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  • Mar, Sun, 2020
Education

Unilag crisis: Sheathe your swords, give peace chance, Group tells warring factions

Appeal
By Chinyere Nwachukwu
Lagos, March 22, 2020 (NAN) A group of non-teaching staff at the University of Lagos has called on the leadership of the institution, currently embroiled in a face-off, to sheathe their swords and give peace a chance.
Mr Adekola Adetomiwa, a key member of the group, who made the call in a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos, said that enough was enough.
According to the group, while conflict is natural in any human relationship and interaction, the resolution of such a conflict usually strengthens the affected system.
“Our university, for some time now, has suffered bickering among the topmost leadership, a fact which is in public domain.
“This unmitigated downpour of conflict has come up with a slide. The disagreement has resulted in the cancellation of the 51st convocation ceremony.
“The slide has brought, in its wake, pains, disaffection and disappointment.
“Some stakeholders in the Unilag project, especially union leaderships, have failed in averting the unpleasant situation.
“They have failed to consciously sue for peace, especially among the warring leaders,” the statement said.
The group expressed regret that the unions, had rather chosen to take sides through verbal and media attacks rather than reconciling the parties involved in the conflict.
According to the statement, such act has only helped in polarising the university community.
“This approach has only succeeded in factionalising rather than uniting members of the Unilag community.
“It is unhealthy to use derogatory words on the person of either the Vice Chancellor of the institution or the Pro-Chancellor.
“Neither of them will consciously work to destroy the system, a legacy which obviously will outlive everyone of us.
“The vice chancellor is a scholar and an administrator of repute, while the pro-chancellor is also a leader and philanthropist of note.
“The disagreement between the duo should be a concern to all stakeholders and they are expected to work for an amicable resolution of the conflict so that the benefits derivable from their services to the university will not be lost to the crisis,” it said.
The group appealed that the typecast of ‘persona non grata’ already hanging on one of the unions be withdrawn and that a machinery for peace restoration of the crisis be set in motion without further delay. (NAN)
CCN/OSA/WAS
Edited by Shittu Obassa and ‘Wale Sadeeq

Agriculture

Group trains 67,000 youths, women on poultry, fishery

Group trains 67,000 youths, women on poultry, fishery

By Awayi Kuje
Poultry
Keffi (Nasarawa State), Oct. 29, 2019 (NAN) Biya Farms Group Limited, Jos, Plateau, says it has trained over 67,000 unemployed youths and women on poultry and fisheries production in the North Central and South South States of the country, this year.
This has empowered the beneficiaries with poultry and fisheries production skills in order to enable them become self reliant and to contribute their quota to national development.
Alhaji Bilyamin Almustapha, the Managing Director of the group, made this known on Tuesday in Keffi while fielding questions from newsmen on the activities of the group in the country.
Almustapha explained that the training was under the farm’s youths and women empowerment scheme targeted at tackling poverty among the unemployed youths and women in the country.
“The importance of agriculture to societal development cannot be overemphasised, apart from the provision of food, it also generate employment opportunity to the teeming population.
“It also generates revenue to the government and that of the individual, hence the need for the formation of this group for the benefit of all Nigerians.
“Let me tell you people that apart from growing of crops and rearing of animals, the farm also engages in the training of unemployed youths and women under the farm’s youths and women empowerment scheme.
“Let me disclose to you that in Plateau, we have trained over 20,000 youths and women in Barikin Ladi, Mangu, Shendam, Bassa and Bokkos.
“In Nasarawa State, we have trained over 3,800 unemployed youths and women that is about 2,000 youths and women in Lafia, 1,000 in Keffi and 800 in Akwanga Local Government Areas, respectively.
“Then we moved to South-South region particularly we started in Calabar as we trained 20,000 in Calabar municipal on Oct.7, another 20,000 and 3,000 trained in Calabar South on Oct.14 and 24, respectively.
“When you sum them up, it will give you about 67,000 youths and women trained on poultry and fisheries production.
“All these trainings were done to equip them with management, sanitary and feeding ratio poultry and fisheries production skills to enable them become self reliant,’’ he said.
Almustapha commended local government chairman, traditional rulers and other stakeholders for their cooperation to ensure the success of the training in their respective areas/domains.
Also speaking with newsmen, Ms Immaculata Emmanuel, the farms South-South Zonal Coordinator, commended the group for keying into agricultural programme that have direct bearing on the lives of the youths, women and other Nigerians.
She restated her commitment to continue to be up and doing towards training unemployed Nigerians on poultry and fishery skills to enable them become self reliant. (NAN)
AKW/COO/MST
Edited by Cecilia Odey/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Group demands inclusion in Nasarawa State governance

By Awayi Kuje
Inclusion
Akwanga (Nasarawa State), Sept. 9, 2019 (NAN) Mr Nathaniel Isa, President-General of Nasarawa North Peoples’ Assembly (NNPA), has demanded for inclusion into Gov. Abdullahi Sule’s cabinet to enable them contribute their quota to the development of the state.

Isa made the appeal in a statement in Keffi on Monday.

He said that members of the group are hard working and had worked tirelessly for the victory of the governor.

“There exists the need for Governor Abdullahi Sule to consider and give NNPA some political appointments in view of their contributions to the success of the 2019 General Election in the State and particularly Akwanga Zone.

“If hard-work, commitment and painful sacrifice is anything to go by, then members of Nasarawa North Peoples Assembly deserve to be part of Nasarawa State Executive Council.

“As His Excellency, Gov. Abdullahi Sule prepares to announce his cabinet,” the statement said.

Besides, Isa called for the appointment of members of the group as Rector of Isah Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic, Lafia, and recommending some to the Federal Boards and Agencies to give the youths in the zone a sense of belonging

“NNPA passed through valleys, deserts and mountains in the struggle for power shift to Akwanga Zone.

“The Assembly championed and coordinated all the support groups and demands for a shift of Governorship position in 2019 General Election to the Zone through various publications,

“Organisation of conferences, visitations to stakeholders and political parties, knowing not only the issues involved,

“But also the questions that agitated the minds of the people, and equally declare support for APC gubernatorial candidate,” he said.

The NNPA President-General also disclosed that the group has concluded plan to organise an Economic Summit for Akwanga Zone from Oct. 1-3, in Akwanga, in order discuss the pervasive rate of poverty, illiteracy, underdevelopment and backwardness of the zone.

He said that the governor’s 100 Days in Office captured the vision and mission of the administration, the poise and zeal to move the state to greater heights.

“Governor Abdullahi Sule insights into the future have started manifesting in the policies and programmes as reflected in the plans for youths, women empowerment scheme, human and infrastructural development,” he said.

The President-General commended the governor’s commitment to put in place the bricks for major developmental strategies, his plans and intentions in the different sectors.

Isa urged Nigerians to live in peace and tolerate one another in order to enjoy more dividends of democracy. (NAN)
AKW/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Group to partner Nasarawa Govt to tackle HIV/AIDS

Group to partner Nasarawa Govt to tackle HIV/AIDS
By Mohammed Baba Busu
HIV
Lafia, July 5, 2019 (NAN) Gender and Human Rights Technical Working Group in Nasarawa State says it will partner the Ministry of Youths and Sports to tackle the spread of HIV/AIDS among youths in the state.
Dr Ruth Bello, the Leader of the group, made this known on Friday during an advocacy visit to the state ministry of youths and sport in Lafia.
Bello, who is also the Executive Director, Nasarawa State AIDS Control Agency (NASACA), urged the ministry to include HIV prevention activities in youth friendly programmes in the state.
She said that the main target of the group was to educate youths in the society on the danger of the virus, hence the need to seek for collaboration with the ministry.
“We are here to express our readiness to partner with you in order to tackle the spread of HIV/AIDS, especially among youths in the state.
“We are imploring you to include HIV prevention messages among activities involving adolescent and young persons in Nasarawa state.
“This is to educate them on the prevention method as well as the danger of the scourge to them, their families and the society,” she said.
Bello also called for collective efforts among traditional rulers, religious leaders and other stakeholders toward the curbing HIV/AIDS in the state and the country at large.
According to her, collective efforts in the fight against the epidemic will help in ensuring zero HIV infection in the society.
She, however, called for all hands to be on deck in order to eradicate the disease for the overall development of the country.
The team leader also called on Nigerians to always go for medical check-up in order to know their health status.
She advised people to show love and care to persons living with the virus and not to discriminate against them for societal development.
Responding, Mr Abubakar Umar, the state Director of Youth and Sports, pledged the ministry’s readiness to partner with the group to achieve success in eradicating HIV/AIDS in the state. (NAN)
BAB/NNO/MST
Edited by Nick Nicholas/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Group tasks professionals on devt of professions

Group tasks professionals on devt of professions

By Tukur Muntari
Professions
Kano, May 13, 2019 (NAN) Mrs Mulikat Abdurrahman, the National Coordinator of Professional Ethical Standard Platform (PES-P), has called on professionals to focus on the growth and development of their respective professions.
She made the appeal at the 2019 second quarter meeting of the group in Kano on Monday.
Abdurrahman said that the call was necessary following the recent appointment of Prof. Ahmed Mora by President Muhammadu Buhari on the recommendation of the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, as Chairman of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN).
She said that even though the appointment attracted complaints from a small fraction of professionals, there was however need for the different bodies of the profession to put their houses in order.
“This will check imminent collapse of ethical standards which could lead to extinction of ethical practice the profession is known for, for close to a century in the country,” she said.
She said: “Pharmacists in Nigeria are becoming obstacles to themselves and their profession, with the recent happenings within their associations and professional bodies.’’
She cited the recent appointment of Mora that was dismissed or rejected through one of the Pharmacy professional bodies as an example.
“This could lead to an interpretation from outside to mean that Pharmacists are up to dwarf individual progress and development,’’ she cautioned.
Abdurrahman further explained that when certain happenings within the rank and file of the Nigerian pharmacists were left unguided and uncontrolled, it could also pave way for a feeling of marginalisation.
“Some professionals feel marginalised, because some people are taking decisions on their behalf without carrying them along as if other members do not exist,’’ she said.
She said that the complaints by some pharmacists who felt marginalised in the past led some members to form the Northern Nigerian Pharmacists Forum (NNPF) to draw attention that in the 90 years of the existence of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), the society had only one president from the region before they were allowed to have it a second time.
“When the name of somebody was recommended to the Minister of Health by the PSN for the position of Chairman of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) many stakeholders were allegedly not aware.
“When a letter was to be written to the Minister concerning the issue of appointment of another Pharmacist as the Chairman of PCN others were not aware.
“Investigation showed that the PSN also went ahead to congratulate the Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), without consulting other members of the society (PSN).
“While those that were not contacted were comfortable with that, some argued why should it be a problem if they also congratulate distinguished pharmacist, who was legally appointed by the President of Nigeria,” she said.
The national coordinator warned that the profession of pharmacy in the country would suffer if care was not taken to address some lingering issues.
“Some pharmacists have now formed an umbrella body known as the Progressive Pharmacists Forum (PPF).
“Just as the Northern Nigerian Pharmacists Forum was formed in the past to break what they considered the cabal that held the PSN at its jugular.
“It was aimed at providing meaningful direction to the society and uphold professionalism,” Abdurrahman said. (NAN)
MTM/NNO/MST
Edited by Nick Nicholas/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Breastfeeding supports global health targets – Group

Breastfeeding supports global health targets – Group
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Breastfeeding
Abuja, May 9, 2019 (NAN) An NGO, Alive and Thrive, has said that promoting optimal breastfeeding remains a proven and affordable means of supporting national and global health targets.
Its Technical Adviser, Mrs Toyin Gabriel, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday that breastfeeding was a low technology hugely supportive of national and global health targets.
Gabriel said building an enabling environment to support breastfeeding was key to reaching the National Strategic Plan of Action for Nutrition (NSPAN).
“Breastfeeding has proven benefits for women and children, 25 per cent of infants under-six months in Nigeria are exclusively breastfed during the first six months of life.
“Only one in three children initiates breastfeeding within the first four hours after birth.
“By acting on this evidence, Nigeria can accelerate progress towards short and long-term national and global targets on health and development,” she said.
Gabriel said breastfeeding had implications not only for children’s health, but for Nigeria’s economy.
She said that low breastfeeding could lead to poor brain development at individual level, adding “it also reduces learning ability, productivity and lifetime earnings”.
“Globally breastfeeding is capable of preventing 72 per cent of hospital admissions for diarrhoea and 57 per cent of respiratory infections.
“Researches show that infants under-six who are not breastfed are three to four times more likely to die than those who receive any breast milk.
“Nearly half of all diarrhoea episodes and one third of all respiratory infections can be prevented with increased breastfeeding,” she said.
Gabriel said that many countries had utilised the benefits of breastfeeding to advance their national development efforts, saying “an investment in breastfeeding in Nigeria is an investment in health and wealth”. (NAN)
OEO/AZU/MST
Edited by Azubuike Okeh/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Group, Kwara Govt collaborate to curb malnutrition

Group, Kwara Govt collaborate to curb malnutrition

By Yinusa Ishola
Partnership
Ilorin, May 9, 2019 (NAN) A group, the Civil Society-Scaling up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), says it is collaborating with the Kwara Government to reduce high rate of malnutrition among infants and pregnant women in the state.
Mrs Jane Egemonye, the Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for CS-SUNN, said this during the group’s advocacy visit to the Kwara Ministries of Health, and Planning and Economic Development in Ilorin.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that CS-SUNN is a coalition, made up of NGOs and non-profit organisations with a vision toward transforming Nigeria to a food and nutrition secured economy.
It also engages governments and mobilises non-state actors to advocate relevant policies, funding, programme implementation and build capacity of local communities to scale-up nutrition.
Egemonye, while presenting the Kwara policy brief on nutrition to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, Alhaji Abdulazeez Oyelowo, said the state was presently home to a large population of malnourished children and pregnant women.
The CS-SUNN official said the latest report by the National Nutrition Health Survey (NNHS) indicated that the state has under-5 mortality rate of 45 deaths per 1,000 live births and an infant mortality rate of 40 per 1,000 live births.
According to her, nutrition as an essential component of well-being, had over the years, been receiving less attention by the state government.
“Kwara State Government’s investments in the key nutrition interventions have been very poor between 2015 and 2018.
“Most times despite budgetary allocation, little or no funds are released.
“It has been observed that even when government expands the size of the state budget, the budget for nutrition specific interventions do not follow the trajectory.
“Also, 32.5 per cent of children under-five are stunted, 7.0 per cent are too thin for their ages, 19.9 per cent are underweight and only 35.7 per cent of children less than six months are exclusively breastfed in the state,’’ she said.
Mr Ambrose Evhoesor, SC-SUNN Project Officer, said the advocacy visit was part of the collaboration aimed at finding lasting solution to the menace of malnutrition prevalence in the state, especially among children under five years.
Evhoesor described the ministry as very strategic and in vantage position to make the collaboration a huge success.
He, therefore, solicited the cooperation of the ministry in the area of having a robust planning and modalities for scaling up nutrition activities in the state.
Responding, the permanent secretary, ministry of planning and economic development, identified inadequate resources as a major factor affecting the full implementation of most of the government’s policies and programmes.
Oyelowo described the advocacy visit as very timely as the state was witnessing political leadership transition.
According to him, it will afford the ministry the opportunity to put forward necessary recommendations for the incoming administration.
He said the issues of inadequate budgetary allocation and release of funds were not peculiar to nutrition alone as they were already receiving the attention of concerned authorities.
Oyelowo commended the group for the partnership and its foresight, urging it to maintain the tempo. (NAN)
ISHO/VIV/MST
Editing by Vivian Ihechu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Group urges Bauchi Govt to employ more primary healthcare workers

Group urges Bauchi Govt to employ more primary healthcare workers
By Mohammed Ahmed Kaigama
Employment
Bauchi, May 2, 2019 (NAN) The Bauchi State Network of Civil Society Organisations (BASNEC) has urged the State Government to employ more primary healthcare workers for effective service delivery.
Mr Sukumun Ezekiel, BASNEC’s Programme Officer, made the appeal in Bauchi on Thursday at the end of a Primary Healthcare Centres advocacy meeting.
He said the coalition believed that primary healthcare centres required immediate attention.
“Primary healthcare centres, particularly those in the rural areas lack equipment and drugs, they are even over stretched due to shortage of manpower.
“The centres require more manpower to ensure effective service delivery, by so doing maternal and infant health will be improved,” he said.
Ezekiel further said that BASNEC remained committed to its advocacy mission of making stakeholders to play active roles in improving the primary healthcare sector.
“We have remained committed to this advocacy since the past one year, government and other stakeholders need to work together to ensure a vibrant and service-oriented sector.
“The government needs to evolve minimum service package policies that will enable the poor citizens to access basic health services,” he said.
According to him, the policy will ensure that primary healthcare centres across the state have standard drugs, basic equipment, water and sanitation facilities.
Speaking earlier, Mr Jinjiri Garba, the BASNEC Chairman in the state, appealed to the state government to provide funding for healthcare services.
He stated that the meeting was aimed at evaluating the one year advocacy project undertaken by BASNEC on primary healthcare in the state.
Garba however commended the state government for allocating 16 per cent of the state budget to the health sector. (NAN)
MAK/AZU/MST
Edited by Azubuike Okeh/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Politics

Nasarawa State 6th Assembly: Group drums support Speaker

Nasarawa State 6th Assembly: Group drums support Speaker
By Awayi Kuje
Speaker
Lafia, March 19, 2019 (NAN) The Egbira National Development Association (ENDA) has called on members-elect of the 6th Nasarawa State House of Assembly to re-elect Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi as their Speaker.
The President of the group, Alhaji Gani Shafa, made the appeal on Tuesday when he led members on a visit to the speaker in Lafia.
Shafa said their visit was to congratulate AbdulIahi on his re-election as APC member representing Umaisha/Ugya state constituency.
He extolled the virtues of the legislator and commended him for bringing the dividends of democracy to the people of the constituency and the state at large.
“We are proud of you; you united the fifth Assembly as well as attracted development to our constituency, Toto Local Government and the state at large.
“Your leadership qualities have brought about the good working relationship between the executive and the legislature in the state.
“Our prayer is for you to retain your position as speaker for second term so as to lead the forthcoming sixth assembly in order to take the state to the next level of development,” he said.
Responding, the Abdullahi thanked them for the visit and identifying with his quest to win the speakership for the second time.
He noted that as an ambassador of peace, he should be seen doing the needful in ensuring peace among members of the legislature, the executive and the state at large.
The speaker reiterated his support and loyalty to the association at all times in the overriding interest of the society.
He however advised the Egbira community to love and tolerate all persons irrespective of their religious and political affiliations.
The speaker assured them of better days ahead, especially with the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and the emergence of Mr Abdullahi Sule as governor-elect of the state. (NAN)
AKW/PD/MST
Edited by Philip Dzeremo/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Politics

2019: Group harps on violence-free elections in Benue

2019: Group harps on violence-free elections in Benue
By Awayi Kuje
Elections
Keffi (Nasarawa State), Jan. 16, 2019 (NAN) The Idoma Elite Club Worldwide (IEC), a socio-cultural group, on Wednesday has called for a peaceful and violence-free elections in Benue and Nigeria at large in 2019.
The group made the appeal in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Omaga Elachi-Daniel, on Wednesday in Keffi.
The group noted that the elections in Benue, particularly that of the Benue South Senatorial District, popularly called Zone C must be violence free, fair and credible.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the club is a socio-cultural group comprising tertiary institution graduates from Benue South Senatorial District.
The group said that political or public office should not be a platform for pilfering and illegal wealth creation but an avenue for altruistic service and welfare to the voting population.
“Winning elections is not a desperate task nor is winning power about any means available.
“Seeking political positions is not about campaigns of calumny, character assassination or inciting political groups, tribes and localities against one another with the sole aim of scoring cheap political points,’’ it said.
The 2019 elections in Benue, particularly that of Benue South should be a contest of ideas, a battle for winning the hearts and minds of the people, selling of feasible policies and programmes for the betterment of the lives of the people.
“We are calling on our people to choose candidates asking for their votes on the basis of credibility, integrity, trust, political ideology and requisite competences for the effective management of the Benue people and her resources.
“Our politicians, party members and supporters must know that their behaviour in this electioneering period is very crucial.
“They must desist from the destruction of opponent’s campaign posters and banners, as well as the propagation of hate speeches during campaigns.
“No doubt, the political environment will be very competitive considering the calibre of politicians representing the various political parties at all levels but we must ensure that we remain united as a people, before, during and after the elections.
“As no price is too much to pay for our peaceful coexistence. Our people must understand that every competition has laid-down rules which must be followed to the later,” the statement read in part.
The group also called on candidates of various political parties and their supporters to accept the outcome of the 2019 general election results as announced by the electoral umpire.
It advised that the aggrieved should seek redress where necessary in courts of competent jurisdictions instead of resorting to violence as a means of expression.
“We are calling on the security agencies and INEC to be firm but fair. They must remain unbiased and not be attached to the apron strings of any candidate or political party,” it said.
The group further urged the Nigerians, especially the youths in Benue Zone C, to remain law abiding in the discharge of their civic responsibilities in the upcoming elections. (NAN)
AKW/OSA/MST
Edited by Shittu Obassa/Muhammad Suleiman Tola