The Nation Newspaper

Category: Health

  • What will 2025 bring: Living humans or lifeless shadows?

    What will 2025 bring: Living humans or lifeless shadows?

    This is a clean version of the column bedevilled last week by printer’s devils.

    What will 2025 throw up for Nigerians and humanity?

    From the forecasts of industry, economy and business experts, and , from my personal observations of persons I regularly interact with, 2025 will very likely be a worse year than 2024 or 2023.

    I guess so because it is man,and nothing else, who forms his environment and determines his fortunes and misfortunes.

    While it is true that, under Tinubu’s Administration,a Grade Level O9 teacher employed by the Government of Imo State may earn about N259,000  from this month,huge market forces will make a mince meat of his pocket.

    That teacher will discover that his or her 259,000 monthly salary has merely encouraged him or her to deal a slap accros the faces of millions of competitors for money in Nigeria in exchange for slaps across his or her face by rivals in the Naira gold mines. Everywhere in the polity, economy or social order we will experience worse animal behaviour than in 2024 and 2023. I will explain why? I will like to share with you three types of animal behaviour I experienced when I reared pigs,hens,cats and dogs.

     On the pig farm, the big pigs eat up the small pigs when food is scarce.

     The pig farmer who rears pregnant pigs knows he must seperate them in different pens. He must boldly imprint on the wall of each pen the date on which the residents pregnant pig will have its piglets.

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     This is three months three weeks and three days from when he took it for matting.

    Food must be abundant one week from the due date.Should the piglets come in the night ,and there is not enough food for the mother pig ,it may eat up all the new borns before done.

     I  had fun in the study of animal behaviour when I reared 24 local hens in the back yard garden of a bungalow in which I lived on Ajanaku Street,Awuse Estate,Opebi, Lagos.

     I will throw a large piece of muscle meat at them. One will pick it.The others will attack it. It will flee with the meat held in its beak. The others will pursue it.

     The meat will fall, and another hen will pick it. The vicious circle will continue. The hens are animalistic..they are hungry. There is food.

     They can not organise themselves to share the food and make each one have some thing to eat. Human behaviour is like this.

     The scramble for money in Nigeria this year will grow bigger than in 2024 and should worsen those conditions among men which make their existence unpalatable.

     As for the dogs and the cats,they are always like sworn enemies, unless they are guided by humans who are conscious that they have a unifying influence over all creatures and call forth from deep within them abilities for this leadership purpose. NEW YEAR 2025 If 2025 will be a better new year than prevous new years, that possibility lies with us all.

    There is no knife that is so sharp that,on its own, will cut vegetable and plantain in the backyard garden for family dinner. It is a human hand that will put it to work .Persons who are bringing out the best in us, like the hand which works the sharp knife, are those human beings who are working for 2025 to be a better year than 2024.

     That will determine whether 2025 can hold that promise. Our responses will determine if they will succeed.

    The evidence at the outset of 2025 is that many Nigerians are no different from the persons they had been since adulthood.

    Therefore, they should not expect the dense black patches on 2024 to automatically transform into radiant, luminous transparent hues in 2025.

     On 31 December 2023,the churches were overfilled by worshippers who believed that 2023 was responsible for all their woes. Therefore, they entreated the incoming 2024 to be their friend and fortune bearer.They have forgotten that, as 2022 was taking its bow,they cursed and abused it , and entreated incoming 2023 to be their friend and fortune bearer.

    Every adult today can plot the graph or trajectory of his or her life to the onset of generative power at purberty when his or her spirit broke through the protective walling of the physical body, made his first direct contact with all spheres of the material world for business and battle.That is when the youth is restless, wishing to storm the mountain, traverse the earth and conquer it.

    Often,this coincides with melancholy and choleric years.What happens thereafter to generative power, which would have bore the spirit kernel aloft and help it to not only discover the purpose of his existence on earth,but to also fullfil it,was that it was drained off into antithetical pursuits.

     The result was that, in a massive bread and butter existence,the spirit kernel has forgotten about (1) what it is (2) where it came from (3) why it is on earth (4) the unchangeable laws which govern earthly and post earthly existence (5)the dangers of not complying with these laws,and the benefits of doing so. Two  Laws  I wish to mention here, only two of the Laws of Nature which will decide whether we would have a beautiful or an ugly 2025.

    The effect of these laws on our lives through our misconduct or misbehaviour can not be mitigated or abolished by many of the activities which take place in many churches today.

    These churches are wooing spiritual weaklings with assertions that they are called by the Almighty Creator to free them from the bondage into which their known and unknown enemies have placed them.

    Cheap testimonies of freedom from bondage are shared and followed with the sharing of bank account numbers of the prophet. In one such testimony, a Lagos road side groundnut seller said 3million Naira was paid into her bank account the day after she paid a 5000 Naira covenant levy to her church.

    I wondered what happened to the money laundering law which required that a bank account be frozen where a lodgement of up to one million Naira can not be successfully explained.

    Some of the other activities of spiritual highway men which cannot abort the effects of these two and other natural laws on our misconduct and misbehaviour include but are not limited to … Special prayer, writhing of the hands, shouting at the top of our voices, stamping of our feet on the ground,rubbing anointing oil on our bodies,or adding it to our foods, drinking anointing water, wearing of anointing mantles, wearing of singlets kept on the altar for months, using anointed handkerchief, eating anointed fruits and cooking with anointed oil and salt, payment of covenant money, and sowing of seeds with money, fasting and prayers for first born children to not rank least among their siblings, deliverance from the enemies, known and unknown,who are said to have placed their victims in bondage. Law of Homogeneity And Law of Sowing And Reaping. If we critically observe our environment, including our fellow humans,we would observe the law of homogeneity at work in our universe,and in our fate or conditions of existence.

    The cells of the tongue are homogeneous and different from those of the brain, eyes, skin,liver or bones.In forests, animals live in homogeneous communities, lions among lions, elephants among elephants etc. In the water,whales do not live with crayfish, titus or halibut.

    Regarding whether 2025 will be a beautiful or ugly year for us ,the secret lies in what we do with our thoughts. They are origins of what proceeds from our tongues and hand.

    The so-called prayer we say in church, especially during vigil and night prayers, are mere petitions which constitute wasted energy, because they hardly have the power to bear them aloft to the foot-stool of the Throne of Grace. The spoken words merely form channels or path ways for our spiritual intuitive perception, which is living energy.What is an empty channel without living energy in it? The real prayer is what comes out of our thoughts.

