New statistics indicate that physical inactivity is the main cause of approximately 21 to 25 percent of breast and colon cancers, 27 percent of diabetes and 30 percent of heart diseases. Recent reports from the National Cancer Institute found that fewer than 5 percent of adults get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day. Physical inactivity directly equates to six percent of annual deaths and that is statistically equivalent to the deaths caused by diabetes and nearly the amount of deaths associated with tobacco use. Escalating statistics highlight physical inactivity as the fourth leading risk factor for premature death. To complicate the situation, the term "physical activity" should not be mistaken for "exercise". Exercise, is a subcategory of physical activity that is planned, structured, repetitive, and purposeful. Significantly less people engage in exercise in comparison to proper physical activity levels. Lack of physical activity and exercise has become the emerging origin of excessive weight gain, a depressed immune system, Type 2 diabetes and a variety of cardiovascular or heart conditions. Type 2 diabetes can cause numerous other health conditions as well including stroke, kidney disease, nerve pain, blindness, amputation and even death if the condition goes undiagnosed. Regular moderate intensity physical activity and exercise – such as walking, cycling or participating in sports – has significant benefits for one’s health beyond weight loss. Trends indicate that the public believes exercise is only to lose weight. Healthy weight individuals justify engaging in insufficient physical activity and exercise levels due to perceived good-health status. Physical activity and exercise is needed for all – regardless of weight, health condition or age – to achieve optimal health and fight off disease. *How to start an exercise program* Researchers have found that individuals who set physical activity and exercise goals are more likely to achieve them. Without a plan, old inactivity habits recur. Begin each week by creating an exercise plan with goals for each day. At the end of each day, mark off the activities that have been completed and the goals achieved. Planning too much, too quickly is the leading cause of failure. Set small, realistic goals such as taking a walk after work for 15-20 minutes. An ideal activity plan should incorporate aerobic exercises such as walking or biking as well and strength and flexibility training. Water is the most important component in the human body, accounting for 50 to 60 percent of one’s total body mass. Drink at least eight glasses of water each day when engaging in physical activity and exercise. Dehydration is a leading cause of illness, injury and poor performance. Safety always comes first. Appropriate body position and alignment will help reduce the stress on the body and decrease the likelihood of experiencing an injury. It’s important to engage in stretching, warm up pre-exercises and cool down post-exercises to reduce soreness. Increase the intensity and length of the workouts slowly to allow one’s body to adapt and improve. Always listen to the body and how it feels. In the beginning, soreness following an exercise program is expected, but beware of constant, severe pain. Stop exercising if you experience any of these signs: excessive pain or pressure in the chest, dizziness, light-headedness or nausea. It’s important to check with a physician prior to beginning any exercise program for the first time. Dr Cory Couillard is an international healthcare speaker and columnist for numerous newspapers, magazines, websites and publications throughout the world. He works in collaboration with the World Health Organization's goals of disease prevention and global healthcare education. Views do not necessarily reflect endorsement.
Category: Online Special
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The health risk of Inactivity
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My advice for Boko Haram- Afghan President
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has advised Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria to sheath their swords.
He gave the advice when Nigeria’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, Dauda Danladi presented his letters of credence in Kabul, the Afghan capital recently.
He called on the Boko Haram members to lay down their arms if they are true Muslims and embrace amnesty offered by federal government noting that no religion preaches violence.
“Boko Haram should stop burning schools, Mosques, Churches in the name of Islam. You should not destroy your country if you are true Muslims. You should protect lives because in Islam if you kill one, it is as if you have killed the whole of humanity and if you save life, it is as if you have saved the whole of humanity”
He said Afghans have seen the futility of violence and put behind them the ugly past and have now embraced peace through dialogue.
He recalled the activities of the Taliban’s in Afghanistan saying it was externally motivated and the people were used by the Taliban’s to commit suicide bombing without knowledge that they will be committing suicide.
He said in most cases suicide bombers were given jackets containing bombs and on wearing it somebody who will follow them will detonate it on reaching their targets.
Afghanistan First Deputy Minister of Defense, Saran Pooh-Enayatullah Nazari while receiving Ambassador Danladi advised Boko Haram members not to or emulate the Taliban’s because they were supported by external forces to cause problems which made more than half a million orphans and widows in Afghanistan.
Adding that Afghanistan lost over two million people, while one million were disabled, Nazari hoped his country’s experience should be a lesson to fundamentalists in Nigeria to stop any actions that will destabilize the country.
“War is not good. It is like a flame and will destroy both the good and the bad. Whoever makes efforts to stop it, God will reward him and who so ever try to aggravate it will destroy everything and will be responsible before God,” Nazari stated.
He suggested the need for Nigeria to open its doors for Afghan young officers to attend some basic training in Nigeria.
He hoped that Nigeria would not go through the same problem experienced by Afghanistan before embracing peace through dialogue.
The Deputy Chairman of the Higher Peace Council, Abdul Hakim Mujahid who was a former Taliban Ambassador to United Nations also said that contrary to the perception of many, Islam is the religion of peace.
While calling for religious tolerance, Mujahid quoted the Holy Quran Chapter 8 verse 72 which stated that “ …We have created you into different nations and tribes so that you can understand one another,
the best among you in the sight of Allah is he who fears Allah most”.He said if Allah wanted to make all nations Muslims or Christians, he has the power to do so, but noted that in his wisdom, he chose not to do so.
Danladi who is Nigeria’s nonresident ambassador to Afghanistan commended the efforts of President Karzai’s administration.
He assured that Nigeria’s transformation agenda initiated by President Goodluck Jonathan on the international scene is global peace and economic diplomacy;
He said issues on manpower development, capacity building and institutional strengthening will be forwarded to relevant authorities in Nigeria for consideration under a conducive atmosphere.
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Why one soda per day is not good for you
A new study indicates that drinking one or more cans of soda a day can increase one’s risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. One in five were at elevated risk of diabetes with as little as one can per day according to statistics published in the journal *Diabetologia*. Soda has also become a well-known cause of weight gain, obesity and heart disease. The diabetic findings were similar to research published in the American Heart Association’s journal *Circulation*. There study followed 42,833 men’s diet, weight, smoking and exercise patterns for an average of 22 years. The primary finding of the study was men who drank one sugar-sweetened beverage per day had a 20 percent higher risk of suffering a heart attack. The latest diabetes research was compiled from over 350,000 individuals in the UK, France, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Germany, Denmark and Sweden. "The consumption of sugar sweetened soft drinks increases your risk of diabetes - so for every can of soft drinks that you drink per day, the risk is higher,” says lead researcher Dora Romaguera. Obesity and genetics were once classified as the primary cause of diabetes and heart disease but the findings of the studies suggest that it’s more related to the consumption of sugar and other dietary habits. Soda has also been found to produce inflammation – a major cause of chronic, long-term health conditions. It increases internal visceral fat storage, puts additional stress on blood circulation and decreases overall organ function. Soda has also been shown to spike blood sugar, triglycerides levels as well as lower HDL or good cholesterol. Sugary-beverage consumption "appears to be an independent risk factor for heart disease," says lead author Frank Hu, M.D., a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. However, soda drinks are only part of the problem – they’re just one of the unnatural, highly processed foods that was looked at. Unhealthy sugars are in nearly all processed foods that are in a can, box or bag. They are commonly added because of their addictive, flavor-enhancing qualities. Research has also linked eating processed foods and drinking soda to pancreatic cancer, metabolic syndrome, obesity and gout. Drinking two sodas per week increases the risk of pancreatic cancer by 87 percent according to the journal *Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention*. Drinking one soda per day increases one’s risk of metabolic syndrome by 44 percent and a child’s risk of becoming obese by 60 percent. Drinking two sodas per day increases the risk of gout by 85 percent according to researchers at Boston University School of Medicine. If one does drink soda, limit consumption to no more than one soda a couple times per week. It’s important to eat and drink as healthy as possible. Hydration is one of the best ways to remove toxins and harmful substances such as sugary beverages and processed foods. One’s body weight is approximately 60 percent water. Water is used in all of the cells, organs and tissues in the body. It’s been found that one must drink up to thirty-two glasses of water to counteract the effects of one soda. Get active. If you don't already exercise at least three times a week, start now. Regular exercise helps maintain a healthy body weight, reduces blood pressure and normalizes blood sugar levels. Dr Cory Couillard is an international healthcare speaker and columnist for numerous newspapers, magazines, websites and publications throughout the world. He works in collaboration with the World Health Organization's goals of disease prevention and global healthcare education. Views do not necessarily reflect endorsement.
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WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY 2013: How safe are Journalists?
World Press Freedom Day is annually observed on May 3 to inform the international community that freedom of the press and freedom of expression are fundamental human rights. This day reminds people that many journalists brave death or face jail to bring daily news to the public. It helps to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.
World Press Freedom Day is a global observance and not a public holiday.
World Press Freedom Day was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations in December 1993 as an outgrowth of the Seminar on Promoting an Independent and Pluralistic African Press. This seminar took place in Namibia in 1991 and led to the adoption of the Windhoek Declaration on Promoting Independent and Pluralistic Media.
The Windhoek Declaration adopted on May 3, 1993 called to establish, maintain and foster an independent, pluralistic and free press. It emphasized the importance of a free press for developing and maintaining democracy in a nation, and for economic development.
It has its root from the United Nations’ Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration on Human Rights that states that everyone “has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”.
World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) celebrates its 20th anniversary today with the theme: Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in All Media.
WPFD 2013 focuses in particular on the issues of safety of journalists, combating impunity for crimes against freedom of expression, and securing a free and open Internet as the precondition for safety online.
This focus builds upon principles set out in the Medellin Declaration on “Securing the Safety of Journalists and Combating Impunity” which was adopted by the participants of the WPFD held in Colombia in 2007. The Medellin Declaration urges States to comply with the commitments of Resolution 29 adopted by UNESCO’s General Conference in 1997 to combat impunity of crimes against journalists and to comply with Resolution 1738, adopted the year before by the United Nations Security Council, regarding the status of journalists during war. It further calls on news associations to promote actions that secure the safety of journalists.
These developments coincide with the growing awareness that ensuring freedom of expression must also necessarily extend to safety online.
Why should a free press even be up for discussion? Are we failing to get the message across?
The simple answer is that the press equals power, and wherever power lies there are those who seek to control or influence it. By nature, a free press is untamed; capable of speaking unfiltered to public opinion, it has always been a vital conduit for free expression.
It has therefore been a constant target.
As we increasingly embrace our digital citizenship, the tyrants who oppose free speech are quickly learning how to act as digital oppressors. Targets are more numerous, attacks more complicated and diverse. Our awareness and vigilance must adjust with similar voracity.
Impunity for the killers of journalists extends also to those who murder bloggers. Censorship does not discriminate between editorial platforms. Prisons are built for those who “offend”, regardless of media.
Securing the safety of journalists continues to be a challenge due to an upward trend in the killings of journalists, media workers, and social media producers. In 2012 alone, UNESCO’s Director-General condemned the killings of 121 journalists, almost double the annual figures of 2011 and 2010. In addition, there continues to be widespread harassment, intimidation, arbitrary arrest and online attacks on journalists in many parts of the world. To compound the problem, the rate of impunity for crimes against journalists, media workers and social media producers remains extremely high.
Sadly, Nigeria today joined the list of countries where journalists are routinely murdered and assaulted without any convictions for their attackers.
Amid militant sect activity in the north and politically inspired violence across the country, at least five journalists have been murdered due to their work since 2009. None of the cases have been solved. Many more have been attacked.
The Committee for the Protection of Journalists timed the release of its 2013 Impunity Index for World Press Freedom Day, today, as journalists around the world remember reporters, cameramen, researchers and editors who have been killed, injured, imprisoned or harassed for their work.
It is the first time Nigeria has been in the Impunity Index, following a decade or so of relative safety for the media. Many of the attacks are made on those covering the Muslim extremist group Boko Haram. Mr. Enenche Akogwu of Channels Television was shot and killed last year by Boko Haram members when he was interviewing witnesses of a terror attack in the city of Kano. No charges are thought to have been brought despite the incident being in front of a crowd.
In 2012, The Leadership Newspapers photojournalist, Mr Benedict Uwalaka was battered during his work by a Director of TOS Funeral Homes (undertakers), Bayo Ogunsola, and his accomplice. In October 2011, policemen raided the offices of The Nation newspaper in Abuja and Lagos and detained six of its employees. In 2008, operatives of the State Security Service shut down the Channels TV in Lagos over a report the station sourced from the News Agency of Nigeria.
The worst years for journalists in Nigeria were during the military regimes. The founding Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch magazine, Dele Giwa, was killed via a letter bomb in October 1986 during the dictatorship of Ibrahim Babangida. A senior correspondent of TheNews magazine in Kaduna, Bagauda Kaltho, was also killed during the dictatorship of Sani Abacha. Some other Nigerian journalists who have been brutally murdered are Bayo Ohu of The Guardian and Godwin Agbroko of ThisDay. Two Nigerian journalists, Krees Imodibie and Tayo Awotusin, went to cover the Liberian war. They were brutally killed by Charles Taylor and his murderous gang.
The painful aspect of these killings is that the perpetrators act with impunity. Today, the killers of Dele Giwa are still walking the streets free. Nobody has been duly convicted or punished. The same thing goes for the killers of Bagauda Kaltho. Up until now, nobody has been brought to justice for that barbarity.
In a statement in Lagos, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE regretted that successive administrations in Nigeria had treated the media with suspicion, instead of regarding it as an ally in national development.
The statement by the President of the guild, Mr Femi Adesina, noted that Nigeria’s robust and vibrant media had a history of commitment to noble causes, and played key roles in the struggle for independence, democratic rule, social justice and human rights.
“Today, the media is still in the vanguard of upholding all that is noble, just, fair and would rebound to the progress of the nation. We urge the government to resist anything that might bear the slightest semblance to a curtailment of the freedom of the press. The media parades professionals, who are passionate and committed to the growth and development of the country on all fronts, and they do not deserve to be hounded, repressed or harassed. If there are inadvertent infractions of the rules, we expect nothing but the strictest form of conformity to due process and the rule of law in addressing such. The line between press freedom and repression is quite thin, and eternal vigilance is needed at all times,”
Our right to seek, receive or impart information through any media may be enshrined in international human rights law, yet the media must fight daily to remain a bulwark against intrusions on free speech. As a check on power, an independent press acts as society’s window through which the abuses, digressions, untruths and self-interests of the powerful are revealed for public scrutiny.
According to corrupt governments, violent criminals, and fundamentalists of every description, this window would be better permanently bricked-up.
Wherever you live, whatever you do, pause for a moment and reflect on what kind of a society would be in front of you, were it not for the presence of an inquisitive media.
Who makes decisions on your behalf, and just how transparent is the process?
Above all, with a sense of solemn reflection, 3 May is an occasion to remember colleagues targeted for their work, especially those killed in the line of duty.
That ‘duty’ was not simply to bring us the news. Their work – by nature risky, sometimes dangerous, yet always outspoken – went beyond the headlines that became unintentional obituaries. Their work signifies a belief in a principle, exhorted by democracy and made tangible with every article, picture or broadcast.
It is that principle behind which we stand proud. It is upon that principle that our industry is founded, and that journalism thrives.
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May Day: Not yet “uhuru’’ for Nigerian workers
On May 1, Nigerian workers will join their counterparts all over the world to celebrate the International Labour Day.
International Workers’ Day is the commemoration of the 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago, the U.S.
Reports had it that the police were trying to disperse a public assembly during a general strike for the eight-hour workday, when an unidentified person threw a bomb at them.
The police reacted by firing on the workers, killing dozens of demonstrators and several of their own officers.
In 1889, the first congress of the Second International, meeting in Paris for the centennial of the French Revolution and the Exposition Universelle, following a proposal by Raymond Lavigne, called for international demonstrations on the 1890 anniversary of the Chicago protests.
May Day was formally recognised as an annual event at the International’s second congress in 1891
The first Workers’ Day in Nigeria was celebrated in Kano State in 1980, as the then governor, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, declared the day a public holiday.
In 1981, however, the Federal Government declared May 1 the Workers’ Day.
Since Nigeria started celebrating the May Day, the occasion is often used as an avenue for stock-taking by the organised labour and employers of labour.
The theme of this year’s May Day is “100 Years of Nationhood, Challenges of National Development’’.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says that Nigerian workers have every cause to celebrate the 2013 May Day “with pomp and pageantry.’’
Mr Promise Adeusi, the Deputy NLC President, said that the union had able to fight for the interests of Nigerian workers, citing the current national minimum wage as an instance.
Adeusi said that the congress had also intervened by forcing telecommunication providers in the country to bring down their tariffs.
“There have been some gains and pains. For instance, the minimum wage issue, we have been able to force some states to pay their workers what they should earn, just like their counterparts elsewhere.
“Nowadays, the awareness of Nigerian workers is more than what it used to be in the past.
“Telecom providers have come down with their tariffs and it is all about the input of the labour movement.
“We are still working to keep the workers’ head up high and very soon, all this struggle will bring about shinning results,’’ he added.
The Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, said that the Federal Government had always supported the May Day celebration, adding that President Goodluck Jonathan would be part of this year’s celebration.
“We are getting ready. You can see the excitement in the air. From what they told us, the organised labour will be 100 years this year and next year, Nigeria will become 100 years old.
“So, we are celebrating the labour movement at the eve of 100 years of nationhood and there is no doubt that organised labour played a major role in the race for independence,’’ he stressed.
However a cross-section of workers wants the government to give more attention to the workers’ welfare.
They insist that Nigerian workers have been adjudged as the poorest remunerated among the top 10 global oil producers and members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Miss Tochi Nwofor, a public servant, said that that the workers’ salary vis a vis the people’s cost of living is still very poor.
She also said that the government failed to build new staff quarters after selling the old staff quarters to their occupants some years ago.
“An average Nigerian worker is always in need because he or she can hardly cope with the high costs of living in the country.
“Some years back, several civil servants did not have to contend with house rent as they were living in staff quarters but the story is different now,’’ she said.
Sharing similar sentiments, Mr Emeka Okoronkwo, a public servant, stressed that the wages of civil servants were still very poor.
He argued that poor workers’ motivation would always foster low productivity because the workers, irrespective of their multifaceted responsibilities, lacked the financial capability to function efficiently.
“The so-called minimum wage is too insignificant to improve the lives of workers in these harsh economic times,’’ he said.
Okoronkwo called on the government to enhance the workers’ salary to reflect the high cost of living in the society, particularly the soaring prices of goods in the market and the high cost of transportation and accommodation.
He urged the government to either build staff quarters or allocate land to its agencies to erect low-cost houses for their staff, adding that such an policy would alleviate the plight of workers in getting affordable accommodation, particularly in expensive cities like Abuja, Lagos and Part Harcourt.
Nevertheless, Mr Paul Olowo, another public servant, bemoaned the high level of corruption in the country.
He urged the anti-corruption agencies to make tangible efforts to curb corruption in the country.
“The level of corruption is still astronomical; people are looting public resources with sheer impunity.
“Most times, monies meant for the welfare of workers in some parastatal agencies are pocketed by some highly placed persons in these agencies and nobody does anything about it.
“With the level of kidnapping, armed robbery, assassinations and the violence perpetrated by Boko Haram, many workers now operate with fear; they, therefore, cannot put in their best, ’’ he said.
All in all, analysts urge the government to give priority attention to the workers’ welfare.
They also want the government to close the gap between Nigerian workers and their counterparts in other oil-producing countries. (NANFeatures)
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60 toasts to Adenuga at 60
Business mongol, Otunba Micheal Adenuga on Monday, April 29 clocked 60. Many well wishers, including President Goodluck Jonathan has sent him happy birthday wishes.
Here are 60 of the birthday messages from a cross section of top government officials, family members, friends, associates and others compiled by Online Reporter, Alade Abiodun
1. On behalf of the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I joined your family, friends, protégés and well-wishers in thanking God for your exemplary life. it is my prayer that Almighty God continues to bless you with robust health and enduring happiness.- President Goodluck Jonathan
2. Otunba Mike Adenuga at 60. Mike, truly, you epitomize hard work, perseverance, doggedness, humility, diligence and patriotism. The fact that you treasure the virtue of true friendship and loyalty to any cause you believe in, gives you the cutting edge.- General I.B. Babangida, GCFR
3. Happy 60th birthday to Africa’s leading business icon and a very dear friend of Bayelsa state.-Gov Henry Seriake Dickson
4. 60 hearty cheers for a man of exceptional ability and performance. At 60, you glow as one who has made good for himself and for his country. You stand out as an investor per excellence and through your brilliant investments, hard work and success you have become one of the pillars of the Nigerian economy. – Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
5. Rare as a gem. To a man of great determination, who through the years has shone brilliantly through his invaluable achievements. Sir, you stand out as a gem of inestimable value.- Orji Uzor Kalu
6. I wish you a happy birthday, Dr. Mike Adenuga. You are a pillar of African football. You are a grand sponsor of CAF, grand sponsor of Nigerian and Ghanaian National football teams. Happy birthday. may God protect you and give you good health to continue to grow your business and help grow African football, Ghanaian football and Nigerian football.- Issa Hayatou, CAF president
7. Happy birthday to a legend. An icon, a great administrator and a man of distinction.- Comrade Abba Moro
8. You remain the embodiment of Nigerian entrepreneurial spirit. Your focus, endurance and commitment to a prosperous Nigeria and indeed Africa have marked you out for greater glory.- H.R.M Oba Adedotun Gbadebo
9. All rise to salute the Grand commander. Extra is the added advantage in an extraordinary man.- Alaiyeluwa Oba (Dr.) S.K. Adetona
10. Happy birthday to my worthy big brother.- Senator Olalekan Mustapha
11. Toast to the grand commander at 60. We salute your selfless and unwavering commitment to humanity and astonishing accomplishments as you strike diamond today.- Ojude Oba Festival Committee
12. 60 hearty cheers to my glowing brother. You are every inch a towering figure with achievements as towering as your physique.- Alhaji AbdulAzeez Arisekola Alao
13. We are proud of your monumental strides in the field of communication, trade and industry, and philanthropy that stand you out as a northern star in the galaxy of stars.-The Ogun State Council of Obas
14. Our pride turns Diamond.- Ijebu Traditional Council
15. Congratulations dad. We rejoice with a consummate professional, a respected nationalist, a committed philanthropist and a loving dad and grand dad.- Jaiye, Bella and Jameel Disu
16. Hearty cheers to my dear Apesin at 60. Precisely 60 years today, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr. (GCON) was brought to the world, to love,impact and give succor to people and humanity, with a clear mandate of touching lives and making society a better place to live.-Evangelist Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi
17. Happy cheers to our own Dr. Mike Adenuga at 60. Our beloved husband, father and grandfather.-Princess Adefolake Adenuga
18. Happy birthday daddy. There are stories and then there are stories. This is the story of the one that has given me everything.- Abimbola Adenuga
19. You have always given us our pay cheques. Today here’s a special cheque to you from all of us. – Glo Team.
20. It’s been a great pleasure and rare privilege for us working for agreat and amazing person like you.-Globacom and Conoil Plc Staff, Chairman’s office
21. Sir over the year you have brought the best out of the best and we are so privileged to have a boss, mentor and leader as you. The more you age, the more valuable you become. Sir, your value is just priceless.-Credit Control Team- Globacom.
22. Like diamonds, your worth is inestimable. You have impacted millions of lives worldwide. Your commitment to making a positive difference is unequaled.- Funmilola Osunsade
23. Congratulations to a man of vision and industry, we felicitate with you as you turn 60.- Eurafric Depot
24. Celebrating Adenuga at 60. We celebrate a man of vision, a man of purpose and achievement. We celebrate a leader of men.- Ericsson
25. A toast to a leading light. While some grow weary with age, your vibrancy and vision remains undimmed. We proudly celebrate with our dynamic leader as he fires on to another round of trailblazing achievements.- Conoil
26. Still bustling with energy. Happy birthday to the man who goes the extra mile for Africa.- Conoil
27. A champion of the business world. Sir, you have shown us how to live everyday like champions, through your deep desire to see your dreams and visions come alive, no matter the challenge.- George K. George
28. My respected chairman at 60. There is nothing as fulfilling as being a witness to the astonishing activities of a remarkable entrepreneur.- Wasiu Adebiyi
29. Every inch an oil king.- J.O Ariyo
30. Six decades and still waxing stronger, going higher.- Charles Uwaechie and Deacon Felix Akintola
31. Congratulations to a worthy pace setter.- Chief Lateef Oyelade
32. Celebrating Olori Oko. The business world is only for the brave at heart.- Conoil station dealers in Lagos
33. Celebrating the people’s chairman.-NARTO
34. A positive changer of our world.- Mrs Evelyn Rewande-Fabayan
35. Happy 60th birthday. You are welcome to your year of uncommon testimony.- Sisters and brother
36. Happy 60th birthday to an exemplary Nigerian.- OAN-Overseas Agency Nigeria Limited.
37. Birthday toast. You are a visioner, a courageous leader and administrator “per excellence”, a tireless giver to the down trodden, an epitome of humility.- Stag Engineering Nigeria LTD
38. A true gentleman at his finest. A man of flair and many talents. At 60, a diamond with prestige and pedigree. At 60 “the prime of life”, a sage of industry.- Leadway Assurance
39. The guru is 60. 6 decades of dynamism. The great entrepreneur is 60. Six decades of valued and selfless service to Nigerian people.- E-motion
40. A brother second to none, a boss like no other… for all that you are, for all that you mean to us and millions more, it is our prayer that the Almighty will crown you with more healthy, fruitful and rewarding years.- Adewale Sangowawa
41. Happy birthday to the golden finger of Nigerian oil.- Seawolf
42. Many men; few icons. Congratulations to a quintessential icon for the glowing six decades for a greener Nigeria and for a more endowed humanity.- PromoWorld LTD
43. Your birth 60 years ago was a special gift to people of your generation and beyond whose lives you have touched in more than one way. – Mojisola Bkare and others.
44. GCON is 60. Oga, step by step the journey goes on, moving from one glory and accomplishment to the other with accolades, encomiums and recognition from far and near.- Chukwuemeka Asieru-Sweet
45. A giant of our time at 60.- Sovereign Trust Insurance PLC
46. Happy birthday Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr. GCON.- Sterling Bank
47. 60 hearty congratulations to our leader and our boss.-Mr. Niyi Adewumi and other
48. The bull rages on at 60.- Optima energy
49. An icon turns 60. Celebrating decades of your outstanding achievements.- Marsha
50. Still blazing at 60 with rekindled ambition and passion to achieve even greater feats.- Victor Obaika
51. Enjoy the finest of life at 60. Like one in a billion golden bubbles, you stand out in your generation.- Elder I. Adisa
52. Prime time to celebrate. Today we mark 6 decades of your world class excellence. You have always pursued, persevered and conquered. 60 diamond cheers to you sir.- Francis Nebot
53. The path breaker, the trail blazer is 60. Your greatness has never been as a result of being strong but in the right use of your strength. – Deaconess Christie Suinner and others.
54. 60 hearty cheers to our true exemplary leader. We celebrate a great achiever, a man of big dreams and colossal achievements.- Aashish Sharma and others
55. Our role model clocks 60. To the indefatigable and ebullient chairman of chairmen… the collage of the brightest ideas.- Dele and Aramide Bankole
56. Congratulations to the guru on this auspicious celebration of your birthday. You are a man of great destiny and indeed a blessing to this generation.- Captain A.O. Adeyinka
57. Adenuga, still indefatigable at 60. We acknowledge your tremendous contributions to the development of Nigeria football over the years and wish you many more years of useful contributions to Nigerian football and the Nigerian nation in general.- Nigeria Football Federation
58. Happy birthday to a star of our generation. At 60, you have positively touched so many lives and made giant strides in building the nation politically, socially and economically.- Macans Global Services LTD
59. We rejoice and celebrate with you, as you clock 60 today. We wish you all that you wish yourself and more. – American University of Nigeria.
60. Hurray, the guru ids 60. We are lucky to have partnered with you over the years, and blessed to have you as a friend and a big brother.- Mike and Susan Itemuagbor
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Who is Nigeria’s youngest commercial pilot?
Contrary to recent reports that Favour Odozor, 20, who graduated at the Afrika Union Aviation Academy, South Africa, is the youngest Nigerian licensed commercial pilot there are indications that this record belongs to Sam Phil-Ebosie (1951 – 2012), who graduated as a licensed commercial pilot at the age of 19 in 1970.
Chinedu Ozordi, a journalist reports that Sam was born to Emman Phil-Ebosie and Yewande Phil-Ebosie on the 271h July, 1951, in Lagos and was the third of four brothers. Sam’s father was the foremost indigenous ENT Surgeon in Nigeria. He attended Ladi-Lak Institute and later transferred to Government Demonstration School, Surulere, Lagos, for his primary education.
He proceeded to Kings College, Lagos, for his secondary education; after which he shocked his family, teachers and mates by his decision to become a Civil Aviator.
To accomplish his ambition, Sam sought and was admitted into the second course at the Nigerian Civil Aviation School Zaria, graduating top of his class as a pilot in 1970.
He thereafter commenced his commercial flying career with the then Nigerian Airways Ltd. Through his career, he was trained on the Fokker 27, Fokker 28, Boeing 737, Boeing 707 and DC 10.
While he at Nigeria Airways, Sam was said to have been confirmed the youngest Fokker F 27 Captain at the age of 25 years in 1977.
The height of his professional flying career was when, as the youngest ever captain in the world, he flew the wide bodied aircraft at the age of 30 years in 1981.
During his career, he was the preferred long haul Captain for the Presidency on the Presidential Fleet. He flew the then President Shehu Shagari to the Hajj in Saudi Arabia, Australia for the Common Wealth Conference in 1981, New York to the United Nation’s Conference and several other destinations; and the Vice President Alex Ekweme also on several occasions.
Sam later retired from Nigeria Airways in 1985, after which he joined Saudi Airlines, Saudi Arabia in 1985 where he worked as a Lockheed Tri-Star Ll 011 Captain. Between 1986 and 1995, he worked at PH Aviation Teterboro, New Jersey, UPS, New York and Federal Express Memphis.
Sam retired from commercial flying after 27 years in 1995. Upon retirement he set up his own private aviation support company called Skynote.
Sam, until his death, remained a keen aviator, consulting in different areas of the aviation sector.
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One child dies every 60 sec of malaria
People across the globe are taking part in World Malaria Day on 25 April
2013. Malaria affects and kills millions of people worldwide. In Africa,
approximately one child will die every minute ranking malaria as one of the
top 3 disease killers.Throughout the world, 90 percent of all malaria deaths occur in pregnant
women and children under the age of five. The World Malaria Report 2011
reported an estimated 655,000 people died in 2010.Even when the disease doesn’t kill, it still can wreak havoc on
overburdened communities, governing bodies and economies in malaria-endemic
countries. Malaria often affects school and work attendance, decreases
worker productivity and drains household resources as families struggle to
pay for treatments.In Africa, malaria deaths have been cut by one third in the last 10 years.
Malaria was once found on every continent and in almost every country. 35
out of the 53 affected countries outside of Africa have reduced malaria
cases by 50 percent in the same time period. Investments have created more
than 90 countries malaria-free and another 26 nearly achieving a similar
status.Despite the improvements, significant concerns are upon the horizon.
Financial support and control initiatives for malaria are now beginning to
fade. Sadly, the global economic recession is tightening budgets of
individuals, governments and NGOs. Once earmarked malaria dollars are now
being spread out to help combat non-communicable, lifestyle-induced
conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and cancer.Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have been referenced by sensational
healthcare professionals as ‘diseases for dummies’. However untrue, the
skyrocketing rates of these mainly personal choice, lifestyle-induced
conditions are affecting the funding to non-lifestyle, communicable
diseases such as malaria.Essentially, high-risk, poverty-stricken pregnant women and children could
be suffering from malaria further due to potentially unnecessary healthcare
funding being distributed to the middle-to-upper classes for preventable
NCDs. The negative health outcomes of poor choices of those with money are
starting to cost more than the lack of choices of the world’s poorest.To complicate the problem, drug-resistant strains of malaria are now
surfacing in high-risk populations of the world as well. In 2012,
researchers found that the most effective drugs are becoming less effective
and over 20 percent of patients have begun to show treatment resistance.Therefore now is the time for the malaria community to regroup, reenergize
and look for new innovative ways to prevent the resurgence of malaria.
Further investments and a strong defensive strategy must center on
prevention and not just the treatment of malaria.Prevention provides tools that enable families and employees to protect
themselves against malaria and its effects. Such interventions may seem
costly at first, but the long-term health and economic benefits far
outweighs the cost of treatments.As a basic guideline for protection against malaria, United Against Malaria
recommends having at least two long-lasting insecticide-treated nets in a
household. These nets will typically provide two to five years of
protection for a family. The level of protection is based on the size of
the family, the type of net, the number of washings and the degree of care
given.Insecticides used in indoor residual spraying (IRS) are safe for humans but
lethal to mosquitoes that land on walls within the structure. IRS has been
shown to significantly decrease mosquito and larvae populations, especially
in communities where stagnant water are present, such as those near mines,
farms or brick-making operations.Dr. Cory Couillard is an international healthcare speaker and columnist for
numerous newspapers, magazines, websites and publications throughout the
world. He works in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s goals
of disease prevention and global healthcare education. Views do not
necessarily reflect endorsement.Email: drcorycouillard@gmail.com
Facebook: Dr Cory Couillard
Twitter: DrCoryCouillard
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Nets key to cutting malaria deaths and illness – UNICEF
Malaria still kills 660,000 people every year, most of them African children. Universal coverage of insecticide-treated bed nets is key in making gains against malaria – one of the largest killers of children in the world in the world, says UNICEF on World Malaria day.
With partners, UNICEF champions and supports governments to undertake the free distribution of insecticide-treated nets – especially long-lasting insecticidal nets. When universal coverage – one net for every two people – is reached this simple, effective barrier can reduce child mortality by up to 20 per cent.
In 2004, there were just 5.6 million bed nets in sub-Saharan Africa. Until recently limited competition among producers meant that they were too expensive to scale up. However, by 2010, bulk buying, joint procurement, better financing and extending manufacturing capacity into Africa meant that this number had increased to 145 million. A sustained, driven focus on high coverage with this very effective anti-malarial intervention contributed greatly to the 1.1 million lives that have been saved and a one-third decline in African malaria mortality rates that have been recorded since 2000.
“It is unacceptable that every day more than 1,500 children still die from a preventable and curable disease,” said Nicholas Alipui, UNICEF’s Director of Programmes. “We must distribute insecticide-treated nets to all who need them, provide timely testing for children and appropriate medicine when they are infected.”
A three-day treatment will cure malaria infections, especially if an episode is diagnosed early enough and treated appropriately – in particular with artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). But many children, especially in Africa, still die from malaria as they do not sleep under insecticide-treated bed nets and are unable to access life-saving treatment within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms.
UNICEF supports national efforts to train and provide community health workers with simple tools such as malaria rapid diagnostic tests so that children receive medicine quickly when needed. However, in Africa the proportion of treated children who receive a first-line treatment such as an ACT is less than 30 percent in most countries.
UNICEF, with governments, donors and other partners, also looks for innovative ways to reach the most vulnerable and hardest to reach children in pursuit of universal coverage. For example, in addition to free net distributions during mass campaigns in the poorest and most remote areas, nets are also provided to children during routine immunizations and to pregnant women during ante-natal check-ups. UNICEF is also stepping up its efforts on integrated community case management, which brings a package of life-saving interventions closer to children, families and homes.
It is estimated that enough nets were delivered over the last decade to cover 80 per cent of requirements in Sub-Saharan Africa. Many nets however are reaching the end of their useful life and must be replaced. Countries that had already reduced their malaria burdens by up to 50 per cent can quickly detect increased cases and deaths due to malaria if old, worn-out nets are not replaced.
From 2000 to 2010, the proportion of children sleeping under an insecticide-treated net in sub-Saharan Africa grew from less than 5 per cent to over a third. But global procurement of long-lasting lasting insecticidal nets has dropped by 52 per cent against an annual target requirement of 150 million. Such a slowdown risks gravely undermining the gains to date.
“We have made considerable progress in this fight, but cannot take our eyes off the goal of reducing malaria cases and deaths to zero. We must make sure that countries have the funding they need for malaria control and use it to protect their children and expectant mothers,” Mr. Alipui added.
Fighting malaria not only saves the lives of children, but also yields many other health and economic benefits for affected communities. For example, reducing malaria improves the health of pregnant mothers and therefore their newborn babies, reduces school and work absenteeism. Eliminating malaria reduces the burden on over-stretched health centres. It is estimated there is a 40-fold return for every US$1 spent controlling malaria in Africa.
There have been impressive gains and successes built on strong partnerships and the generous contributions of many donors – but these gains can be quickly lost if sustained focus and investments are not maintained.
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How not to die of cardiovascular diseases
World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April and highlights a priority area of public health concern in the world. The theme for 2013 is high blood pressure. One in three adults are known to have high blood pressure, are you one of them? Many people do not know they have high blood pressure because it does not always cause noticeable symptoms. As a result, the silent condition contributes to more than 9 million deaths every year, including about half of all deaths due to heart disease and stroke. The rates increase with age, from 1 in 10 people in their 20s and 30s to 5 in 10 people in their 50s. The prevalence of high blood pressure is the highest among the African decent, with over 40 percent of adults thought to be affected. However, raised blood pressure is among many factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have a broad meaning. It's not a single condition or disorder in itself. Rather, it's a collection of diseases and conditions. In fact, some types of cardiovascular disease can cause other types of cardiovascular disease. It’s normally seen as chain reaction. CVDs are the number one cause of death globally: more people die from CVDs than from any other cause. An estimated 17.3 million people died from CVDs in 2008, representing 30 percent of all global deaths. Of these deaths, an estimated 7.3 million were due to heart disease and 6.2 million were due to stroke. Over 80 percent of CVD deaths take place in low- and middle-income countries and occur almost equally between men and women. The number of people who die from CVDs, mainly from heart disease and stroke, is projected to increase to 23.3 million by 2030. Addressing risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet and obesity, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, diabetes and raised cholesterol can prevent the most common causes of cardiovascular disease. *Preventing heart attack and stroke* Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a disease of the arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood. CAD means that blood flow through the arteries has become impaired and is no longer reaching the muscle. The most common way that an obstruction develops is through a condition called atherosclerosis, a largely preventable form of cardiovascular disease. Cerebrovascular disease occurs when obstruction occurs in the blood vessels that supply the brain with oxygen. Strokes can occur due to bleeding from a blood vessel in the brain or from blood clots that obstruct the flow of blood. The most common obstruction is a build-up of fatty deposits on the inner walls of the blood vessels that supply the brain. *Not all heart disease preventable* Although one may hear a lot about preventing cardiovascular disease, sometimes they’re not preventable as well. That's because some types of cardiovascular disease are congenital or one is born with them. Congenital heart diseases are faults in the structure of the heart that exist from early development. Rheumatic heart disease is a condition that impacts a lot of children. It’s known to cause damage to the heart muscle and valves. The condition is caused by bacteria that can produce what’s called rheumatic fever. Once rheumatic valve disease begins, it tends to progressively worsen over time. Repeated episodes of rheumatic fever can accelerate the deterioration of the heart valves. Rheumatic heart disease ends up affecting about half the people who have rheumatic fever with carditis or inflammation of the heart. Most of the time, rheumatic heart disease is diagnosed 10 to 20 years after being triggered by acute rheumatic fever. *The silent killer * Often, there are no symptoms of the underlying disease of the blood vessels. A heart attack or stroke may be the first warning of an underlying problem. The symptoms of a heart attack often include pain and discomfort directly over one’s heart or in the center of the chest. Symptoms can often be confusing and one of the most common areas of pain is in the arms, the left shoulder, elbows, jaw or back. In addition a person may experience difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath, light-headedness, cold sweats, nausea and vomiting. Men are more likely to experience chest pain while women often demonstrate shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and back or jaw pain. The chance of having a stroke approximately doubles for each decade after age 55. While strokes are common among the elderly, a lot of people under 65 also have strokes. One’s risk of stroke is greater if a parent, grandparent, sister or brother has had a stroke. The most common symptom of a stroke is sudden weakness in one’s face, arm, or leg. Symptoms are most often seen on one side of the body. One can experience visual changes, dizziness, loss of balance and confusion as well. A stroke victim often characterizes having the worst headache of their life with no known cause. *Choices more important than genetics* Behavioral risk factors are responsible for about 80 percent of heart disease and cerebrovascular disease. Ceasing tobacco use, reducing salt in the diet, consuming fruits and vegetables, maintaining a healthy body weight, engaging in regular physical activity and avoiding harmful use of alcohol have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The effects of unhealthy diet and physical inactivity may show up in individuals as raised blood pressure, raised blood sugar, raised cholesterol, and overweight and obesity. This is the mechanism that cardiovascular disease can produce other cardiovascular disease. It’s important to be physically active every day. Research has shown that getting at least 30 minutes of physical activity on 5 or more days of the week can help lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol and keep one’s weight at a healthy level. Something is always better than nothing. If you're doing nothing now, start out slow. Even 10 minutes at a time can offer health benefits. Studies show that people who have achieved even a moderate level of fitness are much less likely to die early than those with low levels. Control one’s dietary portion size. How much one eats is just as important as what you eat. Overloading the plate, taking seconds and eating until one feels stuffed can lead to eating more calories, fat and cholesterol than is recommended. Eat more of low-calorie, nutrient-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables, and less high-calorie, high-sodium foods, such as refined, processed or takeaway foods. Eating this way can shape up one’s heart and waistline. Fruits and vegetables are also a good source of vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber. Vegetables and fruits contain substances found in plants that are known to help prevent cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and inflammation. Eating more fruits and vegetables is also one of the best ways to reduce high-fat foods such as processed meats, crisps and other junk foods. Dr Cory Couillard is an international healthcare speaker and columnist for numerous newspapers, magazines, websites and publications throughout the world. He works in collaboration with the World Health Organization's goals of disease prevention and global healthcare education. Views do not necessarily reflect endorsement. Email: drcorycouillard@gmail.com Facebook: Dr Cory Couillard Twitter: DrCoryCouillard