By Ibukun Emiola
The Oyo State Government has sanctioned some head teachers for collecting illegal fees and denying pupils access to examination halls in the ongoing Public Primary Schools Unified Examinations.

Dr Nureni Adeniran, the Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), made this known in a statement on Monday in Ibadan, while monitoring the examination.

Adeniran said that five head teachers of Methodist Basic School (School one to five), Gan-gansi, were found culpable in the alleged illegal collection of fees, spearheaded by the School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) of the school, who chased the pupils home.

He said that the present administration had abolished collection of any development levy in all schools across the state.

Adeniran frowned at the role of the school authority who compelledparents to contribute the said fee.

No doubt, SBMCs, PTAs can contribute to the development of their local schools, but it must not in any way affect the education of pupils.

No child should be discriminated against in the state education sector, Adeniran said.

According to him, some parents had reported to the board that head teachers of the school denied their children access to the examination hall for failing to pay the N100 development levy charged by the schools management and SBMC, through a popular radio station in Ibadan.

Adeniran said that the present administration, under Gov. Seyi Makindes leadership, would not fold its arms and allow saboteurs to ridicule its efforts in mandating free education.

For denying Gov. Seyi Makindes pupils access to write examinations,queries have been issued to head-teachers of the affected schools, he said.

The SUBEB chairman, also directed that all learners should be allowed to sit for examinations without any form of hindrance.

He urged teachers in all public schools to adhere strictly to the state governments policies and directives on education.

Some of the schools visited included IMG, Ibuko Ibadan South East LGA; Ratibi Muslim School, Molete, South-West; IMG Basic School, Idi-Iroko, Molete.

Adeniran, who led a team of officials from SUBEB also visited Islamic Mission School One, Bode, Ibadan; Methodist Basic School One to Five, Gan-gansi and Community Primary School, Awotunde, Ona-ara LGA and a host of others.

He said that the monitoring exercise would continue in the course of the week, which would also be extended to other zones of the state, including Ogbomoso, Oyo, Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Iziama/Olagoke Olatoye

Source: NAN News

By Joan Nwagwu

The Federal Government on Monday says it has shut down the diving operations of Scorpion Oil Services onboard MV African Installer offshore Lagos for operating without the requisite approvals.

Mrs Lauretta Adogu, the Director of Factories of the Federation in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, said this during a monitoring exercise conducted by the ministry and the Chief Inspector of Diving, Mr Julius Ugwala.

Adogu, who is also the Director, Occupational Safety and Health Department, said this in a statement signed by Mr Olajide Oshundun, Head, Press and Public Relations in the ministry.

The director said the shut down had become necessary as they had also violated the provisions of the Factories (Diving at Work) Regulations, 2018.

She said that the monitoring exercise was aimed at ensuring full compliance with Nigerias Factories (Diving at Work) Regulations, 2018.

According to her, the diving operations being carried out by the contractor, Scorpion Oil Services, posed huge threats to the divers.

She also said that an on-the-spot assessment also revealed that the company was using inappropriate equipment and unqualified personnel.

Adogu said that Scorpion Oil Services also disregarded the Local Content law, with the operations wholly dominated by foreigners.

The operators did not comply with the Factories (Diving at Work) Regulations, 2018.

The Regulations stipulate that before any diving operation commences within the Nigerian territorial waters, there must be an authorisation approval issued by the Director of Factories of the Federation.

Additionally, the Local Content law says Nigerians should be considered first for such operations, but the operators did not meet that requirement, as the place was filled with expatriates, she said..

She also added that diving operations must get authorisation approval before commencement, and this company has not requested for any approval and does not have one.

The company is being closed for non-compliance to these, and work here has been prohibited, she said. (NAN) ()

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Source: NAN News

By Sarafina Christopher

The Amalgamated Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners, Repairs and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN) has appealed to the Federal Government to review its proposed ban on motorcycle.

Mr Samsudeen Apelogun, ACOMORAN President made appeal at a news conference in Abuja on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on July 21, the National Security Council proposed a nationwide ban on commercial motorcycle operation.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who disclosed the councils plan linked it to the fight against terrorism.

According to Apelofun, the proposed ban on commercial motorcycles will create more problems because they also serve as means of transportation to the people.

The council is proposing to put an end to the means of mobility and source of livelihood of 40 million Nigerians.

This will have a negative effect because motorcycles are means of commercial transportation that has provided the needed jobs for millions of Nigerian citizens,

Some of this riders are graduates of higher institutions who would have been an added weight on an already over-blown unemployed sector of the country.

Commuters see motorcycles as a relief to traffic and other transportation problems while riders see it as a source of livelihood, he said..

The ACOMORAN president said that without doubt, motorcycles had enhanced mobility for the middle income earners and also contributed to increase in productivity through increase in man-hours.

It has also improved accessibility, employment opportunities and job insecurity thereby, reducing poverty through improved income and a boost economic growth.

A reliable and affordable road transportation system plays a very useful role in the social-economic development of nations. Apelogun said.

He further said that members of the association were law abiding citizens who believed there was dignity in labour.

We struggle every day to provide for our families and also ensure we dont do anything that will contravene the law of the land.

We ensure we pay our tax daily to the government in form of tickets and levies and never fail to comply with safety directory.

We want to put it on record that 95 per cent of those riding motorcycles are doing it because they dont have any better option and they are unwilling to resort to crime, he said.

Apelogun noted that the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Interior in collaboration with the association introduced a security wise app called NISPSAS.

This app ensures the proper registration of the database of all riders and proffers a lot of advantages in helping to compose riders.

ACOMORAN as a body foresaw this kind of plan by the government which led us to introduce an innovative idea to develop an app named ACORIDE,

ACORIDE is a large database that serves a regulatory purpose between the association, riders and commuters, the association leader said.

He, however, reiterated the associations promised to support the Federal Government in bringing to book anyone or group that intended to jeopardise its efforts.

We, therefore, appeal to the government to carefully think through the proposed action which will subject severe hardship on the masses.

We also appeal passionately to the government to take holistic view of the problem concerning the ban and call for a parley with all the stakeholders to proffer solutions, he added.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Bassey/Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Angela Atabo

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says the deadline for the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise remains July 31, and those who register more than once would not get their PVCs.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, INEC FCT, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, made this known at a news conference on the commissions state of preparedness for the 2023 general elections, on CVR,PVC validity andcollection in Abuja.

Bello said that all CVR activities except the collection of already printed PVCs would be suspended on Sunday July 31, adding that the commission increased the closing hours to 5pm daily including Saturdays and Sundays.

According to him, this was done to accommodate the reawaking of those who now realised that they need their PVCs at the last hour of the programme that has been ongoing for over a year.

He said, The number of people who registered and whose registration has been invalidated is becoming alarming; a lot of people have registered in one or two registration centres.

They will get nothing by doing so whatever their intentions were, because at the end of the day, they will be declared as people without PVC at all.

Any double or triple registration is null and void, we will go through our machines after these exercise and clean our register so that we can come up with the list of people who genuinely are going to in 2023.

So let me appeal to people thatthey should always tell our staff at registration centres exactly what they want to do ,whether they have never registered before ,they have lost their cards ,or it is defaced, or they want transfer from one place to another.

Bello urged them not to register afresh because it would not help them .

He appealed to residents to patronisecentres close to their locations, adding that there was no need for people in the suburbs to come all the way to INECs office in Area 10.

He said that the commission on Monday July 25, began special registration for Persons With Disabilities at the designated CVR centres to ensure inclusivity explain that both PWDs and other Nigerian could use the under listed centres.

TheCVR centresremains : City Centre -Diplomatic Park, Area 1 , Gwarinpa GSS Life Camp, Wuse GSS Zone 3 , Kabusa Primary School and Lugbe Primary School.

Others areGiwa Gwagwa Primary School,GUI -Gosa Primary School, Karshi- Karshi Development Centre,Orozo Orozo Primary School.

The rest are:Nyanya G.S.S Nyanya ,Kubwa- L.E.A Primary School Kubwa,Dutse-Aljaji L.E.A Primary School Dutse, L.E.A Primary School, Dawaki L.E.A and Primary School, Mpape, he said

Bello said that the commission had made an arrangement with a Civil Society Orgainsations (CSOs) to make PVC collection easier for citizens at the end of the CVR exercise, using SMS to reach them at their nearest locations.

He added that those who participated in the CVR would get theirPVCs by October.

The REC said that the commission had investigated the claim by residents that its staff were charging them money before registering them.

He said that the commission found out that the claim was false because the people involved were not staff of the commission, but those who claimed to be volunteering and the issue had been addressed.

He said that INEC was working to ensure that anything that would mitigate the 2023 elections is taken care of.

Bello said that the 2023 general elections would be much more better than previous elections conducted so far in the country.

He appealed to politicians, electorate and other stakeholders to cooperate with INEC to make it work .(NAN)(nannews.ng)

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

A Dei-Dei Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja on Monday sentenced a 27-year-old labourer, Abubakar Mohammed to nine months imprisonment for stealing iron rods.

Mohammed, who lives in Katampe, Abuja pleaded guilty to theft and begged the court for leniency.

The Judge, Sulyman Ola, gave the convict an option of N30,000 fine and also warned him to stay away from crimes.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Mr Chinedu Ogada told the court that on July 10 at about 3: a. m, the police patrol team while raiding black spots and criminal hide outs arrested the convict.

The prosecutor said thatduring police investigation, the convict could not give location where he got the iron rods.

He said the iron rods were recovered from the convict.

The offence, he said, contravenes the provisions of Section 287 of the Penal Code. (NAN)()

edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Afonne

Former governor of Abia and Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Kalu has congratulated Tobi Amusan, for winning the womens 100 metres hurdles in Oregon, U.S., on Sunday.

The News Agency Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Amusan is the first Nigerian athlete to win a Gold medal at the World Athletics Championship.

Kalu in a statement on Monday described Amusan who is a graduate of University of Texas as a talented and skillful sprinter, while urging her to sustain the feat in future sporting events.

The Pillar of Sports in Africa, called on the younger generation to embrace sports as a profession, adding that Amusans performance would inspire the womenfolk.

Kalu expressed happiness over the superlative outing of Amusan, adding that the athlete had done Nigeria proud.

He said, I am elated with the record breaking performance of Tobi Amusan, who clinched a gold medal after winning the womens 100 metre hurdles at the World Athletics Championship.

The athletes victory is a welcome and timely development for Nigeria.

She has shown the world that Nigerians are talented.

Amusan has indeed made Nigerians proud with her performance.

Kalu wished the sprinter continued success in her career.

NAN reports that Team Nigeria finished joint-13th on the medals table with Amusans Gold and Ese Brumes Silver in the Womens Long Jump.

Team USA won 33 medals comprising 13 Gold, 9 Silver and 11 Bronze medals to win the championship, while Ethiopia finished second with 10 medals of which 4 are Gold, 4 Silver and 2 Bronze.

Jamaica finished third with 2 Gold, 7 Silver and 1 Bronze. (NAN)

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Edited by Obike Ukoh

Source: NAN News

By Chukwuemeka Opara

Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has appointed a veteran journalist, Mr Chooks Oko as his new Special Assistant on Media and Strategy.

The appointment was disclosed in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Goverment, Dr Kenneth Ugbala and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abakaliki.

Ugbala, in the statement, disclosed that the erstwhile media aide, Mr Francis Nwaze has been re-assigned as the SA on Documentation.

The handing and taking-over of duties is with immediate effect.

All concerned are to ensure strict compliance to this directive, the statement read.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oko, who hitherto, was the governors SA on strategy, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literary Studies from the University of Calabar in 1989.

He was a former Special Projects Editor, the Vanguard Newspapers and Business Manager, Diet Newspapers, presently, Daily Independent newspapers.

Okoh was a former Managing Editor of the National Pathfinder Newspapers and a member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors.

He is also member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and is happily married with children. (NAN) (nannews.ng)

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Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Source: NAN News

A non-governmental organization, Women Initiative for Leadership Strategy and Innovation in Africa (Women Africa) has released a report on the state of gender-based violence response in Nigeria.

The report which is developed with support from the European Union and United Nations Spotlight Initiative Programme through UNESCO is a mapping of critical response mechanisms across the 36 states and FCT in Nigeria.

It provides comprehensive information on the current state of gender-based violence response in Nigeria with regards to available laws and policies, support system and structures, law enforcement, justice institutions, reporting channels and available coordination mechanisms.

The Executive Director, Chinwe Onyeukwu who made this known in Abuja, said following the rise in fatal cases of sexual and domestic violence against women and girls recorded in Nigeria across the country during the four-month Covid-19 lockdown,

The Federal Government of Nigeria, and the State Governors, under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), declared a State of Emergency on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in June 2020.

It also made commitments towards putting in place gender-based protection laws including adopting the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP Act) and the Child Rights Act into state laws by states that have not done so to increase protection for women and children, ensuring speedy investigation and prosecution of perpetrators, and creating sex offenders register in each state to name and shame violators.

Since then, few studies have been carried out to map and assess the level of implementation of these commitments and the milestones achieved by various states in the country on gender-based violence protections and child rights interventions.

Although the number of states that have adopted the VAPP Laws, Child Rights Laws, and Disability Rights Laws across the states have increased, however, there is still limited information available regarding the existence and level of implementation of these laws.

She stated that it was this premise that informed the need for the research; to identify the available mechanisms and provide comprehensive information on GBV and Child Rights Protection in the country.

Over 50 stakeholders from relevant government agencies, civil society organizations and development partners under the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative Programme were in attendance at the one-day meeting.

Participants at the meeting contributed to the validation of findings from the report.

In her remarks, a representative of the European Union and Programme Manager, Gender and Human Rights, Esm Stuart stated that; the context for the report came from the pandemic, within the pandemic that we saw in 2020 where we had huge numbers of people being victims of GBV because of COVID-19, restriction and because of being locked up at home in their house. Which saw commitments from the Nigerian government and the Nigerian governors forum as GBV was high on the national agenda.

This report is part of efforts to track the commitments from states governments in terms of gender based violence whether it translates into actual action for victims and survivors.

She added that in order to consolidate the different efforts of various stakeholders, the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative Programme, developed a National Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Barometer.

In her remarks, the representative from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Yewande Gbola-Awopetu, Head SGBV Response Unit, said:We are all experts working in the field with hands on deck to ensure justice and proper services are delivered to victims of GBV and as mentioned also, the work will be in vain of we do not know the state of response we cannot access the congress of our effort.

Acting Director, Women Development, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ilyasu Zubair, said: the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs is and has always been working with partners especially on issues of Gender Based Violence particularly United Nation Agencies, Civil societies and other spirited individuals in the NGO.

Its our hope that the document will go a long way to eradicate the issue of GBV in our society and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs like I said before is ever willing and ready to support the programme and put in place policy geared towards the eradication of GBV in Nigeria.

Ms. Hadiza Dorayi, National Coordinator, Spotlight Initiative and Gender Advisor to the United Nations Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator, lauded the commitment and dedication of the stakeholders for contributing to the success of the report.

The Joint European Union and the United Nations Spotlight Initiatives are committed to the elimination of all forms of violence and harmful practices against women and girls, and persons with disabilities facing intersecting forms of violence in Nigeria, so that women and girls can reach their full potential and contribute to nation-building.

Some of the key findings from the report include:32 states including the FCT have passed the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015 into law and gazetted in 15 states (including the FCT).

States that are yet to pass the VAPP Act include Borno, Gombe, Kano, Katsina and Zamfara.

The VAPP Act is an innovative piece of legislation that provides for a robust response, care, and support services to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

There are now 32 Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) across 19 states including the FCT in Nigeria, where victims and survivors of sexual assault can receive medical assistance, counseling, and justice support services in a confidential space.

The Child Rights Act 2003 has been signed into law in 29 states (including the FCT) out of 36.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ruth Oketunde

The diaspora group, IA-Foundation has taken its campaign to tackle out-of-school crisis in Nigeria to Ajegunle, one of the most populated communities in Lagos State.

The outreach is the latest initiative of the British charity to sustain its commitment to tackling the out-of-school crisis in Africas most populous nation, where 10.5 million kids are currently out of school, according to UNICEF.

The Chief Executive Officer of IA-Foundation, Mrs Ibironke Adeagbo, made the disclosure in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

Adeagbo said the group decided to embark on street-to-street outreach in Ajegunle, the most densely populated community in Lagos, to sensitise parents on the dangers of child labour.

She re-stated that Nigerian children should not be allowed to be on the streets to be trading during school hours, instead of being in classrooms.

We decided to take our campaign to the grassroots, starting from Ajegunle in the Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State because of the huge population there.

Nigeria must end child labour to move forward and our position is that the high rate of out-of-school children must be brought to the barest minimum.

Adeagbo, a British citizen, who has sustained a campaign to give comprehensive education to children, especially the girl-child, said it was regrettable that Nigeria should have high number of out-of-school kids.

The Federal Government must demonstrate the political will to give quality education to every Nigerian kid, rather than allowing them to roam the streets to find their daily bread.

Education is fully the responsibility of government, although we as corporate citizens must be part of the solution to bring positive change, Adeagbo said.

She recalled that the UK-based charity had carried out a similar outreach at Oshodi Market in Lagos, saying that the foundation was determined to carry out its campaign to other cities nationwide.

According to her, the foundation has also discussed with the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, to agree on areas of partnerships, to make the difference for children in Lagos State.

The IA-Foundation chief executive said that the group had also discussed with the Chairman of Ifelodun Local Council Development Area of Lagos, Hon. Olorunfemi Okeowo, on how to collaborate to tackle the out-of-school problem.

She pointed out that Lagos State had made its mark as one of the states with the least figures of out-of-school children, describing the development as commendable.

Adeagbo said that IA-Foundation had been providing books, uniforms and paying tuition for some of the children who were previously out of school.

Last year, UNICEF announced that 10.5 million children in Nigeria were currently out of school, down from the previous 18.5 million figure recorded in 2001.

Nigeria is Africas top petroleum exporter but weak policies and poor governance have thrown its education sector into crisis, forcing many kids and adults out of school. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Saidu Adamu/Silas Nwoha

Source: NAN News

Wole Olanipekun and Co., a legal firm, has finalised plans to partner The Duke of Shomolu Productions, a Play staging outfit, on annual theatrical plays espousing national unity.

A statement by Yemi Shodimu, Director, Shomolu Productions, said that the plays would also seek to promote other values aimed at fostering national cohesion.

It quoted Joseph Edgar, Executive Chairman, Duke of Shomolu Productions, as emphasising the need to continue to push for national consensus using very strong socio-cultural imperatives.

Edgar said that the partnership would execute some of the most inspiring theatrical productions that would tell stories of strong leadership, passionate engagements and cultural depth.

It is our convictions that these stories will go a long way in inspiring emerging leadership as we seek to rebuild the fabric of our Nation.

Already, the partnership will be staging its inaugural play this October in Abuja as part of the National Day activities.

Sardauna, a Play, written by Prof. Ahmed Yerima, a renowned playwright, is among those to be staged.

It is an intriguing look at the last moments in the life of iconic leader and former Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, throwing up his deep love for Nigeria.

It also opens up the trado-cultural traits of Northern Nigeria for better understanding of our youths specifically, and Nigerians as a whole.

The National Troupe of Nigeria will be playing a very major role in these Productions with its Artistic Director/CEO, Mohammed Ahmed, serving as a co- Executive Producer.

Sardauna is expected to attract the presence of President Mohammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osibajo, governors, members of the National Assembly, among others.

The two-day Fiesta will be open to the public who are not required to pay any gate fees as the legal firm will be covering all expenses.

Other plays include Ladi Kwali to be directed by Prof Ojo Bakare, Nigerias first Professor of Dance and current Commissioner for Culture and Arts in Ekiti State, he added.

The goal is to heal Nigeria through song, dance and story telling, the statement said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has charged members of the West African Society of Pharmacology (WASP) to spearhead research for the production of vaccines to contain epidemics that are endemic in the sub-region.

Jonathan gave the advice in Abuja on Saturday at a programme of the West African Society of Pharmacology where he was invested as the Grand Patron of the Society

The former President said that the world had been experiencing outbreak of viral diseases, some of which were more prevalent in West Africa

Jonathan said that pharmacologists and scientists in related disciplines must give their best to ensure that such peculiar health challenges were adequately tackled.

Let me therefore, use this opportunity to task and challenge pharmacological scientists in this sub region to invest more energy in finding solutions to medical challenges, especially the ones that are peculiar to us.

The sub-region is in dire need of essential Covid-19 vaccines, following the imperative of tracking and halting its mutating variants.

We are now accustomed to hearing of the outbreak of new viral diseases, some of which are more prevalent in our part of the world.

One of such diseases is the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)which has killed thousands in West Africa. In 2014 an outbreak in Guinea spread to many West African countries including Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria.

My administration had the good fortune of containing the spread through a clinical contact tracing mechanism which significantly reduced the fatality rate in the country, he said.

Jonathan further observed that Ghana recently reported its first two cases of the deadly Marburg virus, which unfortunately claimed the lives of both victims, adding that the sub-region needed to do more to contain the spread of such outbreaks.

Emphasising that some of the diseases were endemic in West Africa, Jonathan further cited an example of the sickle cell disease (SCD).

He said that the management of sickle cell disease was still a big problem for us in Africa.

Jonathan said that sickle cell anaemia contributed the equivalent of five per cent of deaths of under-five-year-old children on the African continent.

Sadly, more than nine per cent of such deaths occur in west Africa, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

In the case of Nigeria, a recent WHO report indicated that 24 per cent of the Nigerian population are carriers of the mutant gene while the prevalence of sickle-cell anaemia is about 20 per 1,000 births.

He added that another report further indicated that three countries harboured about 90 per cent of the worlds SCD population.

These countries are Nigeria, India and the Democratic Republic of Congo where the disease is said to affect up to two per cent of the population.

Such high prevalence rate and significant number affecting the workforce would obviously affect productivity.

The West African Society of Pharmacology and other related institutions like the universities must do something about that in order to change such unenviable health records.

We must be able to develop the technology for the production of the essential vaccines for the prevention and management of these diseases.

The economic consequences of poor health are obvious. Our pharmacologists, scientists and related disciplines are therefore, challenged to give their best to ensure that our peculiar health situation is adequately addressed.

The former President praised WASP for their efforts, stating that the job of a pharmacologist was very crucial to human existence and well-being.

Jonathan added that the science of pharmacology entailed much more was usually conceded to it

We all are its direct beneficiaries for which we have good reasons to show more appreciation and interest in the works of pharmacologists.

He expressed joy that the West African Society for Pharmacology was made up of members from different professional backgrounds.

This, according to him, includes medical doctors, pharmacists, molecular biologists, veterinarians, biochemists, chemists, botanists, toxicologists, biological scientists.

Pharmacology is often described as a bridge science because it incorporates knowledge and skills from a number of basic science disciplines.

They are people with special skills because they are able to translate such knowledge into the rational development of therapeutics.

As a result of their multidisciplinary training, pharmacologists are able to offer a unique perspective in solving drug, hormone and chemical-related problems.

In this era, interdisciplinary collaboration is the gold standard in scientific research.

In medicine, drug development and administration, many breakthroughs have been recorded as a result of such collaboration.

Pharmacology is at the centre of such viable partnerships in medicine because it encourages collaboration among many medical and allied professionals. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Iziama/Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Sylvester Thompson

Parents of pupils at the New World Emerald Private School, Dutse, Abuja, have expressed satisfaction in the schools high standard especially its hub for technology, coding and robotics.

The parents made this known at the graduation ceremony of their children and wards on Saturday in Abuja.

Mr Sheni Oke, a parent with two wards in the school, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), on the sideline of the event said the school had tried in managing the children.

I was just speaking to one of the parents now and she was like, when her child joined the school, the child couldnt even speak with the peer group.

But today, they are here singing songs and doing choreography, I believe there is still a long way to go, the future is bright, Oke said.

Mrs Maryam Momodu, another parent said she sent her wards to the school because she wanted improvement for them.

So far, so good. I have seen improvement in them from where they were before, theres a difference, the school is doing well, she said.

Mr Segun Ayoola, a parent and construction manager said everything was unique about the school.

They have different uniforms for one week, there is always something unique about the school.

Their learning standard is high, their teachers are lovely, lovely playground and setting, Ayoola said.

One of the directors of the school, Miss Oluwateniola Olasanya, said the school boasts of good teachers, attributing it to why students are enrolling everyday.

Speaking further on what added value to the school, Olasanya said it was passion.

Once you have passion, a lot of things are possible and the directors and teachers have true passion for the school, he said.

Mr Raji Akeem, Head of Faculty and Resources Religion of the school told NAN that the school teaches not just academics, but morals.

He said in their certificates, it is boldly inscribed that the student is found worthy in both learning and character.

Mr Fisayo Odubela, Head of Primary and Early Years Foundation Stages of the school, in his opening remarks said a unique feature of the ceremony was that the pupils were pioneers.

He said the event was the first to be held since the establishment of the Kubwa campus of New World Schools, hence the pupils from UKS2, Reception and Playgroup could be regarded as pioneers.

Master Oke Ipet Oluwaduro, the best graduating pupil in his set, said the school gave him a second chance.

Sharing his thoughts on what set him apart, Oluwaduro said, I think I might have maybe concentrated a little bit harder, but apart from that, all of them are good.

The best graduating student whose best subjects are Mathematics and the Sciences, hopes to become an architect.(NAN)()

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Ibrahim Kado

The Police Command in Adamawa has arrested one Caroline Barka, 20-year-old house wife, for stabbing her husband, Barka Dauda, to death.

Mrs Barka is a resident of Angwan Tamiya in Madagali Local Government Area of the state.

This is contained in a statement issued by the commands spoke person, SP Suleiman Nguroje, on Saturday in Yola.

He said that the suspect was apprehended by the police on Friday following report received from a relative of the deceased.

The suspect, Caroline Barka, a resident of Angwan Tamiya, Madagali Local Government Area, engaged her late husband, Barka Dauda, in a fight following an argument that ensued between them after the deceased returned home drunk and fell on their one-year-old baby who was in bed.

Angered by his drunkenness, habitual late nights and failure to provide basic necessities as a husband, the suspect and the deceased engaged themselves in a fight which resulted to her stabbing the husband.

As a result he fell down unconscious and was later rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead, Nguroje stated.

According to him, investigation so far revealed that the suspect, being a nursing mother, has a child with the deceased after two years of marriage.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Sikiru Akande, directs Deputy Commissioner of Police Investigation to take over the case and ensure that the suspect is prosecuted accordingly, he stated.

Akande called on the public to always report people of suspicious character around their neighbourhood to the police authority nearest to them.

He said that this would help in tackling criminal activities and other related offences in the state. (NAN)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Source: NAN News

By Bridget Ikyado/Angela Atabo

Mr Dasuki Arabi, the Director-General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) has pledged governments support to collaborate with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in enhancing accountability and transparency in government.

Arabi made the pledge when he received a delegation from Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) led by its Deputy Director, Mr Kolawole Oludare in Abuja.

He said that the BPSR had set a foundation for good working relationship between government, state actors and non state actors, unlike the belief that government did not open its doors to CSOs.

Our mandate says we must provide information on government activities.

We must work with the civil society groups and ensure that they have been given that right place that they deserve to ensure compliance with rules, regulations and guidance .

This is how we should manage the human resources we have and the financial resources that have been entrusted onto us as government workers.

We have worked with several civil society groups on a number of initiatives, which were created in our attempts to improve transparency, stop corruption and make sure that there is no space for it to happen.

Arabi assured SERAP of governments support and commitment to tackle irregularities and further strengthen its Open Government Partnership(OGP) .

We are assuring you that this relationship will lead to better things in the sight of the citizens of this country to enhance the quality of life.

SERAPs Deputy Director, Mr Kolawole Oludare said that the group was seeking partnership with BPSR to promote and build the culture of transparency and accountability in public service.

Oludare said that this stemmed from the background of the recent announcement of corruption in the service by the Auditor-General of the Federation .

Our request is to ensure that members and officers of public institutions are aware of the roles they need to play to ensure that those things have been reported by the auditor-general should not be that way.

It is called corrective or preventive measures; the figures that the auditor general throws out every year that could not be accounted for.

So we are here to engage to this very important institution who has that oversight over all officers of public institutions in Nigeria.

Oludare said that SERAP was not just critical as people think but it also proffered solutions to ensure that Nigeria was better for everyone.

He said that as part of that advocacy for transparency and accountability, SERAP was seeking partnership with BPSR to ensure that public officers understood the statutory law to drive the transparency and accountability.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Grace Yusuff

Source: NAN News

By Florence Onuegbu

The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta Chapter, Lagos, has called for conducive work environment, improved remuneration and personnel welfare.

The Chairman, MDCAN FMC Chapter, Dr Emeka Ibezi, made the call on Friday during the first meeting of the association with the theme: Thriving as a Professional in the Current Environment.

Ibezi said that addressing the issues were parts of measures needed to check brain drain of medical practitioners in the country.

According to him, a lot of doctors, health workers and consultants leave the country on a daily basis, which is not a good development.

The truth is that it is a global phenomenon, but we have the issue on increase in this clan right now.

Between December 2021 and May 2022, we have about 727 doctors that are registered from Nigeria, in UK, just UK alone, about 727 doctors are officially registered in their system.

Now that is not telling you the number of doctors that left Nigeria within that period to UK alone. But just telling the number that are registered, of course, we should have more people, he said.

Ibezi, a consultant, Oral/Maxillofacial Surgeon, therefore, urged the concerned authorities to ensure that the relevant resources such as stable power supply and modern equipment required for delivery of quality healthcare were in place.

He also called on the government to look into the remuneration of professionals, even the hazard allowance, as these were factors causing many medical experts to migrate from the country.

The chairman said that the meeting was convened for consultants at FMC, Ebute Metta, to discuss on ways to cope with the current environment in the country, to enable them to keep delivering services in tandem with global practices.

In a remark, the Medical Director, FMC, Ebute Metta, Dr Adedamola Dada, said that the practice of medicine was evolving from the previous mantra where the doctor, especially the consultant was all-knowing and could not be challenged.

Dada urged the medical practitioners to be abreast, so as to meet the need of todays patients.

He said that it was also important that medical professionals show empathy, understanding, knowledge, confidence and sensitivity to the peculiar need of the patients at all time.

We must train ourselves to understand, accept and practice this new shift in our daily relationship with our patients.

As consultants, we should lead this process because it may be the way for the practice of our profession in this particular generation.

Every generation will define itself. If we fail to conform with the requirements of the time and remain stuck in the gone-by times, and fail to develop these new skills of practice, I am afraid it will be very difficult, if not impossible to practice medicine or indeed any other profession, Dada said.

A consultant psychiatrist and therapist, Dr Kafayah Ogunsola, who delivered a lecture on how to manage ones mental health in uncertainties urged medical experts to prioritise their mental well being.

Ogunsola said that life itself was filled with lots of stressors such as ill health, life events that one did not see coming, loss of a loved one, loss of job, financial troubles, economic problems and other challenges in Nigeria.

Whilst all of this is going on, one has to pay attention to self care such as affirming yourself the ability to breathe, understanding what are the things within your control, focusing on the things that are within your control and finding healthy distractions like knitting, drawing, painting as well as the ability to delegate.

It is about prioritising yourself. Its about preserving yourself rather than sacrificing yourself, the ability to say no, sometimes learn to say no, dont always be the yes man that everybody leaves all the responsibilities to and then you are beginning to cave on that pressure, she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Bassey/Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Source: NAN News

By Ginika Okoye

Stakeholders from various sectors of the economy have appealed to the government and private sector to set up multiple Juncao technology demonstration and distribution centres in the country.

The stakeholders made the appeal in a communique issued at the end of a three-day workshop on the application of the technology and its contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The stakeholders include experts, agriculturists, farmers representatives, among others.

The communique issued in Abuja on Friday said that the demonstration centres were necessary to ensure easy access to individuals and communities who were interested in adopting the technology.

Juncao technology is an environmental friendly one that capacitates smallholder farmers and entrepreneurs to grow mushrooms from dried, chopped grasses, without cutting down trees and damaging the environment.

The technology could also be used for producing cattle feed, methane gas and minimise soil erosion to combat desertification.

The communique said that extensive advocacy, community mobilisation and education using traditional rulers and leaders should be embarked on to promote the technology.

It suggested that development partners and private entities be encouraged to provide incentives to farmers and individuals who were interested in adopting the technology.

Meticulous data collection and storage must be embarked upon to better understudy this technology in the Nigerian climate to help improve application, development and domestication across the value chain.

A critical element of domestication and sustainability is to embark on training, research and capacity building.

To promote market access through internal and export market development across the value chain.

All efforts must be intensified including to promote the benefit of juncao technology in solving the farmers/herder crises, the communique said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was organised by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)

Others are the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Research Centre for Juncao Technology of the Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Fatima Sule/Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuella Anokam

The European Union (EU) in partnership with the Federal Government has expressed renewed interest to put mechanism in place to fund gas project in Nigeria to guarantee energy security in Africa and Europe.

The EU made this known on Friday when Chief Timipr Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, received Mr Matthew Baldwin, Deputy Director-General, EU Energy Platform Task-Force in his office in Abuja.

Recall that the EU delegations visit to the Minister was the second in four months, and it was equally meeting other key ministries with relevant roles to play in guaranteeing energy security.

The Minister said this development would hasten the desire of EU to guarantee alternative gas to Russias.

He described the assistance which covered security, technology development, financing and private sectors investment as worthwhile because finally it had enabled Nigeria to be on the same page with the rest of the world.

Sylva, who was critical about the haste which the EU and Western nation took out investment in fossil fuel, said in years to come fossil fuel would be very relevant while gas would be used as transition fuel.

He underscored the need for the EU to appeal to their financial institutions to be willing to relax stringent rules and remove bottlenecks bothering loans to enable sourcing funds under conducive agreement.

We have always said that we are committed to gas as a transition fuel and today we are speaking the same language with the EU.

We are discussing with the EU on how to collaborate on developing technology and other support they can give Nigeria.

They are responsible for the policy that will drive the investment, he said.

On security, he said it was another area of cooperation because they went to the Niger Delta Region to see for themselves what the security situation was, adding that part for the solution itself also required technology.

He said the region would be secured for oil and gas investments to continue to thrive while production quota would be shored up.

As part of the intervention to curb the insecurity in the region, he said there was a four-legged collaboration which involved the government, security agents, oil companies and communities.

Baldwin had earlier reinstated EUs commitment in making the gas project a reality and expressed optimism for a sustainable partnership for energy transition in Nigeria.

I am very pleased to be working with you in a big way private sector investment is guaranteed; the more the security situation can be improved in the Niger Delta Region, the more investment we will see, he said.

Ongoing AKK Gas Project and Trans Sahara Gas Pipelines (TSGP) project will present a huge opportunity for Nigeria and others to tap into the European markets. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Donald Ugwu

Source: NAN News

By Lydia Ngwakwe

Access Bank has called on women entrepreneurs globally to apply for its Womenpreneur Pitch-a-Ton Africa season four.

Mrs Abiodun Olubitan, the Group Head, W Initiative, Access Bank Group, made the call at a media roundtable for the unveiling of Access Bank W Initiative: Pitch-a-ton season 4.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the competition is open to Nigerian business owners from age 18 to 55, whose businesses are legal and registered in Nigeria.

The Womenpreneur Pitch-a-ton Africa programme is designed to provide female owned businesses across Africa an opportunity to access finance, world-class business trainings as well as mentoring opportunities.

Olubitan said that the initiative was introduced as part of the banks mandate to empower female entrepreneurs with financial and business skills.

Speaking on the theme: Empowering Women for Global Impact, Olubitan Saud the initiative was designed to create an enabling environment for female entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.

So, we have just opened for application and for this year, we are going to be having 27 winners.

Top seven are going to be winning financial grants up to five million naira and the additional 20 will be consolation prizes which would include free website development, free advertisement as well for their business.

This is just to ensure that its not one winner takes it all. Everybody is a winner. So, this years competition is going to be different. We started in 2019 and we have had it every year till this year, she said.

Olubitan said that the bank was expecting 40,000 applications as against 30,000 received last year, noting that four thousand applications since it opened.

She explained that those who had applied and were not lucky to be selected as one of the top 100, would be harvested into the W Community.

According to her, they will have free access to several information as well as use the toolkit in there, to train themselves.

She said that the season four would have Nigeria standing on its own while the other African countries would coordinate programmes from their own markets as well.

Olubitan said they would localise the content, make it relatable for the women entrepreneurs in their own markets and also have opportunities to add extra rewards.

She said that cash prizes, consolation prizes, including non-financial prizes such as insurance packages, three virtual business loans, investors matching opportunities and other opportunities would abound in this years competition.

She said that the season four competition would create a global impact as it would produce 400 mini MBA winners, as against the 200 winners achieved in the past three years.

Olubitan said the mini MBA was an intensive training programme developed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to train women on the rudiments of business.

She said, So just look at that exponential growth that we are going to have in this year alone because we are opening it up to the countries to set it off themselves.

And in addition, we are going to have 40 more winners in terms of the cash prizes and non-financial prizes.

She said that the competition had produced 200 winners across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

Olubitan added that 10 other African countries had produced 13 grant winners and 10 other consolation prizes across Africa.

Speaking on the impact, she said that it had exposed women to international markets and access to exhibit their products in many countries.

She also said that through the competition, the bank had been able to contribute directly and meaningfully to the countrys Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Because as youre empowering the women, theyre increasing their business capacity, theyre able to replicate what theyre doing.

So, these are the impacts that we see that actually propelled us, apart from the fact that its profitable, she said.

Olubitan disclosed that the bank had given grants worth ,000 to winners since inception of the initiative.

She said that interested entrepreneurs who meet the criteria should follow @W Community or Instagram, Twitter and Facebook log on to www.womenpreneur.ng to apply.

The application which opened on July 13 closes on Aug. 19, 2022. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Afonne

Delta Queens FC boss Henrietta Ehiabor has emerged the chairperson of Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) club owners association after defeating the incumbent, Matilda Otuene, in an election in Lagos.

A statement from the associations secretariat on Friday stated that Ehiabor polled 16 votes to defeat Otuene of Rivers Angels who garnered 10 votes at the end of the contest.

The incumbent Vice-Chairman Emmanuel Osahon of FC Robo Queens also lost his reelection bid to the Team Manager of Adamawa Queens Aminu Muhammed who got 14 votes as Osahon lost after securing 12 votes.

The position of secretary went to Dream Star FC owner Abolore Abdulrahman who secured 17 votes to defeat Osun Babes FC Team Manager, Tope Akinbade, who got nine votes.

The positions of the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Financial Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Secretary were unopposed as the candidates were unanimously elected by the 26 NWFL club owners who were in attendance at the election.

Pelican Stars owner Sam Kombo, however, was absent at the election.

Ehiabor in her acceptance speech said she would work for the benefit of the club owners and the growth of the league in collaboration with the board of the NWFL.

My Dear Club owners, as your new chairperson, I want to assure you that we will always speak with one voice, and together we will change the narrative in womens football.

At the end of my two years tenure, please judge me by the following promises I am making to you all today.

The interest of our great association will come first over and above my personal interest or that of my club.

I will work towards consolidating on the gains of my predecessors. I will run an all-inclusive executive and ensure that I am guided by the constitution of our association which is supreme.

I will also ensure the independence of this association, free from any external interference as I also focus on uniting our members to guarantee peace. I will also operate a financially-accountable executive.

I will create a conducive atmosphere which will guarantee an improved relationship between club owners and the NWFL board and Secretariat, Ehiabor said.

The newly-elected secretary, Abdulrahmam, also gave the assurance to work with other club owners as well as NWFL leadership to promote the leagues. (NAN)

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Edited by Donald Ugwu

Source: NAN News

By Chijioke Okoronkwo, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

No doubt, the issue of curbing medical tourism has featured prominently in national discourse over the years.

Estimates indicate that Nigeria loses between one billion dollars to two billion dollars annually in capital flight to medical tourism, while over 40,000 Nigerian doctors are practising in the Diaspora.

Admittedly, stakeholders agree that medical tourism has made objectionable inroads in Nigerias resources and also contributed to the near neglect and decrepit state of Nigerias healthcare system.

They acknowledge the fact that the problem with Nigerias healthcare sector is not lack of personnel with the requisite know-how but the political will to revamp and properly equip the sector.

To this end, efforts are being deployed to revive Nigerias healthcare system through efficient manpower and infrastructure, as notable Nigerians are beginning to demonstrate their belief in the capacity of Nigerias healthcare space.

Just recently, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo successfully underwent a leg surgery at the Duchess International Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos in spite having the appurtenance to seek medical attention in an ivy league facility abroad.

Osinbajos spokesman, Laolu Akande, had disclosed that the vice president was hospitalised for a surgical procedure on account of a recurrent pain in the leg possibly sustained from an injury while playing squash.

For the benefit of hindsight, the vice president, in 2021, inaugurated the Duchess International Hospital, a subsidiary of the Reddington Hospital Group.

The Duchess International is a state-of-the-art, purpose-built, fully ensuite 100-bed hospital facility; its services range from primary, secondary to tertiary healthcare services across a wide range of specialist and subspecialty areas.

Ever since Osinbajos successful surgery in a local health facility, insightful Nigerians have been applauding the vice president for exhibiting a high level of patriotism and belief in the Nigerian project.

They, including President Muhammadu Buhari, wished him speedy recovery.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), as a major player in the health industry, implored other political office holders in the country to emulate the vice president in order to end medical tourism.

Dr Uche Ojinmah, NMAs National President, while wishing Osinbajo a speedy recovery, commended him for demonstrating confidence in Nigerian doctors and the healthcare system.

Ojinmah added that it was time to fix the nations fragile healthcare system to the benefit of the common man and the economy.

He added that the association was certain that Osinbajo was impressed.

We wish to thank God for seeing our vice president through surgery.

All Nigerian doctors are praying for his quick and complete recovery, he said.

More so, tweets have hailed vice presidents openness about his health status and his choice of medical care in a local hospital.

They commend the vice presidents choice of a local hospital for a medical procedure and wished him quick recovery.

Ken Osemebor on twitter reacted, this is a new one, updating the citizens about the well-being of the vice president, one day we will do better; extend our best wishes to the vice president.

Kemisola Adekunle, in her tweet, said I am sure it is not too serious.

But kudos to the vice president for trusting in his doctors here at home and not having to fly abroad for treatment.

It shows his believe in Nigeria medical doctors.

On his part, Tamuno Tonye, wished, quick recovery to the senior advocate of masses who believes in everything in Nigeria, owned by Nigerians and for Nigerians.

Our medical services have proven to be world class for all citizens irrespective of their societal class.

Right activists, Aisha Yesufu and Henry Sheild were also not left out as they prayed and wished the vice president speedy recovery.

Mr Shield wrote, may the Lord Almighty heal you and hold the hands of the medical staff all through the procedure.

You will come out stronger and healthier in Jesus name. You are in our prayers.

Yesufu prayed may God heal you completely.

Worthy of note, the Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, Dr Adetokunbo Shitta-Bey, while giving an update of Osinbajos recovery, applauded the vice president for patronising a local hospital rather than embarking on medical tourism for a service that was available locally.

On affordability of Duchess International Hospital and quality of service, Shitta-Bey said that services at the facility were not expensive and not out of the reach of many Nigerians.

He said that the affordability of the facility was among the reasons the vice president chose to have a medical procedure here in Nigeria.

Just speaking in terms of access to affordable world class health care, we are giving a lot of attention to the very highly emotive subject of access and taking deliberate steps to bring down the barriers that prevent people accessing these essential services.

I think this is largely what informed the vice presidents decision to have his procedure here at the Duchess International Hospital.

The vice president is a national treasure and it is an honour to have him in our hospital.

He receives the same level of safe, healthcare anyone who would come into the hospital would receive, of course, with additional considerations for security because it is a matter of national interest and security.

The chief executive officer spoke further about what the hospital was doing to ensure access to affordable healthcare and reverse the trend in medical tourism.

For example, to register at the Duchess International Hospital and see a doctor is not more than N5, 000.

We have a consultant-led service at the Duchess International Hospital.

It is very important that the decisions that are made within the first few minutes are precise decisions.

You are far more likely to see a specialist consultant within the first 10 minutes in the hospital unlike in other hospitals in Lagos, and so all of that contribute to the safety and security that patients have when they come in.

It is also very important for us that the entire community is able to access the service.

We are also focused on bringing our boys and girls back home; all of these contribute to the safe and secure environment that enable people come and have the care that they need.

He also spoke on taking deliberate steps to check capital flight as a result of medical tourism.

According to him, it is really important to have a range of services that will keep money and expertise within this country.

It is precisely what the Duchess International Hospital represents.

We need not one Duchess Hospital, this country needs about 50 Duchess Hospitals to improve access, bring down the cost of health care, access to essential services, and having specialists, front to end the services.

Having 24-hour emergency and critical care, having the right governance arrangement both clinically and administratively based on all the things that contribute to a robust environment, he said.

On his part, the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Adedoyin Dosunmu-Ogunbi said Osinbajo was making steady progress.

He is walking already, taking a few steps. You can imagine after a major surgery in his right femur bone; that is very encouraging as he continues to recover.

The medical director called for urgent reforms to revitalise healthcare delivery in Nigeria, noting that the sector in Nigeria was highly under resourced.

All public officials in Nigeria should have their healthcare in Nigeria.

If the treatment is available in Nigeria, then they should get it in Nigeria.

And in many cases, it is available, but if we do not have such services available in Nigeria then they can get it elsewhere, he said.

Unarguably, if the elite patronised local health facilities, billions would be saved in capital flight and the ripple effect would be a sustained upgrading and retooling of Nigerias health sector. (NANFeatures)

** If used, please credit the writer as well as the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

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Source: NAN News