Tosin Kolade - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Tosin Kolade
Aug, Thu, 2023

NSA tasks police on synergy for Safe School Initiative

103 total views today

By Monday Ijeh

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, on Wednesday urged the police to synergise with other security and law enforcement agencies to ensure successful implementation of government’s Safe School Initiative.

He made the call in Abuja at the Police Strategic Forum on Achieving Safe School in Nigeria.

Ribadu was represented at the event by retired Maj.-Gen, Abba Dikko, Coordinator, National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Office of the NSA.

He said the police should synergise with other stakeholders in the areas of intelligence and information sharing at strategic and tactical levels.

He added that this would mitigate the menace of security challenges in line with Federal Government’s directive.

The NSA commended the efforts of the police at producing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) manual for the Safe School Initiative.

He said the initiative would strengthen collaboration between security and law enforcement stakeholders to address security vulnerability of schools and other educational institutions.

“Undoubtedly, education has always been the foundation of progress in any society.

“As we strive to build a prosperous country for the future of our children and the generation unborn, it is critical that we prioritise the safety and security of educational institutions at all levels.

“Education is not only about acquiring knowledge and skills, it is also about fostering an environment that encourages creativity, critical thinking and personal growth,’’ Ribadu’s representative said.

He noted that over the years, educational institutions had been faced with security challenges of mass kidnapping, abductions, senseless killing of teachers and vandalism of educational infrastructure.

He said the security challenges had impacted negatively on school enrolment, particularly for the girl child in the northern parts of the country.

They had also hindered full realisation of the collective vision of optimising education as catalyst for national, human and capital development, he noted.

In his remarks, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olukayode Egbetokun, said the inauguration of the SOP manual was a step in the right direction.

He noted that the focus was to achieve a secured educational environment for school children.

“The SOP is a comprehensive roadmap that underscores the commitment of the police to safeguard education by creating a secured, safe and conducive learning environment for students.

“In years past, schools used to be the safest place for children.

“Since Nigeria recorded the first incident of school kidnap in 2014, however, criminal elements had continued to threaten the safety and security of educational institutions.

“The challenges demand innovative, adaptive and sustainable approaches to ensure the efficacy of the efforts of security agencies in providing safe environment for all.

“The commitment of the police to safeguard schools and ensure unhindered pursuit of knowledge led to the creation of the SOP manual,’’ Egbetokun said.

He added that the manual outlined the meticulous procedures that would guard law enforcement agencies, educational institutions and communities to ensure safe and secured learning environment in schools.

Egbetokun said another stride taken by the police in pursuit of the safe school initiative was the establishment of the Police Protection Squad. (NAN)

Edited by Chinyere Bassey/Alli Hakeem

Tosin Kolade
Aug, Thu, 2023

Health

Psychiatrist advises FG to impose heavy tax on importation of cigarettes, alcohol

113 total views today

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

Dr Olajumoke Koyejo, a Consultant Addiction Psychiatrist at the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, on Wednesday advised the Federal Government to impose heavy taxes on companies producing or importing cigarettes and alcohol.

Koyejo gave the advice in Ilorin at the ongoing 2023 Annual Scientific Conference and Fellows Congress (ASCAF), of the Postgraduate Medical College Fellows Association.

She disclosed that Lagos state has the highest prevalence of substance use in Nigeria.

The expert who lamented on the adverse effect of using psychoactive substances, lamented that about 65 per cent of patients battling with mental disorder are people who abused psychotropic drugs such as stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, inhalants, cannabis and narcotics.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that psychoactive substances are chemical substance that changes the function of the nervous system and results in alterations of perception, mood, cognition and behaviour.

Koyejo believed that with higher taxation, this will make the psycho-substances to be beyond the reach of the purchasing powers of average Nigerians, saying that prevalence rate of pscho-substance use in Nigeria is at 14 per cent.

She added that the prevalence is twice higher than the world prevalence of 5.6 per cent.

“There is also the need for government to plan the environment better for people to have other means of recreation.

“Sports and others should be encouraged because you cannot take away what they use as a means of recreation (substance) without replacing it with something else.

“The way out 9f the use of substance abuse in Nigeria, for me, is more of prevention. We cannot do prevention without taking the ministry of education into consideration,” she said.

According to her, there are evidence-based ways of handling prevention of substance abuse.

“It has been proven that some of the leading causes of drug abuse in the society are ignorance, curiosity and peer pressure.

“The implications of drug abuse on the society includes rapes, audacious robbery attacks, riots, economic sabotage, bullying, thuggery and a host of other forms of anti-social behaviours exhibited by people under the influence of hard drugs,” she warned.

Also in his paper presentation, Dr Owoidoho Udofia, a Consultant Psychiatrist from the University Teaching Hospital, Calabar, submitted that doctors have responsibility of taking care of their well-being.

The expert spoke on the theme: “Physician Well-being and Burn Out”.

According to him, physicians need to care for their health for the sake of patients and this can be done through reduction in our workloads.

The psychiatrist warned that “a sick doctor is a dangerous patient”, while also advising on the need for doctors to take responsibility of taking care of the people working under them.

“Doctors should deliberately create their own social support system. This is because the work of a doctor comes with a lot of stress,” he said.

Besides, he advised on the need to address the root cause of burnout, while advising healthcare providers to have friends to talk to, and shun excess work load. (NAN)

Edited by Muhammad Tola

Tosin Kolade
Aug, Thu, 2023

Economy/Business

Poor residents to get N5,000 monthly as Ekiti rolls out fuel subsidy removal palliatives

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By Bolanle Lawal

Ekiti Government on Wednesday approved palliatives to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.

Tagged “Ekiti State Subsidy Relief Programme’’, the government approved consequential adjustment of the minimum wage to civil servants on Grade level 14 to Grade Level 17.

It approved the payment of leave bonuses for 2017 and the implementation and payment of 2020 and 2021 promotion arrears to its civil servants.

The government also approved the payment of N5,000 monthly conditional cash transfer to 10,000 poor and most vulnerable households from August to December 2023.

The conditional transfer focuses on the aged; while another 10,000 residents and especially the aged would be considered for free medical attention under the Ekiti Health Insurance Scheme.

To cushion the effect of high cost of transportation especially on workers and students, government would provide free mass transit buses.

It would also distribute free foodstuffs to the poor and most vulnerable households.

Government also approved payment of 90 per cent of Consolidated Health Salary Structure and 100 per cent Hazard Allowance for local government health workers and salary parity for clinical staff of the Hospitals Management Board.

Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Mr Akintunde Oyebode, made these known at Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday at a news briefing.

He assured that increased revenue accruing to the state from the removal of fuel subsidy would lead to improved service delivery from the government.

“In addition to the already mentioned interventions, government will distribute inputs to farmers and give financial support to small businesses and to the informal sector,’’ Oyebode said.

Labour leaders at the news briefing took turns to appreciate government’s efforts at alleviating the hardship of the citizenry. (NAN)

Edited by Alli Hakeem

Tosin Kolade
Aug, Wed, 2023

Science & Tech

Army Chief lauds NIGCOMSAT on operational efficiency

121 total views today

By Olasunkanmi Onifade

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja has commended the operational efficiency of the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT), in providing satellite services for the Armed Forces and the Nigerian Army.

Lagbaja gave the commendation when he received the Managing Director, NIGCOMSAT Ltd, Mr Tukur Lawal, who paid him a courtesy visit on Wednesday in Abuja.

Lagbaja said the Nigerian Army was conscious of the Nigerian facility and would collaborate with NIGCOMSAT Ltd as it prepares the launch of a second Communications Satellite otherwise known as NigComSat-2.

He however requested the inclusion of the Army personnel in the design of the second Satellite and also in the training of the Army in the Command and Control of the communications satellite for security purpose.

