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Tag: Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako

  • FG tasks 464 foreign-trained Med Lab scientists on professionalism, patriotism

    FG tasks 464 foreign-trained Med Lab scientists on professionalism, patriotism

    The federal government has again stressed integrity, professionalism, and patriotism in the healthcare workforce as the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) inducted 464 newly qualified foreign-trained medical laboratory scientists in Abuja on Thursday.

    The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said the ceremony symbolised a collective pledge to national service and strengthened diagnostic systems

    With new professionals entering the field, he insisted that the country’s diagnostic backbone must be strengthened through ethics, patriotism, and unwavering professionalism.

    “As you take up your roles, I urge you to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity. Let precision define your work and let ethical conduct guide your actions.

    “Resist all forms of malpractice; reject quackery; and remember that the trust patients and clinicians place in you is a sacred responsibility.

    “Your work influences life-saving decisions; therefore, excellence must be your constant benchmark,” Salako said.

    He noted that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu places strong emphasis on transparency, accountability, and institutional reforms under the Renewed Hope Health Sector Investment Initiative.

    He stressed that laboratory scientists sit at the heart of accurate diagnosis, public health surveillance, outbreak response, and treatment planning. 

    “Your competence inspires investor confidence, stimulates local production of diagnostic tools, and reduces reliance on imports,” he said.

    He assured that the government remains committed to improving regulation, strengthening training, and maintaining quality assurance nationwide, describing the induction as progress not only for MLSCN but for the entire health workforce.

    The Council’s Registrar and CEO, Dr. Donald Ofili, applauded the Federal government, saying the Renewed Hope Agenda has provided “a clear direction for building a competent, ethical, and future-ready health workforce.”

    He vowed that MLSCN would intensify efforts to enforce discipline, end quackery, and maintain global standards across the country. 

    He noted that the council’s disciplinary tribunal “remains active and will not hesitate to sanction practitioners found guilty of unethical or unsafe practices.”

    The Registrar further described the newly commissioned Golden Arena of MLSCN as a stronger, functional structure that will lower event costs and serve as a versatile venue for future inductions and major gatherings.

  • Why Africa must join Nigeria to stamp out skin bleaching, by Health Minister

    Why Africa must join Nigeria to stamp out skin bleaching, by Health Minister

    Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has issued a clarion call for African nations to collaborate in tackling the widespread use of harmful skin-lightening products (SLPs) across the continent.

    Salako emphasized the need for other African nations to adopt policies put in place by Nigeria to stamp out the menace and enforce global agreements like the Minamata Convention, which seeks to reduce mercury usage worldwide. 

    The Minister noted that the initiative becomes imperative considering the health implications of skin bleaching.

    Nigeria has the world’s highest prevalence of skin-lightening product use, with 77% of Nigerian women reportedly using such products.

    Salako also advocated for the establishment of World Skin Health Day by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise global awareness about the dangers of harmful skin practices like bleaching.

    Acknowledging the issue’s complexity, Salako emphasized the need for a multidisciplinary approach involving dermatologists, psychologists, environmental scientists, and community health specialists.

    Speaking at the Regional Awareness-Raising Workshop on Eliminating Lightening Cosmetic Products Containing Mercury and Other Hazardous Substances in Libreville, Gabon, Salako highlighted the grave health risks and societal pressures driving the alarming trend. 

    He described skin bleaching as a public health crisis requiring urgent intervention, citing WHO data that identifies Nigeria as having the world’s highest prevalence of skin-lightening product use, with 77% of Nigerian women reportedly using such products.

    According to him, this alarming statistic underscores deeply rooted societal perceptions that link lighter skin with beauty, success, and social mobility.

    While women are predominantly affected, Salako pointed out that men also contribute to the problem, either as users or by pressuring women to conform to lighter skin norms. 

    To combat this issue, he told the gathering that Nigeria has implemented a range of proactive measures to reduce the prevalence of harmful skin-lightening practices.

    He said central to these efforts is the Cosmetic Products (Prohibition of Bleaching Agents) Regulations 2019, which ban the use of dangerous bleaching agents like mercury and limit hydroquinone concentrations to 2%.

    The government, through the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), ensures that all cosmetic products are tested and certified for safety.

    Enforcement mechanisms include routine inspections, market surveillance, and the destruction of unregistered and counterfeit products. 

    Furthermore, he said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has also launched the Cosmetics Safety Management Programme (CSMP) to educate the public about the dangers of unsafe cosmetics.

    He said this program employs public sensitization campaigns, grassroots advocacy, and collaborations with influencers to challenge societal perceptions of beauty and promote self-acceptance.

    Salako also noted the role of innovative tools like the MedSafety app, which allows users to report adverse reactions to cosmetic products, further enhancing consumer safety. 

    In addition to these measures, the Minister revealed that Nigeria is developing a National Policy on Cosmetics to provide a comprehensive framework for ensuring product safety and quality.

    The policy aligns with international standards and aims to strengthen regulatory oversight, positioning Nigeria as a leader in the fight against harmful cosmetic practices, he added.

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    He, however, advocated for a cultural shift, urging African governments to revive movements like “Black is Beautiful” to counteract Eurocentric beauty standards and foster pride in Afrocentric aesthetics. 

    Salako proposed that the WHO establish a World Skin Health Day to raise global awareness about the dangers of harmful skin practices like bleaching.

    He stressed that this problem extends beyond health, touching on cultural identity and societal values. 

    Despite challenges such as smuggling, online sales, and limited enforcement, Salako expressed optimism about Nigeria’s progress in addressing the root causes of skin bleaching.

    Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to protecting public health through safe cosmetic practices and promoting behavioural change, Salako said, “Africa must take the lead in advocating for safer practices and dismantling harmful beauty standards.

    “Fairer is not better, and we must collectively ensure that our people embrace and celebrate the beauty of diverse skin tones.”  

  • FG moves to combat environmental crisis using low emission dev strategy – Minister

    FG moves to combat environmental crisis using low emission dev strategy – Minister

    The Minister of State, Ministry for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, says the government is at the forefront of combating environmental crisis under Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and the Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy.

    Salako said the initiatives are part of the efforts towards achieving a net zero emissions and framework for biodiversity conservation.

    The minister disclosed this in Abuja at the Annual National World Press Freedom Day with the theme, ‘A press for the planet’ journalism in the face of the environmental crisis.

    The minister said that the commitments outline the country’s path towards sustainability, while emphasising the need for collaborative action, innovation, and accountability.

    He said, “I am a passionate advocate for the healthy preservation of our planet and a worker in the stewardship of the earth.

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    “This year’s theme, “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis,” cannot be coming at a better time as the world grapples with the greatest threat to our existence.

    “The triple environmental crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.  The theme also resonates loudly with the challenges we face and the responsibilities we all hold as stewards of planet earth. Environmental crises have become so intense, so gargantuan that it is at the core of most of the challenges being faced by humanity.

    “The Ministry of Environment is promoting nature based solutions through tree planting, mangrove restoration, urban greening and restoring wetlands.  We are promoting the adoption of more environmentally friendly energy sources including clean cook stoves, working hard to end gas-flaring and plastic pollution, remediating oil polluted communities, expanding our protected areas, addressing desertification, drought, flooding and erosion.

    “In doing this, we are fully in tune with the inclusivity agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu which is a key pillar in the eight-point presidential priority. Recognizing the interconnectedness of environmental, social, and economic issues, we understand that sustainable development cannot be achieved without addressing the needs of all members of society. By promoting inclusivity, we ensure that no one is left behind in our journey towards a greener, more prosperous Nigeria”.