The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Experts

  • Experts advise organisations on human capital development

    Organisations have been urged to adopt new strategies and approaches that focus more on developing human capital, to close the huge gap  in business performance potential.

    Human Resources experts who spoke at the third edition of the Deloitte’s Talent Management Platform (DTMP) and launch of its 2017 Global Human Capital Trends report, held recently in Lagos, noted that investment in human capital was the single most-effective way of not only promoting growth, but also distributing its benefits fairly.

    They further asserted that such investments would guarantee and promote better leadership, more effective management, better decision making and a greater return on investments (RoI).

    Speaking on the theme: “Rewriting the Rules for Digital Age,” consulting partner, Deloitte West Africa, Joseph Olofinsola, said as human capital experts, representing various organisations, there was the need to keep rewriting the rules of the practice through recruitment, promotion and discipline to attain and sustain the desired growth in the economy.

    He maintained that the new rules reflect the shift in mindset, behaviour and actions required to lead, organise, motivate, access, manage and engage the 21st century workforce.

    “The workforce is changing. It is more digital, more global, diverse, automation-savvy and social media proficient. At the same time, business expectations, needs, and demands are evolving faster than ever before. While some view this as a challenge, we see it as an opportunity to reinvent HR, talent and organisational practice.

    Also, as an opportunity to create platforms, processes and tools that will continue to evolve and sustain their value overtime. An opportunity to take the lead in what will likely be among the most significant changes to the workforce that we have seen,” he said.

    According to Chief Executive Officer, Deloitte West Africa, Fatai Folarin who was represented by Femi Abegunde, more than ever before, firms and institutions must recognise the importance of human capital as a critical first step in tapping into unrecognised potential.

    “At Deloitte, we focus on helping our clients achieve organisational excellence by improving their operational performance and developing their people. Organisations can continue to grow only if they have competent people.

    Consequently, organisations must value and invest in people because they are a unique asset to greater heights,” he stated.

    Panelists at the event were sector leaders such as Executive Director, Human Resources, Mobil Producing, Udom Inoyo, Human Resources Director, Flour Mills Nigeria Plc., Wale Adediran, Head, Corporate Services, AIICO Insurance, Mrs Phil Maduagwu and Human Resources Director, Airtel Nigeria, Gbemiga Owolabi, among others.

  • How to make economic roadmap work , by experts

    How to make economic roadmap work , by experts

    United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc Chairman Tony Elumelu, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and some experts, at the weekend, described the Economic Recovery & Growth Plan (ERGP) as the right pill for the country’s economic pains.

    Reacting to ERGP, launched last Wednesday by President Muhammadu Buhari to reboot the economy, they believe the roadmap will help in tackling the economic recession, if well-implemented.

    The ERGP priorities include: stable macroeconomic environment, agricultural development and food security, power and energy and transportation infrastructure, among others.

    The government proposed no fewer than 60 interventions to stimulate key areas of priority.

    Speaking with The Nation, NLC President Ayuba Wabba said the organised workers’ union did not only believe in the plan but was also part of it.

    Ayuba said: “We were consulted on it and we believe it will work out this time around. For us, what is important is that the implementation should be done.

    “When we looked at the plan, we had some issues with it and when we met with the Minister of Budget and National Planning, we expressed our observations.

    “Generally, it is a good plan because the government now has an instrument to directly tackle the recession in the country.”

    The Secretary General of the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), urged the Federal Government to engage all stakeholders in the implementation of the ERGP.

    “It is quite commendable that we have a growth and development plan for the nation. It is better late than never. All stakeholders including labour should be engaged in its implementation,” Aremu said.

    NLC’s  General Secretary Peter Eson-Ozo said the plan would help in tackling the nation’s economic woes by giving due attention to sectoral development.

    He, however, said that labour had emphasised that the plan should have targeted grassroots on a bottom-top approach.

    He expressed dismay that the grassroots was not sufficiently engaged in the process of the roadmap to economic recovery, saying that inputs from the constituencies and interest groups should have enriched such a document.

    According to him, stakeholders were not carried along from its conceptualisation to finishing. Rather, the government had only developed it consulting with stakeholders.

    Eson-Ozo said: “By the way, what is crucial is that they needed to dutifully implement it and see that the recession is actually tackled by all means.

    “So, we do hope that the policies evolved will work in the directions of the anticipated objectives and ultimately tackle the recession.”

    Although some capital market stakeholders and financial pundits commended the medium-term economic development plan 2017-2020. But many of the experts were cautious about the strategic direction and the plans’ implementation

    They said the economic blueprint could give the much-needed direction to government’s economic development agenda, especially with the inclusion of the critical stakeholders.

    The launch was attended by the leadership of the National Assembly, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and relevant Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs).

    According to them, the lack of political alignment within the ruling party and the various arms of government, the timing of the blueprint and the vagueness of the key performance indices (KPIs) to measure and guide its implementation may be its undoing.

    Commenting on the ERGP launch Elumelu noted that investors’ confidence was being restored and the productive sector being stimulated by the Federal Government’s latest moves, which according to him, were necessary to revamp the economy.

    He said: “I would like to commend the Federal Government of Nigeria and President Buhari on the recent launch of the ERGP. It is laudable that the government widely consulted with the private sector in putting together this economic plan, which I believe should help address the immediate critical need of the Nigerian economy.

    “As a stakeholder in Nigeria, I enjoin everyone to support these lofty agenda of the Government, which hopefully should see the economy return to its deserved high growth path,” Elumelu said.

    According to him, “no doubt, the fundamentals of the local economy remain strong and all must work with the government to harness the potentials, not only for today but also for the benefit of future generations.”

    GTI Capital Group Chief Operating Officer Kehinde Hassan said the success of any economic growth plan will rest on the wholesome political will and alignment to push through the bitter and decisive measures needed to drive some of the reforms.

    According to him, the government has not demonstrated enough political will to curb wastages and redirect the scarce resources to critical infrastructural development.

    The Buhari-led government remains as bloated as the previous administrations, he said.

    Citing Senegal that collapsed its bicameral national assembly into unicameral in critical measure to reduce cost of governance, Hassan urged the government to reduce the cost of governance to the barest minimum and invest more in capital projects for considerable economic gains.

    A chartered accountant, Mr. Kareem Ahmed, said the government should direct the ERGP towards solving the main economic problem of stable power, noting that no meaningful economic development could be achieved with erratic electricity.

    He said that rather than the usual long list of priorities, the ERGP should have focused on one or two major problems with identifiable solutions and timelines for achievement.

    “We believe the Federal Government’s peace-making initiative in the Niger Delta region is a necessity for the successful implementation of the ERGP as it will help the country enhance the earnings needed to deliver on the objectives of the new economic plan,” the Cowry Asset Management Limited stated.

    Some analysts expressed concern over lack of definite KPIs and the overall implementation of the roadmap.

    Afrinvest Securities cited the continuing vagueness of the country’s foreign exchange management targets, which were critical to attract the much-needed Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) required to support the ERGP.

    According to Afrinvest Securities, the absence of forward guidance on expected exchange rate posed a threat to the overall goal of stabilizing the macroeconomic environment.

    Afrinvest stated: “Our conversations with foreign investors continue to indicate that a bold policy action on the exchange rate and measures to improve liquidity in the space remain a major concern. Hence, a follow up guidance, beyond commitment to improve system liquidity as documented in the ERGP, is still a necessity.”

    Describing as laudable ongoing efforts to reduce fuel importation by revamping local refineries, the company noted that increased local production will boost government’s revenue drive. , these would require significant investment in capacity upgrade as well as close monitoring of operating performance.

    The Afrinvest analysts commended the ERGP for recognising the strategic importance of transport and transport infrastructure to the attainment of national economic objectives.

    They, however, pointed out that government’s spending alone might not be sufficient for the investment required to attain the desired result. He pushed for private sector participation for effective delivery.

    “Overall, we believe the ERGP like many economic road maps in Nigeria clearly captures the critical challenges currently facing the economy and proposes strategies to address them. However, our concern remains that Nigeria is often long on planning but short on implementation and delivery with recent policy pronouncements as references. That said, we believe that the plan to carve out a ‘Delivery Unit’ within the Presidency as well as the Ministry of Budget & National Planning to champion the monitoring, evaluation and implementation of the plan, is a step in the right direction,” Afrinvest stated.

    CardinalStone Partners described the ERGP as ambitious but that it would require much more hard work to achieve the broad targets under the plan. The firm faulted the ERGP for lack of specifics on the measures that would be adopted to improve foreign exchange liquidity and narrow the spread between the interbank and parallel market rates.

    It said: “After two years of policy execution malaise, a coherent policy was overdue. Whilst the plan provides some grounds to suggest an eventual lift-off given the ambitious targets that have been set, concerns persist regarding its actual implementation.

    “The biggest concern, which relates to whether a shift is underway that could restore confidence in the CBN’s management of the currency, is not explicitly answered by the plan. The wording on foreign exchange liberalisation suggests that this is still work in progress, and broadly adopts the need for flexibility, which in itself will not provide enough comfort for investors,” CardinalStone Partners said.

    The investment firm noted: “Achieving these targets in the next three years seems quite ambitious given the country’s sluggishness in policy implementation or execution.

    “Hence, we do not think the plan has provided enough basis to change our earlier expectations for the macro-environment and capital market activities in 2017.”

    The Project Director, Cassava: Adding Value for Africa(C:AVA), Prof Kolawole Adebayo identified political risk as a major threat to the successful implementation of government Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

    He noted that there were numerous threats to the success of the ERGP, with the plan coming at the tail end of the first term of the present regime.

    The government, he explained,  has barely one more year to prove that the  ERGP will not go the way of its forebears.

    According to him, there is little reason to question the government’s capacity to intervene if something goes seriously wrong after 2019.

    He said the success of the ERGP would depend not only on its implementation but also on the commitment of the succeeding administration to see it through to the terminal year.

    His words: “Some of the commodities zeroed on have longer gestation periods as a such as a short term development plan will work . I don’t think the component that deals with agriculture was well thought out.”

    He said the real challenge was whether the recommendations and policy issues in the plan were realistic, considering the short time frame, or whether the policies were not too ambitious in their targets.

    The National President of Federation of Agricultural Commodities Association of Nigeria, Dr Victor Iyama,  believes cutting  down on  spending and increasing infrastructural investment spending will set the stage for better growth.

    Iyama noted that it is possible for the government  to achieve these targets if it is well executed.

    He said: “All that is being planned is good but in this country, the challenge of poor execution.if well executed I see it working.”

    A Professor of Food science and fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Isaac Adeyemi ,noted  that  the blueprint  was necessary to address  the country’s economy would remain on a path of decline.

    He said government should take ownership of the plan, by taking responsibility for its full implementation.

    He said the private sector and stakeholders should be involved in the implementation of the plan. However, to strengthen governance.

    He said he would love to see performance management reflected not only “defined, clear and measurable deliverables for every ministry, department and agency of government,” but for same to become targets by which every minister and public office holder would be measured.

    An economist based in Lagos, Olatunji Adeoye, said one of the challenges facing the current administration was in the area of economy. He commended the ERGP policy plans adding that Nigerians should cooperate with the government to make the initiative work.

    He said it will give the economy the needed direction and opportunity to recover after it slipped into recession last year.

    He said many foreigners will not be interested in investing in the economy, and will also  have long-term plan on how to grow it. “We are likely to see more capital inflows as the economy takes shapes in the months ahead. We are happy that crude oil prices is rising and will continue to rise in the coming months and that is important for the economy to recover,” he said.

    Another economist, Lasak Mojeed, said implementation of the ERGP is key because here  are several exceptional and great documents that are in the custody of government but are never implemented. He said the ERGP is a great concept but will be greater at implementation.

    “Until we see it  working, and government moves from paper to action, nothing will come out of it,” he said.

    He said the content of the ERGP shows that government is already approaching the solution to the nation’s economic challenges with the same will and commitment it had demonstrated in the fight against corruption and economic development.

    He said the fact that the ERGP had brought together all the sectoral plans for agriculture and food security, energy and transport infrastructure, industrialisation and among others means it can actually be used to revive the economy.

    The President, Shippers Association Lagos State, Mr Jonathan Nicol, also said the number of empty containers leaving the ports were many because the government and the people of Nigeria were yet to go back to the land as it was done using the first republic.

    “Agriculture was the main stay of the economy before the oil was discovered in large quantity. Successive government had paid lip services to the development of agricultural sector. Therefore,  it is to the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians if the current administration focuses of the sectors to boost the economy and provide employment to the restive youths across the country,” he said.

    But, an importer, Mr Sesan Adelaja, cautioned the government to be careful of portfolio farmers that truncated the Operation Feed the Nation and Green Revolution initiatives of Obasanjo and Shehu Shagari administrations.

    Adelaja identified peasant farming as the bane of agricultural development of the country and urged the governments at all levels to embrace mechanized farming to boost export.

    The ERGP initiative, he said, would only have meaning to Nigerians if it translates to foods on their tables and money into their pockets.

    Odilim Enwegbara, an economist, told The Nation that “the problem here is that there’s no fully interrogated economic recovery and growth road map. Economic assumptions they have made in the ERGP are too generic and too loose. They might have told some beautiful stories, but there is truly nothing serious accompnaying the beautiful economic stories. In other words, all was done without specificity and without how they will be achieved and the specific outcomes.”

    Economic road map, he noted, “like a building architectural drawings should only make sense when the bill of quantities is known and financing sources are clearly stated. In other words, it is not enough to state some good economic intentions unless they are accompanied with enough ways about how they are to be realised.”

  • 90 % suicide cases traceable to depression – Experts

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), on Friday in Lokoja said over 90 per cent of suicide cases reported in the country were traceable to depression.

    The Kogi Acting Chairman of NMA, Dr Godwin Tijani, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on the sidelines of this year’s “World Health Day.”

    Tijani stated that this year’s theme: “Depression, let’s talk,” was chosen by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to draw the world’s attention to the global burden of this common mental disorder.

    He commended the WHO for the initiative behind the theme, stressing that it would help to reduce incidence of suicide and attempt suicide in Nigeria and world as a whole.

    He, therefore, called for urgent need for the government to create more awareness on how to discourage the trend, prevent and treat those affected by the mental health condition.

    The chairman also urged government to reduce to the barest minimum the problem of stigma associated with depression.

    Also speaking, Dr Daniel Ajogbon , a Consultant Psychiatrist, Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Lokoja, said depression was the major cause of ill health and disability in the world.

    He said nobody would want to come out in this part of the world to report being depressed, hence the need to encourage people to talk about their conditions and best ways they could be addressed by the society.

    “The latest statistics from WHO says about 322 million people are depressed globally, and close to 30 million suffers depression in the African Region.

    “It is against this backdrop we have to galvanise help, encourage people to talk about the way they feel, because to be depressed is not a crime.”

    He highlighted vulnerability, genetics, social, economic insolvency, unemployment and reliance on drugs as some of the factors that caused depression in the world.

    The expert said symptoms such as sadness, weakness, loss of weight, and interest, thought of death, negative thoughts, that persist for weeks, were pointers to depression and such person should be encouraged to seek help on time.

    “So, government must plan ahead by providing quick intervention when people intend to take their lives either in their homes or in public places.

    “The government should do more to get avenue for people to be educated, create awareness and make facilities available for people to get help they need on mental illness.

    “The area of mental illness seems to have a little setback, as there is no health without mental health,” Ajogbon said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the World Health Day is marked globally on April 7 of every year.

  • Medical experts canvass healthcare revolution

    Medical experts canvass healthcare revolution

    Medical experts have urged  public and private sector institutions to work together for a paradigm shift in the health sector. This, according to them, will improve its  quality and practice and provide easy access to international standard.

    This was the position of speakers at the Doctors’ Forum, organised by The Bridge Clinic and Pathcare Laboratories in Lagos. The main bowl of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Kofo Abayomi, Victoria Island where the event was held, was filled to capacity, with who is who in the medical world.

    The participants argued that when the sector experiences a radical change, there would be an increase in the patronage of indigenous medical facilities, which would conserve the forex used for foreign medical tourism. This will  be ploughed back into developing medical infrastructure and manpower in the country.

    The programme which focused on Addressing the fallout of Medical Tourism in Nigeria, had a  panel anchored by Founder/Medical Director, First Cardiology Consultants, Dr Yemi Johnson; and Clinical Director, St. Nicholas Hospital, Dr Ebun Bamgboye. The discussion was moderated by the Managing Director, The Bridge Clinic, Dr Richardson Ajayi, with Chief (Dr) Oluyomi Abayomi Finnih, Chief Medical Director, Finnih Medical Centre as the Chairman.

    Dr Bamgboye, speaking on ‘Nephrology and the success recorded in Renal transplant in Nigeria,’ said Nigerians spend at least $1 billion yearly on medical treatment in various countries of the world. “India is attractive because of its experience in high technology especially in diagnostics and also for the relatively lower cost of treating patients. Nigerians visit India for cancer, spinal cord, plastic and neuro-surgeries as well as fertility and transplant tourism. The problems associated with renal transplant in Africa include manpower, facilities, literacy level, poverty, lack of access to transplantation centres, lack of dialysis facilities and other infrastructure, quality and safety issues.”

    According to Dr Johnson, Nigeria needs to upgrade its health infrastructure as a nation and also invests in health education and training for its medical professionals. “Patients who go abroad for cardiovascular- related diseases such as routine health check, hypertension, heart failure, stroke, arrhythmias, angina, coronary artery diseases, vascular heart disease and so on; do so because of the poor infrastructure and non-availability of high-tech equipment, shortage of manpower and medical supplies. This is occasioned by the registration of products which is cumbersome and expensive and government policies were confusing and oftentimes counter-productive.

    “Medical tourism started with patients from the developed world seeking high quality, less expensive medical care in less developed countries” he noted.

    The convener, Dr Ajayi said that for Nigeria’s healthcare to be fit for purpose more needed to be done in the areas of implementing quality management systems, patients’ satisfaction surveys, effective consequence management and patient reported objective measures. He said Nigeria would only thrive when the right policies and personnel are in place to run the healthcare system and that a lot needs to be done to improve the health structures and institutions, especially in the area of standards and quality.

    During the interactive session, many speakers emphasised the need for adequate budgetary provision for healthcare. They spoke about increasing the availability of funds with low interest rates for private practitioners to enable them source for latest medical equipment for diagnosis and treatment.

    There was a general consensus that Medical Centres of Excellence is the future of healthcare in Nigeria, and can at best be achieved within the private sector or in partnership with the government. These centres will also provide adequate capability development and exposure to cutting edge innovations, procedures and technologies for medical professionals.

    Dr Finnih, while expressing gratitude to all stakeholders who have contributed to the breakthrough in the medical sector, praised private entrepreneurs who provide technical support with well trained and qualified medical personnel.

    While rounding up the programme, Chairman, Pathcare Laboratories, Prof Ibironke Akinsete said the medical experts are well equipped to address the problem, adding, “we can come up with technical support to make healthcare in Nigeria fit for purpose.”

    The forum brings together experts in the medical profession, both within and outside the country, to share experiences, discuss modern advances in medical science and proffer solutions to Nigeria’s healthcare system. The Doctors’ Forum is organised by Pathcare Laboratories, the only internationally ISO 15189 Accredited Pathology Laboratory in Nigeria, in collaboration with The Bridge Clinic, Nigeria’s foremost fertility clinic.

    Managing Director of Pathcare Laboratories, Mrs Pamela Ajayi said Nigeria has all it takes to emerge as one of the best countries with medical novelty, only if there are deliberate efforts on all fronts to achieve same. “The road may be turtous as we experienced with Pathcare Laboratories before obtaining the internationally ISO 15189 Accreditation, but then it’s was done, so also it can for the health sector,” she said.

  • Do not legislate against suicide, experts tell National Assembly

    Do not legislate against suicide, experts tell National Assembly

    Experts in Psychiatry have urged the National Assembly to pass a law to tackle the rising wave of suicide in the country.

    In separate interviews, they said this became imperative because of the rise in suicide cases.

    The Nigerian 1958 Lunacy Act criminalises suicide. When the same person attempts suicide and does not succeed, the experts said the best way to assist the person is not to imprisonment, but treatment in a hospital.

    According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), health is a state of physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

    Former Medical Director, Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Dr Harry Ladapo, said it was time the National Assembly passed the Bill on the review of the 1958, 132 Lunacy Laws of Nigeria. This is because, he said, the rate of mental health disease has gained global attention.

    Ladapo said mental health contributed about 12 percent of world diseases and Nigeria was not an exemption.

    “Although considered as one of the countries in 2007 with lower prevalence of mental disorders as documented in a report by the WHO’s Mental Health Atlas Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, recent statistics show that the prevalence of mental health issues in the country remains unabated.

    ‘’A study by the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, said mental health issues ranked 20 percent among other health problems, yet the country is slow in meeting  global treatment standards adopted by United Nations on mental health policy as pointed out by the WHO in its ‘Mental Health: New Understanding New Hope in World Health Report’. Yet, the colonial law still governs mental health in Nigeria, he lamented.

    According to the Lunacy Law, anyone caught attempting suicide should be arraigned.

    Ladapo said the National Assembly should scrap the mental health legislation.

    The Bill, first introduced in 2003, laid fallow in the Senate until it was withdrawn in April 2009. At the moment, it is back to the Upper House.

    Ladapo said though suicide is criminal, “For somebody who has committed suicide and succeeded, there is nothing anybody can do. But if it is not complete, it is called para-suicide. This entails injuring oneself by overdosing on drugs, chemicals, sharp objects or resorting to other injurious acts that left him being rescued or brought back to life in, that is when he can be charged to court. This is different from suicide where a life is lost. The dead cannot be charged to court. So, the issue at stake is, why would anybody want to take his life?’’

    He continued: “One, when a person feels that life is not worth living, maybe as a result of a chronic sickness, terminal disease, and zero condition – for instance, the elderly or disabled, who can no longer add value to the society but sees himself as a burden may end his life, especially if he cannot do daily activities, such as bathing, brushing teeth, dress or writing without being aided. They can become depressed and keep asking  about  the essence of living.

    ‘’That brought the Principle of Euthanasia in Europe, where people ask a doctor to terminate their lives. So, how does one describe that? Is that a suicide or para-suicide? There, the government decided to legalise it. Meaning that as one is getting  old and cannot cope with daily living, one can request for termination of life.”

    He said in Nigeria, there are socio-economic reasons which push people into suicide. Recession per se is not responsible for it, “but it is surrounded by factors, such as debt, shame, loneliness, isolation, frustration, unfulfilment, not meeting set goals or substance abuse.  I must call attention to the fact that suicide is not new but the rate is escalating and must be halted. Among the Yoruba, we have seen monarchs who committed suicide because of shame, giving credence to the saying, “Emi … a tii gbo’ (Me … how come?). Even when subjects are not satisfied with rulers, they ask them to take the exit (Won sigba fun),” he said.

    He added that civilisation has played a major role in how sucide cases are handled. “The task is to be our brother’s keeper. Let us engage people in discussions. Find out what people are going through at their workplace, worship or residence. Be highly observant in your surroundings. If you notice in your office that despite being gaily dressed, or an extrovert becoming a recluse or somebody who is highly enthusiastic with his job  suddenly complaining of ill health; do not brush him aside and conclude he is being lazy or finding excuses, you may have a suicide candidate in your hand,’’ he said.

    “Signs of suicide include loneliness, withdrawal or isolation – all these can lead to weight loss, depression or oversleeping. Jumping into the lagoon is just a tip of the  iceberg because there are many reported cases  which take place at home. The way out is to improve the mental status of Nigerians, and the sector. Psychiatric health workers should  find out the  causes, and proffer solution.

    ‘’Do you know that lack of money is not the only cause of suicide? Some who  stole public money do it too. The money is there, but cannot spend it and they ask of the essence of life. It is high time the mental health team was encouraged. Recession and war should not make people to commit suicide. But there are circumstances beyond their control that prompt them to do so,” he said.

    Acting Head of Clinical Services, Federal Neuro-Psychiatry Hopsital, Yaba, Lagos, Dr Olugbenga Owoeye, said the criminalisation of suicide was predicated on the Lunacy Law made by colonial leaders.

    Owoeye said: “That is the law the government is still operating. Until it is repealed and a new one put in place, the country may not get out of the problem. The truth is that those who died of suicide or attempted it are mentally sick. It is when the mental state of an individual is not altered that such an individual will not consider suicide  to solve the problem. But when someone is mentally sick, he will not reason productively and may want to end it. So, suicide is a sickness and not a crime.

    “In other countries, when people are seen contemplating suicide, they are referred to the hospital for treatment. Once they are treated, the problems go, and life continues. So, it is wrong for us to criminalise suicide. By so doing, one is driving sufferers into further withdrawals and may attempt a suicide. This is based on the view, “Once I don’t succeed, I will be treated like a criminal, so I must succeed in ending my life. Or I attempted once but did not succeed, so the next attempt will kill it. I must succeed in this one. This is improper.”

    He said: “Our lawmakers should review the Mental Health Law in line with what obtains in other countries, especially developed nations. The bill is already with the Senate. They should make provision for the treatment of those who attempt suicide rather than get them arrested. As the law is being repealed, the government should also fund the psychiatry hospitals. There are fewer than 500 psychiatrists nationwide to take care of 170 million people. We even have fewer  clinical psychologists and psychiatrist nurses. These are not enough to take care of the psychiatry need of the nation.”

    Owoeye said, “More personnel should be trained. It is high time urgent attention should be paid to the mental need of Nigerians, instead of being considered as the least in the health services required nationwide. This is because out of every 100 Nigerians about 20 percent will have diagnosable mental health conditions, so there is the need for us to make adequate preparation to address the mental health issue. Counseling centres can also be set up nationwide so people can go to and un-bottle their minds. The recession going on also should be quickly addressed.”

  • Experts discuss trends in cyber security

    The need for the public and private sectors  to work and build a strategy to tackle the risk  of cyber crime will be the primary  focus at the 2017 Securex West African Cyber Security Summit (WACSS), the organisers have said .

    According to a statement from the organisers of the summit, Afrocet Montgomery, “one way this can be accomplished is through knowledge sharing and it is for this reason that the summit  is being organised.

    “Cyberspace has ushered in new opportunities with its security challenges and this will be a new platform and the first of its size and scale in West Africa which will bring together industry experts from both the private and public sector to discuss the challenges, opportunities and trends in cyber security. Throughout the day, delegates will hear from both international and national cyber experts from organisations such KPMG, Ernst & Young, the EFCC and G3. Whilst expert opinions will also be shared from the country’s leading associations such as Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria; the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN); and CSCSS.”

    Highlighting the topics that will be covered during the summit, the organisers said: “ it will cover corporate security, training the next generation, financial crime and governance. The day will also witness a live hackathon run by Upgraded Era where visitors across the Exhibition, whether novice or trained, can try their hand at hacking.

    The launch of WACSS will fill a much needed space in Nigeria for experts to congregate and discuss pertinent issues; sharing knowledge and expertise. This will become an annual event which will reflect the trends; patterns; challenges and opportunities in Nigeria’s cyberspace.”

  • Experts offer admission tips

    Experts offer admission tips

    Experts from about 30 education services agencies, including the US Embassy’s Education Advisor and JAMB representatives on Friday, 17th February, 2017, gave valuable admission tips to students and parents at the 8th Annual Education Fair of the Trinity International College, Trinity Hills, Ofada, Ogun State.
    In his welcome address, the Principal, Senior Secondary School, J. O Apata, took time to explain the origin of the fair.
    Speaking about admission processes into Nigerian universities, JAMB representative, Lanre Badmus, painstakingly explained the admission requirements into Nigerian universities, which he said is 180 and above in JAMB and 5 O’level credits, including Mathematics and English.
    Noting that up to 60 percent of students have been disadvantaged as regards admission into Nigerian universities because they don’t ask questions, Badmus enumerated three things students must put into consideration when applying to universities of their choice, vis-a-vis “merit list, catchment area, Educationally Less Disadvantaged States (ELDS), which are Bayelsa, Ebonyin, Adamawa, Bauchi and the likes.” He said this explains why some students gain admission, while others do not.
    While choosing a university, Badmus said, “consider picking one under which your state falls as catchment area, as this increases the students chances of gaining admission into a school of their choice.” Ms. Oseni, representing Education Advisor, US Embassy, Mrs. C. Uwadilike, told the students what they would need to study abroad, adding that parents must understand the make-up of their children to enable them decide if they should study abroad.

  • How to tackle endometriosis, by experts

    How to tackle endometriosis, by experts

    Some medical experts have gathered in Lagos to discuss endometriosis, a disease rampant  among women. OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA reports.

    Experts are against surgically removing endometriosis; where the endometrium grows outside the uterus, unless the symptoms do not respond to treatment. But the disease causes severe pains for premenopausal women.

    The experts spoke at an event organised by some specialists in reproductive health in Lagos. They urged reporters to help shed light on the disease which they described as “invisible”, but giving many women headache.

     

    The condition

    What is endometriosis? The Chief Executive Officer (CEO)/Medical Director, Nordica Fertility Centre, Dr Abayomi Ajayi, explained that in preparation for ovulation, the lining of the uterus, or endometrium, thickens. If fertilisation does not occur, the uterus sheds its lining through the vagina. This is known as menstruation. In endometriosis, the endometrium grows outside of the uterus. This leads to endometriosis.

    According to the led convener of the event,  Ajayi,  there is need to get a woman that complains of chronic pains examined because there is a link between endometriosis and ovarian cancer. He said ovarian cancer occurs at higher than expected rates in women with endometriosis, but the lifetime risk is low to begin with. “Nearly half of those affected have chronic pelvic pain, while in 70 percent pain occurs during menstruation. Some studies suggest that endometriosis increases the risk to developing ovarian cancer, but it’s still relatively low. Although rare, another type of cancer, endometriosis-associated adenocarcinoma, could develop later in life in women who have had endometriosis,” Ajayi said.

     

    Common symptoms

    A consultant Obstetrician/Gynaecologist, Dr Bayo Bamisebi said if one or her daughter or any female around is perpetually complaining of any of the following, it is time to check it out with the doctor because they are symptoms of endometriosis: “Painful or heavy periods; pains in the lower abdomen (tummy), pelvis or lower back; pains during and after sex; bleeding between periods or difficulty getting pregnant. Most women with endometriosis get pains in the area between their hips and the tops of their legs. Some women experience this pain all the time.

    “Other symptoms may include persistent exhaustion and tiredness, discomfort when going to the toilet, bleeding from your back passage or rectum) or blood in your poo, or coughing blood which occurs in rare cases when the endometriosis tissue is in the lung.”

    He said: “Another cause is during retrograde menstruation, whereby menstrual fluid flows backward into the fallopian tubes instead of leaving the body through the vagina. Because the fallopian tubes are open-ended, menstrual backflow can spill into the pelvic cavity. Backflow of menstrual fluid may promote the transfer of clumped endometrial cells to other tissues in the pelvis. Or menstrual fluid in the pelvic cavity could transform parts of those tissues into endometrial cells. In either process, clumps of endometrium may start to grow on the tissues lining the pelvic cavity, as well as on the fallopian tubes, ovaries and large intestine. This growth continues to act as it normally would during a menstrual cycle. It thickens, breaks down and bleeds each month.

    “Because there’s nowhere for the blood from this displaced tissue to exit your body, it becomes trapped. Trapped blood may lead to cysts, scar tissue and adhesions, abnormal tissue that binds organs together. Scarring from endometriosis can block your fallopian tubes. Blocked tubes may keep sperm cells from reaching and fertilising the egg, causing fertility problems.The menstrual fluid could alter some types of cells in the pelvic cavity to change their structure, or clumps of endometrial tissue contained in the menstrual fluid could stick to the tissues it lands on and start to grow. In either case, this may be a factor in causing endometriosis,” Bamisebi explained.

     

    Diagnosing endometriosis

    Ajayi said the first step to take is to diagnose the condition. He said the sufferer should see a general medical practitioner if one has symptoms of endometriosis so they could try to identify a cause. “They may refer you to a gynaecologist, or a specialist in problems affecting the female reproductive system. It can be difficult to diagnose endometriosis because the symptoms can vary considerably, and many other conditions can cause similar symptoms. Your gynaecologist will ask about your symptoms, periods and, possibly, sexual activity. They may also carry out an internal pelvic exam or recommend an ultrasound scan to look for cysts in your ovaries that may have been caused by endometriosis,” he added.

     

    Laparoscopy

    Ajayi said: “Endometriosis can only be confirmed with a surgical examination called a laparascopy. This is carried out under general anaesthetic  and you can usually go home the same day. The procedure involves a thin tube with a light on the end (laparoscope), which will be passed into your body through a small cut in your skin at your belly button. It has a tiny camera that transmits images to a video monitor so the specialist can see any endometriosis tissue.

    “During the procedure, a small sample of tissue (biopsy) can be taken for laboratory testing, or other surgical instruments can be inserted to treat the endometriosis. Depending on the severity of the endometriosis, treatment options may include: Hormonal therapies, such as birth control pills, which help control the hormones that cause a buildup of endometrial tissue – and birth control pills are associated with a decrease in ovarian cancer risk.

    “Conservative surgery to remove endometrial growths from pelvic organs without removing your reproductive organs, either with laparoscopic surgery, making only a few small incisions in your abdomen, or traditional abdominal surgery in more extensive cases.

    “Total hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy which removes the uterus and cervix along with both ovaries and fallopian tubes, reserved for women at high risk of ovarian cancer, such as those who have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation.”

    ‘’If you’re worried about how endometriosis might affect your fertility, according to Ajayi that is a different matter.

    “Endometriosis does cause fertility problems for some women. Normal conception, pregnancy and delivery are possible after conservative endometriosis treatment. But if you’re having trouble conceiving, you may need to see a fertility specialist to explore your options for becoming pregnant,” he added.

  • Experts: real estate in chains

    Experts have passed a vote of no confidence in the real estate sector. They are worried that the residential vacancy rate in three major cities  has hit an all-time 33 per cent high  by the shrinking of companies’and personal incomes. They argue that investors may have to tarry for the industry’s resurgence, MUYIWA LUCAS reports. 

    The statistics reeled out by the panelists in the conference room of Reality Point Office, Ikeja, Lagos, last Friday, sent shivers down the spines of members of the audience.

    It was  at the yearly review of activities in the real estate sector.

    “The vacancy rate in residential buildings in Lagos is estimated at around 33 per cent; in Abuja it is 28 per cent and 13 per cent in Port Harcourt. There is also no difference in retail development, which came down leaving a vacancy rate of between 33 and 50 per cent, among large shopping malls. Apart from few blue chip developers, who were able to raise capital, it was a sorry tale for many others,” Chief Executive Officer, Northcourt Real Estate, Tayo Odunsi, lamented.

    He noted that the statistics were impacted by the delay in passing the budget last year, and the recession. This he said shrunk companies’ and personal incomes in response to inflation. Based on this, investors in the sector, it is believed, may have to wait longer for light to appear at the end of the tunnel.

    Dotrubik Projects Chief Executive Officer Oladotun Olusola said there was an over supply of commercial real estate last year and that developments in some areas of Lagos went up by about 100 per cent with many of them not taken.

    “In the office and retail space, there was an oversupply because people were interested in investing in other things,” he said.

    Realty Point Limited Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Debo Adejana set the tone of the discussion when he said the real estate industry was witnessing an anomaly. This, he regretted, was because while the prices of houses are plummeting, the cost of land is going up.

    He linked this to the depreciation of the naira value and unfixed cost of capital. Therefore, he said, unless relevant stakeholders took urgent steps, the sector, which had been seriously hit by recession since last year, would not fare better this year.

    Indeed, available data shows that the real estate sector contributes about eight per cent to the economy, which has now fallen into recession following two consecutive quarters of gross domestic product (GDP) contraction. The effect has been telling on the industry, which is believed to be on the decline.

    Adejana said the recession forced investors to pull out from equity market leaving the government as the principal actor, which borrowed extensively at ridiculous rates. The development, he said, has left businesses stifled

    Odunsi agreed with him. He said since last year, the real estate sector has not been able to compete because of foreign exchange problems. This was why, in the first and second quarters of last year, the industry witnessed a lull in housing, retail and office space prices.

    He warned that unless a defined foreign exchange policy was implemented, the situation would remain the same this year.

    “It wasn’t the best of year but there were a few bright spots here and there. Buyers became a little selective, so developers who met their needs in terms of pricing and creativity actually did well. Quality and price became king because money moved intelligently in 2016,” he said.

    Though the Business Development and Strategy Manager, Realty Point Limited, Akin Arogundade, said the forex issues impacted much on the input components of the real sector, which are majorly import-based, he called for the review of planning regulation, saying the regulation was archaic and not dynamic in meeting realities on ground.

    But all hope is, however, not lost. This is because the panel agreed that with the proposed Diaspora bonds being muted by the Federal Government, and the rent-to-own initiative that is gradually gaining grounds across the country, including the restructuring of the mortgage system, a brighter future may just lie ahead of the industry. They are optimistic that if the bond is successful, the real estate sector will be a major beneficiary.

    He said: “For 2017, I am betting that the Diaspora bond will make it bright. Should it be successful, the Ministry of Finance may begin to shift their focus by raising funds from the diaspora rather than internally; and then, it will reduce how much of treasury bills they are putting into the market; once that happens, it will reduce competition and the real sector will pick up.

    “Once foreign portfolio investors begin to understand where the government stands when it comes to fiscal and monetary policy, infrastructure plans and other things, there will be more investment.”

    The Group Head, Risk Management, HomeBase Mortgage Bank Limited, Arinze Adigwe, raised hopes for mortgage seekers, insisting that the mortgage sub-sector would play a more significant role henceforth, especially with the restructuring of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN).

    “There is a lot of structures that need to happen in the mortgage sector. One thing that we need in Nigeria is the uniform underwriting standards,” he said.

    Other areas of note, which the professionals identified, that would stimulate the industry, included land titling and building approval process.

  • Experts to govt: increase oil production

    With ongoing peace talks between the Federal Government and Niger Delta indigenes, experts have urged the Federal Government to increase oil production.

    The experts, including the President, International Institute of Energy and Law, Prof Wunmi Iledare, and the former Executive Director, National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), Dr Albert Okorogu, said  once government was able to substantially increase output, revenues accruing to the government would shoot up considerably.

    If government’s crude oil revenue  goes up by about 70 per cent, the foreign reserves will be expected to hit $35 billion in the next few years, they added.

    With increased revenue inflow, the government will be able to finance its budget, and meet other fiscal responsibilities, they noted.

    Speaking with The Nation on phone, against the backdrop of the rise in crude oil price to $56 per barrel, and ongoing peace moves of  Acting President Prof Yemi Osinbajo and his team in the region, they said growth in the oil industry, was dependent on the twin issues of peace in the Niger-Delta region and increased oil production.

    Iledare said the rise in the price of crude oil was a welcome development, urging inhabitants of the region to play a complementary role by allowing peace to reign. He said with this, the Federal Government would achieve its goal of having an improved and steady revenue from the sale of crude oil.

    He said: “No doubt, the industry is facing the twin problems of reduction in the production of crude oil and violence in the Niger-Delta region.  The issues have impacted negatively on the industry and the country, which relies on oil for sustenance. Now that the  price of crude oil is appreciating, residents of the Niger-Delta region must allow peace to reign in order to achieve optimal production of crude oil.”

    Iledare, who is the president, Association of International Energy Economists (AIEE), lamented that  breaking of oil pipelines, oil theft, departure of firms from onshore to offshore province, dwindling oil production and exploration activities, among others, had been hitting the industry.

    “For years now, the global price of crude oil has fallen steeply, resulting in the inability of the Federal Government to implement its fiscal policy. Now that the price of oil is rebounding, the problems that are associated with budget benchmark and implementation would become a thing of the past,” he added.

    Okorogu said the country was blessed with oil fields, which contained associated gas, adding that increase in production of oil would lead to a corresponding increase in production of gas.

    Okorogu said gas was the bane of the nation’s electricity industry, noting that the turbines would get gas for operation if activities in the petroleum industry improved.

    The six power generation companies (GenCos) and 10 power plants being managed by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) and others, would get gas and increase power generation. This means improvement in electricity supply and the economy, he said.

    They noted that Nigeria’s realisation of its 2.2 million bpd oil production budget benchmark was hinged on a peaceful Niger Delta and minimal or zero militancy. Therefore, government needed to improve ongoing dialogue with the region’s stakeholders to avoid the risk of being held to ransom due to delays.