Earlier, Lawal expressed optimism on the collaboration between the Nigeria Army and his organisation, stating that the Nigeria Army remains the ‘pride of the nation’.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that both parties have agreed to form a committee with the view to having a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate the collaboration.

NIGCOMSAT owns and operates the Nigerian Communications Satellite systems, with a vision to be the leading satellite solutions’ provider in Nigeria and Africa. (NAN)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Tosin Kolade
Aug, Wed, 2023

Entertainment

Nigeria’s cinemas generate N482m revenue in July, says Chairman

142 total views today

By Taiye Olayemi

The Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN) says it generated N482million as revenue across all cinemas in Nigeria in July.

The CEAN National Chairman, Mr Opeyemi Ajayi, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Ajayi said total viewer admission in cinemas across the federation within the month under review was 218,395.

The chairman told NAN that cinemas experienced a slight increase in patronage in July due to the numerous public holidays in the month.

He encouraged more Nigerians to consider visiting the cinemas during their leisure to unwind.

“We recorded a total sales of N482,528,117 for July with 218,395 viewers in the cinemas.

“The cinemas are not doing bad but we encourage more Nigerians to cultivate the habit of visiting the cinemas,” he said.

Ajayi said the movies to be exhibited in cinemas for the month of August are Akuddaya, Meg 2, Teenage Mutant Minja, A Bag of Trouble, Blue beetle, Mikolo, The Modern Woman, Retribution and Kesari.

NAN reports that the amount generated in July is lower than the amount of N567million generated in June.

NAN reports that while in July, the total viewer admission in cinemas was 218,395, it was lower in June by 210,299. (NAN)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Tosin Kolade
Aug, Wed, 2023

Health

Brain Drain: Medical fellows advocate training for doctors

116 total views today

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

Prof. Akinsanya Osibogun, the President, Postgraduate Medical College Fellows’ Association, on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to focus on training and retaining skilled medical professionals in Nigeria.

He said that around the world there is high demand for skilled professionals in the health sector especially in the UK, U.S and Canada.

Osibogun said this while speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of the the 17th Annual Scientific Conference and All Fellows’ Congress (ASCAF) in Ilorin.

The programme is themed: “Improving Health Care Financing In Nigeria”, with subtitle: ‘Technology in Medicine and Public Private Partnership”.

He urged the government to stem the brain drain known as “Japa syndrome”, where skilled professionals are leaving the country for greener pasture abroad.

“To retain your skilled professionals, you must give enough incentives to keep them here. And incentives are both financial and non-financial,” he said.

The expert identified poor renumeration and lack of adequate infrastructure as major challenges confronting medical practitioners.

“We know that government alone can not do it. So, all stakeholders have to put in place mechanism to improve health sector and retain people we have trained in the country.

“The only way to retain them is by improving on their work environment so that all equipments and tools they need to render service would be available.

“Medical practitioners have to be well renumerated and the environment must be conducive to keep them in the country,” he said.

Osibogun observed that younger doctors are migrating out of the country, adding that “we need those younger doctors to be available for us to train them to become specialists and remain in Nigeria”.

“As a country, we need to come up with plans to ensure that required equipment are available geopolitically, statewide or by ward,” he advised.

He therefore enjoined all tiers government to improve on their remuneration for healthcare workers, conducive working environment, tools and equipment.

Dr Foluwasayo Ologe, the Chairman, Local Organising Committee of the ASCAF conference, had earlier described the theme of the programme as apt as there is need to improve healthcare financing in Nigeria.

According to him, there is need for public private partnership to support the healthcare system in the country.

Ologe, who is a Professor of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Ilorin, asserted that the days of crude medicine is long gone as technology has taken over.

“A lot of technology goes into medicine. Through technology, robotic surgery helps in surgical intervention without the doctor being near the patient,” he said.

On his part, Prof. Adekunle Okesina, Consultant Chemical Pathologist of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), explained that the primary function of the college is to produce specialists in all branches of medicine and dentistry.

According to him, it oversees the postgraduate medical education and training of pathologists in Nigeria through its Faculty of Pathology. (NAN)

Edited by Nkiru Ifeajuna/Muhammad Tola

Tosin Kolade
Aug, Wed, 2023

General News

Nigerian, 2 others win 2023 Waislitz Global Citizen Awards

109 total views today

By Tosin Kolade

Oluwafunke Adeoye, Nigerian human rights lawyer and two Kenyan citizens have won the 2023 Waislitz Global Citizen Awards.

The award is aimed at inspiring people working within their communities to overcome challenges like air and water pollution, period poverty, unstable infrastructure and gender disparities in education.

It is also to drive the mission to end extreme poverty and improve the living conditions of people globally.

Adeoye founded the Hope Behind Bars Africa, after some personal encounters with the justice system including that of her father’s arrest and detention for a crime he reportedly did not commit.

The organisation closes the justice gap by providing free legal services and direct support to low-income incarcerated individuals while promoting criminal justice reforms through research, evidence-based advocacy, and technology.

Over 7,000 incarcerated individuals have benefitted from their interventions.

With the award, Adeoye plans to fully launch Justicepadi, a tech platform that will revolutionise legal aid in West Africa and also expand her work for climate justice.

“It is crucial for people to understand that behind the labels of “convicts” or “prisoners”, there are human beings with stories, hopes, and dreams.

“By offering legal aid, we strive to ensure that every person, regardless of their circumstances, has access to fair representation and a chance to rebuild their lives”, Adeoye said.

The others are; Peter Njeri and Esther Kimani, both Kenya citizens, were named as the 2023 Waislitz Global Citizen Award winner and the Waislitz Global Citizen Disruptor Award winner.

The Waislitz Global Citizen Awards are annual cash prizes totaling $250,000 that recognise the excellence of individuals in their work to end extreme poverty and its systemic causes.

The grand prize is $100,000, with two additional prizes of $75,000 each.

“When we first conceived these awards almost 10 years ago, we wanted to shine a light on those heroes working at grassroots levels to end global poverty. We also wanted to encourage others to do the same.

“The awards have grown in stature and participation rates every year and I am proud that we’ve been able to assist so many outstanding and inspirational young champions from around the world to advance their efforts in the fight against global poverty.

“This year’s winners are no exception and I wholeheartedly congratulate them all”, Alex Waislitz, Chairman and Founder of the Waislitz Foundation said.

Peter Njeri, who grew up in Soweto, Nairobi, and saw his family suffer first-hand from the effects of indoor air pollution, set out to solve this problem.

He produced a technology that turns plastic waste into clean energy and co-founded Mega Gas Alternative Energy— a clean-tech startup on a mission to provide access to clean and affordable cooking energy for low-income families all while protecting the environment.

Today, over 10,050 families in Kenya use his technology. The Waislitz Global Citizen Award will enable him to serve an extra 5,400 families each month.

Esther Kimani is the 27-year-old CEO of FarmerLine, a climate agritech trailblazer disrupting Africa’s agricultural sector.

With delayed detection of crop pests and disease destroying over 47 per cent crop yield every farming season, Kimani developed the first-ever solar-powered AI-based crop pests and diseases detection device.

Its vision is to end hunger and extreme poverty for a million marginalised smallholder farmers.

Her inspiration comes from experiencing farm losses from pests and diseases firsthand as she grew up farming on the slopes of the Aberdare mountains in Kenya.

Kimani’s technology has so far impacted over 60,000 farmers in Kenya. (NAN)

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

Tosin Kolade
Aug, Tue, 2023

Judiciary

Ajulo cautions against derogatory comments on judges sitting at PEPT

146 total views today

By Femi Ogunshola

A constitutional lawyer and right activist, Dr Kayode Ajulo has cautioned some Nigerians against making derogatory comments on judges sitting at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT).

He said such comments were troubling and uncalled for.

Ajulo said this in a message in Abuja on Tuesday which he titled: “Navigating Democracy: Unraveling the Nigerian PEPT and Public Perceptions”.

He said: “Particularly alarming trend is the growing disrespect for the judiciary, characterised by absurd conspiracy theories, slanderous remarks, and baseless allegations often targeting the Honourable Justices.”

He said such trend thrived due to historical perceptions of partiality, polarisation, and the rapid spread of misinformation via social media.

Ajulo said that regrettably, there had been a growing trend of public disregard for both the ongoing tribunal and the broader Nigerian judiciary.

According to him, one malignant trend I have noticed, which is slowly becoming the norm, is the utter disregard and disrespect of the judiciary by Nigerian citizens.

He said this is characterised by ludicrous conspiracy theories, slanderous statements and false accusations, which were majorly targeted at the justices.

Ajulo said such trend was fueled by various factors, including historical instances of perceived judicial partiality, political polarisation, and the amplification of false information through social media.

He said it was imperative to recognise that a healthy democracy relied on the judiciary’s independence and credibility, making it crucial to address and counteract such negative sentiments.

The legal practitioner said the proliferation of misinformation often eroded public trust in the judiciary and undermined the fundamental tenets of democracy.

“In less than 24 hours, I have come across two separate posts on social media which are perfect examples of the negative sentiments in question.

“In the first post, the writer accused a former governor and minister of writing the judgment of the presidential election tribunal, which is yet to be announced.

“In the second post, which was a video, a pastor displayed the pictures of the presiding Justices, and asked his congregation to make certain declarations and ‘lay hands on the Justices’.

“In addition to these, I have also come across several comments castigating and berating the Justices, whilst accusing them of partiality and questionable practices,” he said.

According to him, what is most upsetting about these accusations is the fact that the Justices in question, by virtue of their calling, the ethics guiding this prestigious profession, and the nature and sensitivity of their offices are not afforded the luxury of addressing these false claims.

He said the plight of the presiding Justices, and the judiciary was a sad one which forced him to act as a voice to an institution unable to defend itself from such onslaught.

“After going through a number of these posts, articles and videos, I have come to the conclusion that these attacks are premeditated and can be traced to have originated from some particular groups and political affiliations.”

He said the Nigerian PEPT remained the canvas capturing Nigeria’s democratic essence, principles, and sentiments.

He added that the Justices presiding over it remained the guardians of justice, entrusted with the monumental task of upholding democracy’s core values. (NAN)

Edited by Edith Bolokor/Chioma Ugboma

Tosin Kolade
Aug, Tue, 2023

Environment

Yobe Govt, World Bank engage stakeholders on flood prevention

125 total views today

By Ahmed Abba

Gov Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, has urged local government authorities to sensitise residents on the dangers of floods and the importance of adhering to early warning responses in a sustainable manner.

Buni said this at a workshop on Flood Disaster Preparedness, organised by the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), with funding from the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL).

He also urged community leaders to take precautionary measures to clear blocked drainages and embankments to avert flood.

Buni, represented by Baba Malam-Wali, said the workshop was to enhance the state’s readiness and response to potential flooding based on NIMET’s predictions.

Also, Dr Mohammed Goje, the Executive Secretary SEMA, explained that the flooding experience in 2022 had tested the agency’s capacity in terms of preparedness, mitigation, and response.

He stated that many lives were lost, shelters and farmlands washed away, and roads cut off, limiting the agency in delivering aid to some affected victims.

He said following previous experiences, Buni had directed the agency to develop a blueprint to prevent a reoccurrence.

The ACReSAL Project Coordinator, Alhaji Shehu Mohammed, commended SEMA for organising the workshop, describing it as timely.

He also highlighted some of the ACReSAL multiple projects toward reducing the effects of climate change in the state. (NAN)

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

Tosin Kolade
Aug, Tue, 2023

Gender

Gender equality: No career path irrelevant for females—NGO

104 total views today

By Henry Oladele

The Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN) an NGO, says no career path is irrelevant for females as it empowers over 400 school girls on leadership programmes.

The JAN Executive Director, Mrs Foluso Gbadamosi, made the disclosure in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday.

The programme which was just recently concluded across the federation according to her, is in partnership with Union Bank.

“No fewer than 16 schools participated in the three-day Leadership, Empowerment, Achievement and Development(LEAD) camp program, organised for young secondary school girls across the nation,” she said.

She added that the programme was aimed at empowering young girls with relevant entrepreneurial and career skills needed for the future.

“The 16 schools that participated were Seed of Life College, Oyo; Topfield College, Lagos; Redeemer’s International Secondary School, Lagos; Queens School, Enugu; Kano Capital Girls School; Hope High Academy Zawan, Plateau.

“Others were Rosa Mystical High School Agulu, Anambra; Faith Baptist College, Rivers; Bedrock International School, Mararaba; Community Secondary School Asokoro, FCT; Taidob College, Ogun, Baptist Girls College, Ogun; Merit International School, Ondo.

“The remaining schools included Faith Academy, Kaduna; Christian Secondary Commercial School, Akwa-Ibom and Adiahaobong Secondary Commercial School, Akwa-Ibom,” she said.

While saying that the camp proved to be another transformative experience for the over 400 young minds nationwide, Gbadamosi added that JAN firmly believed that leadership had no gender boundaries.

“We are dedicated to breaking the barriers that have held girls back for far too long.

“During the programme, we nurtured the courage of these young girls, instilled essential leadership skills, expanded their networks, and, most importantly, showed them that no career path is gender-specific or irrelevant.

“We are confident that the positive impact of the LEAD camp programme will resonate for years to come, producing change-makers ready to shape the future of Nigeria and the world.

“Our commitment to expanding and strengthening the JAN Nigeria LEAD camp programme across the country remains unwavering as we aim to impact even more young girls,’” she said.

She said the three-day camp featured interactive workshops, panel sessions, and skill-building activities to equip the participants with valuable leadership skills.

“This year’s LEAD camp was tailored toward inspiring and empowering young girls with relevant leadership, entrepreneurial and career development skills they need to be high-achieving leaders.

“Throughout the camp, the girls were coached by experienced mentors who led them through developing their presentations to enhance their leadership skills further.

“A panel of judges evaluated their presentations on the final day, and the winners won different prizes.

“This year’s LEAD camp occurred in Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Enugu, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, and the FCT,” she said.

She expressed deep gratitude to Union bank for its consistent support, which had made the LEAD camp vision a reality.

“Together, we empower the next generation of leaders to create a brighter, more inclusive future for all,” she added.

Miss Olufunmilola Aluko, Chief Brand and Marketing Officer at Union bank, said the programme marked the ninth year of partnership with JAN on LEAD camp.

“We have impacted thousands of girls in these nine years. Through LEAD camp, Union bank continues to empower young women to be high-achieving leaders well-prepared for the future of work and entrepreneurship.

“Glass ceilings are easier to shatter when we know people are supporting us, and the girls who participate in the LEAD camp programme benefit from exposure to phenomenal Nigerian women.

“This partnership aligns with our commitment to enabling success for women and girls, as is our contribution to supporting Nigeria to achieve SDG 5 – Gender Equality,” she said

One of the school girls, Chiamaka Moses from Topfield secondary school, said her experience was an unforgettable one.

“I learned about emotional intelligence and self-awareness, working with others, managing my temper, and what triggers my emotions.

“ I was also made aware that etiquette is a soft skill rather than a personality trait and that there is a need to improve soft skills.

“These skills are required to position me for employment opportunities successfully. I am grateful to JAN for this opportunity, which I intend to utilise,” she said.

Edited by Edith Bolokor/Chioma Ugboma