The Nation Newspaper

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  • COVID-19: Kwara receives N100m from World Bank

    COVID-19: Kwara receives N100m from World Bank

    Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

    Kwara state government said it has received N100 million World Bank grant to strengthen its management of the COVID-19.

    Spokesperson of the state Technical Commitee on COVID-19 Rafiu Ajakay said in a statement.

    Ajakaye, who is also the Chief Press Secretary to Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq added that the fund was channelled through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) after the state had met certain criteria.

    He said that “the disbursement of the fund is part of the ongoing World Bank-assisted Regional Disease Surveillance System Enhancement (REDISSE) project, which is coordinated by the NCDC to bridge funding gap at the state levels for the implementation of the COVID-19 response and incidence action plan.

    “Kwara is one of the first few states to receive the fund after it was certified fit for the financial support on account of its COVID-19 efforts.

    READ ALSO: Kwara deputy governor, wife test positive

    The REDISSE project is to implement critical and time sensitive priority activities related to the pandemic.

    “The COVID-19 Response Fund for the States will cover the priority activities in areas such as Trainings, Workshops, Meetings, Seminar, Procurement of Goods & Services, Operating costs, Consultancy services/Non-consultancy,” the statement said.

    It added that the funds are meant for activities in the approved Incident Action Plan.

    “Kwara state is one of the few states that have met the criteria laid down by NCDC and World Bank, hence this has triggered the disbursement of N100 million to the state,” it said.

  • Health workers suspend strike in Bauchi

    Health workers suspend strike in Bauchi

    David Adenuga Bauchi

    The Joint Health Sector Union and Assembly of Health Care Professionals (JOHESU) Bauchi State Chapter has suspended the indefinite strike it embarked upon last Thursday.

    The new development was disclosed by the Secretary of the JOHESU, Comrade Usman Danturaki while addressing journalists in Bauchi, the capital.

    He said that further negotiations were still ongoing to address the issues once and for all.

    According to him JOHESU went on an indefinite strike to protest the unilateral deductions made by the state government in its June and July 2020 salaries.

    He said they embarked on the strike after several efforts made to draw the attention of the state government to their plights proved fruitless.

    READ ALSO: Nigerians slam Bauchi gov over appointment of special assistant on single women affairs

    Danturaki stated that the strike has been called off having been convinced with the steps taken by the government prior to the commencement of the strike, coupled with ardent desire to meet our demands.

    “JOHESU have resolved to suspend the strike action with immediate effect so as to pave way for further negotiations to continue on Monday August 10, 2020 where agreement on major issues shall be reached and signed accordingly,” the Secretary, said.

    Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Umaru Sanda Adamu said that the biggest challenges of the state government was the over-bloated workforce that gulps state revenues.

  • ‘Appoint credible N’ Deltans to avert disruption of oil activities’

    ‘Appoint credible N’ Deltans to avert disruption of oil activities’

    Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

    President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to appoint credible Niger Deltans to head the the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the Presidential Amnesty Program (PAP).

    Coordinator of Ijaws in Oil and Gas, Ebipams Johnny, also known as Aluta Bishop, said this will avert disruption of oil and gas operations as threatened recently, by several host communities in the oil-rich region.

    He made the call in a statement on Saturday, noting that the happenings in the three Federal Government parastatals, calls for concern.

    Johnny stated that since the commencement of the current administration, the people have been calling for the appointment of credible individuals who are products of the emancipation struggle, in order to drive development across the Niger Delta.

    He alluded that the present office holders can be described as “political merchandise whose sole intention is to rubbish the efforts of our fallen and living heroes and aggrandize wealth for themselves in exchange for the development of the region”.

    Speaking on the threats, the statement posited that the region is “sitting on a gun powder with the non-challant approach of the Presidency in appointing credible sons.

    READ ALSO: NDDC: Pondei lists contracts allegedly paid under ‘duress’ to get budget approval

    “These happenings may wade ways for another crisis in the region and we envisage one which may go beyond control like what is obtainable in the North Central and Eastern states where the activities of insurgents have crippled economy and social life.

    “We can’t be fighting both corruption and Boko haram and be birthing another phase of unrest in the Niger Delta by erroneously appointing people whose actions and inactions will lead to chaos in the region.

    “We want to call on President Buhari to do the needful in a bid to avert the threats and counter threats we have witnessed recently in the region by appointing credible men who can come out with a master plan to curb unrest and bring the needed developments in the region”.

    Johnny in the statement, opined that among several qualified Niger Deltans to head the Amnesty programme is Chief Dennis Otuaro, who has “pedigree as a son of the struggle”.

    Stressing that the corruption saga that has bedeviled the NDDC, has made “mockery of the region” and incited some of the threats on oil facilities, the statement added “we want to be in our oil platforms and rigs with some sense of security.”

  • Katsina Nurses disown paraded women

    Katsina Nurses disown paraded women

    Augustine Okezie, Katsina

    The Katsina State chapter of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Saturday, disowned the membership of the two women recently paraded by the Katsina State Police Command, describing them as “fake and imposters”.

    State Chairman of the Association, Mr. Haruna Mamman, told newsmen at a press conference that the suspects doesn’t have the professional requirements to practice as nurses.

    The Nation recalled that the Police Command had earlier paraded two suspected nurses —Misira Tijjani and Grace Ejigu for alleged theft and selling of a newborn baby.

    The baby was said to have been delivered by one Shamsiya Sani of Dandagoro Quarters, Katsina, at Okmos hospital on 25, July 2020.

    She abandoned the baby after delivery at the hospital because it was conceived out of wedlock.

    Mamman also disclosed at the briefing that after preliminary investigations by the association, the suspects confirmed that they were not trained nurses but operating illegally in the state.

    READ ALSO: Banditry: ‘Katsina is fast retuning to normalcy’

    He further maintained that the paraded suspects were not nurses neither were they members of the association in the state.

    He said: “We visited the hospital and interviewed the proprietor of the hospital (Okmos), Dr. E.E Eze”

    “The imposters namely:Misira Tijjani of Filing Canada Quarters Katsina and Grace Ejigu of Shagari Low-Cost Housing estate, from our findings are fake and unqualified.

    “The proprietor of the hospital and the two imposters, even admitted that they were not trained and qualified nurses.”

    The Assocition further disclosed that when they took their complaints to the Deputy Commissioner of police, the suspected nurses also confessed that they were not nurses, whereas a day before they had admitted before the police authority that they were nurses.

  • How to plan for successful property developing – De Joe

    How to plan for successful property developing – De Joe

    Our Reporter

    Despite the relative ease with which he seems to operate as a property developer and the remarkable way he has grown in the sector over the years, De Joe, avowed that being successful in real estate requires a degree of seriousness far above what is demanded of entrepreneurs in other business ventures.

    Recently, he offered some insights on how those interested in starting a business can venture into property development and survive to become a successful stakeholder in that sector.

    “Real estate in Nigeria has its challenges as it does anywhere in the world, but because I provide the right living conditions, that helps me to stay ahead of the curve,” he said.

    Continuing, he shared his own experience to further illustrate his point: “When I was starting, lack of funding was my biggest challenge, but like I always tell, if you are serious about being an active player and stakeholder in real estate, you have to embrace the challenges, embrace the change and most importantly, be strategic and creative in planning.”

    While he does not miss an opportunity to declare his absolute passion for what he is doing, “Joe Best Real Estate is my number one passion,” he chimed.

    De Joe, however, is humble enough to acknowledge where his biggest motivation and push came from.

    “That would be my uncle, Anthony,” he declared. “He was my biggest motivation in the business. He took me on some business meetings and I was awed by the way he closed the deals, I mean with so much grace and astuteness. He also played a big role in helping me to stand on my feet. Aside from him, I had few investors, too.”

    So far, he has no misgiving for choosing to become an estate developer when he could as well have ventured into any other type of business. “With patience, honesty and hard work, you cannot end up a failure in real estate, especially, if you know what you are doing,” he quipped.
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  • NDDC: Senator Peter Nwaoboshi debunks refund claim

    NDDC: Senator Peter Nwaoboshi debunks refund claim

    Adeniyi Adewonyi

    Following the recent social media claims that the Niger Delta Commission is demanding refund from the senator representing Delta North senatorial district in the 9th senate, Senator Peter Nwaobosh, the red chamber lawmaker has reacted to the deman which has been tagged as invisible.

    In statement released on Saturday by the media aide to the senator, Awele Onokwai the lawmaker stated that no letter has been received by his office and no copy has been seen anywhere else online.

    He advised that the sponsor of the letter should have gone through the legal path if his claims are genuine and implore reputable media to ignore the letter.

    Part of the statement reads “Our attention has been drawn to the purported subject matter above, credited to one Peter Claver Okoro, Esq, posing as the Director, Legal Services of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and we make bold to state the following:

    “The purported letter addressed to the Distinguished Senator Peter Nwaoboshi was written on the 5th of July 2020 and as at today, 8th of August 2020, said letter has not reached Senator Peter Nwaoboshi – either in person or Office or by substitution.

    “We have searched through the internet, no one has seen a copy of an officially signed letter on the above claim. This would have helped us identify whoever has signed to go to jail for such an unimaginable falsehood in a supposed corporate environment.

    READ ALSO: NDDC petitions police over alleged N1.62bn unexecuted contracts

    “The purported letter, unlike any formal letter emanating from a recognized government Ministry, Agency or Department is not signed, therefore, can easily be denied.

    “The ostensive letter is obviously fake as it was not conveyed through the official letter-headed paper of the NDDC, one would not expect any serious media organization to pay attention to such as it is obviously meant for the usual blackmail to divert attention from the monumental corruption charges hanging on the management.

    “Our media organizations, aside failing to reach out for a balanced story, ignored the many obvious traps in the said letter that inadvertently has the name of someone from “Delta Development Commission” as contained in the piece sighted online.

    “Nowhere in the contents of the purported letter was it stated that the contractor is directly linked to Distinguished Senator Peter Nwaoboshi. it is expected that since the said letter did not claim the contract was awarded to Sen Peter Nwaboshi, there was no way he could be asked to make a refund. The scam meant for blackmail contain ominous sign of a fake piece.

    “We appeal to the media organizations who have published, unknowingly, to immediately correct the attempt to legitimize the fake piece”.

     

  • My dream is to push Afrobeats to the next level, says Dabenja

    My dream is to push Afrobeats to the next level, says Dabenja

    Adeniyi Adewoyin

    Nigerian music sensation, Dabenja has said his number one mission in the competitive Nigeria music industry is to push Afrobeats genre to the next level, globally.

    Addressing a cross section of journalist in Lagos, Dabenja whose real names are Benjamin Uwah described music as his way of life and passion.

    “To be honest with you, I am in the music industry for a purpose, as much as I will be entertaining my fans with good music, my mission is also to take Afrobeats to the next level. I want music lovers around the world to feel my music and be relief that Afrobeats closer to them, that is what it is. I want to make my own contribution to the growth of Afro music in Nigeria and Africa through my music” he said.

    On his first love, “Music is not just my first love, as a matter of fact, music is my way of life. Writing songs or even just listening to music transports me into another world, a world free of pain and troubles. Music keeps me sane. It wasn’t a surprise to anyone when I decided to go into music full time, I can’t imagine myself doing any other thing apart from music,” the Akwa Ibom born entertainer stated.

    READ ALSO: How I pushed Nigerian Afrobeats to US audience – DJ Dozzy Ross

    The Chief Executive Director of, The Mustard Seed music (TMS) Entertainment and graduate of Business Administration from the University of East London, said his desire to give back to the society and also help the less privilege motivated him to launch “Dabenja Foundation”. A charity organizations that purely cater for the needs of humanity. He is a serial entrepreneur and brand ambassador with notable awards in and outside Nigeria.

    Having broke into the music scene in 2011, Dabenja who has worked with some of the biggest names in the Nigerian music industry, has since gone to release other hits songs such as, “Select”, “Sugarbaby”, “Take Away” and his 2019 hit single “Yakata”, which he performed at the “Afrikan Shrine” during the annual Felabration Musical Concert in 2017. Kown for putting out good music, his new single “BLESSING” currently topping charts and ruling the airwaves, with a first class visual that was shot in the US. BLESSING is serve as a prelude to an anticipated forthcoming double album later in the year.

  • Why pregnant women should donate umbilical cords, by expert

    Why pregnant women should donate umbilical cords, by expert

    Adeola Ogunlade

    The Medical Representative and Director, Bentoluene International Health Concept, Toluwalope Ogunleye has advised pregnant mothers to donate umbilical cord to a blood bank and potentially save a life.

    He said this at the cord blood awareness campaign webinar by Bentoluene International Health Concept in Lagos.
    He said the placenta has been found to be the richest sites for stem cells, which are highly instrumental in the treatment of over 85 known diseases, including autism, brain injury, cerebral palsy and hearing loss.

    He noted for years, it has been used to cure sickle cells and effective genotype transplant.

    Ogunleye argued that storing baby’s stem cells at the time of birth is a once in a lifetime opportunity to capture a valuable resource that could be used in the treatment of serious illnesses, adding that in the past the main source of stem cells came from bone marrow.

    He explained the first successful stem cell transplant, using stem cells found in the umbilical cord blood, was in 1988. The patient was a little boy suffering from a serious blood disorder called Fanconi’s Anaemia and the cord blood was obtained from his new born sister. This was the start of stem cell transplantation using umbilical cord blood

    “A cord blood stem cell transplant can be used to replace diseased cells with healthy new cells, and rebuild an individual’s blood and immune system. More recently, cord blood stem cells have been shown to be able to form other tissues in the body,” he added.

    He further said there has been considerable scientific and clinical interests in the potentials of cord blood stem cells in regenerative medicine.

    In laboratory work, cord blood cells have been shown to be capable of developing into a range of cell types such as nerve, bone, skin, heart and liver cells to name a few.

    READ ALSO: Expert suggests adequate rest for pregnant women in first trimester

    “These exciting developments have already translated into early clinical treatment of ischaemic heart disease and some neurological conditions. The future of regenerative medicine holds much promise and cord blood is likely to play a major part in this advancement in our ability to treat human disease,” he further stated.

    The medical expert stressed that storing umbilical cord tissue as well as the cord blood is the most efficient way to storing child’s stem cells.

    He added that cord tissue stem cells can be very easily and successfully isolated from a section of the umbilical cord that is collected at birth.

    Once collected, the cord is safely and efficiently transported in a special solution designed to preserve the stem cells during the transportation process.

    “Once it arrives at the laboratory the cord is processed immediately. It’s then placed in storage where it will remain for use in the future should it be needed,” he explained.

    He stated further the organisation, which he represents stores stem cells found in the umbilical cord blood and tissue. These potent cells can find their way to injured cells and tissue in the body and support their repair.

  • Hollywood producer Greg Osayande-Aghaze to Buhari: take advantage of Nollywood

    Hollywood producer Greg Osayande-Aghaze to Buhari: take advantage of Nollywood

    Adeniyi Adewonyi

    Nigerian-Hollywood producer, Greg Osayande-Aghaze has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to take advantage of the Nollywood industry to boost the country’s revenue.

    In a recently-held interview with Unmask NG, the highly revered filmmaker admitted that Nollywood has potentials, and the Buhari-led government should explore these potentials to create jobs and leverage the economy, which he said has taken a nosedive.

    While advising the Nigerian government to invest in film village, studio, and other infrastructures that will add value to filmmaking in the country, Osayande-Aghaze noted that for a country like Nigeria with many potentials to fully be relying solely on oil for survival is worrisome.

    READ ALSO: Actor’s suicide sparks debate about insularity in Bollywood film industry

    His words; “There is no limit to the growth of Nollywood. Apart from the thousands of jobs that the industry has already created, Nollywood also has the potential to change Africa’s image. In my opinion, Nollywood is capable of surpassing oil as Nigeria’s largest source of revenue. In the US, the Hollywood film industry supports about 2.5
    million jobs, and generates more than 200 billion dollars to the US economy annually.

    Greg Osayande-Aghaze
    1. Hollywood producer, Greg Osayande-Aghaze with Hollywood actor, Jimmy Jean-Louis

    “For this reason, I think it is time for the Nigerian government to start investing in film village, studio, and other infrastructures to help boost film production, which will translate to more job creations and boost revenue. Relying solely on oil as the only source of revenue for a country like Nigeria is archaic and an epitome of backward thinking.”

  • My drive to raise 5000 organic skincare entrepreneurs in Africa –Akele

    My drive to raise 5000 organic skincare entrepreneurs in Africa –Akele

    Our Reporter

    Precious Akele is the founder, Maya Organics. She currently leads an indigenous successful African organic skincare company that focused on formulating and producing the best of organic skincare, hair and body fitness products. She also sits on the distribution board of over 150 distributors spread across Nigeria and key cities in Africa selling over 30 product range of organic hand made products.

    Maya Organics manufactures organic skincare products and also own the Maya Organic School, an internationally accredited organic skincare school that mainly runs online, offering practical video courses and other related materials. Since 2017 that Maya Organic School started, it has graduated over 250 skincare entrepreneurs who have gone further to start their own skincare brands.

    Precious Akele exudes a high levelled spirit for entrepreneurship and women empowerment and have since become a champion for helping women learn the science of organic skincare formulation and the art of running a successful skincare business.

    When interviewed, Akele disclosed that Maya Organic School consists of professionals and top-notch instructors who are cosmetic formulators, chemists, business development experts, digital branding and online marketing experts.

    “We are committed to helping learners create high-quality, effective and customer-centric organic skincare products that will set them apart in the organic skincare industry. We are the first online organic skincare school in AFRICA empowering over hundred female skincare entrepreneurs who have learned the art of formulating their own products and selling them through their various organics’ skincare brands,” Akele said.

    Talking about her vision for the online school, she stated that Maya Organic School is envisioned to raise reputable organic skincare formulators with the right formulation skillset, ideas, knowledge, tools, strategy and practical know-how to deliver the best of organic skincare products while exploring the over $22.4billion global organic skincare market.
    Now, Akele is set to empower 5000 women through her online skincare school and will commit to accelerating their business ideas into market. According to her, the organic skincare market is emerging and possesses a very strong potential for growth and most especially can on its own contribute significantly to the GDP of Nigeria.

    Meantime, before venturing into the skincare industry, Akele worked as a makeup artist with House of Tara as the head of studio and manager of J3 Beauty Academy and later on, went on to set up her own makeup company, “1000Looks” which became a household name within the student’s community in Nigeria.

    Through her makeup business, she empowered over 1000 young people within a 4-year period with makeup skills. She is also a great speaker who intertwines her professional know-how in skincare, beauty and makeup into God’s word to cause mega impartation. With this giving, she has spoken at several functions alongside other distinguished speakers such as Ibukun Awosika, Tara Fela-Durotoye at events hosted by RCCG Lekki, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Unilag Got Talents, Federico Mahora and many more, inclusive of her own quarterly Beauty workshop for graduates of ‘1000Looks School of Makeovers.’

    She has a degree in History and International Relations, Lagos State University; a certificate in Leadership from DAYSTAR Leadership Academy; a certificate in international skincare product formulation from Formula Botanical, United States and Advance Certificate in Skincare Science from School of Natural Skincare.

    She has received several recognitions for her work as a leader committed to empowering young women and this includes Tara 100 Voices among others.

    Akele concluded saying Maya Organic School has awesome reviews on Google and maintains a strong Search Engine presence because of the thousands of students making enquiry and looking for the best organic school that can help them realize their beauty and entrepreneurial dreams.