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  • Experts call for urgent policy action to strengthen task-shifting, maternal healthcare

    Experts call for urgent policy action to strengthen task-shifting, maternal healthcare

    Stakeholders have called for renewed political commitment, stronger workforce investment, and clearer policy direction to address task shifting and strengthen maternal healthcare delivery across Nigeria’s primary healthcare system.

    The call followed revelations that more than half of trained health workers in many primary health centres (PHCs) operate as unsalaried volunteers, a situation stakeholders say contributes to weakened service delivery and poorer health outcomes.

    Experts at the Task Shifting Symposium 2025, held in Abuja on Tuesday, said task shifting remains necessary but must be urgently strengthened through better training, supervision, and sustainable government funding.

    The symposium, themed “The Policy and Practice of Task-shifting for Maternal Healthcare Services in Nigeria’s Primary Healthcare System”, examined persistent human resource gaps and the reforms required to reduce maternal deaths.

    It brought together policymakers, researchers, and frontline healthcare workers who agreed that Nigeria’s maternal mortality crisis cannot be resolved without deliberate efforts to expand and support the PHC workforce.

    Mandate Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, while delivering the keynote address, said discussions at the event underscored the national urgency to scale up capacity and deploy task shifting more effectively across PHC facilities.

    “This is resonating, not just for the FCT, but for the entire nation as well. Task shifting has been known to be a very terrible tool in achieving efficient, impactful, and productive services, only when done right. With clear boundaries, guardians, training, retraining, and supervision, this task-shifting symposium is an eye-opener.”

    Fasawe said Nigeria’s human resource crisis in health makes it critical to equip lower-cadre workers with the skills to support overstretched professionals.

    “We have a lot of talented people, especially in this aperture, who, when trained well, can easily step into the shoes of senior professionals and do it equally as well,” she said.

    She reaffirmed the FCT’s commitment to reducing preventable maternal and child deaths, saying, “We have zero tolerance for maternal mortality or infant or neonatal mortality in the FCC. We always say there’s no reason for a woman to die while bringing life into the world.”

    According to Dr. Francis Ayomoh, honorary postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford and convener of the symposium, the study on the policy and practice of task shifting for maternal healthcare services in Nigeria examined both national and FCT-level realities to better understand the daily challenges faced by PHC workers.

    Ayomoh noted that Nigeria remains one of the world’s highest contributors to maternal deaths and that severe workforce shortages make task shifting unavoidable.

    Noting that the 202 and 2023 were instructive, he said, “The findings suggest that at least 50 per cent of primary healthcare workers in the FCT are unpaid volunteers who rely on facility stipends rather than government salaries.

    “This precarious situation requires urgent attention, which is why one of my key recommendations is increased government funding to employ more primary healthcare workers

    “It is no news that we have a severe health workforce shortage. This is why task shifting was necessary. But the study we conducted has shed more light on what the issues are with task shifting,” he noted.

    He explained that the major challenge is balancing access and quality, saying, “We cannot do without task shifting because of the level of human resource gap we have.

    “However, it is important that we reflect on the policy dilemma of balancing increasing access to maternal health services with the need for optimal quality.”

    A key finding of the study, he said, is the need for stronger government action in employing trained but unpaid PHC workers.

    “Studies show that we still have some lower-level healthcare workers, like community health workers, nurses, midwives, who are available to be employed but are still not put on the payroll and are working under very precarious conditions as volunteers. Let’s employ as many as the government can afford to pay.”

    The researcher also called for continuous training, supportive supervision, and a renewed focus on patient-centred care. 

  • Manufacturers, experts chart path for economic growth

    Manufacturers, experts chart path for economic growth

    For manufacturers, an intentional policy response by government, working with critical stakeholders, to tackle the myriads of challenges hurting the manufacturing sector’s growth and competitiveness has never been this imperative. With the sector currently on the downward trend, unable to propel job creation, economic growth and development, the need to deliberately and urgently address it’s litany of woes has taken centre stage. Accordingly, experts and operators seized the platform of this year’s Annual General Meeting of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria to chart the way forward for the beleaguered sector. Assistant Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA reports.

    As President/CEO of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), a pan-African institution that catalysis private sector-led infrastructure investment across the continent, Mr. Samaila Zubairu, is evidently in a vantage position to know what holds the Nigerian manufacturing sector down from becoming productive and globally competitive; he also knows what must be done to turn the sector’s fortunes around.

    So, when Zubairu, last week, reeled out depressing statistics indicating the manufacturing sector’s less than sterling performance, including Nigeria’s poor showing in continental and global trade, and also proffered ways to change the narrative, the AFC boss rekindled the optimism of his audience that Nigeria will be, in his words “Successful in overcoming the challenges.”

    The occasion was the fourth Adeola Odutola Lecture/Presidential Luncheon organised by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) with the theme, “The Imperatives of an Intentional Development of the Nigerian Manufacturing Sector,” where Zubairu, as Guest Speaker, said, for instance, that the share of manufacturing in Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $477 billion as at 2023 is 12 per cent, compared to Germany or South Korea’s 30-40 per cent.

    Describing the manufacturing sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s GDP as “very meager,” Zubairu, whose presentation was delivered on his behalf by an Executive Director at AFC, Shameh Shamonda, said manufacturing, which grew a bit in 2021, is now flat, even as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the manufacturing sector is also significantly lower than it was before. He attributed the downward slide to the current high exchange rate and interest rate.

    The Lecture, which was held last week Thursday, at Lagos Oriental Hotel, was the third and final leg of 3-day activities marking the 52nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of MAN, with Zubairu, who has been in charge at the AFC for the past six years, also lamenting Nigeria’s trade statistics. “Another shocking statistics is that 15 per cent of total trade in the continent is intra-African, 85 per cent of the trade is always with the outside the world,” he revealed.

    “We cannot even trade among ourselves,” the AFC boss regretted, insisting, therefore, that “The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement has to be developed and prioritised because you have so many countries next door, but you (Nigeria) still decide to import from Europe, from the U.S or export. It doesn’t make sense. Something has to change.”

    Some of the things that must change if Nigeria must birth a thriving manufacturing sector, according to Zubairu, include investments in core infrastructure sectors of power, natural resources, heavy industry, transportation, and telecommunications; prioritisation of value addition to exportable raw materials, and leveraging mining and other non-oil sectors to diversify the economy away from its over-reliance on oil.

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    He listed others to include influencing the government to emplace a regime of clarity on its policies, finding ways to reduce cost of borrowing, finding the right projects that are priority for the country and its people. He also stressed the need to halt gas flaring and the captured gas harnessed to provide electricity. “All the gas that is being flared has to be captured,” Zubairu said

    For a start, the AFC chief did not mince words when he said “You cannot have industry without infrastructure that supports it,” He said it was in recognition of the role of supportive infrastructure in galvanizing industrialisation that the AFC was formed as a full-fledged financial institution separate from the government that works on bridging the infrastructure gap across the continent.  

    According to Zubairu, former Nigeria’s President Olusegun Obasanjo had, 17 years ago, looked at the state of Africa with a few other Heads of State and said there is a huge gap in infrastructure in Africa. “We cannot grow as a continent and we cannot compete with the world if we don’t bridge the infrastructure gap,” he quoted Obasanjo as saying.

    In line with the AFC’s mandate of directing investments into transformative infrastructure, Zubairu said the Corporation, which was created 17 years ago from capital mostly from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has invested $13.5 billion across different sectors in infrastructure in Africa, with a lot of the investments in Nigeria.

    While noting that the AFC is the second highest rated financial institution in Africa by global rating agency Moody’s, he said the Corporation has invested in 36 out of the 54 African countries. “We have covered around 80 per cent of Africa in terms of our investment so far,” Zubairu revealed, noting, however, that “The weight of our investment in Nigeria is higher than any other country, at 24 per cent last year.”

    He reiterated that “Nigeria is our host country and the largest shareholder of our institution is the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). WE have a well-diversified portfolio in Nigeria than the rest of the continent. We are a pan-African institution, but we are hosted here in Nigeria so, we do more in Nigeria than any other country.” 

    Prioritise value addition

    Speaking to the imperatives of an intentional development of the manufacturing sector, Zubairu said the issue of beneficiation, sometimes used interchangeably with value addition is “Very dear to my heart and it is linked to what you (manufacturers) are doing.”

    He said the practice of exporting abundant raw materials in Nigeria and other African countries without adding value to them must give way for some form of beneficiation, i.e. transformation of the raw materials to higher value products for local consumption or export.

    “Africa is endowed with a lot of resources, what we are doing wrong is that we are exporting the raw materials,” the AFC CEO said, citing electric vehicle as an example of how Nigeria and other African countries fritter away their resources. According to him, two per cent of the electric vehicle seen on the street comes from Africa because the continent has 30-40 per cent of the lithium and all the ingredients that go into the battery.

    The problem, he said, is that these raw materials (lithium for making battery) are exported all the way to China, which controls 80 per cent of the electric vehicles manufacturing capacity in the world. His words: “The Chinese produce the electric car and sell it back to Europe and the U.S. From the mine until you build a car, there are six steps. The first step which is mining is 2-3 per cent, which is what you see in the car as the African contribution.

    “Steps 2 and 3, which is the refining of the product, and another step, you capture 40 per cent of the value of the product. When you start with the first two steps, you capture 40 per cent instead of two or three per cent. What is happening now is effectively you get the products out, you export all the way to China and they send them back and they capture all the value. This applies to every single thing we have in Africa.”

    ‘Pursue diversification with vigour’

    Zubairu also said economic diversification has never been more compelling. According to him, it is one sure way to drive Nigeria’s GDP growth, which is at present, very heavily reliant on oil. He said as much as 90 per cent of Nigeria’s export is oil, and the challenge is, therefore, how do diversify that to other sources or sectors.

    “Everyone is focused on oil, but Nigeria has one of the largest and best quality lithium deposits in Africa, for instance, but no one is looking at mining because oil is sucking up all the energy and all of the investments. So, we are trying to diversify the economy and we are working with the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) to work with local developers on developing their mining concessions,” he said.

    The SMDF is a sovereign Fund established by the Federal Government to drive and catalyse private sector-led investments in Nigeria’s mining sector. Its objectives are to actively pursue investments that will de-risk the mining sector, to be the partner of choice for opportunities, and to empower the economic development and diversification of the Nigerian economy through the mining sector.

    The AFC has been in a transformative partnership with the SMDF to derisk Nigeria’s mining sector and scale up artisanal miners in the country to an industrial level of operation. The strategic collaboration also seeks to address the dearth of expertise and funding for early-stage mining projects, paving the way for these projects to reach financial close and full-scale operations.

    Zubairu gave more details: “We are working with the SMDF to work with local developers on developing their mining concessions. Some of them have the money to develop but haven’t developed before. Some of them don’t have the legal knowhow to negotiate with concessionaires.

    Some of them have the technical capabilities but don’t have the funding. “So, we play that role of plugging all these gaps and working in partnership with the developers of these mines and the SMDF, and we are happy to take early stage risk and spend early stage money to get the projects to bankability.”

    Halt gas flaring also

    The AFC boss also said Nigeria, an oil producing nation, must work on her lack of clarity of policy procedures particularly with regard to ensuring that all the gas that is being flared is captured and put to other uses.

    Zubairu is right. Between 2020 and 2024 alone, gas valued at $1.9 billion was flared in Nigeria, according to a report by the Nigerian Gas Flare Tracker. The report stated that during this period, 595.1 million standard cubic feet of gas were flared in nine states of Rivers, Delta, Imo, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Anambra, Abia and Lagos.

    Indeed, gas flaring remains a sore point in Nigeria, with the country ranked top 10 gas-flaring countries in the world, with 7.4 billion cubic feet in 2018. The report said the total gas flared in Nigeria accounted for 6.9 per cent of the top 10 gas glaring countries in 2018.

    Sadly, gas flaring continues, despite persistent cries of gas scarcity by electricity-generating companies (GenCos). The report noted that the power generation potential of the gas flared was 59.5GWh. Currently, gas-fired power plants in the country are operating far below capacity due to gas shortages.

    MAN President Otunba Francis Meshioye, earlier in his welcome address, set the tone for what turned out to be a robust conversation on how to find solutions to problems inhibiting the manufacturing sector’s growth.

    He said it was concerning that the manufacturing sector continues to navigate uncharted waters caused by irrefutable domestic economic challenges emanating from unbearably high inflationary pressures, currency fluctuations, skyrocketing energy and input prices.

    Meshioye listed other challenges to include forex scarcity, infrastructural deficiency, low patronage, stiff regulatory hurdles, multiple taxes, negative perception of made-in-Nigeria products, categorization of industrial has users as commercial sector and inadequate supply of gas to manufacturing facilities, among others.

    The MAN President explained that the theme, ‘The Imperatives of an Intentional Development of the Nigerian Manufacturing Sector,’ was carefully thought out and crafted to reflect the manufacturing sector’s ongoing struggles and challenges, including rising costs that have affected profitability and the survival of many manufacturing firms.

    According to him, the challenges made it imperative for MAN “To advocate for a deliberate and concerted approach toward the development of the sector,” He emphsised that “By developing our manufacturing capabilities and leveraging its potential, we can reduce inflation and our dependence on imports, promote substitution, and create more jobs.”

    He also said the sector, if developed, will boost government revenue, strengthen and improve the forex market. “Our businesses have been heavily impacted by the macroeconomic and policy environment in which we operate,” Meshioye said.

    As he added, “We need to urgently address the binding constraints that make our local products uncompetitive; otherwise, the economy may continue on a downward trend with no certainty of when it will rebound.”

    MAN Director General Segun Ajaiyi-Kadir summed up what appears to be the central message at this year’s engagement, and the consensus of various stakeholders, saying, “Manufacturing is a strategic choice for a progressive country.

    “You manufacture to prosper or fail to do so and reap joblessness and poverty, decreased fiscal income, vulnerability to global market shocks, reduced GDP growth and balance of trade deficit. That’s the choice Nigeria has to make.

  • Experts urge employers to establish safe spaces for mental health discussions

    Experts urge employers to establish safe spaces for mental health discussions

    As the world today commemorates World Mental Health Day 2024, with the theme “It is Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace,” the focus shifts towards creating healthier, more supportive work environments.

    Mental health has long been a taboo subject in many societies, and in the workplace, it’s often an afterthought. However, mental health experts emphasize the critical role employers can play in promoting mental well-being and reducing stigma.

    In 2023 field research conducted in Lagos, Nigeria, led by Dr. Folasewa Olatunde and titled “Assessing mental health literacy in low-resource contexts: A qualitative analysis of young Nigerians’ knowledge, beliefs, and help-seeking behaviors”, important insights were uncovered about young Nigerians’ experiences with mental health and their beliefs surrounding mental illness. 

    The research sheds light on the intersection of cultural beliefs and mental health literacy among young people in low-resource contexts, highlighting the importance of addressing mental health in environments that shape day-to-day lives, including the workplace.

    “Employers need to be proactive by creating safe spaces where young employees can discuss their mental health without fear of stigma or reprisal,” said Dr. Olatunde, who currently serves as an advisor and research specialist with Living Vines Mental Health Foundation, United States and Nigeria. She leverages her expertise and insights from her research to support the development of mental health literacy interventions and training materials for young people in both countries.

    “Training managers on recognizing the signs of mental health struggles and offering support is key to improving both employee well-being and workplace productivity. As we celebrate World Mental Health Day 2024, it is clear that prioritizing mental health in the workplace is no longer optional—it is a necessity. 

    “The global theme urges institutions to take mental health as seriously as physical health. It is also particularly important to understand how mental health is understood by young people in under-resourced communities, as accessible and usable mental health information is crucial where clinical options are scarce. Employers can leverage these insights to create and promote tools that foster healthier, more supportive environments for their workers.”

    Dr. Olatunde’s research, which was first presented at the DC Health Communication Conference in 2023, revealed that many are struggling with untreated mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression, which are exacerbated by the stresses of work and daily life. 

    “The workplace can be a major source of stress,” says Dr. Olatunde, “and without the right tools and awareness, young people often suppress their mental health needs, leading to burnout, reduced productivity, and in extreme cases, more severe mental health issues.”

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    According to her, many participants in the study described mental illness in spiritual terms, which often leads to the belief that mental health struggles are personal failings rather than medical conditions requiring treatment. One participant noted, “Mental illness is still seen as a foreign concept, something that doesn’t really affect Nigerians unless it’s spiritual in nature.”

    This belief system can create barriers to help-seeking, especially in the workplace, where there may be little understanding of how to support employees dealing with mental health issues. 

    As Dr. Olatunde’s study highlights, many young Nigerians believe that mental health struggles should be endured quietly, which often means they avoid seeking professional help altogether. The research underscores the urgent need for mental health literacy efforts that are culturally sensitive and address the specific beliefs and challenges faced by workers in low-resource settings.

    Globally, mental health conditions cost employers billions of dollars every year in lost productivity, absenteeism, and increased healthcare costs. In Nigeria, where the formal workplace often intersects with cultural expectations and limited mental health infrastructure, the need for mental health awareness in the workplace is even more pressing.

    Dr. Folasewa Olatunde is a communication and technology research expert who uses user-centered and mixed-method research approaches to improve information access and usability for young people. She holds a Ph.D. in Communication, Rhetoric, and Digital Media from North Carolina State University, USA.

  • Experts urge youths to stay focused, patriotic at realtors bootcamp 3.0              

    Experts urge youths to stay focused, patriotic at realtors bootcamp 3.0              

    Former Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. Seun Fakorede, has called on Nigerian youths to remain focused, innovative, and committed to achieving their life goals, while emphasising the importance of patriotism in their journey toward success. 

    Fakorede made these remarks at the Realtors Bootcamp 3.0, an annual event held recently in Lagos, which brought together leading real estate professionals and young entrepreneurs from across Nigeria.

    The bootcamp featured seminars, panel discussions, interactive sessions, indoor games, and other side attractions designed to inspire and engage participants. 

    The event served as a platform for networking and knowledge exchange, with a focus on promoting real estate innovation and growth among young professionals in Nigeria.

    Fakorede addressed the gathering, acknowledging the significant challenges young Nigerians face, such as unemployment and social instability. Despite these difficulties, he urged youths to rise above the obstacles with resilience and dedication.

    “Youths play a crucial role in shaping the future of this country,” Fakorede said.

     “Their energy and ideas are vital for national development. Stay resolute, committed to your dreams, and continue to contribute positively to the growth of our country.” 

    He added that a strong work ethic, patriotism, and continuous learning are essential tools for young people striving to make a difference.

    Fakorede also encouraged Nigerian youths to embrace technology, entrepreneurship, and innovative thinking, especially in today’s fast-changing world. 

    He stressed the need for young professionals to explore new ideas, take calculated risks, and use their skills to contribute positively to national development.

    In his presentation, Seyi Abiodun, Founder of SDA Advance LLC, urged young individuals to take control of their financial futures by adopting disciplined saving and investment habits early in life. 

    Abiodun advised young earners to allocate a portion of their income towards savings and investments, with those without major financial responsibilities encouraged to save up to 50% of their earnings.

    “The focus isn’t just on saving but on investing for long-term growth,” Abiodun stated, identifying various investment opportunities categorized by risk levels—low-risk, medium-risk, and high-risk investments. 

    He emphasized the importance of diversifying investment portfolios and learning about different financial vehicles for long-term financial success.

    In his address, Dr. Olalekan Oseni, Managing Director of Frontier Homes, highlighted the importance of the Realtors Bootcamp initiative, describing it as a means to empower young professionals with the necessary skills to thrive in Nigeria’s evolving real estate sector. 

    “Our objective is to address the knowledge gap within the industry,” Oseni remarked, noting that specialized training and mentorship are key aspects of the programme.

    He noted that the initiative focuses on modern real estate practices, financial literacy, and project management, equipping participants with practical experiences that bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application. 

    This aligns with Frontier Homes’ mission to foster a skilled workforce and contribute to sustainable development in Nigeria’s real estate and broader economic sectors.

    “The Realtors Bootcamp 3.0 served as a platform for knowledge exchange and networking, promoting innovation, financial independence, and professional growth among Nigeria’s youth” , he said.

  • Experts urge Nigerians to pledge cornea donations to combat blindness

    Experts urge Nigerians to pledge cornea donations to combat blindness

    In an effort to tackle the growing challenge of blindness in Nigeria, health experts are calling on Nigerians to pledge to donate their corneas, highlighting the urgent need to address the acute shortage of corneas in the country. 

    The appeal was made during a symposium at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Ikeja, Lagos, in commemoration of the 2024 World Organ Donation Day.

    Ophthalmologists, specializing in the treatment and diagnosis of eye diseases, highlighted the critical role that cornea donation can play in reducing blindness caused by damaged corneas. 

    The symposium, organised by the Eye Bank for Restoring Sight, Nigeria, brought together leading voices in eye care to discuss the importance of organ donation, particularly cornea donation.

    The cornea, the transparent front part of the eye, is essential for vision.

    Damage to the cornea, often due to infections or trauma, can lead to severe visual impairment or blindness.

    Unfortunately, Nigeria faces a significant shortage of donor corneas, limiting the availability of sight-restoring surgeries.

    Chairman of the Eye Bank for Restoring Sight, Dr. Festus Odunayo Oshoba emphasized the Eye Bank’s pivotal role in providing and distributing donor corneas for transplantation. 

    Since its establishment in 2004 as a collaborative effort between the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria (OSN) and the Federal Nigeria Society for the Blind (FNSB), the Eye Bank has been instrumental in restoring sight to many Nigerians suffering from corneal blindness.

    Operating under the Corneal Grafting Act of 1973 and the National Health Act of 2014, the Eye Bank’s mission is clear: to ensure that every Nigerian with corneal blindness has the opportunity to regain their sight through cornea grafting. 

    Dr. Oshoba urged Nigerians to pledge their corneas for donation after death, stressing that organ donation is a scientifically guided process aimed solely at restoring sight, not for any ritualistic purposes.

    Dr. Oshoba also highlighted the need for increased public awareness and participation in cornea donation. He called on both governmental and non-governmental organizations to collaborate in promoting this cause, stating, “Our mission is to ensure that every Nigerian with corneal blindness can regain their sight through cornea grafting.”

    Speaking on the symposium’s theme “Giving a gift that goes on living,” the keynote speaker, Dr. Bade Ogundipe explained that despite over 200 cornea transplants being performed in Nigeria, less than 10 corneas have been harvested since the Eye Bank’s inception. 

    He attributed this to a lack of awareness and the cultural reluctance surrounding organ donation.

    “Many cornea problems in Nigeria stem from infections and untreated trauma,” Dr. Ogundipe explained. 

    “Unfortunately, people often resort to unorthodox treatments like applying urine, breast milk, or kerosene, which exacerbates the condition. This is why it’s crucial for health practitioners to educate the public on the importance of cornea care and donation.”

    Dr. Ogundipe also pointed out the need for more training for eye bank technicians who are responsible for harvesting, processing, and storing corneas, as well as the need for better equipment to ensure the safety and effectiveness of cornea transplants.

    Expanding the discussion beyond corneas, Prof. Jacob Awobusuyi addressed the broader impact of organ donation. 

    Speaking on this year’s theme, “Be the Reason for Someone’s Smile Today,” he emphasized the life-saving potential of organ donation. 

    He presented staggering statistics on the global burden of organ failure, noting that conditions like kidney failure, heart failure, chronic liver disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affect millions of people worldwide.

    Organ transplantation, including corneas, offers these individuals a second chance at life. Prof. Awobusuyi explained that a single deceased donor could save or improve the lives of up to eight people by donating organs such as kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, pancreas, intestines, and corneas.

    Addressing the ethical, religious, and legal considerations surrounding organ donation, Prof. Awobusuyi reassured attendees that major religions in Nigeria—Christianity, Islam, and traditional beliefs—support organ donation as an act of love, charity, and human solidarity. 

    He also emphasized that Nigeria’s legal framework supports organ donation when conducted ethically and without financial gain, preventing the illegal organ trade.

    Prof. Awobusuyi concluded with a powerful message: “Even in death, we can give the gift of life. A single donor’s organs can save multiple lives, and efforts are underway to establish a deceased donor transplantation program in Nigeria. The body, as the final note stated, can indeed be a hero.”

    As part of the advocacy campaign to encourage cornea donation, a neon green wristband was launched and distributed to individuals who pledged their corneas. 

    This wristband symbolizes their commitment to the cause and aims to inspire others to follow suit.

    The symposium also featured moving testimonies from individuals who have benefited from cornea transplants, highlighting the life-changing impact of organ donation. These stories served as a poignant reminder of the difference that organ donors can make in the lives of others.

    The 2024 World Organ Donation Day event at the LASUTH was not just a commemoration but a call to action.

    Health experts, religious leaders, and advocates all came together with a unified message: Nigerians have the power to combat blindness and save lives through organ donation. 

    By pledging to donate their corneas and other organs, Nigerians can ensure that their legacy lives on, bringing sight and life to those in need.

  • Experts seek enhanced funding structure for aviation growth

    Experts seek enhanced funding structure for aviation growth

    Experts in the aviation industry have canvassed the need for organized funding structures that will mitigate huge aviation risks and foster the development of the sector.

    They said such structures should demonstrate an understanding of aviation and be favourably disposed to accommodating financial development partnerships for short and long-term projects.

    The position of the experts is part of recommendations suggested in a report put together by the Founder of Airport Business Summit and Exhibition (ABSE) and Drontecx, Mr Fortune Idu in recent ABSE and drone technology conferences in Nigeria.

    According to Idu, the aviation sector is yet to get a sustainable financing mechanism, yet the government takes away a chunk of reinvestment proceeds from airports.

    He explained said airlines are engrossed in high-interest loan debt, which makes growth impossible.

    To reverse the trend, he recommended the setting up of a sinking fund for the industry and an Aviation Bank or a modal integrated Transport Development Bank, which will bring about the creation of a robust finance mechanism.

    They said there is a need for special airport development planning focus on Lagos and Abuja to emerge as West and Central Africa Regional Air Transport hubs.

    Idu said: “This aims at creating a unique airport infrastructure development program for Muritala Muhammed International Airport and Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport that will help to tire the Regional Commercial Hub Position of Lagos in West Africa and as Abuja Political Hub into national airport development ambition that take full advantage the Africa Single Transport Market Initiatives”

    “This will require planning for Modal Integration and Connectivity. Land Replan and Optimization Master Planning Review: Nigeria’s airports will require a development progression Master plan to create independent ambitions of all the airports, sustainability plans, and investment guides.

    To accomplish this, you need a reliable international consultant and an experienced global partner. I recommend we consult with Munich Airport International, Germany, which has already established this partnership. By partnering with them, you can access Europe and the global market.”

    Noting that most of the problem the industry faces today is caused by a lack of advanced research and data planning, Idu pointed out that, is essential that all aviation planning departments should be restructured.

    He said there is a need to refocus the personnel who understand and are qualified to perform research and data-based planning as well as being well-trained to undertake such duties.

    On the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Idu noted that the organic structure and formation, which empowers it with four critical divergent responsibilities, is faulty and less relevant to global airport development practices.

    The result, he said, is that such a situation has limited FAAN’s ability to progress sustainably and provide adequate service to Nigeria’s air transport industry.

     He added that FAAN is an airport authority with a supervisory role in all airport development in Nigeria.

    “However, it has failed to perform this role due to a lack of capacity. It is also the land custodian for planning and implementing airport projects, but it has not delivered a good airport landscape. FAAN manages all federal airports but often claims they are not commercially viable in a country with over 250 million people and considered the wealthiest country in Africa”.

    “Additionally, FAAN provides security and safety cover for airports nationwide and is the sole airport operator for federal airports, a responsibility it has performed well.

    “However, this structure is ambiguous and no longer relevant in modern-day airport structures. The airport is a business, and the four responsibilities of FAAN can be separated to offer more efficient services. This can also create more responsible jobs where people are limited to areas in the air transport sector where they have the qualifications to work. Only after resolving this issue can the concession, outsourcing, and any other PPP model work. Therefore, it is suggested to divide FAAN into three organizations.”

    “The following will be the result of the unbundling of FAAN. An Airport Development Authority (Agency): An agency with authority to supervise, advise, and check the capability and practicality of the development of airports in Nigeria and monitor their development for both private and public sectors, which should cover aeronautic and non-aeronautic matters of airport development. This agency shall help all airports meet the stringent guidelines and regulations of the NCAA while meeting with the diverse dynamics of non-aeronautical activities within the aviation space. Airport Management Company:  This is a private sector-oriented Airport company (can be called Nigeria Airport (Management) Company Group Plc), which shall be a public and private equity company charged with the function of engaging in airport operations and management anywhere in Nigeria and possibly in the world. This company can compete for future concession bidding and must be privatized. 

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    “The third organization shall be Federal Airports Property Company Limited, the owner and custodian of all Federal Airports Lands and Properties. These establishments will be enough to handle the unexpected labour shock that may arise from the concession. And the industry can go the entire length of concession and privatization of not just a terminal but a whole airport.”

    The report also advised on the need for Nigeria put in place a national policy frame to drive the operations of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems/Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (RPAS/UAV) (Nig CAR Part 21), a new dimension of aviation which has been set in place.

    “We recommend a complete unit in the Ministry for UAS and a directorate in the NCAA for (RPAS DRONE) or Aviation Automation, The Future of Airport Development in Nigeria. Almost all the States of the Federation want an airport now. Though this may look like progress for the air transport industry, the state’s aspiration and determination to sustain airport operations is unclear. After the initial startup, finance sustainability becomes a problem. To make it worse, the State is borrowing from a faulty structure, and apart from Lagos State, none of the airport developments can boast of an initial Master plan.”

  • Experts explore growth opportunities

    Experts explore growth opportunities

    Asset tracking, cross-border insolvencies, African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) opportunities and future of insolvency law are among issues to be explored at 2023 international conference of Business Recovery and Insolvency Practitioners Association of Nigeria (BRIPAN).

    Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Anthony Idigbe, will chair the first session from September 28 to 29.

    Its theme is: “Insolvency and Restructuring Law and Practice in Nigeria: Looking to the Future.”

    Planning Committee Chairman, Albert Folorunsho, in a statement, said the conference brings together businesses, regulators, finance experts, legal practitioners, policy makers and judicial officials to discuss matters relating to business turnaround, profitability, growth and restructuring.

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    He added: “The conference aims to examine benefits the future holds for business owners, entrepreneurs, economists and insolvency/restructuring professionals in Nigeria.

    “It will feature local and international speakers providing insight. It will be held at The Maradiva in Lekki, Lagos.

    “BRIPAN annual international conference plays a key role in engaging stakeholders on critical insolvency, restructuring and business growth issues impacting Nigeria.

    “This year’s programme promises robust discussions on optimising opportunities for economic advancement.” 

  • Experts: Nigeria yet to explore forest reserve potential

    Experts in the construction industry have said the country is yet to tap the potential of its forests.

    According to them, Nigeria with its massive forest resources has barely scratched the surface on the potential of the forest as veritable sources of national revenue.

    Based on this, top professionals in the industry are putting together a wood expo to find ways of harnessing the potential of the forests.

    The maiden Wood Expo Nigeria,  with the theme, “Forest to wealth” will to hold in Abuja, in October.

    “Wood Expo Nigeria is expected to create awareness and promote the sustainable use of wood and wood products, bringing values to wood specialists, wood manufacturers, wood equipment/machinery fabricators, and professionals by providing a platform to access quality trade and professionals resources as a way of attracting required investment to the sector especially to reforestation and economic management of forests,” the organisers said.

    A statement signed by the adviser to the organisers, Seni Bello, explained that the Wood Expo Nigeria would enable the country to qualify for certification as a timber exporting nation, joining the league of sustainable forest nation and also encourage national tree planting project and campaign which could trigger the creation of three million productive economic plantations.

    The statement read in part, “This is quite in line with the government’s agenda on National Economic Recovery Growth Plan to diversify the economy resulting in the development of various sectors, the wood sector inclusive by exploring wood potential in the country.

    “The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) is actively involved in the Expo to give its support and endorsement. This specialised fair is expected to be a convergence point for suppliers, manufacturers, and machinery companies to showcase their products, innovative technologies, production scenarios and large scale machinery to key players in the wood and wood working machinery in Africa and sub -Saharan region.

    ”It added that scientists and construction professionals would also be available to highlight the various academic aspects of the wood value chain.

  • Experts seek ways to stop produce rejection

    A Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO) consultant, Prof. Funso Sonaiya, has called for concerted efforts to stem  the rejection of the country’s agricultural produce abroad.

    Speaking with The Nation, Sonaiya stressed the need for improved post-harvest handling and packaging to meet standards set for export to regional and international markets.

    He explained that European Union (EU) expects countries wishing to export to the region to set up a similar system of food safety controls to ensure that European consumers have the same level of confidence in the safety of imported food products as they do with those from the EU.

    He said the measures must protect exports from diseases, pests, or contaminants.

    This is to ensure that importing countries can rely on Nigeria’s food safety system and that food imported from here  is safe, the dons said.

    Sonaiya said the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has set standards, which farmers must follow to avoid rejection if they are to tap into wider markets.

    Besides experts, such as the Executive Secretary/CEO, Institute of Export Operations and Management, (IEOM) Mr. Ofon Udofia, are canvassing investment in laboratories; sensitisation of farmers on good practices of production and post-harvest handling using extension services.

    They also said the high post-harvest losses, damage, bruising, rotting and lack of cold storage need strategic intervention by supporting fruit processing and encouraging cottage fruits and vegetables processors.

    Some Nigerians have lost alot of money to failure of food to meet to EU requirements. EU has some of the most comprehensive food safety standards in the world, and a well-established system of controls to make sure that those standards are met.

    Stakeholders believe clear policies that advance food safety, good production practices, strict hygienic and farming environment control, and regulations for proper animal medicinal drug use, science-based animal care and well-being practices that are consistent with globally recognised standards and best practices can help open the doors in the international markets.

  • Experts knock ban on vehicle import through borders

    How has the ban on vehicle import through land borders fared?

    It has failed to meet its objectives, say experts.

    An importer, Chief Edwin Akwaeze, said the policy had failed to yield results two years into its implementation. He also said the policy was encouraging smuggling and unemployment.

    He added that the government was losing a lot of revenue.

    Akwaeze said the policy had only put the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) under intense anti-smuggling pressure, adding that seized vehicles in Customs warehouses nationwide are rotting away.

    “There is nothing wrong in trying a policy, but where you find it unfavourable, you have to reconsider your position. While Customs are preventing smuggling of vehicles, many smuggled vehicles still enter the country.

    “What they succeed in seizing along the roads is meagre compared to what escapes their surveillance into Nigeria.

    “The argument that they are encouraging the use of Nigerian ports for vehicular imports also does not hold. Efforts should rather be made to make the ports more competitive, user-friendly and efficient.

    “We must ask ourselves what is Cotonou and Cameroun doing that we are yet to do? Why are vehicle importers avoiding our ports? We have to rework our policies.

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    “We are the largest market in West and Central Africa with the largest consumption of automobile cargo. Nothing justifies our ports being less attractive.

    “ Trade growth and economic development take more of tact and strategy than hard punitive policies. We stopped vehicles from paying duties at borders and the ones we seized are not available for citizens to buy or transparently dispensed through auction.

    Akwaeze also said many jobs have been lost to the policy, which took effect since January 2017. The prohibition order covers new and used vehicles.

    The ban was sequel to a presidential directive restricting vehicle imports to the country sea ports only. The order took effect from January 1, 2017.

    The restriction on vehicles import followed that of rice, whose imports have been banned through the land borders since April 2016.

    Akwaeze said the ban on rice through borders has failed as; according to him, smuggled foreign rice dominate the markets despite huge rice seizures made by the NCS.

    Former Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents Chairman, Alhaji Dele Azeez said the working of connectivity programme between Nigeria and Benin Customs may cause the government to rescind the ban.

    Azeez said the success of the scheme might encourage the government because vehicles declared in Benin as destined for Nigeria are expected to be captured in Customs data base of both countries.

    This, according to him, would make it difficult for smuggling to thrive.

    He added: “We are hoping that the scheme works with the other importation it is being tested with.

    “We also have the challenge of human factor. When people comply, it becomes easier. I want to believe Benin Republic officials and business people will comply by handing over transit goods destined for Nigeria to our Customs

    “If that is done, we will make progress faster and I am optimistic;  the government may reconsider its position on the ban on vehicle through borders.’’