Month: October 2023

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Security challenge is our major concern in Kogi guber poll-INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says one of its major concern in the conduct of the Nov.11 Kogi governorship election is the prevailing security challenge in the state.

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman, INEC, said this when he visited the Kogi Local Government (LGA) office of the commission, in Kotonkarfe during a visit to the state to monitor mock accreditation in Lokoja on Saturday.

Yakubu said that the commission was working with the security agencies to provide secured environment for peaceful and credible election.

“Wherever you go in Nigeria, you are sure to see two government offices. One is INEC. You will see an INEC office in the LGA headed by an electoral officer, an Electoral Officer (EO). You will also see the police office headed by a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for the local government.

“So, we are everywhere working together. And I’m happy that we are working together as we prepare for the elections,“ he said.

Yakubu advised the Electoral Officers (EOs) in the state to follow the standard template for logistics deployment at Registration Area Centres (RACs), as well as work with security agencies, for the election to commence in Polling Units (Pus)at 8.30a.m.

“My advice to you is that you have to use the standard template for this election.

“I am glad to hear that all the non-sensitive materials have been received in your local government. And I’m sure it’s the same story in other local governments as well.

“But it’s not only the receipt of the material that is important. You have to batch them so that they go into the box per polling unit.

“So, on election day, as you move to the super RACs or the RAC centers, you will then move to the polling units,” he said.

Yakubu added: “We are giving our words to Nigerians that we must open polling units at 8.30am on the dot. Therefore, you must activate the RACs. If you don’t activate the RACs we can’t actulise the commencement of the votes at 8.30am.

“You must activate the RACs with security and I am happy that you are working in partnership with them.”

He commended all the INEC staff and security agencies in the state.

Earlier speaking, Mr Hassan Musa, the Electoral Officer, Kogi Local Government Area (LGA) office, Kotonkarfe, said that the preparations for the election was in advance stage.

Musa said that the LG office had already received all the non-sensitive materials for the election and was working with security agencies for a peaceful election.

He said that in the next few weeks the commission would round the RACs centres in the LG to monitor the preparations.

“We have received virtually all the non-sensitive materials for the election and we have successful dispatched them to PUs level and we are good to go. We don’t have any shortfall for now.

“What we are waiting for is sensitive materials. As you know sensitive materials come few days close to the election . More so we are having cordial relationship security agencies and they are doing their best to address places that have security challenges.

“We have received virtually all the non-sensitive materials and we have successfully dispatched them to PU levels. And we are good to go, sir. We don’t have any shortfall for now.

“What we are waiting for is the sensitive materials, which normally come a few days before the elections,” he said

He added:“Also, we are having a very cordial relationship with the security personnel. We are meeting with them, as you can see. We even hold a brief meeting with them every day and they are doing their best to crop down places that have security challenges.

“We have also met with transportation unions, waiting to sign MoU with them. ”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Yakubu used the opportunity to plant a tree in the premises of the INEC office for peace election, before proceeding to visit some PUs where mock accreditation was held in Lokoja. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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Jhpiego CEO Honored with Prestigious Fellowship Award from Academy of Public Health

Dr. Leslie Mancuso recognized for improving quality of health care in Africa

Baltimore, Md., Oct. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Baltimore, Md., Oct 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Dr. Leslie Mancuso, RN, FAAN, is among eight global health leaders named as distinguished fellows of the Nigeria-based Academy of Public Health for their contributions to improving the health of Africans and inspiring a generation of public health professionals.

Dr. Mancuso, the president and CEO of Jhpiego, and the other fellowship award recipients were honored as “individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, scholarship, and service in the field of public health,” according to the award announcement released by the academy, which represents the membership of the West African Institute of Public Health.

Dr. Mancuso’s “commitment to delivering quality healthcare in underserved communities has garnered recognition and made Jhpiego a pivotal force in global health, impacting countless lives through innovative and sustainable interventions,” the selection committee said.

The 2023 Fellowship honorees include Wondimagegnehu Alemu, an adjunct professor and former World Health Organization official; Uche Veronica Amazigo, professor of medical parasitology; Pape Amadou Gaye, president emeritus of IntraHealth; Dr. Rose Gana Fomban Leke, malariologist and emeritus professor of immunology and parasitology at the University of Yaounde; Joy Phumaphi, former Minister of Health, Malawi; Michel Sidibé, former executive director of UNAIDS; and infectious disease specialist and virologist Oyewale Tomori.

“I am both humbled and thrilled to receive this fellowship alongside such distinguished colleagues,” said Dr. Mancuso. “For 50 years, Jhpiego has worked closely with health leaders across the African continent to ensure women, men, and their families receive high-quality health services. Our work is grounded in the belief that where a person lives should not determine if they live. “Thank you, Academy of Public Health, for this honor.”

Dr. Mancuso, a recognized international business executive and nurse, has led Jhpiego for more than two decades. During her tenure at the global health non-profit and Johns Hopkins University affiliate, she has prioritized equity, inclusion, and diversity in the delivery of quality care across the organization’s work in 40-plus countries, including its programs in Nigeria. She has prioritized support for West Africa, often neglected in development appropriations, and been a vocal advocate for funding to strengthen health systems, educate health workers and advance lifesaving interventions in the region.

In choosing Dr. Mancuso and the other recipients, the selection committee noted that the fellowships reflect the opinion of young public health practitioners across the African region. “Your expertise and passion will undoubtedly continue to inspire the next generation of public health professionals and
drive positive change in our region,” the academy announcement said.

The academy will host a formal induction ceremony on November 2 with recipients participating in person or virtually.

Contact:

Ann LoLordo
Jhpiego
[email protected]
410-537-1991

Ann LoLordo
Jhpiego
410-537-1991
[email protected]

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8948726

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Oniipa Town Council to plant trees

ONIIPA: Oniipa Town Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Heikky Amwele said Council plans to plant trees across the town as part of the Arbor Day celebration.

Amwele on Friday told Nampa that they will be planting various trees including fruit trees.

The day is observed this month to coincide with the onset of the rainy season and is celebrated on the 2nd Friday of October each year.

He stated that tree planting is necessary for human existence and animals if they are to survive.

“The day remind us on the importance of planting trees for the benefit of both humans and animals at large,” he said, adding it also help minimise the effects of greenhouse gases on the environment.

Moreover, Amwele stated that tree planting is vital as trees provide people with shade, food and materials that are used, while some people make a living of having nurseries and selling trees.

This year, the day is being commemorated at Osona village in Okahandja, where the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta will be launching the tree planting season on Saturday.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

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We are in a tough group: Benjamin

WINDHOEK: The finals of the 2023 Ivory Coast TotalEnergies Confederation of African Football (CAF) Cup of Nations are fast approaching, and Namibia’s senior national football team coach, Collin Benjamin says it is time to start working hard.

The official draw for the 24 African nations took place in Abidjan on Thursday, with Namibia placed in Group E alongside neighbours South Africa, Mali, and Tunisia.

The tournament is scheduled for 13 January to 11 February 2023 and will be held in six venues across the Ivory Coast. Namibia will be based in the northern city of Korhogo.

In an interview with Nampa on Friday, Benjamin said the best 24 teams on the continent now know who they will be facing at the competition, therefore Namibia must prepare well.

“Our group is tough, with three of the best teams in Africa, and we’ll all be fighting for top honours. As a country we should do our part and then let the beauty of the game dictate what will happen,” he added.

To prepare well for this competition, Benjamin is using his time in Ivory Coast to go on a familiarisation tour of the city that will host Namibia. However, he also said they need funding to prepare well and to compete against the best teams.

“The football federation does not have funds, so our hope is now with the government. We don’t know how much they are going to give us, but we need funds as early as possible for us to start preparing,” he said.

Benjamin stated that with the Afcon finals slated for January, his intention is to start preparing right after Christmas, in a similar environment as the one they will compete in.

“We want to do better than we did at the past Afcon finals, and that means we should start preparing early for this competition,” he concluded.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

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Students, NGO sensitise residents to health education

Health science students of Government Secondary School (GSS), Apo resettlement and Health Bridge Initiative, an NGO, on Thursday took to the streets to sensitise Abuja residents to importance of health education.

The students, displaying different placards about various diseases, embarked on sensitisation walk from Apo to the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) in Abuja.

During the sensitisation, they spoke about the effects of those diseases, how they were contracted and the best methods of avoiding them.

They also told the residents about the ones that were vaccine preventable and those that could be avoided by testing early and where they could get free testing for some of them.

Mrs Tamunosiki Onatoyinbo, the Health Science teacher, said it was necessary for children to be active participants in health sensitisation, especially in their communities.

She also said that they could serve as agents of change in that regard.

“Children should be active in creating sensitisation about health education in the community and not just be passive like it has been in the past.

“Let them be active this time and put to practice what they learn in the class,’’ she added.

The Executive Director, Health Bridge Initiative, Dr Sylvia Okoro, said the students volunteered themselves to join the campaign against HIV/AIDS, cervical, prostrate and bowel cancers as well as polio eradication.

According to her, their aim is to create awareness to let the public, especially their peers, to know that free testing is available for some of these diseases and why they should get tested.

“This is also to get women tested for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and to know that the vaccine is free for girls.

“When they get it they get themselves free from cervical cancer and are protected against some genital infections such as warts.”

Okoro said that the NGO was actually transforming lives and leading the change when it comes to healthcare delivery.

“To create value, the value system must start from the secondary schools and the young ones.

“So what they are trying to tell their peers is that irrespective of where they find themselves, they are supposed to create the value that is needed.

“Also, I believe that over 80 per cent of diseases that adults suffer today can be prevented and when we start young and create this value in them, they run with it.

“So we believe that if we start from these young ones we can really get it right in the Nigerian health sector.

“Coming from the HIV background, I can tell you that the new infections that we are seeing today are actually gotten from among the over 45 million young ones in Nigeria.”

She, however, said that the NGO, along with other partners, would continue the campaign to support them to continually create the awareness needed.

Dr James Anenih, the Director, Community Prevention, Care and Services, NACA, while receiving the students, said the focus of the organisation was on the young ones.

He said specifically, the agency’s national response and prevention programmes were geared towards young people.

“We are also in the process of reviewing the Family Life and Health Education Guideline.

He said this would make it easier for people to pick up on what they were tought and also to upgrade it to reflect current trends.

“On Dec. 1, we celebrate World AIDS Day and that is a day that we create a lot of awareness about HIV and testing.

“So we would like to work with you for better awareness and create a testing location in your school.”

Micheal Emmanuel, an SS2 student, said he learnt more about personal hygiene, as some of the students barred their minds about the exercise.

Miss Mariam Jubril, also in SS2, said that she was happy speaking to residents of the community about what was happening in the health space.

She also said that the subject had made her learn a lot about health education.

“I was about to drop the subject but my teacher made me understand that health science is the best.

“You learn things in health science and she has made me proud and bold.” (NAN)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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PIA: NUPRC grants first petroleum exploration licence

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) in compliance with provisions of Section 71 (1) – (10) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 has granted a Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) to TGS-PetroData Offshore Services Limited (TGS-PD).

The PEL is the first under the PIA 2021 and is under the licence agreement which the Commission and TGS-PD executed for a Geophysical Survey Project for the acquisition of about 56,000 square kilometres of 3D seismic and gravity data.

Mr Gbenga Komolafe, the Chief Executive of NUPRC in a statement on Thursday said the development was another milestone in the smooth implementation of the PIA for the attraction of investment in the oil and gas sector.

“Without data, reserves cannot be auctioned for development and revenue attraction.

“Data acquired under the PEL is not proprietary but speculative/multi-client survey data acquired in partnership with the NUPRC.

“The licence therefore authorises TGS-PetroData Offshore to carry out non-exclusive Petroleum Exploration Operations on a multi-client basis within the licensed area and permits the use of the acquired 3D seismic and gravity data by exploration companies.

“Due to the specialised nature of the Geophysical Survey Vessel to be used for the acquisition of the 3D seismic and gravity data, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board granted no objection to TGS-PD to deploy the facility,” he said.

He said the acquisition of the 3D seismic and gravity data commenced on July 17 and the processed data would be available for use by mid-2024.

He included the scope of the Geophysical Survey Project as Phase one acquisition of about 11,900 sq. km of new 3D seismic and gravity data in water depth ranging from 30m to 4000m offshore Niger Delta.

According to him, acquiring seismic and gravity data at the same time will improve the correlation of identified structures and reservoirs.

“Record length of 14 seconds. This is the first of its kind in Nigeria. This will image deeper reservoirs that have not been imaged offshore Niger Delta before now.

“The acquired seismic and gravity data will be processed using the latest TGS proprietary technology. The acquired data will be licensed to exploration companies,” he said.

The CCE however listed the benefits that Nigeria would derive from the new 3D seismic and gravity data acquisition to include availability of new regional 3D seismic and gravity data in deep waters ranging from 30m to 4000m offshore Niger Delta.

He said the Commission had the sole right and title over the acquired raw and interpreted data to be obtained by the licensee (TGS-PD) under a petroleum exploration licence. Therefore, the 3D seismic and gravity data belongs to the Nigerian Government.

“Based on section 71(7) of the PIA, the Commission and Federal Government of Nigeria shall benefit from the revenue that will be generated from the data use licence that will be granted to interested exploration companies by TGS-PD.

“The new 3D seismic and gravity data being acquired will further provide an opportunity for understanding the regional petroleum system of the ultra-deep waters of Nigeria and unlock the hydrocarbon prospectivity of Nigeria’s frontier basins (Ultra-deep offshore).

“The 3D seismic and gravity data when acquired will be useful in future deep water licencing rounds which will attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) into oil and gas exploration in Nigeria,” he said. (NAN)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria