The Nation Newspaper

Tag: educates

  • NGO educates pupils on drug abuse

    StartNowAfrica, an initiative on empowering and encouraging young persons to pursue their dreams early, has embarked on a ‘Say No to Drug Abuse Secondary School Tour’.

    The tour convener, Mr Emmanuel Ohore, said he realised that reaching pupils at secondary school level was important in the fight against drug abuse.

    “During our campaigns in campuses, we found out that the students were already influenced at secondary school level hence our rationale behind this tour.

    “StartNowAfrica’s goal is to reach five million youths through our various platforms including ‘Say No to Drug Abuse Tour,”he said.

    Last week, the initiative visited Bethel Primary and Secondary school, Oke-Ira, Ogba, where it enlightened the pupils on the dangers of drug abuse.

    One of the members, Busola Sebiotimo, engaged the pupils in a discussion at the end of which the pupils concluded that drug abuse was dangerous.

    In February, the tour having been completed in Ogun State where over 1,500 pupils were reached, kicked off in Lagos, starting with Mainland Secondary School, Maryland, Ikeja.

    There, the pupils were enlightened by the StartNowAfrica team and a representative of the Human Development Initiative (HDI) about the effects of drug abuse and the need to avoid bad company.

    Also, some pupils shared their experiences about contact with drug abuse. One of them, Julius Adeleke (not real names) said: “I used to take drugs, but now I have stopped. What prompted me to stop was the day I took it, I was not in control of myself. I misplaced my phone and money, and then I knew it was not good for the body.  Also, my brother who introduced me to it has stopped and he is now a graduate of UNILAG.”

  • World Savings Day: CBN educates students on savings culture

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has emphasised the need for every Nigerians to imbibe the culture of saving so as to have better economy and citizenry.

    Speaking at a World Saving Day programme organised for students of St. Peters Unity Secondary School in Akure, the Ondo State capital, the state branch controller of CBN, Mrs. Adeyemi Yusuf, said there is need for parents and guardians to start training their children on how to save.

    Yusuf noted that CBN has decided to take its enlightenment programme to schools so as to lay a foundation in the minds of the children at their early age.

    According to her, students from14 secondary schools in the six geo-political zones benefited from the mentoring programme.

    Adeyemi said it is only savings that translate to investment; saying without it there cannot be investment, which also means there cannot be development.

    Her words: “Savings habit is not very encouraging in Nigeria, and I think it is not peculiar to Nigeria; it is worldwide. So, I think it is necessary for this kind of commemoration to come up and create awareness from time to time

    “The commemoration of the World Savings Day is one of the platforms the bank is using to raise awareness of children and youths on the importance of savings, which is expected to lead to an increase in the levels of financial literary, financial inclusion (number of people that have banking relationship with financial institutions) culminating in a stable and sound financial system and ultimately a positive economic environment”.

    Adeyemi stressed that those, who are in the habit of savings are contributing to the economy of the country, and making themselves bette, citizenry for Nigeria.

    “If we are saving, we are saving for ourselves, when you save for yourself it also affect the country at large,” she added.

    She called on the state government to leverage on the CBN initiative to further create awareness and sensitise the people on the importance of saving.

    A staff of Consumer Protection Department of CBN in Abuja, Mr. Damola Atanda, who gave a talk at the event, said there is need to train the system irrespective of amount of money they are given.

    He noted that students, who have developed a saving habit, have been included into the country financial system, adding that it would translate to more money in the economy.

     

  • Agency, bank educates customers

    Amoye Microfinance Bank Limited, in collaboration with Partnership for Economic Policy, Canada (PEP) and Initiative for Evidence Based Development and Empowerment, Nigeria (IEBDEM) has educated staff and customers on the importance of microcredit for women empowerment. It also advised them on the inherent risk in loans disbursement.

    This topped the agenda at a workshop on poverty alleviation and women empowerment held at at Ikere Ekiti, Ekiti State at the weekend.

    Chairman of the bank, Mr. Feyi Ogoji, represented by the Managing Director, Mr. Akanle Lateef Oluwole, said the workshop was to sensitise the customers on the various products available in the bank to drive SME through funding with microcredit and microfinance.

  • Agency educates Lagos residents

    Agency educates Lagos residents

    The Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC) has begun an advocacy on precautions against further outbreak of the Ebola Viral Disease (EVD) and home safety.

    Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wale Ahmed, who led the agency’s team to the Eko Club in Surulere, Lagos, for the advocacy programme, warned the residents against spreading rumours about the disease.

    He said creating panic over the EVD would not help anyone in the efforts to contain it.

    The commissioner warned that failure to obey the healthy tips about the disease could expose more people to contracting the disease.

    Ahmed said: “This is an advocacy and sensitisation drive to let people know the basic things that they can do to ensure safety in their community.”

    The commissioner urged the people to follow safety precautions for their well-being.

    He said: “One of the ways to safety is to follow the basic safety instructions. That is why we are here to let club members know that putting safety signs in the hall will make safety easy, in case of an emergency. The absence of those signs is what causes stampede and death, in case of emergency.”

    Ahmed urged Lagosians to report any suspect of the EVD to the government for appropriate action.

     

  • Bayelsa educates residents on Ebola virus, Hepatitis

    Bayelsa educates residents on Ebola virus, Hepatitis

    Bayelsa State Government on Friday commenced an enlightenment campaign on Ebola virus and hepatitis, as part of it efforts to checkmate the diseases.

    The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Ayibatonye Owei, told newsmen in Yenagoa that members of the public should be cautious on the state of the foods they eat.

    He said being sensitive to such things would go a long way to prevent infections from the two killer ailments.

    “I call on all people of Bayelsa to take all necessary precautions against Ebola virus and hepatitis.

    “This campaign will reach out to every nook and cranny of the state; we have jingles on radio and television; so, make good use of it.

    “And you must know that Hepatitis-B is a silent killer; the diseases caused by Hepatitis-B can be prevented by vaccination.

    “Immunisation has gone over 80 per cent in the state on Hepatitis and all the eight local government areas are benefiting,” Owei said.

    Owei commended the organisers of the 2014 World Hepatitis Day in Bayelsa, adding that the theme “Hepatitis: Think Again”, was a wakeup call to control the disease.

    “Hepatitis vaccination is free for everybody; go to any health centre and immunise yourself; all beneficiaries should ensure that they receive the required three doses for complete protection.

    “Ebola has also become a threat to the society; I urge Bayelsans to also inculcate a good washing hygiene of hand, cloths, body and maintain cleaner environment.

    “Everything you do, make sure you wash your hand, avoid using needle or razor blade used by another person,’’ Owei said.

    The commissioner said the state government had placed the health sector on priority list to achieve standard health care delivery system for the people.

    He said that work was ongoing in all the referral hospital projects in the eight local councils of the state.

    “I must remind you once again that `health is wealth’ and the best way to empowerment people is to give them good health.”