Day: September 21, 2023

The Ekiti House of Assembly has called for a thorough investigation into the death of Oladimeji Aloba, a hip-hop musician popularly known as Mohbad.

The assembly made the call on Wednesday while deliberating on a motion by Mr Babatunde Oke, the lawmaker representing Ikere Constituency I.

Oke, who moved the motion under matter of urgent public importance, said it was important to unravel the circumstances behind Mohbad’s death.

”There is need for thorough investigation on this issue. We are hearing different stories, we need to know what happened,” he said.

Supporting the motion, Mr Babatunde Odowu, representing Ikere Constituency 2, described Mohbad’s death as not only untimely but a huge loss.

In his speech, the Speaker, Adeoye Aribasoye , said that the assembly was hugely pained by the death of the musician.

”The situation calls for sober reflection, the entertainer’s death is a big blow on us. We need to ensure that justice is done,” he said.

He prayed to God to grant the family and admirers of the late musician the fortitude to bear the loss.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng).

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Police Command in Ebonyi has said that it does not have information about a missing child in the state.

SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, Spokesperson of the command told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki on Wednesday that the incident could only be confirmed when officially reported.

“Now, we have called the Area Division but there is no such information,” Onovwakpoyeya said.

NAN reports that the incident occurred on Sunday on Udemezue Street, Abakaliki.

The incident involved a little child, Rejoice Omoha, daughter of Mr Omoha Donatus, native of Ndiogogo Inyimagu, Izzi Local Government Area of the state. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Yush’au Ahmed, has urged state governments and all other stakeholders to play their role in securing corps members in their domains.

Ahmed made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening of a two-day meeting of NYSC management with representatives of state governments.

According to him, safety of corps members in all service locations remains a top priority of the scheme.

“In this regard, we are stepping up our liaison with security agencies, which have been very supportive.

“It is important that state and local governments as well as other stakeholders such as traditional rulers, religious and community leaders play their expected roles in securing corps members,” he said.

The D-G also said that in view of the dangers associated with night journeys, NYSC management had been sensitising both prospective and serving corps members on the need to stop such dangerous adventures.

“Accordingly, I must use this medium to call on the state governments to join hands with the scheme in discouraging corps members from night journeys.

“As a matter of urgent concern, I appeal to the state governments to initiate policies in this direction.

“Reach out to the Corps Producing Institutions, other stakeholders and transport companies in their states to stop conveying corps members to various locations during night hours,” he added.

He added that corps members are expected to cut their journey by 6.00 p.m. and pass the night at corps lodges, military formations and other places officially designated as safe and continue the following morning.

Speaking about other matters, Ahmed said that the condition of the orientation camp is critical to the success of the orientation course which is the first cardinal programme of the scheme.

He said that apart from the fact that the camp being first pot of contact of corps members with NYSC, it goes a long way in influencing their impression about the scheme and the state of deployment.

“For these reasons, we have continued to emphasise the need for all our camps to meet the minimum standards with essential facilities such as adequate hostel accommodation, conveniences, multi-purpose hall and good parade ground amongst others.

“I am pleased to note that few states have constructed new orientation camps in recent times while several others are making impressive efforts through renovation and upgrade of existing facilities.

“On the other hand, there are still other camps that are in deplorable conditions across the country,” he said.

Ahmed appealed to the state governments to accord priority to the provision of adequate facilities in the camps to ensure the smooth conduct of the orientation course.

He also urged them to, in view of the continuous rise in corps population begin expansion of camp facilities to cater for at least 5000 corps members.

Other areas of concern are accommodation of corps members, payment of state allowance, rejection/under-utilisation of corps members by employers and reward for excellence/post-service employment for corps members.

The D-G said that the theme of the meeting: “Five Decades of National Service: Mobilising Stakeholders for Enhanced Service Delivery”, was to assess the states’ performance and draw attention to areas that require improvement.

He added that the meeting would also be an opportunity for sharing of best practices among all states and the FCT in their collective quest to deepen the impact of the scheme on the nation’s socio-economic development.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Mr Zaphaniah Jisalo, Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, says he has no excuse not to discharge his duties as assigned to him by President Bola Tinubu.

Jisalo said this during his second familiarisation visit to the Management and Staff of the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF) Headquarters on Wednesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the visit was the second familiarisation tour by the minister to the agencies under his ministry.

Interacting with members of staff of the agency, the minister explained that his visit was in line with the policy trust of the president to achieve his 8-points agenda which include job creation.

Jisalo urged the agency to key into the president’s agenda through its capacity as a revenue generating agency.

He added that this could only be achieved through team work by the agencies under his ministry.

“Our visit is in line with the policy trust of President Tinubu, with his 8-points agenda, the agenda which includes job creation and I want team work of the agencies under the ministry to achieve this.

“I owe him a duty and I have no excuse not to perform, I will do my best to give Nigerians what they deserve and I urge the NLTF’s management and its staff to key into this agenda.

“My hope is that in the next one year, my ministry will emerge first when he comes for evaluation, ” the minister said.

Earlier, Dr Bello Maigari, Executive Secretary NLTF, expressed delight over the visit by the minister, saying it was ground breaking as it had never happened since the agency’s establishment in 2005.

“As far as I can recall, the trust fund has never had an honourable minister visiting the agency officially until now.

“We are indeed honoured and grateful for the opportunity to rob minds and extend valuable conversations beyond the usual meetings in the ministry, ” he said.

Maigari expressed hope that the minister’s visit would usher a new era of cooperation and understanding to build a strong commitment to deliver on the aspirations of Nigerians through the lottery industry.

He listed some of the major achievements by the agency to include: provision of healthcare facilities/potable water supplies across the six-geopolitical zones, intervention to support government’s efforts to respond decisively to COVID-19 pandemic among others.

“I am pleased to inform the minister that our commitment to implement projects in this vital sector has helped to strengthen our fragile healthcare delivery systems across the six-geopolitical zones, ” he said

Maigari however highlighted some of the challenges faced by the agency including lack of befitting office accommodation.

In her contribution, Mrs Ibiene Roberts, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, said the visit was not for formality but a genuine effort to strengthen the bonds between the ministry and NLTF.

“Let us use this time wisely, sharing knowledge, building connections and laying the foundation for a more productive and collaborative future, ” she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Mrs Fatima Bayero, Founder, Sickle Cell Self-Help Initiative,a Non-Governmental Organisation, has expressed concern over 51 additional cases of sickle cell anemia patients recorded in the state from January to August 2023.

Bayero stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Bauchi.

According to her, the statistic were generated from health centre s which include Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital and Bauchi State Specialist Hospital, Bauchi.

Others are: State Low-Cost primary Health Centre and Women and Child Health Centre, all in the state capital.

She said that records revealed that in 2022, the state had recorded 8,787 patients over time.

She said that the figures were alarming, disheartening and could pose threat to public health in the state.

Bayero explained that the disease has social and economic impacts on the people and life-threatening.

Bayero called on the state government to declare a state of emergency on issues around sickle cell to save lives.

“In the mortality rate recorded from January to August 2023, we had 22 deaths.

“This is worrisome,the ailment is expensive and needs financial commitment to save lives.

“The patients and their families alone cannot stand the treatment especially at the time when the country is experiencing economic hardship.

“This disease can have negative effects on the productive age bracket in the state either socially or economically.

She appreciated the Bauchi State Government for the foresight to enroll 200 Sickle cell patients under its free healthcare services implemented by the State Health Contribution Management Agency.

She called for collective efforts among all stakeholders to assist patients with blood bags and other medical consumables to ease the infusion process.

Bayero also called on stakeholders to assimilate sensitisation campaigns into their various Programmes.

She advocated that the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in the state should champion enlightenment campaign in its numerous community engagements to provide a head-way in eradicating the disease.(NAN)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Association of Professional Women Engineers in Nigeria (APWEN) has charged Nigerian women to take up career professions and aspire for top positions in politics and industry.

Mrs Norah Magero, the Founder, Drop Access Kenya, Winner Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, said this at the International Conference Exhibition and APWEN 40th anniversary on Thursday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the conference was “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Engineering: Embracing Vision, Amplifying Voices and Shaping the Future.”

“Women should be reliable, dependable, value and think of the next generation to come and plan ahead, women should be determined to succeed, they should step up to do things differently to fulfill her purpose.

“It is very important to have a purpose, women engineers should change the narrative, for you as a woman to execute your actions you need to plan, you make progress when you learn to plan,’’ she said.

Mrs Bisola Atanda, the Sales Engineer, Schlumberger, U.S, and a Fellow, Nigeria Society of Engineers stressed the need for women to look into the future and plan toward retirement.

She said that retirement was an emotional journey as it brought about a total change of identity.

“When you retire, your identity will change totally, you will be at home always knowing what you will do to keep life moving, you have to engage in further studies in school and obtain more certificates.

“Also, engage in training people to add value to their lives, try to tell yourself that you can’t remain idle at home after retirement, don’t see yourself as an old person, try to identify your purpose here on earth, start saving some money to help you after retirement,”Atanda said.

Dr Elisabeth Eterigho, the President, APWEN said that the women in engineering were entrepreneurs who believed in using local content to innovate products that contributed to national development.

She said a woman was a creator, an innovator, that uses simple things around her even in her kitchen to produce durable and valuable products that enhance living and the society.

“Today, we are thinking of local content, design, production and let it be competitive. You know that you can even export it when it is well packaged.

“We have young women in engineering who are entrepreneurs, a young female engineer in one of our exhibition stands is using bamboo and raft palm to produce furniture, kitchenware and a series of decorative items.

“We are looking at applying our knowledge in engineering into production, solving people’s problems. Most engineers become entrepreneurs because that is the only way you can easily contribute to the economy.

“An engineer like I said is a problem solver so when you solve the problem do not leave it for somebody else go ahead and make it available and competitive in the market and then you produce it,’’ she said.

She said that for the woman engineer to reach her potential there had to be sustainable drive and equity in the distribution of administrative and managerial roles and good mentoring.

“Let us be the role models we have always been for aspiring female engineers, showing them that there is a place for them in this world of innovation and discovery; the engineering world.

“It is imperative that we use our voice to assert our presence, and pave the way for future generations of female engineers. We have the responsibility to build a future where every woman and girl can thrive.

“The future of engineering is in our hands, and it is a future we are shaping with each discovery, project and mentorship,’’ she said.

On the impact of the NGO in the last 40 years, Eterigho said it had a programme called ‘SheEngineer’ where they trained 500 students and 200 teachers in the 6 zones of the country and trained 50 engineers on STEM students.

“Also mentorship of over 200 graduate members on Entrepreneurship and are still on Job placements of over 5 graduates in different multinationals.

“Part sponsorship of graduates to study engineering related courses overseas, collaboration with the Nigerian Universities Engineering Students Association (NUESA), a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) in organising STEM related completion.

“Invent It Build It’ is also one of the programmes we initiated as a group in the last fourth years where we built 2 fully built and furnished Pry School Science Laboratories with ICT classrooms, E- Technical Drawing Class and Science laboratories.

“Eighty one students across the six geopolitical zones on scholarship, under NNPC Ltd, from primary to university provided they will study engineering among many other things we have been able to achieve over the years,” the APWEN president said.

Speaking on the way forward for the association, Eterigho said the NGO was looking forward to greater exploits adding that the association was started by six forceful women but after 40 years the group had registered 4,300 female engineers and expected to register more. (NAN)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria