The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

Golfers storm Enugu

Enugu, the Coal City hummed with golfers who came in from across the country to compete in the 20th Heineken Enugu Amateur Open Golf Tournament.

Sponsored by the Nigerian Breweries Plc, the tournament ended with 32-year old Chima Chukwu from Benin Golf Club becoming the overall winner with best gross of 155.

Chukwu defeated S. Justin from Port-Harcourt club and Chimezie Onyeaghala of Enugu club who returned 159 and 156 gross respectively.

Enugu state Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Charles Ndukwe who represented Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi said by its consistent sponsorship of the tournament, NB Plc has demystified the age-long belief that golf is an elitist sport.

He said it “rather a captivating sport that has harnessed, the old and the young in the rugged spirit of camaraderie.”

He said the Ugwuanyi administration will always to invest in sports, insisting that it remains one major avenue of keeping young men busy and by so doing taking their minds away from crime.

The Managing Director of the NB Plc, Nicolaas Vervelde who was represented by the Public Affairs Managern of Ama Breweries, Patrick Ejidoh said sponsorship of the tournament had offered them the opportunity as a corporate entity to demonstrate their commitment to sports development in the country.

He said the golf event was in recognition of the role of sport in the enhancement of active and healthy mind.

He said with NB Plc and the Enugu Sports Club becoming age-long partners, he was hopeful that the club would continue to provide the enabling environment for the sustenance of the partnership.

The captain of the Golf Section of Enugu Sports Club, Vin-Martin Ilo who had earlier presented special awards tagged ‘Captain’s Service Awards’to his predecessor, Ben Etiaba, Patrick Ejidoh (Most Improved Golfer for 2015), Mike Raffaoul and son as most dedicated executive member and auxiliary member, respectively, appealed to the state government to not only sustain its support for the club but also to improve on it.

Other winners in the various categories of the game emerged went home with various itmes ranging from Plasma TV, refrigerators, gas cookers, standing fans and blenders, among others.

October 30, 2015
UNTH: Excelling in open heart surgery

Some foreign partners were involved but the 108 heart procedures at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu prove that even, critical ailments can be treated at home. CHRIS OJI reports

There are reasons to cheer the feat. One, those 108 heart patients have been put out of their life-threatening worries. They have been breathing better and can face the world with hope. Two, the fact that they had their open heart surgeries at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, not India or some country in Europe, shows that with more effort, even critical conditions can be cured in Nigeria. This will help, as the case of the 108 patients proves, that much-needed foreign exchange can be saved. Those 108 procedures were conducted at the hospital over two years.

UNTH known as the Centre of Excellence in cardiothoracic surgery was in the news recently when the resident doctors embarked on a strike over what they called “lack of equipment and amenities”.

But while the doctors were striking, the hospital was busy carrying out open heart surgeries on patients with various ailments.

A total of 13 patients were attended to during the current exercise, all of them adults. That of children will come up in November. The surgeries were performed in collaboration with two Indian doctors, Aerra Vikram and Parlapelly Srinivas.

The first open heart surgery at UNTH was performed in 1974 by the late Prof. Udokwu with the collaboration of Egyptian doctors. It was after that surgery that the hospital earned its designation as the national centre of excellence in cardiothoracic surgery.

The hospital continued performing open heart surgeries until 2003 when it had a 10-year interregnum due partly to its relocation from Enugu metropolis to its permanent site at Ituku/Ozalla, about 15 minutes drive from Enugu. The permanent site had no purpose-built facility for the programme.

But with the coming of the current Chief Medical Director, Dr. Christopher Amah in 2011, efforts to revamp the surgery programme were made and in 2013, the flagship programme for that designation came alive with the help of oversea partners who operate on charity.

With the help of these partners, the hospital was able to carry out open heart surgeries at subsidised rates. The partners also supplied equipment to the hospital with some of the best medical gadgets available in any part of the world. In fact, the leader of the Indian doctors that were in the current team, Aerra Vikran confessed to reporters that they do not have such equipment in their hospitals in India

While conducting reporters round the Open Heart Surgery Centre, CMD, Dr. Amah disclosed that with the treatment of the 13 patients under the current programme, the number of patients treated since resumption in 2013 totalled 108. The patients with various degrees of heart problems were successfully treated.

Amah said the bulk of the patients had been billed for surgeries in other parts of the world before the intervention of the UNTH Open Heart surgery and were drawn from various parts of the country.

Amah said that the good thing about the exercise was that it was done at reduced cost compared to what the patients would spend travelling overseas, adding that the feat was made possible by the partnership the hospital had with foreign organisations.

Amah said that organisations like Voom Foundation, Rotary International, among others, had always partnered with the hospital to provide human and material support to the program, adding that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) would soon become a collaborator.

He stated 13 patients were operated on in the current open heart surgery which began on October 19.

The CMD said the unique thing about the current programme was that only two alien doctors were in the team while 90 per cent of the medical experts were drawn from the hospital. This, he said, was an indication that local experts would completely take over the programme in the next few months.

“Our target is to do open heart surgery every month. We want to get to a point where we now do this routinely but more importantly at an affordable rate to Nigerians. We want to discourage medical tourism because of what Nigerians put into it. The UNTH is a centre of excellence and it is our hope that we keep the tempo”.

Amah told reporters that he was happy that the strike action embarked upon by Association of Resident Doctors did not affect the current programme, expressing regrets that the doctors could embark on strike over issues that never existed. He said those who embarked on strike action did not mean well for the hospital but were chasing after selfish benefits.

“The money they seek has no approval from federal government. We have explained this severally to them but to no avail. Instead they choose the part of blackmail and feeding the public with falsehood. It is a pity. They should retrace their steps for good,” he said.

He praised the patriotism of those doctors who stayed behind and joined in ensuring the success of the latest programme. He equally dismissed the claim by the striking resident doctors that the hospital uses candles and lamps to perform surgeries and that there was no water in the hospital.

“I wonder what they want to achieve by dishing out such falsehood. In the Open Heart Surgery Centre, we have 24 hours nonstop lighting with two 350 KVA generator sets and more than two functional boreholes for the centre. On the whole we have 13 boreholes being sunk for the hospital,” he stressed.

He explained that all the falsehood being placed on the management of the hospital was its decision to review some contracts in order to save costs adding that over N120 million previously spent on outsourced services handled by contractors per month had been saved following the decision to handle the services internally. These services were reviewed with effect from July this year.

The review followed the expiration of the five-year contracts in the area of laundry, cleaning and security services in the hospital.

He added that the review had also infused competition and efficiency in the system as more than one contractor now handle these services within the hospital.

Giving a breakdown of the figures, he stated that cleaning services that was contracted out for over N6 million monthly had been reviewed to about N3 million with two contractors engaged for the service, while laundry services had also been reviewed downwards from over N6 million to about N1.5 million.

Amah said the hospital was paying over N8 million naira for security services at the old and permanent sites of the hospital contracted to one security firm, but has now added one more security fýirm which are now paid a little above N6 million naira.

He disclosed that cutting of grass within the hospital premises that was going for about N12 million has been reviewed downward to about N3m following the donation of weed slashers by a friend of the hospital.

“It is something to be happy about because it will help us develop the hospital further. Some of these services were contracted out for upto five years before we came on board. We waited for the contracts to elapse to be able to look at them again and we are happy to report that the hospital has made some great saves. Each month we are making about N10 million from these services against what we were paying previously,” Amah stated.

He said the period of the contracts had also been reduced from five to two years, saying it was a way to monitor performance.

ýHe said his desire was to make the hospital one of the reference centres in the country, regretting however that incessant strikes by resident doctors had affected the activities of the hospital.

He however, appealed to the striking doctors to return to work in the

interest of Nigerians dying daily owing to the absense of the doctors from their duty posts.

Amah added that despite scarcity of funds the management is currently rehabilitating Ward 9 to upgrade it to international status like the National Centre for Cardiothoracic (heart) surgery which has successfully performed over 90 procedures.

He said that the hospital facilities had been seriously given facelift for improved service delivery adding that the Amenity Ward could be compared with any standard hospital overseas.

The CMD appealed to those instigating doctor’s strikes to rethink.

October 30, 2015
‘Aba ready for ember-months’

Security agencies and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have said they will ensure that Aba, Abia State’s commercial hub, is safe in the busy end-of-year months. SUNNY NWANKWO reports

Aba, the business headquarters of the Southeast hums with activities every day. In the run-up to Christmas, the tempo increases, throwing up challenges, among which are traffic gridlock and crime. Should residents and visitors brace up for another heart-thumping season?

No, said the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), police and even the army.

The Aba Unit Command of the Federal Safety Corps (FRSC) said its personnel will be posted to strategic places to make them visible and deter motorists who would otherwise flout traffic rules.

The unit commander Assistant Corps Commander, Okora Awassam told The Nation on the telephone that the agency had started intensive sensitisation at various motor parks including other programmes that they (FRSC) have lined up to ensure that motorists especially, commercial drivers adhered strictly to road standards and rules guiding driving on the highways in Nigeria.

Awassam assured Aba residents and other visitors of the city a gridlock hitch-free period, noting that visibility of FRSC personnel operation on Aba roads would help to curtail the excesses of drivers while driving on the roads.

Apart from gridlock that rocks the Enyimba city during the ember months, December in particular, it is usually expected that crime and other criminal activities are also usually on the high side. But information gathered from security agencies show that they are not ignorant of the fact that crimes and criminal activities are high during the festive season.

The Abia State Police Public Relations Officer, PPO DSP Ezekiel Onyeke Udeviotu speaking on what the Police in Abia was doing ahead of the celebration said “Ember months as usual do witness increase in economic and criminal activities because of the influx of persons and goods from all parts of the country and the world to sell or buy from various markets in the town (Aba). And so, many people who feel that they can use the opportunity to meet their own target through illegal and unlawful means will be at it this time (ember months). And police are not ignorant of this fact; we are on top of the situation”.

Continuing, Udeviotu added “The CP and management committee of the force in Abia State have met severally to strategise on how to curb the excesses of this criminals in Abia, particularly Umuahia and Aba which are among the major cities in Abia. We are not going to disclose to members of the public the strategy that we are going to employ because information given to the press is meant for public consumption and by the time it gets to public consumption, it means that we are selling our strength to our opponent which we will make them move ahead of you.

“The police are strategising and aiming to be ahead of the criminal this period and we are saying to every Nigerian and every Abia resident to go about their lawful business without fear of molestation and when they notice anything that is contrary to their expectation, they should promptly report to the police and other security agencies that they can easily reach because a stitch in time saves nine. The medium of communication between the security agencies is faster than the one between the civilian and the security agencies. We have been sharing information and intelligence in order to ensure that there is peace and a crime free environment in the state. Anyone with useful information that will make the state crime free within this period should feel free and to disclose such to the police without fear of his identity being disclosed or molestation. But we are out on the street where our men in mufti are also monitoring those of them on the street for operation to make sure that they didn’t go against the law or doing things that will drag the image of the police in the mud. They are meant to give Abians quality service from the police”, adding that the police have all it takes to combat crime even as he pleaded for the cooperation of the general public in assisting the police with relevant information that will help to expose the activities of hoodlums in their areas and the state in general.

In a contribution, a source at the 144 Battalion Asa Ukwa West Local Government Area who recalled to the reporter several successes the battalion has made in recent times said that they were working in collaboration with other sister agencies in the state and Aba in particular.

According to the source, the army in Aba were planning to meet with traditional rulers of various communities under the supervision of the battalion to see possible ways they (traditional rulers) could partner with security agencies in the state to ensure that people including members of the community who would be coming back home for the festive period will have a peaceful celebration and feel free throughout their stay in their communities.

He warned those planning to carry out their unscrupulous acts to have a rethink or better relocate from the state adding that they was going to deal with such person or group and would be made to face the full weight of the law as consequences to their act.

However, many residents of Aba have pleaded with the President Buhari and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu led administration to help in equipping the police and other sister security agencies in the state with the necessary crime fighting and effective communication gadgets for better and efficient performance in the line of their duties as they expressed hope that security agencies could perform better when equipped with the necessary materials to work with.

October 30, 2015
Ugwuanyi praised on workers’ welfare

A non-governmental group, Centre for Reform Education Initiative (CREI) has praised Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for the prompt payment of workers’ salaries and allowances in the state.

In a statement issued by its Executive Director, Hon. Chinwe Ugwu, CREI described as ‘a step in the right direction’ the governor’s commitment towards improved welfare for civil servants in the state.

CREI specifically noted with gratitude the event of September 1 when the governor extended his love to 100 lucky civil servants in the state.

The beneficiaries, between grade-level 1-10, won one bedroom apartment each at the Elim Estate. The Ugwuanyi administration has paid 30 per cent equity contribution of the total cost of each flat under its housing scheme for public servants.”

“We at CREI are impressed with what His Excellency is doing presently and we feel we must give him a pat on the back. While some states are battling with workers pay with backlog of arrears and unpaid allowances, it is gratifying to note that Enugu workers are receiving their salaries as and when due. This is commendable indeed.

”It is on record that the governor has remained resolute in his commitment to continue with the tradition of prompt payment of salaries and enhanced efforts to make the new State Secretariat Complex more efficient and comfortable for the workers,” she stated.

On the economic policy of the state, the group expressed satisfaction with the governor’s drive, particularly the constitution of an Economic Advisory Committee to advise the administration on best economic policies that will engender sustainable growth and development for the state to navigate through the adverse effects of the negative development in the nation’s economy.

”The quality of personalities that make up this committee is a testimony that the governor is truly committed to moving Enugu state to the next level.With trusted and tested Enugu indigenes such as the deputy senate president, Distinguished senator Ike Ekweremadu as members of that committee, we have no doubts in our minds that the governor is poised to offer quality service to the state”

The group therefore urged the people of the state, particularly those in opposition to join hands with the governor to develop the state.

October 30, 2015
Obiano’s wife gives out wheelchairs

It was just as well that her response to the rumours was charity. For several months wife of Anambra State governor Ebelechukwu Obiano was out of public view, with some speculating that she was dead. But she has brushed aside all the rumours not as much with words as with action. She gave out wheelchairs to physically challenged persons at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia.

The presentation of the materials coincided with her birthday which she celebrated with the physically challenged.

As she was being kind to the needy through her Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ), a philanthropist Dr. Tony Anukwu of Tona Geological Services was donating to the NGO.

Anukwu gave out 20 motorcycles and gas cookers to CAFE at the Governor’s Lodge where he urged other philanthropists to donate to Mrs Obiano’s pet project.

While giving out the wheel chairs to the physically challenged persons, Mrs. Obiano said, “There is a reason why some children of God turn-out physically challenged in their present conditions”

“There is something God wants you and me to do in such a challenging situation. I don’t believe anybody is handicapped, because it means the person is worthless; I see it that you only have challenges.

“My mission on earth is to help mankind….When my husband became governor, I bought the idea of starting a pet project, but objected to limiting the focus area to just one intervention area.

“I decided to delve into many focus areas to enable me touch many people with diverse needs. I was a Marriage Counselor for 15 years and since 1991, I promised our Mother Mary and our Lord Jesus that I am going to champion the cause of the less privileged ones in our society.”

The president of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JNAPWD), Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke, commended Mrs. Obiano for her endless streams of empowerment programmes beneficial to the physically challenged persons since her husband’s administration.

He recalled that in about one year plus in office, she has facilitated the establishment of three rehabilitation centres well accessible to disable persons in the three senatorial zones of Anambra central (Oba), Anambra north (Aguleri) and Anambra south (Nawfija).

•The motorcycles

However, receiving the 20 motorcycles and gas cookers from Dr. Anukwu, Mrs. Obiano expressed satisfaction to the donor and his wife for their continuous support to her CAFÉ.

She said, “I am impressed with what is happening here today. It is a confirmation that God loves Anambra State. This further confirms that my decision to register CAFE, an NGO that caters for the whole of the family is not in vain.”

“The fact that philanthropists and our poeple are joining hands with us is a thing of joy that should be commended.”

“I have been doing selfless work before I became the wife of the governor, I sometimes get worried at the enormity of the task, but I also believe that we have prominent sons and daughters of Anambra who are their brothers keepers like the Managing Director of Tona Geological Services, Mr. Tony Anukwu and his amiable wife. I thank them for their kind gesture.”

Speaking with The Nation, Anukwu said they had followed closely the empowerment programme of the first Lady and decided to support it, adding, it was my motivation.

He said “We are here to identify with the wife of the governor for her continuous care for the less privileged and the indigent in support of the work of the governor.”

“We have been monitoring CAFE programmes right from Lagos where she lived before joining her husband in the service of our people. My family and friends will continue to support CAFÉ.”

October 30, 2015
Monarchs ratify leader at peace meeting

After a long period of bickering and leadership challenges, the Council of Southeast Traditional Rulers has found peace. On October 23, the region’s monarchs ratified their leader who was elected earlier.

The body of traditional rulers had been hit with leadership crisis following the alleged inability of its former chairman and one-time chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH Eze Cletus Ilomuanya to vacate the seat at the end of his tenure.

The council has now come together to put its house in order in Umuahia by ratifying the election of the Abia State chairman of traditional rulers, HRM Eze Eberechi Dick as its chairman for the next three years.

The body had at a meeting on October 19 elected Eze Dick as its chairman and has now ratified the election. The kings also presented their new leader to the state governor Dr Okezie Ikpeazu who is expected to inform his counterparts in the region.

At an earlier meeting, the body resolved that the tenure of Eze Cletus Ilomuanya had expired as both the chairman of Imo state council of traditional rulers and South East council of traditional rulers. They also dissolved the executive committee headed by Eze Ilomuanya,who has been deposed in Imo State.

The Southeast traditional rulers decided that any traditional ruler who is not recognised by his state government or who maybe recognised but not nominated as a delegate to the zonal body by his state council of traditional rulers, should not be accredited as a member of the council, which means that Eze Ilomuanya ceases to be their member.

Eze Dick described the job of leading the entire traditional rulers of the zone as a daunting one which requires the prayers of all and sundry from the zone for him to succeed.

The new Southeast traditional rulers chairman said that from now on wards that the people of the zone will be speaking with one voice and that the era of crisis in the council is over, while they will be attending all meetings required of traditional rulers in the country as united body.

He explained that the executive council headed by Eze Ilomuanya had been dissolved on August 7 during their meeting in Umuahia, adding that the attempt by the former chairman to disrupt the election was foiled since he had no right to lay claim to a body he is no longer a member.

Eze Dick said that at the end of his tenure in the next three years that the seat will move to Anambra state which is what their constitution said which Eze Ilomuanya refused to follow for nine years, adding that the seat had always been rotated among the five Southeast states.

The new Southeast traditional rulers council chairman urged his colleagues to give him their support so that his best will come out for the benefit of all and the entire zone, stressing that together they can achieve a lot while alone nothing will be achieved.

He said that he expects challenges during his tenure but that he has strong believe that with God on his side that he will surmount the challenges and forger ahead in the task of leading the body to greater heights.

October 30, 2015
The rich to subsidise health in Anambra

Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano has said a new health scheme is underway in the state under which the rich will offset part of the medical bills of the poor.

It was also stated that a category of Anambra people including prisoners will not have to pay for their hospital bills under the scheme.

Governor Obiano announced this during a pontifical High Mass to mark the 62nd birthday of the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev Valerian Okeke at the Onitsha Prisons.

Addressing the inmates and dignitaries who joined the Archbishop for Mass at the prisons, Governor Obiano said that his government is aware of the health challenges facing the prisoners and is making frantic efforts to ameliorate them while presenting drugs, toiletries, bottled water and a cash donation of 400 thousand naira to the inmates.

The State Health Insurance Scheme is organised to enable people who work to contribute for health delivery according to their capability into a pool of funds. It is expected that the pool of money will enable government take care of the health needs of those who have and those unable to cater for most of their health needs. The arrangement is seen as a welcome development for citizens, the state and workers who have not been able to take advantage of the National Health Insurance Scheme.

Most of the inmates are among the 760 awaiting trial. The governor urged the inmates to see their stay in prison as an avenue through which they would ponder over their lives both present and future and utilise theopportunity to reposition themselves.

Earlier in his homily, the celebrant Most Rev. Valerian Okeke expressed appreciation to the governor for supporting the prison inmates, describing him as the most prisoner-friendly governor so farin the history of the state. The Archbishop reminded the prisoners not to see their situation as the end of the world but to utilise it to the glory of God. Archbishop Okeke announced that the Archdiocese would within three years construct a modest skill acquisition center in the prisons to allow them use their time gainfully.

Most Rev Okeke promised to give the inmates a live cow in addition to bags of rice. He brought with him cooked rice, toiletries, and biscuits among other items for the celebration, and later toured the cells with governor Obiano which he explained the Archdiocese had tiled and fixed ceiling fans and sunk boreholes to supply water to all the cells.

Also in his vote of thanks, the Auxiliary Bishop of Onitsha Archdiocese Most Rev Dennis Isiuzo regretted that the inmates are mostly young and thanked the governor for not only arranging for the Skills acquisition training and re-integration of the 25 inmates he granted amnesty but also the promise to give them one million Naira each to start life anew. Most rev Isiuzo said a good state is measured by how the poor and down trodden are treated for which Anambra is rated high.

Earlier, the comptroller of prisons Mr. Anthony Ubaike, and the deputy comptroller Onitsha prison Mr. Alex Oditah recalled that Governor Obiano is the only governor that visited and granted amnesty to 25 inmates, and gave them soft landing with cash and skill acquisition.

The highpoints of the event were the cutting of the birthday cake and a novelty football match with the inmates.

October 30, 2015
Mechanic kills colleague over missing screw

An auto-mechanic identified as Chukwuma has stabbed and killed his co-worker in Enugu over a missing screw. The incident took place at Tinkers’ Village in the city.

The deceased was identified as Nnamdi Nzeh, who was a major dealer in motor parts.

Nze was said to have died in a brawl which followed an intense argument with Chukwuma.

An eyewitness said Nze died as a result of a deep cut he sustained on his neck during the fight.

“It was like a drama,” said the eyewitness. “This thing couldn’t have led to a fight but that was how the devil wanted it. Nze called Chukwudi to fix a [car part] for him; in the process he lost a screw and this resulted in a fighting. The mechanic denied he lost the screw which led to exchange of blows.

”When they started fighting people came and separated them and we thought everything was settled, until when the mechanic took a screw driver and stabbed Nze on his neck, he fell down and slumped.”

“The victim could not be saved immediately because the mechanics deserted the area on seeing the man in the pool of blood,” the eyewitness said.

A spare parts dealer in the area, Tony Ugwu described the incident as horrible, noting that the whole place has been locked as the police were tactfully searching for the whereabouts of the assailant who escaped immediately Nze slumped.

Police spokesman Ebere Amaraizu confirmed the incident.

October 30, 2015
Physiologists end confab in Enugu

The 35th Annual Scientific Conference of the Physiological Society of Nigeria hosted by the Department of Human Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu campus, has ended in Enugu.

The conference tagged Coal City 2015 was preceded by a pre-conference workshop on basic research methodology and was attended by several young scientists from various Nigerian universities.

A communiqué released in Enugu and jointly signed by the president of the association, Prof. Arthur Nwafor and chairman local organizing committee,

Prof. Bond Anyaehie, said the Conference with the theme: The role of Physiologist in health care delivery” was attended by over 300 delegates from various universities across the length and breadth of Nigeria.

The Conference was declared open by the vice-chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Prof. Benjamin Ozumba.

After a welcome address by the President of the society, Prof. Arthur Nwafor and a goodwill message by the provost, college of medicine, University of Nigeria, Prof. Ernest Onwasigwe, a keynote lecture was delivered by Prof. Frank Akpuaka.

After the opening ceremony formalities, the conference commenced with a symposium titled: The role of Physiologists beyond lecturing and research with subtopics on Professionalization of Physiology, Specialization and functionalization in Physiology, Proposal for registration of a Physiology Council in Nigeria and as well as opportunities for internship in Physiology.

The plenary and scientific sessions of the conference witnessed over 160 presentations in both oral and poster forms. The conference also deliberated on a number of issues of national importance including the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) letter to the Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities on the teaching of the subject of Physiology in Nigerian Medical Schools. After exhaustive discussions, the society adopted the following resolutions.

That the importance and contributions of Physiology to health care delivery system especially in Nigeria cannot be overemphasised. This is further highlighted by the quality of research presented at the conference, which are not only nationally relevant but also addressed globally needs.

That the association rejects in its entirety the directives by the MDCN to Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities to completely replace all non-medically qualified lecturers in Basic Medical Sciences with medical doctors by 2019 and commended the response of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities’ urging the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to stop meddling into the medical training but rather should concentrate on its regulatory role of medical practice in line with the Act establishing the MDCN.

Unity of purpose amongst all trainers of health care professionals in the country to avoid unnecessary polarization and division. The diversity in qualification of teachers of health care professionals should be a source of strength bringing about significant improvements in medical research and thus a better trained health care personnel.

The communiqué also recommended the establishment of a regulatory body to be known as the Physiology Council of Nigeria (PCN) to further strengthen professiona-lisation, specialisation and functionalization, to improve Physiology teaching and practice in Nigeria as well as the holistic review of the current B.Sc. Physiology curriculum in Nigerian universities should be carried out.

Meanwhile, the Physiological Society of Nigeria has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his election as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and urged him to bring about positive changes in the medical education especially as it concerns basic medical education in Nigeria.

The Society also extended its appreciation to the Governor of Enugu State chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the vice-chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Prof. Benjamin Ozumba for providing a conducive environment for the successful hosting of the Conference.

The 36th Annual Scientific Conference of the Physiological Society of Nigeria (co-host with African Association of Physiological Sciences AAPS) holds in Lagos in 2016 and the 37th meeting of the PSN at Kaduna State University, Kaduna in 2017.

Participants were drawn from universities within and outside the country.

October 23, 2015
‘No initiation, no marriage’

In the past, for failing to undergo a stringent manhood ritual in some Ebonyi State communities, a man was forbidden to marry, among other harsh consequences. Now that tradition has been whittled down to the elders’ chagrin. OGOCHUKWU ANIOKE reports

It was a tough ritual but if you were a young man in Afikpo North and South councils of Ebonyi State in those day, you had better go through it. In some cases, you could live in the wild for years before you were readmitted into the community. If you shunned the tradition, you were forbidden to marry. If you chose to have an affair and manage to put the lady in the family way, you lost an ear to the sharp knife of the no-nonsense keepers of the tradition. There were other tough sanctions including fines and having your house pulled down.

That tradition is now seriously threatened by modernity and Christianity, and the elders are sad, saying that the rite, among other things, helped to check promiscuity and its consequences.

For a person to be accorded all the rights and privileges of a male child in Ehugbo, Amasiri and Edda in the two local government areas, and regarded as a full-fledged man who could marry and participate in decision making of the communities, such a person must undergo the initiation process called Ibu-ubu and Ipu-ogo.

Anything short of this usually attracted serious sanctions including pulling down the person’s residential building and that of his father and removal of one of the ears of such a person.

Chief Idume Ajah said, “This was so serious before that you didn’t dare the male ones and get married without being initiated; you didn’t try that at all unless you wanted severe sanctions which you may regret.

“You don’t also impregnate a girl without doing initiation otherwise you should be ready to lose your residential building and your property and your father should also be ready to do so too. Not only this, one of your two ears will be cut off with sharp knife or razor blade if you try it.

“You will also be fined heavily if you impregnate a lady without undergoing this male initiation. These sanctions were so serious before that nobody does rubbish but now it is no longer like that, it is no longer serious and that is why most of our girls today are being impregnated indiscriminately.

“Marriage was honourable but nowadays people get into marriage anyhow without recourse to our tradition especially the male initiation which was a ticket to marriage.

“So culture to me especially this aspect in our area is not all that bad because it is for the betterment of the people. It checkmates teenage pregnancy which is now rampant in our area today because the occult initiation of males is no longer taking very serious as before,” he said.

“For one to undergo the initiation especially the full one, such a person must be in the bush for seven years and must appear in the attire prescribed by the elders by wearing only a tiny towel or palm fronds on his waist throughout the seven years or period of the initiation.

“During this process the person cannot return home until the initiation is completed.

He explained that if one didn’t want to do the one of seven years, such a person can do that of two weeks or two days which are not usually serious like the one of seven years but that the person that undergoes that of seven years is usually different in terms of character.

A community leader in Amasiri, Afikpo North local government area of the state, Chief Idam Enyum told The Nation that the male initiations are usually done between August during the New Yam Festival and dry season period.

He noted that at the climax of the initiation women and the uninitiated men keep indoors while the invisible spirit parades the villages. The women he explained are not supposed to see the spirit otherwise they develop incurable swollen stomach.

“During the initiation period especially in some special hours, any male who has not undergone the initiation and also women are not allowed to move around especially the playground known as ogo where the initiation usually takes place otherwise strange things will happen to them. They will develop swollen stomachs that cannot be cured.”

“In Edda, Afikpo South local government area, you can even be attacked or killed if you are a woman and you move around during certain periods of the initiation.

“This is because the males who have undergone the initiation before including those undergoing the initiation process are usually stark naked patrolling the villages till certain periods of the time. So it usually annoys them if their nakedness is seen by women during that process”.

“This is usually taken so serious that if you come out, you may be attacked or killed and nothing will come out of it,” he said.

Enyum regretted that the initiation is losing grip in some parts of the area, adding that most of the buildings where the initiation process takes place are now dilapidated with some falling down without attention and blamed in on the advent of Christianity.

“You see, Ibu-ibu is seriously losing grip in Ehugbo. People are no longer taking it so serious that our fattening rooms and structures where the initiation usually takes place have fallen down with some dilapidated and no attention as to reconstruct them is given.”

“I think it is because of Christianity. Our people have all entered into church including most of the elders who were leading this initiation process before. So it is no longer as serious as it used to be except in some places in Amasiri and Edda.”

October 23, 2015