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    Kaduna Govt. upgrades 226 health facilities

    Gov. Nasir El-Rufai

    By Philip Yatai and Stella Kabruk

    Kaduna State Government says it has upgraded 226 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) out of the 255 functional PHCs in the state.

    The health project were executed in each of the political ward of the state.

    The Kaduna State Government says it has completed the renovation and upgrading of 226 Primary Healthcare Centres, out of the planned 255 functional PHCs, one in each political ward of the state.

    The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Baloni stated this in Kaduna on Friday, while providing updates on health status, budget performance, COVID-19 intervention and renovation of 255 PHCs in the state.

    She spoke at the Open Kaduna Health Quarterly Interactive Forum, organised by Kaduna State Maternal New-born and Child Accountability Mechanism (KADMAM).

    The meeting was organised in collaboration with the state Ministry of Health and other Development Partners with the theme, #Open Kaduna Health in the Midst of COVID-19 Pandemic.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government began the renovation and upgrade of the 255 PHCs in 2017, to increase access to quality healthcare services.

    The commissioner said that so far, 226 have been fully completed, while 28 were at over 50 per cent completion and one below 50 per cent completion.

    She said that out of the 226 completed PHCs, 81 were in Zone 1, 71 in Zone 2, and 74 in Zone 3, while five of the uncompleted PHCs were in Zone 1, 10 in Zone 2 and 14 in Zone 3.

    On budget performance, the commissioner said that N1.5 billion was released out of the N7.9 billion allocated for the ministry and its departments and agencies for capital expenditure in first and second quarter.

    She said the released fund was for the ministry, Primary Health Care Development Agency, state Contributory Health Management Authority, and the Health Supplies Management Agency.

    Others include the State College of Nursing and Midwifery and Shehu Idris College of Health Science and Technology.

    On maternal health, we have recorded a decline in antenatal care attendance between January and June 2020, while uptake of contraceptive services had increased within the period.

    The practice of exclusive breastfeeding had also increased, including uptake of Vitamin A supplement due to the six months maternity leave declared by the state government and availability of Vitamin A.

    A significant number of children under five years have been fully immunised, but the children were not receiving long lasting insecticide nets due to stock out.

    Malaria treatment and prevention is a priority area of the government, she said.

    On COVID-19 intervention, Baloni said that the government approved N1.2 billion for the control of the disease while the World Bank donated N100 million.

    According to her, other donations were received from philanthropists to combat COVID-19, in form of personal protective equipment, drugs, and consumables.

    Earlier, the Co-Chair of KADMAM, Mr Mustapha Jumare pointed out that low-cash backing of budget releases is undermining performance of the health sector in the state.

    Jumare acknowledged a reasonable budgetary allocation to the health sector by the state government, in line with the Abuja Declaration of a minimum of 15 per cent budgetary allocation to the sector.

    He, however, pointed out that in spite the reasonable budgetary allocations, the health indices in the state had remained very disturbing.

    Jumare said that the interactive forum was organised with support from DFID-funded Partnership to Engage Reform and Learn (PERL), Lafiya-UK support for health in Nigeria Programme, and SuNMaP2 support to the National Malaria Programme.

    Source: NAN News

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    Africa records 23% increase in COVID-19 cases  WHO

    who

    World Health Organisation (WHO) says there is a 23 per cent increase in the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Africa in the past week.

    WHO disclosed this in a weekly COVID-19 Situation update for WHO Africa Region, External Situation Report 21, posted on WHO Africa twitter account @WHOAFRO.

    According to the report, COVID-19 outbreak has continued to evolve in the WHO African Region since it was first detected in Algeria on Feb. 25, 2020.

    The report indicated that since our last External Situation Report 20 issued on July 15, 2020, a total of 117,267 new confirmed COVID-19 cases (a 23 per cent increase) was reported from 45 countries.

    Of the 117,267 reported new cases, the majority, 71 per cent (83, 506), were recorded in South Africa, which remains the epicentre of the COVID-19 outbreak in the region.

    South Africa (381,798) is now ranked fifth in the world, with only the United States of America (3, 748, 248) and Brazil (2,098,389).

    India has 1,155,191 cases and the Russian Federation (783,328), ahead in terms of case numbers, although reported deaths are comparatively low.

    During this period, it stated that six countries in the region observed the highest percentage increase in incidence cases.

    Equatorial Guinea recorded 125 per cent (from 1, 043 to 2,350 cases), Gambia 106 per cent (from 64 to 132 cases), Zimbabwe 71 per cent from 1,064 to 1,820 cases.

    Namibia recorded 58 per cent (from 864 to 1,366 cases), Zambia 46 per cent (from 2,283 to 3,326 cases) and Angola 44 per cent from 541 to 779 cases.

    Angola and Namibia have been among the top five countries recording the highest percentage increase for the past three reporting periods.

    Mauritius and United Republic of Tanzania did not officially submit reports indicating any confirmed case.

    The WHO African Region and South Africa recorded their highest daily number of deaths at 264 and 216, respectively, on July 16, 2020.

    No new country reported any health worker infection for the first time in this reporting period.

    As of July 21, 2020, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in the region surpassed the 600,000 mark, now at 620,389 cases, including 620,388 confirmed with one probable case reported in Democratic Republic of the Congo.

    The report stated that the 320 probable cases from Sao Tome and Principe were reclassified as confirmed.

    Meanwhile, it stated that South Africa registered more than half of all reported confirmed cases in the region, with 381,798, representing 62 per cent.

    Other countries that reported large numbers of cases are Nigeria with 37,801 confirmed cases, followed by Ghana with 28,989 cases, Algeria with 24,278 and Cameroon with 16,522 cases.

    Cte dIvoire has 14,531, Kenya has 14,168, Ethiopia (11,072), Senegal (8,985) and Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 8,534 cases.

    These 10 countries collectively accounted for 88 per cent (546, 678) of all reported cases.

    The total number of deaths exceeded 10,000 and is now at 10,116, reported in 44 countries, giving an overall Case Fatality Ratio (CFR) of 1.6 per cent.

    According to the report, three countries, namely Eritrea, Seychelles and Uganda have not registered any COVID-19 related deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.

    Source: NAN News

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    Over 10, 000 health workers in Africa infected with COVID-19  WHO

    Medical Workers

    By Cecilia Ologunagba

    World Health Organisation (WHO) says no fewer than 10,000 health workers in the 40 countries battling the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Africa are infected.

    The organisations Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo, stated this in a statement posted on its website on Friday.

    The UN health agency, which warned of the threat posed by COVID-19 to health workers across Africa, added that this is a huge challenge medical staff on the frontlines of the outbreak face.

    More than 10,000 health workers in the 40 countries which have reported on such infections have been infected with COVID-19 so far.

    This comes as COVID-19 cases in Africa appear to be gathering pace. There are now more than 750,000 cases, with over 15,000 deaths.

    Some countries are approaching a critical number of infections that can place stress on health systems and South Africa is now among the worst-hit countries in the world.

    The statement quoted Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, as saying: the growth we are seeing in COVID-19 cases in Africa is placing an ever-greater strain on health services across the continent.

    This has very real consequences for the individuals who work in them, and there is no more sobering example of this than the rising number of health worker infections.

    According to the statement, about 10 per cent of all cases globally are among health workers, though there is a wide range between individual countries.

    In Africa, information on health worker infections is still limited, but preliminary data finds that they make up more than five per cent of cases in 14 countries in sub-Saharan Africa alone.

    In four of these, health workers make up more than 10 per cent of all infections.

    Inadequate access to personal Protective Equipment or weak infection prevention and control measures raise the risk of health worker infection.

    Surging global demand for protective equipment, as well as global restrictions on travel have triggered supply shortages.

    In addition, it the statement noted, health workers could also be exposed to patients who do not show signs of the disease and were in the health facilities for a range of other services.

    Risks may also arise when health personnel are repurposed for COVID-19 response without adequate briefing, or because of heavy workloads which result in fatigue, burnout and possibly not fully applying the standard operating procedures.

    In many African countries, control measures aimed at preventing infections in health facilities are still not fully implemented.

    When WHO assessed clinics and hospitals across the continent for these measures, only 16 per cent of the nearly 30,000 facilities surveyed had assessment scores above 75 per cent.

    Many health centres were found to lack the infrastructure necessary to implement key infection prevention measures, or to prevent overcrowding.

    Only 7.8 per cent (2,213) had isolation capacities and just a third had the capacity to triage patients.

    The statement further quoted Moeti as saying infection among health workers is one too many.

    Doctors, nurses and other health professionals are our mothers, brothers and sisters. They are helping to save lives endangered by COVID-19.

    She said we must make sure that they have PPE, skills and information they need to keep themselves, their patients and colleagues safe.

    WHO had been working with health ministries to reduce infections since the outbreak begun.

    The Organisation has trained more than 50,000 health workers in Africa in infection prevention and control, with plans to train 200, 000 more.

    It plans to provide guidance documents and guidelines on best care practices and the most up-to-date treatment regime for health workers.

    WHO has been helping to fill gaps in the supply of PPE. Currently, 41 million PPE are ready from China to cover the needs of 47 African countries.

    Shipment for an initial set of 23 African countries are planned to start this weekend.

    She explained that as a result of efforts by WHO and partners, some African countries managed to reduce health worker infections considerably.

    For example, two months ago, over 16 per cent of COVID-19 infections in Sierra Leone were among health workers.

    The figure has now dropped to nine per cent. Cote dIvoire has reduced the proportion of infection among health workers from 6.1 per cent to 1.4 per cent.

    Scaling up prevention and control measures can further reduce infections among health workers.

    Source: NAN News

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    Troops kill bandits, terrorists in different encounters in North DHQ
    The Defence Headquarters says the troops of the Nigerian Armed Forces in different theatres of operation across North East, North West and North Central have eliminated several terrorists and bandits in the last one week.

    The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this at a news conference on the operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria from July 17 to July 23 on Friday in Abuja.

    In the North-west zone, Enenche said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji and Sahel Sanity have continued with the aggressive clearance operation against the armed bandits.

    He said that troops of Operation Sahel Sanity in Shimfida village of Jibia LGA of Katsina State neutralized 17 armed bandits within the week under review.

    According to him, troops recovered five AK 47 rifles and 152 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition during the operation, adding that the troops suffered three casualties.

    He said that the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji had on July 20 neutralised several armed bandits in Kagara Forest of Zamfara after receipt of credible intelligence.

    Also, within the week under review, troops of Operation Sahel Sanity arrested eight bandits in Sokoto, Katsina and Zamfara states.

    In the North-Central zone, troops conducted several ambushes, raids, clearance and air operations at various locations which resulted in appreciable successes for the period under review.

    Notably, troops of Sectors 2 and 4 of Operation Whirl Stroke, on July 16, carried out a raid operation on a suspected kidnappers hideout at Tomayin village in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

    Troops had contact with the bandits and neutralized the ring leader, one Zwa Ikyegh while others escaped with various degrees of gun shots wounds.

    Troops also rescued 32 kidnapped victims, some of whom had been in captivity for over a month.

    Accordingly, all the rescued kidnapped victims were reunited with their families in different communities in Logo, he said.

    Enenche stated that the troops also recovered one AK 47 rifle, one AK 47 magazine, six locally made rifles, one locally made pistol, one magazine, 22 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, amongst other items while the hideout was also destroyed.

    He added that several Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) projects under Defence Headquarters led operations were inaugurated in Operations Whirl Stroke and Safe Corridor areas of responsibility.

    The projects, according to him, include boles in Guma Local Government Area of Benue.

    He added that one block of five classrooms renovated in Kpasho village and a borehole each at Nkindero village in Irigwe and Gagaule village a Fulani community, all in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau were also provided.

    In the North-East, Enenche said the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole destroyed Boko Haram/ISWAP camp and killed their commanders/leaders and other fighters within the week.

    He added that the Air Task Force launched coordinated air offensives on terrorists camp at Ngwuri Gana Village, along Gulumba Gana Kumshe axis in the Northern part of Borno.

    According to him, the massive air strikes led to the destruction of the terrorists camp while several terrorists were neutralized.

    Between July 17 and 20, the Land Component of Operation Lafiya Dole successfully conducted intelligence-based clearance operations that dealt devastating blows on the BHT/ISWAP terrorist elements in some parts of the North East.

    The operations led to the neutralization of six BHT members attempting to cross from the Cameroon Border towards Sambisa Axis in Borno.

    Caches of arms and ammunition and other items were recovered, while several insurgents surrendered.

    Recall that earlier this month 8 BHT/ISWAP commanders/leaders were killed by our gallant troops at Damasak.

    Furthermore, on July 20, troops of Army Super Camp 1 while on routine patrol along Maiduguri-Damboa were attacked by Boko Haram Terrorists.

    However the gallant troops, supported by ATF platforms providing Close Air Support, neutralized several terrorists and destroyed four of their gun trucks, he said.

    Enenche said the Military High Command had commended all the gallant troops of the Armed Forces and personnel of other security agencies involved in various operations across the country for their doggedness and commitment.

    They are hereby encouraged to remain resolute and decisive in curtailing the activities of all criminal elements in the country.

    Members of the general public are equally reassured that the Nigerian Military will continue to tackle the security challenges to ensure that normalcy is attained in all the geo-political zones of the country, he said.

    Source: NAN News

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    Security: Law Institute sensitises water guards in Lagos
    By Adebola Adegoke
    The Lagos State Law Enforcement Training Institute (LETI), has sensitised the Water Guards Corps of Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), on new and strategic ways to optimise and ensure quality service delivery.

    The Director-General of LETI, Prince Ifalade Oyekan, said the sensitisation programme was in fulfilment of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olus mandate to reposition and reorientate law enforcement officers, according to the THEMES agenda.

    They are: Traffic Management and Transportation; Health and Environment; Education and Technology; Making Lagos a 21st Century state; Security and Governance.

    Oyekan said that for law enforcement officers to live up to expectations, there was the need to train and retrain officers on global best practices.

    He said LETI was adopting new training techniques tailored to the specific needs and duties of each law enforcement agency.

    Oyekan urged the guards to be ready for the task ahead, as more people would ply the waterways as an alternative route, thereby placing more responsibilities on them.

    He said it was, therefore, pertinent for LASWA water guards, to learn new ways to ensure efficient delivery of service.

    If we must decongest and ease our roads, we have to move to water transportation because that is where we are headed.

    Also, due to the closure of the third mainland bridge, more people would make use of the waterways and your services will be needed more than ever.

    You have a lot of roles to play in terms of monitoring, pollution and regulations on the waterways.

    It is therefore important to enroll at the institute for your training needs and update your skills because you stand to gain a lot, he said.

    He said one of the new strategies to enhance their operations was the use of body worn cameras, which was one of the achievements of the institute.

    Stressing the benefits of the body-worn camera, he said: The idea is to change the way our security field officers operate.

    Every field officer will be assigned a camera and they will be able to capture offenders and violators, which will help the ministry of justice to prosecute their cases in courts based on the evidence produced from the body camera.

    It is also suitable for use at night and underwater.

    Also, everything captured will be transmitted to the central database of the enforcement agency and officers will not be able to tamper with the device.

    With this, there will be more transparency and officers will carry out their duties as expected.

    He also urged the officers to uphold integrity, professionalism and ethics in the discharge of their duties.

    The General Manager LASWA, Mr Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, expressed enthusiasm towards the possibility of enrolling the Water Guards Corps at the institute for training.

    We need constant sensitisation and education, hence the importance of todays sensitisation for the Water Guards Corps, LASWA.

    They have been taught the basic enforcement strategies to adopt to ensure efficient delivery of water transport services.

    The use of body worn cameras would also improve our operations because there are always accounts of incidents without evidence to defend or back up our case, but with this, we will be able to defend our integrity, he said.

    Source: NAN News

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    Multinational force receives 47 repentant Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists
    MNJTF has received 47 members of Boko Haram/Islamic States West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorist groups who surrendered to its troops in the Lake Chad region.

    The Chief of Military Public Information MNJTF NDjamena Chad, Col. Timothy Antigha, in a statement on Friday, said the terrorists surrendered with their families recently in Sector 1 of the MNJTF.

    Antigha said that the recent incessant power tussle in the top echelon of the terrorist groups, ethnic tension and failure to actualise the establishment of a caliphate in the Sahel contributed to the surrender.

    He said a member of the group, who admitted to have participated in various attacks on Banki, Fotokol, Gambarou Ngala, New Marte, Chikun Gudu, among others, had expressed frustration with the lack of progress in the jihad.

    Antigha quoted the surrendered terrorist as saying, they could not make progress due to the preoccupation of the leadership in the pursuit of material things.

    They told us that we were being lied to and cheated by apostate governments, but I have not seen any difference between Shekau and those he has been condemning.He may even be worse. I am having it a lot better here because since we came out of the bush, we have been fed and catered for.

    Antigha further disclosed that another surrendered terrorist claimed that he was misled to kill innocent people, for which he might face physical and spiritual condemnation.

    He said that the terrorist also added that there was ethnic rivalry among members of Boko Haram and ISWAP.

    He quoted him as saying, If you do not speak a particular language, you can not be appointed a commander or made a guard in the bush and you can not even be allowed to also go for tax collection.

    This discriminatory attitude has made some of us feel that we are not trusted and good enough to be given responsibilities.

    The spokesperson also disclosed that a female member of the group lamented the severe abuse of women in the camps and prayed that no woman should find herself in the situation she recently escaped from.

    He quoted her as saying, those people are ungodly, so they can not tell the world that they are doing the will of Allah.

    Antigha said that the MNJTF has been consistent in its observation that Boko Haram and ISWAP are transnational criminal enterprises which have been sustained by grand deception, appeal to religious sentiments and violence.

    The force is therefore vindicated by the testimonies of the surrendered terrorists who spoke on their own volition.

    Consequently, the MNJTF renews the call on other misled fighters in the bush to come out. It is important to add that MNJTF Troop Contributing Countries have structures and programmes in place to receive all those who surrender.

    Similarly, the MNJTF urges communities to accept repented terrorists back after their rehabilitation, even though some of them had perpetrated heinous crimes.

    The MNJTF shares in the understanding that such a gesture by communities will go a long way in the continuing efforts to defeat terrorism and build peace in the Lake Chad Basin, he said.

    Source: NAN News

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    Mali scrambles for political stability after mediation fails

    ECOWAS

    Senegalese President Macky Sall, President Alassane Ouattara of Ivory Coast, Nigers President Mahamadou Issoufou, Nigerias President Muhammadu Buhari, and President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana led the mediation together with former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan in the capital Bamako.

    Jonathan was recently appointed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a special envoy to head its mediation mission in Mali.

    The group first met with Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, followed by talks with a coalition of opposition groups, who are calling for Keitas resignation.

    But late on Thursday, none of the parties were willing to make concessions, bringing the mediation to a standstill.

    The coalition led by popular cleric Mahmoud Dicko accused Keitas administration of bad governance and non-governance, at the end of the talks, while a spokesman for Keitas camp described the calls for the presidents resignation as unconstitutional.

    The mediation effortscome after several weeks of violent protests, during which dozens of people were killed.

    Tens of thousands of opposition supporters have accused Keita of gross intimidation and buying votes during a controversial parliamentary election in April, which gave Keitas administration a firm majority.

    Political instability in Mali is seen as a dangerous development for the entire Sahel region, which already faces ongoing threats from numerous terrorist and separatist groups.

    Source: NAN News

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    FG inaugurates water, sanitation intervention programme in 10 states

    Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu

    By Tosin Kolade
    The Federal Government has officially inaugurated the implementation of the second phase of the Partnership for Expanded Water Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH) programme to improve access to safe water supply and sanitation in 10 states.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the PEWASH programme started in two pilot states of Kano and Ogun, while the new partnership and intervention with the states would take into consideration steps to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

    The 10 states that met the criteria for the immediate intervention are; Katsina, Plateau, Bauchi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Zamfara, Ondo, Osun, Imo and Delta.

    The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, noted that it was important for communities in the 10 states to take ownership of the programme to enable them benefit from the overall gains.

    According to the minister, 33 states have signed the PEWASH protocol, expressing interest to partner with the ministry and expressed hope that remaining states of Anambra, Rivers and Borno and the FCT would also show interest.

    Adamu said a total of 119 contractors were selected, with strict compliance to Procurement Act, saying 56 local government areas have been selected as beneficiaries.

    We have recently awarded contracts for the construction, rehabilitation and upgrading of 895 water supply facilities at the cost of N2 billion in the 28 local governments areas under the federal government components.

    Upon completion, it will improve access to water supply to about one million people living in the areas, that is what we are flagging off today.

    While congratulating all the contractors, I will like to stress the high premium this ministry places on Qualitative and timely delivery and therefore charge them to execute these projects with utmost diligence, standard and strict compliance to contract specifications.

    The minister said for the full gains of the PEWASH programme to be realised, it was important for the states to have equal commitment in line with the covenant of the joint protocol signed.

    He added that it was the desire of the Federal Government to see that access to water and sanitation was improved so as to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, and the National Open-Defecation Free target by 2025.

    On intervention towards COVID-19 pandemic, Adamu said the ministry had developed a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector Emergency Response Intervention Fund of N9.8 billion, approved by the National Assembly under the 2020 Revised Appropriation Act.

    He added that a WASH sector COVID-19 National response team was already in place, which has all state commissioners of water resources as members, meeting regularly to share ideas to move the water and sanitation sector forward.

    Earlier, Dr Benson Ajisegiri, Director, Water Supply and Public Private Partnership in the ministry, said the implementation of the second phase of the PEWASH programme considered effective monitoring arrangement with the state rural water agencies.

    According to him, some members of staff of the ministry have been selected to visit project sites to ensure strict adherence to guided specifications and to avoid vandalism and outright theft of the infrastructure.

    He added that all water schemes would be approved when it has gone through quality assessment in the National Water Quality laboratories.

    Mr Emmanuel Onimisi, who spoke on behalf of the contractors, thanked the minister for the opportunity to contribute to development, and pledged commitment to adhere to contract agreement and specifications.

    Source: NAN News

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    COVID-19: FirstBank offers support to SMEs in education sector

    First Bank Logo

    By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

    Mr Bankole Adediran, Head of Transaction Banking Products, FirstBank, revealed this at the banks SMEConnect webinar titled Managing Your School through the Pandemic: Engagement and Retention Strategies.

    Adediran said that the bank was ready to partner with SMEs in the education sector through this period of coronavirus pandemic to sustain their businesses.

    FirstBank as an institution is very passionate about education and will continue to support the sector, he said.

    He noted that the bank would continue to reinforce its leading role at enabling the growth of the educational sector in the country.

    Adediran stated that the bank had an array of financial products that could be accessed by SMEs in the educational sector in this period of COVID-19.

    He said SMEs in the sector could key into FirstEdu Loan, targeted at private nursery, primary and secondary schools to assist the schools in achieving their desired growth in the medium and ling-term.

    According to him, the product provides funding advancement of up to N20 million for schools with a minimum of 100 students with school fees collection domiciled at FirstBank.

    Adediran explained that with the product, school owners/proprietors can stay ahead to make learning easy and conducive for students.

    He said the bank had launched various intervention and initiatives to support the sector to navigate challenges occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic.

    He stated that FirstBank recently launched an e-learning initiative aimed at reaching out to one million students across the country to ensure they stay academically engaged while at home.

    Adediran added that the bank supported 10 universities and three secondary schools across the country with major infrastructural projects.

    He disclosed that the bank donated 20,000 e-learning devices to the Lagos State government to promote online learning for students in the public schools.

    According to Adediran, schools must learn from the lessons of COVID-19 by embracing automation to plug leakages in the sector.

    Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, the Commissioner for Education, Lagos State; one of the panelists, commended the bank for 20,000 devices with six months data donated to the state for e-learning.

    Adefisayo said the state reached out to many companies for support at the wake of the pandemic but only FirstBank came to its aid.

    She disclosed that all the schools were not ready for this kind of situation, noting that most children in public schools did not have device and data for online learning.

    This pandemic has been a terrible thing and one lesson from it is that we have not invested enough in solutions we can deplore at this time, Adefisayo said.

    She stated that the pandemic had forced Nigerians to be more creative and innovation, adding that schooling would no longer be the same again.

    Adefisayo called on teachers to change their teaching and learning strategies, stressing that COVID-19 changed learning.

    Also, Dr Yomi Otubela, President,(NAPPS), said the association had responded greatly by interfacing between government and its agencies since the advent of the pandemic.

    Otubela said the Central Bank of Nigeria was working out modalities for palliatives for schools and teachers who had not been receiving salaries since the pandemic started.

    He said further that there had been an increase in rape, kidnapping and robbery as a result of COVID-19.

    Mr Wale Abioye, Team Lead, Customer Practice in Management Consulting (KPMG), said the pandemic had impacted on many sectors of the economy, especially the education sector.

    Abioye highlighted some of the negative impacts of the pandemic to include financial/economic, structural challenge, social challenge and policy challenge.

    He said many SMEs in the educational sector would be out of business due to the pandemic, thereby increasing unemployment rate.

    Mr Babatunde Vaughan, Education Lead, Modern Classroom, Microsoft Nigeria, said the company had introduced a lot of products to make online learning easy and fun.

    Source: NAN News

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    Research institute says Nigeria lost .4bn to chemicals importation in 2019
    By Naomi Sharang
    The Director-General National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Zaria (NARICT) Prof. Jeffrey Barminas, said that Nigeria lost 1.4 billion dollars to the importation of chemicals in 2019.

    He made the disclosure at an interactive session in Abuja with the Senate Committee on Science and Technology chaired by Sen. Uche Ekwunife.

    While noting that the institute had the core mandate of undertaking research in industrial chemicals, biochemicals, petrochemicals among others, Barminas said that the country was losing a lot every year.

    We are highly dependent on importation of chemicals and chemical products into this country.

    Just in 2019 alone, this country has lost over 1.4 billion dollars on the importation of chemicals.

    And how can we handle this. We as a nation can produce chemicals and chemical products based on the natural resources that God has endowed us with.

    Because of our dependence on petroleum for a long time, we left our indigenous chemical technology and thats why today we are losing a lot in terms of importation.

    He said that if the country got its research and infrastructure in chemical technology right, it would cover up the gap in importation of chemicals.

    The director-general further said that part of the institutes achievements was the production of fertilizer.

    The fertilizer we have is not chemical fertilizer that affects the soil when applied over a long period. Rather it is an organic fertilizer; it is neem-based.

    He said that the country needed over two million metric tonnes of fertilizer annually, noting that the agency had produced nine trailers of fertilizer so far in 2020 with a trailer containing about 1,250 bags.

    The chairperson of the committee, Ekwunife said that the era of importation of chemicals would be a thing of the past once science and technology was improved.

    Science and technology is the only ministry that cuts across all other ministries.

    We know the lot of challenges the agency faces in terms of funding, in terms of government investment in science and technology but there are also areas you need to sit up to attract government intervention, she said.

    She assured the institute of the committees support to enable it sustain its activities.

    We will also do everything possible to come up with an act to give the agency a legal backing to legalise your operation because as it is, you are still operating on decrees that formed this agency, she said.

    Source: NAN News

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