The Nation Newspaper

Tag: awareness

  • VC urges awareness on HIV/AIDS

    The Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan (UI), Prof. Idowu Olayinka, has called for awareness to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS.

    He spoke in Abuja at a workshop on Family Life and Health Education (FLHE) curriculum implementation in schools.

    The event was organised by the Ibadan Social and Evaluation Research Team (ISERT), University of Ibadan.

    Olayinka said: “I think it is okay, but there is always room for improvement. The thing of interest is to make sure there is high level of awareness so that they can reduce the incident to the barest minimum.

    “I think it will go a long way and this kind of study that has been carried out by teams from ISERT will  complement the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Health in improving education on HIV/AIDS and family life generally.”

    He said ISERT with support from the Ford Foundation embarked on activities designed to scale up the implementation of Family Life and Health Education in the country since 2011.

    “These activities include conducting research on FLHE in 35 states, carrying out advocacy visits to governments at all levels and monarchs, designing IEC materials on FLHE, designing algorithms on the best practices for teaching FLHE and developing  guidelines for the establishment of youth friendly centres in secondary schools,” the VC added.

  • Political awareness, corruption and succession

    I  start  today  with  an  ancient  and  time honoured  saying  that – the mills of  justice may  grind  slowly  but  they  grind exceedingly fine. I  adopt  this saying as the flagship  of our  discussion of  the title  of  the day. In  doing this I will  show  that in various  parts of  the  world as  we know it  today,  people  are  increasingly  aware and are intensely  critical  of  the type  of leadership  they  get or  have and   are  remonstrating  and  protesting where  an when they  are disappointed or  think  that they are being  shortchanged or   suspect  that the present  leadership  they  have is taking them for  a ride.

    It  is indeed  not  very  difficult  to see  what  I am  trying t decipher  because  it not  lost  in  plain sight  to  any  discerning observer  of  world  politics  in  the last  one week.  In   Brazil  in Latin America the Olympics  have  started  but  hundreds  of  protesters  took  to the streets when  the Olympic  torch  was received by the Mayor  of Rio de Janeiro  and the two  presidents who  brought  the Olympics to  Brazil  are  facing  corruption  and  impeachment  charges for budget  padding.  Similarly in  Nigeria the  former Chairman  of  the Appropriations Committee of the House  of  Representatives  has shot  back at the Speaker  who  relieved him of his  position  with much  venom  and charges  of  financial  recklessness on  budget  padding   and has written a petition  to  the anti  corruption body – the EFCC – to  prosecute  the Speaker  for budget  fixing,  padding  and other  odious budget  approval  malfeasance.  Also   in  the same  Latin  America  where  the last  two  presidents  are  on  tenterhooks  in  Brazil  over  corruption  charges a sitting   President  Ortega  of  the Sandinista  fame in   Nicaragua  got  the  Supreme  Court   judgement  to  contest  for  a third term and immediately  nominated  his wife as his  running  mate  for  Nicaragua’s next  presidential  election due very  soon. Surely  one  man’s  food  is  another  man’s  poison especially  in the  politics of  elections  and  succession in  the democracies  of  Latin  America  where  the Perons blazed  a trail  in  matrimonial  succession in  Argentina sometime  ago.

    Yet  it  is in North  America  not  Latin  America  that  the greatest  political  volcano  of our  time  is about  to  explode  and I  really  do  not  think  I am  exaggerating   or  being  unduly  alarmist.  I am  simply  bothered  as  a  serious  student  of  global politics  and  human  progress  and  I have  shown  my  apprehension  and  concern  in  my  last  recent  essays  on  American  politics  and  the 2016  presidential  elections  which  has come to  be dominated  by  the brand  of  politics that  the Republican  candidate  Donald  Trump  has  brought  on  board   with  his forceful  personality and  even  more  violent  language  on  the  campaigns  and the  November elections.  Which  he  obviously  sees  as a no  holds  barred,  winner  takes  all, scotched  earth political  undertaking.  Which  also   is unprecedented  in  US  politics  and  has  prompted  a sitting  US  president Barak  Obama, to  declare  that an  opposition  candidate  against  his  anointed presidential  candidate  is  not  fit  to be  president.  Which  also  on its own is extreme  language  to  use  on any  candidate  including  Donald  Trump  no  matter  how much  of  an  irritant he  has turned  out  to  be in  the pursuit  of his democratically acquired mandate   and legitimate  candidature.

    Similarly  in Turkey the  incumbent  president  who  survived  a military  coup   recently,  has  seized  the opportunity  to  put  his  political  house  in order  by  purging  all  public  institutions  accused  of  harboring  coup  plotters  and  sympathisers.  President  Tayyip  Erdogan  is  making sure  that  lightning  does  not strike twice  at  the same spot  and it is difficult  to  blame him  especially  if  one realizes that  life  has  no  duplicate  and  that  even  a cat  with  nine  lives such as  he  must   learn  fast  to  always watch  his  back  to survive  politically  in Turkey’s  volatile, secular vs Islamist  politics  and  elections.

    These  then  are  the issues  on  the table  today  and  I will  now stamp  on  each  my  views  and  comments in  the light of  the topic  of  the day starting  with  Brazil and  the order  of  narration so  far.  Really,  who  could  have thought  that Dilmar  Rousseff the  President  of  Brazil during  the 2014  World  Cup would  not  be in  office  and would  be facing impeachment  trial two  years  later during  the 2016  Olympics  brokered   by  her  predecessor  who  handpicked  her  to succeed  him  and see   through   the  two  prestigious  sporting events? Yet  the ominous  signs were  there  in  the way  Brazilians protested  during the 2014  World  Cup  at  the corruption in their  sporting  institutions while ordinary  Brazilians wallowed in abject  poverty.  Even  the gods  of  soccer  did  not smile at the  Brazilians in their favorite  sport  of  soccer  as they  were  humiliated by a disgraceful  7-1 defeat  on their  own  soil  as  hosts  by the merciless  Germany   team   which  went  on   to win the 2014  World  cup  in  Brazil,  to  President  Dilmar  Rousseff’s  utter  discomfort  and embarrassment. Events  in  Brazil  have shown  that  politicians  cannot  get  far away  from  public  anger  no  matter  how  many  fanciful  games  and sport  they  invent  and sponsor  to  divert  the anger and  poverty  of  the  people  away  from  their  sufferings  as the ancient  Roman  Emperors  did  with  the staged  fights and lions  in the arenas  of  ancient  Rome.

    In  Nigeria  the sordid  revelations  on  budget  padding  show  clearly  that  dishonesty is a way  of  life  in  our legislative  institutions.  A  simple  task  of   budgetary  cost  control  built  into  our  presidential  system  as a form  of  checks  and  balancing  and   separation  of  powers,  has  been  turned  upside  down  and made to serve the narrow  constituency  interests of  elected legislators. It  is both a betrayal  of  the constitution  and the electoral   process  in  the democracy  that  saw  the emergence   of such law  makers  intent  on  perverting the democratic  process  for  their  selfish  interests. Of  course  no  budget  can thrive under such  a warped  and corrupt  system  which  makes   a mockery  of  budget  planning and execution  while economic  growth  and  welfare become unrealizable  like  a mirage on  our  heated Northern  highways. Of  course  the EFCC  must  do  its duty  and prosecute  those  involved. Since  every  disappointment  can  be turned  into a blessing,  this whistle blowing  by  legislators   turning  on themselves may  yet  be the shortest   way  to put  our  legislative  chambers in  order and  hopefully  make budget  padding  a thing  of  the past.

    Not   much  can be made of  Ortega  appointing  his wife  as running  mate  as that  has  been  done twice  in Argentina – the  Perons   and  de  Kircheners – and  the ladies  performed  well  in  succeeding  their  husbands.  The  issue    however  is   the ethics  of  it. Which  is that  such   a consideration   of a wife  for  succeeding   the  husband   should  not arise in  a healthy  political  system  where  merit  is  the deciding  factor.  The  wife should  in my view  just  not be up  for  consideration  to  succeed  the husband  no  matter  her  talents as the couple is  supposed  to  be one entity and  not two  and  therefore  not  extendable  in  terms of  political  succession in  any way.

    In  taking  on  the US here  then,  I  think  the same bias  would  dog  the  candidature  of  Hillary  Clinton  as  the presidential   candidate of  the    Democratic   Party.  Although  Donald  Trump  has taken  a lot  of heat on his  political  campaign  style  Hillary  Clinton  too is  not having  things easy. An  anti  –  Hillary   documentary  by  Dinesh  D’ Souza   titled -Hillary’s  America; The secret story  of  the Democratic  Party -has  been  said  to  be the highest  earning  documentary in the US  for  now. Although  I  have  not watched  the film  the producer  said  it   showed  Hillary’s    real    motivations   and  is  based  on  facts which will  alter  the way  blacks and Hispanics  perceive  their  relations with  the Democratic  Party.  Given  its  history  of endorsing slavery and discrimination in this documented  history  of  the Democratic  Party, of  which Hillary is the current  presidential  candidate. How  the issues in the documentary which  Donald  Trump  has reportedly  endorsed,  unravel,  and  how  much  publicity it  gets  will  certainly  affect  the progress  of  either  Trump  or  Hillary  in their  quest  to become the next  US president.  Either  way  it seems as if  a  bomb is  ticking to go  off  in  this 2016 US  Presidential elections   and  I do  not  think  that is a healthy  feeling   for  either  US  politics or  even  global  democracy  and  peace  for that  matter.   Once  again  long  live  the  Federal  Republic  of  Nigeria.

  • ‘Child’s Right Law needs more awareness’

    Lagos State has called for more awareness on the Child’s Rights Law to protect children from abuse and violence.

    Attorney-General Adeniji Kazeem, who spoke during activities to mark the World Human Rights Day, affirmed his commitment enforcing children’s rights.

    He said: “This year’s theme, Empowering the Nigerian child, has been selected to create awareness on the rights of the child, restore their confidence and self-esteem, improve their status as well as empower children with disability to fully enjoy their rights.

    “It is important for all parents, guardians and caregivers to painstakingly care for and nurture children in order to develop their potential so that they can contribute to the development of the state.”

     

     

  • Nigeria calls for more cancer awareness

    No fewer than 500 people were screened for cancer in Lagos by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) Nigeria.

    The event, which held at the Media Centre, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), had in attendance men, women, the elderly and the young as beneficiaries. They were enlightened about the disease.

    The Executive Secretary, CECP Nigeria, Dr. Abia Nzelu, who called on stakeholders to fund the acquisition of Mobile Cancer Centres (MCCs) to facilitate cancer prevention through screening and early treatment at the grassroots, said regular screening and early detection of cancer help to save lives.

    The programme, according to her, created awareness on the various types of cancers, which men and women are prone to.

    The executive secretary also urged women to be weary of breast cancer, adding: “Women should watch lump in breasts; change in breast size or shape; fluid other than breast milk from breasts; bloody nipple discharge and peeling or redness of breasts skin as symptoms of cancer and persistent pain in breasts.”

    She said women from 35 years, who have family history of breast cancer, should go for screening once a year while those without family history should start going for breast cancer screening at age 40. She encouraged them to engage in frequent self breast examination, adding that it is advisable they check it a week to their menstruation.

    Dr Abia advised that if lump is found in a woman’s breast a clinical breast examination should be conducted at an appropriate facility.

    Human papilloma virus (HPV), she said, is the major cause of cervical cancer. It also causes prostate cancer in men.

    She mentioned abnormal discharge; odour; pain; itching; irregular vagina discharge; tiredness and waist pain as symptoms of cervical cancer.

    Dr Abia said about 22 women die daily in Nigeria from cervical cancer, adding that it is the second most common cancer in Nigeria and the easiest to prevent.

    “It kills more in 24 to 35-year-old women in developing countries than any other cancer screened.

    Dr Abia mentioned gardasil as a cancer vaccine, which helps to cure 15 types of cancers in men and women.

    She advised women from 18 years to go for cervical screening once yearly, adding that it takes two years for cervical cancer to develop.

    Dr Abia said one in every four Nigerian male dies of prostate cancer.

    She identified weak flow of urine, feeling of empty bladder after urinating, bloody urine/ semen as some symptoms of prostate cancer.

    She advised men from age 40 go for prostate cancer screening once every year, noting that testicular cancer, which occurs more in younger men, and often leads to death.

    She identified swelling, pain, and lump in the scrotum as symptoms of testicular cancer, adding that examining the scrotum yearly is a preventive measure against testicular cancer.

    Dr Abia advised that abstaining from smoking; avoiding excessive alcohol intake; avoiding excessive sunlight; avoiding unsafe sex, unhealthy living are some golden rules to observe to prevent cancer.

    A trader, Mrs Peace Eboh, said she was informed about the free cancer screening and decided to  get tested.

    She said she noticed a lump in her left breast and decided to come for screening.

    Another beneficiary of the screening, Mrs Godwin Ikechukwu, said: “I advise Nigerians both men and women to come out for the free training and get screened, she went further to say that she was glad to come and brought her children along.”

    A trader, Mr Chijioke Mba, said: “I was informed about the training from a friend and I’m glad I came,” adding that he could not wait for the result to be out.”

  • Organisation takes cancer awareness to Lagos streets

    Organisation takes cancer awareness to Lagos streets

    A non-governmental organization (NGO), Care Organisation Public Enlightenment (COPE), has embarked on a 10-km walk to create awareness and sensitisation about breast cancer.

    Members of the organisation, partners, friends and cancer survivors, walked from the Arch Bishop Vinning memorial Cathedral, GRA, Ikeja to Maryland, wearing breast cancer awareness shirts and distributing flyers, yesterday.

    President of the organization, Mrs Ebunola Anozie said the walk was organized as one of the activities to commemorate COPE’s 20th anniversary this month.

    She said: “It has been 20 years of fighting breast cancer and we are stronger than ever. We want to reduce the mortality rate of breast cancer. This is breast cancer awareness, we want people to understand the reality of breast cancer and the walk is a good form of exercise for everyone. This is fantastic. I advice people to examine their breasts, present early and watch their lifestyle. We want to make everyone around aware.”

    Mrs Anozie also called for the establishment of a comprehensive cancer centre in the state to cater to the needs of cancer patients, while the survivors cheered in agreement.

    Also walking with the group was head of strategic brand management of Skye Bank, Nduneche Ezuruike, who charged everyone to take cancer awareness to their families and circles to help spread the word.

    He said: “The scourge of cancer in Nigeria has been a major problem so we are seeking to intervene to ensure that every woman undergoes breast examination. You cannot say you are free until you undergo a test. We are joining people across the world to say no to cancer. We have been partnering with COPE for the past 10 years to campaign against breast cancer. Sponsoring this walk today is just part of our social responsibility to ensure that the fight against cancer is won. We believe that if we work concertedly, we can win the fight.

    “You see, cancer awareness is a family thing. If you think you are not involved by virtue of age, or that you have undergone the test, there are people in your family or your relations who might need the information. So this is a clarion call to those who are not here that wherever you are, join this fight against cancer. With such little steps, we will make a big outcome.”

  • Nigeria calls for more cancer awareness

    No fewer than 500 people were screened for cancer in Lagos by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) Nigeria.

    The event, which held at the Media Centre, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), had in attendance men, women, the elderly and the young as beneficiaries. They were enlightened about the disease.

    The Executive Secretary, CECP Nigeria, Dr. Abia Nzelu, who called on stakeholders to fund the acquisition of Mobile Cancer Centres (MCCs) to facilitate cancer prevention through screening and early treatment at the grassroots, said regular screening and early detection of cancer help to save lives.

    The programme, according to her, created awareness on the various types of cancers, which men and women are prone to.

    The executive secretary also urged women to be weary of breast cancer, adding: “Women should watch lump in breasts; change in breast size or shape; fluid other than breast milk from breasts; bloody nipple discharge and peeling or redness of breasts skin as symptoms of cancer and persistent pain in breasts.”

    She said women from 35 years, who have family history of breast cancer, should go for screening once a year while those without family history should start going for breast cancer screening at age 40. She encouraged them to engage in frequent self breast examination, adding that it is advisable they check it a week to their menstruation.

    Dr Abia advised that if lump is found in a woman’s breast a clinical breast examination should be conducted at an appropriate facility.

    Human papilloma virus (HPV), she said, is the major cause of cervical cancer. It also causes prostate cancer in men.

    She mentioned abnormal discharge; odour; pain; itching; irregular vagina discharge; tiredness and waist pain as symptoms of cervical cancer.

    Dr Abia said about 22 women die daily in Nigeria from cervical cancer, adding that it is the second most common cancer in Nigeria and the easiest to prevent.

    “It kills more in 24 to 35-year-old women in developing countries than any other cancer screened.

    Dr Abia mentioned gardasil as a cancer vaccine, which helps to cure 15 types of cancers in men and women.

    She advised women from 18 years to go for cervical screening once yearly, adding that it takes two years for cervical cancer to develop.

    Dr Abia said one in every four Nigerian male dies of prostate cancer.

    She identified weak flow of urine, feeling of empty bladder after urinating, bloody urine/ semen as some symptoms of prostate cancer.

    She advised men from age 40 go for prostate cancer screening once every year, noting that testicular cancer, which occurs more in younger men, and often leads to death.

    She identified swelling, pain, and lump in the scrotum as symptoms of testicular cancer, adding that examining the scrotum yearly is a preventive measure against testicular cancer.

    Dr Abia advised that abstaining from smoking; avoiding excessive alcohol intake; avoiding excessive sunlight; avoiding unsafe sex, unhealthy living are some golden rules to observe to prevent cancer.

    A trader, Mrs Peace Eboh, said she was informed about the free cancer screening and decided to  get tested.

    She said she noticed a lump in her left breast and decided to come for screening.

    Another beneficiary of the screening, Mrs Godwin Ikechukwu, said: “I advise Nigerians both men and women to come out for the free training and get screened, she went further to say that she was glad to come and brought her children along.”

    A trader, Mr Chijioke Mba, said: “I was informed about the training from a friend and I’m glad I came,” adding that he could not wait for the result to be out.”

  • Multinationals create awareness on hand washing

    A multinational, Unigloves Medical, in collaboration with other European partners, is set to carry hygiene campaign to schools and hospitals in Nigeria as its own contribution towards the celebration of the yearly Global Handwashing Day which comes up today.

    The multinationals will do this by installing dispensing machines in selected schools and hospitals nationwide, giving students and workers the opportunity to wash their hands with disinfectants and quality solutions produced by the company.

    “This is a way of promoting hygiene among Nigerian children, thereby preventing infections and other diseases,” said Mr. Kevin Onah, managing director, Unigloves Medical.

    Global Handwashing Day (GHD) is a campaign to motivate and mobilise people around the world to improve their handwashing habits by washing their hands with soap at critical moments.

    The campaign was initiated to reduce childhood mortality rates, related respiratory and diarrheal diseases by introducing simple behavioral changes, such as handwashing with soap. This simple, accessible action can, according to research, reduce the rate of mortality from these diseases by between 25 and 50 per cent.

     

  • Lack of awareness keeps contributory pension undersubscribed

    The Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) is undersubscribed owing to lack of adequate public awareness, Managing Director, Premium Pension Limited, Wilson Ideva has said.

    Ideva, who made this known while speaking with journalist in Abuja, said this is why the scheme remains at less than 10 per cent penetration level more than 10 years after its commencement.

    He stated that a vast majority of Nigerians including the supposedly enlightened community lack information on the workings and belief in the workability of the scheme.

    He said: “How else can one explain the less than 10 per cent penetration of the market more than 10 years after the commencement of the scheme?

    “Less than seven million workers in Nigeria have subscribed to the new pension scheme out of the estimated more that 70 million working population while a total of 4.9 trillion Naira has been amassed as pension assets under management in the pension industry.”

    Ideva lamented the lukewarm attitude of some Nigerians to the scheme.

    “It is inexplicable considering the ugly past of the Defined Benefit Scheme which we have all been striving to break away from.

    “Workers looked up to retirement with so much fear and trepidation because of the inherent uncertainties. The old scheme was fraught with corruption and bureaucratic bottlenecks that occasioned the ugly sight of long queues of aged citizens waiting to be paid pension that oftentimes never came.”

    He, however, noted that the contributory scheme is a huge success and the most impactful government initiative in recent times, adding that there is the need to applaud the initiators of the scheme in the country.

    He pointed out that while the old scheme which operated before 2004 left a huge pension deficit two trillion naira within the economy, the new scheme has accumulated pension asset of over 4.7 trillion naira and an enrolment of over 6.5 million people.

    He noted that when these figures are put together, it would show that it has been a success story and this pool of funds is already playing a critical role in national development.

    The scheme, he said, has already begun to improve the lives of retirees in the country and also  becoming a critical contributor to national development.

    He recalled that initially, when the idea was presented, a lot of people did not believe in it.

    “This is understandable considering where we were coming from. Such skepticism has been dissipated with the successes recorded by the new scheme since inception.

    “The pathetic situation of pensioners before the scheme was introduced is different from the current situation where workers are partners in the management of their pension funds. He urged Nigerians to note the difference between the new scheme and the old defined benefit system under which some pensioners are still being managed.

    He noted that under the new scheme entitlements are being paid regularly. He also advised workers and retirees to  notify their Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) six months before retirement and submit all the necessary documents.

    Once this is done, within one or two months upon retirement you will be paid your lump sum.

  • Group creates BVN registration awareness

    Group creates BVN registration awareness

    The Consumer Right Awareness Advancement and Advocacy (CRAAAI) has  urged Nigerians to go and register for their Bank Verification Numbers. Registration deadline is June 30.

    The Chairman of the CRAAAI, Mr. Moses Igbrude, who spoke  at a stakeholders’ forum on identity management in the economy, organised to enlighten Nigeria, said identity management is a broad administrative area that deals with identifying individuals in a particular system. He listed the system to include a country, a network, or an enterprise and controlling their access to resources within that system by associating, user rights and restrictions with the established identity.

    He added that the role of technology in modernising the banking sector has witnessed a paradigm shift from the traditional methods of banking to digital channels which involve enormous levels of electronic data capture (EDC) of customer’s information.

    “Everybody needs security; if people are identified before they commit any crime, the person will be identified easily. “

  • ‘No awareness on Mothers’Day’

    ‘No awareness on Mothers’Day’

    Last Sunday, Mothers’ Day was commemorated in some parts of the world and Nigeria joined in the celebration.

    The event, aimed at honouring mothers and presenting gifts to show them love, saw shoppers visiting shopping places to buy what they called ‘the best gift’ for their mothers.

    However, some people, particularly retailers, complained that they didn’t get enough awareness to help them stock their shops with needed items and make huge sales  as usual. Some shoppers who didn’t know before Sunday had the opportunity of walking into gift shops to buy something for their mothers.

    Miss Fatimah Suleiman, a shopper said, she didn’t remember  Sun- day was Mothers’ Day until she saw people sending greetings to their mothers using the social media network.“I was reminded  late; however, I have been able to buy my loving mother a beautiful jewlery box and I know she will love it.”

    Another shopper Nkem Agu, shopped for her  mother online. “ I thought it was wise to surprise my mum with a beautiful gift, but I didn’t want to do it myself. So, I asked Jumia to do it for me. My mum just called to say she received my gift and I am happy.”

    She added that the process of buying, presenting and accepting gifts to celebrate mothers was fun and memorable.

    A sales representative with Justrite Stores at Abule-Egba, a Lagos surburb, Mr Ahmed Tijani,  confirmed that sales on Mothers’ Day unlike every other Sunday was on high. “At Justrite, sales skyrocketed for us  from 40per cent on a normal sunday to 80 per cent because people bought more gift items to woo their mothers, this is very unusal with sunday sales.”

    A retailer, Mrs Faith Nwanchukwu,  sells gifts items; also, she complained that the awareness for Mothers’ Day is not like that of the Valentine’s Day held last month.

    “I would have stocked up new and trendy gifts for today if i had this information early enough. Maybe it is because it is not a celebration that we take seriously in this part of the world. For instance, the Valentine’s Day sale was booming and I was able to record huge sales.”

    Mrs. Kelechi Ngwu sells kitchen utensils at Iyana Ipaja market where she owns a shop. She lamented that she looked forward to festivities to make huge sales, but the Mothers’ Day is an exception.

    Her words: “I didn’t know that Nigerians were used to celebrating with the western world. I would have taken sales for the Mothers’ Day seriously. Some of my customers told me about it when they came to buy some utensils to present to their mothers, some even sent gift items to their mothers in the village.”