    There are two kinds of thoughts, namely (1) Intuitive Thought Volition and (2)Intellectual Thought Volition. Intuitive thought volition comes from the spirit. Interllectual thought volition comes from the intellect.

    Therefore, intuitive thought volition is more powerful and potent than intellectual thought volition.

    The spirit, which produces intuitive thought volition, is the highest creature in Creation.

     The intellect , which belongs to the body,is the tool and servant of the spirit. It implements the will of the spirit on earth.

     The body serves only as a housing to the spirit. In many persons, the Spirit kernel hardly knows of why it exists, what it is,where it is from,for what purpose it is on earth, where it goes after the earth,and the laws which govern its existence on earth and in the beyond. The spirit seed germ or kernel is on earth,like a mango seed sown in the soil,to sprout,germinate,flower and fruit, recognise the WILL of the Almighty Creator in Creation and unconditionally fulfill It, perfect its abilities and return home to Paradise where it may be previleged to partake in the further up building of creation.

     Many of us are far removed from this reality. As human spirit,will produce intuitive thought that are contrary to pure thought which the laws of creation expect of us .

    How many of us are not envious or hateful,greedy, cunning or malcontent and malevolent,for examples? These weaknesses may exit,feeble or dormant, in our intuitive thought volition without our knowing that they do.

     Take envy and hatred as examples. The intuitive thought volition is fashioned by a special specie of Nature Beings into intuitive thought form. If they are pure forms,they would purify,ennoble,beautify and upgrade us,our environment and whatever they impact. If they are dark and ugly intuitive thought forms,they will produce opposite effects.Beautiful and ugly intuitive thought forms are alive and active. The ugly ones are the demons we always talk about. The are attached to their authors.

    If we do not target them at anyone, they roam about and attract to themselves demonic forms of their nature or homogeneity that they are stronger than, or are attracted by the ones that are stronger than they are.

    Gradually, they form communities on earth and in the beyond which some Christians call principalities.

    These homogeneous principalities are nourished by larger homogeneous power centres . Whenever we permit ourselves to think evil, we tune ourselves to the energy vibrations of these principalities and power centres. Their energies rouse and nourish our intuitive and intellectual volitions, invigorating them and our capacity to think and to impact evil.

     The day we send intuitive thought of envy or hatred to any one , these huge army will attack our target.

    Envy and hatred will envelope such a person with all their manifestations, including murder.

     Pure target come to no harm. Inevitably, the demons will attack the author of one or several of them , causing such vicissitudes of existence against which we often seek deliverance from imagined enemies, whereas the author is the cause of his or her own problems.

    On the other hand, beautiful intuitive thought bring us beautiful, bountiful harvests . As stated earlier, the forms of intellectual thought volition have no lives of their own, are weaker and soon perish when they are not nourished by their authors.

    Nevertheless, they are powerful enough to destroy individuals and nations. We often encounter them,too, in our dreams.

     When we are faced with challenges of existence in whatever form and we critically examine ourselves,we may discover that we have a hand or hands in what is afflicting us. Look at this scenario.

    When we envy or hate someone,we are bound to such a person. We become like two birds, figuratively speaking, tied together at the wings.

    Neither of us will be able to move about freely.Imagine the other person tied to about 50 other persons on earth and in the beyond.

    Imagine the other 50 persons attached to several other persons who have their own lineages of attachment as well.Now imagine yourself with an array of homogeneous number of attachments.How would you be able to move as freely as you would like to? Which prophet or pastor or general overseer can face the Will of God to free you from the effect of the Law of Attraction of Homogeneous Specie, when creation demands that you purify and personally disbound yourself?

    Your salvation lies in the recognition of this will and unconditionally fulfilling it by doing only what is good at all times.That was why the Lord Jesus,the anniversary of Who’s birth on earth we celebrated on Christmas day, warned us:Love Thy Neighbour as thy self.Whatever weapon we fashion against our neighbours we fashion against ourselves.

    The Lord Jesus also said The Spirit of Truth that is The HolySpirit,does not forgive sins.Now, let us do a simple audit of our intuitive thought volition and our intellectual thought volition.How does our day go? It does not matter if we are single, married, parents,or friends or workers in a household.

    What of the power play in our offices, businesses,residential neighbourhoods? What goes out of us every day will determine what will come back to us in bigger multitudes. Long ago, while I was observing The Law of Sowing and Reaping,I contemplated the sowing of an ear of corn.It produced a stalk of maize on which were five cobs, each with about 400 ears of corn.

    Therefore,we can assume that one ear of corn can give birth to 2000 ears of corn. That is how you and I stand with our intuitive thought volition and intellectual thought volition in the wounderful creation of GOD governed by his Powers and Justice.

     What remedies would then be open to us but to take ourselves to the cleaners and turn new leaves, that is conduct our existence on entirely new platforms, beliefs and conceptions?

    The new platform and conceptions have come to us in the extension of spiritual knowledge on earth at this juncture of The CosmicTurning- Point which has taken our universe millions of earth years to achieve.  At every cosmic turning point, the earth comes under greater spiritual impact and increased energy and tensions.

    Imagine the tensions education in primary school, secondary school and in the university, and of how persons who could not with stand them fall way.

    The earth is a spiritual training school.The curricular have grown more voluminous.

    By now, every-one of us ought to have known what we are ,where we came from, what we are here for,the laws which govern existence here and in the hereafter ,the road map of our journey back home,the land marks on the way , the dangers which may make us lose our way, the helps on the way which will make us not to be lost,and,even while here on earth, what we can always do to leave in a surfeit of peace, plenty, happiness and joy.

    Those of us who are already moving in this direction are the ones said by the keepers of the Household of God ,the universe,to be Living Human Beings.

    Advisedly, I mentioned the words Human Beings.For not every human creature who exit in external human form is a human being.

    There are other creatures who are not human in their content but exit in external human form.Our forebears new about them.

    They are the Nature Beings or the elemental beings who are responsible for the formation of Nature…rivers, seas and oceans,the stars,the hills,mountains,rocks and plants e.t.c. The HUMAN BEING is the human spirit kernel creature which,dwelling within the earth human body,as evolved into the human form.

    Such a being is the one said to be …A Child of God. The headline of this article acknowledges such persons as Living Humans, living when we know what we are and begin to act as is expected of us so that we do not become irritable , irritating, disturbing and unwanted guests in the household of God who, eventually,must be cast out according to adamantine laws of the wounderful Creation of God.

    On the other hand, The Lifeless Shadows refers to those humans who are not yet human beings and are groping about in the dark, Spiritually blind, deaf and dumb, their spiritual senses, insensitive and feebled like the physical bodies of new born babies. In spiritual parlance, they are brain cripples. They cannot use their brains aright.

    Their brains are disconnected from the human spirits resident within the human body. In these persons,the human spirits cannot gorvern the earth alright and since they form the majority of humans on earth nothing on earth today is not crippled.

    Education is crippled in Nigeria.We educate the brain, to produce fine intellect, and not the spirit,the real man.Wasn’t Nigeria a better country when we had only five universities than today with about 250? Brain cripples have removed medicine and nutrition from The Will of God and caged them in The Will of Man.

    The social order has been overturned. Marriage is no longer marriage. Even democracy is man made and not the right form of government. The economy is covetous, greedy, cunning, suffocating, acquisitive etc. So what goodness can 2025 bring: Living Humans or Lifeless Shadows of them?

  • NDDC takes free medical care to rural communities

    NDDC takes free medical care to rural communities

    By Moyo Lawal

    Among the various development initiatives undertaken by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), none has had as immediate and profound an impact on the lives of rural residents as the free healthcare scheme. This initiative has brought much-needed relief to the region, reaching even the most remote communities in the Niger Delta, offering medical care and instilling hope for those facing health challenges.

    Sadly, in 2019, this vital programme, which had been a beacon of healing for many, was suspended. However, with the intervention of the current NDDC board and management, the programme was revived, much to the relief of Niger Deltans. The re-launch of the free medical outreach marked a significant milestone, as it once again brought much-needed healthcare services to the doorsteps of communities across the nine states of the region.

    The re-launch ceremony, held at the Ukana Cottage Hospital in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, was attended by key officials, including Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the NDDC Managing Director, who spoke of the commission’s unwavering commitment to delivering healthcare directly to rural communities. Represented by Sir Victor Antai, the Executive Director of Projects, Ogbuku highlighted the transformative impact of the programme, which has already provided health solutions to over two million people across the region. He also emphassised the NDDC’s ongoing efforts to collaborate with key partners such as Pro-Health International, Arit Walden Free Healthcare Mission, and others, to make a lasting difference in the healthcare sector of the Niger Delta.

    Read Also; FG pledges adequate compensation for displaced Zungeru communities

    Through its free medical outreach, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is improving health across communities in the oil-bearing Niger Delta region. Oil company activities have significantly impacted the environment and the health of local populations, with rampant pollution of water, land, and air. A World Bank study highlighted the urgent need to protect the region’s inhabitants and ecosystem from further damage. Health indicators in the Niger Delta remain far below the national average, prompting the NDDC to act.

    In 2004, the NDDC launched its first free medical mission in Odi, Bayelsa State, a community grappling with severe health challenges after a military operation. These missions provide general consultations, laboratory tests, and surgical interventions, particularly in obstetrics, gyneacology, and ophthalmology. Health education, including HIV/AIDS awareness, is also a key focus. Patients requiring advanced care are referred to tertiary institutions for further treatment.

    A week-long mission at Ukana Cottage Hospital attracted hundreds of residents from surrounding communities. One beneficiary, Mrs. Happiness Francis from Abia State, received life-changing care and successfully delivered twins, attributing her joy to the NDDC’s efforts. This initiative continues to transform lives, bringing health and hope to the marginalized communities of the Niger Delta.

  • How smoking damages arteries, blood vessels

    How smoking damages arteries, blood vessels

    By Iyanuoluwa Animasaun

    In the sterile quiet of a hospital cardiology ward, the devastating impact of smoking on cardiovascular health is evident in every patient chart, every irregular heartbeat displayed on monitors, and the weary faces of individuals battling advanced heart disease. Tobacco use remains one of the leading preventable causes of illness and premature death worldwide. Despite decades of persistent public health campaigns, clear warning labels, and extensive scientific research detailing its harmful effects, smoking continues to be a global health crisis.

    Cigarette smoke is a silent assault on the cardiovascular system—an intricate network responsible for delivering oxygen and vital nutrients throughout the body. At the molecular level, cigarette smoke introduces a toxic mix of harmful substances, with nicotine, carbon monoxide (CO), and tar at the forefront. Nicotine, a highly addictive alkaloid, stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, leading to an increase in heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and vasoconstriction. This places undue strain on the cardiovascular system, forcing the heart to work harder while simultaneously reducing the oxygen available to the myocardium.

    The effects of nicotine on lipid metabolism are equally concerning. It raises levels of LDL cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol) while lowering HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol), which promotes the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. Beyond this, nicotine induces insulin resistance, exacerbates oxidative stress, and damages endothelial cells—factors that together make the heart and blood vessels more vulnerable to damage. Carbon monoxide, a colourless, odourless gas in cigarette smoke, further disrupts cardiovascular efficiency. By binding to heamoglobin more than 200 times more readily than oxygen, CO reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, leading to a state of chronic hypoxia. The heart is then forced to work harder to supply oxygen to tissues, increasing the demand on the myocardium and raising the risk of ischemic events such as heart attacks. Chronic exposure to carbon monoxide also generates harmful free radicals that damage the endothelial lining of blood vessels, accelerating the aging of arteries and raising the risk of hypertension and ischemic heart disease.

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    Tar, the sticky residue found in cigarette smoke, is equally damaging. It clings to the delicate endothelial lining of blood vessels, inducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and cellular dysfunction. Over time, these processes promote the development of atherosclerosis—hardening and narrowing of the arteries—and impair the body’s ability to repair damaged blood vessels, further compromising cardiovascular health. Together, these toxic substances form a deadly trifecta that wreaks havoc on the heart and blood vessels, accelerating the onset of cardiovascular diseases, weakening the heart’s ability to function, and ultimately leading to premature mortality.

    The microvasculature, essential for tissue and organ perfusion, also becomes less responsive to prolonged tar exposure, making individuals more susceptible to acute cardiovascular events. Data suggests that chronic tar exposure significantly increases the risk of arterial thrombosis, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and chronic ischemia. The clinical consequences of smoking-induced cardiovascular damage are serious and long-lasting. Coronary artery disease (CAD) stands out as one of the most prevalent outcomes, driven by atherosclerosis, arterial narrowing, and reduced myocardial perfusion. Similarly, smoking is a well-established risk factor for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, where vascular damage and prothrombotic conditions significantly increase the risk of stroke. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is another common consequence, manifested by impaired blood circulation in the limbs, critical limb injuries, and non-healing wounds. In addition, smoking weakens the aortic wall, increasing vulnerability to aneurysms and potentially fatal ruptures.

    The financial and societal costs of smoking-related cardiovascular disease cannot be overstated. Global health systems incur significant costs related to hospitalisation, surgical procedures, medications, and long-term management of chronic cardiovascular disease. In addition to direct health costs, productivity losses due to disability, prolonged illness, and premature mortality place additional burdens on economic systems. Tobacco control is not only a health priority but also an economic imperative. The dangers of smoking do not only affect the smoker, but secondhand smoke also (SHS) poses a significant health risk to nonsmokers, including children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing cardiovascular disease. Exposure to SHS causes acute endothelial dysfunction, platelet activation, and increased arterial stiffness, all risk factors for cardiovascular events. Alarmingly, even brief exposure to SHS increases the risk of acute coronary syndromes. Prenatal exposure to SHS poses additional risks, including congenital heart defects and long-term cardiovascular dysfunction in children. Despite the picture created by the cardiovascular consequences of smoking, quitting offers hope. The cardiovascular system has an incredible ability to recover once you stop smoking. Within minutes of quitting, your heart rate and blood pressure begin to stabilise. Within hours, carbon monoxide levels drop, improving oxygen delivery. Over the weeks and months, vascular function improves and inflammation decreases. After a decade or more of prolonged abstinence, an individual’s cardiovascular risk begins to approach that of someone who has never smoked.

    To successfully quit smoking, you often need to adopt a multifaceted strategy. Pharmacological interventions, including nicotine replacement therapies, and varenicline, play a crucial role in relieving withdrawal symptoms and reducing cravings. Behavioral interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and individual counseling, address the psychological aspects of nicotine addiction. Social and peer support, whether through support groups or family encouragement, helps to empower and motivate sustained abstinence. On a broader scale, addressing tobacco use as a public health priority requires collaboration at the individual, clinical, societal, and government levels. Policy measures, including increased taxes on tobacco products, smoking bans in public places, and restrictions on tobacco marketing, have been effective in reducing smoking rates. Public health campaigns must also adapt to new challenges, such as the growing popularity of vaping and the dual use of tobacco, which pose new health risks. International organisations, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), continue to lead tobacco control initiatives, focusing on education, prevention, and accessible smoking cessation programmes. These coordinated efforts, combined with innovative research and evidence-based interventions, are leading the way in reducing tobacco-related cardiovascular disease worldwide.

    In conclusion, smoking remains a formidable factor in cardiovascular disease, perpetuating inflammation, oxidative damage, and vascular dysfunction. However, smoking cessation has both immediate and long-term benefits, reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease, health care costs, and societal losses. Tackling this global health crisis requires sustained commitment, innovative strategies, and cross-sector collaboration. The potential benefits of a healthier population, stronger health systems, and longer lives underscore the urgency and importance of this effort.

    • Animasaun is with the University of Southern Mississippi

  • Female factor Infertility

    Female factor Infertility

    Female infertility is the inability of a woman to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term after one year of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. Female factor infertility refers to infertility issues that primarily originate from the female reproductive system.

    There are different levels or types of female infertility which can affect women in varying degrees.

    Primary infertility, which accounts for about 10-15% of all cases of infertility, refers to a woman who has never been able to get pregnant. It can be caused by issues with ovulation, fallopian tube blockages, and uterine problems.

    Secondary infertility, which is more common than primary infertility, accounts for about 25-30% of all cases of infertility. This occurs when a woman who has previously been able to get pregnant, becomes unable to do so. Causes include scarring from previous pregnancies/deliveries, hormonal imbalances, or other reproductive health issues.

    Unexplained infertility is relatively common and accounts for about 10-30% of all cases of infertility. In these cases, the underlying cause of a woman’s infertility cannot be determined through testing.

    Partial infertility refers to reduced fertility, where a woman may be able to get pregnant but has difficulty doing so. Various factors like age, lifestyle, and certain medical conditions can contribute. Partial infertility has no specific prevalence data, as it exists on a spectrum. Many women experience some degree of reduced fertility over time.

    Absolute infertility is a complete inability to get pregnant, often due to structural or hormonal issues. Examples include the absence of ovaries, uterus, or fallopian tubes. Absolute infertility is relatively rare, affecting around 1-2% of women of reproductive age.

    In many parts of the developing world, women are defined and valued by their ability to bear children. The social and cultural pressures around fertility in these contexts can have severe negative impacts on the lives and well-being of infertile women.

    Infertility can have significant physical and emotional effects on women. Physical effects include hormonal imbalances and irregular menstrual cycles, pelvic pain or discomfort, sexual dysfunction, and an increased risk of certain medical conditions like endometriosis or polycystic ovarian syndrome.

    Emotional effects include depression, anxiety, and mood swings, feelings of low self-worth, loss of control and grief, strain on relationships with partners, family, and friends, and social isolation.

    Infertile women often face intense social stigma and marginalization within their communities. In many African cultures, a woman’s identity and social worth is deeply tied to her ability to bear children. They may be viewed as cursed, less of a woman, or a burden on the family. They also frequently have a lower social status compared to fertile women and may be denied participation in certain cultural/social events or rituals.

    Infertility often leads to marital problems, abandonment or polygamy as men may choose to take another wife who can bear children. This can cause economic hardship as infertile women often have fewer economic opportunities, particularly if they are uneducated and are financially dependent on their husbands/families, making them vulnerable. This can cause psychological distress including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness.

    Read Also: How I battled depression over infertility, Dayo Amusa reveals

    Access to infertility diagnosis and treatment is very limited in much of sub-Saharan Africa, leaving many women without options.

    Bridge Clinic has spent the last 25 years helping women with female factor infertility complete their families by making access to care straightforward and by ensuring that every encounter is driven by empathy, compassion and a lack of stigmatisation or blame. Our Welcome Forums have been, and continue to be, a platform for engaging couples trying to conceive in order to educate them on the causes of infertility and that both male and female factors can contribute to the challenges.

    Female infertility can be caused by a variety of factors, including ovulation disorders which are problems with the ovaries that can prevent the regular release of mature eggs, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), premature ovarian failure, and hypothalamic dysfunction. Other ovarian factors such as premature ovarian failure or ovarian cysts can also impact fertility.

    Conditions like pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis (a condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, leading to inflammation and scarring) or scarring from previous surgeries can block or damage the fallopian tubes, preventing the egg from travelling to the uterus.

    Uterine or cervical problems such as fibroids, polyps, or abnormal uterine shape can interfere with implantation or embryo development. Cervical stenosis or incompetence can also contribute to infertility.

    Disorders affecting hormone balance such as thyroid problems or high levels of prolactin can interfere with ovulation and fertility. In addition, certain genetic conditions, such as Turner syndrome or Fragile X syndrome can cause infertility.

    Female fertility declines with age, especially after the age of 35, due to a decrease in egg quality and quantity as their ovarian reserve diminishes.

    Lifestyle factors such as excessive alcohol consumption, excessive exercise, smoking, obesity, or extreme stress can also contribute to female factor infertility.

    Some symptoms of female infertility, other than the inability to conceive after one year of regular unprotected intercourse,  include irregular periods or absence of periods, heavy or light bleeding, pelvic pain or discomfort, unexplained weight gain or loss, and fatigue or mood changes.

    These symptoms on their own do not indicate infertility. A definitive diagnosis of female infertility will involve various tests, such as ovulation assessment, hormone testing, hysterosalpingography (to check for fallopian tube blockage), and laparoscopy (to visually inspect the reproductive organs). Treatment options can include medications, assisted reproductive technologies, lifestyle changes, and surgical interventions, depending on the underlying cause.

    At Bridge Clinic, comprehensive assessments are carried out to determine the possible female factors that may be causing infertility. Blood tests are done to check the woman’s ovarian reserve, rule out infections or thyroid disorders and other hormonal tests. A transvaginal ultrasound scan is done to check for any abnormalities of the uterus such as fibroids or polyps and to assess the ovarian follicular count and check for any cysts. An assessment is also done to rule out any blockages in the cervix (neck of the womb) that may impede the transferring of embryos into the uterus.

    If any abnormalities are found, the appropriate management is instituted to ensure that the best chance at a successful outcome with IVF is given.

    It is important for women experiencing infertility to seek support from their healthcare team. The right treatment depends on the underlying cause of infertility. A fertility specialist can evaluate a woman’s individual situation and recommend the most appropriate options. With the right care and coping strategies, many women can manage the difficulties of infertility.

  • How to understand PCOS’ symptoms, diagnosis, and management

    How to understand PCOS’ symptoms, diagnosis, and management

    Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder that commonly affects women of reproductive age, typically between 15 and 44 years. 

    It impacts the ovaries, hormones, and various bodily systems, causing symptoms that can significantly influence overall health and well-being.

    Here are the diagnostic steps for PCOS

    1. Medical History and Physical Exam

    A healthcare provider evaluates symptoms, medical history, and conducts a physical exam, including a pelvic examination.

    2. Blood Tests

    Assess androgen (male hormone) levels

    Check blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels

    Evaluate thyroid function to rule out thyroid-related issues

    3. Ultrasound

    Examine ovary size and the presence of cysts

    Assess uterine lining thickness

    Diagnosis Criteria

    PCOS is diagnosed if at least two of the following criteria are met:

    1. Irregular or infrequent menstrual cycles

    2. Elevated levels of male hormones (testosterone)

    3. Polycystic ovaries observed on an ultrasound

    Common Symptoms

    Acne

    Excess facial or body hair growth

    Scalp hair thinning or loss

    Skin tags

    Unexplained weight gain or difficulty losing weight

    Importance of Early Diagnosis

    Timely diagnosis and intervention are critical to managing PCOS symptoms and reducing the risk of long-term health complications.

  • Rotary commits $2m to maternal, child health

    Rotary commits $2m to maternal, child health

    The Rotary International Foundation has committed about $2 million grant to maternal and child healthcare in Nigeria, it emerged on Tuesday. 

    The initiative builds on the organization’s intensified efforts in polio eradication, which culminated in Nigeria being declared free of polio endemic in 2020.  

    Speaking at a press briefing, Victor Onukwugha, Past District Governor and Chairman of the Trustee Chair’s Visit to Nigeria Committee, who emphasized the importance of the ongoing efforts disclosed that Rotary International Foundation Trustee Chair, Mark D. Maloney, is set to visit Nigeria next week.

    According to Onukwugha, the visit presents a valuable opportunity for Nigeria to access greater benefits from the global humanitarian organization.

    Onukwugha disclosed that the District benefited from $2 million in grants under the Programme of Scale, dedicated to improving maternal and child health from the Rotary International Foundation.

    He explained that the Rotary Foundation provides four types of grants, District Grants, Global Grants, the Disaster Fund, and the newest addition, the Program of Scale.  

    “These are the avenues through which the Rotary Foundation continues to make a difference globally,” he said.

    According to him, the visit would spotlight the initiatives of all the six Rotary Districts in Nigeria that made up the Rotary International District 9127 and further advocate for Rotary’s humanitarian work in the country.

    “Since its establishment, only three countries in the world have benefited from it, Nigeria being one, and the Nigerian fund, which is about $2 million, is channeled to maternal and child care,” he said.

    He said the visit would also avail Maloney the opportunity to know how the fund has been spent, knowing fully well that Nigeria would still benefit more from the Foundation.

    He also disclosed that President Bola Tinubu would host Rotary International Chief during the visit.

    According to him, the visit of Maloney, alongside his spouse, Gay, from January 15 to 20, 2025, underscores the significant role Rotary plays in global humanitarian efforts, with a particular focus on its impact in Nigeria. 

    Maloney, who would also hold a town hall meeting with Rotarians and non-Rotarians in Nigeria in Abuja during the visit, would also witness a symbolic polio immunization exercise considering the feat the country has made to combat polio.

    Noting that Nigeria has been a significant beneficiary, particularly in its fight against polio., Onukwugha said, “Through donations from Nigerians and people in over 200 countries, Rotary has helped Nigeria transition from being the country with the highest polio cases to being polio-free since 2020.”

    Emphasizing Rotary’s global impact, particularly in eradicating polio, Onukwugha highlighted the humanitarian body’s ongoing partnership with the Nigerian government, which resulted in the country being formally certified polio-free in 2020.

    “Recently, the Nigeria Polio Plus Committee donated $14 million to sustain polio eradication efforts. This collaboration demonstrates Rotary’s unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s health sector.

    “This is the first time in many years that a Trustee Chair of the Rotary Foundation is visiting Nigeria, and we are excited about the opportunities it presents.

    Read Also: Rotary District 9111 offers free eye surgeries to 1,000

    “Rotary International, founded in 1905 as a fellowship and service organization, established its humanitarian arm, the Rotary International Foundation, in 1917. 

    “From a modest beginning of $26.05, the foundation’s endowment has grown to over $2 billion. 

    “The Foundation has become the engine through which Rotary has been doing good all over the world,” Onukwugha noted. 

    Maloney is expected to also visit Lagos before he departs from the country.

  • Lassa fever: NCDC, experts advocate hygiene, early treatment

    Lassa fever: NCDC, experts advocate hygiene, early treatment

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said the country is experiencing a surge in Lassa fever cases.

    It said Bauchi, Edo, and Ondo states have recorded higher numbers since November 2024.

    The centre’s Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja.

    Idris said the disease control agency had issued a comprehensive public advisory on Lassa fever, urging Nigerians to adopt preventive measures as cases continue to rise during the peak transmission season.

    The NCDC boss warned that the peak dry season, which lasts until April, could exacerbate outbreak if preventive measures were not strictly adhered to.

    Read Also; Tinubu right to ignore IMF, World Bank, says Kalu

    NAN reports that Lassa fever, named after the town of Lassa in Borno State where it was first identified in 1969, is endemic in Nigeria, with outbreaks occurring almost every year.

    The viral haemorrhagic disease is primarily transmitted through contact with food or surfaces contaminated with excretions from infected rodents.

    The disease can also spread through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected persons, making healthcare workers and caregivers particularly vulnerable.

    Symptoms range from mild fever and joint pain to severe bleeding from the nose, mouth and gastrointestinal tract.

    The disease is fatal in about 20 per cent of cases, particularly when treatment is delayed.

    Idris recommended frequent hand-washing with soap and water, storing of food items in rodent-proof containers and proper disposal of waste to deter rodents.

    The NCDC boss stressed the need for increased public awareness and early intervention, which he described as keys to curbing an outbreak.

    He assured Nigerians that the centre had intensified surveillance and response activities in affected states.

    Idris also urged Nigerians to report suspected cases to the nearest health facility and ensure that proper hygiene practices are observed.

    He said late reporting of cases had been a major source of concern hindering effective containment.

    Also, a public health expert, Dr. Tunde Oladipo, described Lassa fever outbreak as “a serious but preventable health crisis”.

    He said: “Strict hygiene practices, proper food storage and rodent control are crucial to reducing transmission. Individuals should avoid unprotected contact with sick persons or their fluids.”

  • Albinism association seeks help as cancer claims 16 members

    Albinism association seeks help as cancer claims 16 members

    The National President of the Albinism Association of Nigeria, Bisi Bamishe, revealed on Monday in Lagos that sixteen of their members died of cancer in 2024. 

    In her New Year message, she called on both the government and the public to assist approximately 40 members currently battling skin cancer.

    Ms. Bamishe emphasized the urgent need for financial support to enable the affected members to undergo critical treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, which could potentially save their lives.

    “Skin cancer remains a critical health challenge for persons with albinism in Nigeria, and without immediate intervention, the situation may spiral out of control,” she said.

    Read Also: Endangered species: Nigerians with albinism at receiving end of climate change

    She added that many members of the association are enduring immense pain in hospitals, while others suffer in silence and isolation at home.

    Ms. Bamishe called on the government, individuals, and development partners to provide life-saving support, including donations of sunscreen, UV umbrellas, hats, protective clothing, and free or subsidized treatment for skin cancer patients.

    “Your continued support can make a significant difference in addressing these challenges posed by this silent killer,” she said, urging for sponsorship of awareness campaigns in schools, markets, worship places, and media platforms.

    The association’s president appealed for sustained and increased assistance to ensure that no member succumbs to what she described as a preventable and treatable condition.

    “As we embark on this New Year, we look forward to your renewed commitment to improving the lives of persons with albinism in Nigeria. Together, we can turn the tide and create a future where every individual, regardless of their color or condition, can thrive and contribute meaningfully to society,” she said.

  • 133 Nigerian women, girls killed in 2024 due to Gender-Based Violence – Report

    133 Nigerian women, girls killed in 2024 due to Gender-Based Violence – Report

    A new report by the DOHS Cares Foundation has revealed that over 133 Nigerian women and girls, including teenagers, were killed in incidents of gender-based violence (GBV) between 1 January and 31 December 2024.

    The data comes from the Foundation’s tracker dashboard, which monitors cases of femicide across the country.

    DOHS Cares, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to fighting gender-based violence, compiled the report based on verified incidents published by media outlets, including The Nation.

    According to DOHS Cares founder Ololade Ajayi, the reports highlight a troubling trend of violence. Verified data shows that from January to March 2024, 12 women were killed. Among the victims was three-year-old Asiya, whose body was discovered in Bauchi State with some body parts allegedly missing after she was reported missing.

    In April 2024, nine women lost their lives. This included 100-year-old Aminat, who was killed by her 67-year-old son, Lukman Adejoju, following a dispute over palm oil sales.

    From May to June 2024, at least 23 women were killed. One victim, a 69-year-old widow named Ifeoma Ajuluchukwu, was beaten unconscious in her home while battling an illness.

    In July 2024, 16 cases were reported. Among the victims was Ifeoma Eze Esther, a first-year student at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, who was pushed from a hotel’s third floor by unidentified men.

    Read Also: Threat of technology-facilitated gender-based violence

    In August 2024, eight women, including a newborn baby, were killed. Nine-year-old Runaisa Sadiq was among them; she was raped and murdered by a pharmacy owner in Kano after her father took her to him for malaria treatment.

    In September 2024, seven women were killed, including 13-year-old Oriyomi Gboyega, whose severed wrists were found in the possession of an Islamic cleric.

    In October 2024, 20 cases were recorded. One of the victims, 24-year-old Priscilla Ocheme, was found dead after visiting her male friend, Ekosuehi Elvis, on October 21.

    While some suspects have been arrested, many perpetrators remain at large, according to the report.

    Ajayi noted that the 133 reported cases represent only the verified incidents. “We have more unverified reports, and once they are confirmed, the figures might increase,” she said.

    He urged the government to enact stronger laws to prevent, punish, and eliminate violence against women. She emphasized the need for swift action to protect women and girls from these tragic incidents.

    The report serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address gender-based violence in Nigeria.

  • What will 2025 bring: Leaving humans or lifeless shadows?

    What will 2025 bring: Leaving humans or lifeless shadows?

    What will 2025 throw up for Nigerians and humanity? From the forecasts of industry, economy and business experts, and , from my personal observations of persons I regularly interact with, 2025 will very likely be a worse year than 2024 or 2023. I guess so because it is man, and nothing else, who forms his environment and determines his fortunes and misfortunes. While it is true that, under Tinubu’s Administration, a Grade Level O9 teacher employed by the Government of Imo State will earn about 259,000 Naira from this month, huge market forces will make a means meat of his pocket. That teacher will discover  that his or her 259,000 ,The monthly salary has mealy encourage him or her to deal a slap accros the faces of millions of competitors for money in Nigeria in exchange for slaps across his or her face by rivals in the Naira gold mines. Everywhere in the polity, economy and social order, we will experience worse animal behaviour than in 2024 and 2023. I will explain why, presently. Before then, I will like to share with you three types of animal behaviour I experienced when I reared pigs, hens, cats and dogs.

