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Environment

Disaster Mitigation: SEMA donates non-food items to Chikun LGA

 

By Ezra Musa

Kaduna, Feb. 7, 2020 (NAN) The Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) on Friday donated some non-food items to mitigate disasters in Chikun Local Government Area (LGA).

Mahmood Yau, Director, Disaster and Relief Management, made this known while presenting the operational materials to Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMC) and the Community Disaster Management and Mitigation Platform (CDMMP) in Kaduna.

According to him, the donation was in collaboration with Christian Aid to support the LGA in the discharge of their duty in event of any disaster.

He said the items were donated to the state for distribution in time of need by Christian Aid to support the state government’s mitigation plans.

“We cannot stop the rains from falling but we can reduce the damage caused and lives lost, that is why we are taking steps now at this crucial time to support your efforts.

“We hope to ensure a reduction in damages caused by flood in the state”.

Yau said the items donated included 270 pieces of 50 litres jerrycans, nine Life jackets  , four first aid kits  , 59 Torch lights  and 10 Waste bins.

Receiving the items, the Vice Chairman of the LGA, commended SEMA for the donation while assuring the judicious distribution of the items.

“We don’t pray for disasters but there is need to be prepared to reduce any damage it might cause”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the items were donated by an NGO, Christian Aid, to reach about 2,100 households, which were pre-positioned in the Local Emergency Response Plan across all project locations. (NAN)

EMZ/VIV/IU

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Editing by Vivian Ihechu and Isaac Ukpoju

 

Education

UNESCO donates N53m to establish Smart Classroom in ABU

UNESCO donates N53m to establish Smart Classroom in ABU

By Mohammed Lawal
Classroom
Zaria (Kaduna State), Oct. 15, 2019 (NAN) Prof. Ibrahim Garba, the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, says the institution had secured over N53 million from UNESCO-ICHEI for the establishment of Smart Classroom.
Garba disclosed this at the 2nd International Conference of Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE) at the main campus of university in Samaru, Zaria, in Kaduna.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two-day conference was organised by IEEE Nigeria, Computer chapter, in collaboration with the Department of Computer Engineering of the institution.
The theme of the conference is: The Role of Computing in the Evolution and Development of Emergent and Alternative Technologies.
Garba was represented by the Head, Department (HOD), Computer Engineering, Prof. Mohammed Mu’azu.
According to him, it is understandable that the emergence of some of the disruptive technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications can be developed to facilitate blended or online teaching and learning.
“We look forward to such outcomes from this conference.
“The university is committed to this kind of initiative and has recently secured over N53 million intervention fund from UNESCO-ICHEI for the setting-up of Smart Classroom in the university,” he said.
This, according to him, holds very important infrastructure for the development of online content, adding that the university will also sign partnership with the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE).
He said it was an initiative of the UNESCO-ICHEL and the Centre for Higher Education Research (CHER) of the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, China.
While appreciating the decision of the institution’s Computer Engineering department to host the conference, the vice chancellor also said it was a welcome development and a boost to the department.
Garba observed that the theme of the conference was very apt as the university was keen on exploring the full potentials of ICT in enhancing teaching and learning experience.
Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), said the commission was collaborating with Nigerian universities on funding telecommunication industry-focused research and innovation.
Danbata, who was represented by Alhaji Abubakar Maina, office of the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, NCC, said the NCC through its Department of Research and Development, which is a creation of the present CEO, is extensively collaborating with the academia.
“This collaboration is in the area of development of emergence and alternative technology by promoting and funding telecommunication industry-focused research and innovation.
“This year alone, the commission received a total of 63 research proposals from the academia all over the nation and these proposals are currently being evaluated by a competent committee for possible funding,” he said.
Danbatta assured the academic community that the commission would gladly welcome more telecommunication industry-focused innovation and research proposals in the area of emerging and alternative technology.
Dr Tunde Salihu, the Chairman, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE) Nigeria, Computer Chapter, said the choice of the theme was conceived to reflect relevant modern trend and technology in the practice of computer engineering.
He also said it was also relevant to Computer Science and Information Technology toward national development.
He debunked the saying that IEEE had not been active in the North, noting that the maiden edition of the institute’s international conference was held in Ilorin, Kwara, in Nov. 2016.
Salihu lauded members of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and others who contributed to the success of the occasion.
The chairman said IEEE is the largest professional body worldwide with about 430,000 members, adding that the institute controlled over one-third of all the information in relation to electrotech in the world.
“Here I am talking about standard, I am talking about proceedings, I am talking about any information in electrical engineering.
“And some-how, we have not been collaborating enough with ABU; however, I stand here as one of the two active IEEE heads in Nigeria that we are going to be working with ABU more than what we have done in the past.
“One of the easiest ways to be working with you is to have more of your members joining IEEE. I invite both students and lecturers to come and join us,” he said.
Earlier, the HOD, Computer Engineering, Mu’azu commended the IEEE, the ABU management and NCC for the support and confidence reposed on the department to host the conference.
He pledged the department’s commitment to offer students and the entire community the benefits of its knowledge and skills to ensure that they became competitive in the 21st century workplace.
“This is reflected in the content of our programmes and the support system in place to encourage students with innovative ideas.
“We produced two of the three students that were in the team that came 3rd in the Huawei local ICT Skills Competition finals that took place in Shenzhen, China in May.
“We also produced one of the 10 students that represented Nigeria at the `Seeds for Future’ training tour of China last year orgnised by Huawei,” he said.
NAN reports that the conference also featured exhibition where recent research findings in computer engineering were displayed. (NAN)
KLM/CCN/MST
Edited by Chinyere Nwachukwu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

NYSC donates relief materials to orphanage in Calabar

NYSC donates relief materials to orphanage in Calabar
By Christian Njoku
Donation
Calabar, Aug. 16, 2019 (NAN) The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has donated relief materials to the orphanage in Uwanse, Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River.
The state Coordinator of NYSC, Mr Eddy Megwa, disclosed this on Friday in Calabar while speaking on the 46th anniversary of the corp.
Megwas explained that the NYSC in the state decided to celebrate with the orphanage to commemorate the anniversary.
“Owing to the security concerns in the nation, we decided to have a solemn celebration by bringing Corp members to the orphanage to identify with their host community.
“While most of the Corp members present at the occasion had parents they could always rely on, the children at the orphanage had neither mothers nor fathers and so should be treated with utmost kindness and love.
“Irrespective of what goes on in the NYSC in Cross River, we would always identify with the orphanage. However, the orphanage should endeavour to always invite the Corp to partner with them whenever they have an event.”
The coordinator also ordered that for every successive year, three Corp members should be posted to serve in the orphanage while the NYSC Secretariat in the state would pay them.
“The Corp members are carrying out one year of selfless service to the nation; that is why they have come selflessly to make this donation.
“It is our humble contribution to ensure that the children in this orphanage wake up in the morning to find something to eat instead of partying with the little resources we have.
“It is our prayer that the management of this orphanage makes judicious use of the items presented to nurture the children here the way God wants them to be nurtured,” he said.
Responding, the Chief Nursing Officer of the orphanage, Mrs Sylvia Ojong, who received the items on behalf of the home, thanked the management of the NYSC for the assistance.
Ojong, who represented the Principal Social Welfare Officer of the orphanage, Mrs Felicia Oti, promised to use the materials judiciously in ensuring that the children had more than enough.
She prayed for God’s protection for the management and staff of the NYSC and the Corp members, assuring that they will continue to nurture the children in the home to give them a bright future.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the items presented to the orphanage included bags of rice, noodles, biscuits and toilet papers. (NAN)
CBN/OYE/MST
Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Donation of bulls excites Daura NULGE

Donation of bulls excites Daura NULGE

By Auwalu Yusuf
Bulls
Daura (Katsina State), June 10, 2019 (NAN) The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has commended Alhaji Abba Mato, the Chairman of Daura Local Government Council of Katsina State, for donating seven bulls to the union for the recent Sallah festival.
Malam Habibu Bala, the Daura local government branch chairman of the union, made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Daura on Monday.
Bala said the council released N750,000 to the union which was used in procuring the bulls, slaughtered and distributed the meat free of charge to the 1,200 local government staff.
“The bulls were procured and slaughtered a head of the last Sallah. I think it was two days to the festival,’’ he said.
He noted that the gesture was unprecedented and contributed in promoting the welfare of the workers and their families as each of the staff went home with large share of the meat and celebrated the festival in a happier mood.
Bala therefore called on other council chairmen to emulate the gesture to further reenergise the workers and motivate them to perform optimally.
On their part, the NULGE chairman pledged to reciprocate the gesture through commitment, loyalty, dedication to duty and hard work.
He also disclosed that the council recently released N125,000 to the union as logistic support to enable it process the 2019 promotion of 315 local government personnel to their next grade levels.
NAN recalls that no fewer than 522 Daura local government workers were promoted to their next grade levels in the last three years.
In a related development, the Sandamu Local Government Council of the state had disbursed N5 million cash gifts to 500 staff as Sallah gesture to motivate the workers.
Alhaji Sani Jarkuka, the council Chairman, disclosed this in an interview with NAN in Sandamu on Monday.
Jarkuka said the cash was disbursed in three categories as some of the staff and politicians got N20,000 each while those in the second category collected N10,000 and N5,000 each.
He said the funds were released to the council by the state government in order to motivate their people in the area, promising to promote the welfare of workers and party loyalists. (NAN)
BKD/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Registry seeks stem cell donor for cancer patient

Registry seeks stem cell donor for cancer patient

Astrid Seeks Stem Cell Donor to Fight Blood Cancer

By Yashim Katurak
Cancer
Abuja, May 9, 2019 (NAN) The Bone Marrow Registry Nigeria (BMRN) has called on Nigerians who are healthy and between the age of 18 and 45 years to register as potential stem cell donors for a patient suffering from blood cancer.
The registry said in a statement issued by Mr Runcie Chidebe, a cancer advocate, on Thursday in Abuja that potential donors must also weigh more than 50kgs and have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of less than 40.
It said that finding a stem cell donor for Mrs Ada Florian Astrid, a mother of two children currently suffering from blood cancer, was her only chance of surviving the life threatening condition.
The registry said that the chance of finding a matching donor for Astrid, who is of Nigerian-German descent, was very low.
According to the registry, this factor has pushed the registry to collaborate with Project PINK BLUE, an NGO, to carry out donor registration events across Nigeria.
BMRN assured that the registration was quick and easy lasting less than 10 minutes, adding that the process is painless and at no cost to anyone who signed up.
“Astrid suffers from blood cancer. A stem cell transplant is her only chance of survival. Anyone who is healthy between 18 and 45 years can help by registering as a potential stem cell donor.

“At the end of September 2018, Astrid went to the doctor for a sore throat. The doctor prescribed rest and medication but over the weekend her condition worsened.
“She had her blood tested and with the results she was diagnosed with blood cancer.
“Astrid immediately started chemotherapy in order to have hope of life; the mother of two sons urgently needs a matching stem cell donor.
“However, the search for her generic twin is very difficult. The chance of finding this match is 1 to 100,000, and the best chance of a match is within your same ethnic background.
“There is only a 25 per cent chance that a sibling will be a match; the remaining 75 per cent chance depends on an unrelated matching donor being found.
“If you are interested in registering, please refrain from consuming any food, beverages and chewing gum an hour before coming to register.
“The registration will take place on May 11 at GIZ Office, 592 Idejo Street, Victoria Island, Lagos,” the statement read in part.
The BMRN said that the registration would last from 11 a.m to 4 p.m, explaining that donors will only need to fill out consent forms and a cheek swap would be taken using cotton swabs.
It described a blood stem cell transplant as a procedure where a person’s defective cell in the bone marrow is replaced by healthy ones from a donor.
It quoted Astrid as saying: “More people of mixed origin need to be motivated to register as donors as blood cancer can affect anyone.
“Because of my generic makeup, my chance of finding a matching donor is more difficult.’’
The registry said that potential donors could sign up on http://bit.ly/HelpAstridLagos, adding that individuals who registered before did not need to do again as their data was available to patients worldwide.
It emphasised that Astrid urgently needs the support of the entire population to register as potential donors for her and other individuals living with blood cancer. (NAN)
KRY/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

NGO donates beverages, food items to patients in Jigawa

NGO donates beverages, food items to patients in Jigawa
By Abdullahi Shugaba
Donation
Dutse, Feb. 13, 2019 (NAN) Children Education Support Initiative In Arewa (CESIA), an NGO, has donated assorted beverages, fruits and food items to patients at the Rasheed Shekoni Government Specialist Hospital, Dutse, Jigawa.
Malam Sa’idu Kaptan, the President of the organisation, presented the items in company of other members of CESIA on Wednesday.
Kaptan later told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the agency is a non-governmental, non-partisan and non-profit making body rendering humanitarian services.
He explained that the organisation was primarily concerned with sponsoring children in the Northern region to school, pointing out that CESIA is also preparing to intervene in the area of health.
“You can see, we have brought these items to this hospital today, which include Maltina drinks, bottles of table water, oranges, and eggs and pampers to share to patients in the hospital.
“We are very much concern with patients in the emergency paediatric and maternity wards because they are most vulnerable to infectious diseases.
“Our organisation has its headquarters in Bauchi and a zonal office in Abuja, we are also working in seven states of Northern Nigeria, including Jigawa, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Taraba with the coordinators.
“Our aim is to make sure that we fight illiteracy and poverty which are the bane of social ills in our society, especially in our region, the north,’’ Kaptan said.
The Jigawa Coordinator of the CESIA, Malam Anas Abubakar, pledged that the NGO was committed to save children in the northern region from illiteracy, disease and hunger.
Dr Idris Kazaure, Chief Medical Director of the facility, urged philanthropists in the north and the country at large to emulate the gesture of CESIA.
NAN observed that Alhaji Abbas Muhammad, the Head of Department of Nursing Services of the hospital, accompanied the NGO during the distribution of the items to patients in the wards. (NAN)
AIS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

WHO charges youths to support health sector growth through blood donation

WHO charges youths to support health sector growth through blood donation
By Yashim Katurak
Blood
Abuja, June 13, 2018 (NAN) The World Health Organisation (WHO) has charged youths to support the growth and development of the health system and save lives by donating blood regularly.

The organisation, in a statement on Wednesday to commemorate the 2018 “World Blood Donor Day”, said that donation of blood and blood products helps save millions of lives every year.
WHO said that this also helps patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer with a higher quality of life while also supporting complex medical and surgical procedures.
It said that individuals who voluntarily donate blood regularly play an essential life-saving role in maternal and child care, and during emergency response to man-made and natural disasters.
The organisation said that although voluntary blood donors were essential for all these to happen, their number remained low in many countries, leaving blood services with the challenge of making sufficient blood available.
“A blood service that gives patients access to safe blood and blood products in sufficient quantity is a key component of an effective health system.
“An adequate supply can only be ensured through regular donations by voluntary, unpaid blood donors; however, in many countries, blood services face the challenge of making sufficient blood available while also ensuring its quality and safety.
“This year our campaign aims to highlight stories of people whose lives have been saved through blood donation as a way of motivating regular blood donors to continue giving blood.
“It also aims to motivate people in good health who have never given blood to begin doing so particularly young people,” the statement read in part.
WHO said that the organisation adopted the slogan “Be there for someone else. Give Blood. Share Life”, to draw attention to the role voluntary donation systems play in encouraging people to care for one another.
It said that the 2018 theme highlights the fundamental human value of altruism, respect, empathy and kindness which underline and sustain voluntary unpaid blood donation systems.
The organisation appreciated individuals who donate blood and encouraged those who have not yet donated to start doing so.
It called for the need to ensure committed, year-round blood donation in order to maintain adequate supplies and achieve national self-sufficiency of blood.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the day is commemorated on June 14 yearly to thank voluntary, unpaid donors for their life-saving gifts of blood.
It is also commemorated to raise awareness on the need for regular blood donations to ensure the quality, safety and availability of blood and blood products for patients in need.
The theme for the 2018 commemoration is “Blood Connects Us All”. (NAN)
KRY/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

