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Health

Expert attributes socio-economic factors to domestic violence

Expert attributes socio-economic factors to domestic violence
By Talatu Maiwada
Violence
Abuja, June 20, 2018 (NAN) Ms Prisca Obika, Programme Officer Legal, Women Right Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), has attributed socio-economic factors to the new trend of domestic violence in the country.
Obika disclosed on Wednesday while fielding questions at a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum in Abuja.
She said that in the past, women experienced more violence at home, but that new trend has revealed that men were becoming victims of abuse and murder from their spouses and partners.
“The socio-economic stress is one of the key factors affecting women in the society today as most women are tired and exhausted in handling responsibilities at home.
“The world has changed, the roles are reversing in some homes, the men are not keeping up with their responsibilities and the women have to provide for the home and also care for the children.
“Keeping up with such roles consistently, builds up accumulated pressure and stress in women and eventually the temptation to vent out anger on the partner, if not appreciated,’’ she said.
She however said that couple had no right to violate one another to resolve conflicts, adding there are several ways conflict can be resolved in the home.
Obika said that both partners must leave together and agree that there are challenges that need to be addressed among them which could only begin from the place of communication.
“Communication means when couple sit down to talk about serious issues affecting the home such as financial problems, sexual challenges, emotional pressures, children and management of the home front.
“Being able to discuss issues between partners reduces a lot of tension and stress with better understanding between them and other members of the family.
“Third parties could be involved in offering counselling when partners are not able to resolve their problems amicably such as family members, social workers, women groups and NGOs,’’ she said.
Obika advised women to get involved in women groups and focal group discussions where they can speak with other women in confident about your challenges, listen to women share their experiences and find solutions.
She said both partners had key roles to play in resolving conflicts through communication and understanding, getting psychological and medical advice.
Obika further called on men to always love and appreciate their spouses while supporting them at home to reduce any kind of accumulated tension that could result to violence. (NAN)
TIM/JIE/MST
Edited by Julius Enehi/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

UNICEF ranking: Expert attributes high infant mortality to poor economy

UNICEF ranking: Expert attributes high infant mortality to poor economy
NAN-HG-3
Mortality
By Ibukun Emiola
Ibadan, Feb. 26, 2018 (NAN) Dr Adegoke Adeyemo, Chairman, Oyo State Hospital Management Board, says poor economic and health situations are responsible for UNICEF’s high ranking of infant mortality rate in Nigeria.
Adeyemo, a specialist in family medicine, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Monday.
He was reacting to Nigeria’s ranking as 11th globally by UNICEF among countries with the highest infant mortality rate.
“Many of our churches and mosques have to be told that their work is spiritual. They should face the spiritual aspect of it.
“If they want to provide medical care, (they should) provide it in the full sense of it like Catholics, Baptists and Muslims; they set up full hospitals with all the personnel.
“It is wrong for any small church to just decide to set up hospitals just to take delivery (of babies) and things like that.
“At the government level, the government has to improve the level of available income to each individual and also it has to spend that money appropriately on adequate types of food.
“All these are indications of the fact that there is poor health provision and secondly, the economic situation and the poor health education of the people,” said the expert.
He cited poor coordination of public health facilities and their availability to people as factors responsible for high infant mortality.
“The economic situation has also worsened because many people cannot afford proper and adequate diet,” he said.
Adeyemo said another reason responsible for the high rating is the regulation of the health sector.
“Running health facility without being regulated is detrimental to women and children’s health.
“People sell herbal concoctions ‘Agbo’ to pregnant women, some people set up maternity home who are not trained at all to deliver babies.
“The low level of education among our people on health also contributes to this infant mortality.
“When a child is sick people think it is spiritual, they don’t go to the hospital to access adequate medical care even when it is available because they have other alternatives which are not the best,” he said.
The chairman said constant education of the populace through the media would help to reduce infant mortality rate in the country.
He urged synergy among the three tiers of government in research, data collection and state of the art public health facilities as well as personnel to end infant mortality in the country.
Adeyemo also urged states to adopt the new health model in Oyo state with coordinated approach from local governments to community levels.
“When the community is involved, members will want to use the facility. In the state there is improvement in monitoring and provision of health facility.
“There has to be a uniformed policy analysis and when a policy is adopted it has to be monitored and followed.’’
He said government should provide security for the citizenry especially in the North East where there is unrest that increases infant mortality. (NAN)
IBK/LAB/MST
Edited by Lydia Beshel/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

UNICEF ranking: Expert attributes high infant mortality to poor economy

UNICEF ranking: Expert attributes high infant mortality to poor economy
NAN-HG-3
Mortality
By Ibukun Emiola
Ibadan, Feb. 26, 2018 (NAN) Dr Adegoke Adeyemo, Chairman, Oyo State Hospital Management Board, says poor economic and health situations are responsible for UNICEF’s high ranking of infant mortality rate in Nigeria.
Adeyemo, a specialist in family medicine, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Monday.
He was reacting to Nigeria’s ranking as 11th globally by UNICEF among countries with the highest infant mortality rate.
“Many of our churches and mosques have to be told that their work is spiritual. They should face the spiritual aspect of it.
“If they want to provide medical care, (they should) provide it in the full sense of it like Catholics, Baptists and Muslims; they set up full hospitals with all the personnel.
“It is wrong for any small church to just decide to set up hospitals just to take delivery (of babies) and things like that.
“At the government level, the government has to improve the level of available income to each individual and also it has to spend that money appropriately on adequate types of food.
“All these are indications of the fact that there is poor health provision and secondly, the economic situation and the poor health education of the people,” said the expert.
He cited poor coordination of public health facilities and their availability to people as factors responsible for high infant mortality.
“The economic situation has also worsened because many people cannot afford proper and adequate diet,” he said.
Adeyemo said another reason responsible for the high rating is the regulation of the health sector.
“Running health facility without being regulated is detrimental to women and children’s health.
“People sell herbal concoctions ‘Agbo’ to pregnant women, some people set up maternity home who are not trained at all to deliver babies.
“The low level of education among our people on health also contributes to this infant mortality.
“When a child is sick people think it is spiritual, they don’t go to the hospital to access adequate medical care even when it is available because they have other alternatives which are not the best,” he said.
The chairman said constant education of the populace through the media would help to reduce infant mortality rate in the country.
He urged synergy among the three tiers of government in research, data collection and state of the art public health facilities as well as personnel to end infant mortality in the country.
Adeyemo also urged states to adopt the new health model in Oyo state with coordinated approach from local governments to community levels.
“When the community is involved, members will want to use the facility. In the state there is improvement in monitoring and provision of health facility.
“There has to be a uniformed policy analysis and when a policy is adopted it has to be monitored and followed.’’
He said government should provide security for the citizenry especially in the North East where there is unrest that increases infant mortality. (NAN)
IBK/LAB/MST
Edited by Lydia Beshel/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Adopt FP to drive economic prosperity – Expert

Adopt FP to drive economic prosperity – Expert
[Photo caption] Some methods of Family Planning (NAN)
NAN-HG-4
Planning
By Lucy Osuizigbo
Lagos, Feb. 19, 2018 (NAN) A medical practitioner, Dr Olatunde Afolayan, says making Family Planning (FP) a social norm in the country will boost the economy and discourage Nigerians from migrating to foreign countries in search for better life.
Afolayan said this at an FP Sensitisation Programme organised by Sparkle Foundation and Agents of Change in collaboration with the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI), at Makoko community in Lagos.
He said multiple births or lack of birth control contributed to the high rate of poverty, lack of infrastructure and economic challenges fuelling the citizens’ desire to travel abroad legally and illegally in search of economic prosperity.
According to him, planning the economic development and growth of the nation starts with planning the family.
“Family planning should become a ‘must’ in Nigeria of the 21st century because we cannot continue to give birth in an unplanned manner.
“Having multiple children in unplanned manners can be very overwhelming because you cannot cater for them adequately and this is why poverty, hunger, unemployment, maternal and child mortality are on the increase.
“Multiple births can also disrupt government plans, with the country’s economy and infrastructure struggling to cope with volatile population growth.
“A population growth that is not properly managed will in most cases, give rise to mass unemployment and mass migration to cities like in the case of Libya,’’ he said.
Afolayan noted that developed countries plan and turn around their economies positively through FP.
“We need to adopt family planning so that our society and country can be like the `White man’s’ country; the land that we envy so much.
“The beginning of their development was through birth control, which is why they are able to plan their family, society and their countries.
“Their families made so much sacrifice by adopting FP to make families and the government planned for their population; they can even project and plan for their economy in the next five years.
“If we can adopt family planning or child spacing, the government will be able to plan and cater for the citizens, even better than the developed countries because we are endowed with resources,’’ Afolayan said.
While demonstrating the application of the different methods of FP, Dr Adeola Duduyemi of NURHI said that the essence of their activities was to ensure that every pregnancy was by choice and not by chance.
“We want to ensure that every pregnancy is safe; the campaign on the importance of family planning is aimed at reducing the high rate of maternal, infant and child mortality in Lagos State and in Nigeria.
“Family Planning is beneficial to mother, children, father, the family and entire society.
“Spacing a child through family planning methods helps the mother to regain her health after delivery; it also gives the woman the opportunity to love and give attention to her husband and children.
“Family planning is also an important intervention strategy to avert maternal, infant and child deaths.
“It reduces maternal mortality by reducing the number of unintended pregnancies, the number of abortions and the proportion of high risk births,’’ she said.
Also speaking, Mrs Olasumbo Ojuroye, Founder, Sparkle Foundation, said the organisation saw the need to sensitise masses on the need for FP in order to improve the health and living conditions of the citizens.
Ojuroye said the campaign was brought to Makoko community because it was a suburb and a deprived area of the state with little or no access to adequate information.
“We are here for women whose next pregnancy is a threat; we are here for that unknown family that is struggling to breakout from generation circle of poverty.
“We are here to contribute our own quota to building the economy and also create a better future for upcoming generation through family planning.
“This campaign is to increase awareness, to make family planning become a social norm in our community, where everybody is free to talk about FP publicly,’’ Ojuroye said.
Mr Omiyale Kayode, Chairman, Yaba Local Council Development Area, appealed to residents to embrace FP so as to improve their quality of life and secure their future. (NAN)
LCO/VIV/MST
Editing by Vivian Ihechu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Economy

NBS to release 179 reports on economy

NBS to release 179 reports on economy
NAN-HE- 11
Reports
By Cecilia Ologunagba
Abuja, Jan. 8, 2018 (NAN) The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) is to release no fewer than 179 reports on different sectors of the economy this year.
According to the 2018 tentative data release calendar posted on the bureau’s Website, the NBS is expected to release 40 data in the first quarter.
According to the calendar analysed by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the bureau will release data on consumer price index and inflation, price watch on diesel, petrol and kerosene.
Other items on the calendar are telecommunications data, monthly Federal Account Allocation Committee disbursements, gross domestic products and foreign trade merchandise.
Road transport data, exportable crops survey, prison statistics, pension asset and membership data, annual postal service data and food security survey report are also listed.
The bureau is expected to release 51 data in the second quarter.
The data will focus mainly on statistics on immigration, pension asset and membership, job creation, smart nutrition survey and labour force as well as capital importation report.
It will also focus on air transportation data in addition to petroleum products data and inflation reports.
In the third quarter, the bureau will release 46 data ranging from socio-economic survey, social statistics, road transport, rail transportation data, and solid minerals and mining sector survey.
In addition, the bureau will release manufacturing sector survey report; transport and storage sector survey, and creative industries sector survey reports.
However, the bureau will be releasing 42 reports in the last quarter of the year.
It will be releasing sectorial distribution of value added tax report, petroleum products demand survey and power sector report, among others.
The bureau will also be releasing monthly reports on FACC disbursements, consumer price index and inflation reports as well as price watch on diesel, petrol and kerosene.
NAN recalls that NBS released no fewer than 162 reports on different sectors of the economy in 2017. (NAN)
CIA/MO/MST
Edited by Omolade MM/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Economy

FG tags 2017 budget on economic recovery, growth

FG tags 2017 budget on economic recovery, growth

NAN-H-5

Tag

Abuja, June 12, 2017 (NAN) The Federal Government has christened the 2017 Budget which was signed into law on Monday by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo as “Budget of Economic Recovery and Growth”.

