NAN Archive

Loading

NAN Archive

Tag Support

Education

2019: Group canvasses support for Buhari, Masari

2019: Group canvasses support for Buhari, Masari
By Auwalu Yusuf
Support
Daura (Katsina State), Nov. 15, 2018 (NAN) The Buhari/Masari Agenda 2019, a Katsina-based political association, has commenced tour of the 34 local government areas in the state to sensitise the electorate on the importance of possessing permanent voter cards and re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and Gov. Aminu Masari in the 2019 general elections.
Malam Lawal Adam, the Secretary General of the group, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Daura on Thursday.
He said available statistics from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) indicated that there were still thousands of unclaimed voter cards at the commission’s local government offices across the state.
He emphasised the need for all eligible voters to collect their voter cards ahead of the election, stressing that “the voter card is the only weapon with which one can partake in a political warfare’’.
Adam commended INEC for being very punctual and neutral in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities, saying: “We are happy at the recent display of names of those who applied for voter cards from the commission as their cards were ready for collection.’’
However, the scribe called on the electorate to re-elect Buhari and Masari to enable them consolidate on the gains so far recorded.
According to him, the last three years of APC administration has been very eventful, especially considering the level of infrastructural development, agricultural revolution and promotion of general security situation.
Adam described the administration of Masari as one of the best in the history of the state considering its impact on education, health, security and youth empowerment programme, noting that over 35,000 youths had been empowered through skills acquisition and provision of seed capital.
He added that the administration has also promoted the welfare of civil servants through regular payment of salaries and allowances as well as pension and gratuity of retired civil servants.
The secretary added that the administration has also abolished the hitherto eight-year tenure system for directors introduced by the PDP administration.
NAN also reports that political alignments and realignments, meetings and solidarity visits to politicians has commenced in earnest across the state, ahead of the 2019 polls. (NAN)
BKD/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

BaSAM solicits media support on health reportage

BaSAM solicits media support on health reportage
By Amina Ahmed
Awareness
Bauchi, Nov. 13, 2018 (NAN) The Bauchi State Accountability Mechanism for Maternal, Child and Newborn (BaSAM MNCH) has solicited media support to raise public awareness on health issues.
BaSAM is a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and media professionals advocating for releases of funds allocated to the health sector in the state.
The Chairman, Advocacy and Knowledge Management Committee of the organisation, Mr Ladan Isa, made the appeal when led executive members of BaSam on a visit to Bauchi Zonal Office of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday.
Isa said that the lives of mothers and children in the state needed to be saved through adequate funding of the health sector.
According to him, the State Government had allocated 16 per cent of its 2018 budget to health sector, but unfortunately prompt releases of the fund allocated has been a major concern.
“We are soliciting for the support of NAN to educate the general public on health issues and challenges especially health facilities,” he said.
Responding, the Acting Zonal Manager, Mr Huseyn Mbar, said that the agency has a dedicated desk at its headquarters to promote and support health, population and gender issues.
He said that with the recent development of new ailments and modern technologies the need for credible reportage cannot be overemphasised.
He said the agency has been in the forefront of reporting issues affecting the public health and pledged to collaborate with BaSAM. (NAN)
AE/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Senior Citizens: Expert advocates improved social support in managing dementia

Senior Citizens: Expert advocates improved social support in managing dementia
By Talatu Maiwada
Dementia
Abuja, Nov. 7, 2018 (NAN) Dr Christopher Piwuna, Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist, University of Jos, has called on the Federal Government and key stakeholders to improve social support in the management of dementia among older persons.
Piwuna told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday that it was important for government to provide support and access to healthcare for senior citizens.
According to him, dementia is a neuro-degenerative disorder and progressive disease; with no treatment but can be managed in the hospitals.
He added that dementia was a disease common among the elderly people especially older women; characterized by memory loss, behavioural changes and psychotic changes.
He said at terminal stage of dementia, it was difficult for the dementia patient to control urine and faeces, which makes them (dementia patients) to smell.
Piwuna said Global Plan of Action on Ageing in the sub-Saharan Africa demands for collaboration between government and non- state actors like NGOs to raise awareness on issues of ageing such as dementia.
He said there was need to raise awareness on dementia, available treatment, prevention and care of the condition.
He said government could provide social protection by assisting the older persons through transfer of resources to older individuals or households with no means of adequate support.
Piwuna said such social protection schemes would help reduce the exposure to risk of unemployment, ill-health, poverty, food security and productivity for the poor, disabled and the elderly.
He lamented that government intentions to achieve Universal Health Coverage through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was not completely achieving its purpose.
“Our older people are dying from treatable and preventable diseases; also there is challenge of economic power for the senior citizens.
“We know there are different platforms through which older persons can access health care from NHIS, but they are not functional, the older persons are not aware and not benefiting,’’ he said.
He also lamented that some evolving culture in the society were affecting how elderly people can access healthcare delivery and other social support.
Piwuna said that in managing dementia among the elderly, it was important to note that most of them do not always need medications, but social support.
“The dependent nature of relationships between the elderly, care givers and family members is important especially how we care for widows, widowers the elderly men and women.
“The presence of family members is very critical, talking with them, help him change their clothes, brush their teeth, shop for them.
“If one is aged with dementia means he is experiencing memory loss and would encounter challenges in handling his daily activities, so the care giver must assist and ensure they help them remember things. (NAN)
TIM/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Politics

APC Broom Platform seeks progressive collaboration with media

APC Broom Platform seeks progressive collaboration with media

By Mohammed Suleiman Tola
Publicity
Abuja, Oct. 30, 2018 (NAN) The All Progressives Congress (APC) Broom Platform, a political outfit, on Tuesday called for a “progressive partnership’’ with media organisations for the development of the country.

Dr Tom Ohikere, the National Coordinator of the group, made the call during a visit to the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Bayo Onanuga, in Abuja.

Ohikere, who served as a commissioner for information in Kogi under two administrations, appealed to the conscience of all media practitioners to support the present administration with a sense of patriotism to get the country out of the woods.

He said: “Without your (media) support, citizens and rest of the world will not appreciate the good things the government is doing.

“So, people need to know, understand and support the government to rejig the country and deliver more dividends of democracy.’’

The coordinator described the platform as a media inclined specialised forum of over 60 veteran journalists, writers and media administrators.

He explained that the group would canvass for the realisation of party ideals, leadership qualities and virtues as well as character, competence and capacity of our leaders.

On policy environment, he urged the media to support and promote challenges of national development, the philosophy behind project continuity and completion of abandoned projects of successive administrations.

Similarly, Ohikere appealed to journalists to publicise the achievements, milestones and legacy projects recorded by the Buhari administration.

Besides, he challenged the media to set and promote nationalistic development agenda for the country beyond 2019 the general elections.

On their part, Ohikere announced that the group was contributing via off and online activities (traditional and social/new media platforms), but needed more support.

Consequently, he said the group would embark on a nationwide media “evidence of change’’ tour, beginning from Nov. 5, 2018, through Jan. 25, 2019.

The coordinator emphasised that the tour would cover all the APC controlled and non-controlled states of the federation and the FCT.

Responding, Onanuga noted that the activity was in the best interest of the Federal Government and the ruling party.

The managing director pledged the support of the agency toward national unity, peace, progress and development. (NAN)
MST/AMY
Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

General news

2019: Group drums support for President Buhari

2019: Group drums support for President Buhari
By Awayi Kuje
Confidence
Keffi (Nasarawa State), Sept. 19, 2018 (NAN) The Modibbo Haruna Buhari Charity Organisation (BCO), an NGO, has passed a vote of confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, saying he deserves a second term.
Mr Modibbo Suleiman-Masaka, the National Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of the organisation, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Keffi, Keffi Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, on Wednesday.
Suleiman-Masaka said that Buhari’s laudable projects had direct bearing on the lives of Nigerians.
He also drummed support for Buhari’s re-election bid, explaining that their support was based on the president’s numerous achievements in the areas of security, corruption, agriculture and economy, among others.

“Buhari has done a lot and is still doing his best; he deserves second term to enable him continue with the good works he has being doing for Nigerians.
“We have searched everywhere but there is no any candidate to compare him with President Buhari in 2019.
“President Buhari had done well and is still doing well, we will continue to mobilise and drum support for his re-election bid in the interest of development.
“It is in view of this that we as an NGO after assessing his achievements in office, we pass a vote of confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s re-election bid come 2019 ,” he said.
Suleiman-Masaka called on Nigerians to support Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade with prayers for the success of the war.
He also called on Nigerians to offer special prayers for peace, unity and violence-free general elections in 2019 in order to elect God-fearing leaders.
The BOT chairman restated the organisation’s continued commitment to preach peace and harmony among Nigerians in the interest of national development. (NAN)
AKW/OFN/MST
Edited by Felix Nwadioha/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Demographic Dividend: UNFPA drums support for Nigerian youths

Demographic Dividend: UNFPA drums support for youths
By Mustapha Sumaila
Youths
Abuja, Sept. 16, 2018 (NAN) The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has advised governments to keep youths at the centre of priority to drive the change of harnessing Demographic Dividend (DD).
Dr Mabingue Ngom, the UNFPA Regional Director of West and Central Africa Regional Office, gave this advice at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.
Ngom explained that the youth of Nigeria should be at the centre of priority not only in terms of political decision but in the budgeting and concrete actions.
He said that the government and other stakeholders must create space for young people and give them voice in achieving DD in the country.
According to him, the best investment for security is to invest in young people.
The regional director emphasised that in as much as Nigerian youths were not placed in their rightful position “we will continue to have young people crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Libya and Europe’’.
“In Africa today, we have problem of migration which is the symptom of big issue of high population growth driven by child marriage and unmet needs of the young people.
“If we do not invest in our youth, there is no way we will achieve the goal we set out for ourselves in terms of harnessing the DD.
“There must be quality education and job opportunity for the youth in addressing the challenge of migration and insurgency.
“The issue of child marriage is still a problem in some parts of this country and that must be addressed by relevant stakeholders.
“We must also invest in our women, protect them and give them opportunity to have access to Family Planning,” the UNFPA official said. (NAN)
MS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Foreign

Boko Haram: UN, EU renews support for stability, resilience in Lake Chad Basin

Boko Haram: UN, EU renews support for stability, resilience in Lake Chad Basin
By Isaac Aregbesola
Support
Abuja, Aug. 30, 2018 (NAN) The UN has renewed its support to continuous quest for stability, recovery and resilience to the Lake Chad Basin to put it on the path to sustainable development.
Mr Edward Kallon, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, said this on Thursday in Abuja.
Kallon spoke at the Ministerial Conference on the Validation and Adoption of the Regional Strategy on stabilisation of Boko Haram affected areas of the Lake Chad region.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that UN said the resilience of the insurgent Boko Haram group in the Lake Chad basin since 2009 posed enormous security, humanitarian and governance challenges.
Four countries caught up in the insurgency are Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.
UN said the Boko Haram had displaced nearly 2.4 million people in the Lake Chad sub-region.
Kallon said: “UNDP and the entire UN system stands ready to support the Lake Chad Basin Countries and partners to ensure an inclusive, sustainable and accountable implementation of the regional stabilisation strategy.
“And, put the Lake Chad sub-region on the path to sustainable development.”
According to him, the UN is working closely with the government of Nigeria and other Lake Chad Basin Countries in their relief and recovery efforts in addressing the needs of affected population.
He said that the visit of the UN Security Council to the region in March 2017 and the subsequent adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2349 (2017) further galvanised the world attention to the crisis in the Lake Chad.
“The adoption of the strategy fulfilled the Security Council’s Resolution 2349 that, among others, called for regional organisations to develop a comprehensive strategy.
“This will effectively address the drivers conflict that contributed to the emergence of Boko Haram and ISIL, with a particular focus on longer term development needs,” he said.
Kallon stressed the need for the collaborative efforts to mobilise resources to implement the strategy.
“Our task now is to take this forward and mobilise required resources to implement the strategy.
“The high level conference on the Lake Chad Region in Berlin slated for Sept. 2 and 3, will have a concrete regional stabilisation strategy to build on,” he said.
Also speaking, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Ketil karlsen, said that the strategy was more needed now than any other time.
The ambassador said that EU would support the depth implementation of the strategy.
Karslen stressed the need to recognise the significant progress and the achievement by the stakeholders in solving the crisis in Nigeria’s northeast and Lake Chad basin regions.
He expressed concern that with the magnitude of the crisis it had been one of those overlooked crisis in the global scale.
He said that the EU supports the integration approach to solving crisis, stressing for need to combine political and financial strength to end the crisis successfully.
He said the EU has been and will remain supportive in the fight against insurgence in the lake Chad basin, stressing that the union had spent more than 700 million Euros in its humanitarian assistance in the area. (NAN)
IAA/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Politics

2019: Lawmaker supports APC direct primaries

2019: Lawmaker supports APC direct primaries
By Awayi Kuje
Primaries
Nasarawa (Nasarawa State), Aug. 28, 2018 (NAN) A member of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Mr Murtala Sodangi, has endorsed the adoption of direct primaries by the national leadership and stakeholders of All Progressives Congress (APC) to elect the party’s flag bearers for 2019 general elections.
Sodangi (APC-Nasarawa Central constituency) expressed his support on Tuesday in Nasarawa while fielding questions from newsmen in Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the ruling party has announced plans to use direct primaries in electing its candidates for the 2019 polls.
The party tested the direct primary formula during the Osun State governorship primary for its flag bearer.
Reacting to the development, Sodangi said that the direct primaries adopted by the party would give APC members the opportunity to vote candidates of their choice.
He added the formula would also give every aspirant the chance to test his/her popularity and acceptability ahead of the general election.
“ I am in support of direct primaries. Of course, if Mr President wants direct primaries, I also want direct primaries,’’ he said.
Sodangi called on Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption fight in the interest of national development.
He described Buhari as incorruptible leader and a corruption fighter, hence the need for all and sundry to support the president to succeed.
The lawmaker noted that corruption had affected the lives and the socio-economic development of the country negatively.
According to him, Buhari is a man of integrity, incorruptible leader, a corruption fighter and by God’s grace he (the president) will win the 2019 general election because of his unbeatable qualities.
On defection, the lawmaker said APC in the state was intact.
“We thank God for that and we are united because of the good policies and programmes of Gov. Tanko Al-Makura towards impacting positively on the lives of the people in the state.
“I believe he is carrying everybody along, Gov. Al-Makura use to engage critical stakeholders when taking decisions about development and the party, that is why APC in Nasarawa state is intact and we are intact,” he said.
Sodangi said that the defectors were doing so based on their selfish and personal interests.
He expressed optimism that APC would continue to wax stronger considering the laudable achievements of President Buhari and Gov. Al-Makura in improving the lives of Nigerians.
The lawmaker restated his commitment to continue to initiate good policies and programmes that would have direct bearing on the lives of his constituents and the state at large. (NAN)
AKW/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Mrs Buhari canvasses economic support for rural women

Mrs Buhari canvasses economic support for rural women
By Ahmed Ubandoma
Support
Katsina, Aug. 24, 2018 (NAN) The wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has called for moral and financial support to rural women to enable them establish small scale businesses.
Mrs Buhari made the appeal on Friday while disbursing some cash to 200 women beneficiaries at the women multipurpose centre in Katsina.
The women benefitted from the Aisha Buhari Foundation’s Community-Based Cash Transfer Intervention.
She explained that it was in continuation of a similar gesture made in Daura where 200 women were assisted with cash to grow their business.
The cash distribution was executed through her NGO, the Future Assured Initiative, which is a component of Aisha Buhari Foundation.
She said that the gesture became necessary considering the economic challenge facing women at the grassroots.
Represented by Dr Mohammed Kamal, the National Coordinator of Future Assured Initiative, Mrs Buhari said the cash transfer scheme was in line with the vision of her NGO towards improving the economic status of women in Nigeria.
The state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Badiyya Hassan Mashi, thanked the wife of the president for her continued support to rural women.
The commissioner noted that the intervention would assist entrepreneurial women to expand the capital base of their micro businesses.
She therefore urged the beneficiaries to utilise the funds judiciously. (NAN)
AMU/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Trauma: Foundation drums support for psycho-social victims

Trauma: Foundation drums support for psycho-social victims
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Trauma
Abuja, July 24, 2018 (NAN) The Executive Director, Lux Terra Leadership Foundation, Rev. Fr. George Ehusani, has called on stakeholders to pay more attention to psychosocial support for the traumatised in conflict areas.
Ehusani made the call during the presentation of certificate to participants of a basic Psycho-Trauma Healing Course organised by the foundation on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said the relevance of trauma was underestimated, saying it can cause severe damage in a person and change him or her completely.
“We are all aware of the level of trauma caused by activities of the insurgents in the country especially in the North and North central states.
“That is why this foundation thought it wise to work on affected Nigerians by counselling and training them on how to overcome trauma.
“We noticed that most international donors and NGOs just provide relief materials to affected people and forget about their psychological state,’’ he said.
Ehusani said the foundation would train social workers and trauma healers from different states to give basic counselling to people in crisis areas.
He said if the traumatised were not properly counselled, they could eventually become perpetrators of violence.
“We only pay attention to the wounds on the body; we don’t notice the invisible wounds. But internal turmoil directs people’s actions and behaviour.
“It can keep them from functioning and may lead to more violence. In many crisis situations, local people as well as international helpers focus on basic needs such as food and shelter.
“While these vital issues need to be fulfilled first, trauma should be addressed at the same time. When we bring food, we should also start talking,” he said.
Prof. Andrew Zamani of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, said that the training was important as it would increase the level of forgiveness and reduce malice in the country.
The don noted that when traumatised victims were not given adequately care, they end up perpetrating violence in the society.
Zamani therefore urged the participants to become good ambassadors of the foundation by counselling traumatised victims as the situation arises.
One of the participants, Hajia Kellu Goni, Senior Special Assistant to the Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe on Security Matters, said that the training had exposed her to see the dangers of trauma when left unmanaged.
The News agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the foundation is a training facility with the purpose of exposing leaders and potential leaders to the dynamics of purposeful, visionary, transformative and inspiring servant leadership. (NAN)
OEO/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola