The Nation Newspaper

Tag: DON

  • Don seeks relief package for livestock industry

    As the livestock industry faces a critical situation with many farms nearing bankruptcy, a former Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Prof Abiodun Adeloye, has called for increased government’s financial support package to save the industry.

    While the cost of animal feed has risen relentlessly, farmers said demand for poultry products has slowed down. As a result, many farmers are virtually bankrupt.

    He said livestock producers were feeling the pinch as prices of corn, soybeans and other livestock feed go higher.

    Livestock feeders are looking at severe losses never before experienced in the livestock sector.

    Adeloye urged the government to help struggling farmers cope with disease outbreaks, falling prices, and lack of resources.

    According to him, there is a need for a tripartite links between livestock farmers, feed suppliers and banks to help the livestock sector solve long-lasting problems such as increased input costs, unstable prices and outlet for their products.

    The livestock sector, mostly consisting of small-scale household farming, outdated techniques and a shortage of investment for farming, has been experiencing a difficult time as farmers struggle to access loans and attempt to conform to environmental protection regulations.

    Adeloye said financial shortages were a major problem for farms.

    He asked the banks to offer farmers loans with preferential interest rates.

    According to him, the livestock industry is critical to the economy because it provides food to Nigerians.

    He said demand for food would increase over the next decade due to population growth and increased business activity.

    He said the need for livestock would rise in keeping with the trend.

  • Don decries salary disparity

    Except the huge disparity between incomes of political office holders and civil/public servants in Nigeria is corrected, the problem of crime may not be in sight, a Professor of Criminology at the Ibrahim Badamasi University (IBBU), Lapai Professor Eddiefloyd Igbo has said.

    Igbo, of Department of Sociology, said this while delivering the institution’s fourth Inaugural Lecture titled: “Addressing Crime and Insecurity in Nigeria”.

    He noted that huge disproportionate incomes encourage crime and deviance among those who feel deprived, disadvantaged or cheated, thereby dampening their overall morale and commitment to work.

    He said crime and insecurity flourish in Nigeria because the executive, legislature and judiciary as well as the police have not been accountable in playing their respective statutory roles in the fight against crime and security in Nigeria.

  • Don seeks solar energy in varsities

    President, Solar Energy Society of Nigeria (SESN) Prof. Isaac Itodo has urged governments to key into solar power revolution for enhanced development in all sectors of the economy.

    Itodo, who is the director, Linkages at the University of Agriculture Makurdi (UAM) in Benue State, said the call became imperative because of the effectiveness of the solar system; urging government to venture into it as it has been proved effective and economically viable, given the challenges facing the power sector.

    He said part of his desire as president of SESN was to push for the establishment of a centre for energy in agriculture at UAM during his tenure. Once achieved, Itodo added that it will make farming more interesting, profitable and ensure good security.

    The university don, who announced that the paper work on  the aforementioned has been commenced,  appealed to the National Assembly to pass the bill when the SESN eventually pesents it  to that effect.

     

  • Don seeks to curb use of antibiotics in chicken

    A former Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Prof Abiodun Adeloye, has urged the government to stop the rampant use of antibiotics to grow livestock, especially chicken.

    He said such practices could lead to health problems in humans upon consumption.

    Stopping the practice, he said, would be a big step towards securing food safety in meat products with regulation on overuse and misuse of antibiotics. According to him, government needs to implement a comprehensive set of regulations including banning of antibiotic use as growth promoters in the poultry industry. Not doing this will put lives of people at risk.

    He explained that people may be developing resistance to antibiotics, and falling prey to a host of otherwise curable ailments. Some of this resistance, he added, might be due to the large-scale unregulated use of antibiotics in the poultry industry.

    He said the poultry sector uses them as growth promoters for them to gain weight and grow faster.

    According to him, public health experts suspect that such rampant use of antibiotics in animals could be a reason for increasing antibiotic resistance.

    International experts said large-scale misuse and overuse of antibiotics in chicken could lead to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the chicken itself. These bacteria are then transmitted to humans through food or environment. Additionally, eating small doses of antibiotics through chicken could also lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in humans.

    Studies are being undertaken to ascertain the linkage between overuse of antibiotics in poultry farms and antibiotic resistance in humans. They found that resistance was very high against ciprofloxacin, doxycycline and tetracycline. These are the same antibiotics that were detected in the chicken samples. The problem is compounded by the fact that many essential and important antibiotics for humans are being used by the poultry industry.

    In the United States (US), which is one of the largest users of antibiotics for animal food production, more than two million people suffer from antibiotic resistance-related illnesses every year; with 23,000 of them succumbing  to the diseases. Annual healthcare costs due to antibiotic resistance are estimated to be as high as $20 billion.

    Global industry operators fear ban on antibiotic in animal feed could hamper poultry and meat sectors.

  • Don seeks corporate governance

    Prof Babatunde Mohammed of the Department of Education Management of the Faculty of Education, Lagos State University (LASU), has proffered corporate governance as the key to achieving the set goals of a university.

    He spoke at the 25th graduation of LASU (Lagos State University) Staff School, with the theme: Education and progressive changes in democratic dispensation in Nigeria.

    In his lecture titled: ‘Education and good corporate governance’ Mohammed who once served as teacher in the school, explained that societies whether micro or macro, has a system of educating its youths and as such, education for a good life has been one of the persistent of man in history.

    He said because schools are considered ‘domestic industries’ while pupils are ‘domesticated pets’, school managers should know they cannot manage schools like other industries they know.

    He said corporate governance is an internal system encompassing policies, processes and people who are shareholders and stakeholders who direct and control management activities with good business objectivity, accountability and integrity.

    Using LASU as a case study he said: “In my opinion, all stakeholders in LASU which include the management (Vice Chancellor, Registrar, Bursar, Librarian), Deans and Committee of Provosts, Heads of Departments, lecturers, Deputy Registrars, administrative staff, student and others should reflect on how we are managing LASU. A university that is over 30years (eight vice chancellors) and had experienced close to two third of its years of existence is still wallowing in crisis.”

    To obtain good corporate governance; school managers should abstain from activities that speak no good for the school, but rather embrace integrity, transparency, accountability, fairness among others.

    He advised the school not to engage any staff without the Teacher Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) certificate, urgingthose without the certificate to obtain one.

    He also said staff school teacher should embrace dialogue in line with the principles of corporate governance in pursuing their affairs, rather than conflict, noting that the school should continue to be seen as part of staff welfare package.

    The head teacher of the school, Mrs Adeola Aribike, called on stakeholders to go back to the drawing board and retrace their steps for the desired change to be achieved.

    She advised the graduating pupils to maximise what they had learnt and also not to relent in their pursuit of a fulfilled life.

     

  • Don seeks African rebranding

    Don seeks African rebranding

    A professor of Sociology  and Criminal Justice, Virginal State University, Nana Derby, has advocated a rebranding of African identities to free the continent from Western domination.

    She spoke on the theme:  ‘A deconstructionist alternative in post-development Africa at the 42nd public lecture of Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State last Friday.

    She said Africa must embrace the developmental philosophy of the founding fathers that fought for her freedom.

    “I do not in any way advocate the secession of African nations from the world system,” Derby said, adding: “rather, I endore the optimism of the African-centred growth and development that the men and women who spearheaded our freedom instigated.

    “How do we establish the foundation so proclaimed several decades ago, and what identities do we project for ourselves. Who speaks for Africa? And how do we build that Africa capable of managing her own affairs?”

    She continued: “The attainment of political independence and the choices of dependency and modernisation plunged us deeper into the world system, not as equal partners, but as dependants and champions of the periphery noted for subservience, deprivation and vulnerability. In economic terms, our dependency and peripheral locations were suggestive of long-term trade imbalances, deficits, and limited foreign exchange earnings, Derby added.

    “To deconstruct, the continent need to decontextualise our identities, celebrate our differences, and critically reappraise the identities that processes of exploitation, colonisation, enslavement, post colonialism, and economic dependence bestowned on Africa.”

    Derby noted that over the last 50 years, Africa’s dependence on Western aids has done her more harm than good, despite that she can tap on her inner deposits to better her lot.

    ” For over 50 years, Africa’s dependence on foreign aid has been detrimental: yet the continent failed to advocate locally acquired programmes fitting valuable tour citizens and judiciously centred on our unique characteristics,”  the don said.

    To add more salt to the injury, African leaders made themselves tools for the emergence of sustenance of African’ s negative and poor economic performances which are detrimental to  the continent’s growth. She lamented that heavy dependence of African nation on Western countries had been attributed to dysfunctional Institution, bribery, mismanagement and misappropriation of state funds.

    ”Unfortunately, the funds are misappropriated or siphoned illicitly into personal venture, leaving the states with very little to show for their mounting debts,” she said.

    “African nations need to step out of the perpetual modernisation and dependency-driven development to usher herself into the post-development era of self-reliance,” Derby concluded.

  • Why people must undergo regular blood screening, by don

    Anyone who wishes to live long must undergo regular blood screening. This was the advice of Halim Daye, a professor of Hematology and Consultant Hematologist at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

    He was last Thursday delivering the 159th inaugural lecture at the Akin Deko Auditorium of the University of Benin (UNIBEN).

    In the lecture titled: We should pay more attention to our blood or else, Daye bemoaned the lackadaisical attitude of some people towards their health.

    He said: “Many people are so concerned about their outward appearance. They don’t care about what flows in their veins. Many persons do not even know their blood group. Sadly, some go ahead to marry without conducting blood tests, thereby endangering the lives of their children. There is a need for regular blood screening, because it will save people from many diseases.”

    The lecturer was shocked by the response when he asked how many members of the audience had undergone blood screening in the last six months. He condemned people’s negligence on the status of their blood. He said many blood diseases could be managed if detected early, advising that full blood screening should be carried out every six months.

    The professor of Hematology said there was the need for government to immediately declare a state of emergency on Hepatitis B Virus, which he said is 40 times more infectious and deadly than HIV/AIDS.

    The inaugural lecturer detailed his achievements in the area of research into blood diseases. In his recommendation, Prof Daye urged the government to provide facilities needed to run blood test in health centers nationwide.

    He advised Ministry of Health to invest in the training of hematologists and make grant available for people carrying out research in hematology.

    He called for legislation that would make pre-employment blood screening compulsory in both private and public sector. He also cautioned health workers to take precautions against HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B when handling patients’ blood.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Faraday Orumwense, who chaired the event, hailed the inaugural lecturer for his research work. He said the recommendations would be submitted to relevant authorities, urging members of the audience to spread the message far and wide.

  • Don warns graduating pupils against excessive freedom

    Don warns graduating pupils against excessive freedom

    Graduating pupils look forward to greater freedom after completing their secondary education.  However, a professor of Mathematics at the University of Ibadan, Mrs Adebisi Ugbebor, has warned that there is too much of it in tertiary institutions.

    Prof Ugbebor was the guest speaker at the 17th valedictory service/graduation programme of Jextoban Secondary  School, where she warned the 82 graduands, educated in the Ketu, Lagos and Ibafo, Ogun branches of the school, to be wary of too much freedom.

    “A higher institution of learning is a place that has too much freedom for young people.  But don’t think that you can do whatever you like because people are not watching you.  God is there with you,” she said.

    She also warned the young ones to resist the temptation of denying their families because of socio-economic status, which she said she sees at play among some students at the University of Ibadan (UI).

    She advised them to count themselves privileged to have families and treat them with respect even if they are not rich.

    “Be satisfied with what God has given you; and what your parents have for you.  Never look down on your parents.  No matter how humble they are, you have an address to go home to; and you cannot buy that with money.  Some people have no home to go to at the end of the session.  Don’t listen to people who claim to wear N50,000 worth of clothes but you do not know where they get their money from,” she counselled.

    Mrs Ugbebor urged the pupils to pursue Mathematics as a course in the higher institution.  She told them of various ways Mathematics could be applied to real-life situations, including voting.

    She already has a prodigy in the person of Titi Agboola, the overall best graduand, who plans to study Mathematics and Computer Science in the university and nurses the ambition of becoming a renowned professor of Mathematics.

    The 15-year old, who had met Prof Ugbebor during a Mathematics competition that held at UI, told The Nation that her passion for the subject influenced her decision.

    “I discovered that most people go for courses based on their parents’ ideas and at the end of the day discover that it doesn’t work well.  Mathematics is my passion and I learnt that passion is the best motivation.  So, that is making me a unique person because extraordinary people are only different because of the extra they add to their things,” she said.

    In his speech, chairman, board of governors of the school, Pastor Ezekiel Ojo, charged the graduands to dare to be different in the wider world even in the face of difficulties.

    “My charge to the graduating students is simply, “Dare to be a Daniel”. The society in which you are living and will be stepping into is fraught with intimidating challenges. You will be confronted with the dilemma of whether to stand alone or join the maddening crowd. That corruption is the order of the day is an understatement.  Deceit, power struggle, wealth acquisition by all means, cultism, and all kinds of vices are prevalent in the present day society.  Yet, in all these, you still must survive and stand out as the lily stands in the midst of mire,” he said.

    Principal of the school’s Ibafo campus, Mr Victor Aigbefoh, said he was confident in the graduands’ ability to excel because they had been adequately prepared by the school.

  • Don, Odegbami, others for conference

    The Dean, Faculty of Food Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Prof Lateef Sanni; Chairman, International Sports Academy Abeokuta, Segun Odegbami and other erudite scholars will speak at the first annual O’odua Youth Conference (OYC).

    The conference, organised by OYC, a registered apex Yoruba youth organisation, will hold on July 30 at the Western Hall, Secretariat Complex, Ibadan, with the theme: “Repositioning Yoruba Youth for Greater Prosperity: A new Agenda”.

    OYC President Moronkeji Oladapo said Director General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) Segun Oshinowo and Director General of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission Dipo Famakinwa are also guest speakers at the conference, which will draw over 1,000 select Yoruba youths from across the Southwest.

    He said the conference would provide the youth and leaders the platform to do a more critical appraisal of the challenges facing them and proffer solutions.

    He said the conference would also serve as a launchpad for various OYC’s empowerment programmes in agribusiness, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, creative arts, and sports.

  • Friends, colleagues celebrate don at book presentation

    Friends, colleagues celebrate don at book presentation

    • From left: Aleyeh, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Abdullahi Ibrahim, Idornigie and Prof. Mohammed Mustapha Akanbi.
    • From left: Aleyeh, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Abdullahi Ibrahim, Idornigie and Prof. Mohammed Mustapha Akanbi.

    For the head, Department of Commercial Law, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS),  Prof. Paul  Idornigie, it was indeed a day of joy and double celebration. His friends, relations and professional colleagues poured encomiums on him as he presented his book: Commercial Arbitration Law and Practice in Nigeria.

    For them,  Prof. Idornigie is a symbol  hard work, of which his academic works  are an eloquent testimony.

    No wonder he was recently nominated for the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

    The event was chaired by the former Attorney-General and  Minister of Justice, Abdullahi Ibrahim, with Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN) as presenter.

    Prof. Nelson Ochekpe who represented the  Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Hayward Babale Mafuyai said:  “It gives us joy at the University of Jos whenever our alumnus extends the frontiers of learning in his/her field of specialisation.

    “As fellow labourers in the vineyard of academics, I urge you not to relent in your efforts as we strive together in building the academic community of our dreams where learning and quality academic researches are not only entrenched but nurtured.

    “I must applaud the author for publishing a book on this somewhat new  area of jurisprudence.  The  world is fast changing from the adversarial mode of dispute settlement and leaning more towards arbitration.

    “It,  therefore, offers insight into an alternative  dispute resolution  mechanism whereby parties explore settlement of their grievances in a  non-adversarial environment.”

    Also at the event were Kwara State  House of Assembly Speaker Dr. Ali Ahmad; NIALS Director-General Prof. Deji  Adekunle; Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Dr Sam Amadi;  Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Jos, Prof Dakas C.J Dakas (SAN); Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN); chair, NBA Abuja Branch Mr Agada Elachi, among others.