September 14, 2024

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General News

Centre partners education board on geriatric caregivers training

 

By Kelechi Ogunleye

The National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) in collaboration with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTC) has trained 28 geriatric caregivers in social care skills.

Dr Emem Omokaro, the NSCC Director-General (D-G), speaking at the training on Wednesday in Abuja, said the trainees were nominees from the public and private health sectors in Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training was tagged “Inaugural Training Programme for Quality Assurance Assessors Certification in Geriatric Social Care Skills”.

Omokaro stated that the participants marked the first batch to be trained and certified as quality assurance assessors in geriatric caregiving in Nigeria.

She said that the trainees ranged from consultant family physicians, heads of geriatrics units in states, health professors, owners of care homes, among others.

“They are to be trained as quality assurance assessors who speak with competency, such as attitudes.

“We are developing a care quality system in the country by establishing standards and quality with partners.

“This is because our older persons deserve it, and the caregivers deserve the dignity to be recognised and formalised into a workforce.

“Nigeria deserves to have a geriatric industry, which will help grow her economy by also providing employment opportunities,” she said.

According to the D-G, caring for older persons is a skill, hence the importance of training those in the geriatric, educational, and health sectors at large.

“It is a journey of a thousand miles, but we have progressively taken steps, and we know the government can’t do it alone, so we are doing our possible best.

“What we are promoting is the ‘domiciliary care agency’, which means we accredit, train, and license agencies who operate such geriatric services, then certify them so that they can effectively train their workers.

“The caregivers must know how to do their jobs effectively when attending to older people,” the D-G reiterated.

Mr Suleiman Yusuf, NBTC Director of Vocational, Technical, and Skills Development, said the training certificate was of international standard.

“The training is demanding, and it is not easy, as it is being supervised by the board, so we need to get it right to deliver what is needed to produce a quality workforce.

“The benchmark is for them to be occupationally competent, as they are the ones to manage those who will be caregivers to the elderly,” Yusuf said.

Mr Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, said the training and certification marked the beginning of standardisation of care for the aged.

The minister, represented by Dr John Ovuoraye, the Ministry’s Head of Gender, Adolescent, School Health, and Elderly Division, said that Nigeria is lagging behind in the standardisation of the geriatric sector.

“The elderly population in Nigeria is increasing, and we do not want to lose our elderly ones, so we need to build a healthcare system of our dreams.

“We need to applaud those driven by passion to start this here and ensure it is standardised,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Prof. Ita Okokon, said as a Consultant Family Physician and a gerontology lecturer, he appreciates the training, as it will better equip him in his area of specialisation.

“This training will enhance my practice because most of what we have been taught is practical,” he said.

Okokon, however, urged the Federal Government to empower the NSCC, adding that it would aid the establishment of centres at the state level.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah and Abiemwense Moru

General News

NIHOTOUR plans training for child development

The next summer vacation training of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Abuja, is programmed to stimulate parents to understand their children’s skills and career progression, an official of the institute has said.

 

NIHOTOUR Abuja Coordinator Habiba Sani said in Abuja on Friday that the vacation summer training would also give the parents the opportunity to expand the career of their children and allow them to explore their innate skills for future development.

 

“Our training objectives are to awaken children to the opportunities inherent in the global hospitality and tourism sectors for their personal and career development.

 

“NIHOTOUR will begin a flagship summer vacation training on hospitality skills and tourism crafts for children in Abuja and the larger Federal Capital Territory areas.

 

“The training is scheduled to hold for two weeks from Aug.12.

 

“NIHOTOUR is the leading hospitality and tourism vocational training institute in Nigeria.

 

“This is the second edition of the summer training on hospitality skills and tourism crafts for kids in the FCT organised by the NIHOTOUR Abuja campus,” she said

 

Sani also said that the next summer class would be built on the huge success of last year’s edition.

 

“We are expanding the training modules to include Cookery, Pastry and Confectionery, Vegetable & Fruit Carving, Table Setting, Food Presentation, House Keeping, City Tour operation, Parks and Recreation.”

 

“The training delivery methods are hands-on and one-on-one, so that our child-friendly and experienced trainers can identify budding talents in kids and expertly guide them, through personalised coaching.

 

According to her, the summer vacation training will hold at the Abuja campus of NIHOTOUR situated at 6, Mike Akhigbe Way, Jabi District, Abuja.

 

“Participation in the training requires prior registration by parents at the Abuja campus of the institute.

 

“NIHOTOUR is a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Tourism, established by an Act of Parliament to Train, Certify and Register all personnel working in Nigeria’s hospitality, travel and tourism sectors.

 

“As the leading hospitality and tourism vocational training citadel in Nigeria, NIHOTOUR so far has 12 campuses and training centres spread across the country’s six-geopolitical zones and the FCT,” she said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kayode Olaitan

Agriculture

NGOs, OXFAM train women on agriculture, climate change

By Abigael Joshua

The Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), in partnership with OXFAM, have launched a training programme for women on agriculture and climate change.

Dr Michael David, Executive Director of GIFSEP, announced this at a workshop on Female Food Heroes (Ogbonge), Women on Climate Change, and Access to Climate Finance on Tuesday in Abuja.

David noted the importance of the training, saying that female farmers produce much of the food consumed in the country.

“Climate change is affecting how they grow their food. Given the food inflation the country is experiencing, we can attribute climate change as one of the causes of this issue,” David said.

He stressed the need to train farmers to become change agents in their communities and states, enable them to teach others how to build resilience to climate change and implement simple adaptation techniques.

David also called on the Federal Government to support smallholder farmers with interventions that would ensure bumper harvests.

“To achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2030, we must empower small-scale farmers. We need to train more women, not just the ‘Ogbonge’ women, to help our country attain food sovereignty,” he said.

Similarly, Peggy Maimaji, Project Coordinator of Together Against Poverty at OXFAM, stated that the project addresses issues crucial to female farmers, especially the impacts of climate change on farming.

She assured that the project would continue to address issues of access to land and finance, noting that OXFAM has awarded no fewer than 12 women farmers every year since 2012 through the Female Food Hero project.

Monica Maigari, a participant from Kaduna State who was awarded by OXFAM in 2014 for her achievements, praised the NGOs for the training.

Maigari said she had learned how to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

General News

UNICEF trains 500 corps members on digital learning in Adamawa LGAs

By Talatu Maiwada

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has trained 500 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to promote digital learning in schools across 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Adamawa.

UNICEF Education Specialist, Mr Abdurahman Ibrahim, said this on Saturday during a two-day training session for the corps members on the Nigerian Learning Passport (NLP) in Yola.

Ibrahim explained that the NLP, a digital learning platform, was developed to enhance digital learning for both in-school and out-of-school children.

“The NLP platform offers over 15,000 learning materials. Our goal is to ensure that every child enrolls, registers for courses, and completes them.

“During COVID-19, educational activities were halted, prompting us to create an alternative learning program.”

He noted that engaging 500 corps members, who serve as teachers in schools throughout the state, aims to address the shortage of teachers on the NLP platform.

“We are leveraging the one-year service experience of corps members, particularly those in schools, to enhance learning among children,” Ibrahim said.

“Each corps member will be introduced to the NLP, enabling them to register more learners and guide them through their courses.”

He added that this initiative will increase the number of teachers and improve learning outcomes for children in the state.

The NLP includes various components that address the educational needs of schoolchildren, including non-formal education and integrated Quranic education, targeting both primary and secondary levels.

“We have begun implementing the program in some schools, distributing tablets, routers for internet access, and projectors to support the NLP platform in classrooms,” Ibrahim said.

“We encourage parents to engage their children with the learning platform and reduce their time spent playing games.”

Addressing the distribution of tablets and internet access in rural schools, Ibrahim mentioned that various partners are supporting the programme.

“We have partners in Adamawa providing essential items like tablets, routers, and projectors to schools to bridge the educational gap in the state,” he said.

(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deji Abdulwahab

Health

UK varsity, foundation train medical lecturers

By Aderogba George

The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) and the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), an NGO, have begun a five-day training programme in Abuja for faculty examiners from the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN).

This was announced in a statement signed and issued in Abuja on Wednesday by Mrs Adanna Maduka, Director of Policy, Partnerships, and Grants at WBFA.

She stated that this training is the third batch of its kind in Advanced Obstetrics and Surgical Skills (AOSS), which was inaugurated in February.

According to her, the first and second batches of the training were held in Lagos.

Maduka said that the primary goal of the training is to enhance the capacity of NPMCN faculty examiners in training resident doctors in obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN).

“The five-day training program, held at the NPMCN College in Utako, Abuja, involves over 25 participants who will be trained by a team from The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ Nigeria Liaison Group (RCOG NLG).

“The session began with introductions led by Dr Hauwa Mohammed, Country Director for LSTM Nigeria, and Dr Helen Allott, the course director. They established ground rules and set the tone for an extensive training experience.

“Participants underwent a pre-test breakout session designed to assess their current knowledge, strengths, and areas for improvement, allowing the training to be tailored to their specific needs,” Maduka said.

Maduka quoted Allott as saying that between 2000 and 2020, the global maternal mortality ratio (MMR) decreased by 34 per cent, from 339 to 223 deaths per 100,000 live births.

She noted that despite constituting only 2.4 percent of the global population, Nigeria accounts for 10 per cent of worldwide deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth.

This disproportionately high rate, she said affects approximately 40 million Nigerian women of childbearing age, from 15 to 49 years old.

Maduka further quoted Allott, highlighting that this high figure underscores the project’s aims to improve maternal and child healthcare outcomes throughout Nigeria.

The project seeks to reduce these numbers through targeted interventions and comprehensive healthcare strategies.

According to her, by advancing the AOSS Competency-Based Curriculum for Resident Doctors in OBGYN at NPMCN, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and WBFA aim to ensure the provision of high-quality care for mothers and newborns in Nigeria.

The AOSS course focuses on advanced techniques and best practices for managing obstetric and neonatal emergencies, thereby directly contributing to enhanced healthcare delivery.

Allott explained that the project is funded by the Global Health Workforce Programme (GHWP), supported by the UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), and managed by the Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET).

She noted that the project will benefit both the UK and partner country health sectors.

(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Uche Anunne

Defence/Security

Insecurity: NSCDC trains hunters on operational, leadership skills

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps , (NSCDC), has trained no fewer than 300 key officers of the Nigeria Hunter and Forest Security Service (NHFSS), on Operational, Leadership Skills and Organisational Management.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the participants of the 4-Days Capacity Workshop were drawn from the ranks of Assistant Commanders,  Commanders, Assistant Commanders General, (ACG) and Deputy Commander General (DCG).

The training is being conducted at NSCDC Headquarters in Sauka Abuja.

In his remarks, the Commander General (CG) of NHFSS, Dr Joshua Osatimehin, said the training workshop was designed to enhance the capacity of NHFSS operatives as being rendered in public service.

Osatimehin said the training would be a continuous one, adding that the move would also go a long way in enhancing the productivity of NHFSS personnel towards strengthening the security of lives and property in forests accross the country.

He reiterated the commitment service to training and retraining of its officers and men.

The CG said that the capacity workshop was also to enable the hunters to contribute to the realisation of President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda in the area of security.

“NSCDC has over the years being rendering necessary security training to NHFSS to enable the service be abreast with current strategies on intelligence gathering, security tips, mode of conduct among others in line with the best international security standard.

“This is feared towards safeguarding the country from crimes and criminality most especially in the ungoverned space which the forests nationwide,” he said.

Osatimehin advised the participants to take what they have learnt during the four days Capacity Workshop to their State Commands and Structures by replicating the gains of the training on their junior officers most especially in the 774 Local Government Areas towards realising the objectives.

The Deputy Commander General (DCG), Technical Services, Dr John Metchie, said the training was a train the trainer initiative to enable the senior officers pass same to down to the local level.

Metchie said the organisation was determined to make sure that all its officers from the rank of deputy commanders upwards to were properly trained and well equipped on how to handle issues.

“We want to bring everybody up to standard, to the same level as the civil defense, same level as the police, same level of all our parent bodies in the army and everybody.

“ It is expected that when they go back to their various commands, everybody will be very professional doing their work.

“They will go back and train their own commands so that what they have learnt here, they will pass it down to their different state commands,” he said.

In a paper presentation entitled “Security Threats and Risks” a Commandant at NSCDC,  Mr Vincent Ogu, advised the participants to always be alive to their responsibilities in line with the current trend in security business and operation.

He emphasised the need for beneficiaries of the capacity workshop to reciprocate the gesture through efficiency in their various duty posts.

Other lectures and paper presentation during the Workshop included Dress Code,  Discipline, Security Tips and Identifying Security Threat and Risk among others.

Health

Liverpool medical school, Foundation train NPMCN examiners on obstetrics skills

By Aderogba George

The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) and Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), an NGO, have commenced the second batch training of National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN) faculty examiners.

Mrs Adanna Maduka, Director of Policy, Partnerships and Grants, WBFA, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday.

She said that the second batch training on Advanced Obstetrics and Surgical Skills (AOSS) training for NPMCN faculty examiners commenced on Monday June 3, with 24 participants.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the organisers held the first batch of the training in May.

The training is taking place the project’s Centre of Excellence at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

Maduka said that the training was aimed at supporting the NPMCN faculty examiners in training resident doctors in obstetrics and gynaecology (OBGYN), as well as ensuring quality assurance, and evaluating programmes.

She quoted Dr Hauwa Mohammed, Country Director for LSTM Nigeria, as while encouraging participants to engage actively with the training assured them of an enriching training experience.

Dr Helen Allott, the Course Director, said the project was aimed at enhancing maternal and child healthcare outcomes across Nigeria.

Allott said that LSTM’s and WBFA’s were committed in strengthening the healthcare systems as well as to  support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in country.

“This effort underscores the partnering organisations’ response to Nigeria’s high maternal and neonatal mortality rates’’, he said.

According to Allott, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that Nigeria has the second-highest maternal death rate globally and one of the highest neonatal mortality rates in Africa.

She quoted the WHO as saying that Nigeria has 800 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and a neonatal mortality rate of 33 per 1,000 live births in 2019.

She said that by advancing AOSS competency-based curriculum for resident doctors in OBGYN at NPMCN, the partners aimed to ensure high-quality healthcare for mothers and newborns.

According to her, the course covers advanced techniques and best practices for managing obstetric and neonatal emergencies, directly contributing to improved healthcare delivery.

The project, according to her, is funded through the Global Health Workforce Programme (GHWP), supported by the UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

It is managed by the Tropical Health and Education Trust (@THETlinks) for the benefit of the UK and partner country health sectors. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Uche Anunne

Defence/Security

Physical training critical to military’s operational readiness – CDS

 

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, says sporting activities help to sharpen the physical fitness, mental alertness and skills of military personnel to ensure combat readiness.

Musa said this on Friday in Abuja at the Inter-Command Combat Sports Competition organised by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) as part of the activities to commemorate its 60th Anniversary.

He said the security challenges confronting the nation had made the armed forces to continue to evolve joint training with emphasis on physical training and sports.

He said the sportsmanship exhibited during the keenly contested activities gave credence to the premium placed on sports by the armed forces towards enhancing the combat readiness of personnel.

“It is my belief, therefore, that the continuity and sustainability of this level of training and competition, coupled with the equipping of the armed forces, the armed forces will develop the required capacity to overcome these challenges.

“The Nigerian Air Force no doubt places high premium on sporting activities through the annual ten kilometer walk, route matches, annual fitness test programme and the just concluded combat sports.

“This effort certainly underscored the value the service has given to the physical and mental health of its personnel.

“I encourage you to sustain your drive for personal development, taking cognizance of the fact that human capital remains the most critical component of any organisation, as many studies have shown,” he said.

The CDS congratulated the participants for the display of resilience and spirit of sportsmanship.

He added that the personnel that participated in the combat sports exhibited sacrifice, discipline, self control, team spirit, tenacity, physical and moral courage, as well as the zeal to win.

According to him, these are the same values that are needed to navigate the armed forces and the wider society through tough and difficult times.

“As Nigeria passes through this defining moment in its history, our armed forces is required more often than ever before to deliver on its constitutional mandate of securing our dear country.

“I enjoy you all, therefore, to sustain and improve upon the ideals which you have displayed this evening,” he added.

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, said having sound physical and mental health was imperative for the armed forces in discharging their constitutional responsibilities.

Abubakar said active participation in sports enabled the personnel to keep physically fit while providing the much-needed outlet to cope with the rigours of military duty.

He added that sports provided a basis for the teamwork needed for troops to function with the necessary cohesion during peacetime military engagements and combat operations.

“As we all know, warfare is a gruelling experience and the ability to advance long distances with full combat gear through rugged terrains and to fight effectively require strength, agility and stamina from troops.

“This can only be conditioned through combat sports and rigorous physical fitness training.

“Hence, active participation in combat sports helps to provide both physiological and psychological benefits that reduce stress, illness and injuries, especially during operations.

“Accordingly, physical fitness and mental alertness of personnel have become key considerations for the armed forces to meet the increasing demands of current and emerging threats,” he said.

The CAS said NAF had continued to prioritise the participation of its personnel in sporting activities to enhance the standard and quality of sports and sporting facilities in bases to improve the overall health, well-being and morale of personnel.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sporting event comprised combat sports, relay races, casualty evacuation race, tug of war, archery and invitation races, amongst others.

The various NAF Commands such as Tactical Air Command, Ground Training Command, Air Training Command, Special Operations Command, Logistics Command, Mobility Command and NAF Headquarters teams competed.

While the NAF Headquarters emerged the overall winner, the Ground Training Command came second and the Logistics Command came third. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Salif Atojoko

Health

Group, Liverpool school partner on obstetric training for doctors

By Aderogba George

Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA) and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine have entered into partnership to strengthen obstetric skills of resident doctors in Nigeria.

Mrs Adanna Maduka, Director, Policy, Partnerships and Grants, WBFA, said in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday.

She said that the partnership was aimed at improving the capacity of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN) to deliver the advanced obstetrics and surgical skills training to resident doctors.

The project, she said, would establish two centres of excellence in northern and southern Nigeria where the training would be delivered.

“The Emergency Obstetrics and Quality of Care (EmOC&QoC) Unit of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) is proud to announce its collaboration with WBFA in an effort to enhance emergency obstetric and newborn care (EmONC) in Nigeria.

“This project is funded through the Global Health Workforce Programme, which is funded by the UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

“It is managed by Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET) for the benefit of the UK and partner country health sectors.

“The partnership is aimed at bolstering the capacity of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN) to deliver the Advanced Obstetrics and Surgical Skills training to resident doctors.

“The project will establish two centres of excellence in northern and southern Nigeria where the training course will be delivered,” she said.

She quoted the principal investigator of the project and lead of the LSTM’s EmOC&QoC Unit, Prof. Charles Ameh, as saying the unit has extensive experience in delivering maternal and newborn health capacity.

She said that the unit has the capacity to strengthening interventions in Nigeria and across sub-Saharan Africa, adding that the project offers them the opportunity to further expand impact in Nigeria.

This, she said, would give the organisation opportunity to further tackle high maternal and newborn deaths by training local doctors in life-saving skills, for the care of pregnant women and their newborn babies.

The statement also quoted Mrs Toyin Saraki, Founder/President of WBFA expressing her organisation’s commitment to the project.

She stated that WBFA is honoured to partner LSTM and THET in the endeavour, adding that improve access to quality EmONC services in Nigeria.

Saraki said that through the collaboration, her organisation aimed to equip healthcare professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to save lives.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 30 lead faculty members have so far be trained to train others at the center of excellence in Lagos.

The initiative marks a milestone in LSTM’s ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare systems in Nigeria and beyond. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Uche Anunne

Politics

NILDS to partner Abuja Varsity to expand its programmes

By EricJames Ochigbo

The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) says it plans to partner with the University of Abuja to expand its academic programmes.

Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, the Director-General, NILDS, said this at the orientation programme for the 2024 NILDS/University of Benin (UNIBEN) post graduate students in Abuja on Monday.

“This will showcase NILDS as indeed the citadel of learning, character moulding and intellectualism,” he said.

Represented by a consultant of the institute, Dr Kabir Ahmed, Sulaiman said that the orientation was to acquaint the students with the rules and regulations guiding the operation of the institute.

He said that the institute placed great premium on high moral and ethical standards saying that there was no short-cut to success and students must always play by the rules.

Sulaiman said that the institute would soon commence a Masters Degree Programme in Governace in collaboration with some renowned educational institutions.

“I am pleased to inform you all that as part of our efforts in ensuring that we strengthen our post graduate programmes, a master’s degree programme in Governance will soon commence in the Institute.

“This is a collaborative tripartite agreement between the NILDS, University of Benin (UNIBEN) and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN).

“Also, the Open Distance Learning (ODL) Programme in professional certificate courses in diverse areas will soon commence.

“I am equally pleased to inform you all that there is also a collaboration between NILDS and the Federal University Lokoja for doctoral programmes in Election and Party Politics, Parliamentary Administration, Legislative Studies, Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, Leadership and Strategic Studies, and Social Works,” he said.

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Ali Baba-Inuwa

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