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A teacher from Concordia College, Yola Adamwa State Anani Oluwabunmi, , Adamawa State, , over the weekend,  emerged the winner of the 2020 Maltina Teacher of the Year.

Anani was declared the winner at the grand finale held on Friday, October 16, 2020, at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

As winner,  Anani received  a total cash prize of N6.5 million (N1.5million immediately and N1million annually for the next five years) from the Nigerian Breweries – Felix Ohiwerei Trust Fund.  She also got an all-expense paid capacity development training abroad while a fully equipped computer laboratory or six-classroom block worth N20 million will be built for her school in her honour by the Fund.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Education, Honourable Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba commended the company’s unflinching commitment in supporting the education sector by rewarding high performing teachers through the annual Maltina Teacher of the Year initiative.

Nwajiuba noted that it was heartwarming to note that the company is keeping faith with this initiative despite the disruptive impact of the coronavirus pandemic on businesses and economy.

In his welcome address, the Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Jordi Borrut Bel explained that the initiative was designed to recognize, celebrate and motivate teachers whose stories have become great reminders of their role in laying the foundation for a good society.

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While congratulating the finalists alongside state champions for coming this far, he stated that the role of teachers cannot be underestimated given their contribution to shaping and moulding lives. “With the Maltina Teacher of the Year, we are saying that our teachers can and should be rewarded for their roles in the development of our nation”, Bel said.

Idele Benedicta, a teacher from Asoro Grammar School Senior, Egor, Edo State emerged the first runner-up winning a total of N1.5 Million while Adeeko Folukemi, a teacher from Patterson Memorial Baptist Grammar School, Abeokuta, Ogun State emerged as second runner-up with a prize of N1, 250, 000.00. Other 27 teachers who emerged as state champions were also rewarded with a sum of N500, 000.00 each.

The Commissioner of Education, Lagos State, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo who represented the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu also commended Nigerian Breweries Plc while noting that teachers play a significant role in nation-building given their contribution in imparting knowledge in the lives of their students.

Speaking after she was announced as the winner of the coveted prize, Anani thanked Nigerian Breweries Plc, Maltina for putting smiles on the faces of teachers through this initiative by rewarding and recognizing them.

Since inception, the Maltina Teacher of the Year initiative has produced six grand winners, Rose Nkemdilim Obi, Anambra (2015), Imoh Essien, Akwa Ibom (2016), Felix Ariguzo, Delta State (2017), Olasunkanmi Opeifa, FCT (2018), Ezem Collins (2019) and now Oluwabunmi Anani.

Moses Emorinken, Abuja

To date, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has lost 16 doctors to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, with 1,031 doctors exposed and 321 confirmed positive for the disease.

The President of the NMA, Prof. Innocent Ujah, made this known on Monday in Lagos, during a press conference to mark this year’s Physician week.

Ujah also condemned the kidnapping and killing of doctors and other health workers by insurgents and therefore urge the federal government to do all within its power to rescue those in captivity.

According to him, “As of 8th October 2020, there were 1,031 doctors who were exposed to the virus in Nigeria and 321 confirmed cases, sadly, sixteen (16) (mortality rate of 4.98 percent) of our members were painfully lost in the battle to save the lives of Nigerians. The prize we have to pay in obedience to the Hippocratic Oath.

“Nineteen years ago, precisely on the 27th of April 2001, African governments made a historic pledge in Abuja, Nigeria to allocate at least 15 percent of their annual budgets to the health sector. This vow became known as the Abuja Declaration.

“As COVID-19 spreads and wreaks havoc across the world, the question must be asked: What has become of this vow of allocating 15 percent national budget to health? No disease has ever before laid bare the state of the country’s health sector like Covid-19.

“Covid-19 has revealed acute shortages of critical and lifesaving equipment such as ventilators and intensive care beds in our Hospitals. Dire shortages of medical capacity have further put a spotlight on the poor state of health in Nigeria.

“There is some distance still to travel to ensure that health care is affordable and accessible to all citizens for Universal health coverage (UHC) to be achieved. At the heart of the fragile health systems is the perennial failure of governments (Federal, State, and Local) to prioritize health and allocate adequate resources to it. Nigeria’s, allocation to health in 2020 was a mere 4.16 percent of the budget and it is unpredictable how much of the fund would be released for the care of the people of Nigeria.

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“The COVID-19 pandemic must jolt the Nigerian government to adequately invest in healthcare systems. The scaring statistics of our health indicators in the country which have been further worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic is clearly unacceptable to the Nigerian Doctor.”

He added, “For the government to provide accessible and affordable health care for its people, it is recommended that the National Health Insurance Scheme be made compulsory for all adult Nigerians, as well as the establishment of Health Bank, and intensification of Public-Private Policy (PPP).

“Relatedly, the government should as a matter of urgency implement an upward review of the current abysmally poor hazard allowance paid to doctors and other frontline health workers in public service. Whereas Nigeria has a ratio of one doctor -to-5000 Nigerians with many of these doctors chronically overworked, yet they are not adequately motivated, encouraged nor incentivized in any form. Giving incentives to health care workers will motivate them to work harder and give their best.”

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

A public health expert, Dr. Tunde Ayeye, has called for an improvement in environmental hygiene, saying it is panacea that can significantly reduce deaths from communicable diseases, such as Covid-19, malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia.

Ayeye said it is said that many do not know that Covid-19, which currently ravages the world, can be prevented by environmental and personal hygiene. He stated this at the press conference to herald the 40th anniversary of Draiklinas, a commercial and industrial dry cleaning firm at the company’s headquarters, in Lagos.

Ayeye, the Vice Chairman of the company, said a lot of the ailments and infections plaguing the society can be prevented if more attention is put on achieving a cleaner environment and total compliance to necessary hygiene protocols. He said more than half of close to one million children dying in Nigeria before their fifth birthday projected by UNICEF can be prevented by just simply improving access to water, sanitation and hygiene.

To mark the Draiklinas’ 40th anniversary, Ayeye said the company would be embarking on aggressive clean-up and life-saving advocacy with a series of initiatives aimed at ensuring the cleanliness and improved hygienic condition of the environment. Part of the initiatives, according to him, includes ‘the clean your gutter, clean your street campaign,’ targeted at the general public while ‘adopt a street, clean the road, gutter and adopt a garden, plant and maintain a garden’ would be targeted at corporate organisations in the state.

He announced that the company would be adopting a garden near its headquarters in Gbagada, which it will beautify and maintain in conjunction with LASPARK, even as it is working with the Community Development Associations to adopt a road and distribute insecticide-treated nets to under-served communities.

By Adekunle Yusuf

One of many long-lasting disruptions caused by the novel Coronavirus is serious reduction in funding for mental health, which has left the public to contend with dire consequences. This was the submission of Dr. Oluyemi Ogun, Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, during an event to commemorate this year’s World Mental Health Day.

In order to reverse the negative effects of deep cuts in mental health funding, Dr. Ogun also called for an increase in mental health investment in Nigeria, stressing that doing so will further open up access to those in need of mental health services. Globally, the World Mental Health Day is observed every October 10 to provide mental health education, awareness and advocacy to the general public against social stigma associated with mental illness in many societies and cultures.

This year’s theme, “Mental health for all: greater investment, greater access,” is officially set by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH). According to the CMD, the economic consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused chronic underfunding in the mental healthcare sector, which has greatly reduced treatment opportunities for the people. “The country has been further diminished by the Covid-19 pandemic as mental health care providers, caregivers, and patients were locked down or became inaccessible due to the pandemic. How much access do our people have to mental health care, especially in conflict situations worsened by Boko Haram, banditry, and internal displacements, etc?

“There are 8 federally-owned stand-alone mental healthcare institutions across the country with all being sited at urban centers. Mental Health care as the 9th component of primary health care has not been fully integrated, thus making the rural communities lack access. So far, our politicians, while building giant hospitals and employing professionals should have a rethink; think mental health,” she said.

While urging the government and the general public to increase investment in mental health at all levels, Dr. Ogun said there are huge economic benefits every nation stands to reap in having a mentally health population. “There is a need for a massive scale-up in investment in mental health in our country. Whether you are somebody who has had a mental health issue or you are a mental health professional or you know somebody with mental health issues, let us all invest in mental health because without mental health, then there is no health. Let our religious leaders arise and invest in mental health, talk about mental health issues like rape, alcohol and substance abuse, depression, and suicide. By so doing, you are investing in the mental health of your congregation.”

By Augustine Okezie, Katsina

Katsina has approved the reopening of academic activities at Alqalam University and Umaru Musa Yar Adua University by Monday October 19.

The Special Adviser to Governor Aminu Bello Masari on Higher Education, Alhaji Bishir Ruwan Godiya, told The Nation only the two tertiary institutions have met the criteria for reopening in the state, including conducting a workshop on COVID-19 protocols as well as meeting other prerequisite conditions for reopening to academic activities

He said: ’’The two institutions have worked hard to update themselves and their personnel on COVID-19 protocols, as well as readying their schools in preparation to resume.’’

Al-Qalam University Katsina had announced its reopening for academic activities on Monday October 19.

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A statement by its Head of Public Affairs Unit, Akilu A Atiku, stated that the varsity’s has also fixed 26th October, 2020 for commencement of first semester examinations.

Also, authorities of Umaru Musa Yar Adua University, UMYU, announced its reopening also on Monday having shown adequate preparations in compliance with NCDC COVID-19 protocols

The Registrar said it has earned the approval of the Department of Higher Education and the Katsina State COVID-19 Emergency Response Committee for the re-opening of the university by Monday October 19th.

Leading Consumer Goods Company in Nigeria, Procter & Gamble, has partnered the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD) to celebrate the 2020 International Day of the Girl Child. With this initiative, P&G has provided 4,000 Always® sanitary pads and 20,000 Pampers® diapers to promote health and hygiene management amongst young mothers and adolescent girls in the rural areas of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Cross River state. The announcement was made ahead of the international day of the girl child celebration and the distribution of products by the National Centre for Women Development to 500 mothers in Mabushi village, FCT recently.

Through the years, P&G as a force for good has continued to deliver numerous programs in Nigeria aimed at sensitizing citizens on effective health and hygiene practices. In line with the company’s commitment to touching the lives of people and communities where it operates, this initiative will impact several young mothers and adolescent girls to ensure adequate infant and menstrual hygiene respectively.

Speaking about the partnership, the P&G Africa Senior Director for Global Government Relations & Public Policy, Mrs. Temitope Iluyemi said, “At P&G, we steadily uphold our promise to make everyday life better for our consumers. Our brands continue to improve the lives of people in the communities where we live and work. More than ever, we feel privileged to collaborate with the National Centre for Women Development in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child which advocates the importance, power, and potential of girls across the world”.

“We are committed to creating a world where women and girls have equal opportunities and an equal voice. As such, not only do we dedicate efforts to the empowerment and fulfilment of their aspirations, we are also driving this year’s global theme; ‘My Voice, Our Equal Future’. In honor of this day, we have given thousands of sanitary pads and diapers to bring attention, action, and enthusiasm to helping girls and every girl child reach their full potential through adequate hygiene management.” Mrs. Iluyemi added.

In her remarks, Director-General of National Centre for Women Development, Ms. Mary Ekpere-Eta added, “The fact that the pace of girls in Nigeria is not in line with the realities they face, has further reinforced existing gaps and strengthened gender inequalities. In partnership with Procter and Gamble for the distribution of sanitary materials to 1,000 girls, the 2020 theme, “My voice our equal future”, is targeted at girls organizing themselves and demanding their rights such as to live free from violence, attend and complete school, to choose whom and when to marry, and to earn equal pay for equal work.”

As schools are reopening, the full impact of COVID-19 on the girl child will be realised. Hence, I call for investment in education for girls and ensuring they remain in school, as this is the best option to enable the girls reach their dreams and better their livelihood”, she added.

P&G has continued to drive menstrual hygiene awareness and have invested in menstrual health education through its Always® Keeping Girls In School Program (AKGIS) program and Always® School Program – which jointly impact over one million girls annually. The AKGIS program has reached vulnerable girls with essential menstrual health management training and donation of a year supply of sanitary pads, so that they can commit to their education and their future while the Always® School program has provided almost a Million school-age girls with Always® sanitary towels, puberty and hygiene education and over 150 educational grants to pursue their dreams.

The company also recently commenced phase II of its Pampers® Rigakafi program aimed at promoting child health in Nigeria through immunization. During the first phase of this program, the company donated over 2 million diapers to Federal Government and state Governments. Since the takeoff of this program, P&G has impacted over 100,000 infants and increased immunization rates in the participating communities.

For over 25 years in Nigeria, Procter & Gamble, producer of notable brands like Always®, Ariel®, Pampers®, Gillette®, Oral B® and Safeguard®, has been an active investor in Nigeria, creating over 4,000 jobs through its manufacturing operations in Ibadan and Lagos including its world class distributor center in Agbara.