Category: Uncategorized

By Gabriel Ogunjobi

 

A nongovernmental organization, Connected Development, CODE, has encouraged the Lagos state government to commit more resources into educating youths in order to halt poverty across Nigeria.

CODE, which runs with the objectives of increasing youth inclusiveness in governance as well as holding government accountable, recently presented a robust budget fact-sheet to Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, the Special Adviser to Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on how the state can maximize key projects to engage youths economically.

In the courtesy visit to the governor’s aide, Mike Azu-Monye, the organization’s Program’s Manager stressed on their aim to provide accurate data to the government so that projects like CODELagos – to teach young people on digital skills – and Ready-set Work (RSW) initiative for final year students would become more efficient.

‘Our aim is basically to ensure youth inclusiveness in governance.

‘We are seeking to know if indeed the current educational projects and youth empowerment schemes in Lagos truly resonate with the needs and realities of the people and also to support the government with our data resources until poverty alleviation is largely actualized’, Azu-Monye stated.

With the poverty rate in Lagos at 74.3% as of 2011 and Nigeria’s unemployment rate pegged at 23.1% for Q3 of 2018 according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, CODE suggested an expansion of RSW to accommodate more beneficiaries.

As Nigeria also remains one of the top five worst countries on sanitation, CODE further appealed to Lagos state – which accounts for not less than nine million of the country’s total population – to urgently provide WASH facilities like pipe-borne water and modern-day toilets across primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.

Read Also: ‘Nigeria’s education budget less than Harvard’s’

Responding to the concerns, Mr. Wahab restated the government’s commitment to invest more in education and youths from 2020.

He mentioned that ‘the government’s vision is clear. We have now reviewed the next year’s budget upward by 63% for education and over 40% health; which are top priorities for human capital. In fact, from 2020, we intend to increase the target for our RSW to 10,000 beneficiaries. So, you can have my assurance on these key issues stated.’

‘Our efforts on education may not appear visible now like infrastructural projects of blue and red rail projects, for example. Why? Because they are long-term.

‘However, we won’t scrap the good initiatives in operations. CODE LAGOS in secondary schools will be integrated to increase the chances of our secondary school graduates to get jobs even with their acquired skills at that level in the tech hubs too’, he assured.

By Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

 

The university of Abuja have expelled 100 students for involving in examination malpractices.

The university also approved the rustication of eleven students.

It disclosed this in a statement by its Head, Information and University Relations, Dr. Habib Yakoob, on Sunday in Abuja.

The statement said their expulsion/rustication was approved by the Senate of the university following the consideration of the report and recommendations of the Central Examination Misconduct Committee.

The statement reads: “Those expelled comprise 72 undergraduate and 28 postgraduate students. Five (5) undergraduate students were rusticated for One Academic Session, Three (3) were rusticated for One Semester, while three (3) had no case.

“Three (3) postgraduate students were also rusticated for One Academic Session.

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“Senate at its 174th Regular Meeting held on Wednesday, 6th November, 2019, had considered the report and recommendations of the Central Examination Misconduct Committee, and after due diligence, approved the expulsion/rustication of the students.

“Among the undergraduate students expelled, 27 were in 400 Level; 19 in 300 Level, 16 in 200 Level, Two students in 100 Level, 5 others in their 5th, 6th, and 7th Session.

“The breakdown also shows that 47 of the expelled students were from Faculty of Science, 23 from Faculty of Management Sciences, 20 from Faculty of Social Sciences, while 10 others cut across various Faculties.

“The affected students have since been directed to handover any University property in their possession, including identity card, to their heads of department and unit. They were also advised to vacate the campus immediately.

“The University of Abuja wishes to reiterate that it is determined to ensure academic discipline among its staff and students, and that those who violate the rules and regulations of the institution would be appropriately disciplined.”

By Duru Zina

We keep talking about our journey to self-discovery and identity, but what if it keeps being hindered by the generalised views of what certain people are “BLACKS”?

In our world today, the media carries a strong influence in forming an opinion on an issue, or our views on particular groups of people. Communication research and theory suggests that mass media are an important source of information about Africans and the media portrayals contribute to public perceptions of them.

The media keeps portraying Africans and African Americans as a certain kind of people which has influenced how blacks are seen by other races. The media gives certain impressions and ideas about people of color as loud, violent, gamblers, and so on and this is evident in famous movies: A Raisin in the Sun, Titanic, and the list goes on, blacks are always used as the downing factors movies, and this portrays a type of superiority on us.

There are concerns on how this affects the blacks, one of the disadvantage is that it often reduces their self-esteem which sometimes lead to the blacks to think whites are more superior. These differences correlate with racial and gender practices in Hollywood, which casts white men as heroes, while erasing or subordinating other groups as villains, sidekicks and sexual objects.

Read Also: Is Nigerian Police Act gender-biased?

Media images that are popular can have a negative impact on white’s perceptions of people of color and racial stereotypes in film and television can exacerbate preexisting racist fears. When there is lack of contact between racial groups, people tend to rely on media stereotypes to formulate ideas outside people of their own race. For instance stereotypes depictions of Africans in the media can lead audiences to associate immigration with increased unemployment and crime, and this affects both boys and girls.

Diversity is a keyword in media life but full participation by people of color continues to lag behind that of white males. The Medias require better strategies. In the area of entertainment, studios can work to diversify employment and content by establishing responsibility structures including specific committees, staff, positions and having plans dedicated to increasing representation of people of color. People of color should also be represented in the good aspect of life on any role at all they have to play.

 

Zina is a 200-level student of Babcock

The renowned boxer won Nigeria’s first medal at the Olympics when he won a bronze medal in Tokyo in 1964. The feat marked the beginning of exploits for Nigerian boxers at that stage, and opened the floodgates for future Nigerian Olympians to dream of standing on the podium at the biggest sporting event in the world.

And on Sunday, the glamorous Karis Awards showcased not only the excellence of the ‘golden’ Bronze Medal that ‘Omo Oloja’, as Maiyegun was known in his boxing days, brought home, but also highlighted the values embedded in the thought process that birthed the awards.

The Maiyegun family were full of praise for the recognition of the icon of their family, with the son of the boxer, who was present at the event stating that he is happy and satisfied that his father is being so honoured.

The highlight of the event came when the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare declared that the award has opened his eyes to the need for the government to recognize past Olympians, and promised to immediately, on return to Abuja, set up the machinery that will go into the archives to unearth and find ways of honouring those who had brought fame to the nation at the Olympics.

Maiyegun is the third sports person to be honoured at the Karis Awards. Incidentally, the first sports person to receive the award was Hogan ‘Kid’ Bassey, the first Nigerian to win a World boxing title; he was posthumously honoured in 1998. In 2011 former Enugu Rangers and Green Eagles goalkeeper, Emmanu

From Franca Ochigbo and Bennett Atumah, Abuja

The Fidelity Bank Plc has presented prizes to winners in its ongoing ‘Get Alert in Millions (GAIM) saving promo held in Abuja. The promo is part of the bank’s contribution to boosting financial inclusion in the country.
Speaking during the prizes presentation, its Managing Director, Nnamdi Okonkwo said the bank wants to reduce the financial exclusion rate for the country.

Okonkwo was represented by Manir Ringim, the Regional Bank Head, North West.

Fidelity Bank Group Head, Saving and Retails Sales, Mrs. Janet Nnabuko explained how people can qualify for the draw. She said both existing and new customers can win by simply topping their account with N10,000 for existing customers or someone opening a new account and building it up to N20,000.

The lucky winners of GAIM emerged from the second monthly/ first bi-monthly draw Season 4 of the promo, which held at the bank’s Regional Office in Abuja. There were three categories of winners among the customers N3 million, N2 million and N1 million, in addition to 18 consolation prizes of television sets, generators and refrigerators.

Okonwo said lucky customers of the bank would cart away N120 million at the end of the promo in April 2020, pointing out that N15 million was won during the first draw in Ibadan and N19 million in Abuja bringing the total to N34 million after the second draw.

By Collins Nweze

Simba Den, the retail chain dedicated to inverters has opened a brand-new store in Olu Obasanjo area of Port Harcourt. The chain, which promises end to end solutions to customers’ power backup and power protection needs, is already the most trusted name in the business with stores across the country including multiple stores in Lagos and Abuja, as well as Ibadan, Kano and Kaduna. The opening coincides with the kick-off of Simba Den’s festive season consumer promotions.

The opening event, held on November 29, was attended by eminent dignitaries including Senator Emmanuel Diffa, Chief Joshua Fumudoh – Life President of Ijaw Nation; Sim Jaja – Head of Accounts, Rivers State Ministry of Energy & Natural Resources; Chief Roger Nda and Engr. Emmanuel – Chief Engineer, Rivers State Ministry of Power, as well as International Partners and Senior Executives from Simba Group.

Speaking during the opening, Senator Diffa, who unveiled the new showroom, commended Simba Group for its commitment to customer satisfaction. “We are thrilled with the opening of Simba Den showroom in Port Harcourt and I personally congratulate the management of the company for this great feat. They offer power backup solutions and services that are affordable and sustainable. This is definitely a welcome development in the South-South region of Nigeria and I am honored to be part of the opening.”

Inverter solutions have rapidly gained prominence across the country, as people flock to their unique benefits – solutions which allow users to enjoy always-on power, whilst also saving them money. Whilst many people have heard about these solutions, there are still some who would like to learn more. Using a consultative approach to customizing power solutions is the mission of Simba Den, and is testament to their success and rapid expansion.

Conspicuous in the new outlet, as indeed in all of its other outlets, is the department dedicated to Simba Service – the company’s award-winning customer service centre.

Business Head of Simba Power Products, Ravi Srivastava expressed that service is the center piece of the stores and of Simba’s strategy.

At the inauguration of the Southwest zonal office of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) in Ikeja, it was praises galore for Lagos State for blazing the trail in the fight against HIV/AIDS, reports Associate Editor ADEKUNLE YUSUF

 

Like a community locked in ecstasy during a festive season, the heart of Ikeja in Lagos wore a different garb last week – temporarily though.

All roads leading to Obanta Avenue off Ajao Road were in upbeat mood, with an upsurge in human and vehicular traffic literally putting business and other activities on hold on the street and its adjoining areas for hours.

As early as 7.am, market women in resplendent attires, leaders of civil society organisations (NGOs) working towards HIV eradication, top government functionaries from federal and six states in the Southwest geo-political zone and virtually the country’s entire HIV community had converged on 8b Obanta Avenue. The mission: the inauguration of the zonal office of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), sited in Lagos.

An elated Director-General of NACA, Dr. Gambo Aliyu, said having NACA zonal office in Lagos means that “we have brought the entire might and weight of the Federal Government in HIV control and management activities to Lagos. It is easy to give money.

In my position, it is much easier for me to give money than to give time. In Mr. Governor’s position, it is much easier to give money than to give time.

We appreciate your gesture to disseminate the Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAISS) result in Lagos State. Let me assure that what you have disseminated is a part of the story.

The complete package of the story is coming; and it will come very soon. We have disseminated the NAISS result at the local government level.

“Next year, we will share the Lagos state current status in terms of HIV prevalence. And I can assure you that it is a promising result and it is something to be happy about.

And it is not by chance. It is not by coincidence. It is as a result of the resources you have committed into the war against HIV. It is the commitment.

It is the political will and the willingness and, above all, it is your physical presence in all HIV activities in pushing towards reaching the last mile,” Aliyu said.

While providing the rationale behind having zonal offices in the six geo-political zones in the country, Dr. Aliyu said the Act that gave birth to the agency also empowers it to operate in places outside its principal office in Abuja, as long as this will enhance proper discharge or performance of its functions.

Besides this, the DG explained that operational exigencies have also made it expedient for NACA to establish regional hubs to track and monitor HIV prevention, treatment and control programmes across the country.

Following a major restructuring taking place in the agency and the advent of the Nigeria AIDS (NAISS), NACA requires a decentralised monitoring structure to be more functional and effective in carrying out its mandate, since zonal offices will bring the agency’s activities closer to the communities.

Apart from Lagos, zonal offices are being established in Gombe for the North-west; Kano for the North-east; Lafia for the North-central; Umuahia for the South-east and Uyo for the South-south.

“The decision to have zonal office is a good development that will foster greater collaboration and reposition the state. It will also contribute to the national push for the last mile towards ending the HIV pandemic by 2030. The office will oversee the coordination of NCA’s activities in the South-west zone.

It is expected that the zonal officials would provide effective oversight of the agency’s activities in the cluster states within the zones and report accordingly to the head office in Abuja,” Dr. Aliyu said.

Noting that Nigeria has done remarkably well in stemming the tide of HIV in the last 15 years, resulting in the reduction of the prevalence of the disease, Dr. Aliyu stated that NACA’s focus is to ensure that HIV is 90 per cent under control in the country in the shorted possible time.

He disclosed that HIV is 60 per cent under control in Nigeria, adding that his agency is ready to collaborate with all stakeholders to take it to 90 per cent in the next few years so that by the time we arrive at the last mile in in 2030, HIV will be under total check.

While reminding the Lagos State government that it is holding fort for other states in the South-west, acting board of NACA, Senator Oladipo Odujinrin, said the country needs to focus its HIV awareness and prevention activities more on adolescents because they are the future of the country.

He stated that sensitisation campaigns condemning bad habits and dangerous sexual behaviours should be intensified so that HIV prevalence rate can be truly curbed, adding that everybody needs to come on board in achieving this objective.

In her goodwill message, Dr. Monsurat Adeleke, Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), said her agency is the pioneer state AIDS control board in the country. She promised that LSACA will continue to collaoborate with NACA in the fight against HIV control.

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Responding, Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, expressed his appreciation for recognising the state’s efforts in stemming the tide against HIV/AIDS, saying it is a responsibility the state cannot afford to shirk.

He welcomed NACA’s decision to site its zonal office in Lagos, saying it will bring closer the services of NACA to the people, particularly stakeholders and partners.

The zonal office will enhance NACA’s monitoring and coordination functions in the drive to reduce the prevalence of HIV, he added. “The decision to locate the South-west office of NACA in Lagos, I believe, is in recognition of the commitment and dedication of our government in eradicating the virus through the activities of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA). More importantly, this decision is consistent with the recent classification of Lagos State as one of the locations of interest in the fight against the menace of HIV/AIDS,” the Governor said.

Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by Prof Akin Abayomi, Commissioner for Health, said the zonal office will further expand the frontier of the agency in the achievement of its mandates as well as provide functional knowledge of the disease to the people living with the virus and how to obtain support and care from the agency.

The governor promised that his administration is willing and ready to further deepen partnership with NACA to achieve the collective goal of eradicating the HIV pandemic through various actions in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and the project 90:90:90.

He noted that an HIV Consortium Group was recently inaugurated in Lagos as a demonstration of the state government’s commitment and to bring on board all stakeholders towards achieving meaningful result.

He said the zonal office will be a rallying point for all stakeholders within the South-west zone to key into the national goal being driven by NACA.

He also called for stronger collaboration among all stakeholders to eradicate the HIV pandemic in Nigeria so that the country can end the unenviable record of having the second largest HIV prevalence in the world. Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by Prof Akin Abayomi, Commissioner for Health, stressed that there is an urgent need for stakeholders to review strategies and deepen partnerships in the area of advocacy and expanding access to care, treatment and support for those living with the epidemic. “Let us move forward in a bold new spirit of partnership to overcome the cycle of HIV transmission and deliver health and wellbeing for all.

The progress made so far in ending this epidemic would not have been possible without dynamic advocacy, solidarity and a spirit of shared responsibility, which must be maintained,” Sanwo-Olu said.

He explained that the recently released report of the national and sub -national incidence rates, which indicated a reduction in prevalence of the disease, is a testament to the effort of all stakeholders.

Sounding a note of warning, Sanwo-Olu also stressed that is not yet time for celebration, noting that a lot of work still needs to be done to ensure further significant reduction as Nigeria still has an unenviable record of having the second largest HIV epidemic in the world and one of the highest rates of new infection in sub-Saharan Africa.

By Adekunle Yusuf

 

Determined to erase lingering negative perceptions about the safety of its product, the West African Seasoning Company Limited (WASCO), makers of AJI-NO-MOTO, a food seasoning, has taken safety awareness campaign about the food seasoning to the Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN).

In its renewed awareness drive, WASCO said it has continued to use various platforms, including engagement with key stakeholders in the media, medical profession, food science and technology, women groups, traditional rulers, among others, to raise awareness about the safety of the Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) food seasoning.

According to the company, AJI-NO-MOTO, which has been in existence for over 100 years, is consumed in over 130 countries because it is not only safe for human consumption; it also enhances taste and increases deliciousness of food.

Speaking at the 10th annual symposium/award ceremony of HEWAN, which held recently in Lagos, WASCO’s Head of Marketing, Mr. Isah Hassan Shallangwa, provided more safety facts about AJI-NO-MOTO as a seasoning product.

While stressing that Nigerians should not entertain any fear consuming it, he said erroneous assumptions and insinuations about the safety of the product have sparked hundreds of research around the world, with the findings of each researcher validating the safety and health benefits of AJI-NO-MOTO. He told Nigeria’s health writers drawn from the print, broadcast and online media that the seasoning product is 100 per cent safe for human consumption, contrary to negative rumours.

While reiterating that the safety of the product  has long been scientifically proven and its safety approved by authorised agencies of the United Nations, Shallangwa said WASCO was committed to bringing out the natural taste in cooking through safe and cost-effective seasonings, urging the health writers to dispel any myth or misconception about AJI-NO-MOTO through their write-ups based on verifiable facts. He added that the seasoning product is simply made from sugarcane through the natural process of fermentation.

“The benefits of the seasoning include enhancing and promoting the deliciousness of our meals; it is economical; it reduces salt intake and it is rich in glutamate, one of the free amino acids.

Almost all seasonings contain MSG. Umami substance is present in most natural foods such as meat, seafood, vegetables, cheese and milk. Glutamate is also abundant in breast milk. Umami seasoning enhances the taste of dishes and is a universal taste.

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It is one of the five basic tastes along with sweet, sour, salty and bitter. We have a lot of glutamate in our local foods. Iru, for instance, is umami. When you take iru, you take a lot of glutamates,” Shallangwa explained.

In her response, the President of HEWAN, Mrs. Chioma Obinna, commended WASCO for enlightening the public by providing consumers with factual information about the product, adding that health writers in the country value facts because the soul of their profession lies in facts.

“This awareness is a welcome development. A lot of our members have today been sensitised about the safety of your product.

Now that the company has partnered with us for awareness creation, we are very happy. It is now our duty to take the information to the public,” she said.

While commending health writers in the country for valuing facts above fictions, WASCO’s Corporate Communication Officer, Mrs. Francisca Ikediashi, promised that the company remains committed working with journalists and all relevant stakeholders in dispelling rumours and insinuations, which can mislead the public about the “benefits and safety of a product that has become a household name in food seasoning in Nigeria and other parts of the world.”

By Moses Emorinken, Abuja

 

The Federal Government has stated that it is working to integrate oral healthcare into the primary healthcare to scale up interventions to reach the underserved, especially those at the grassroots.

The Director of Hospital Services in the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), Dr. Joseph Amedu, disclosed this at the press briefing to commemorate this year’s National Oral Health Week.

Amedu explained that although oral health was very important, it was mostly taken for granted with several factors contributing to the problems of accessing dental care in Nigeria.

“The national dental healthcare policy targets the integration of oral healthcare into primary healthcare, which we aim to achieve by developing collaborations with appropriate stakeholders like the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), World Health Organisation (WHO), as well as oral health product manufacturers like Unilever to address the risks involved in oral diseases such as malnutrition, poor oral hygiene, smoking, refined sugars, and to provide the basic package for oral health care in PHC centres nationwide. Oral care being the entrance to the body is very important in healthcare system generally,” he said.

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The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, in his address, said oral health was an integral part of general health and involves optimal functioning of the mouth and tissues in a manner that upholds individual self-esteem and enables him or her to contribute meaningfully to the society.

“Oral health problems are regarded as a public challenge. Although poor oral health is not life threatening, it reduces the overall health and productivity of affected persons; ultimately, it may have negative impact across society if it is not checked.

Despite the dwindling economy, the dentistry division of FMoH has vigorously implemented the national oral health policy, which was launched in the year 2012, particularly in the areas of oral health promotion, oral health service delivery and human resource development for oral health.

“Recall that Unilever Nigeria Plc signed an MoU with the FMoH to reach out to 10 million Nigerian children across the six geo-political zones of the country during the 2016 national oral health week.

Since then, about five million Nigerian school children have been reached on oral health education and behaviours in Abia, Lagos, Rivers, Ondo, Delta and Enugu states,” Ehanire, represented by the Director of Human Resources at FMoH, Dr. Aliyu Muhammed, said,