By Anita Uzoagba

The Research for Impact, Knowledge Economy and Sustainable Development (RIKE SD) and other stakeholders on Tuesday stressed the need to collaborate to institutionalise research, development and innovation for national development

The stakeholders made the call at the second Local Organising Committee (LOC) meeting of the National Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Coordination Submit in Abuja.

The Executive Director, RIKE SD, Dr Mustapha Popoola, at the LOC meeting said the summit would mainstream the use of research, development and innovation in bringing effectiveness and efficiency in delivery of the Federal Government programmes and project

Popoola appreciated the partnership with the West and Central African Research and Education Network (WACREN) and the support they have receive from Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

He said the conference, which would be organised by RIKE SD. would hold from March 25 to March 27.

“This summit is convened in response to the directives of President Bola Tinubu, on the need to institutionalise Science, Technology and Innovation and mainstream the use of Research, Development and Innovation.

“It will foster collaboration among state and non-state actors, creating a robust RDI ecosystem.

“We have a benefit that we are giving back to the government,”Popoola said.

Mr Omo Oaiya, Chief strategy officer, WACREN, said the summit would look at the importance of all the mandates and how to work together to make sure that Nigeria benefits from international funding.

“So, when we have opportunities for funding that are coming to the RDI space in Nigeria, we don’t want to be seen as a separated entity who are fighting to achieve the same opportunity but using different approach.

“What we are trying to achieve is to have a national steering committee for RBI coordination in Nigeria, which is going to be imagined from all your institutions.

“Whatever efforts we are going to be doing here today is in support of what the government is trying to do.

“We want to believe that we can co-create a sustainable and resilient system that will take Nigeria towards global competitiveness.

“It is a journey and we actually need to transform the country together by doing the needful, he said.

Speaking with LOC members, Dr Vincent Gyang, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMA) Yaba, Lagos, said the summit was part of a movement to help   in the research field.

“There are test kits that we have. And we are developing now in NIMA, and we are at advanced stages now.

“It’s a test kit for Lassa fever, a test kit for yellow fever, so with this platform, we can also showcase what we are doing there.

“This will help the economy sector of the country,” Gyang said

Also speaking, Dr Robert Ngwu, Special Adviser Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology said the ministry recognised the importance of structural and active architecture in Nigeria.

“When we took office, we discovered that there are many research works in a sharp language, I also believe that this is why we don’t get the kind of funding we should expect.

“The country is not seeing the impact of the research work around the country.

“We don’t have so much venture capital. The ministry feels that when it begin to build these pilots, it can begin to solve the function of venture capital.

“As a group, we are venturing into new research work that has already been done many years, so I believe the end result of this will be a full database of the research work around the country,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

AU/DE/IAA

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Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Isaac Aregbesola

By Olatunde Ajayi

Dr Remi Oseni, a member of the House of Representatives, representing Ibarapa-East/Ido Federal Constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has presented construction equipment for rehabilitation of roads in his constituency.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the earth-moving equipment presented include a bulldozer and a road grader.

Oseni, while speaking on the significance of the equipment, said the decision on acquiring a bulldozer and road grader for the constituency was targeted towards providing easy access for farm produce to the major markets in the constituency.

He added that a larger percentage of the people in the constituency practised farming, noting that most of the farm produce always got spoilt before getting to the market due to lack of good roads at the grassroots.

Oseni, who currently chairs the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), disclosed that about 80 roads within the constituency had been mapped out for construction in the phase one with the newly-acquired equipment.

“I am full of excitement and praises to Almighty God for making the dream and efforts to make Ibarapa-East/Ido roads motorable come to reality with the purchase of these bulldozer and road grader for our constituency.

“The worth of these construction equipment with the current Dollar to Naira exchange rate is in the neighborhood of 120 million Naira.

“As chairman of the house committee on FERMA, I want to urge community leaders and every citizen to join hands with the government to ensure contractors deliver quality road projects.

“Whenever it is observed that the contractor handling a road project in the neighborhood is not doing quality job, people should raise alarm and report to the nearest FERMA office so as to take such contractor up on the issue,” he said.

The lawmaker disclosed that the rice palliatives shared for the people in the constituency alongside the construction equipment inauguration programme was an initiative of the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to address food challenges in the country.

“The Federal Government recently gave every lawmaker a support of about N100 millions worth of palliatives.

“It is no more news that letters of awards of these palliatives have been given, contractors have been assigned and job has been directed to be executed and that is what we are doing today.

“President Bola Tinubu is still committed towards fulfilling all his promises on youth empowerment, road infrastructure, health, education and security of lives and properties, among others,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Vivian Ihechu

By Lilian U. Okoro

Dr Moyosore Makinde, a Consultant Family and Lifestyle Medicine Physician, says over 700 genes in the human body can be affected when an individual doesn’t get enough sleep.

The consultant made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday, in commemoration of the 2024 World Sleep Day (WSD).

NAN reports that WSD is celebrated annually on March 15 to raise awareness about the significance of sleep and the ills of sleep deprivation.

The 2024 World Sleep Day had “Sleep Equity for Global Health” as its theme.

Makinde, also the President, Society of Lifestyle Medicine of Nigeria (SOLON), therefore, told NAN that sleep deprivation could have social, economic and health implications.

Also a member of the World Sleep Society, Makinde said that “sleep deprivation is usually caused by intentional human behaviour such as watching TV, viewing social media on phones, night shifts, night study, night travel and even vigils.

“All these activities can disrupt the circadian rhythm, which is the body’s biological clock.

“Sleep helps to control the secretions from various body tissues and organs such as the growth hormone, the stress hormone and the hunger hormones.

“It also plays important roles in respiration, blood pressure and immunity.

“Sleep is so important that if an individual fails to observe when due, over 700 genes in the body can be affected.”

The physician said that sleep deprivation could also increase the risk of contracting some Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD), adding that “it is the cause of a great number of accidents on Nigerian roads too.

“And aside causing fatal vehicular accidents and judgmental errors at work, sleep insufficiency or deprivation can increase the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers, especially breast and prostate cancers.

“Some people also have certain sleep disorders which can affect their ability to sleep and they will need to be evaluated by a sleep physician.”

Makinde explained that the normal duration expected of an individual to sleep varied, based on the age of the individual.

According to her,  the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends at least seven to eight hours of restorative sleep for adults above 18 years, adding that infants and children require more hours of sleep compared to adults.

She, therefore, advised that people should make out time for sleep, rest and relax for optimal health.

“Infants require up to 16 hours of sleep, while pre-school and school age children need up to 13 hours and 12 hours of sleep respectively.

“This is important for the development of their brains.

“Sleep is as important as the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breath.

“It is a natural state of rest and a period dedicated to help the body repair itself physiologically and naturally.

“Amid the hustle and bustle of work, study, business and pleasure-seeking activities, Nigerians need to prioritise sleep. In so doing, we will be prioritising our health,” Makinde said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

By Justina Auta

The Agents for Citizens-Driven Transformation (ACT) Programme, said they supported 273 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), networks and coalitions to be credible and effective drivers of change for sustainable development in Nigeria.

Mr Damilare Babalola, ACT National Programme Manager, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja, at the close-out ceremony of the programme.

The theme of the programme is, “Reflecting on Results and Lessons Learned”.

Babalola said the five-year EU funded programme, implemented by the British Council, focused on strengthening internal, external, and programmatic capabilities, as well as improved effective and inclusive regulatory environment for CSOs.

“We have worked with about 273 CSOs, out of which 233 was under the capacity development support in 10 states, while 40 networks of CSOs are in the area of enabling regulatory environment.

“Our work cuts across the 36 states and the FCT.

“ACT has also worked with strategic agencies of the government to improve compliance to regulations.

“We have worked with these agencies collaboratively over the last four to five years by ensuring that they understand the role of CSOs.

“We also ensure that citizens understand the mandate of these agencies in terms of how they regulate the space they work with,”he said.

Richard Garrett, Director Open Societies Sub Sahara Africa, British Council, disclosed that about 13 million euros was spent on the five-year ACT programme in Nigeria.

“The main focus of the support has been around organisation’s capacity to help CSOs govern themselves and as a result, they can better serve their communities and establish themselves,” he said.

Garrett, who said lack of organisational structures and capacities were challenges affecting CSOs operation, called for more synergy and investment to facilitate their operations.

Also, Dr Ifeoma Chukwuma, Component Organisation Development Manager, said the ACT Programme was designed to have a sustainable outlook, even after its close-out, which would contribute to sustainable development.

“We supported them by strengthening their financial management systems, monitoring and evaluation systems, and developed policies that will help them to do their work and become more credible.

“We also developed all kinds of policies that they needed, and these capacities were not just pushed down to the CSOs, rather we used an approach that allowed them to do their own organisational assessment.

“We identify the areas that they want their capacities to be developed and by doing so, they receive capacity development in the areas that they actually need development,” she said.

Also, Jan Knight, CSO Adviser, said: “We made sure all the training, coaching, mentoring and peer learning supports to the CSOs had common element of gender and social inclusion in everything that was done. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru