Nigerian Stock Exchange building

By Itohan Abara-Laserian

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Wednesday received members approval for listing by introduction at its 59th Annual General Meeting held in Lagos.

Otunba Abimbola Ogunbanjo, President of the National Council of NSE, said the approval would fast-track plans to re-register The NSE as the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGXG) on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) once the NSE was completely demutualised.

Ogunbanjo said thatunder the resolution passed by the AGM, the conversion and re-registration was subject to the receipt of requisite approvals of relevant regulatory authorities.

He said that voting cleared the way for the listing of NGXG and for a new structure that would enable the Exchange to realise its vision of becoming Africas leading exchange hub.

According to him, NGXG Plc will be expected to realise all the benefits of demutualisation for its stakeholders and the capital market at large.

The National Council welcomes the strong endorsement by the members of the Exchange for our listing plans.

On behalf of the council, we wish to thank the Exchanges management for their outstanding work in the previous year, when they have faced unprecedented challenges such as the Coronavirus pandemic.

It is a tribute to their efforts that the exchange has continued to work effectively and at the same time has made significant progress in pursuing its strategic development through listing and other steps, he said.

Following the conversion and re-registration of the Exchange as Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, the powers of the National Council of the Exchange would be devolved upon the Board of Directors of the Group and the re-election as a Member of the National Council.

Mr Oscar Onyema, Chief Executive Officer of the NSE, who is the Group CEO of NGXG Plc Designate for the new structure, said: We would like to thank the membership of The Exchange for their overwhelming support of the listing plans.

This marks the beginning of the Exchanges transformation into a listed company with flexibility to raise additional equity and (or) debt capital.

It is our aim that under this new structure, the Nigerian capital markets will be able to play a role that is commensurate with Nigerias status as Africas biggest economy.

We believe we can become a financial hub for Africa and with the backing of our stakeholders and their continued use of our services this objective can become a reality, he added.

According to the Exchange, NSEs demutualisation was unanimously approved by its members at its court ordered meeting held in March 2020.

The demutualisation of the Exchange is subject to the approval of the Securities and Exchange (SEC) of Nigeria, which is expected imminently. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Salah

Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah and Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny have returned another positive test for COVID-19, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) said on Wednesday.

Salah had previously tested positive for the coronavirus last Friday, on the eve of Egypts 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Togo, while Elneny tested positive three days later.

Salah, who is the joint leading scorer in the English Premier League (EPL) this season with eight goals, will miss the visit from league leaders Leicester City on Sunday.

He is also likely to be ruled out of Liverpools UEFA Champions League game against Atalanta next Wednesday.

Elneny is expected to miss Arsenals trip to Leeds United on Sunday and their Europa League clash at Molde on Nov 26. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 Vaccine Research

Argentina may start the COVID-19 vaccination with Russian vaccine, Sputnik V, in January or February 2021, Argentine President Alberto Fernandezs press service said on Wednesday.

On Nov. 6, Fernandez held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and they discussed an agreement to provide Argentina with 25 million doses of the vaccine by late 2020 to early 2021.

We continue to work with Russia to start the vaccination in January and February, the Argentine president said.

According to the statement, Argentina is also planning to provide its population with the AstraZeneca Oxford COVID-19 vaccine in March.

The Sputnik V is the first COVID-19 vaccine registered in Russia and the world.

The vaccine is currently going through phase 3 trials in Russia, as well as in Belarus, India, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.

Sputnik V is 92 per cent effective, based on data from the first 16,000 trial participants who have received both shots of the two-dose vaccine.

The United Kingdoms AstraZeneca company is one of the leaders in the COVID-19 vaccine race.

AstraZenecas vaccine has passed two of the three phases of its vaccine trial.

The third phase is currently being conducted in the UK, Brazil and India. (Sputnik/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Prof. Chris Bode, Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, presenting a certificate to one of the awardees in the COVID-19 response team on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020. (NAN)

By Abiodun Azi

The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) on Wednesday celebrated its COVID-19 response team in appreciation of the efforts put in to manage COVID-19 and patients.

Prof. Chris Bode, Chief Medical Director (CMD) of LUTH, told newsmen at an event to mark the 2020 LUTH Day in Lagos that the response team is dedicated and alive to the dictates of the profession.

We are gathered here today, not as a festival it used to be as LUTH Day to celebrate these heroes, but to also appreciate our COVID-19 warriors who have treated more than 600 community patients free of charge.

And we have learnt many lessons; when many of us fled, when many thought the best thing to do was to shut the gates and not control the danger of community, they forged ahead.

They are the true heroes of Nigeria. They are warriors to be celebrated. That is what we have chosen to do and of which means a lot to us.

