Month: August 2023

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Uutoni calls for improved physical infrastructure at Tsumeb

Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni on Friday encouraged the Tsumeb town council to strive towards the improvement of physical infrastructure at the town through public private partnership.

In a media release availed to Nampa on Saturday, Uutoni, who was speaking at the Copper Festival’s Fundraising gala dinner said that he believes that local authorities play an important role in promoting economic development.

He said the ministry recognises the importance of the particular event and would like to applaud the Tsumeb town council for the initiative that will help grow the town’s economy.

The minister added that local authorities play an important role by providing residents with basic services such as access to water, electricity, affordable housing and sanitation.

“I strongly think that the opportunity to attain the theme; “Restoring the dignity of our community”, lies in the fact that local governments make decisions that affect the day-to-day quality of life for residents. Therefore, to build public infrastructure restores the dignity of residents at local authority level,” he said.

During the same event, also inaugurated the Tsumeb Fruit and Veg Hub, which commenced its operations in 2019 at the town.

“This particular event was a result of smart partnerships that create common understanding among local leadership, corporate and high learning institutions on issues of local governance,” Uutoni said.

“Equally, I would like to underscore that there is a greater need for public markets to increase access to healthy foods, while highlight the local culture of our communities in which they are found,” he added.

The minister stated that the hub was commenced with the aim to avail a safe and secure operation facility to the venders currently operating on Hage Geingob Street and that the first phase of the project was funded by Dundee Precious Meatals Tsumeb’s Community Trust.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

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Pregnant women appeal to FG to meet resident doctors’ demands

Some pregnant women have appealed to the Federal Government to meet the needs of the striking resident doctors so they can return to work and offer healthcare services to Nigerians.

The women made the call on Saturday in Abuja at an outreach for pregnant women by the Help Africans Charity Network, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the doctors under the aegis of Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) embarked on an indefinite strike on July 26, after several ultimatums issued to the Federal Government to meet their demands.

The women said that access to healthcare delivery especially for pregnant women was very essential as they may need to see a doctor at any time during the duration of the pregnancy .

Some of the women were of the opinion that having to patronise private hospitals in a period of economic hardship that some of them are going through may hinder them from gaining access to the needed healthcare.

They, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to meet the needs of the striking doctors very fast to avert avoidable casualties.

One of them, Mrs Hulda Adebayo, said that the government could do more to improve the health sector because it has all the necessary resources to make things better.

“There are a lot of people who are suffering and the government has the resources to put things in order.

“People, especially pregnant women, need to see the doctor when they come to the hospital, so how do you explain to them that doctor is not on seat, she may even be in labour and needs to be attended to urgently.

“Government should attend to the doctors and give them what they want so that they can go back to work,” she said.

Another pregnant woman, Mrs Oluchi Ejiagu, said that government hospitals are very affordable for the ordinary Nigerian which makes it the preferred healthcare destination for most of them.

According to her, the state of the economy makes it hard to patronise private hospitals, hence the reason many opt for government hospitals which has reduced cost for treatment.

“However, when the doctors are on strike it becomes very difficult for women to access health care.

“So I want the government to do something about these doctors because if they are not there most women do not have the money to access private hospitals so they will find it difficult to access healthcare.

“Imagine that you normally pay N5, 000 for your health care needs as a pregnant woman and all of a sudden you are asked to pay N45, 000 in a private hospital for the same healthcare provisions.

“It is a big deal. So, we want the doctors to come back so that we can access health care.”

The Founder of the NGO, Mr Owen Obakpolo, said the aim of the outreach was to give nursing mothers and pregnant women a sense of belonging in the face of the harsh economic situation of the country.

According to him, the NGO which began its operations in Australia aims to add its quota to help in reducing poverty in Africa.

It has therefore carried out outreaches in Liberia, Kenya and some states in Nigeria.

Mrs Stella Adejo, the FCT Coordinator, advised pregnant women to adhere strictly to instructions from their nurses and doctors during antenatal and urged them to observe exclusive breastfeeding especially, during the first six months of life.

NAN reports that some of the items distributed were baby diapers, clothes and wrappers.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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Lagos LGs sensitise nursing mothers on exclusive breastfeeding

As part of activities to mark the 2023 World Breastfeeding Week, some Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Lagos have sensitised women on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2023 World Breastfeeding week, with theme: “Enabling Breastfeeding: Making a Difference for Working Parents”, is to enlighten nursing mothers on the importance of breastfeeding to babies and their health.

The Iba Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in collaboration with the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, District 5, flagged-off a sensitisation programme for nursing mothers to commemorate the World Breastfeeding week 2023.

Alhaja Folashade Yisa, Wife of the Council Chairman, who was also the chairperson of the programme, encouraged mothers to breastfeed babies at least six months straight without water.

Yisa advised nursing mothers to take care of their personal health as “whatever you take in also goes on to the baby”.

She urged the women not to allow breastfeeding hinder them from performing their duties as wife in the house.

“We urge you the mothers to breastfeed your babies exclusively and pay proper attention to their hygiene internally and externally,” she said.

Also, the Isolo LCDA in Lagos, joining the world to commemorate the year breastfeeding week, organised a health talk and workshop to advocate proper and exclusive breastfeeding.

Mrs Olajumoke Olasoju, Wife of the Council’s Chairman, who played host to hundreds of nursing mothers encouraged them on adherence to breastfeeding guidelines and its exclusive practice for the recommended period.

Olasoju, speaking on the theme “Enabling Breastfeeding: Making A Difference For Nursing Parents” called for support and encouragement for breastfeeding mothers especially at workplace.

“I salute every nursing mother here for the deliberate effort we are investing into nurturing our babies.

“Breastfeeding provides essential nutrients, protection against disease and also provides emotional and cognitive development for infants and that underscores it is important in the life of our babies.

“It’s important that we encourage exclusive and proper breastfeeding to raise healthy, bright and promising children like ourselves.

“As nursing mothers, we have to remain deliberate about this act and not allow any environmental barriers like we might have in our workplace discourage us,” she said.

According to her, breastfeeding is not only beneficial to babies but also to mothers and our society at large.

The council first lady added that breastfeeding has long-term benefits for individuals and society leading to healthier populations and reduced health conditions.

She called on stakeholders in the private sector and community to take a cue from government by creating support systems and consideration for nursing mothers in order to promote breastfeeding.

Olasoju said that nursing mothers needed to be supported.

“As you can see, government has shown commitment to this in many ways.

“I will call on other stakeholders to take a cue from government. Husbands should be a support system to their wives more during nursing also, the community should create a supportive environment,” she said.

Mrs Abisodun Odusina-Adeoye, the Councilor Representing Ishagatedo/Ire-Akari in Isolo, said exclusive breastfeeding for over six months helped her children’s growth.

According to Odusina-Adeoye, exclusive breastfeeding boosts immune system and she encouraged nursing mothers to embrace the act reiterating that the benefits inherent were countless.

Dr Shola Tanimowo, the Medical Officer of Health, Isolo LCDA, also said that breastfeeding enhances the bond between the mother and child.

Tanimowo said it helped to create oxytocin, and prevent heart attack for the mother as well as cancers.

He added that breastfeeding also helped develop strong bones.

Mrs Bose Aroyehun, a Nurse in Isolo PHC, encouraged the mothers to ensure they ate a balanced diet.

She enlightened the nursing mothers on the right ways to breastfeed a baby, urging them to “bring their babies to the breast and not the other way round.”

According to her, positioning is important during breastfeeding.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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NEMA distributes relief materials to windstorm, flood disaster victims in Abia

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Friday commenced distribution of relief materials to persons affected by windstorm and flood disasters in Abia communities.

Head, NEMA Owerri Operations Office, Mr Ifeanyi Nnaji, said during the flag off in Umuahia, that the disasters occurred in some communities in five local government areas (LGA) in March.

He said that the affected local government areas are Umuahia North, Ikwuano, Arochukwu, Ohafia and Bende.

Nnaji said that a joint team of assessors from his office and Abia State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) carried out an on-the-spot assessment of the damage to determine need analysis of the affected persons.

According to him, the problems with disasters are enormous and aftermaths of it are sorrow, isolation, grief, anguish, hunger and colossal loss of lives and poverties.

Presenting the items to the State Government, Nnaji acknowledged that the affected communities and persons were traumatised psychologically, thereby reducing their participation and contribution to national development.

“You should please note that the relief materials provided to you today are not to pay you back for all that were destroyed by the disaster, but only to cushion the effect of the unfortunate incident.

“I, therefore, on behalf of the Director-General of NEMA, Mustapha Habib Ahmed, formally present these items to the affected persons through your good offices,” he said.

Receiving the materials on behalf of the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, the Executive Secretary of SEMA, Dr Sunday Jackson, thanked the Federal Government for approving the relief assistance to the victims.

He said that it would cushion the effect of the disasters that had ravaged so many homes and displaced so many persons.

Jackson also appreciated the synergy between SEMA and NEMA Owerri office under the leadership of Nnaji.

He assured that the relief materials would be transparently and jointly distributed to affected persons by officials of NEMA, SEMA and representative of the community and other relevant stakeholders.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the materials comprised food and non-food items, including 10-kg bags of rice, beans and garri, sets of cooking pots, stoves, set of buckets, nylon mats, men and women’s wears and others.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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Policemen, FRSC, LASTMA operatives, 14 thugs in police net over extortion

The Police in Lagos State have arrested three of their extortionist officers, their counterparts of the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority working in cahoots with thugs.

They were arrested around Mile 2 area of the state between Friday and Saturday alongside their collaborative 14 thugs, police spokesman in the state, SP Benjamin Hundeyin stated on Saturday at Ikeja.

Hundeyin stated that the arrests were carried out in an operation led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) in the state, Mr Fatai Tijani

He added that the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Idowu Owohunwa, set up a taskforce, which conducted the operation following reports of incessant extortion of motorists by thugs and some recalcitrant law enforcement officers.

“Determined to check escalating cases of extortion on the highways, CP Idowu Owohunwa, set up an enforcement team, with the mandate of raiding spots that have been identified as notorious for such nefarious activities.

“The enforcement team, which began raids on Friday, was led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) and comprises tactical teams and provost officers from the state headquarters.

“The team was at Mile 2 area of the state, a hotbed of brazen extortions,’’ Hundeyin stated.

He quoted Owohunwa as warning that any law enforcement personnel, irrespective of agency, found complicit in extortion racketeering, would be arrested and dealt with in accordance with the law.

“The CP promises motorists that the enforcement team would sustain the raids and replicate same in other parts of the state until total sanity is restored,’’ Hundeyin also stated.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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Makinde, others eulogise Adeosun at 55

The wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde, has extolled the exemplary and leadership qualities of Mr Akinjide Adeosun as he celebrates his 55th birthday.

Adeosun, a licensed pharmacist, is the Chairman & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ST.RACHEAL’S™ Pharmaceutical Nigeria Limited and Founder of the Akinjide Adeosun Foundation (AAF).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a Birthday Thanksgiving Service to mark the 55th Birthday of Adeosun was held on Friday at the All Souls’ Church, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

The theme was: Thanksgiving in Triumph’’

Makinde commended the contribution of Adeosun to humanity with evidences shown through AAF and the pharma industry/health sector through St. Racheal’s Pharma.

Makinde said: “The celebrant is a friend I have come to know through Church in Port Harcourt. I met him and the wife about 23 years ago.

“Over the years, the families have become closer and closer. We have shared good and bad times together. We have learned from each other.

“Jide is a very practical person and pragmatic when it comes to leadership. He believes in exemplary life.

“ He works so hard to showcase what he believes in. It is evident in his setting up the St. Racheal’s Pharmaceutical Nigeria and AAF.

“He pushes for the best and he is a bright person and brilliant. He is not a shady person. For him, integrity is not what you can trade for anything.

“He is a God-fearing person, he loves his Psalms, loves worshipping, a good husband and he works hard.

“He is somebody, if you meet, you want to keep the relationship going because he wants to make people better.’’

The Bishop, Ijesa North Diocese, Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Oluyamo, also graced the occasion with his wife.

He commended Adeosun for his love for God and showing same through his works and actions.

Mr Lekan Asuni, MD, LEFAS Pharmaceuticals, and a former MD of GSK described Adeosun as a hardworking person and one full of great ideas and urge to impact humanity.

“He always harps on integrity and thoroughness, and all he does, reflects that’’.

Commending her husband, Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun , a former Secretary to the State Government of Oyo State, described him as dependable, reliable , faithful , loving and having a very strong personality.

“What he believes in, he goes for it. He is very kind, though he might be stubborn to his vision and what he believes in.

“He is in a hurry to make an impact in the world and that is why you can see all the various things he is doing.

“He loves God. He loves his family, both nuclear and extended and he is a man of integrity.

“I wish him a very happy birthday and God’s infinite mercies upon him.

“ I wish him long life and the next 40 years of good health, favour, blessings and prosperity’’.

In his sermon, Evangelist Folayan Adebayo, reading Psalm 100: 4-5 and Lamentation 3: 22-23, emphasised the importance of thanksgiving especially because of the mercies, compassion and faithfulness of God upon our lives.

According to him, this is necessary knowing fully well that all we do in life is neither by our might nor strength.

He reminded the congregation that as creations of God, humanity is to praise the Lord with all “our souls and forget not all his provisions, protection, guidance, among all’’.

Adeosun in his thanksgiving message expressed gratitude to God for allowing him get to clock 55 years.

He rendered the worship song “Ope lo ye o, Baba Olore – You are worthy of praise, gracious Father/You Deserve thanks, Generous Father.

He described himself as a man of destiny and purpose who is determined to touch lives and give back to humanity and society.

He said that the Akinjide Adeosun Foundation (AAF), a non-profit, non religious and non-political organisation, was set up to leave a leadership legacy in Africa by strengthening capabilities in today’s leaders and build a pipeline of ready future leaders by 2035

“Our foundation is aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 of Good Health and Well-being as well as Goal 4 of Quality Education.

“Thousands of people have benefitted from the foundation since launch in 2015.

“We have had leadership discourses are delivered in an admixture of trainings, case studies, projects and shadowing.

We have also had free medical missions executed for indigent patients .

“The foundation is executing a five-year leadership MoU at MeadowHall College in Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria.’’

On the pharma company, he said that the ST.RACHEAL’S™ quest was to improve life expectancy through the availability of top-quality affordable pharmaceuticals in Africa.

“The enterprise is founded on Excellence, Integrity and Empathy values. The organisation is privileged to have Medreich as its manufacturer of high quality drugs.’’

Adeosun took the congregation through the many significant and remarkable times of his life.

He also narrated how the mercies of GOD had shown up for him in several ways and times including his surviving the Delta variant of COVID-19 in 2021 among others.

He urged people to be focused, empathetic, determined, resilient, have leadership attributes, and most importantly to have integrity.

NAN also reports that prior to founding ST.RACHEAL’S™ Pharma in 2016, Adeosun was the Head of Branded Generics and a member of the Africa Leadership Team (ALT) at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Pharma, Africa.

He served meritoriously at various functional and management roles at GSK for over two decades including secondment to South Africa.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria