene in the ongoing industrial action by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), warning that continued disruption could endanger the health and lives of residents.

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    In a statement, GMLD Lagos expressed concern that the strike, which has led to the withdrawal of services at critical screening centres, is significantly affecting laboratory testing essential for safe blood transfusions and effective patient care. The Guild highlighted that delays in diagnosis and treatment are becoming increasingly common, placing vulnerable patients at serious risk. The Guild also cautioned that the substantial progress achieved by the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee (LSBTC)—including investments in safe and reliable blood services—could be undermined if the strike continues without resolution. “No resident of Lagos State should suffer preventable illness or loss of life over matters that are ultimately resolvable through dialogue and negotiation,” the Guild said, urging Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to facilitate constructive engagement among all stakeholders. GMLD Lagos reaffirmed its commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen healthcare delivery and safeguard the wellbeing of all Lagosians.

  • Fidson launches N21bn rights issue to boost capacity, expand across Africa

    Fidson launches N21bn rights issue to boost capacity, expand across Africa

    Fidson Healthcare Plc, Nigeria’s leading pharmaceutical manufacturer, has formally launched its highly anticipated Rights Issue, following the receipt of final regulatory approvals from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX). The signing ceremony, held on Friday, December 12, 2025, at the company’s head office in Lagos, marks a major milestone in Fidson’s growth strategy. The Rights Issue is expected to raise up to N21 billion in gross proceeds, providing fresh capital to strengthen production capacity, drive product innovation and accelerate the company’s pan-African expansion plans.

    Under the offer, Fidson is issuing 600 million new ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N35 per share. The shares are being offered to existing shareholders on the basis of one new ordinary share for every four ordinary shares held as of the close of business on November 12, 2025, which serves as the qualification date. The capital raise comes on the back of a strong financial performance that underscores Fidson’s growing dominance in the Nigerian and West African pharmaceutical markets. For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, the company recorded a 132 per cent year-on-year increase in profit after tax to N7.97 billion. Revenue rose by 56 per cent to N93.08 billion, driven by robust demand and wider market reach, while operating profit surged 92 per cent to N16.95 billion, reflecting improved efficiency and cost discipline.

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    Speaking at the event, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Biola Adebayo, described the Rights Issue as a pivotal step in Fidson’s long-term growth journey. “The successful formalisation of this N21 billion Rights Issue marks a critical milestone for Fidson. This capital will cement our position as the foremost healthcare company in Nigeria and a dominant player across Africa,” he said, adding that the company’s recent performance demonstrates its capacity to innovate and deliver sustainable value.

    Finance Director, Mr. Imokha Ayebae, said the offer was deliberately structured to be attractive and accessible to existing investors. He noted that proceeds would be deployed judiciously to optimise operations, upgrade technology and expand product lines, urging eligible shareholders to exercise their rights within the offer period.

    Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer of CardinalStone Partners Limited, the lead issuing house, Mr. Michael Nzewi, highlighted Fidson’s equity market journey. He pointed out that the company’s last capital raise in 2019 was priced at N4.50 per share, compared with the current offer price of N35, which still represents a discount to the prevailing market price. According to him, this reflects the strong growth trajectory of Fidson’s stock and its appeal to long-term investors. Shareholders listed on the register as of the qualification date are advised to complete the official participation form and submit it, along with full payment, to their stockbrokers or designated receiving agents before the closing date. With the Rights Issue, Fidson reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening pharmaceutical manufacturing in Nigeria, creating value for shareholders and advancing innovation across the healthcare value chain.

  • Staying Healthy Through the Festive Rush

    Staying Healthy Through the Festive Rush

    Before the calendar officially declares Christmas, the body already knows. Sleep becomes lighter. Meals become heavier. Roads grow longer. The days stretch, the nights shorten, and suddenly December feels less like a season and more like a race. If you pause for a moment and listen closely, you will hear it—not the carols or the generators, but your body quietly asking for mercy.

    The festive season is meant to be a time of joy, rest, and reconnection. Yet for many Nigerians, it has turned into a marathon of eating, travelling, spending, hosting, and explaining—often all at once. By the time January arrives, the body is usually the first thing to submit a complaint. But here is the truth we rarely say out loud: celebrating does not have to come at the cost of your health. You can enjoy the season fully without paying for it with exhaustion, illness, or regret. Let us start where December begins for most people—at the table.

    Festive eating is rarely planned; it just happens. One plate becomes two. A “small taste” turns into a full serving. Rice waits patiently. Meat appears endlessly. Soft drinks replace water. Alcohol flows as freely as laughter. For a while, the body copes. Then it pushes back—with heartburn, bloating, sluggishness, headaches, and restless sleep. Overeating is not simply about gaining weight. It stresses digestion, spikes blood sugar, strains the heart, and leaves you feeling drained in a season meant for joy. The goal is not to avoid the food you love; it is to slow down while enjoying it. Eat deliberately. Serve smaller portions first. Drink water before meals. Pay attention to fullness. Celebration is not measured by how much you eat but by how well you feel afterwards.

    Alcohol deserves special honesty. In festive Nigeria, refusing a drink can feel like breaking an unwritten rule. Yet December is one of the busiest periods in emergency rooms for alcohol-related problems—accidents, dehydration, heart rhythm disturbances, and liver stress. Alcohol dehydrates the body, disrupts sleep, and lowers judgment. A simple rule helps: for every alcoholic drink, take a glass of water. Decide your limit before the night begins. No celebration is worth waking up to a health scare.

    Now, let us talk about sleep—the most abused resource of the season. Late nights blend into early mornings. Travel plans steal rest. Social obligations stretch bedtime. Sleep deprivation may feel harmless, but it quietly weakens immunity, raises blood pressure, worsens mood, and impairs concentration. If full nights of sleep are unrealistic, protect quality where you can. Short naps help. Reducing screen time before bed helps. Going to bed at roughly the same time—even during festivities—helps more than you think. Sleep is not laziness; it is repair.

    The roads, unfortunately, are where the festive rush turns dangerous. December is Nigeria’s deadliest travel period. Fatigue, impatience, alcohol use, poor road conditions, and overcrowded vehicles collide. Many accidents are caused not by speed but by tiredness. Driving long hours without rest slows reaction time and clouds judgment. If you are travelling, plan breaks. Avoid night journeys when possible. Stay hydrated. And never drive under pressure—no destination is worth not arriving alive.

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    Beyond the physical toll, the festive season also carries emotional weight. Christmas amplifies everything. Happiness becomes louder. Loneliness becomes sharper. Financial worries feel heavier. Family expectations resurface. For those grieving, the season can reopen wounds. For others, the pressure to appear joyful becomes exhausting.

    Here is an important reminder: you are allowed to feel however you feel. Not everyone experiences Christmas as a season of joy, and pretending otherwise takes a real toll on mental health. Anxiety and low mood often increase during this period, even among those who seem fine on the outside. Taking breaks from social events, setting boundaries, and choosing quiet moments are not signs of weakness—they are acts of self-care.

    Movement is another quiet ally many people abandon in December. Sitting becomes the default—at parties, in traffic, at home. Yet gentle movement improves digestion, stabilises blood sugar, lifts mood, and improves sleep. You do not need a gym or a rigid routine. Walk after meals. Stretch in the morning. Dance at events. Movement does not have to look serious to be effective. Hydration, especially during Harmattan, is easily forgotten. Dry air, alcohol, and sugary drinks quietly drain the body of fluids. Dehydration causes headaches, fatigue, constipation, and kidney strain. Water should remain your most loyal companion this season. If you feel thirsty, you are already late.

    For people living with chronic conditions—high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, heart disease—the festive rush demands extra caution. Skipping medications, abandoning routines, or indulging excessively can undo months of careful control. Carry your medicines with you. Monitor your readings. Eat mindfully. Festive freedom should never include medical neglect. One of the healthiest decisions you can make this season is learning when to stop. Not every invitation requires attendance. Not every gathering deserves your energy. Saying “I need to rest” is not selfish—it is intelligent.

    And finally, think about January. Health problems do not magically appear in January; they are often December’s unfinished business. The aim is not to enter the New Year thinner, stricter, or deprived. The aim is to arrive stable—physically, mentally, emotionally. Because the body is not an afterthought to celebration; it is the reason celebration is possible at all. So as you eat, pause. As you travel, rest. As you celebrate, listen—to your body, your limits, and your needs. Offer yourself the same care you extend to guests, family, and friends. This Christmas, may joy not come with exhaustion. May laughter not end in illness. May the season leave you nourished, not depleted. Celebrate meaningfully. Rest deliberately. Care for your body gently. And as the year draws to a close, may this Christmas bring you good health, quiet strength, and renewed hope for the year ahead. Merry Christmas.

  • ‘Zero-dose children drive majority of measles cases in 2025’

    ‘Zero-dose children drive majority of measles cases in 2025’

    Nigeria is grappling with a persistent measles challenge in 2025, as more than 77 per cent of confirmed cases involved children who had not received even a single dose of the measles vaccine, according to the latest report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). In its Measles Situation Report for November 2025, the agency revealed that of the 19,213 confirmed measles cases reported between January and November, approximately 14,801 were “zero-dose” children—those who had never received routine immunisation against the disease.

    The report highlights that children aged 9 to 59 months accounted for nearly half (48.9 per cent) of all confirmed cases, underscoring persistent gaps in Nigeria’s routine immunisation coverage and the urgent need to reach vulnerable populations. Between January and November, the NCDC noted that 26,866 suspected measles cases were recorded nationwide, resulting in 153 deaths, which corresponds to a case fatality rate of 0.8 per cent. While the figure may appear modest, each death is a stark reminder of the disease’s preventable nature.

    The burden of measles, the NCDC observed, continues to fall disproportionately on the northern states, which together accounted for more than 80 per cent of confirmed cases. Borno, Zamfara, Yobe, Bauchi, and Kebbi were among the states reporting the highest numbers, reflecting long-standing challenges in healthcare access, routine immunisation, and disease surveillance in the region. “In November 2025 alone, 71 suspected cases were reported across 20 states, with only one confirmed case and no deaths,” the report said, signalling progress in outbreak containment. The agency added that 187 local government areas (LGAs) across 27 states had ended their measles outbreaks by the end of November, while only Eti-Osa in Lagos State had an ongoing outbreak, albeit with no new cases reported during the month.

    Despite these successes, the NCDC cautioned that surveillance challenges remain, particularly low blood specimen collection rates, which can delay outbreak detection and response. The agency emphasised that measles is highly contagious but entirely preventable through vaccination, urging parents and caregivers to ensure that all eligible children receive full immunisation according to national schedules. Measles, caused by a virus primarily affecting unvaccinated children, spreads through coughing, sneezing, and close contact. Symptoms include fever, cough, and rash, and while many children recover, the disease can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, and death, particularly in malnourished or immunocompromised children.

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    Health experts warn that zero-dose children—those who have never received routine vaccines—remain the most vulnerable, not only to contracting measles but also to contributing to its rapid spread within communities. “Every unvaccinated child represents a gap in our collective immunity,” an NCDC spokesperson said, highlighting the need for targeted immunisation campaigns in underserved communities. The report also reflects wider efforts by the NCDC and partner agencies to strengthen routine immunisation and improve outbreak response. Vaccination campaigns, especially in the northern states, have been intensified, with mobile clinics, community engagement, and outreach to hard-to-reach areas forming key strategies.

    Experts emphasise that measles prevention requires more than one-off interventions. While outbreak response vaccination is important, sustained routine immunisation is critical. Children who receive all recommended doses of the measles vaccine are highly protected, creating herd immunity that prevents outbreaks from spreading unchecked. The NCDC’s November report serves as both a warning and a reminder: despite progress in containing outbreaks, large numbers of unvaccinated children continue to fuel the spread of measles in Nigeria. Strengthening surveillance, expanding vaccination coverage, and engaging communities remain essential to reducing preventable illness and death.

    For parents and caregivers, the message is clear: ensure children receive all recommended vaccines, and report any suspected cases promptly to healthcare authorities. Measles may be highly contagious, but with timely vaccination and vigilant public health measures, it remains entirely preventable. As Nigeria approaches the end of 2025, the challenge remains not just to contain outbreaks but to close the immunisation gap that leaves thousands of children at risk. For the country’s youngest and most vulnerable, timely vaccination is not just protection—it is a lifeline.

  • 2025 Christmas, a simple yet stupefying Jesus story (1)

    2025 Christmas, a simple yet stupefying Jesus story (1)

    Silent Night, Holy Night!. Like drunken or blindfolded persons, we stand again before indelible memories of a great Mission of Divinity to the earth in the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, in a Bethlehem manger. I shudder, however, at the thought that THE DARKNESS, until it is finally vanquished, will never permit mankind to find THE LIGHT through memories. That was why I said that like drunkards or blind persons, we may never understand the Mission or profit from it. Evidence of this assumption are the gloom, sorrow, confusion in social, political, economic and cultural systems, debauchery, conceit, cunning, hatred, wars, pestilence and wide spread disease, ignorance and poverty more than 2000 years after the Jesus Mission brought spiritual education to mankind about how, through Love, they may make the earth a paradise after their home in the Spirit World.

    Also, I say mankind appear drunken or blindfolded today, 25 December 2025, another Christmas day, because many persons either believe that the Jesus salvation story is a fairy tale or are mere believers out of habit. You only need to live in Lagos and be a regular radio listener from about 4 am to 8 am and sometimes after midnight to appreciate the gold mine that the Jesus salvation story has become in the hands of several self-annointed prophets. Today’s Christmas is a special one in the history of Christmas in Nigeria, or anywhere on earth. Many new generation churches are falling upon themselves to outdo one another in competition to make money out of the biblical story of THE FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND. Every competing prophet has stocked no fewer than 5,000 rice handbags. A rice handbag is enough rice to fill a bag which can be hand held. I have not cited one. However, from the image they paint of it, it should be something to fill a 10kg sack. The prophets say the first 5000 worshippers to arrive on the praying ground they have chosen for a CONVENANT CHRISTMAS event would each be given a SANCTIFIED bag strictly on the basis of “ first come first serve”. The “lucky” worshippers will take their gift home and share them with no one. For as long as these packs of rice are in their homes, they would not be in want of food throughout 2026. There would be a convenant with Christmas 2025, though. That convenant is that each person will pay to the church N5,000 in expression of gratitude for the forthcoming blessing of their creator, the memory of Whose Son’s Mission of Salvation to the earth they had gathered to observe.

    Can this be true Christianity?, . There are too many blemishes than can be mentioned here in the Jesus story taught by these churches. I will cite only a few. When a prophet says he spoke to the Creator and the Creator gave him power to loosen all bonds which debar congregants from material prosperity, I wonder which creator he talks about. Can any man hear the voice of the Creator and not dissolve into nothingness? Do men not flee from lightening and thunder? Did the Three Wise Men not fall on their faces when they beheld even the Heavenly Host who cannot behold God without evaporating? Did Peter, James and John, the three Disciples closest to the Lord Jesus, not fall on their faces at the transfiguration of the Son of God in earthly cloak? What did the appearance of Moses and Elijah with Jesus teach those disciples and the prophets of today? Does the church not teach that departed persons and their earthly remains stay in their graves until JUDGEMENT DAY when bone and flesh and blood and nerves, all rotten, would reassemble for a rapture or destruction? Did Jesus teach us so? Did he not say He would resurrect on the third day of his demise, and that whatever He could do, we, too, were capable of, if we had faith? Did he not teach us that Abraham and Lazarus were already in heaven to show us we, too, could go there after stepping out of the flesh body? Moses and Elijah were long departed before the transfiguration. Did their appearance not suggest that they came from their new abode as members of the Jesus Mission to the Earth? I do not wish to address, fullscore, the question of REINCARNATION which Jesus mentioned tangentially when he informed his disciples that Elijah had returned, but men had done with him what they did. Out of a sense of responsibility, I would say here that the reincarnated Elijah was not John the Baptist. Anyone who carefully reads the Biblical reference should easily recognise from the text that this was the personal opinion of the reporter, one of the Disciples. It was his own understanding of the statement of Jesus which the Lord did not expantiate.

    The second reference I would like to make in respect of today’s Nigerian Christian approaching the Jesus story like a drunken or blindfolded person has to do with the notion that God is the servant of man. First, many Yoruba Christian songs and statements refer to him in the first person singular, whereas we address our parents, elders, bosses and anyone senior to us in the second person plural (eyin d:r), (iwo d:r). We also tend to assume that he is an ARBITRARY GOD. The prophets promised us blessings from him that we may not deserve, making us to easily forget that the Lord Jesus taught us about infallible and adamantine mechanisms of THE LAW OF SOWING AND REAPING, one of The Laws of Nature which uphold His Holy Will. To worsen matters, the prophets make us believe God is our errand boy. That is why we ask Him to follow us everywhere, to destroy our enemies as if they are not, like us, His creatures and that there was nothing we did to make them become our enemies. Where is the law that whatever a man sows, he shall abundantly reap?

    Another misnomer in today’s Christianity is that some of us believe we have the potential to BLESS God Who is Blessing! We own nothing, not even our existence which is owned by God, LIFE, Who does not need anything, any creature, Angel, man or beast to be God. Out of spiritual poverty, we always say in church or at prayer gatherings that “I bless you”, “I bless you”, waving the right hand, eyes closed or opened.

    Another misnomer is PRAYER. We do not realise that prayer is what we do with our thoughts, the spoken word and our deeds. Thus, we are what we think, say or do, nothing more.The Lord Jesus taught a simple prayer…OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN. It is all about acknowledging the supremacy of the Creator and submission of self to him. We were also taught that our prayers should be thanksgiving, short on words, humble and not petitions. Nowadays, christians carry on as if their Creator is deaf or is hard of hearing. Hours or a whole night are devoted to praying, in the belief that the longer the prayer and the noisier the shouting, the more easily will the prayer be heard. It is little known that words are only channels through which a prayer is packaged and that those words are not the content. The content, which is the power of the prayer, is the deep inner feeling in joy or sorrow which gains connection with the POWER OF GOD in Creation. Bereft of deep inner feelings, that is serious movement or stirring of the spirit, the word channels are empty. Understandably, this is why prayers appear not to be heard because they hardly gain connection with the Power of God and cannot rise to the footstool of His throne. Our prayers are nothing but pure begging and begging and begging. Yet, we do not need to beg for anything if we stand aright. The Lord taught us to seek first the spiritual kingdom and that, if we do, everything we need will automatically come to us. To seek the spiritual kingdom, we must know about THE WILL of our Creator and unconditionally fufil It. He makes HIS WILL abundantly known to us everyday, every moment, through our encounters with THE LAWS OF NATURE because they uphold this Will. The Lord taught us about the Law of sowing and reaping. We know about The Law of Motion. Anything, anyone, that is not in perpetual motion will perish. That is why the solar systems and the universe are in motion. Any person, any people who is not will retrogress, wither and perish. Compare our society with other societies where, through inventiveness, the spirit is in motion. Haven’t we even in our understanding of what we are, where we came from and what we are here for not retrogressed and perishing? Wasn’t that why THE JESUS DIVINE MISSION TO THE EARTH was undertaken? It takes REVEALED KNOWLEDGE which is on the face of the Earth today, to remind us of how far we have fallen as the archangels Who guided” the seven churches of Asia” were informed in the book of revealations. Asia is the spiritual name for the worlds which lie below the spiritual realms. Spiritually speaking, according to revealed knowledge, THE SEVEN CHURCHES correspond to the seven universes over each of which an archangel presided. The judgement that was to come to our universe, Ephesus, was revealed to John The Baptist.

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    At the risk of being considered a fantast, I would continue. Before I come to the JESUS STORY, I will like to make one more comment. The prophet speaks in tongues to bamboozie the congregation. He does not understand what happened to the Disciples on the day of Pentecost or that the event was not a one- time occurrence but what has happened on a particular day throughout the Universe before the Lord came to the earth and has continued to happen till this day. For Pentecost is the outpouring of power by the Holy Spirit into Creation. The outpouring takes place in the highest Temple in the primordial spiritual world, which is far above the spiritual realms, the last Outpost of which is our home, paradise. This is telling us that the Holy Spirit created the Universes, maintains them and will judge them all, each one at his own time. John the Baptist, on the way to his own home in the fifth primordial spiritual realm was privileged in the seventh primordial spiritual realm in a location called PATMOS to behold events which were soon to happen in our own universe, the spiritual name of which is EPHESUS. It was this vision that he passed on to a person on Earth who was competent to receive it that we now call THE BOOK OF THE REVEALATIONS OF JOHN.

    On the day of Pentecost, power streams down from the Holy Spirit into the worlds to maintain them. Every creature who is spiritually open for it can receive of this power in the measure of the receptivity. The outpouring is like the power of the heart beat which drives blood circulation round the body to maintain it. Only humans drunken in spiritual ignorance and blindfolded as such neglectfully lay their spirits before tongue- speaking prophets who are no better than spiritual highway men.

    The Jesus story

    We learned: “In the beginning was THE WORD, THE WORD was with GOD and THE WORD was GOD”. I believe THE WORD is THE LAW and THE JUSTICE OF GOD. I believe, also, that THE BEGINNING is that of CREATION and not of the existence of Almighty God. Creation is the World of spirits. Our Universe and the earth developed after the image of creation. It is a place where we, the lowest of spirits are to develop and mature before we can return to our home, paradise, the lowest of the 14 realms of the Spirit world. THE WORD brought Creation into being when GOD decreed “ let there be light”. THE LAW is the HOLY SPIRIT, the Creative Will of God, Whose Spirit hovered over the land in the spiritual realms. Through Revealed Knowledge on the face of the Earth today, it is apparent that Christianity has failed to distinguish between THE HOLY SPIRIT Who, like JESUS is personal. We hold on to the personal Jesus and ascribe everything to Him because He is the only member of the Trinity humanity has seen and experienced in blood and flesh. However, the Yorubas of South Western Nigeria are more insightful when they say ESAN KO GBO O o GUN; ESAN L’ AKOBI OLODUMARE”. This means…JUSTICE has no remedy; JUSTICE is the first born of The Almighty God. They recognised the HOLY SPIRIT, but did not as yet recognise JESUS because he did not live and work among them. Colonisation was to bring to them, in the Evangelical mission, knowledge of this other Personality of the TRINITY OF GOD.

    In my view, the Lord Jesus taught that the justice of God was THE COMFORTER Who was coming to reprove the world of sin and to proclaim the judgement. He also called this personality THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH. To clarify for us that The Spirit of Truth or the Comforter was not “ the rushing of wind” which was experienced by the disciples, The Lord described him IN THE SECOND PERSON PRONOUN…” WHEN HE THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH IS COME, HE WOULD REPROVE THE WORLD OF SIN AND PROCLAIM THE JUDGEMENT”.

    Unmistakeably, the spirit of Truth is the HOLY SPIRIT, THE LAW, The Justice of God. Revealation 1:4-6 describes Him as “ which was, which is and which is to come” and speaks as well of The Lord Jesus, “ the first begotten of the dead”. I take that to mean the first son to live among spiritually dead humanity.

    To not waste time, the Trinity of God is purity, justice and love. Purity is Holiness. God alone is Holy. The Holy Spirit, still not well understood in Christianity, is THE WORD, THE JUSTICE and THE LAW. By him and through him God created everything, including humanity and our world. He maintains us and our world and will judge us according to The Word, the Law when the time is ripe.

    When it was seen from above our world that the time was ripening, that we were not maturing well, and that we were going to be lost in the harvest, the pleas of a few ones rose to the Throne of Mercy and, because the struggling ones would not be abandoned, even if it be a single soul, a mission of love was assembled for the redemption and salvation of anyone of us who longs for it. This is the Mission of Jesus to the earth.

    The Lord did not come from paradise or higher spheres in the spiritual realms, nor did he come from the substantiate Divine Realms, Abode of the Angels and Archangels. He came from unsubstantiate Divinity, the Abode of the Almighty God and the Holy Spirit, The Word, the Law, his Justice and creative spirit. ‘ From revealed knowledge’ which describes event from Above downwards whereas mankind investigates from below with limited vision and understanding, groping all the time, we now have a few glimpses through Grace of what lies beyond our origin, paradise. One of such glimpses is that surging flames, like oceans of fire spanning immeasurable distances by human estimation, seperate the abode of Angels from unsubstantiate Divinity.

    It was from here that the Lord Jesus as an integral part of the Love of God was sent to the earth by the Almighty Father. The judgement was coming, and it could not be annuled. For THE LAW, DIVINE JUSTICE never changes, Being of God and perfect like Him from eternity into eternity.

    Archangel Lucifer who led human spirits to the earth had cut them off from their home, paradise, and the Creative Will of God, The Holy Spirit, THE LAW and THE JUSTICE OF GOD. Darkness engulfed the ethereal prototype of the earth. Thus, the earth became denser and was sinking down towards the depths under THE LAW OF GRAVITY. Light on Earth would make it ascend again towards the Light, God. Darkened, it became denser, so more impervious that it now takes much longer time for volition or plans to become deed. Sinking further, the earth would be sucked down by gravitational forces of a FUNNEL OF DISINTEGRATION, which would swallow it. In the belly of this funnel, the earth would be pulverised into its primeval or primordial constituents of dust, fire, water and air. The human inhabitants would lose their ego consciousness and revert to their pre-conscious status of unconscious spirit seed grains which is equivalent to effacement from THE BOOK OF LIFE. That was what the Lord Jesus came to the earth to help us avert. After the judgement, the Elemental beings would reconfigure the primeval components of the earth into a new planet.

    • Note: This column is written in two parts, but only the first part is published in The Nation newspaper. The second part will appear beneath the first part on Facebook at John Olufemi Kusa.
  • Nigeria scores global first as WHO names Emeje co-chair on traditional medicine governance

    Nigeria scores global first as WHO names Emeje co-chair on traditional medicine governance

    Nigeria has reached a significant global milestone in the governance of natural medicine, following the appointment of the Director General of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), Professor Martins Emeje, as Co-Chair of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) newly established Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine.

    The appointment places Emeje at the centre of the WHO’s efforts to strengthen health systems worldwide through evidence-based traditional and integrative medicine, under its Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025.

    Emeje was named Co-Chair alongside Dr Susan Wieland, Director at Cochrane Complementary Medicine, following the formal unveiling of the 19-member advisory group by the WHO. 

    The group is expected to provide high-level technical and strategic guidance on policy frameworks, research priorities, standards, and best practices for the safe and effective integration of traditional medicine into national health systems.

    Announcing the creation of the group, the WHO described it as “a decisive step in applying a scientific response to traditional medicine,” noting that the rapid global expansion of traditional and complementary medicine had outpaced the development of strong evidence, standards, and regulatory systems.

    At the inaugural meeting of the advisory group, held alongside the Second WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit in New Delhi, India, the organisation’s Assistant Director General for Health Systems, Access and Data, Dr Yukiko Nakatani, said the moment marked a turning point for traditional medicine globally.

    “This is a pivotal moment for traditional medicine as it embodies cultural heritage, national health identities, and a vital component of policy healthcare strategies,” Nakatani said.

    She noted that the advisory group would help the WHO and its member states move from fragmented approaches to a more coordinated, science-driven framework that recognises both the cultural relevance and public health potential of traditional medicine.

    The WHO’s Chief Scientist, Dr Sylvie Briand, underscored the urgency of the initiative, warning that the sector’s rapid growth had not been matched by appropriate safeguards.

    “The situation whereby the rapid growth of traditional medicine has not been matched by strong evidence, standards, regulatory frameworks, or sustainable governance underscores the urgency of this initiative,” Briand said.

    Emeje’s appointment is widely seen as a recognition of Nigeria’s expanding role in research, innovation, and regulation of natural medicines. 

    As Director General of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency, he has led efforts to promote the scientific validation, regulation, and commercialisation of natural medicine products, while pushing for stronger quality assurance and evidence-based practice in the sector.

    His emergence as Co-Chair of the WHO advisory group signals growing confidence in Nigeria’s institutional capacity to contribute meaningfully to global health policy discussions, particularly in areas where traditional knowledge intersects with modern science.

    The Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine is expected to advise the WHO on integrating traditional medicine into national health systems without compromising safety, efficacy, and quality. 

    Its work will include guidance on research methodologies, regulatory standards, innovation pathways, and governance models that align traditional practices with contemporary public health goals.

    According to the WHO, the establishment of the group is a core component of its Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025, which seeks to harness the benefits of traditional medicine while addressing long-standing concerns around unverified claims, inconsistent standards, and weak oversight.

    Observers say Emeje’s role as Co-Chair positions Nigeria to influence global conversations on how traditional medicine can be responsibly integrated into healthcare delivery, especially in low and middle-income countries where such practices remain a primary source of care for millions of people.

    The appointment also reinforces calls for African countries to move beyond informal use of traditional medicine towards structured systems backed by research, regulation, and innovation.

    With the advisory group now formally inaugurated, expectations are high that its work will help bridge the gap between cultural heritage and scientific validation, ensuring that traditional medicine contributes meaningfully to universal health coverage and sustainable health systems worldwide.

  • National Orthopedic Hospital retires head of corporate affairs, Onotsojah-Ogedengbe

    National Orthopedic Hospital retires head of corporate affairs, Onotsojah-Ogedengbe

    The National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos (NOHIL), has formally retired Mrs. Roseline Oyibo Onotsojah-Ogedengbe, marking the end of nearly 30 years of exemplary service in healthcare administration.

    Mrs. Onotsojah-Ogedengbe, who served as Director of Administration and Secretary to the Board and headed the hospital’s Corporate Affairs Unit, overseeing Public Relations, Legal, and Security, was honoured at a pull-out ceremony on Monday.

    Describing the moment as emotional and fulfilling, the retired administrator highlighted the importance of motivation and welfare in public service. 

    “If public servants are well remunerated and their welfare prioritised, the government can truly boast of a qualified, efficient, and dedicated workforce. Every employee wants fulfilment while contributing to government goals. When that balance exists, efficiency and effectiveness follow,” she said.

    Reflecting on her career at NOHIL, Mrs. Onotsojah-Ogedengbe credited teamwork, trust, and institutional support for her success. “I was motivated, trusted, and allowed to give my best. When an employee is motivated, the sky is the limit,” she noted. She also urged younger colleagues to remain diligent, advising, “Be extraordinary. Excellence is what sets you apart.”

    Born in the 1960s in Agbarha-Otor, Delta State, and raised in Igbara-Oke, Ondo State, Mrs. Onotsojah-Ogedengbe earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education (Second Class Upper) from the University of Port Harcourt in 1990, a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Ilorin in 1993, and an MSc in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management from Olabisi Onabanjo University in 2013. She is currently pursuing an MPhil/PhD in Human Resource Management at Babcock University.

    Her professional affiliations include Associate Membership of the Institute of Health Service Administrators of Nigeria and Fellowship of the Institute of Strategic Human Capital Development of Nigeria.

    During her tenure at NOHIL, she rose from Senior Administrative Officer to Deputy Director and ultimately Director of Administration. As head of Corporate Affairs, she strengthened the hospital’s public image, coordinated media and communication strategies, managed events, and fostered partnerships with philanthropists and NGOs. Her portfolio also included staff welfare, training, industrial relations, insurance, and security management.

    Earlier in her career, she introduced innovations such as an online admission system for the hospital’s training schools and a database management system, while overseeing capital projects, recruitment, pensions, and promotions.

    In recognition of her contributions, she received an Award of Commendation for Hard Work in 2013 and participated in numerous national workshops on leadership, labour relations, and health sector financing. Colleagues hailed her as a mentor and role model, particularly for women in public administration.

  • NADDC backs Made-in-Nigeria motorsport cars at Lagos AutoFest 2025

    NADDC backs Made-in-Nigeria motorsport cars at Lagos AutoFest 2025

    The Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr. Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, has thrown his weight behind locally manufactured motorsport cars showcased at the just-concluded Lagos AutoFest 2025, describing the initiative as a boost to Nigeria’s automotive industry and job creation drive.

    The three race cars – WP1, WP2 and WP3 – displayed at the event carried NADDC stickers and thrilled spectators with high-speed performances. Designed and assembled in Nigeria, the vehicles drew wide attention for their Formula One-style racing display.

    Lagos AutoFest 2025, a flagship automotive and entertainment event organised by Work and Play Promotions in collaboration with the BMW Club of Nigeria, transformed the Marina waterfront on Lagos Island into a motorsport arena. 

    The festival brought together over 100 car and bike enthusiasts and attracted thousands of spectators.

    The event featured drag racing along Marina Road, Kakawa Street, Broad Street and Apongbon, looping back to Inner Marina, marking the seventh road edition of AutoFest.

    Speaking on the sidelines, producer and promoter of Work and Play Motorsport, Mr. Adeoye Ojuoko, said the initiative was designed to promote Made-in-Nigeria vehicles and grow a sustainable motorsport culture.

    “We have been producing motorsport cars since 2017. These cars are manufactured in Nigeria, with only the engines imported. Our goal is to showcase Nigerian engineering capacity, test what we build, and create employment through motorsport,” Ojuoko said.

    He noted that local production significantly cuts costs and retains value within the Nigerian economy.

    “If we import a Formula-style race car, it costs millions. Producing this locally costs about ₦20 million. That money stays in Nigeria, supports our factories and creates jobs,” he said.

    Ojuoko urged NADDC to formally certify the vehicles and support efforts to scale production nationwide.

    “We need NADDC to certify and promote these cars so they can be replicated across the country. To grow the automotive industry, we must build locally, test locally and race locally,” he added.

    He also called for the establishment of an automotive and motorsport hub to enable more Nigerians to design, build and test race cars.

    According to him, support from government institutions has been critical to the project’s growth.

    “The backing we’ve received from the Lagos State Government and NADDC has been a game-changer. It’s not just symbolic; it is driving real growth. Today, we are fabricating race cars locally, something that seemed impossible a few years ago,” Ojuoko said.

    AutoFest 2025 combined motorsport with culture and entertainment, featuring Made-in-Nigeria race cars, supercar and superbike displays, cultural showcases celebrating Lagos and Nigerian heritage, and live music performances.

    The event enjoyed support from several government agencies, including the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, LASTMA, LASEMA, LAWMA, the Nigeria Police and the Fire Service.

    In addition to motorsport displays, auto dealership Coscharis Motors showcased a range of vehicles, including the Ford Explorer, Range Rover, BMW X3, Geely StarRay, Renault Koleos and Grenadier.

    Organisers described AutoFest as a growing platform for automotive innovation, youth engagement and investment in Nigeria’s auto sector.

    Buoyed by the success of this year’s edition, the BMW Club of Nigeria and Work and Play Nigeria announced December 20, 2026, as the date for the next Lagos AutoFest, reaffirming their commitment to positioning Nigeria on the global motorsport map.

  • FG moves to regulate online pharmacy services

    FG moves to regulate online pharmacy services

    The Federal Government, alongside other stakeholders in the health sector on Monday in Abuja inaugurated the National Electronic Pharmacy Policy (NEPP) and Strategic Implementation Plan to further  transform the health sector.

    Speaking during the event, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, said the policy would regulate production, sales of pharmaceuticals, and allow Nigerians access to quality-assured medicines.

    Represented by Olubumi Aribeana, the Director, Food and Drug Services, at the ministry, Pate said it was geared towards modernising the healthcare delivery, and allow Nigerians access to affordable medicine, no matter where they live.

    According to the minister, though the rise of digital platforms has transformed nearly every sector of the nation’s economy, the pharmaceutical space has remained largely fragmented with limited oversight of online medicine sales.

    He said that the free hand access in the pharmaceutical sector had created dangerous gaps, where substandard and falsified medicines, unlicensed vendors, and misinformation thrived.

    “Today marks a bold step forward in our collective mission to modernise healthcare delivery and ensure that every Nigerian has access to safe, affordable, and quality-assured medicines—no matter where they live.

    “The NEPP is our strategic response. It provides a clear, enforceable framework for the regulation of electronic pharmacy services in Nigeria. It ensures that innovation does not come at the expense of safety.

    “With this policy, we are setting the foundation for a nationally coordinated e-pharmacy ecosystem that is transparent, secure, and patient-centred.

    “It establishes licensing and accreditation standards for digital pharmacy platforms, enables real-time monitoring and traceability of pharmaceutical products, improves access to essential medicines—especially in underserved and remote communities,” he said.

    Pate said that the platform would promote greater accountability for all actors in the pharmaceutical value chain, adding that the policy is a product of extensive collaboration.

    “I want to thank the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), NAFDAC, digital enablers—the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)

    “I also want to thank the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for their critical role in shaping the digital governance, data protection, and infrastructure frameworks that underpin this policy,” he said

    The Registrar/CEO, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), Ibrahim-Babashehu Ahmed said the policy would provide strategic direction for regulation especially for PCN being the implementing agency.

    “We have developed the regulation to guide this particular endeavor. The regulation was approved by the Coordinating Minister of Health and endorsed by Minister of Justice,” he said.

    According to him, PCN is confidence that there will not be any challenge in the implementation of the policy.

    Munir Elelu, the Director and team lead for the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Foundation, lauded the project, describing it as good innovation for Nigeria.

    He said that the project would be cut across for primary healthcare centres services, family planning services, at communities and underserved entities in the country.

    Mr David Adeyemi, CEO/Founder, Pharmachain Technologies, who was part of the team that drafted the policy, commended the effort of the team in producing the policy.

    He identified lack of implementation as a major setback to most policies in Nigeria, but assuring that the NEPP would not different.

    (NAN)