We have been so lucky not to be dying in droves in Nigeria like it is happening in America and Europe, he said.

According to the CMD, the countrys health system has been challenged several times and the responses have been better than many other places.

Prof. Akin Osibogun, Chairman, Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, delivered a keynote address with theme: Team Work in the Management of COVID-19 in Nigeria.

Osibogun, who was a former LUTH CMD, said teamwork was an essential component of any efficient and effective healthcare delivery service.

Everyone matters in the management and treatment of patients. Teamwork is the key.

Small errors, even on the part of the cleaners or anyone in the health team, can lead to grave consequences.

He appealed to all medical and health workers to pay attention to details and also be properly supervised, monitored and controlled.

According to him, all the units and departments are working toward achieving a common goal.

Also, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), said he was honoured to join in the celebration of 2020 LUTH event.

Oyeyemi, who was the Special Guest of Honour, was represented by Olusegun Ogungbemide, a Corps Commander in FRSC.

He said, Today is unique.

Not because we are gradually emerging from the dark tunnel of COVID-19 pandemic but for the increasing institutional consciousness of recognition of the hero and heroine among us, while alive.

This is a great way to write our national history, build patriotism and foster commitment that gives life a deserving meaning.

The UN predicted a heavy death toll for Nigeria and Africa at the out-set of COVID-19 outbreak when nations with supposed stronger health management system were collapsing under the strain of the virus.

Today, however, the gloomy predictions are far from fulfillment and they are currently asking why, wondering what happened with sound empirical evidences that premised the projections, he said.

Oyeyemi said that the greatest humanly missing gap in that equation was the uniqueness of Nigeria medical practitioners with the Spirit of Naija.

He commended LUTH and its workers for their efforts and called for sustained zeal in the discharge of their duties.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Illustration: Ongoing Road Construction

By Friday Idachaba

The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing (FMWH) has given assurance that the ongoing dualisation of Abuja-Lokoja-nBenin highway would be completed before December 2021.

Engr. Yusuf Jimoh-Adekunle, Director Highways, North-Central in the Ministry gave the assurance on Wednesday in Lokoja while inspecting the level of work by the contractors.

Jimoh-Adekunle said that the project inherited from previous administrations suffered setback due too poor funding.

He however, said that the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration had provided alternative funding platforms such as the SUKUK bond to ensure the completion of the project for the benefit of the people.

Jimoh-Adekunle said, we now have the SUKUK, we have Tax Relief, we have loans that we got from China NEXIM on some other projects.

This particular project is enjoying the SUKUK loan apart from the budgetary provisions.

The director who noted that funding was no longer a challenge, maintained that all that was needed was to ensure that the contractors were working.

So, this visit is mainly to ensure that quality work is being executed and that is why I have come together with my team, he added.

He expressed satisfaction with the progress of work so far.

Speaking further on the project, Engr. Jimoh Kajogbola, Federal Controller of Works in Kogi explained that the dualisation of section One of Lokoja-Benin road was in two phases.

We are on phase II now and it is about 41 kilometres. The total length of both phase one and phase two is about 58.15 km.

The contractor, CGC Nig. has partially completed phase one which included about 14km Okene by-pass virgin dual carriageway, except for some little issues which will be cleared, although it has been opened to traffic for more than two years now, Kajogbola said.

He said that the contractor was expected complete deliver the project by December, 2021.

So, it is now left for the contractor to work harder to be able to access the provisions made for them within budget and from SUKUK funding, We have about N2.5 billion to access this year 2020, Kajogbola said.

Alhaji Yaba Abubakar, Project Manager who spoke on behalf of CGC Nig. Ltd. assured that they would deliver on the project within the stipulated time given the level and pace of work.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Yahaya Bello

By Stephen Adeleye

The Kogi Commissioner for Health, Dr Saka Audu, has refuted the rumour making the rounds that no fewer than 50 persons had died under strange circumstances in Etteh community, Olamaboro Local Government Area of the state.

A statement by the commissioner on Wednesday in Lokoja, denied the rumour of any strange deaths.

Audu said the state has a well establish network by which disease outbreaks are reported from the community, local government levels to the state level, and therefore it was unlikely that an incident of that magnitude could go unnoticed.

We have focal persons (informants) in strategic locations across the State who pass the information on Diseases of public Health interest to the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (DSNO) at the Local Government level.

The DSNO Locsl Government then transfers this report through the DSNO (SMOH) to the State Epidemiologist who in turn brings such cases to my attention.

By implication, we are kept abreast at all times of happenings in every part of the State. It is therefore unlikely that an incident, the magnitude as reported will pass unnoticed, he said.

Audu explained that when the Enugu State Commissioner for Health issued a recent press statement confirming an outbreak of Yellow Fever in his state, we sent a Rapid Response Team from the Kogi State Ministry of Health.

The team was accompanied by WHO, to Ette community that shares border with Enugu State, without waiting for the usual channel of communication as a proactive measure.

He added that when the team arrived the area on Nov. 7, they met with the community leaders, health workers, public and private hospitals and held meetings with the people, during which they conducted massive Health education on how to prevent Yellow fever from spreading.

Audu also said that the team gave out the ministrys Rapid Response toll-free lines to the people of the community, as well as Health workers and heads of institutions, to report the occurrence of any strange illness or deaths in excess of what was the norm.

As at this moment, nobody has reached out to us. As a matter of fact, we have been having phone conversations with our contacts in that region, and there was no report of any mysterious death or outbreak of strange disease in Kogi State, the health commissioner said.

The Commissioner stressed that yellow fever outbreak was one they were well acquainted with in the State and ever ready to tackle.

We had an outbreak in Okoloke axis of Yagba-West Local Government area in 2017 as a result of which we vaccinated all the people in the region and adjoining communities in Kogi and Kwara States. Eventually, in 2018, we had Yellow fever vaccination for all eligible persons across the State.

In all these, we thank our Health Development Partners and the Federal Government for their collaboration. We intend to go back to the community to vaccinate persons who may have missed out on the 2018 vaccination.

Yellow fever vaccination offers protection for up to 10 years. Afterwards, booster doses may then be required for those travelling to areas where Yellow fever is endemic, he said.

He allayed the fears of the people, advising them to go about their normal businesses and report any case of any strange illness or death through the dedicated Toll-free lines.

He urged the people to maintain personal and environmental hygiene, prevent mosquito bites by clearing their surroundings and drainages, to prevent water lodging around residential areas. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Bandits in North West

By Mohammed Tijjani

Three members of the Kaduna State Vigilance Service have been killed in an ambush by bandits in Chikun local government area of the state.

The Commissioner, Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, said in a statement he issued on Wednesday in Kaduna.

He said the vigilantes, identfied as Alison Musa, Dauda Audu and Ishaya Sarki, were killed on Tuesday night when bandits ambushed them at Dande village on their way from Damba-Kasaya in Buruku general area.

Aruwan stated that two of their colleagues, Ayuba Tanko and Doza Adamu, however, sustained injuries in the attack.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai has sent condolences to their families and prayed for the repose of their souls, while wishing those that sustained injuries speedy recovery, the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Governor has commended land and air troops of Operation Thunder Strike for a successful operation around Kuku area, at the Kagarko local government axis of Kaduna-Abuja Road, saying that he received with gratitude, information that the first air strikes hit some of the target structures and neutralized some of the bandits.

He noted with appreciation the air support provided the ground troops by a Nigerian Airforce helicopter gunship as they advanced to Kagarko, via Kuku into the bandits enclave.

In another development, the commissioner has said that armed bandits on Tuesday opened fire on motorists close to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), but were repelled by troops.

He appealed for vigilance and prompt reporting to the security agencies any suspicious movements or activities.

The commissioner added that residents could provide information through the state security operations room phone numbers and e-mail address: , , (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Donald Trump, U.S. President

President Donald Trumps campaign wired 3 million dollars to officials in Wisconsin to fund a partial recount of votes in the Nov. 3 U.S. presidential election, an official said.

The State Elections Commission said this in a Twitter statement on Wednesday.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission has received a wire transfer from the Trump campaign for 3 million dollars.

No petition has been received yet, but the Trump campaign has told WEC staff one will be filed today. We have no further information at this time, the commission said.

The Trump campaign in a separate statement said it would file a petition later in the day for a recount in two counties, Milwaukee and Dane.

The statement cited illegally altered absentee ballots, illegally issued absentee ballots, and illegal advice given by government officials allowing Wisconsins Voter ID laws to be circumvented.

The campaign contends that officials sent absentee ballots to indefinitely confined voters without requiring that the voters submit identification, as required by state election laws.

A state website defines indefinitely confined voters as people with restricted mobility due to age, physical illness, infirmity or disability.

The Trump campaign claimed the number of confined voter ballots surged from 72,000 in 2019 to 240,000 in the November election and that a substantial number of those ballots were returned without proper identification.

The latest tally shows Biden beat Trump in Wisconsin by more than 20,000 votes. (Sputnik/NAN)

Source: NAN News

FAAC

By Temitope Ponle

Mr Aliyu Ahmed, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning on Wednesday said the three tiers of government shared N604.004 billion as federation allocation for October.

Ahmed said this in a statement issued by Mr Hassan Dodo, the Director for Information at the end of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting in Abuja.

The permanent secretary said the N604.004 billion shared included cost of collection to Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Department for Petroleum Resources (DPR) and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

He said the Federal Government received N220.751 billion, the States received N161.825 billion, and the Local Government Councils (LGCs) got N120.588 billion.

Ahmed added that the oil producing states received N31.902 billion as derivation (13 per cent of mineral revenue) and cost of collection/transfer and refunds got N48.939 billion.

According to the communique issued by the committee, gross revenue available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) for October was N126.463 billion.

This was against N141.858 billion distributed in the preceding month of September, resulting in a decrease of N15.395 billion.

The distribution is as follow: Federal Government got N17.642 billion, the States received N58.805 billion, Local Government Councils got N41.167 billion, while Cost of Collection/Transfer and Refundgot N5.059 billion and Allocation to NEDC project received N3.794 billion.

The distributed Statutory Revenue ofN378.148 billion received for the month was higher than the N341.501 billion received for the previous month by N36.647 billion.

From the amount, the Federal Government received N166.195 billon, States got N84.296 billion, LGCs got N64.989 billion, derivation (13% Mineral Revenue) got N21.581 billion and Cost of Collection/ Transfer and Refund got N40.086 billion.

The communique also revealed that Oil and Gas Royalty, Companies Income Tax (CIT) increased substantially.

However, Import Duty, Excise Duty, VAT, and Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) recorded decreases.

It further disclosed that the total revenue distributable for the current month was augmented with the sums of N72 billion and N7.392 billion from Forex Equalisation and FGN Intervention respectively.

It said it included an augmentation of N20 billion from the Stabilisation Account.

This is because of low revenue which is to be shared accordingly to the three tiers of government, bringing the total Distributable Revenue to N604.004 billion.

The balance in the Excess Crude Account as at Nov. 18 stands at 72.409 million dollars. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Yekini Nabena, APC spokesperson

By Emmanuel Mogbede

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that there is no court order restraining its Caretaker and Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee from conducting membership registration as being speculated.

Mr Yekini Nabena, the partys Deputy National Publicity Secretary, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja while reacting to the development.

In respect of the suit: KALU KALU AGU Vs APC

Powerful storm wreaks havoc in South America

The powerful storm Iota has claimed at least 11 lives as it swept over parts of Central and South America.

The death toll includes six victims in Nicaragua, two in Colombia, one in El Salvador and one in Panama, according to official figures.

A person was also reported to have been killed in Honduras, though the death has not been officially confirmed.

Iota struck Nicaraguas Caribbean coast on Monday as a Category 4 hurricane, with winds of 250 kilometres per hour.

It later weakened and was downgraded into a tropical storm.

The storm was on Wednesday dissipating over El Salvador, though it is still expected to bring rains to parts of Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, Nicaragua and El Salvador through Thursday, according to the US National Hurricane Centre.

This rainfall will lead to significant, life-threatening flash flooding and river flooding, along with mudslides in areas of higher terrain, the statement said.

High waves were also expected to affect much of the Central American coast and Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula.

Iota caused widespread damage in Nicaragua, where it destroyed homes and bridges, felled trees and electricity posts and disrupted telecommunications, especially around the city of Puerto Cabezas.More than 60,000 people were evacuated.

In northern Honduras, Iota worsened the damage that had already been caused by hurricane Eta two weeks earlier.

Nearly the entire infrastructure on the Colombian island of Providencia was destroyed and thousands of families lost their homes.

A low pressure area could now appear in the south-western Caribbean, the Hurricane Centre warned. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 Online Emergency Response

Harrison Arubu
Public schools in New York are to close for in-person learning from Thursday due to a statewide surge in COVID-19 cases.

The citys Schools Chancellor, Richard Carranza, conveyed the directive in an email to school principals on Wednesday.

Carranza said the decision was taken because the infection rate average over the last seven days had reached the 3-per-cent closure threshold.

He stated that classrooms would hold remotely during the shutdown, while all school buildings would remain closed until further notice.

He added that please note that this is a temporary closure, and school buildings will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so.

I know that for many of you, this decision to close schools that we recently opened will be disappointing, and I understand.

But by confronting the challenges together, we can continue to fight back against COVID-19. I am confident that before long, we will be able to safely reopen schools.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that New York has the largest school system in the United States, with 1,800 schools and no fewer than 1.1 million students.

The latest shutdown is coming barely two months after the schools reopened, following the first closure in April when the city became global coronavirus epicentre.

In a tweet, Mayor Bill de Blasio sued for understanding and cooperation from parents, noting that we must fight back the second wave of COVID-19.

The U.S. is currently experiencing a second wave of COVID-19, reporting no fewer than one million new cases last week.

It remains the hardest-hit country with no fewer than 11 million cases and 255,000 deaths.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, Director-
General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR)

By Priscilla Osaje

The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has restated its commitment to collaborate with the Chinese Embassy, to enhance staff capacity building for effective service delivery.

A statement by Mr Ahmed Sule, Deputy Director, Media and Public Relations of NIHOTOUR, said.

The statement said that the Director-General of NIHOTOUR, Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, stated this during a courtesy visit to the office of the Economic and Commercial Counselor, Mr Wu Lyufan, at the Chinese Embassy in Abuja.

Kangiwa said that the collaboration with the Chinese Embassy on building the capacity of the Institutes staff would help to enhance their performance in delivering the Institutes mandate of providing personnel training for the Nigerian Travel Tourism and Hospitality industry.

He observed that China has a global reputation in manpower training and development, particularly its skills acquisition and hands-on-training, which NIHOTOUR would be delighted to benefit from.

The NIHOTOUR boss reiterated the commitment and resolve of the Federal Government to revitalise all sectors of the economy, in the light of the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, saying that the travel, tourism and hospitality sub-sector was hardest hit by the pandemic, due to restrictions placed on the movement of people globally.

Since its establishment over three decades ago, NIHOTOUR has trained over 10,000 certified International Air Transport Association (IATA) personnel in the nations Travel and Tourism industry. It has also attained the best IATA training centre status in Africa and among the top 10 best IATA training centres globally.

The institute will do better if its staff receive training and retraining to upscale their knowledge, in line with new global skills and innovations in personnel training for the travel tourism and hospitality industry, he said.

Responding, Mr Lyufan expressed pleasure over the visit, stressing that his office would do everything possible to secure training slots for NIHOTOUR staff in China as soon as the embargo placed on training due to the Covid-19 pandemic was lifted.

He said Chinese Government, as well as the people of China, were keenly interested in the culture and traditions of Nigeria, as such they welcomed the cultural interface between the two countries and exchange of training programmes.

According to him, Chinese people were great travelers and would like to make Nigeria their preferred tour destination, in view of its rich cultural heritage and vibrant traditions which are strong tourism attractions.

The Counselor pledged to continue to offer all necessary support to NIHOTOUR, based on the cordial relationship that already exist between the Embassy and the Institute. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Antswen

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN) says over 30,000 persons will benefit from the ongoing National Survival Fund Program(NSFP) in Benue.

The NSFP Manager in the state, Mr Oryima Alu, who is also the Point of Contact, National MSME Survival Fund in the state, disclosed this in Makurdi during a town hall meeting with leaders of artisans and transport scheme operators.

Alu said that over 30,000 people would benefit from the various components of the Survival Fund Program.

Giving the breakdown, he said a total of 13,000 would benefit from the payroll support for MSMEs, 5,000 from general MSME grants, 6,606 from formalization support while 9,000 from artisans/transport grants.

Alu said the allocations for the state across the various components wereinadequate following the large number of people in each category but he said there was a possibility of expanding the program

He said the town hall meeting was meant to educate the people on the benefits of the program, explaining that the entire program was free.

Alu also said the component dealt directly with grants that would go to artisans and transport cadres, most of whom were members of associations that were not aware of the benefits of the program.

He said each of the artisans and transport support beneficiaries would earn N30,000 for three months.

The essence of this meeting is to sensitize relevant stakeholders that have roles to play in creating awareness about Federal Government programs for MSMEs

The concern of government is to provide critical and timely support that can improve conditions of living for every Nigerian, mostespecially, following the lockdown necessitated by COVID-19, Alu said.

Earlier, the Principal Special Senior Assistant to the governor on MSMES, Mr Emmanuel Donghdongh assured that the Survival Fund Program would not be hijacked in the state.

Donghdongh explained that the program was aimed at supporting small scale businesses to improve their lot.

He said though the support was small, it must get across all the target groups adding that all registration and processing of the entire program were free.

Speaking to NAN, a participant, Mr Ahmed Musa, State Secretary, Nigeria Automobile Technician Association said over 1,000 of his members would apply for the scheme.

Musa said the funds would help them to procure tools and he commended the Federal Government for remembering the poor in the country. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Victor Okoye

Tunisia and Mali have joined 2019 finalists Senegal, holders Algeria as well as hosts Cameroon as the qualified teams for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

This was after both picked favourable results in match day four games.

Tunisia progressed in spite of a 1-1 draw with Tanzania in Dar es Salaam, while Mali went through after a 2-1 victory away to Namibia.

In Tanzania, the Carthage Eagles moved to 10 points on top of Group J after four matches and preserved their unbeaten run.

Tanzania moved to third with the point, getting to four points and two behind second-placed Equatorial Guinea to keep their qualification hopes alive.

A second half charge by the Taifa Stars earned them a point, with substitute Feisal Fei Toto Salums screamer cancelling out Saif Eddine Khaouis first-half opener.

Tunisia went into the break a goal up, Khaouis goal the difference between the two sides.

Khaoui had struck the back of the net with a well-taken first-time shot after being teed up by skipper Youssef Msakni.

TheCarthage Eagleshad quickly turned play around after Tanzanias DItram Nchimbi who failed to control a long ball, chesting it to Ali Maalouls path who launched the play forward.

The Tunisians were gifted for a positive start to the match and before the goal, Msakni had struck the upright after Tanzanian goalkeeper Aishi Manula came off his line.

But he failed to pick the ball, gifting the Tunisian skipper with a golden chance.

The North Africans continued running rings around their hosts and controlled massive possession.

Wahbi Khazri came close in the 21st minute but his snap shot from inside the box was wide.

In the 24th minute, Khaoui came close to doubling his and the teams tally but his brilliant shot off a cheeky Khazri backheel pass rattled the crossbar.

The Tanzanians made an early change, Salum coming on for Himid Mao, a change geared to improve the Taifa Stars creativity in midfield.

The home side came from the breather like a new team and it only took them two minutes to get to level terms.

A cross from Nchimbi on the right was chested down by John Bocco with Salum striking a first-time effort that flew into the net from range.

Tanzania kept pushing and had another chance in the 53rd minute, Nchimbis header from a corner-kick bouncing just wide.

Tanzanias fight was almost nipped in the bud when Khaoui broke into the box from a Msakni pass.

But he could not connect with his shot well, with goalkeeper Manula making a save.

The home side continued their fight and with a quarter of an hour left came close, but were denied by Ben Mustapha who tipped over Msuvas curling effort for a corner-kick.

The Tunisians finished the game on a high, and had a chance with two minutes left on the clock but Msaknis shot from a tight angle was saved by Manula much to the relief of the Tanzanians.

In Windhoek, Mali went top of Group A and booked a ticket to Cameroon after a 2-1 win over hosts Namibia.

Sekou Koita and Moussa Doumbia scored the goals for Mali while Namibias consolation was scored by Elmo Kambindu.

The victory takes the Malians top of the table with 10 points, two ahead of Guinea who dropped to second.

Namibia remain third with just three points off one victory.

The visitors were the dominant side in the opening half and deservedly went into the break 2-1 up.

Koita had given them the lead after 12 minutes with a brilliant left foot shot from the edge of the area after being teed up by Alliou Dieng.

The MalianEagleswere enjoying themselves, passing the ball around the park with utmost ease, but often failed to make the possession count for goals.

But, they were 2-0 up 37 minutes in when Doumbia doubled the lead with a well-taken goal, beating the goalkeeper at his near-post after some swift step-overs took him beyond Larry Horaeb on the left to break into the box.

But the two-goal cushion lasted just two minutes, with the Namibians halving the deficit through Kambindu who rose highest at the back-post to head in beyond the goalkeeper from a free-kick.

In the second half, Mali were still in control and should have sealed the victory in the 58th minute, but El Bilal Toure saw his penalty kick saved by the goalkeeper.

Namibia piled on the pressure in the final half hour of the game, but could not get anything to lift them off the ground. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Racheal Abujah

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, says Nigeria istaking steps to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030.

Ehanire said this on Tuesday in Abuja during the global launch to eliminate cervical cancer.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria is one of the countries that endorsed the Global Call to Action on Cervical Cancer in May, 2018.

This translated into the passage of a resolution calling for elimination of cervical cancer by 2030 and the adoption of a strategy to deliver on the objective in August, 2020.

Ehanire said the ministry recognised the role of prevention strategies in the elimination of cervical cancer, adding that this informed the collaboration with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI).

The initiative, he said, was to implement a UNITAID-funded Secondary Prevention of Cervical Cancer project with awareness, screening and see and treat precancerous lesions of 430,000 women in Kaduna, Lagos and Rivers states in the pilot phase.

This programme has kicked off with training of different categories of health care workers to provide the required workforce in the three states.

We are working to ensure wide accessibility and availability of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine by 2021.

This will target our young girls and boys to eliminate Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which is known to be responsible for over 70 percent of Cervical Cancer cases, he said.

The minister noted that prevention strategies were geared toward reducing the number of cervical cancer cases.tT

The ministry, he added, was currently upgrading some of the dedicated tertiary health facilities to provide advanced specialised diagnostics and treatment, including radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

He disclosed that the development of a National Hospice and Palliative Care policy to address palliative care needs of patients would be launched in the first quarter of 2021.

In his remarks, the Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, said that the ministry was expanding access to cancer care services across the country.

According to the minister, Nigeria is strongly committed to achieving WHOs global target of 90 per cent coverage of HPV vaccination of girls, 70 percent coverage of screening and 90 percent treatment of cervical cancer by 2030.

In his speech , Dr Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director/CEO, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), said he was excited to be witnessing the historic formal launch of the Global Strategy for Elimination of Cervical Cancer .

Shuaib said it was a great opportunity to save women and girls from preventable cancer that had been a public health concern.

As a physician and ED/CEO NPHCDA, my team and I have spent the greater part of our career working to eradicate diseases of public health concern by improving vaccination uptake through health education and community engagement in order to control preventable diseases.

Recently, Nigeria was certified polio free.

In the Polio Eradication Initiative through the EOCs, we focused on the highest-priority interventions while improving coordination and managing the programmes overall performance with the use of accountability and cutting-edge technology.

This remains a major gain to Nigerias health system. The centralised command-and-control units adequately prepared and allowed us to manage disease outbreaks, he said.

Shuaib said the agency was able to plan and execute effective vaccination campaigns with heightened public awareness and result-focused performance management in the fight against polio.

He disclosed that cancer accounts for the high rate of deaths among Nigerians, adding that more than 72,000 people die annually as a result of the ailment.

Cancer accounts for more deaths than malaria, HIV and tuberculosis combined in developing countries.

Of all the different forms of cancers in Nigeria, cervical cancer remains the most frequently reported and the leading cause of cancer death among women. Yet, cervical cancer is preventable.

In Nigeria, women play critical role in supporting families and building our community.

Women also contribute immensely in the economic, social, cultural and educational sectors of lives.

The role of women in Nigerias development cannot be overemphasised.

The global launch of the Global Strategy to Accelerate Elimination of Cervical Cancer provides a clear path.

Everyone can be committed to achieving WHO global target of 90 percent coverage of HPV vaccination, 70 percent coverage of cervical screening and 90 percent treatment of cervical cancer by 2030.

In line with the WHO global strategy on the elimination of cervical cancer, the NPHCDA and the FMoH are working closely to introduce a routine HPV vaccination into the national immunisation routine in 2021, he said.

In his goodwill message , the WHO Representative in the country, Mr Kazadi Mulombo, said that cervical cancer is a leading cause of maternal mortality in the country.

The world has come in unison to eliminate this monster.

WHO applauds the efforts of government at all levels in its agenda of making vaccines available in the routine immunisation schedule,he said.

NAN reports that over 60 monuments were lit to symbolise the elimination of cervical cancer the world over.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Over 50 die of strange disease in Kogi, Assembly seeks for help

By Friday Idachaba

The Kogi House of Assembly has called on State and Federal Ministries of Health to unravel the cause of the strange disease which has killed 50 persons in Olamaboro Local Government Area of the state.

The House made the call at Tuesdays plenary sitting in Lokoja following adoption of a motion on Urgent Public Importance, raised by Anthony Ujah (APC-Olamaboro), over the strange illness that has claimed over 50 lives.

According to the lawmaker, the unknown disease comes with symptoms such as headache, red eyes, loss of appetite, inability to urinate or defecate, convulsion and death.

Ujah said that the residents of Etteh Community in the local government area have been thrown into confusion by the outbreak of the alien disease.

He maintained that the cause or nature of the disease is still unknown, adding that infected persons die within one week of contracting the disease.

More worrisome, according to him, is that all efforts to get solution using local herbs and treatment at primary health centres with referrals to clinics and hospitals in neighboring Ogugu and Okpo have been unsuccessful.

The reports reaching my constituency office from the community leaders confirmed that over 50 people between the age of 25 and 40 years have died since September, he said.

Seconding the motion, Edoko Moses Ododo (APC-Dekina/Biraidu), said that the people of the community now live in fear.

He said that urgent steps need to be taken to save their lives as the disease can adversely affect the economic input of the agrarian community.

Supporting the motion, Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Mohammed, submitted that the community shares boundary with Enugu State and efforts should be made to urgently avert further loss of lives.

Mohammed prayed that the State Government should establish a Hospital in Etteh Community to prevent or tackle future occurrence of such epidemic and other health challenges.

The Speaker of the House, Prince Mathew Kolawole, later asked for a minute silence in honour of the deceased.

He directed that a letter be sent to the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, for immediate support and assistance. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Skills Acquisition

By Abbas Bamalli

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) says it has trained and empowered over 6,500 women and youths on various skills acquisition programmes in Kano State from January to date.