Osinbajo said the name reflected the commitment of the administration to ensure strong linkage between the medium-term Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) recently launched by President Muhammadu Buhari and the annual budgets.

According to him, it is designed to bring the Nigerian economy out of recession unto a path of sustainable and inclusive growth.

“The budget has a revenue projection of N5.08 trillion and an aggregate expenditure of N7.44 trillion.

“The projected fiscal deficit of N2.36 trillion is to be financed largely by borrowing,’’ Osinbajo said.

He assured those who had expressed concern about the growing public debt that “we are taking several actions to grow government revenues as well as plug revenue leakages.

“This is because, notwithstanding the fact that our borrowings are still within sustainability limits, we are determined, in the medium term, to reduce our reliance on borrowings to finance our expenditures’’.

The acting president noted that the economy was already signaling a gradual recovery as growth was headed towards positive territory.

He said that the first quarter GDP estimated at -0.52 per cent compared favourably with -2.06 per cent in the first quarter of 2016.

He also said that inflation was declining to 17.24 per cent from 18.74 per cent as at May 2016.

Osinbajo also observed that the country’s external reserves rose to US$30.28 billion as at June 8, 2017 from US$26.59 billion as at May 31, 2016.

“We are also gradually instilling confidence in our exchange rate regime.

“This improvement in GDP growth and other macro-economic indicators is largely attributable to our strategic implementation of the 2016 Budget as well as stronger macroeconomic management and policy coordination.’’

The acting president also expressed confidence that the 2017 Budget would deliver positive economic growth and prosperity “that is self-sustaining and inclusive’’.

Accordingly, he said that the 2017 budget will be implemented in line with the administration’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.

He said that over the 2017-2020 plan period “we are focusing on five key execution priorities”, namely: stabilising the macroeconomic environment; agriculture and food security; energy sufficiency in power and petroleum products.

He also mentioned improved transportation infrastructure and industrialisation through support for micro, small and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs).

“The 2017 budget includes provisions that reflect these priorities.

“To demonstrate our commitment to following through our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, the 2017 budget allocates over N2 trillion to capital expenditure, principally infrastructure.

“We are committing over N200 billion to improve transport infrastructure such as roads and rail; over N500 billion for investments in works, power, and housing.

“And N46 billion is for Special Economic Zone Projects to be set up in each geopolitical zone,’’ he added. (NAN)

DCU/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Economy

Abuja Chamber kicks as Senate proposes N5 fuel levy

Abuja Chamber kicks as Senate proposes N5 fuel levy

NAN-HE-14

Levy

By Isaac Aregbesola

Abuja, June 2, 2017 (NAN) The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) says the Senate proposal to effect a N5 levy on imported petrol and diesel will further worsen the plight of the masses.

President ACCI, Mr Tony Ejinkeonye, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, said that the proposal would cause untold hardship to the citizens, if implemented.

Ejinkeoyen quoted a media report that a Senate Committee had recommended fuel levy of N5 chargeable per litre on any volume of petrol and diesel products in Nigeria to fund road projects in the country.

According to the report, other sources of revenue for the Road Fund include: International Vehicle Transit Charges and Road Funds Surcharge of 0.5 per cent tax on the assessed value of any vehicle imported into the country, among others.

According to him, the bill is one of the 11 high priority economic recovery bills recommended to the National Assembly for passage by the National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable.

However, he noted that budgetary allocations were not enough to fund road infrastructure in the country while several federal roads across the country were in very bad shape.

He said: “This levy should not be imposed now as Nigerians are already encumbered with lots of burden.

“This levy, if imposed, will worsen the plight of the masses because fuel plays a vital role in the life of an average Nigerian.

“Thus, any increase in the price of fuel which the levy will create, will have adverse implications on all other sectors of national life.

“It will lead to sharp increase in cost of transportation, food and other services that depend on fuel for running.

“And its multiplier effect would have grave implication for the economy and worsen the inflation rate.”

He said that the fuel levy no doubt would be exploitative and burdensome; therefore, government should spare the citizens the suffering that this fuel levy would impose.

He advised the government to look at other ways of saving money for roads infrastructure such as the reduction of corruption as well as cut in the cost of running governance.

He said that the legal principle was that ‘the power to tax involves the power to destroy’.

“So, whether called a charge, levy, dues, toll, tax, or whatever, any attempt at imposition of a financial burden on the people must be backed by law properly made.

“Parliamentary resolution or recommendation would not do. Attempts in the past to impose such levies failed for not being backed by law,” he said. (NAN)

IAA/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Economy

UN commends FG on economic recovery plan

UN commends FG on economic recovery plan

NAN-HG-9

Commendation

By Isaac Aregbesola

Abuja, April 18, 2017 (NAN) The United Nations (UN) on Tuesday commended the Federal Government of Nigeria for the recent launch of its Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

The UNDP Resident Representative, Mr Edward Kallon, made the commendation in Abuja at the launch of UNDP’s 2016 Human Development Report (HDR).

Kallon also expressed optimism that “Nigeria has what it takes to surmount its challenges” and pledged the support of the world body in this regard.

He said that Nigeria with its several medium-term policies and programmes was capable of keeping its economy on a positive development trajectory.

He said that this was because the ERGP focused on restoring growth, investing in people and building a globally competitive economy.

The UNDP boss also expressed satisfaction on the feat recorded by Nigeria in the Human Development Index (HDI) where it recorded 13.1 per cent increase between 2005 and 2015.

The country representative, however, called for tougher policies to sustain gains made in human development index.

He decried that issues such as insecurity and the drop in prices of export commodities which were major earners in sub-Saharan Africa was fast eroding on this gains

He noted that Nigeria was being faced with two major problems of economic recession and humanitarian crisis.

“We are all aware of the humanitarian crisis in the North-East of the country and the looming famine in that region.

“Although efforts by humanitarian development actors, under the leadership of the Government have yielded significant results.

“Many challenges remain as an estimated 8.5 million people in that region are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance; over 5 million remain food insecure.

“And, some 50,000 children are at IPC level five of food insecurity. The need for action, especially for the children, couldn’t be more urgent,” he said.

He advised the government to utilise the opportunity provided by the national launch of this report to address the twin problems of economic recession and humanitarian crisis facing the country.

Kallon advised that the nation should utilise the opportunity provided by the report to promote policy dialogue at both national and sub-national levels.

Besides, he called on Nigeria to urgently find lasting solution to these challenges in order to bring about enduring development in the country.

“The report shows that between 2005 and 2015, Nigeria’s HDI increased from 0.466 to 0.527 or 13.1 per cent increase.

“This is encouraging, but given the humanitarian challenges already alluded to, and the economic recession witnessed in 2016, there is an urgent need to design policies and programmes to ensure that the upward trend in human development is not reversed,” he said. (NAN)

IAA/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Economy

Economy: NGO cautions traditional, religious leaders on negative comments

Economy: NGO caution religious, traditional leaders against negative comments

NAN-H-43

Comments

By Awayi Kuje

Keffi (Nasarawa State), March 15, 2017 (NAN) The Modibbo Haruna Buhari Charity Organisation (BCO), an NGO, has cautioned religious leaders and traditional rulers in the country against negative comments on current economic policies.

Mr Suleiman Modibbo-Masaka, the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of the organisation, gave the advice on Wednesday while fielding questions from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

Modibbo-Masaka urged them to support and pray for the country’s economic recovery under President Muhammadu Buhari, who is working to improve the lives of Nigerians.

He enjoined religious leaders and traditional rulers to always preach peace and pray for improved economy rather than making negative comments that would create tension in the country.

According to him, adverse comments by some religious leaders and traditional rulers on the federal government economic policies are capable of fuelling more national crisis.

“Those traditional or religious leaders who form the habit of continuing attacking or condemning the federal government economic policies should desist in the interest of peace.;

“Because what they say some of their subjects and followers will agree with them, while others will disagree with them which may bring conflict in the society.

“Religious leaders and traditional rulers are the custodian of peace because it is their duty to continue to preach peace to their subjects and followers at all time in the interest of development.

“But in a situation whereby some religious and traditional rulers are seen making negative comments about the economy without weighing the implications of what they are saying is unacceptable and they need to change for the good of the nation.

“That is why, I am advising Nigerians, especially the religious leaders and traditional rulers in the name of God to stop making negative comments about the economy.

“They should always been seen advising the federal government on how to move the country’s economy forward considering the critical position they occupy in the society.

“We don’t want to mention the names of those religious leaders and traditional leaders here, but we are advising them to desist from coming out to condemn or attack the federal government economic policies.

“They should develop a channel on how to advise the federal government on ways forward if the need arises,’’ he said.

Modibbo-Masaka restated the commitment of the BCO to continue to educate and enlighten the people on the need to be their brothers’ keeper and be supportive to the government in order to enjoy more dividends of democracy.

He also appreciated Nigerians for their sustained prayers for the safe return of Buhari and urged them not to relent in their efforts towards praying for his good health to enable him deliver dividends of democracy to the citizens.

“I am calling on other Non-Governmental Organisations and Nigerians to collaborate with BCO in order to sensitise the people on the need to avoid inciting comments in the interest of peace and national development,” he said.

The chairman advised Nigerians, especially youths, to be law abiding, respect constituted authorities, shun negative behaviours, live in peace and tolerate one another irrespective of their ethnic, religious and political affiliations. (NAN)

AKW/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Science & Technology

Audio Attached: FG taking steps to overhaul economy through knowledge-based innovation — Minister

NAN-H-2

Innovation

By Ijeoma Ndubisi

Abuja, March 10, 2017 (NAN) The Federal Government says it is taking steps to see Nigeria move from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based innovation-driven one.

Minister for Science and Technology Dr Ogbonnaya Onu stated this in Abuja at the final of the yearly National Examinations for the 774 Young Nigerian Scientists Presidential Award (YONSPA).

The competition was organised at the 774 Local Government Areas across the country and the best 37 students were selected to represent each state of the federation, including the FCT.​

​Cue in audio 1 (Onu)

“What we are doing today is very significant; it is also very historic and means a lot for our country.

“We want Nigeria to move away from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based innovation driven economy.

“We can only do that if we have the best of Nigerians studying science and engineering; and that is why we have taken this decision to bring in competition which used to be a part of our national life, but for a long time we discarded it.

“We want you to know that if you are good, your nation will reward you.”

Cue out audio 1

Onu also said the best participants would be recognised at the country’s Technology and Innovation Exposition coming up later in the year.

The minister said, the expo, which would be the first of its kind in Nigeria, would bring together investors, inventors and innovators to assist in commercialising the country’s research findings and market its products both locally and internationally.

He added that the best students would be part of the country’s delegation to an international Olympiad also  coming up later in the  year.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Belema Wakama, had said that the criteria for grading the students would be fair.

Wakama noted that Nigeria had gifted scientists, who were doing well in other parts of world.

She, therefore, advised the participants to ensure they were listed among them.

According to her, the ministry intends to monitor the progress of the students to ensure that their interests in STI were on track.

Mr Ekanem Udoh, the Director, Science and Technology Promotion, said the competition was organised to enable the youth to key into science programmes.

Udoh reiterated that the winners would be given awards and would be supported in their educational pursuits.

Cue in audio 2 (Udoh)

“The essence of this competition is to encourage our youths to participate in Science, Technology and Innovation, to see to what extent we can allow our youths to buy into the science programmes of this country and indeed the world.

“The competition started last year through competitions at the local government levels then to the state levels and today we are witnessing the national finals.

“These students have come as the best students from all the states of the federation to compete.

“The minister has made a statement and these students will be supported all the way through their education.

“He has also invited them to the Technology and Innovation Expo on April 3rd where he will formerly present awards to the first, second and third winners at this competition.’’

Cue out audio 2

Alberta Obiekezie, one of the participants said the competition was important as it was an avenue for young Nigerian scientists to come together for the development of the country.

“The essence of this kind of competition is to bring in future scientists, to bring students from all over the country, at least to test their scientific ability for a better future,’’ Obiekezie said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Anambra, Imo, Delta, and Benue were some of the states that participated in the competition. (NAN)

NIU/DOR/YEE

Edited by Nyisom Dore/Emmanuel Yashim

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