Gov. Godwin Obaseki

By Nefishetu Yakubu

Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo on Tuesday reduced the number of work days that civil and public servants would have to commute to their workplaces from five days to three days a week, amongst other measures.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Benin, Obaseki said the measure was part of efforts to ameliorate the sufferings currently faced by the people in the wake of the rise in prices of goods and services occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal.

In the wake of fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government, fuel prices have increased astronomically, leading to rise in prices of goods and services and overall cost of living.

The Edo State Government shares the pains of our people and wants to assure everyone that we are standing with them in these very challenging times.

We want to reassure our people that we will do all within our powers as a sub-national government to reduce the pains and ameliorate the sufferings our people are currently facing due to the current realities.

As a proactive government, we have since taken the step to increase the minimum wage paid to workers in Edo State from the approved N30,000 to N40,000.

We hope to increase it even further, if more allocation accrues to our state from the Federal Government in view of the expected savings from the removal of the fuel subsidy, the governor said.

According to him, we know the hardship that has been caused by this policy which has increased the cost of transportation, eating deep into the wages of workers in the state.

Therefore, the Edo State Government is hereby reducing the number of work days that civil and public servants will have to commute to their workplaces from five days to three days a week till further notice.

Workers will now work from home two days every week.

Similarly, for teachers and parents, their commuting to school will be reduced as government is working on deepening the initiative.

To create more virtual classrooms, thereby, reducing the cost of commuting on parents, teachers and pupils.

The Edo SUBEB will provide details on this initiative in the coming days, Obaseki said.

He said that to lower the rising cost of energy on the people, the state government would continue to work with the electricity companies in the state to improve power supply to homes and businesses.

Similarly, fiber optics connections are being made available to help our people work remotely, thereby reducing their cost of transportation, he said.

Obaseki called on all to remain calm and go about their daily businesses lawfully while government intensified effort to alleviate the burden of fuel price. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Adeleye Ajayi

Source: NAN News

A participant making a comment during a training of secondary school staff members from Kaduna North Senatorial District on School Related Gender-Based Violence Safeguarding in Zaria

By Philip Yatai

The World Bank-supported Kaduna State Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project is training 30,000 academic and non-academic staff of secondary schools on School Related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV) Safeguarding.

The AGILE GBV Officer, Hajiya Aisha Mohammed stated this in Zaria on Tuesday, during the training of 1,663 secondary school staff members from Kaduna North Senatorial District on SRGBV safeguarding.

Mohammed identified the staff as principals of government secondary school, Grievance Redress Mechanism Officials and Guidance and Counselling Officers.

She said that 300 staff members within the Kaduna Central Senatorial Zone have been trained, adding that others within Kaduna South Senatorial Zone would also be trained until the 30,000 staff were covered.

This, according to her, is part of efforts by the AGILE project to ensure SRGBV prevention and mitigation such that all adolescent girls in the state would be able to attend secondary schools safely.

She explained that the training was critical following the significant infrastructural investments and upgrades being undertaken by the Kaduna AGILE project in 550 secondary schools, with an accompanying increase in the number of workers.

The GBV officer explained that AGILEs objective is to improve secondary education opportunities among adolescent girls by addressing constraints that limit adolescent girls ability to complete secondary school.

Speaking on the states SRGBV Safeguarding Code of Conduct (CoC), Hajiya Zainab Maina-Lukat, the projects Technical Assistant on System Strengthening, said that each of the 30,000 staff would sign the CoC.

Maina-Lukat reiterated that in all, the CoC has 15 commitments to which all staff and site workers would be expected to adhere to as part of effort to prevent SRGBV in schools.

She explained that the CoC was based on the Kaduna States Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, Child Welfare and Protection Law, GBV prevention policies as well as the States and National Teachers Policies.

She disclosed that among the CoCs commitments, staff and site workers were required to refrain from any form of sexual exploitation and abuse, inappropriate sexual behaviour or act(s) toward students or staff.

The technical assistant also said that the CoC also prohibits the use of sexually suggestive language and inappropriate physical contact with students, including beating of any student.

The SRGBV training and CoC is an excellent example of a collective process and action of deepening safeguarding measures within education sector agencies.

The agencies include the Teachers Service Board, State Universal Basic Education Board, and the Kaduna State Quality Assurance Authority.

Other agencies include the Ministry of Human Services and Social Development, Ministry for Justice, and Ministry for Health as well as the Partnership for Education for All in Nigeria programme, she said.

Mr Joseph Damola, one of the facilitators at the training, noted that access to justice plays an important role in the fight to end GBV in schools and communities.

It is important to have a well-coordinated and integrated justice response system. This will enhance the conviction of perpetrators and contribute to safety and well-being of survivors, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the UN said GBV is the most pervasive yet least visible human rights violation in the world.

It includes physical, sexual, mental, or economic harm inflicted on a person because of socially ascribed power imbalances between males and females.

It also includes the threat of violence, coercion, and deprivation of liberty, whether in public or private. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

Cross section of dignitaries with Hon. Alli Goni Gujba, Board Member, ICPC. who represented of ICPC Chairman at t the maiden edition of the Commissions inter-schools debate for tertiary institutions in the FCT and Nasarawa State.

Corruption is a dream killer, ICPC boss tells youths

Corruption

By Isaac Aregbesola

Abuja, June 7, 2023 (NAN) The Chairman, Independent and Corrupt Practices and Other related Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, has described corruption as a dream killer that must be fought to a standstill by the youth.

The Chairman, represented by Alhaji Alli Goni Gujba, Board Member, ICPC, said this on Wednesday in Abuja, at the maiden edition of the Commissions inter-schools debate for tertiary institutions in the FCT and Nasarawa State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the institutions participated in the debate included Veritas University, Baze University, Bingham University, University of Abuja, Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa and College of Education, Zuba

The ICPC boss described the youth as the leaders of tomorrow, who needed to fight corruption with great rigour for them to achieve the desired goal.

He said that, for this to effectively happen, both the older generation and the youth themselves must take steps to provide an enabling environment, both physically and intellectually, to encourage this progressive ideal.

You must realise that corruption is a dream killer and if you do not fight it to a standstill at your level, it will kill your future dreams.

Corruption is often erroneously viewed as an adult problem, yet the seeds of this societal virus are planted in the early stages of a persons life.

One of the holy books admonishes us to train a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he shall not depart from it.

I therefore urge you to determine in your heart that you will not give the evil seeds of corruption and value degeneration a conducive environment to germinate.

He said that the youth had the capacity to shape the future of the country with determination by deliberately shunning corrupt practices.

According to him, it is indeed a truism that no nation can grow and develop faster than its level and standards of education.

Owasanoye noted that the deficiencies of the society were magnified by the fact that the youth are starved of the appropriate ethical and cultural values necessary to become model citizens.

He urged the youth to take the advantage of the debate platform to reshape the society

This inter-schools debate is one of the several platforms ICPC created to encourage capacity building, ethical re-orientation, behavioural change and positive value rejuvenation, especially amongst the youth, he said.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, charged the youth to contribute their quota towards a Nigeria free of economic and financial crimes, urging them to Do the Right Thing Always.

Bawa, represented by Chidimma Amanambu, Assistant Commander, EFCC, Head Media Academy, Karu, charged them to contribute their quota towards a Nigeria free of economic and financial crimes..

The youths are the future of our country and any opportunity to engage their minds in activities that will be beneficial to nation building is a welcome one, Bawa said.

He expressed concern over the prevalence of cyber crimes among students of tertiary institutions, adding that this is an illegal activity and not a good narrative as it affects the image of our country.

He urged the youth, especially students, to shun the act and use the advantages provided for them by the institution of learning positively

Institutions of learning are the fertile ground where students nurture and imbibe the virtues of integrity, honesty, punctuality and decency as future leaders, he said.

Paulinus Okwelle, Executive Secretary, National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), in his remarks, called for concerted effort to build a culture of integrity and rid the education system of corruption.

Okwelle, was represented by Bello Abdullahi Esq, Deputy Director, Legal Services, Information and Corporate Service Department.

We commend you for your efforts to tackle corruption in our educational institutions. By addressing this topic, you have demonstrated a deep understanding of the challenges we face and the critical need for change.

Tertiary institutions are important in shaping the future of our country. They should be indicators of knowledge, innovation and integrity, but corruption threatens to undermine the foundations on which these institutions are built, he said.

Deputy Programme Director, Step Up Nigeria, Feranmi Iyanda, said that the event was a testament to the unwavering commitment of the youth to create a better and corruption-free future for Nigeria.

Iyanda urged the students to have the responsibility to champion anti-corruption efforts, not only within their educational institutions but also in all facets of our society.

I believe wholeheartedly in the power of our youth to shape the future of our nation, and this is what drives the work we do at Step Up Nigeria.

Your passion, energy and innovative ideas hold the key to transforming our society into one that is characterized by integrity, transparency, and good governance. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Vincent Obi

Source: NAN News

Amb. Bolaji Akinremi, Director, Trade and Economic Relations in the Ministry (R) and Ms. Hanneke Schuiling, Vice-Minister for Foreign Trade of the Kingdom of the Netherland at the opening of the Economic Consultation on Tuesday

By Lizzy Okoji

The Federal Government and the Kingdom of Netherlands have engaged in an Economic Consultation to modernize the existing bilateral investment treaty between both countries to strengthen economic interest and opportunities.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Adamu Lamuwa, at the opening of the Economic Consultation on Tuesday in Abuja, said that discussion would also be opened or the establishment of a joint Bi-national Commission.

Lamuwa, who was represented Amb. Bolaji Akinremi, Director, Trade and Economic Relations in the Ministry, said that the Economic Consultation was timely as rebuilding the nations economy is the focus of the new administration.

This gathering of professionals would foster productive dialogue on Nigeria-Netherlands Economic Cooperation, the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA), Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (ADTA), and other legal frameworks.

During this Economic Consultation, Nigeria is willing to explore further, areas of economic cooperation with the Netherlands in Agricultural value chain, secular economy, renewable energy, waterways management and water scarcity.

Other areas are Oil and Gas, Special Economic Zones, African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Trade facilitation in Western Africa, Science, Technology and Innovations (STI) Education and Health

Mines and Metallurgy, Arts and Crafts, Tourism, Creative and Entertainment Industry, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Aviation, Anti-Money Laundry and Counter Financing Terrorism (AML/CFT) / General Security matters. Digital Economy and FINTECH,

He noted that in spite of the longstanding bilateral relations between Nigeria and the Netherlands there was no Joint/Bi-National Commission Agreement between the two countries.

Negotiation for the establishment of a Joint Commission has been inconclusive since 1987.

Against this background, the Government of Nigeria would like to reopen the negotiation for the establishment of a Joint/Bi-National Commission Agreement, as this would further consolidate and boost the relations between the two countries, Lamuwa said.

Ms. Hanneke Schuiling, Vice-Minister for Foreign Trade of the Kingdom of the Netherlands said the Dutch government attaches importance strengthening bilateral economic relationship with Nigeria, its fifth trading partner in Africa.

Schuiling said that updating and modernizing the investment agreement between both countries will create a more stable and predictable investment environment.

In this regard we see a high potential in four areas in particular: agriculture, IT, healthcare and renewable energy.

As you may be aware, the current treaty was signed in 1992. Since then, both countries have experienced significant changes in their approach to international investments which can be adopted into a new treaty.

It is important to modernize our treaty to reflect these changes. A modernized treaty can also foster stronger economic relations between our two nations.

I hope we can seize the opportunity to mutually agree on a new investment treaty, that reflects the evolving economic landscape and guarantees a fair and transparent investment climate for both parties.

Firstly, we recognize the importance of promoting and protecting investments in both our countries. It is important that we facilitate investments and that we provide a transparent legal framework to investors. This will be crucial to fostering investor confidence.

At the same time, we need to ensure that our respective governments right to regulate is enshrined in the treaty.

Secondly, incorporating sustainable development and responsible business conduct in this treaty is another element that we feel is very important. These topics are increasingly important in trade and investment agreements. .

Thirdly, it is our ambition to include provisions for transparent and predictable dispute settlement procedures. This will provide both governments and investors with greater certainty and confidence in the investment process, Schuiling said.

Dr Bashir Jamoh, Director-General, Nigeria Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA), said that the Agency looked to partnering with the Netherlands as a maritime nation to develop Nigerias blue economy to becoming the nations main source of revenue.

What we are advocating now is the issue of the blue economy, and already, the Federal Government has inaugurated a committee to look into ways of harnessing our blue economy.

The Netherlands having being a maritime nation, they owe it a duty to join hands together and see how we can continue to build and expand our own fleets, the ships, small ships, the fishing trollers, passenger ferries, instead of using small canoes that every day we record accidents.

The fishing industry used to give Nigeria the second largest income, today, because of the extinction of these fishing trollers we no longer have any sizeable income from our fishing.

We are doing what we can explore from the over 2.5 trillion dollars worth of ocean resources, Jamoh said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 35 Ministries, Department, and Agencies (MDAs), the Lagos State Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN) would be participating in the three-day economic consultation. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

Mrs Jane Ahmed, Competition Secretary of the Women Section of IBB Golf Club (First Left)

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The Ladies Section of the IBB International Golf and Country Club says 30 female caddies will be engaged to enhance professionalism in the game.

Lady Captain of the club, Mrs Comfort Olateju, said this at the celebration of the International Women Golf Day on Wednesday in Abuja.

The celebration, with the theme: Be the best version of yourself that you can be, was organised by the Ladies Section of the Club.

Olateju said to achieve the theme of the celebration, there was need to involve caddies to play with.

This is because we want to empower and celebrate female golfers around the world and we want a kind of empowerment that will be sustainable.

There is going to be a lecture and programme where each woman player will be encouraged to adopt a caddy and empower her in the area of mentorship.

Let me also add that playing golf is an exercise; as you walk and go round, you are seeing the trees and nature that improve our health,Olateju said.

Similarly, the Vice Lady Captain of the club, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, said there were young girls that played as professionals and some playing to become professionals.

Here in IBB, we encourage as many young girls as possible to come out and play golf as their male counterparts, and as a matter of fact, we are going to sponsor some of them, she said.

In the same vein, the competition Secretary for the Ladies Section, Mrs Jane Ahmed, said the celebration of the International Women Golf Day started in 2017.

The whole idea of this years celebration is to empower girls and for ladies to network; so the day is for uniting, bringing in new golfers, networking and empowering the young ones.

So we in the IBB and Ladies Section have chosen to empower female caddies, because, you must start from your immediate environment.

We have 30 female caddies and we have chosen to see how we can sit together and help them in their individual circumstances.

This is the first time we are doing this, and we hope it will yield fruits, Ahmed said.

One of the female caddies, Miss Hanatu Timothy, a champion for Carddies from Adamawa, said she was happy to play in the Ladys Day.

She expressed optimism thatOlateju, Okah-Donli, Ahmed and others would empower her and her fellow caddies to take their game to the professional level. (NAN)

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Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

Promoting disease control through hand hygiene culture

By Racheal Abuja, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

According to UNICEF nine out of 10 schools in Nigeria have no handwashing facilities for students. This, according to the UN agency, does not augur well for the fight against infectious diseases.

UNICEF said in a report that in 2018, only 21 per cent of Nigerians had access to basic handwashing facilities at home adding, that the figure dropped to 16 per cent in 2019.

The global response efforts to the COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented hand hygiene culture, yet, progress remains far too slow for the most vulnerable and underserved communities, UNICEF said.

A Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, UNICEF said, showed that while more than half of Ghanaian households have designated places for washing hands, only about one household out of every five has water or other cleansing agents available at home.

Nigerias statistics is even worse when compared to the less developed countries, where only 7 out of 10 schools lack basic hand washing facilities.

Experts say hand hygiene reduces the transmission of communicable diseases. Therefore, poor hand hygiene practice in schools, workplaces, homes and marketplaces even in hospitals remains a public health challenge.

The World Health Organisation states that 50 per cent of healthcare facilities worldwide lack basic hygiene, while about 32 per cent of healthcare facilities in Africa do not have access to hand hygiene facilities at the points of care.

Public health experts suggest that hand hygiene should be entrenched as a routine clean care habit for everyone, especially in health care facilities, schools, crowded public spaces, camps, and prisons.

According to Dr Jean Kaseya, Director-General, Africa Centre for Disease Control, hand hygiene practices are critical in reducing the transmission of infections, particularly during disease outbreaks such as Ebola, SARS, Influenza, and currently, COVID-19.

Kaseya said in a goodwill message in commemoration of 2022 world hand hygiene day that improving hand hygiene could also reduce the occurrence of diseases like diarrhoea and respiratory infections.

According to Dr Chris Eleoma, Director Community Health Services, National Primary Health Care Agency, handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of diseases and save lives.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Nigerians should build on the handwashing gains of COVID-19 to make hand hygiene a culture.

He said that there was need for more investment in water, sanitation and hygiene to help prevent the outbreak of communicable diseases in communities.

Dr Tochi Okwor said it was important to recognised that workers were at the forefront of the countrys response strategy to prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases.

Okwor is the Assistant Director, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Okwor said it was unfortunate that some health workers did not pay attention to health hygiene.

He advised them to wash their hands before touching a patient, before a clean/aseptic procedure, after body fluid exposure risk, after touching a patient and after touching the patients surroundings.

The patient is at the centre of the care. The patient could be you or me. We are either patients today or patients in the future.

We need to empower healthcare workers to do regular hand hygiene and we also need patients to get involved.

Maintaining hand hygiene does not come by accident, it is cultivated.

Dr Rita Okonkwo, Global Health Security Manager and Research Scientist, Institute of Human Virologist Nigeria (IHVN) said that there were two sides to building a culture of hand hygiene.

Okonkwo told NAN that health workers were expected to maintain a culture of hand hygiene during while giving care and support.

IHVN is using empirical data to create targeted hand hygiene interventions. Based on our assessments, we see the need to create more holistic efforts towards improving systems that sustain the culture of hand hygiene, she said.

According to experts given its importance in disease prevention and control and seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, stakeholders should take advantage of the traditional and new media to promote hand hygiene culture in Nigeria.

They also advocate that handwashing should be included in the curriculum at primary and Junior Secondary School levels so that Nigerians would inculcate the culture from young age.

They further advance that hospitals and health centres should provide handwashing facilities and make it mandatory for care givers to use them before and after attending to patients. (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.

Source: NAN News

By Ibukun Emiola
Prof. Olukayode Ogunsanwo of Forest Products Utilisation, University of Ibadan (UI), has described the death of his friend, Prof. Opeyemi Ajewole, as an irreplaceable one, considering his loving nature toward all.

Ogunsanwo recounted his last moments with his best friend, Ajewole, also a lecturer in the same university, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ibadan.

NAN reports that Ajewole was killed on Monday evening by yet to be identified gunmen.

Until his death, Ajewole, aged 61, was a lecturer at the Department of Social and Environmental Forestry at the university.

NAN also reports that friends, staff members as well students, who accompanied Ogunsanwo, to the office of the deceased at the Department of Social and Environmental Forestry to pick one of his pictures for condolence register, were wailing and weeping uncontrollably .

Late Prof. Opeyemi Ajewole

Sympathizers were seen in pensive mood at the deceaseds Department and his house, as people were trooping in to mourn and testify of his good nature and lovely demeanors.

Ogunsanwo told NAN that they were both at the UI Staff Club until the deceased was ready to go home around 7.30 p.m, on the unfortunate day, saying that they could not leave together because he had a visitor from Cameroon.

When we departed, Ope went to the Department and helped to switch off my air conditioner, closed my office windows and locked the door.

He told me not to bother coming back to the office that he had helped me closed for the day, he said.

He said that he was called around some minutes to 8.00 p.m that his friend had been shot and kidnapped. I then alerted the Oyo State Security, who swung into action immediately.

I rushed to his house and met a relative who helped in buying his car, coming back with his family.

He called me aside and informed me that the police have found his body.

He said he saw his picture and confirmed to the police that he was the one they were looking for and that he was dead by then.

Ope was shot twice, the first shot was when he was abducted in front of his house and the second time was while he was being dragged into his car.

The traces of blood in front of his house was enough to have killed him, but he was shot a second time and was dropped by the roadside.

When I saw his corpse at Adeoyo, where the police took him to, he was soaked in blood from head to the toe, Ogunsanwo said.

Late Prof. Opeyemi Ajewole

He said that Ajewoles killers went away with his Toyota Camry Car, which has not been found.

I had to call his pastor and some other professors from UI at about 11.00 p.m to break the news of his death to his wife and children.

This is because they were told at the police station to go home and bring the original of his cars papers, as police did not want to break the news there, he said.

Ogunsanwo described the deceased as an easy-going, kind-hearted and warm person who does not lust for the things of the world, but always cheers people on,admonishing them to take things easy.

According to him, his death was not because he was in any shady business or had dealt with someone.

Meanwhile, Rev. Kayode Oluleye, on behalf of his family, said that further details on the burial arrangement would be announced later by the family.

With surrendered heart to God, we announce the passing to glory of Prof. Opeyemi Ajewole.
He was born on March 6, 1962 and died on June 5, 2023, Oluleye said. (NAN)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Olagoke Olatoye

Source: NAN News

PPDC logo

By Jacinta Nwachukwu

An NGO, the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) says it is necessary for government to continuously engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the dividend of democracy reaches the average Nigerian.

Mr Shittu Jubril, the Chief Executive Officer, PPDC, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

Jubril said the most transparent and governable society was possible when citizens were actively informed and engaged.

As civil society, our expectation is that the consultation which the new administration has started will continue to be all inclusive and engaging in a more transparent and cohesive manner.

This will ensure that the dividends of democracy and governance reaches the average Nigerian.

Access to information, access to the decisions that are being made and being part of the decisions are things we try to promote, he said.

Jubril said that PPDC had been in existence for 20 years as a civil society organisation promoting good governance and citizens engagement.

He added that one of the centres thematic areas was procurement covenant, saying this was about how government resources were utilised for the provision of health care, transportation and infrastructure such as schools.

According to Jubril, for government to be effective, it has to deal with the allocation of resources.

What we then do is to ensure that these allocations are transparent and accountable, and that would not exist where there is a rule of law and there is no impunity.

He, therefore, commended President Bola Tinubu for stating clearly in his inaugural speech that his administration would adhere to the rule of law. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Folasade Adeniran

Source: NAN News

Prof.-emeritus Umaru Shehu Maiduguri, Chairman, Board of Directors, IHVN

Abuja, June 6, 2023 (NAN) The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) celebrated a momentous occasion on Tuesday as it officially commissioned its newly constructed IHVN Campus.

At the ceremony in Abuja, Mr Rolf Olson, Acting United States Deputy Chief of Mission, said the commissioning of the campus provided an opportunity to reflect on past accomplishments and also set goals for what the U.S. Government would work towards within these walls in the future.

Olson said that the U.S. Governments current sub-Saharan Africa strategy reiterated its commitment to health security in the region.

He said that through its agencies like US Centre for Disease Control, it was able to work towards the vision of a world where people lived healthier, safer, and longer lives.

The US CDCs mission is to protect and improve health globally through science, policy, partnership, and evidence-based public health action.

These actions, driven by science and data, are a core component of the U.S. Governments global health diplomacy efforts in Nigeria. he said.

He said that the U.S., through its collective investments, research and programming, aimed to first impact on the health of Nigerians in a positive way and strengthen health security in the country and in the region,

He said that the third was to establish the country as a leader in public health science and practice.

Through partnerships with the Government of Nigeria, civil society partners, and communities, we work towards that first goal- to save lives, improve health outcomes and foster healthy populations, he added.

The Chief Executive Officer, IHVN, Dr Patrick Dakum, expressed gratitude to all those who contributed to the realisation of the ambitious project.

Dakum highlighted the growth of IHVN since its establishment in 2004, emphasising its leadership role in providing quality health services, capacity building and research in the country.

The IHVN Campus, located in the heart of the country, would now serve as the headquarters of the institute.

The first phase of the project, which was officially completed and opened during the ceremony, includes a seven-story edifice comprising the International Research Centre of Excellence (IRCE), administrative offices, and lettable spaces.

Tower A of the building houses state-of-the-art laboratories, including a bio-repository with liquid nitrogen facilities, a genomics resource centre, and various clinical and diagnostic laboratories.

It also features a Clinical Trials Unit, which will facilitate the conduct of crucial clinical trials to study the effectiveness and adverse effects of vaccines and drugs on the Nigerian population, it said.

He said that Tower A also accommodated offices for researchers and a restaurant for staff and visitors.

He said that Tower B, on the other hand, offered office spaces, a boardroom, banking facilities, a gym and a creche.

With the completion of Phase 1, IHVN now sets its sights on the subsequent phases.

Phase two involves the construction of a multi-level car park capable of accommodating 200 vehicles, currently underway adjacent to the newly commissioned building, he said.

Meanwhile, Prof.-emeritus Umaru Shehu Maiduguri, Chairman, Board of Directors, IHVN, said the commissioning of the campus gave hope that the country could curb todays emerging diseases of publich health concern.

I feel fulfilled because I have been a witness and participant in Nigerias efforts at stopping Epidemics like Smallpox, Polio, Ebola, HIV, and COVID-19; so this is a major contribution to Nigerias healthcare efforts.

Other things being equal, I predict that with facilities such as the ones you find on this campus, Nigeria will soon become the destination for medical tourism, clinical diagnostics, treatment, and care for people with infectious and non-infectious diseases.

I see more young scientists inspired and emboldened by the facilities on this campus to develop and execute research projects under the mentorship of more experienced investigators at the institutes International Research Centre of Excellence.

As chair of the Board of Directors of the Institute, he said he was a witness to the active participation of the indefatigable and resourceful colleagues on the board, banks, donor agencies, corporate organizations and management of IHVN to the development of the campus project.

Seven years ago, this untiring Board of Directors teamed up with Access Bank and Dangote Foundation to organise a fundraising dinner at Eko Hotel, Lagos to raise N5 billion.

About 700 million Naira was raised from this drive and other savings and contributions from partners.

At that time, it was a dream but today it is a reality, he said.

(NAN) www.nannews.ng

AIR/IA

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

Desk Officer, Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) programme, Kaduna SUBEB, Mrs Josephine Michael, addressing participants at a one-day sensitisation on the enrolment of out-of-school children in Kafanchan

By Philip Yatai

The Kaduna State Government has pledged to provide adequate school furniture, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and other facilities to encourage school enrolment and retention in public primary schools.

The Executive Chairman, Kaduna Basic Education Board (Kaduna SUBEB), Alhaji Tijjani Abdullahi made the promise in Kafanchan, during a one-day sensitisation campaign on the enrolment of out-of-school children in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the campaign was organised by the Kaduna SUBEB, under the World Bank-supported Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) programme.

Abdullahi, who was represented by Malam Kabiru Lawal, acting Director of Social Mobilisation, said that the government was also working to improve security in schools and improve teachers capacity for quality teaching and learning.

He called on the School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) to step in, particularly in the provision of WASH facilities when necessary before while awaiting government intervention.

He explained that the enrolment campaign was to mobilise relevant stakeholders to support the government to mop-up out-of-school children in the streets, motor parks, farms, houses, markets, and other places.

Also speaking during the campaign, Mrs Josephine Michael, Desk Officer of BESDA, Kaduna SUBEB, said that the effort was to ensure that no child was left behind in the government drive to provide quality education to all.

Michael appealed to the stakeholders to support the state government efforts to address the menace of out-of-school toward building the needed human capital that would move the state forward.

BESDA, a Programme for Result (P for R) was initiated by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) with support from the Federal Ministry of Education, designed to address the menace of out-of-school children.

The programme began in 2019, with a 611 million dollars loan from the World Bank, which the Federal Government gave 17 participating states with the highest number of out-of-school children as grant.

Also, Malam Magaji Mohammed, Community Participation Officer, Kaduna SUBEB, urged the stakeholders to strengthen advocacy and sensitisation to ensure that no child was left behind.

He noted that the government was doing the best it could to provide the needed facilities in schools to enable children to learn in line with the states free and compulsory basic education.

Earlier, community stakeholders from Jemaa, Kaura, Zangon Kataf and Sanga Local Government Areas of the state commended the government efforts to enrol out-of-school children in school.

They, however, urged the government to improve security in schools and provide adequate school furniture and WASH facilities.

One of them, Mr Peter Owaze, said that the provisions of school furniture and other facilities would encourage children to enrol in school and remain in school.

On his part, Mr Ango Arkilawus, lamented that some teachers and pupils were struggling for space in bushes around public school due to lack of toilet and water facilities.

NAN reports that religious and community leaders at the meeting pledged to sensitise community members on the importance of education and work with parents and caregivers to enrol their children in school. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News