Alhaji Iliyasu Ahmed, NDE Coordinator in the state, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Kano.

Ahmed explained that no fewer than 1,320 participants were trained in January, under the Basic National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (B-NOAS), while another 2,200 were trained since then.

He said that the scheme, which was part of the federal governments efforts to reduce unemployment, had also trained over 500 women on Cosmetology through the directorates Vocational Skills Development (VSD) programmes and the participants were able to produce over 20,000 face masks.

The women have already established their own businesses and are doing very well; besides training them on how to produce, we also taught them on how to package.You know that for any product to be accepted in the market, packaging is very important. Therefore, they learned enough and their business is growing, Ahmed said.

The NDE coordinator further said that under the Rural Employment Promotion (REP) department, the agency conducted an orientation and training for 50 participants on sustainable agricultural schemes.

100 participants trained last year have been provided with loans of various sums to start agriculture businesses and farming, he further said, while citing another 50 participants trained through the NDEs Graduate Attachment Scheme implemented bythe directorates Special Public Works (SPW) department.

Through the graduate attachment, I am proud to inform you that over 150 of the participants have secured permanent and pensionable employment with various organisations.

Also, another 16 graduates are presently participating in the programme, which began in November and will last till December, he said.

Ahmed said that over N30 million was expended on the Micro Enterprises Enhancement Scheme of the NDE Small Scale Enterprises Department , noting that between January to date, 3,000 people, mostly women, with small businesses, had benefited from a N10,000 grant each, to enhance their businesses.

He added that under the extended SPW, NDE in Kano has completed the recruitment of 44,000 unemployed youths for another federal government empowerment scheme. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

AU commited to providing education for youths commissioner

By Ibukun Emiola

Prof. Sarah Agbor, the Commissioner Human Resources, Science and Technology, African Union (AU), says the union will continue to facilitate education among African youths.

She spoke in an interview at the 72nd Foundation Day and Convocation ceremony of the University of Ibadan.

She said the youth that constitute 70 per cent of the continents population needed good education for development.

Agbor said AU would keep on pushing to realise the right goals and would get the right things done for Africa.

Our youths are our demographics dividends, they constitute more than 70 per cent of our population.

So, if we dont give competencies and skills for the future of work, who else can do that and it is only through education that this can be done.

We believe in education and the power of education to transform the world and leads us to sustainable development for the Africa we want by 2063 because tomorrow belongs to those who prepared for it today, she said.

Agbor noted that the union came up with a continental strategy called the Continental Education Strategy for Africa embedded in the 50 years blueprint of Agenda 2063 divided into five phases of 10 years each.

Each of this phase has continental strategy that we must put in place to improve early child education development, higher education, curriculum development.

We need to change our curriculum to address the future of work so that we do not have graduates with certificates but they do not have jobs. They become job seekers rather than being jobs creators.

Then, we have STEM Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics these are very important to the future of work.

You speak of digitisation, science technology innovation their foundation must be on STEM.

Then we have ICT, the transformation that we are talking about Virtual education and so on we put on ICT.

We also have higher education, lifelong learning and the culture of reading, Africans must learn how to read we hardly read.

All our lives we like to watch videos on internet and so on we need to change that paradigm, she said.

The AU commissioner also said Africa Union is set to bridge digital divides and invest in green energy to promote remote learning.

Source: NAN News

Hanging rope

By Joy Akinsanya

An Abeokuta High Court on Wednesday sentenced a 39-year-old mechanic, Musiliu Owolabi, to death by hanging for killing his lover, Miss Afusat Idowu.

The Chief Judge of Ogun, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, convicted Owolabi on a count charge of murder.

She held that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that Owolabi was guilty as charged.

Dipeolu noted that murder contravened the provisions of Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006.

Earlier, prosecution counsel, Mr James Mafe, said that the convict committed the offence on Feb. 1, 2018, at Camp area of Abeokuta.

Mafe said that the convict took Afusat to a hotel for pleasure, adding that shortly after, she complained of stomach aches.

The convict took her to his vehicle.

On his way, he noticed she was dead and he secretly took the deceased to an uncompleted building, dug a shallow grave and buried her without disclosing to anybody.

The convict was arrested when a younger brother of the deceased went to a police station to complain that his sister who told him she was going for a naming ceremony at Bode Olude area, never returned, the counsel submitted.

He said that during an investigation, the police discovered that the convict was the last person who spoke with the deceased.

On his arrest, he made a confessional statement to the police and took a police team where he buried his lover, Mafe added.

NAN reports that the convict was arraigned on Nov. 12, 2019.

He had pleaded not guilty. (NAN)

Source: NAN News