British Govt donates N1bn drugs, equipment to Kano State

British Govt donates N780m drugs, equipment to Kano State
By Tukur Muntari
Donation
Kano, March 21, 2018 (NAN) The British Government through the Department for International Development (DFID) Palladium project, has donated drugs and medical equipment worth N780 million to Kano State Government.
Alhaji Abba Anwar, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje, said this in a statement made available to newsmen in Kano on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the Chief Executive Officer of Palladium, Mr Kim Bredhauer, announced the donation when he visited the governor on Tuesday.
“This is the third trench of drugs and equipment we are bringing to Kano state. Drugs and equipment worth N780 million were planned to be for the state.
“So far, over 80 per cent of the drugs and equipment have been received by the state government.
“Kano is one of the states in the federation that is doing their best in making sure that drugs are accessible. These drugs and equipment are coming from the United Kingdom Government,” he said.
Bredhauer noted that without the support of the governor and his government the partnership between them wouldn’t have been possible, assuring that they will continue to support the state as part of their encouragement strategy.
Palladium has programmes like Maternal Newborn and Child Health 2 (MNCH2) under the project.
They are concerned with maternal and child healthcare system in the state.
Ganduje commended Palladium for its continuous intervention in the healthcare delivery system in the state.
“You are doing extremely well for our health services in the state. Your intervention in our healthcare system is enormous,” the statement quoted Ganduje saying.
Earlier, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Kabiru Getso, disclosed that Palladium led the effort which saw to the domestication of Task Shift Policy in the state.
He commended Palladium for its intervention in some critical areas such as capacity building of staff of the ministry in addition to renovating 92 healthcare facilities in the state.
“At the first quarter of this year (2018) they have replicated that intervention in 16 healthcare facilities across the state,” he added. (NAN)
MTM/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Blood donation: NGO solicits media support

Blood donation: NGO solicits media support
NAN-HG-1
Blood
‎By Mohammed Ahmed Kaigama
Bauchi, March 12 , 2018 (NAN) The Bauchi State Coordinator of MamaYe – Evidence for Action (E4A), an NGO, Mr Gideon Poki has called on journalists to enlightenment and mobilise the public on the advantages of safe blood donation.
Poki made the appeal in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent on Monday in Bauchi.
“Blood donation is a vital life-saving process but low awareness about the importance of blood donation can impact the safety and adequate supply of blood in hospitals.
‎“We have poor attitude to blood donation among the donors in the country and some knowledge gaps about blood donation,’’ he said.
He urged media practitioners to raise public awareness and practice of blood donation to prevent further loss of lives, especially of mothers and children.
He said the awareness would also improve the status of Maternal, Newborn Child Health Care (MNCH) in the country.
‎“Awareness about blood donation among donors at a specialised tertiary level and public hospitals showed that age, gender, education level and marital status affected the blood donors’ willingness to donate.
‎“Majority of people did not know the required haemoglobin level to donate blood and the volume of blood in each donation, indicating that more awareness needed to be delivered to the target groups,’’ he said.
‎Poki noted that some donors were aware about blood donation and they had a good attitude, but needed more awareness.
‎He advised that journalists to use clear, simple and consistent messages by using health education materials to the target groups for mass encouragement.
“Journalists can play an important role by creating opportunities for blood donations through psychological factors to influence peoples’ willingness to donate blood.
“Education had positive influence on attitudes towards blood donation as well as blood donors’ satisfaction to the time and location of donation.
‎“Although most common misconceptions about blood donation were the risk of infection, selling donated blood to patients and that blood donation believed to cause physical weakness,’’ he said. (NAN)
MAK/ACO/MST
Edited by Abiodun Oluleye/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Foundation donate drugs to Murtala Hospital, Kano

Foundation donate drugs to Murtala Hospital, Kano
NAN-HG-3
Drugs
By Aisha Ahmed
Kano, Dec. 28, 2017 (NAN) The Maajin Watari Foundation in Kano State has donated drugs worth thousands of Naira to Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital in Kano.
Delivering the items to the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Kabiru Getso, on Thursday, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the foundation, Alhaji Abba Ahmed, said this was the second support made to the hospital by the group.
The chairman, who is also the District Head of Kabo Local Government Area, said the foundation was set up about 15 years ago to encourage the girl-child access to science education.
He revealed that the foundation has supported the health sector in many ways to boost access to quality healthcare services as well as science education.
The traditional ruler pledged that the foundation would continue to identify areas of intervention in order to fulfil its corporate responsibility.
Receiving the drugs, Getso assured that the medicines would reach the targeted beneficiaries.
The commissioner lauded the efforts of the foundation, urging other individuals and organisations to emulate the gesture.
NAN reports that the foundation has donated anti-malaria drugs, folic acid as well as other drugs worth millions of Naira to the Kano State Government previously. (NAN)
AAA /MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola