The Nation Newspaper

Category: Health

  • LASAMBUS: Overcoming limitations to fulfil life-saving mission

    LASAMBUS: Overcoming limitations to fulfil life-saving mission

    When an accident happens on any of the chaotic roads in Lagos, every second counts. But for many residents, getting emergency medical help can feel like a gamble. While there are lifesaving interventions by the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), others share frustrating stories of delayed calls. Is LASAMBUS still delivering on its mission? CHINYERE OKOROAFOR reports on its successes, struggles and the urgent need for a stronger emergency response system in the state.

    On a humid evening in Lagos, Adeolu Alade was driving home from work when he witnessed a horrific accident along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway. A commercial bus had rammed into a stationary truck, leaving passengers trapped and bleeding.

    In a panic, Adeolu dialed 112, the Lagos emergency line, hoping for a swift response from the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS).

    “I kept hearing music playing while waiting for an operator,” he recalled. “Minutes felt like hours before someone finally picked up.” By the time an ambulance arrived, bystanders had already driven some victims to a nearby hospital on motorcycles. Others were left helpless, waiting for medical attention that came somewhat late.

    Role of emergency medical services in a fast-growing Lagos

     Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub is one of the fastest-growing cities in Africa, with a population exceeding 20 million people and increasing daily due to urban migration.

    The city’s rapid expansion has led to higher traffic congestion, increased road accidents and a greater demand for emergency medical services (EMS).

    According to data from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos records thousands of road traffic accidents annually, with many victims requiring urgent medical attention.

    To address this growing need, LASAMBUS was established in 2001 to provide free emergency medical response across the state.

    The service was designed to ensure that accident victims and critically ill patients receive immediate care before reaching a hospital, significantly improving survival rates.

    Studies show that victims of Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) without pre-hospital care are 5.5 times more likely to die than those who receive swift medical intervention.

    However, LASAMBUS has faced several challenges over the years, including delays due to traffic congestion, poor road access and prank calls.

    A major setback occurred during the #EndSARS protests in 2020, when several ambulance points were vandalised, disrupting emergency response operations. Although the five locations such as the Tollgate and the Third Mainland Bridge, among others, have been restored with new ambulance vehicles, there are concerns over the visibility, response time and efficiency of LASAMBUS. Residents say they no longer see the emergency vehicles stationed at their usual locations.

    Many worry that the service may not be fulfilling its purpose

    One commuter who passes through Lagos Tollgate daily noted that he had not seen an ambulance there for a while.

    According to the commuter, if the emergency toll line doesn’t connect, it would be helpful to have someone available at the designated ambulance points to report emergencies in person.

    Recalling an incident, he explained that while driving from Mowe to Maryland, he witnessed an accident near Isheri and repeatedly tried calling the emergency toll line but couldn’t get through.

    Since he was heading toward the toll gate, he assumed he would find someone there to report the accident.

    However, when he arrived, he saw no ambulance personnel—only two LASTMA officials. He reported the situation to them and continued his journey.

    Data from a study titled “Lagos State Ambulance Service: A Performance Evaluation” highlighted these mixed realities.

    Between December 2017 and May 2018, LASAMBUS received 1,352 road traffic accident (RTA) calls, but only 37.1% were attended to. Factors such as traffic congestion (60%), poor access (17.8%) and prank calls contributed to delays.

    When The Nation visited five key ambulance points—Lagos Tollgate (Lagos-Ibadan Expressway), Mile 12 (Kosofe LGA), Third Mainland Bridge, Anthony (along Oshodi-Oke Expressway), and Mobil (Lekki-Epe Expressway in Eti-Osa LGA)—there was no ambulance in sight.

    However, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials at these locations confirmed that LASAMBUS is still active.

    One official at the Lagos Tollgate explained that the ambulance had just left to respond to an emergency.

    Similarly, a female officer at the Anthony point confirmed that the ambulance had been dispatched to Oshodi for an emergency and was later called to handle an accident in Bariga.

    The officer emphasised that while ambulances may not always be parked at designated spots, they are constantly on the move responding to distress calls.

    Some residents also complained about delays when calling emergency numbers 767 or 112, saying the lines play music for a long time before a call centre agent responds.

    As the city continues to grow, experts argue that more ambulances, better coordination, and increased public awareness are essential to strengthening emergency response systems in Lagos.

    A public health specialist, Dr. Ifeoma Onyeoma explained that having more ambulances will reduce delays, especially in a busy city such as Lagos.

    She also stressed the importance of a well-organised system where emergency teams can communicate quickly and reach accident scenes faster.

    “Many people don’t know how to call for help during emergencies. Public awareness campaigns will help residents understand how to contact LASAMBUS and what to do while waiting for help,” she said.

    Despite these challenges, the Director of Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Mrs. Beatrice Makinde insists that LASAMBUS remains fully operational, ensuring swift medical assistance across the state.

    Read Also: Whither Nigeria in the fight against postpartum hemorrhage?

    In a chat with The Nation, Makinde explained that the ambulances are always on the move, responding to emergency calls.

    She said this is why people may not often see them parked at their usual spots.

    “We receive over 200 emergency calls daily, ranging from road traffic accidents to medical emergencies and building collapses. Our ambulances are always on the move,” the official said.

    According to Makinde, the ambulance service operates from five base stations strategically located across Lagos, including Badagry, Lagos Island, Ikeja and Ikorodu to ensure quick response to emergencies.

    She acknowledged that some ambulance points were vandalised during the #EndSARS protests but have since been renovated and reinstated at key locations, including the Tollgate, Third Mainland Bridge, and the rest.

    “When there is an emergency call, it is routed through our Command and Control Centre, which then directs the nearest available ambulance to the location. Our teams stabilise patients at the scene before transporting them to the appropriate hospitals,” she said.

    Makinde further explained that some Lagos residents call the emergency numbers just to test if they are working. When the call is answered, they simply say, “Oh, sorry, we just wanted to check if the number still works.”

    She reassured residents that the emergency numbers work efficiently, even as she urged people to avoid prank calls, as they could delay help for those in real emergencies. LASAMBUS provides free emergency medical assistance, ensuring swift response to critical situations.

    Its services include on-site stabilisation, such as suturing and infusion therapy, to keep patients stable before hospital transport.

    Depending on the severity of the case, the service director said patients are taken to specialised hospitals, trauma centres for fractures and severe injuries, while neurological cases are referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

    The service plays a crucial role in handling collapsed buildings, road accidents and other medical emergencies, ensuring timely intervention and life-saving care.

    Beyond emergencies, Makinde said the ambulance service also supports large gatherings, as Lagos State mandates the presence of an ambulance at events with over 100 attendants.

    Event organisers must request an ambulance at least two weeks in advance through the Ministry of Health, reinforcing the government’s commitment to public safety.

    Residents can request an ambulance by calling 767 or 112, which routes calls through the Lagos State Command and Control Centre. The centre coordinates emergency responses among multiple agencies, including fire services, the police Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and LASTMA.

    She added that the state currently operates 36 ambulances, which she admitted are not sufficient because of the state’s growing population.

    She commended the Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu for his commitment to improving emergency services, stating that more ambulances may be added this year.

    “The governor has the interests of Lagos residents at heart. That is why our emergency response system remains one of the best in the country,” she stated.

    Despite the challenges, LASAMBUS remains a lifeline for many residents of Lagos in critical moments, responding to hundreds of emergency calls daily, including road accidents, building collapse, and emergency support at public gatherings, among other emergency services.

    For instance, in April 2022, a 27-year-old expectant mother, Shukurat Isa went labour while traveling on a public bus from Awoyaya to Orile in Lagos.

    As the bus reached the Law School Bus Stop on Victoria Island, she began experiencing intense labour pains. A fellow passenger promptly called the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) for assistance.

    Within 14 minutes of receiving the distress call at 8:02 a.m., a LASAMBUS team arrived at the scene by 8:16 a.m.

    The emergency medical team assisted Shukurat in delivering a healthy baby boy weighing 3.3 kg. After ensuring both mother and child were stable, they transported them to the Ikate Health Centre for further care.

    The incident highlights the critical role of LASAMBUS in providing timely emergency medical services in Lagos.

    The swift response and professional care not only ensured the safety of Shukurat and her newborn but also underscored the importance of public awareness with regard to the availability and proper use of emergency services.

    While improvements are needed, more ambulances, better coordination, and faster response time, residents also have a role to play.

    Understanding how to use emergency services properly, avoiding prank calls, and providing clear accident details can make a big difference. In a rapidly growing city like Lagos, a strong, well-functioning emergency system can mean the difference between life and death.

    But with Lagos’ growing population and heavy traffic, the demand for efficient pre-hospital emergency care has never been greater. The question remains: Can LASAMBUS overcome its limitations to truly fulfil its life-saving mission?

  • PSN calls for stronger laws to tackle fake drug crisis

    PSN calls for stronger laws to tackle fake drug crisis

    As Nigeria grapples with the ongoing issue of fake drugs and governance inefficiencies in its pharmaceutical sector, the newly elected president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm. Ibrahim Tanko Ayuba, has called on the National Assembly to amend the Fake Drug Act and strengthen the regulatory framework to safeguard public health.

    In his inaugural press briefing in Lagos, Pharm. Ayuba expressed deep concern over the growing prevalence of counterfeit medicines in the country. He highlighted alarming statistics dating back to 1988, when the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Federal Ministry of Health reported that 33 percent of drugs in circulation in Nigeria were fake, with seven per cent of these proving fatal when consumed. Pharm. Ayuba also referenced a study by the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Lagos in 1998, which found that nearly 50 per cent of fake drugs originated from Open Drug Markets (ODMs), while about 33 per cent were traced to Patent Medicine Vendors. The PSN president noted that these figures illustrate a public health crisis that has only worsened over time. Current research suggests that over 50 per cent of drugs in circulation today are either fake or substandard, further exacerbating the problem.

    Pharm Ayuba emphasised the urgent need for action, urging lawmakers to amend the current laws and enhance enforcement measures that ensure the safety and quality of medicines in Nigeria. He underscored that reforming the pharmaceutical sector is essential to ensuring public health safety and restoring trust in the healthcare system.

    “The influx of fake drugs, food, and especially drinks in Nigeria, has become a major source of worry in contemporary times. Our usually reliable and dependable research-based efforts indicate that we are back to the days of over 50 per cent of drugs in circulation being fake and substandard, as against official figures hovering between 13 per cent and 15 per cent. At the closing stages of the 1999 transition, the Fake Drug Act was entrenched in the statutes but this has not been substantially activated in recent times,” he said.

    Ayuba lauded recent enforcement efforts by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), particularly the closure of the Sabongari Drug Market following the launch of the first Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC) in Kano. He called for the urgent implementation of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG) and stronger penalties for fake drug dealers, including fines exceeding N20 million and life imprisonment. “One of the most positive outputs of the new carder at NAFDAC was the landmark collaboration with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) in January 2024 to seal the Sabongari Drug Market immediately after the first Coordinated Wholesale Centres (CWC) in Nigeria was officially launched in Kano, Kano State. For the records, the CWC are the well-regulated drug centres that are designed to replace the ODMs under the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG) released 10 years ago in 2015. It is the spirit of such collaborations that we desire to save consumers of health from the almost 5 million unregistered drug-selling outfits which dot both the rural and urban centres in Nigeria,” he said.

    According to him, the National Assembly must amend the existing Fake Drug and Unwholesome Food Act to become a much more potent Act of Parliament. Apart from the dangers which Nigerians are familiar with in the case of fake drugs, the fake drink industry is assuming a gargantuan tens of billion range business championed by modern-day merchants of death. “The National Assembly must go ahead to consider improved sanctions including possible huge fines of over 20 million, life jail sentences or even death sentences for fake drug dealers. Let it be said again that these fake drug dealers are de facto murderers because anyone who tampers with life-saving commodities inherently sets out to kill ab initio.”

    While addressing the implementation of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) Act, which mandates that all drug-selling and dispensing locations be registered with a Superintendent Pharmacist, Ayuba noted that less than 25 per cent of Federal Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) comply with this law, leading to increased risks for consumers. “It is however, important to begin to sensitise the government at all levels that the expected benefit package to safeguard public health will not be achievable if they don’t comply fully with the relevant laws. Section 22 of the PCN Act provides that any location where drugs are sold, stocked, dispensed, etc. must be registered by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria.

    Read Also: War against fake drugs: Protect innocent traders, Reps tell NAFDAC

    “It is a matter of common sense that this implies that once drug items are available in a health facility, the pharmacy must be registered by a Superintendent Pharmacist (section 29 PCN Act). The government oftentimes is the biggest violator of its own laws because our experience reveals that less than 25 per cent of the MDAs at the federal level have registered pharmacies or pharmacists in their employment, yet they actively stock and dispense drugs to consumers of health which is a major source of danger to these unsuspecting consumers. The impunity is spreading at an alarming rate such that even federal health institutions now advertise for health personnel and choose to ignore the employment of pharmacists as we saw with the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Benin, in a well-circulated advert. In the last few days, we have observed that health workers were approved to man health facilities in correctional centres in Nigeria, but again these centres which will all stock drugs were not placed to engage Pharmacists in what is a major distortion of an ideal health service dispensation,” he added.

    The PSN believes that the foundation for these illogicalities was gradually laid and consolidated in the last 10 years at the Federal Ministry of Health which has systematically decimated the status, role and significance of Pharmacists who are no longer invited to even stakeholder consultations in the health sector. The president vowed to take the challenge up with the concerned authorities in the bid to protect public health and the requisite safety nets inherent in the indiscriminate, poor and wretched drug use and management which are palpable fallouts of these misnomers.

  • Mushin General Hospital holds free medical outreach

    Mushin General Hospital holds free medical outreach

    In an effort to address the high prevalence of hypertension and other health concerns among market women in Nigeria, General Hospital Mushin, in collaboration with the Chairman of Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Rasaq Olusola Ajala, organised a free medical outreach programme at Ojuwoye Market, tagged ‘Your Health, Our Passion.’ This initiative brought healthcare closer to traders and residents in the Mushin area.

    The outreach, led by Dr. Oluyemi Taiwo, MD/CEO of General Hospital Mushin, aimed to provide accessible medical services to individuals who may face financial barriers to healthcare. Hundreds of traders, buyers, and residents benefitted from a variety of healthcare services, including obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, family planning, immunisation, general surgery, ophthalmology, dental care, and physiotherapy. Dr. Taiwo emphasised the importance of taking healthcare to the grassroots, ensuring that individuals don’t have to wait for hospital visits to receive medical attention. Reflecting on past medical outreaches, she pointed out the alarming prevalence of hypertension and diabetes among market women, which she attributed to urbanisation, poor dietary habits and financial challenges. “Many people, even those aware of their conditions, often neglect them due to the pressures of daily life,” she said.

    Read Also: Senate Leader’s free medical outreach lifts the vulnerables in Ekiti

    The outreach offered free medications, eyeglasses, and pharmacy services, with the hospital aiming to serve at least 1,000 people during the event. Dr. Taiwo also cautioned against the dangers of self-medication, encouraging participants to seek proper medical attention instead of relying on over-the-counter drugs. Timed to coincide with the upcoming Ramadan fasting period, the initiative also aimed to ensure participants were in good health before the fast. In addition to medical care, the outreach included educational sessions on common health issues such as hypertension, diabetes, and eye disorders.

    Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Chairman Ajala praised the programme, highlighting its alignment with the state government’s commitment to quality healthcare. He emphasis        ed that the initiative reflects the belief that healthcare is a fundamental right for all, not a privilege. “This is part of our responsibility as the government of Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA,” he said.

  • Indian pharma firm exposed for fuelling West Africa’s opioid crisis

    Indian pharma firm exposed for fuelling West Africa’s opioid crisis

    A new investigation by the BBC World Service’s award-winning BBC Eye Investigations team has uncovered shocking evidence of an Indian pharmaceutical company, Aveo Pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and illegally exporting unlicensed, addictive opioids to West Africa, exacerbating the region’s opioid crisis.

    The documentary, India’s Opioid Kings, exposes how Aveo Pharmaceuticals, based in Mumbai, produces a range of pills branded under various names, which are sold as legitimate medicines. However, these pills contain a dangerous and illegal combination of tapentadol, a powerful opioid, and carisoprodol, a muscle relaxant banned in Europe due to its highly addictive properties. These drugs are not licensed for use anywhere in the world and pose significant health risks, including breathing difficulties, seizures and potential fatal overdoses.

    Read Also: BBC investigation exposes Indian pharmaceutical firm fuelling West Africa’s opioid crisis

    Despite the risks, the drugs have become widely available as street drugs in West Africa, with BBC Eye investigators finding packets bearing the Aveo logo on the streets of Ghana, Nigeria, and Côte d’Ivoire. The documentary reveals how the drugs are fuelling a public health crisis in these countries, with many young people becoming addicted to opioids. The BBC’s undercover investigation traced the drugs back to Aveo’s factory in Mumbai. An undercover operative posed as an African businessman looking to supply opioids to Nigeria. During a secret meeting with Vinod Sharma, one of Aveo’s directors, the operative filmed Sharma explaining that the drugs, when taken in higher doses, could make users feel “relaxed” and “high.” Sharma openly admitted that the drugs were harmful but defended the practice, stating, “This is business.”

    The devastating impact of Aveo’s drugs is felt across West Africa. In Ghana’s Tamale city, local leaders have formed a task force to combat the widespread abuse of these illegal opioids. Alhassan Maham, a city chief, described the epidemic as consuming the sanity of the young people who abuse these drugs. One addict in Tamale poignantly stated, “The drugs have wasted our lives.” Nigeria, with its large population of 225 million, is the largest market for these opioids, and the National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has been battling a growing crisis. Brig Gen Mohammed Buba Marwa, the NDLEA chairman, told the BBC that opioids are “devastating our youths, our families, it’s in every community in Nigeria.”

    Aveo Pharmaceuticals’ actions are not only illegal but also breach Indian law, which prohibits the export of unlicensed drugs unless they meet the regulatory standards of the importing country. Ghana’s National Drug Enforcement Agency confirmed that the combination of tapentadol and carisoprodol in the drugs shipped by Aveo is unlicensed and illegal in the country. The BBC Eye investigation reached out to Aveo Pharmaceuticals for comment, but they did not respond. The Indian government, through the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), acknowledged the importance of global public health and stated its commitment to ensuring a strong pharmaceutical regulatory system. The CDSCO also emphasised that Indian pharmaceutical exports are closely monitored and that the agency has taken up the matter with West African countries, promising to take immediate action against any pharmaceutical company involved in malpractice.

  • Thumbs-up, Lagos flags off University of Medicine

    Thumbs-up, Lagos flags off University of Medicine

    Anytime from now, what promises to be Nigeria’s first University of Medicine and Health Services will pop up, first in Lagos and, later, in Epe, also in Lagos State.

     I suspect that the 25- hectares 500-bed hospital for mental health in the town will belong to the complex.

    The university would be an icing on the cake for the eight years of meritorous service Health Commissioner Prof Akin Abayomi would have given the state by the time his tenure would be over in 2027. Since he became commissioner of health in 2019, Professor Abayomi has built the health systems of Lagos State into a fighting machinery which has easily overcome several regional,sub-regional and international epidemics, including the the dreaded COVID-19. Nigerians did not “die like flies”as the then United States President Donald Trump falsely prophesised when he literally bundled his country men and women out of Nigeria into, paradoxically,the mass graves awaiting them in their own supposed most blessed and powerful nation on earth! The assumption of Trump and many like him was that Nigeria did not have enough doctors to cope with an approaching holocaust, and that the medical services were in  shambles, besides many of the personnel having been drained off abroad in the quest for more pay and better work conditions. Prof. Abayomi and his health team shocked them all.

    The University of Medicine and  Health Services  is coming, therefore, as a solution to the shortage of medical doctors and health services personnel who, would include such professionals as pharmacists, nurses, radiographers, laboratory technologists, record keepers and a lot more.

    All the more robust will this venture be if the designers do not leave out Alternative Medicine.

     This was what I made the corner-stone of a University of Medicine at this time in Nigeria when I proposed it on this page months ago as the solution to a dangerous and growing shortage of doctors and other medical personnel in the country.

     A skeleton I will not bore you with data here. A part of this column will be a reminder of the events which led me to suggest the founding of a University of Medicine in each of Nigeria’s geo-political regions.

    The details of that proposal may be read on Facebook @JOHN OLUFEMI KUSA. For this column, a summary is… 1.

    There was wide-spread lamentations that Nigerian doctors were migrating profusely abroad, unmindful of their country spending money and energy to make doctors of them.

     Even the United Kingdom sarcastically said it would henceforth paid doctors elsewhere because it did not want Nigeria’s medical system to collapse.  Should we continue to lament or take revolutionary actions to solve the problem?

    The problem is easy to identify and to solve,using the knowledge of the Laws of Nature which medicine appreciates. (a). Euro- Americans are in the Leisure Age, and, save for a few, are no longer tasking themselves intellectually in the professions.

    They have, and are still economically exploiting the rest of mankind, including Nigerians,who let them.

    So, they have humongous resources to buy whichever labour they require in their economies. And that is why our doctors and other medical personnel are leaving the country. (b) Conversely, Nigerians are still struggling, bookish and believe education is the shortest course up the social and economic ladder.

     So, many Nigerians wish to study medicine, but the teaching facilities are not enough to accommodate them. The screening process, therefore, sends them to learn other professions. One of my son’s was caught in this web. He made all his “O”levels in S.S.S1 and again in S.SS3 and NECO.

    JAMB underrated him to twenty-something percent.

    He was restless. I encouraged him to protest his score to JAMB with a transcript of his continuous assessment reports of all scores in school.

    JAMB reviews it and did nothing. I filed a duplicate copy of the complaint to Chief Bola Ige who was then a Minister in President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government.

    Chief Bola Ige resolved the problem.

     The boys results had been interchanged with another person’s. Jamb was to apologise in writing and straighten the records.

    Two days later, Chief Bola Ige was murdered. Jamb kept mute. I told the young man he could not apply to any university with the rectified result to read Medicine because of possible controversies in the future.

    Thus, he spent one year at Lagos State University ( LASU) Basic studies school at Epe, from where LASU offered him admission to read engineering. I encouraged him to replace engineering with Biochemistry which was closer to Medicine.

    He had As in all his Biochemistry courses. His lecturers wanted him to apply for a switch to Medicine.

    His mother, who was a lecturer at LASU, advised him against doing so because LASU regulations strickly specified admissions for Medicine through JAMB. He had to re-do his Jamb as a Biochemistry undergraduate to qualify to study medicine at LASU.

     In pre-Med, he re-studied all the biochemistry subjects, including one,Zoology, and scored As, in all.

     This was a rigmarole journey to the corridors of Medicine. It is breath-tasting and energy sapping, if not time and money waiting.

    Why would a doctor produced in such circumstances not seek greener pastures upon his graduation, induction and internship?

    There must be several thousands of our brilliant young men and women caught in this cobwebs which was left to grow and overgrow over the years. I am acquainted with the parents of no fewer than three who went into depression because they had no admissions to read Medicine.

    The mother of one of them died under the pressure of nursing him.

    He could not stand the idea that his two younger sisters graduated in other disciplines but he couldn’t go to the university. His Mother put him into information technology ( IT) and, later, plumbing, but neither was of any use. Another such person lives in Badagry , more or less in vegetable existence,long after his siblings had left home, eating and sleeping.

    Read Also: BBC investigation exposes Indian pharmaceutical firm fuelling West Africa’s opioid crisis

    However, there are flexible persons who move on from their shattered dreams, the pieces of which some of them still manage to put together and which a University of  Medicine and  Medical Services may help them to achieve. One of such brilliant fellows is Wisdom Mmutaka Mbamara who has just graduated with First class honours in Zoology from University of Jos. He is the son of a herbal medicine practitioner in Imo State, Mr Joseph Oyemeachi Mbamara and Mrs Tabitha Mbamara, a simple housewife and farmer from Benue State. My suggestion for a University of Medicine and Medical Services months ago was that it be totally different from existing medical institutions, with a goal different from them.

    This goal should be an over production  of doctors and other medical team members that will ensure Nigeria has a surplus of them at home whatever number the rest of the world has need to poach.

    This proposal cited a Law of Nature which both science and Medicine teach us. I successfully relied on this natural experience as Editor of The Guardian newspaper when, as The FlagshipLAGSHIPof the  Nigerian press, all newspapers came to recruit their staff from us.

    We had a rigorous recruitment process which sometimes took more than one month for every job seeker to undergo. The training of successful ones was a baptism of ‘”fire”.

     I remembered a natural working process of tte human body. Biologists talk of (Catabolism) and Anabolism ( building up).

    The body constructs itself, de-constructs it and re-constructs it again on daily basis.

    The average adult has about 100 trillion cells in his or her body.Many of these cells are cast off during aging, damage,disease e.t.c every three or four months or thereabout.

    So,we can say that the human body in Which you and I began 2023 is not the same body which we are beginning 2025.The start up cells of 2023 have been cast off about three or four times even if we do not realise it. So,in the Guardian newspaper of 1980s, we had a continuous interview system.

    About 25 candidates came to work with us as Test Candidates for one month. We kept the brilliant ones on a waiting list.If a mask exodus occured as was often the case, we could bring in up to 50 cute reporters to replace them and rigorously train them over six months.

    That was why the readers did not realise any quality infrastion whatever exodus we were experiencing. So that the University of Medicine and Medical Services will not be another routine training ground for doctors another medical personnel,it is suggested that admissions be at two levels, namely (i) JAMB intakes and (ii) mature students.

    The latter would be graduates in the sciences who would like to train as doctors.

    They may be on a three and a half years or four years programme.

    They may come from such backgrounds as zoology, chemistry, biology, microbiology,Biochemistry, physics, pharmacy,Nursing, Forestry e.t.c. Mature students learn faster.

    They may be induced with national youth corps stipend.

    They should jump at it. Where are jobs? They may prefer to continue their education and become doctors with the world under their feet and at their beck and call. d. Prof Akin Abayomi need not feel overwhelmed by the funding needs of this University which may enrol about 50,000 students.

    Not all projects should be for the government alone to fund.

    A revolutionary dream well presented to about one million Nigerians at home and abroad may yield little drops of water from the first year on at about #100 a month per donor through banker order. That is about 100 million a month from charity.

    What about churches and mosques?Will their congregants not be beneficiaries?Whose parent would not be able to give #100 every month?

    We only need to set the fire and then stoke it. Nigerians love their country where the leaders are working for the public good and are transparent. Alternative Medicines, if Nigeria has great planners, our doctors abroad may become great financial assets to the country.

    The Chinese, Lebanese and Indians abroad never forget their homelands.

    We do not have to go abroad begging for money.

    Did not a period exist before COVID-19 impacted it when Nigerians in more than 200 countries accounted for more than half of the more than six million subscribers of CHY MALL, an e- business in which the average subscription was more than #100,000? That gave this company something like #100,000 x3,0000,000 or #300,000,000,000 investment money. This is where we are heading.

    The new university should not be a copy cat of the old ones.

     The world is ever on the move, establishing new frontiers.

    Alternative Medicine has become a new frontier for Western Medicine after which Orthodox Medicine is patterned. Orthodox Medicine became a new frontier for Folklore Medicine during and after the two World Wars when the capacity of plant medicine practitioners could not cope with new or emergency health challenges thrust upon it by these wars.

    Now, Orthodox or drug medicines have thrust their own problems on their users.Dangerous side effects are rampant.So is resistance to drugs.

    There must be few persons in the Western world today who are not exposed to one plant medicine or nutritional food supplement or another or availing himself of one form of complementary medicine or another. Doctor training abroad is exposing emerging doctors to these trends.We cannot afford to not align with global trends.

    The global trends were ignited by the World Health Organisation on behalf of the United Nations(UN) and endorsed by the African Union.

    The WHO decided that members develop their TraditionalMedicine (TM) systems to the standards of Orthodox medicine.

    The Guardian newspaper fellow the process.

    As editor of The Guardian in 1988, I made the newspaper report Natural Medicine every Thursday in a special section and got Mrs Elizabeth Kafaru to write a weekly column.

    In 2002, I attended in Accra, Ghana, a conference to awaken Africans to new realities of plant medicines.

    Nigeria had only one TM product, JOBELYN shown to the world.

    South Africa had the anti-Oxidant Roibos tea.

    China and India, and later Malaysia and the Philippines, were swamping the world market with their TM products.Although Africa is said to be the richest continent in plant medicines, its nations count least in the global herbal medicine market in 2023. According to the internet: Here are the top seven countries in 2023 global herbal medicine market.

     “China dominated the Asian Pacific herbal medicine market driven by its rich tradition of Traditional Chinese Medicine. United States herbal medicine market is expected to grow significantly, reaching an estimated value of USD37.90 billion by 2032.

    India is home to key players like CULTIVATOR NATURAL PRODUCTS LIMITED, HIMALAYA GLOBAL HOLDINGS LIMITED, HEMANI LIMITED and PATANJALI AYURVED LIMITED. Germany had a significant share of the European herbal medicine market with a strong focus on research and development.

     Japan herbal medicine market is expected to grow due to the integration of the Japanese herbal practices into modern medicines. South Korea herbal medicine market is driven by the increasing popularity of natural remedies and traditional medicines. Brazil is characterised by a rich tradition of indigenous medicine and growing consumer awareness of natural remedies”.

     It was against such a background that the Guardian newspaper launched Nigerian newspapering into traditional and natural medicine reporting in 1988, re-branding itself five years after its debut, into product development and alignment of it editorial products with their relevant market segments in the economy.

    The job could not be taken to the next phase by the time in 1999 when some of us quit our editoral chairs to co-found The Comet newspaper. Dr Omotosho Ogunniyi, Ph D, business education lecturer at the University of Lagos ( UNILAG) and later a top icon in manpower development administration of The Daily Times newspaper of the 1970s under Alhaji Babatunde Jose, Chairman and managing director, was The Comet’s post- incorporation pre and start-up consultant.

    He was at that time trying to set up a Lagos Business School for which he had collaboration with some South African partners.

    The idea struck me that The Comet could plug into it through its reporting of natural medicine.

    I designed a syllabus for health food stores Shop keepers and their certification between nine months to one year of successful training.

    They would study no fewer than 50 Nigerian medicinal plants, and an equal number of foreign herbs and their uses in specific system health challenges, alongside book keeping and customer relations.

     The minimum qualifications was “O” Level credits in five subjects, in English, mathematics, and at least one science subject. Other senior courses were to fellow.

    We expected health food stores to mushroom everywhere with intense editorial propagation of interest in natural medicines. Long before this time in 1978, I had planned by 1979 to attend Leicester University in the United kingdom for a master’s degree in journalism and, after that, undertake a three-year first degree programme in Alternative Medicine or naturopathy, as it is popularly called.

    However, my grandmother who brought me up from the age of nine years after my mother’s death at the then Ikeja General Hospital (now Lagos State University Teaching Hospital) and bed role of the University of Medicine and Health Services, developed breast cancer in 1978 and was dying. I had to stand by her.

    The experience of watching her galvanised me to setting up a library of Alternative Medicine books which further drove my interest in this subject.

    The Comet newspaper was to connect with great authors and doctors who were expanding the frontiers of medicine and to, every quarter, invite them to Nigeria for a quarterly lecture series on Alternative Medicine. Proceeding from this could have been special season consultations and the begining of the first full fledged Alternative Medicine Hospital galvanised by the United Nations, WHO and AU.

     Although The Comet newspaper could not achieve this before it fizzled out under cash and other constraints, the beautiful idea, endorsed by the WHO, U.N and A.U, did not die with the Comet newspaper.Health Forever Limited, producers of JOBELYN, Nigeria’s most successful herbal product by international recognitions and other bodies, set up one under the management of some medical doctors, but it soon shut down.

    However, that of Rev.Father Anslem Adodo’s PAX HERBAL CENTER at the GRA in Ikeja, Lagos, continues to wax strong.

    NATURAL MEDICINES This is a broad field.

    By 1990 projections,the world market value ought to have by now exceeded three trillion U S.Dollars a year.

    Nigeria remains a speck of dust in this market.

    We cannot extract even the oil of Lemon grass which we can abundantly grow and use for malaria and other ailments, including cancer.

    Nor can we convert the seeds of pawpaw into digestive and proteolytic enzymes. I checked with the internet a list of the different specialist fields in Alternative Medicine and Traditional Medicine(TM) which may be of interest to designers of the UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND HEALTH SERVICES, should they have given a thought to teaching in this area.If they have not,I suggest they do.Time and true humanity will always remember them and also honour their memories.

  • Global breast cancer cases to rise by 38% by 2050 – WHO warns

    Global breast cancer cases to rise by 38% by 2050 – WHO warns

    Breast cancer cases worldwide are expected to surge by 38% by 2050, with annual diagnoses reaching 3.2 million, according to a new report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a branch of the World Health Organization (WHO).

    The report, published in Nature Medicine, also warns that deaths from the disease could rise by 68%, leading to 1.1 million annual fatalities if current trends persist.

    Experts highlight that low- and middle-income countries will bear the brunt of this increase due to limited access to early detection and effective treatment.

    IARC scientist Joanne Kim emphasized the urgency of the situation, revealing that every minute, four women are diagnosed with breast cancer, and one woman dies from it.

    “These numbers are getting worse, but governments can change this by investing in early detection and treatment,” Kim said.

    The highest number of cases are found in Australia, New Zealand, North America, and Northern Europe. In contrast, South-Central Asia and parts of Africa have the lowest rates. 

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    However, the worst death rates occur in Melanesia, Polynesia, and Western Africa, where poor healthcare access leads to worse outcomes.

    Survival rates for breast cancer vary greatly depending on a country’s economic status. In high-income countries, 83% of women diagnosed with the disease survive due to better access to early detection, advanced treatment, and healthcare infrastructure. 

    However, in low-income countries, more than half of women diagnosed with breast cancer die, often due to late diagnosis, limited medical resources, and inadequate treatment options.

    To combat the rising numbers, WHO launched the Global Breast Cancer Initiative in 2021. 

    The goal is to cut breast cancer deaths by 2.5% each year, potentially saving 2.5 million lives by 2040.

    IARC’s Deputy Head of Cancer Surveillance, Isabelle Soerjomataram, stressed the need for better cancer data and policies, especially in poorer regions.

    “Early diagnosis and access to treatment must improve if we are to reduce suffering and death worldwide,” she said.

    “The report calls for stronger health systems, more funding for breast cancer screening, and affordable prevention strategies. 

    “Without urgent action, millions of women could lose their lives to a disease that is now more preventable and treatable than ever.”

  • Anaemia cases: Prof. Afolabi, medical experts unveil IVON-IS project findings

    Anaemia cases: Prof. Afolabi, medical experts unveil IVON-IS project findings

    It was a gathering of who-is-who in Nigeria’s medical field when experts gathered in Lagos on Monday. 

    Venue was the prestigious Radisson Blu Hotel, GRA, Ikeja where stakeholders held a Dissemination Workshop

    on the Implementation Research for Intravenous Iron Use in Pregnant and Postpartum Nigerian Women (IVON-IS).

    The project was aimed to test strategies to strengthen routine screening for anaemia during and immediately after pregnancy and conditions necessary within the health system to deliver IV iron to pregnant and post-partum women with moderate to severe anaemia, iron deficiency anaemia, which is a major concern in Sub-Saharan Africa including Nigeria, in pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. 

    The research team members included experts from the Maternal and Reproductive Health Collective (MRH) and College of Medicine, University of Lagos, led by Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Prof. Bosede Afolabi.  

    There were also Operations Officers from the Centre for Clinical Trials, Research and Implementation Science (cctris), Co-Investigators and Medical Officers.

    At the workshop were Dr. Opeyemi Akinajo, Dr. Mobolanle Balogun, Dr. Ejemai Eboreime, Dr. Aduragbemi Banke-Thomas, Dr. Sijuade Sanusi, Dr. Adebola Oyeniyi, Dr. Gladys Ohiomba, Dr. Anthonia Echeruo, Dr. Yusuf Adelabu, Dr. Abimbola Bowale and Dr. Adesunmbo Odeseye.

    Others included Dr. Babatunde Oduola-Owoo, Pharmacist Blessing Onyemere, Mrs. Damilola Onietan and Mrs. Rachel Thompson.

    Registration of participants at the well-attended event was coordinated by Mrs. Temitope Audu.

    There were presentations on IVON-IS Project Findings and Video Testimonials.

    There was also an exhibition of the IVON-IS Project.

    The workshop was important because in 2019, global anaemia prevalence was 29.9% in women of reproductive age, 29.6% in non-pregnant women of reproductive age and 36.5% in pregnant women. 

    The participants were told that routine anaemia screening and use of oral iron supplements for anaemia treatment during pregnancy and postpartum “is limited by poor compliance and other health system factors.

    Adherence to oral iron is reportedly low in Nigeria because of side effects and forgetfulness. Intravenous (IV) iron such as ferric carboxymaltose, which can be given as a single dose, might help overcome some issues relating to adherence but the possibility of implementing its use in our setting needs to be evaluated.”

    It was also revealed that the Implementation Research for intravenous iron use in pregnant and postpartum Nigerian women (IVON-IS) commenced in 2023.

     It was funded by the Gates Foundation and it was conducted in six healthcare facilities in Lagos State Namely:

    1. Federal Medical Centre, Ebute-Metta Hospital, Lagos.

    2. Harvey Road General Hospital, Lagos.

    3. Ebute-Metta General Hospital, Lagos.

    4. Akerele Primary Healthcare Centre, Lagos.

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    5. Kensington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundation Medical Laboratory and Maternity Centre.

    6. Havana Specialist Hospital Limited, Lagos.

    Key stakeholders, including policymakers, healthcare providers, and community leaders, at the workshop, discussed the study’s findings and implications for improving anaemia care in Nigeria.

    The workshop featured presentations from the research team, panel discussions and interactive sessions, providing a platform for stakeholders to share their experiences, challenges and suggestions for scaling up effective interventions.

    The study’s findings highlighted significant improvements in anaemia screening rates and IV iron administration among pregnant and postpartum women at the study’s healthcare facilities, demonstrating the potential for sustainable impact.

    Stakeholders also pledged to work together to implement the study’s recommendations, ensuring that all pregnant and postpartum women have access to quality anaemia care.

    There was also the urgent need for effective treatment options beyond traditional iron tablets for anaemia in pregnant and postpartum women in Nigeria, which is affecting over 50 per cent of expectant mothers.

    Prof. Afolabi, the Principal Investigator of IVON-IS Research, said anaemia also “increases the risk of infections, postpartum depression, poor wound healing and cognitive impairments in newborns”.

    She said recognising the dire consequences, IVON-IS Research emphasised the routinisation of screening for anaemia, using point-of-care tests, which deliver haemoglobin concentration results within minutes.

    Speaking on the prevalence of anaemia among expectant mothers, Prof. Afolabi noted that while the national average for moderate to severe cases falls between 10 per cent and 20 per cent, certain regions record higher rates, reaching up from 30 per cent to 40 per cent.

    “Anaemia in pregnancy is a major health concern in Nigeria, often linked to poor nutrition, malaria and inadequate prenatal care. Left untreated, it can lead to complications such as preterm birth, low birth weight and increased maternal mortality,” she stated.

    Afolabi, who is also the Director, cctris, said the research “advocates the use of intravenous iron therapy, particularly ferric carboxymaltose, as a more effective treatment for moderate and severe anaemia”, saying IVON-IS Research does not only identify effective interventions, but also focuses on integrating the treatments into Nigeria’s healthcare system.

    Dr Opeyemi Akinajo, a 

    Co-Investigator at IVON-IS and Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), highlighted an effective treatment for maternal anaemia, a condition, she said, was affecting 45 per cent of pregnant women in Nigeria.

    Another Co-Investigator on the IVON-IV project, Dr Mobolanle Balogun, highlighted the cost-effectiveness of intravenous iron therapy compared to blood transfusions, which require longer monitoring periods and are often constrained by limited blood supply.

  • Rotary International chief to Nigerian government: prioritise surveillance in public health

    Rotary International chief to Nigerian government: prioritise surveillance in public health

    As part of ongoing renewed push to eradicate polio, Michael McGovern, Chair of the Rotary International Polio Plus Committee, has urged the Nigerian government to prioritise public health surveillance as one of the most effective means of eliminating the emerging vaccine-derived poliovirus. 

    This comes as the international humanitarian organization allocates $150 million annually to support polio eradication efforts in Nigeria, McGovern revealed.

    McGovern, who highlighted the urgent need for sustained efforts to protect children from the debilitating disease, emphasized the critical importance of immunization during his visit to Nigeria on Tuesday. 

    Nigeria was declared free of wild poliovirus in 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO), however, the country still faces challenges with vaccine-derived poliovirus, which underscores the need for continued immunization efforts.

    McGovern spoke on Tuesday at the Masaka Primary Health Center, Nasarawa State, where he participated in a symbolic polio immunization exercise, McGovern alongside the Director of the Polio Plus Program at Rotary International, Carol Pandak and other officials of Rotary.

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    McGovern, who refrained from commenting on specific disease outbreaks, underscored the importance of surveillance in public health, saying, “Laboratories, parents, and local health authorities must remain vigilant. 

    “If a child shows signs of illness, parents should take them to health facilities to find out what is going on,” he said.

    He said this has become imperative noting that despite significant progress, Nigeria remains at risk, with reported cases of vaccine-derived poliovirus. 

    “While the cases aren’t huge in number, they are crucially important in terms of eradicating this sad, sad disease once and for all,” McGovern noted.

    Stressing the need for comprehensive routine immunization programs to prevent the resurgence of polio and other diseases, the RI Chief said, “The most responsible thing is for everyone to support all routine immunizations—for measles, polio, and many other diseases. 

    “Immunization strengthens the immune system and protects children from multiple illnesses, not just polio.

    “The biggest impression that everyone has to have here is to see the beautiful children and recognize the importance of their health. 

    “Ensuring they receive necessary immunizations is vital for them to live healthy lives”.

    While reiterating Rotary International’s unwavering financial and strategic support in the fight against polio, McGovern noted “Rotary currently spends $150 million annually on the polio eradication effort.

    “Over the years, we have invested nearly $3 billion. It’s a lot of money, but we are happy to do it because we see the benefit, 20 million children who have not been disabled.”

    Addressing Nigeria’s role in global immunization efforts, he noted that every country has room for improvement, saying, “Nigeria is not unlike the rest of the world. I live in the United States, and we could be doing more. Every country can do more than it is doing now”.

    He also acknowledged the role of international partners, including the WHO, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in the global polio eradication effort. 

    “In the end, it’s the local communities that make the difference ensuring children are immunized and have a healthy future,” he said.

    McGovern also praised the dedication of frontline health workers who navigate challenging conditions to deliver vaccines to children across Nigeria. 

    “We particularly want to acknowledge the frontline workers who go out into the heat, into so many places, and the mothers who make sure their children are immunized. It’s life-saving. It makes a difference,” he said.

    Looking ahead, McGovern affirmed that while polio eradication remains a top priority, Rotary International is also focused on broader child and maternal health initiatives. 

    “The next big project will be determined by Rotarians worldwide. We don’t prescribe top-down solutions; we listen to the needs of local communities,” he explained.

    Carol Pandak, Director of the Polio Plus Program at Rotary International, echoed McGovern’s sentiments, urging Nigerian communities to prioritize vaccinations. 

    “I’ve been very impressed with the mothers, children, and the dedication of local health workers.

    “The most important thing parents can do is immunize their children—not just against polio but against all vaccine-preventable diseases.”

  • USAID: KCCI backs scrutiny of foreign-funded NGOs amid security concerns

    USAID: KCCI backs scrutiny of foreign-funded NGOs amid security concerns

    The Kano Concerned Citizens’ Initiative (KCCI) has announced its support for the move to scrutinize the operations of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) funded by foreign-based agencies in the state.

    Publicity secretary Ahmed Aminu emphasised the urgent need to verify the motives and sources of funding for these NGOs, citing a recent revelation by a US Congressman alleging USAID’s funding of Boko Haram terrorists.

    The group vowed to support the special committee instituted to address global security threats and pledged to contribute to the committee’s success. KCCI called on all citizens of Kano State to support and cooperate with the committee in its patriotic effort to eliminate impending threats.

    Aminu stated that KCCI has been monitoring the activities of various NGOs, especially those with foreign connections, following the security concerns raised against USAID.

    He said: “The recent revelation in the US Congress of the allegation of the USAID’s funding of Boko Haram raises deep concern over the activities of NGOs that have connections with foreign aid agencies.

    “Our people are vulnerable and have become prey to exploitation by the activities of these NGOs, largely because of bad governance which had linked to economic programmes imposed by globalists.

    “Our society cannot remain indifferent to all forms of exploitations and propagation of values especially on LGBTQ+ by these agents of globalists that are hostile to our faith.

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    “It is in this light that we welcome the move by the Kano State Government to sanitize the activities of NGOs. The high-powered Committee is charged with investigating and documenting sources of funding, nature of activities, areas of intervention, and operational methods to recommend a regulatory framework that aligns with the State’s vision and development goals.

    “These are long overdue and Kano State should not remain an open field for testing ideas by the globalists because the State sets the pulse of the entire Northern Nigeria. We commend the State Government for this bold initiative,” Aminu said.

  • Omo-Agege breaks jinx of Ndokwa’s underdevelopment with medical varsity- Stakeholders

    Omo-Agege breaks jinx of Ndokwa’s underdevelopment with medical varsity- Stakeholders

    The Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Kwale, Delta State, Dr. Banye Salisu, Vice Chancellor Prof. Abel Nze Onunu, and other Ndokwa leaders have hailed the establishment of the institution as a groundbreaking achievement, crediting Senator Ovie Omo-Agege for breaking decades of underdevelopment in the Ndokwa Nation.

    Speaking at the university’s groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, at its permanent site between Kwale and Emu-Ebendo, the stakeholders applauded Omo-Agege’s efforts in securing the specialized medical institution.

    Dr. Salisu described the university as a major milestone, emphasizing its importance not just for Delta State but for the entire South-South region. “Today is a testimony of Senator Omo-Agege’s efforts. He lobbied for this university, and while five others were created at the same time, this institution stands out significantly,” he stated.

    He further stressed that the university is not limited to Delta State but is a regional institution meant to serve the entire South-South. “All states in this region are stakeholders, and it is our collective responsibility to rally support for its development and successful takeoff,” he added.

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    Onunu, in his welcome address, highlighted the university’s significance, noting that it marks the first major federal government presence in Ndokwa land. “Before now, the only notable federal structure in this area was a colonial prison. For decades, Ndokwa has suffered neglect, and today, Kwale still lacks public power supply despite the numerous oil wells in the region,” he lamented.

    He commended Omo-Agege for championing the institution’s establishment, stating that it represents the beginning of real development for the Ndokwa people. “For too long, our people have faced stagnation, but today, that chain has been broken. This university is a game-changer, and we are hopeful that more developmental projects will follow,” Onunu remarked.

    Other Ndokwa leaders expressed gratitude to former President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the university’s establishment after Omo-Agege lobbied for it. They also commended President Bola Tinubu for supporting the university with a takeoff grant, demonstrating his administration’s commitment to the Ndokwa Nation.

    Omo-Agege

    In his remarks, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, who served as Deputy President of the 9th Senate, expressed his profound joy in witnessing the project come to life. He described the university’s establishment as a reflection of his unwavering commitment to development and transformation in Delta State. “As Deputy Senate President, my passion for service and vision for a better future drove me. Today, we take a giant leap towards realizing that vision,” he stated.

    Omo-Agege emphasized that the university will provide quality education in medical and health sciences, drive economic growth, foster innovation, and create job opportunities for Ndokwa people. He extended heartfelt appreciation to President Buhari for his visionary leadership and initial approval of the project, as well as to President Tinubu for ensuring its smooth takeoff.

    “I want to express my deepest gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for his visionary leadership and for giving the initial approval for this university. Your commitment to education and development is truly commendable, and we are grateful for your support.

    “I also want to express my heartfelt appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to the establishment of this university. His leadership has been instrumental in bringing this project to fruition, and we’re grateful for his vision and dedication to improving access to quality education in Nigeria.

    “Under President Tinubu’s leadership, the university is receiving the necessary funding for success. His administration’s approval of this institution, alongside other tertiary institutions, underscores his commitment to expanding educational opportunities and securing a brighter future for Nigerian students,” Omo-Agege said.

    He further highlighted Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasizing that the administration is dedicated to enhancing access to tertiary education nationwide. “We are proud to see this vision become a reality in Kwale,” he concluded.