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Entertainment

Valentine: Cultural enthusiast donates clothing, food items to widows, students

Valentine: Cultural enthusiast donates clothing, food items to widows, students
By Justina Auta
Valentine
Abuja, Feb. 14, 2019 (NAN) Mrs Chinwe Ezenwa, a cultural enthusiast, on Thursday in Abuja donated food and clothing items to widows, IDPs and students as part of activities to mark this year’s Valentine Day’s celebration.
Ezenwa, who is the proprietor of LeLook House of Bags, Shoes and Household items, said the effort was to support the less privileged in the society in this season of love.
She added that the event also aimed at changing the conception of youths and adults in the society about the way Valentine Day should be celebrated.
“On a special day like valentine, where people misconstrue what Valentine is all about, I decided to make it a cultural event that is why I have children here, the widows, IDPs instead of people misbehaving somewhere, let them come and see the other side of love.’’
She added that her organisation has acquired the services of some Austrians, who will be coming into the country to train widows, unemployed youths and students on various skills.
“We have already contacted and reached an agreement with some Austrians, who are very good with leather works to train them on bags, shoes, household goods like bed covers, throw pillows, chairs, table clothes and table mats.’’
Ezenwa also used the opportunity to showcase locally-made accessories and household items to promote African culture, particularly that of Nigeria within and outside the country.
“We have a project we call Lelook cultural project mainly to try to get people to start appreciating their culture. I am a cultural person and I feel we are losing our moral and cultural values.
“ I am bringing the fact that we need to promote our African heritage, we need to empower people through all these creating of arts and cultural events.
“We need to take our Nigeria culture outside Nigeria, our bags are making waves, because they are ambassadors of Nigeria,’’ he said.
Also, Mrs Bernice Jospeh , CEO of Amazing Grace Widows Foundation, said training for widows and less privileged in the society would equip them with skills, would reduce their dependence on other persons.
One of the recipients of the gesture, Mrs Priscilla Francis, appreciated the efforts of the philanthropist, adding that the items received will aid her family tremendously.
She noted that the training would further empower her with skills to generate income for herself and her family.
Similarly, Master Giftson Sunday, a student of Abuja Children’s School, Karu, commended the efforts, which he said would reduce the burden on his parents. (NAN)
JAD/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Val Day: NACA task youths to play safe, stay protected

Val Day: NACA task youths to play safe, stay protected
NAN-HG-6
Protection
Abuja, Feb. 14, 2018 (NAN) Dr Sani Aliyu, Director-General, National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA) on Wednesday urged youths to play safe and stay protected while celebrating Valentine’s Day.
Aliyu made the call at the commemoration of 2018 World Condom Day in conjunction with Valentine’s Day celebration in Abuja.
He also enjoined youths to get tested and know their HIV status.
He said it was important for youths in the country to play safe and stay protected during this season of Valentine to arrest the transmission of new HIV infection.
“It is important for our youths to stay protected, HIV is still much around and the best way for them to protect themselves from HIV is through abstinence.
“However, if they cannot abstain from sex, then they have to use a barrier protection. Yesterday and today is an opportunity for everyone to get tested of HIV.
“All youths should get tested to know their status; it is very easy and not painful.
“Persons who test positive will be placed on medication that will help them live a normal and healthy life, while those negative should take necessary precautions to protect themselves and their loved ones,’’ Aliyu said.
Dr Greg Abiaziem, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), Acting Country Programme Manager, said the event was targeted at increasing awareness and promote the prevention of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).
“Others include safer sex, condom use and its role in preventing HIV and unwanted pregnancies.
“It is important to ensure that condom option was made available as preventive measure to youths who can’t abstain from sex as new HIV infections highest among young people is from 15 years to 24 years,’’ he said.
Abiaziem added that those who cannot abstain should use condom as it would prevent STDs, including HIV and unwanted pregnancies.
“The national health survey data suggests that about 4.2 per cent of young people 15 to 24 years are living with HIV.
“However, AHF is distributing about 300,000 condoms and test no fewer than 43,000 persons of HIV to commemorate World Condom Day in Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Kogi, Nasarawa and Abuja,’’ Abiaziem said.
NAN reports that AHF is the largest non-profit HIV/AIDS organisation in the world that provides medical care to over 855,000 clients in 39 countries.
AHF Nigeria has been operating in the country since 2011 and has its presence in six states.
The NGO, in collaboration with NACA, celebrated the World condom day, a global event which held on Feb. 13, in conjunction with Valentine’s Day.
The theme for 2018 World Condom Day is “Always in Fashion’’. (NAN)
TIM/OIF/MST
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Economy

Valentine: District Head cautions youths against risky behaviour

 

NAN-H-23

Vices

By Awayi Kuje

Akun (Nasarawa State) Feb. 13, 2017(NAN) Mr Adams Makka-Nangba, the District Head of Wakama, in Nasarawa State, has warned youths in the area against “risky behaviour” in the course of marking St. Valentine’s day.

“Valentine day is here again and, as is usual, youths line up all manners of activities to mark it.

“They drink, smoke and engage in other odd behaviour in the name of valentine; very often, they end up in hospital or police station as a result of such behaviour.

“My advice is that they should use the day to reflect on their lives and initiate ideas that will improve their living standard,” Makka-Nangba told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Monday in Wakama.

He said that youths must see themselves as agents of change and try to put heads together so as to fashion out what would help the society.

The district head thanked the Akun traditional council for appointing him to serve as the district head of Wakama, and promised to be transparent and accountable in the discharge of his duties.

He challenged youths to see the current economic recession as a challenge to work harder, pointing out that there were many opportunities to be explored toward prosperity.

The monarch counseled the people on the need to live in peace, stressing that progress was only possible in an orderly setting as no investor would venture into a chaotic environment.

He cautioned people in his district against greed, tribalism and violence, and called for the promotion of good values and patriotism.

“Above all, you must be creative and innovative because the future of the country rests with the youth; we need such virtues if Nigeria is to attain speedy development,” he said.

The district head enjoined Nigerians to live in peace and tolerate one another irrespective of ethnic, religion and political affiliation.

NAN reports that Feb. 14 is marked world wide as a period to show love, in memory of St. Valentine, a Catholic priest, who was known for showing love and carrying outacts of charity. (NAN)

AKW/ETS

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Edited by Ephraims Sheyin