    On the pig farm, the big pigs eat up the small pigs when food is scarce. The pig farmer who rears pregnant pigs knows he must separate them in different pens. He must boldly imprint on the wall of each pen the date on which the residents pregnant pig will have its piglets. This is three months three weeks and three days from when he took it for mating. Food must be abundant one week from the due date.Should the piglets come in the night ,and there is not enough food for the mother pig ,it may eat up all the new borns before dawn. I had fun in the study of animal behaviour when I reared 24 local hens in the back yard garden of a bungalow in which I lived on Ajanaku Street,Awuse Estate,Opebi, Lagos. I will throw a large piece of mussel meat at them. One will pick it.The others will attack it. It will flee with the meat held in it beak. The others will pursue.  The meat will fall, and another hen will pick it. The vicious circle will continue. The hens are animalistic..they are hungry. There is food . they can not organise themselves to share the food and make each one have some thing to eat. Human often ,human behaviour is like this. The scramble for money in Nigeria this year will grow bigger than in 2024 and should worsen those conditions among men which make their existence unpalatable.

    As for the dogs and the cats,they are always like sworn enemies, unless they are guided by humans who are conscious that they have a unifying influence over all creatures and call forth from deep within them abilities for this leadership purpose.                                                         

    New Year 2025

    If 2025 will be a better new year than prevous new  years, that possibility lies with us all. There is no knife that is so sharp that,on its own, will cut vegetable and plantain in the backyard garden for family dinner. It is a human hand that will put it to work .Persons who bringing out the best in us, like the hand which works the sharp knife,  are  those human  beings   who are working for 2025 to be a better year than 2024. That will determine whether 2025 can hold that promise. Our responses will determine if they will succeed. The evidence  at the outset of  2025 is that many  Nigerian are no different from the persons they  had been since adulthood. Therefore, they should not expect the dense black patches on 2024 to automatically transform into radiant, luminous white hues abd tones in 2025.

    On 31 December 2023,the churches were overfilled by worshippers who believed that 2023 was responsible for all their woes. Therefore, they entreated the incoming 2024 to be their friend and futune bearrer.They forgot that, as 2022 was taking its bow,they cause and abused it , and entreated incoming 2023, to be their friend and futune bearer . Every adult today can plot the graph or trajectory of his or her life to the onset of Generative Powerat purberty when his or her spirit carnnel,hitherto protectively world in  by the physical body ,made his first direct contact with all spheres of the material world.That is when the youth is restless, wishing to Storm the mountain,tranvers the earth and conquer it. Often,this coincides with melancoly and choleric years.What happens after that to generative power, which would have burnt the spirit cannel aloft and helped it to not only discover the purpose of his existence on earth,but to also  fullfil it,was that it was drained off into antithetical pursuits. The result was that, in a massive bread and butter existence,the spirit carnnel has forgotten about (1) what it is (2) where it came from (3) while it is on earth (4) the unchangeable laws which govern earthly and post earthly existence (5)the dangers of not complying with these laws,and the benefits of doing  so.

     Two Laws

    I wish to mention here only two of the Laws of Nature which will decide whether we would have a beautiful or an ugly 2025.

    The effect of these laws on our lives through our misconduct or mis behaviour can not be mitigated or abolished by many of the activities which take place in many churches today. These churches are wooing spiritual weaklings with assertions that they are called by Almighty creator to free them from the bondage into which their known and unknown enemies have placed them. Cheap testimonies of freedom from bondage are shared and followed with the sharing of bank account numbers of the prophet. In one such testimony, a Lagos  road side  groundnut seller said   N3 million  was paid into her bank account the day after she paid a N5000 naira covenant leavy to her church. I wondered  what happened to the money laundering law which required that a bank account be frozen were a lodgement of up to one million Naira can not be successfully explained. Some of the other activities of spiritual high way men which can not abort the effects of these two and other natural laws on our misconduct and mis behaviour include but are not limited to … Special prayer, writhing of the hands, shouting at the top of our voices, stamping of our feet on the ground,rubbing  anointing oil on our bodies,or adding it to our foods , drinking  anointing water, wearing of anointing mantle, wearing of singlets kept on the alter for months, anointed handkerchief, eating anointed fruits and cooking with anointed oil and salt, payment of covenant money, and sowing of seeds with money, fasting and prayers for first born children to not rank least among their siblings, deliverance from the enemies, known and unknown,who are said to have placed their Victims in bondage.

    Law of  homogeneity and  law of sowing and reaping

    If we critically observe our environment, including our fellow humans,we would observe the law of homogeneity at work in our universe,and in our fate or conditions of existence.The cells of the tongue are homogeneous and different from those of the brain, eyes, skin,liver or bones. .In  forests, animals leave in homogeneous communities , lions among lions, elephants among elephants etc. In the water,whales do not leave with crayfish, Titus or halibut.

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    Regarding whether 2025 will be a beautiful or ugly year for us, the secret lies in what we do with our thoughts. They are origins of what proceedes from our tongues and hand.The  so called prayer we say in church, expecially during vigil and night prayers,  are mere petitions which constitute wasted energy, because they hardly have the power to bear them aloft to the foot-stool of the Throne of Grace. The spoken  words merely form channels or path ways for our spiritual intuitive perception, which is leaving energy.What is an empty channel without leaving energy in it? The real prayer is what comes out of our thoughts.There are two kinds of thought, namely (1)Intuitive  Thought Volition and (2)Intellectual Thought Volition. Intuitive thought volition comes from the spirit. Interllectual thought volition comes from the intellect. Therefore, intuitive thought volition is more powerful and potent than intellectual thought volition. The spirit, which produces intuitive thought volition, is the highest creature in Creation. The intellect, which belongs to the body, is the toll and servant of the spirit which implement the will of the spirit on earth. The body serves only as a housing to the spirit.  In many persons, the spirit kernels  hardly know  why it  exists, what it is,where it is from ,for what purpose it is on earth, where it goes after the earth,and the laws which govern its existence on earth, in the beyond.

    I  will say the spirit seed germ  or kernels is on earth,like a mango seed sowed in the soil,to sprout,germinate,flower and fruit, recognise the will of the Almighty Creator in Creation and unconditionally fulfill it , perfect its abilities and return home to Paradise where it may be previleged to partake in the further up building of creation.

    Many of us are far removed from this reality as human spirit,will produce intuitive thought that are contrary to pure thought which the Laws of Creation expect of us . How many of us are not envious or hateful,greedy, cunning or malcontent and malevolent,for example? These weaknesses may exit,feeble or dormant, in our intuitive thought volition without our knowing that they do. Let us take envy and hatred as example. The intuitive thought volition is fashioned by a special specie of nature beings into intuitive thought form. If they are pure forms,they would purify,ennoble,beautify and up grade us,our environment and whatever they impact. If they are dark and ugly intuitive thought forms,they will produce opposite effects.Beautiful and ugly intuitive thought forms are alive and active. The  ugly ones are the demons we always talk about. They are attached to their authors. If we do not target them at anyone ,they roam about and attract to themselves demonic forms of their nature or homogeneity that they are stronger than, or are attracted by the ones that are stronger than they are gradually, they form communities on earth and in the beyond which some Christians called principalities. These homogeneous principalities are nourished by larger homogeneous power centres .Whenever we permit ourselves to think evil, we tune ourselves to the energy vibrations of these principalities and power centres. Their energies rouse and nourish our intuitive and  intellectual volitions, invigorating them and our capacity to think and to impact evil.

    The day we send intuitive thought of envy or hatred to any one , these huge army will attack our target. Envy and hatred will envelope such a person with all their manifestation , including murder. Pure target come to no harm. Inevitably,the demons will attack the author of one or several of them, causing such vicicitudes of existence from which deliverance from and imagined enemy is often or whereas the author is the cause of his or her own problems.On the other hand, beautiful intuitive thought bring us beautiful, bountiful harvests .

    As stated earlier,the forms of intellectual thought volition have no lives of their own, are weaker and soon perish when they are not nourished by their authors.Nevertheless, they are powerful enough to destroy individuals and nations. We often encounter them,too, in our dreams.

    When we are faced with challenges of existence in whatever form and we critically examine ourselves,we may discovered that we have a hand or hands in what is afflicting us. Look at this scenario. When we envy or hate someone,we are attached with spiritual bound to that person. We become like two birds, figuratively speaking, tied together at the wings. Neither of us will be able to move about freely.Imagine the other person tied to about 50 other persons on earth and in the beyond. Imagine this other 50 persons attached to several other persons who have their own lineagies of attachment as well.Now imagine yourself with an array of homogeneous number of attachments.How would you be able to move as freely as you would like to? Which prophet or pastor or general overseer can face the will of God to free you from the effort of the LAW OF ATTRACTION OF HOMOGENEOUS SOCIETY. Your salvation lies in the recognition of this will and unconditionally fulfilling it by doing only what is good at all times.That was why the LORD JESUS,the anniversary of Who’s birth on earth we celebrated on Christmas day eight days ago, warned us :LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THY SELF.Whatever weapon we fashion against our neighbour we fashion against ourselves. Thee LORD JESUS also said THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, that is THE HOLY SPIRIT,does not forgive sins.Now, let us do a simple audit of our intuitive thought volition and our intellectual thought volition.How does our day go? It does not matter if we are single, married, parents,or friends or workers in a household. What of the power play in our offices, businesses,residential neighbourhoods? What goes out of us every day will determine what come back to us in bigger multitudes. Long  ago, while I was observing THE LAW OF SOWING AND REAPING,I contemplated the sowing of an ear of corn.It produced a stalk of maize on which were five cobs, each with about 400 ears of corns. Therefore,we can assume that one ear of corn can give birth to 2000 ears of corn. That is how you and I stand with our intuitive thought volition and intellectual thought volition in the wounderful creation of GOD governed by his Powers and Justice. 

    What remedies would then be open to us but to take ourselves to the cleaners and turn new leaves, that is conduct our existence on entirely new platforms, beliefs and conceptions? The new platform and conceptions have come to us in the extension of spiritual knowledge on earth at this juncture of THE COSMIC TURNING- POINT which has taken our universe millions of earth years to achieve. Every cosmic turning point, the earth comes under greater spiritual impact and increased energy and tensions. Imagine the tensions education in primary school, secondary school and in the university, and of how persons who could not with stand them fall  way. The earth is a spiritual training school.The curricular have grown more voluminous. By now, every-one of us ought to have known what we are ,were we came from, what we are here for,the laws which govern  existence here and in the here after ,the road map of our journey back home,the land marks on the way , the dangers which may make us loose our way, the helps on the way which will make us not to be lost,and,even while here on earth, what we can always do to leave in a surfeit  of peace, plenty, happiness and joy. Those of us who are already moving in these direction are the ones said by the keepers of the HOUSEHOLD OF GOD ,the Universe,to be LEAVING HUMANS BEINGS. Advisedly, I mentioned the words HUMAN BEINGS.For not every human creature who exists in  external human form is a human being.There are other creatures who are not human in their content but exist in external human form.Our forebears knew about them.They are the Nature Beings or the elemental beings who are responsible for the formation of  Nature…rivers, seas and oceans,the Stars,the hills,mountains,rocks and plants e.t.c. The HUMAN BEING is the human karnel creature which,dwelling within the earth human body,as evolved into the human form such a being is the one said to be …A CHILD  OF GOD. The head line of this article acknowledges such a person as a … LIVING HUMANS. Leaving, when we know what we are and begin to act as is expected of us so that we do not become irritable , irritating, disturbing and unwanted guests in the household of God who, eventually,must be cast out according to adamantine laws of the wounderful Creation of GOD. The other hand THE LIFELESS SHADOWS refers to those humans who are not yet human beings and are groping about in the dark, SPIRITUALLY BLIND, DEAF AND DUMB, their spiritual senses, insensitive and  feeble like the physical   body of new born baby on earth. In spiritual parlance, they are brain cripples .They can not use their brains aright.Their brains are disconnected from the human spirits resident within the external human body. In these persons,the human spirits cannot gorvern the earth alright and since they form the majority of humans on earth, nothing on earth today is not crippled. Education is crippled in Nigeria.We Educate the brain, to produce fine intellect, and not the spirit,the real man.Wasn’t Nigeria a better country when we had only five universities than today with about 250? Brain cripples have removed medicine and nutrition from THE WILL OF GOD and caged them in THE WILL OF MAN. The social order has been overturned.Marriage is no longer marriage even democracy is man made and this is not the best form of government. The economy is covetous,greedy, cunning, suffocating, acquisitive etc.  So what goodness can 2025 bring: LEAVING HUMANS or LIFELESS SHADOWS of them?