The Nation Newspaper

Tag: expert

  • Expert bemoans hostile actions on environment

    The former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Olukayode Oyediran has enjoined Nigerians to protect their environment against hazards that undermine human health.

    Prof. Oyediran, who is also Chairman, Board of Trustees of Nigeria Network for Awareness and Action for Environmental Health (NINAAFEH) gave the advice at a programme held at Zontal Club House, Ibadan to sensitise the public to unhealthy environment. The programme was held to commemorate this year’s World Environmental Health Day whose theme was “Children are our Future; Let’s Protect Their Environment and Health.”

    According to him, three components of environment affect mankind. These, he said, are physical, biological and social environment, saying humans have a reciprocal dynamic relationship with their environment.

    He added that the environment has a profound effect on humans while humans in turn make varying alterations to the environment to meet their needs and desires.

    Corroborating Prof. Oyediran’s view, Prof. Sridhar Mynepalli of the Department of Environmental Health, University of Ibadan said an unhealthy environment increases mortality rate in Nigeria, especially among children.

    He noted that girls are the most vulnerable. He noted that according to a 2008 report whose commission was led by Prof. Michael Marmot, girls born in some countries could expect to live more than 80 years but in others just 45 years”.

    Prof. Sridhar said children’s health, safety and the protection of their environment is a highly important topic to all peoples in the world, adding that International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH), that mooted the idea of world environmental health day wants to highlight this issue and focus on how to reduce exposure from the surrounding environment by announcing this year’s theme of “Children are our Future; Let’s Protect Their Environment and Health.”

    He added that children are one of the most vulnerable segments of our society compared with adults. “Children have low resistance to infection, poor diet and nutrition; chemical contaminations, air pollution from traffic as well air pollution in general and other allied environmental hazards,” he said.

    Also speaking at the occasion, President of Zontal Club, Prof. Olufunke Egunjobi said without a clean and healthy environment, human beings cannot survive. Environmental components, which comprise air, water and others, are created by God to support human existence.

    She maintained that the current climate change and global warming are traceable to man’s mismanagement of the environment when ozone-depleting substances created by man deplete the ozone layer which protects the earth planet from the direct heat of the sun.

     

     

  • Expert urges produce audit to avert exports rejection

    Chairman Board of Trustees, Mycotoxicology Society of Nigeria, Prof Dele Fapohunda,  has  urged  the  government to  improve  on exports  standards and ensure commodities  meets European Union (EU) requirements for import.

    He said the rejection of some of Nigeria’s exported food items by the EU is not only detrimental to the agricultural sector, but is also counterproductive to the economy.

    He was addressing a workshop organised by the Raw Materials Research and Development Council in Abuja.

    He said beans, sesame seeds, melon seeds, dried fish and meat, peanut chips and palm oil from Nigeria have been banned by the EU till June, next year, which the reason given were aflatoxins and pesticides at unacceptable levels.

    According to him, plans to make the agricultural sector a major revenue earner for the country may suffer a setback if produce from the industry are being rejected by foreign countries.

    He said local exporters were at the risk of suffering losses since imports are significantly protected by the high standards of the major food suppliers and retailers, and the regulatory controls which deter the importation of seriously contaminated material.

    Stringent mycotoxin standards on exported food crops, he noted, countries must export their best-quality foods while keeping contaminated foods away.

    For Nigeria to make remarkable agricultural progress, he said further action is required to address new and emerging contamination challenges.

    Going forward, he said Nigeria needs to improve its policy environment, to enable investments that will allow help exporters to adapt to the opportunities created by rising export demand.

    As increasing agricultural exports is now an integral part of the government’s sector-development strategy, Fapohunda said the government should help exporters to streamline exports with the ever-changing food quality and safety norms of major importing countries. According to him, there  have been concerns over pesticide residues in horticultural produce.

    As result, he  said  the  food industry has to deal with various intrinsic issues impacting food quality and safety across the supply chain.

    To further harness the potential of the agriculture and food industry, he said robust policy strategies on food quality and safety  are  imperative to improve standards and secure greater market access of food products in the developed markets.

  • Excursions aid total education, says expert

    Excursions aid total education, says expert

    A United States education consulting firm, Lencol HR & Educational Consultants, has unveiled plans to take several Nigerian students on educational excursion to the United States as part of its yearly international excursion plans for students from Nigeria.

    Vice President of the organisation, Mrs Sharon Williams, told The Nation that local and international excursions were an integral part of a child’s total education.

    She said excursions to schools abroad strengthen teaching and expose pupils to the skills and opportunities necessary to compete with international academic standards.

    Mrs Williams, who affirmed that pupils have been known to gain on-the-spot admission at the university visited, said: “These excursions have been giving Nigerian students the opportunity to be part of international writing workshops, international university tours, student leadership trainings, international camping events, sports, academic camps and many more, which deliver a lifetime of global awareness and International exposure.”

    The firm, which is based in the US, has embarked on over 45 university excursions throughout the U.S. and Canada and only recently expanded into the Nigerian market, where it has facilitated three separate excursions across Los Angeles, Florida & Georgia, with pupils of four Nigerian schools.

    Mrs Williams said: “Senior Secondary Students excursions are focused on leadership and University or College preparation while the Junior Secondary Students excursions are focused on increasing global awareness.

    “During this excursion, the Senior Secondary students will tour the campuses of several universities and have an opportunity to meet with admissions staff and college students. Students will hear skills development lectures and visit several tourist attractions. The Junior Secondary School students will visit their peers at several U.S. schools. They will interact both socially and academically and often athletically. Students opting for this excursion will also have an opportunity to tour U.S. Universities in order to start developing a plan for their university studies.”

    She added that the exposure that the excursions provide gives pupils a competitive edge towards university admission and a keen self confidence, which results from the newly acquired knowledge that they have the skills necessary to compete with any student in the world.

    Lencol urged interested schools and families to apply with the firm through her website, for the next season in December, as pupils from diverse locations with diverse backgrounds would be chosen.

  • Expert seeks customer service education in schools

    Renowned customer service expert, Shep Hyken, has advocated the inclusion of customer service subjects into secondary and tertiary education curricula to give pupils added advantage in the labour market.

    He said this at a customer service conference, themed: ‘The Customer Amazement Revolution Masterclass’ organised last week by The Workplace Centre (TWPC), at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Hyken, who was the guest speaker at the occasion, said employers were more likely to consider children with customer service or hospitality-related experience for internships and volunteer positions.

    He said: “Here is what I know; that the kids, who work in retails, restaurants, hotels and other positions in the hospitality industry tend to be considered for jobs more than those with general experience  because they are assumed to understand the hospitality-mentality, which is basically about customer service.”

    The customer service guru said he was disappointed to find out, through a minor survey he conducted by declaring a position vacant for fresh college graduates in his organisation, that none of the candidates considered had ever undergone a customer service training.

    Hyken announced plans to donate training licenses to schools, which will allow graduating pupils to undergo eight-hour customer service training and get certificates for their efforts on completion.  He said the number of licenses would  match numbers bought by companies to train their workers.

    He advised teachers to teach customer service in schools by treating their pupils like customers.

    Hyken said: “Teachers should treat their students as if they are customers to a certain degree, because they are children and can be wrong sometimes. Every high school should have a course in customer service to teach kids how to manage the people experience they are going to have. Make them think, ‘How can I be so good that people would depend on me and trust me?’”

    The keynote address was delivered by President, Westminster College, Missouri, United States (US), Dr Benjamin Akande, who spoke on “Making Your Customer a Walking Advertisement”.

    He advised participants to take note of potentials in young ones.

     

  • Expert drums up support for Buhari, Ajimobi

    The Managing Director of Mainsail Micro-finance Bank, Taofeek Gbolagade Rahman, has assured the people of Oyo State of better days ahead in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Rahman spoke in Ibadan while featuring on a radio programme anchored by a private station in the state capital.

    He advised South westerners not to panic as more appointments would soon be made that will favour them, saying that what Buhari needs now is our unflinching support and love in order to make our country great and vibrant again. On the issue of workers’ salaries in Oyo State, the financial expert said the workers should be calm, assuring that the salary problem is not peculiar to the state alone.

    “Governor Abiola Ajimobi is well tested, trusted and humane. With his experience in the oil and gas sector, I am sure he would lift the state out of the present crisis,” Rahman said.

    He praised the governor for running an all-inclusive government, adding that he knows and values democracy.

     

  • Expert makes case for aircraft repair centre

    Expert makes case for aircraft repair centre

    The Centre for Aviation Safety and Research (CAS-R) has called on the Federal Government to establish a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul  ( MRO) centre.

    CAS-R Executive Director Sheri  Kyari said such centre would service aircraft.

    He listed the benefits of the facility to include  creation of employment.

    He said: “ We are calling on  President  Buhari to urgently constitute another committee to look into the establishment of an independent maintenance repair and overhaul centre in Nigeria.

    “The  aircraft repair and overhaul centre   should  be conceptualised to service  most of the aircraft  operating in Nigeria.The repair centre should also service commercial airplanes operating in neighbouring countries.

    “While we laud the new airline being proposed, we believe  the  project should receive a similar or even more important attention.

    “The reason for greater attention, is that, a well-established MRO, beyond meeting the needs of the industry, will provide aviation the needed foundation for aviation manufacturing, with the ultimate aim of producing our own brand of airplanes.’’

    He added: “It  will also provide massive employment, much more than the airline.

    “Undoubtedly, Nigeria should take  advantage of the absence of this facility within the West African region and establish one concomitantly with the new airline.   Such huge a project will also raise the paltry contribution to the nation’s  gross domestic product  from the less than five per cent.

    “ The committee should be tasked to look at the ownership, scope, funding as well as other variables   associated with the establishment of an aircraft maintenance centre.”

    According to Kyari, countries, such as small as Mauritius, are optimising the benefits  of such huge facilities that cater for different sizes of airplanes as well as  making money for their nation.

    He said: ”Nigeria should, therefore match its growing fleet of airplanes with an equal aircraft maintenance centre  and stop the drift of capital to other countries.’’

     

  • Expert seeks restructuring of livestock industry

    A consultant  to the  World Bank, Prof  Abel Ogunwale,  has urged  the restructuring  of  the  livestock industry in a sustainable and competitive manner that will lead  to economic  growth.

    Ogunwale, who is of Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Ladoke  Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State,  said the industry   needs  a major policy  shift  targeted at small farmers  and those  engaged in commercial livestock agriculture.

    He  urged the  government to  improve access  to fund in order  to  encourage  farmers  to move  from small-scale to large-scale farming. He said favourable government policies were needed to support animal-husbandry enterprises so they can have sufficient capital and engage in technology transfer.

    While there have been focus on improving crop production,  Ogunwale said  the government should  direct its action to  strengthening animal health systems and  the whole livestock value chain. This, according to him, would lead to sustained income of farmers as well as improving general nutrition for animal products.

    He urged the government  to  support  the  livestock and veterinary services to procure vaccines and  enable  farmers access to better  animal health services.

    In the absence of  financial resources and technical expertise, he said the sector has not experienced  growth, while the  operating    condition has  remained challenging  for farmers.

    Farms, he said, should be restructured  so that productivity and quality could be improved.

    He called for support for research in livestock  production that would lead to an improvement in quality and productivity, while increasing the income of farmers.

  • Expert recommends mental test for leaders

    An expert in Psychiatry, Mr. Oye Gureje has said that Nigerian politicians should be subjected to serious medical examination while aspiring for any political office in order to address the stagnant growth of the country.

    He spoke while delivering the award winners’ lecture of the Nigerian National Merit Award entitled “Hubris, Humility and the Humongous Lessons of the Brain” at the University of Ibadan.

    According to him, affordable and adequate health care is still largely unavailable for mental and behavioural disorders in the country, adding that “policy attention to mental health remains grossly inadequate as health policy makers at all levels ignore the fact that mental well-being, mental health, mental capital and freedom from mental disorder are essential components of health that are necessary ingredients for national development.”

    Mr. Gureje, a Professor of Psychiatry, observed that the country does not have any institutionalised support mechanism for sustained health research.  He said: “It is embarrassing that South Africa, for example; a country that our rebased economy has recently beaten to the second place in Africa, provides a fertile ground for cutting-edge health research supported by the government of the country through its medical research council and other institutions.”

    Revealing that persons who have mental challenges and had received treatment and recovered from their illness may be fit for leadership position, he, however, said “unfortunately, poverty and the allure of ‘stomach infrastructure’ may not always allow people to make the right judgment.

     

  • Expert decries penchant for imported products

    The penchant of Nigerians to patronise imported products at the detriment of locally manufactured products fuels an insidious and relegating effect on local produce and the economy, Director, Foraminifera Market Research, Mr. Nnamdi Anakuwe, has said.

    Speaking with The Nation, Anakuwe said the importation of all kinds of commodities from simple domestic tools as toothpick and match stick to complex equipment amounts to a disservice to local manufacturers and the economy generally.

    “Even when some manufacturers manage to channel efforts and resources into making quality goods and services, the usual penchant of Nigerians for foreign made products rub off negatively on the competitiveness of locally made products,” he said.

    The expert said despite research, which found that there is no much local production for toothpick because of the attitude of Nigerians, for instance, a lot of toothpicks in the market are imported.

    “Though there are one or two companies that do local manufacturing but again the quantity and quality they produce is quite small. In fact, most toothpicks don’t come with manufacturer’s details except you buy them in cartons,” he said.

    Anakuwe pointed out that Nigerians’ preference for foreign goods could be viewed from two perspectives. The first, he said, is that the growth and development of the manufacturing sector is not enjoying a healthy level of support and encouragement from the government and banks.

    He noted that although, some investors have indicated interest in local production, existing policies are not encouraging enough to propel substantial investment in manufacturing.

    The other factor, especially in the area of manufacturing simple domestic products such as toothpick, is the unavailability of consistent farming of bamboo and wood, which are essential raw materials for toothpick processing. He noted that those who manage to produce toothpicks and matches are in stiff competition with the construction industries who are major users of bamboo.

    “The challenges are too numerous as you are in competition with those who are doing wood export, wood furniture product etc. So if you look at the raw material from wood, it’s already too difficult for someone who just wants to do a project of toothpick production.

  • Expert advises farmers on natural manure

    An Agricultural Scientist, Dr Seyi Fadugba, said manure from animals’ droppings and compost process remain the most valuable properties for soil fertility.

    Fadugba, the Chief Executive Officer of Fadugba-agro Laboratory Nig Ltd, said this in Abuja.

    In an interview, he said adherence to the simple shifting cultivation could also help to retain soil fertility without leaving poisonous properties in it.

    He said there was the need to promote the application of natural properties in soil rather than depending on ‘quick fix’ approaches.

    “It could be a dis-service to frontally kick against the use of fertilisers on the soil. Our farmers must begin to go back the traditional approaches mention above.

    “The fact remains that fertiliser are just temporary measures being misapplied to hurt soil organisms that were meant to support plants growth.

    “Those in the agro-allied venture may contemplate investing in building natural manure farms for sale of the products,’’ he said.

    According to him, the natural manure could compel some soil properties to produce humus soil.

    The agricultural scientist said the misapplication of the artificial elements from fertiliser had long term effects on soil, plants and human.

    On the export embargo placed on some of the produce by the European Union (EU), Fadugaba said the Federal Government must reverse the trend.

    According to him, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has the mandate to compel farmers and exporters to adhere to agriculture value-chain.

    “What was the contention? They have accused us of uncontrolled application of pesticides to those crops in farms and at the point of exporting them.

    “There are standard ways to preserve crops. In fact, the best way would be to promote natural processes. If the fertility of the soil is boosted well enough, the application of fertilisers and pesticides would be minimal,” Fadugba said.