Month: July 2023

A Professor of Colorectal Surgery, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, Dion Morton, says 25,000 surgeons across the world are working together to improve care for patients worldwide.

Morton stated this on the sidelines of his lecture at the 18th Annual Scientific Conference and Gathering of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos (UNILAG).

It had the theme: “Impact of Collaborative Research: The Reach, The Research and the Riches,” in Lagos on Friday.

He said that the event was centered on collaboration and that he was proud to be part of a huge collaboration of surgeons across the world.

“It is the biggest research collaboration in the world today. It comprises perhaps 25,000 surgeons and they are working together to improve care for their patients.

“Their work is important and pertinent because it represents patients in South America, Central America, Africa and India.

“And because we can demonstrate the benefits and improvements in care across the world, they are relevant to all patients,” he said.

Morton, who was the guest speaker at the occasion, said there was a huge need for growing surgery, adding “to grow surgery across the world and to provide care for patients, we need to provide research and evidence to support it.”

According to him, in sub-Saharan Africa at the moment, there are not enough surgeons, thus preventing many patients from accessing safe surgery.

Speaking at the occasion, Prof. Adesoji Ademuyiwa, of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, said that clinical scientists could transform from research to practice.

Ademuyiwa said that the theme for the conference was: “The Impacts of Collaboration on Clinical Research: Local Experiences in Genomics Research.”

He said that there were lots of information and evidence available to clinical scientist to work on, stressing that many lecturers from his university’s Faculty of Clinical Sciences were involved in research.

“When the results of the research are out, they have to be translated into practice, while government is expected to fashion them into a policy” he said.

Ademuyiwa, who was also a Director, National Institute of Health Research Funded-Center on Global Surgery, said that clinical scientists were discussing on how to collaborate to generate high quality evidence which would eventually be put into practice.

Also, the Deputy Provost, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Prof Osaretin Ebuehi, stressed the need for clinicians and the business scientists to collaborate in the area of research.

Ebuehi said that this had become necessary in order to do high-impact research that would contribute to national development and have global recognition.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The remains of Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, a former National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was laid to rest on Friday in his home town at Itaja-Obuohia , Olokoro in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia.

Ogbulafor died after a brief illness in Canada, on Oct. 6, 2022, at the age of 73.

At the funeral service, Gov. Alex Otti of Abia said that the deceased Ogbulafor lived a good life and left legacies behind.

Otti described himself as one of the legacies of the late Ogbulafor, adding that the deceased introduced him into politics.

The governor said the history of his political journey would not be complete without the role played by the deceased.

He said that the deceased fought a good fight, adding that it was left for the living to move forward.

Otti said it was unfortunate that Ogbulafor died when everybody thought he was recovering.

He urged the members of the Ogbulafor family, especially the wife and aged mother to take heart and prayed God to grant the soul of the deceased a peaceful rest.

In his homily, Dr Lucius Ugorji, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, said that death awakens the living to their fragility as humans.

“We never know what will happen the next minute.

“We live in a country where the many threats to life such as hunger, poverty, insecurity, sickness among others have reduced the life expectancy to 53.

“This shows that life is so fragile so let us seek things above where true and lasting things exist.

“All that we are chasing here such as wealth, fame power are vanity; therefore let us store treasures above with good deeds,” Ugorji said.

He said that the late Ogbulafor had contributed immensely to his family and the wider society and prayed God to grant all concerned the fortitude to bear the loss

In a tribute, the first son of the deceased, Mr Uchenna Ezeogbulafor said their father was a good family man and a man of integrity and candour.

He appreciated the Governor for the relationship that existed between him and their father and for coming to identify with them and prayed God to bless all.

The funeral was attended by Sen. Darlington Nwokocha(Abia Central), Prof. Placid Njoku, Deputy Governor of Imo and Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo, former governor of Enugu State.

Also in attendance were retired Col. Paul Omeruo, former Military Administrator of Kogi, retired Col. Austin Akobundu, former Minister of State for Defence, among other dignitaries.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The National Youth Assembly of Nigeria (NYAN), Lagos State Chapter, on Wednesday elected and inaugurated new representatives (ambassadors) in 40 constituencies in the state.

The ambassadors also in turn elected Amb. Adeola Aderibigbe (Etio-Osa Constituency I) as the State Assembly Speaker, while Amb. Akindayo Ajiboye (Somolu II) emerged as Deputy Speaker.

Other elected principal officers of the assembly are Rasheed Wasilat (Clerk), Victor Martins (Majority Leader), Emmanuel Nwokolo Emmanuel (Minority Leader), and Emmanuel Keshinro (Chief Whip).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ambassadors and principal officers were elected and sworn in at the NYAN 2023 Lagos State Convention held at International Press Centre (IPC), Ogba in Lagos.

The Chairman, Convention Planning Committee, Amb. Jamiu Akangbe, said that all representatives were returned unopposed.

Akangbe said that the new ambassadors in various constituencies included John Ojetunde (Somolu I), Naimah Obidola-Adegoke (Ikeja II), Ayodeji Atitebi (Ikeja I), Akindayo Ajiboye (Somolu II), Tosin Akindele (Ikorodu I) and Emmanuel Macaulay (Kosofe I).

Others he said included Washilat Rasheed (Ajeromi Ifelodun I), Matthew Adewunmi (Alimosho II), Emmanuel Keshinro (Oshodi Isolo I), Emmanuel Nwokolo (Amuwo Odofin I), Kennedy Obuzor (Amuwo Odofin II), Adaora Uyanna (Surulere I).

Also elected, according to him, are Adam Abdulfatai (Agege I), Temitope Adeoye (Agege II), Nathaniel Pyennap (Ojo I) Oluwafemi Omisore (Ibeju-Lekki 1) and Phillip Awoseyila (Lagos Mainland 1).

Akangbe said that among the new ambassadors were Kehinde Adegboyega (Lagos Island 1), Olusayo Enoch (Lagos Island II), Julius Itaman (Mushin II), Abdulwasiu Akinwande (Ajeromi Ifelodun II), Imoleayo Adewale (Surulere II).

He said that John Mayomi (Alimosho 1), Obiora Beluolisa (Ibeju-Lekki II), Paul Erameh (Apapa I), Chiamaka Amazigo (Badagry 1) among others were also elected as ambassadors.

Administering the Oath of Office on the new ambassador, Amb. Michael Ogunsola, National Minority Leader, NYAN, said that the group had the mandates to create mechanism for the development of the youths in the country.

Ogunsola said that NYAN both at the National and State level meet four times in a year to chart a way for better future for the youth.

Also speaking, the NYAN National Speaker, Amb. Bashir Shagari urged the newly elected ambassadors and principal officers to show capacity in influencing government policies to protect the interest of the youth.

Shagari, who was represented by Amb. Samsideen Ogunolu, the South West Zonal Coordinator, NYAN, urged the youth to get prepared for the challenges, saying that NYAN believed strongly in consistency, commitment and sacrifice.

He said: “Whatever position you have, don’t be intoxicated by power but work hard to better the cause of the youth.

“We are not an organisation that lobbies to collect money from politicians. We are there to put the matters of youth in our front burner.

“Don’t allow the profit to override your duty. See this privilege as a call to serve and you must serve humanity.

“You educational experience, connectivity and other should be use to support and promote youth. Your post should be used to serve humanity selflessly.”

In his inaugural speech Aderibigbe called on all the ambassadors to forget about differences and ethnic divides in the state but unite and work together to better the lot of the youth.

Emphasising the need for increased youth advocacy, NYAN speaker said that youth in the state needed people that would stand for them and mount pressure on decision makers about various challenges and plights of the youth.

“Millions of youths in Lagos State are jobless and millions are also entrepreneurs who need empower to advance their businesses.

“As Speaker, I will be at the fore front of the advocacy to safeguard the interest of the youth.

“For things to work, however, we all have to unify ourselves and work together not minding our diverse ethnic and religious divides.

“If we can come together and work as youths of Lagos State, I believe Lagos State will be a better place for us all,” Aderibigbe said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

A 19-year-old man was arrested at Swakopmund on Saturday for the alleged murder of 22-year-old Immanuel Hermanus Ganaseb.

According to Erongo Community Policing Affairs Commander Inspector Ileni Shapumba in a crime report issued here, the incident happed on Friday evening when the suspect allegedly stabbed the deceased with a knife at a bar in the DRC informal settlement.

‘The suspect reportedly fled the scene after committing the crime which occurred at about 23h00 and was traced down and arrested. The murder weapon was also recovered,’ he said.

Shapumba added that it is still not clear what led to the incident, however police investigations are ongoing.

The suspect was charged and is set to appear in the Swakopmund Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency