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Agency Report

POPE Francis has apologised for swatting away the hand of a woman, who tugged his arm as the head of the Roman Catholic Church greeted pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square on New Year’s Eve.

In video of the incident, Francis walks down a line of admirers separated by fencing, clasping their hands, waving and smiling with the basilica and the Vatican obelisk in the background.

Just as the Pope appears to turn to walk away from the crowd, a woman reaches out, grabs his hand and then jerks him forcefully toward her.

Francis immediately recoils and swats at her hand to free himself as the pope’s security detail also moves to intervene.

In his new year’s wishes to the public in St. Peter’s Square yesterday, Francis confessed to losing his patience with the woman.

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In his impromptu remarks, Francis said “so many times we lose patience. Me, too.” He then added, “I say ‘excuse me’ for the bad example.”

The woman made the sign of the cross just before the incident. It’s not clear what she said to the pope as she grabbed him.

Earlier the same day, Francis had attended the private funeral of a friend, showing up without notice at the Roman parish of San Giuseppe al Nomentano to pay his respects to María Grazia Mara, the Vatican said, confirming reports in Italian media.

Mara, a professor emerita at the Patristic Institute Augustinianum in Rome, died Monday at 95. She was a noted scholar of the history and theology of the Roman Catholic Church’s founders whom Francis visited at her home in 2018 and then singled out for special praise during a visit to the college in early 2019.

By Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

No fewer than 14,031 candidates applied to the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State in the 2019/2020 academic session, Rector of the institution Dr Lateef Olatunji has said.

However, Olatunji said only 6,646 candidates were admitted by the school.

The Rector said this in Offa during the institution’s 26th matriculation.

He said all the programmes of the institution had been fully accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). He added that the school in affiliation with Federal University of Technology (FUT), Mina had commenced degree programmes.

Olatunji cautioned the new students to shun all forms of anti-social behaviour, saying the institution frowns at indiscipline.

“The Federal Polytechnic Offa is known for discipline and peaceful co-existence; you must all steer clear of all forms of indiscipline and misconduct. Do not bring the name of your school into disrepute. The management would deal  with any student found to be involved in any misdeed.

“The polytechnic operates by rules and regulations; the parts that concern students are clearly in the students’ handbook. Be committed to your studies, the polytechnic academic board will not hesitate to withdraw any student who performs below expected standards in his or her academic work.

The Rector counseled them against cultism, examination malpractice among other social vice.

Our Reporter

Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma alumni association Lagos chapter has launched a N100m Appeal Fund for the upgrading and renovation of the university’s health centre.

At a well-attended Fundraising and Awards Dinner in Lagos, chairman, AAU Alumni association Lagos Chapter, Mr. Chris Iyere decried the preventable deaths and loss of lives in the university community as a result of the poor state of the health centre on the campus.

Iyere said a visit to the health centre revealed that the facility was operating with obsolete equipment, some dating back to the 80s when it was established.

“It is appalling that students are still dying due to common malaria as there is no modern diagnostic equipment for proper tests.  The building is in a shambles; no beddings in the wards. It calls for serious introspection and action,” he said, urging the alumni of the university to donate generously to the fund.

In his goodwill message at the occasion, the Pro-chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of AAU, Chief Lawson Omokhodion, praised the Lagos chapter of the AAU alumni group for its decision to give back to the university that made them what they are today.

Omokhodion who was represented by Mr. Osezua Abhulimen, an alumnus, said the Governing Council inaugurated in October 2018 had been  tackling  the problems of dearth of infrastructure in the university, wrong deployment of academics, deficient international linkages, inadequate funding of the university among other challenges.

He praised the Visitor to the university and Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, for his support to the Council to turn around the fortunes of the University.

By Munirat Saliman and Ogechukwu Nwankwo

The Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture has awarded certificates to 34 beneficiaries of its five-day 2019 Creative Industries Skill Acquisition Workshop.

Participants learnt diverse creative skills ranging from plastic craft, paper craft, and tie and dye to soft cushion, card craft among others to ignite the entrepreneurship spirit.

Speaking at the closing of the training held at the Council’s premises in Alausa, Ikeja last Friday, the Director of Arts and culture, Mrs. Sadiat Olaitan, disclosed that the programme was the third in the series targeted at unemployed graduates, widows and secondary school leavers.

In her words: “I am very convinced that this workshop has been able to achieve the objective for which it was organised through monitoring, observation and I can testify that the facilitators have done well; and the participants have gained tremendously from the workshop,” She said.

She urged the beneficiaries to use their skills to become self-employed while thanking Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his commitment to tackling poverty through employment generation and wealth creation through the creative sector.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

THE end of year party for head teachers of public primary schools in Lagos State held Monday was their red carpet event for the year.

Beyond being an annual event by the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB) to appreciate their hard work managing the state’s 1,016 public primary schools, it provided opportunity for the head teachers to reconnect with old friends who once worked together as teachers in the same school; and interact with government functionaries in charge of education in the state.

The head teachers who were mostly women, turned up at the Grandeur event centre, Oregun, dressed to their nines in lace fabrics and aso-oke colour-coded according to their Local Government Education Authority (LGEA).  Each LGEA dressed to out-do the other.  Many  jettisoned the traditional iro and buba styles more popular with older women for chic skirts and blouse/gown styles.

It turned out that they had been planning for their attire the entire year.

Head Teacher of Maharuf-deen Primary School, Bariga, Somolu, Mrs Morayo Adebao, said the teachers  contributed monthly towards purchasing the clothes.

“We want to look kinky.  We don’t want the young ones to push us out.  We have been contributing from the beginning of the year.  The fabric cost N20,000, while the gele (head tie) cost N6,000. When we went to Lagos for the fabric, we asked the colour that was trending and were told emerald,” said Mrs. Adebayo.

Another head teacher, Mrs. Grace Ekunniyi of Salvation Army Primary School, Ilogbo Eremu , Badagry, said the fabric for Badagry LGEA cost N15,000.

“We contributed N1,500 monthly for about 10 months.  We normally plan for it because we know it is coming,” she said.

Chairman, Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos Wing, Adedoyin Adesina, thanked the Lagos SUBEB for organizing the programme yearly, and carrying teachers along in its decision making process.

“I thank the Board for their open door policy and consultation.  The issues we have been pursuing about the non-teaching staff that the qualified ones among them be converted to teaching staff, which they have approved for us,” he said.

In his remarks, chairman, Lagos SUBEB, Wahab Alawiye-King, thanked the teachers for their hard work.

“All the successes we have recorded in our schools in the course of the year are predominantly du to your commitment and hard work,” he said.

The Chairman said the head teachers had a crucial role to play in the success of the state’s EkoEXCEL technology-based initiative as they would serve as monitors and evaluators.

“EkoEXCEL just started and the most important thing for the head teacher is to be able to monitor and evaluate the programme from time to time.  They have different ways of monitoring.  They will not use the summation appraisal at the end of the programme; they would do a continuous assessment.  When you do that you see the result from time to time and you can make changes,” he said.

Our Reporter

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through the Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Mutiu Agboge, has declared that henceforth no one would be allowed to come to public office through the power of gun or manipulation.

The declaration of zero tolerance against electoral misconduct was made during the commission’s end of the year party held in Ibadan recently.

According to him, “INEC would continue to sustain the provision of a level plain field for all parties and candidates in any election. When we allow due process to take place in our system, it will bring about natural peace; the security personnel will do less job. But where you allow a disorganised election or manipulated process to be the source of bringing somebody into public office, such a system will be a recipe for rest, for chaos and for various insurrections.”

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He further declared that the conduct of election in the country should follow due process. “I can say without fear that the results of election we announced during the last elections are the true reflections of the wishes and desire of the people of Oyo State which the Supreme Court has confirmed through its recent judgment on the governorship election in the state.”

The Oyo State REC, in his seasons greeting message, advised that good governance should not be left in the hands of political leaders and other stakeholders in the electioneering process but rather active participation of all and sundry is also key to the development of the country’s democracy.

By Ambrose Emeka Hilary

A lady named Miss Omomolawa Agbede won plot of land at Oyin Garden at the just concluded land fair exhibition held by Solofaith Properties Hub Limited, one of the leading real estate firms in Lagos.

Oyin Garden is located in Mowe Igbein. The CEO of the firm, Mr. Ogedegbe Solomon revealed to The Nation reporter that he suffered housing problem from landlords and that informed his foray into real estate development.

He said that the reason behind this gigantic vision is to properly educate and sensitise the low income earners and the general public on the need to acquiring properties or go into real estate business in other to secure future not only for themselves but their children, as life is always transient. He also made the prospective buyers and participants to know that outside education, the next legacy bequeathed on any child is leaving behind something for the children to fall back to, should anything happens.

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The guest speaker of the said exhibition, Mr. Remi Adeyelu, extensively implored the participants to acquiring properties to eradicate and extinguish poverty. He said, it does not take millions of naira to start such a durable and money spinning venture, but just conviction and determination to put a stop to housing challenges and change ones narrative.

At the land fair, raffle draw was organised, as each participant purchased N2000 naira ticket to qualify for participation and winning any prize, ranging from free plot of land measuring 600sq meters, blenders, microwave oven, toaster hand machine and industrial standing fan, and at the end of the exercise, prizes were won but the grand prize that consummated it all was the parcel of land won by Omomolawa, while winners were interviewed on the spot.

Mr. Solomon made the prospective buyers to know that N250,000 and N400,000 respectively is for the documentation and development fees, as the winner of the land is expected to process her documentation for N250,000, hence she won a parcel of plot that costs N800,000, while the company issues her the deed as soon as she pays.

Our Reporter

Civil servants in Edo State, resident in urban, suburbs and rural communities have expressed excitement in anticipation of the roll out of the state’s health insurance scheme scheduled for January 1, 2020.

The Edo State Health Insurance Scheme, pioneered by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration is targeted at attaining Universal Health Coverage (UHC) under the Edo Healthcare Improvement Programme (Edo-HIP), a holistic framework to overhaul and improve healthcare services in public health institutions, as well as guarantee access to affordable and quality healthcare services across the state.

A cross section of civil servants who spoke to journalists commended Governor Obaseki for the initiative, noting that it would not only improve their health status, but general wellbeing of the ordinary Edo people.

Mr. Edison Edosa said, “I am very happy our governor is really concerned about welfare of the people. His achievements in various sectors, including education, agriculture and health are laudable. Apart from his administration’s focus in revamping all medical facilities in the state, he has specifically created this scheme that ensures quality and affordable healthcare for everyone. I can’t wait for this programme to commence so that my family members can freely go for proper medical treatment knowing that we will be able to afford the bill.”

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He added, “I have registered all my family members for the scheme because it is a project we expected years ago from past governments but they failed to execute. We are proud of Godwin Obaseki.

Mrs. Asemota Osarugue noted that the health insurance scheme will ensure that the state government meets the health needs of residents in the state.

She urged other residents in the state to register and enrol in anticipation of the programme so they can benefit from the government’s move to make access to quality healthcare seamless.

Already, 5000 persons have enrolled in the scheme and would enjoy a bouquet of benefits, funded from the Basic Primary Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), and Edo State Equity Fund and Contribution.

Some of the benefits under the scheme include antenatal care, ultrasound in pregnancy, induction of labour, management of eclampsia, immunization, family planning, malaria treatment in adults, chronic disease screening, treatment of severe acute malnutrition and management of maternal sepsis.

Others are Child OPD for children under 5 years, management of new born sepsis, referred child treatment to secondary health facility, emergency stabilization, emergency ground transportation, normal delivery and postnatal care, caesarean section in secondary health care facility and referred antenatal care to secondary health facility.

The services will be accessed in 20 pilot Primary Health Care centres across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state.

The centres are Sasaro (Akoko Edo), Ugbekpe-Ekperi (Etsako Central), Okugbe Okpella (Etsako East), Jattu-Uzaire (Etsako West), Iyakhara-Warrake (Owan East), Sobe (Owan West), Ugbegun (Esan Central), Ewoyi (Esan North East), Orhodua (Esan South East), and Ukpenu (Esan West).

Other health centres include Eguare (Igueben), Uwelu (Egor), Ologbo (Ikpoba-Okha), Evbuodia (Oredo), Ugo (Orhionmwon), Oduna (Ovia North East), Ovbiogie (Ovia North East), Ofunmwengbe (Ovia South West), Ugoneki (Uhunmwonde) and Igieduma (Uhunmwonde).

HealthPlus Pharmacy has celebrated its 20th anniversary with a commitment to do more for the health of the nation.

Its founder, and Chief Executive Officer, HealthPlus Limited, Mrs. Bukky George, said the firm will keep working harder to improve the healthcare sector.

The success story of the organisation was celebrated at dinner tagged “An evening of inspiration and gratitude”.

George attributed the success story of the firm to dedication and integrity.

“We have distinguished ourselves from inception by protecting the integrity of our supply chain through strong partnerships with trusted suppliers; self-regulating according to world-class standards; attracting, retaining and training the best pharmacists and support staff; providing unparalleled customer service and value-adding pharmacy services through our modern and professional stores,” she stated.

George said that the organisation has employed more pharmacies that its peers in the country, stating “serving millions of customers through our 90 stores in 11 states, with 800 employees making us the largest employer of pharmacists in Nigeria.”

This anniversary, according to her, provides the “opportunity to renew our commitment to the pursuit of excellence and the achievement of even greater milestones. Our best is yet to come.”