Day: June 17, 2024

Sen. Ned Nwoko (PDP-Delta North Senatorial District), held an interactive session with residents of the Anioma community on Sunday in Abuja. Nwoko said he initiated the event to recognise his constituents in the FCT, build relationships, and seek their input to better address their needs and concerns. He said that the objective of the interactive session included uniting all Anioma people in Abuja, and to encourage them to share information about budget placements, capacity-building initiatives, and job opportunities, among others. 'First, it seeks to unite all Anioma people in Abuja and its environs under one umbrella, and inform you about my duties in the senate and my responsibilities to you as your senator. 'Secondly it aims to encourage you to share information about budget placements, capacity-building initiatives, job opportunities, training programmes, and career development within your agencies and ministries, so that I can facilitate access to these opportunities for our people,' he said. He n oted that the array of personalities present at the event signified a positive step towards realising his vision for the people of Anioma. 'You must know what we are doing in the National Assembly. The National Assembly is here to serve you. 'You need to understand my duties and the services I owe you. Whether it's on jobs, health issues, or community matters, you have someone in the Federal Government to attend to your needs and concerns. 'How do you gain access to me or my office if you don't know my willingness to serve you? I didn't come to NASS just to hold the title of Senator; I know my duties and I am committed to them. See also Appoint young person as Youth Minister - NILDS D-G tells Tinubu 'Many of you hold key positions in various government agencies and ministries, and I seek your advice and partnership to serve our people effectively,' the lawmaker said. Speaking on his bill for the creation of Anioma State, the senator stressed the importance of the creation of state over regional classifi cation. According to him, whether Anioma is South-South or South-East should not be the focus. 'What's most important to discuss is that Anioma is poised to become a highly significant and viable state. We already have six out of nine local government areas producing oil and gas. 'In addition, Anioma boasts of numerous talented and important individuals. In spite of current challenges, Emefiele will continue to be a prominent figure in Anioma. 'We also have people like Tony Elumelu, Jim Ovia, and other notable personalities. We have all the talents we need to excel in all areas, be it sports or academics,' he said. In his remarks, Chief Godfrey Odogwu, President General of the Asaba Development Union, Abuja branch, said the creation of Anioma State was long overdue. He underscored the importance of this for every son and daughter of Anioma. The high point of the event was a vote of confidence on Nwoko by the Anioma community in Abuja. Mr Patrick Obi, Branch President of Ogwashi-Uku Development Associa tion, leading the vote of confidence, said, 'We have been assured that we have a Senator. Doors have never been this open for us.' Source: News Agency of Nigeria

A Consultant Gastroenterologist, Dr Mbang Kooffreh-Ada, says adequate access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) remains the sustainable solution to reducing the transmission of cholera cases and deaths in the country. Kooffreh-Ada, who works at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos. A gastroenterologist is a medical practitioner, who specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and related organs, NAN reports. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Cholera can cause severe acute watery diarrhea and the severe forms of the disease can kill within hours if left untreated. Kooffreh-Ada, however, warned that, 'medical interventions alone won't solve the underlying issues leading to cholera outbreaks', stressing that cholera is an indicat or of inequity and lack of social development. She stressed the need for the government at all levels to prioritise access to potable water for citizens through the establishment of water boards to supply clean and hygiene pipe borne water to homes. 'We're in the middle of the rainy season and you have a lot of runoff water from the heavy downpour, which can contaminate water sources, especially in communities where they practice is defecation. 'Many households do not have access to clean pipe borne public water supply from water boards in each of the states where water engineers chlorinate and purify the water. See also NCDC working to strengthen cholera prevention mechanisms - D-G 'Creating a functioning water board in all states would be an avenue to nip this particular problem in the bud,' she said. The gastroenterologist stressed that open defecation and indiscriminate sewage disposal should be discouraged and laws to punish defaulters put in place to serve as a deterrent to would-be offenders. Sh e noted that seepage could percolate down and contaminate underground water, thus appealing to borehole engineers to dig deep to prevent contamination of underground water sources. Kooffreh-Ada noted that fecal-oral transmission was the main driving force behind cholera in most communities, advising the public to boil water to boiling points to kill the pathogens before drinking or cooking with it. 'Some people actually use human waste as manure; so, I always tell my patients that if you are going to prepare meals, especially with vegetables or fruits, make sure you wash them very well under running water. 'If you're cooking them, you cook to the point where the organism can possibly be killed,' she advised. The gastroenterologist emphasised that cholera could be easily treated through prompt administration of oral rehydration solution (ORS) or preparing the salt and sugar solution to help the person. She said that the WHO/UNICEF's ORS standard sachet should be dissolved in one litre of clean water for c hildren, while adult patients might require up to six litres of ORS to treat moderate dehydration on the first day. Kooffreh-Ada noted that severely dehydrated patients were required to take the rapid administration of intravenous fluids and appropriate antibiotics under the supervision of healthcare professionals to reduce diarrhea duration and dehydration. See also Christmas: Foundation feeds 200 children, women in FCT She advised the public to promptly report all cholera cases at nearby health facilities for proper supervision and management to improve patient's survival. The gastroenterologist stressed that primary healthcare centres should be adequately equipped, especially with IV infusions, antibiotics and medical personnel to cater for patients with cholera. She stressed the need for citizens to embrace frequent handwashing, improve hygiene in their homes, and environment to prevent infection with cholera. NAN reports that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), on June 12, hinted of incr easing cholera cases nationwide, with recorded 30 deaths and 65 confirmed cases of cholera. NCDC said the cases were reported from 96 local government areas(LGAs) in 30 states between January and June 11, 2024. The agency disclosed that 10 states contributed 90 per cent to the burden of cholera listing the states to include Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa and Lagos. The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, on June 11, alerted residents of the state of cholera outbreak resulting in five fatalities and 60 hospitalisation in four LGAs of the state. Abayomi disclosed that fatalities recorded were from patients with severe gastroenteritis presented late at health facilities with extreme dehydration. He called for heightened vigilance and adoption of precautionary measures, disclosing that the state had activated a statewide heightened surveillance and response to check the transmission of the disease. Source: News Agency of Nigeria

A business strategist and cultural architect, Unik Ernest, will host the Culturin Afterparty Series during the 2024 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. The event will be held from June 17 to 21, at Elva Cannes, France, a statement by Mr Osita Oparaugo, founder and Chief Executive Officer, GetBundi Education Technology, said on Monday in Lagos. The statement said that Earnest would curate five all-star events, starting with a special Cannes Lions Welcome Party on Monday, June 17 to be hosted by Chief Executive Officer, United Masters, Steve Stoute. It said that expected attendees would include NBA stars Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson and Shannon Sharpe, who would toast to the creatives and enjoy the best of the French Riviera. It added that the welcome party would be followed by a Hip Hop Throwback Party with 300 Entertainment CEO, Kevin Liles and a special guest DJ on June 18. The statement also said that a designer and celebrity stylist, Jason Rembert, would host an Afrobeat/Amapiano Experience on June 19, and as the sun sets over the Mediterranean on June 20. 'The Culturin Afterparty will host their first annual Rose Day, a quintessential Cannes experience. 'The Annual Fête de la Musique and a special birthday celebration for Unik Ernest will close out this one-of-a-kind nightly series on June 21st. 'This exclusive party series will serve as a preview to what culturin founder, Unik Ernest, and his team, will be able to do for clients and countries across the globe. 'A formal launch for this bespoke media and travel company will take place in New York City this Fall to coincide with New York Fashion Week.' See also Iconic Yoruba movie, 'TI OLUWA NILE', adapted to stage The statement quoted Ernest as saying that 'the world needs more beautiful stories, and culturin will harness the power of storytelling, technology and cultural insights to amplify local cultures on a global stage'. It described Ernest as a personality who seamlessly blends cultural diplomacy and hospitality to forge genuine connection with artists and brands, governments and corporations. This, the statement said, he was doing through impactful partnerships in the public, private and philanthropic sectors. 'Unik Ernest is a Haitian born, Manhattan-based nightlife guru and business leader. 'Over the past 20 years, Unik has used his ability to capture attention and generate buzz in his work with the world's largest brands. 'As an event architect, he has engineered one-of-a-kind parties, promotions and special events for Nike, Valentino, JetBlue and NBC Universal. 'With his company Lokee Worldwide Productions, he created events during Sundance, The Cannes Film Festival and the Grammy Awards,' the statement said. Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The 24 members of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the 2023 Abia State House of Assembly election have demanded an end to the factions in the party. Mr Anderson Akaliro, the leader of the group, led the candidates on a reconciliation mission to Abuja, according to a communiqué issued at the end of their meeting. The reconciliation meeting tagged `Abia APC Crisis Peace Initiative', was anchored by Mr Anderson Akaliro, the only APC lawmaker in Abia State House of Assembly. Akaliro who signed the communiqué, urged the national leadership of APC to, as a matter of urgency, convoke a meeting of all leaders and stakeholders of the party to resolve the impasse. The meeting, he said, should include the zonal leadership and the 2023 House of Assembly, Abia APC lawmakers in the National Assembly, to get their commitment to a peace accord. 'All factions within the rank and file of the party should be resolved and all factions should fall back into the party as one indivisible unit. 'We are aware of t he forthcoming Congress, and we employ the party leadership to commit to ensuring that all interest groups are duly represented in the state, LGA, and ward party positions'', he said. This, according to him, will be a prelude to free and fair party primaries in 2026. He, therefore, called on all gladiators in the crisis to sheath their sword and embrace peace and unity in APC in Abia State. 'We want peace in the Abia APC because there are multiple factions, which is the reason why we lost the election. See also Group advocates enhance women's participation in politics '24 of us contested for the State Assembly election and 23 lost; the faction challenge contributed to our loss. We only have one person as an APC member who won the election' he said in the communiqué. He said issues responsible for the factions, including imposition of candidates, greed, and pride anchored on personality clashes of interests were not good for the progress of the party. He appealed to President Bola Tinubu as the leader o f the party and the National Chairman to call all stakeholders, including Assembly candidates, and Abia APC lawmakers in the two chambers of National Assembly for truce. 'The facade of unity is but a veil over the fissures that have led to our collective losses in political contests, and it is time for introspection and action.' 'The potential within our ranks is immense, with leaders of influence and respect. 'It is our firm belief that through reconciliation and unity, the APC in Abia State will emerge stronger and victorious in future electoral endeavors'', Akaliro said. He said the influx of new members into the party was a clarion call for reconciliation and to establish a harmonious environment that would foster alignment and promote the spirit of togetherness. Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) says recurrent cholera outbreaks in the Nigeria are critically affecting children and the population at large. Celine Lafoucrier, Chief of Lagos UNICEF Field Office, on Saturday reacted in a statement in response to cholera outbreak in Lagos and other parts of the country. Lafoucrier said that children faced substantial health risks, particularly those under five who were prone to severe dehydration and higher mortality rate. She urged government to focus on the provision of clean and risk-free water to prevent the spread of cholera in the country. According to her, despite the state government's efforts to provide water to its population, the current outbreak demonstrates the need for an urgent government focus on ensuring the water provided to the population is clean and risk-free. 'Addressing the challenges of cholera outbreaks requires a deliberate focus of state policies. 'And this include provision of high-standard water and sanitation facilities as well as strengthened healthcare systems capable of responding to the demand in times of outbreaks. 'There should be campaigns on cholera prevention to protect children and the population at large', she said. Lafoucrier said that good water and sanitation infrastructure play a crucial role in reducing disease outbreaks, such as cholera, which causes an estimated 100,000 deaths annually. 'Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions are fundamental in preventing and responding to cholera epidemics. 'Safe water supplies, hygienic sanitation, and effective water management are key elements in this effort. 'Ultimately, preventing cholera centers on good sanitation and hygiene practices. See also Cholera: Improve nationwide access to WASH, gastroenterologist appeals to govts 'Key actions include proper disposal of faeces, eliminating open defecation, and ensuring access to potable water. 'Regular hand washing with clean, running water and soap is vital. 'Additionally, avoiding the consumption of uncooked vegetables, unwashed fruits, raw or undercooked seafood, and food from street vendors is important to reduce the risk of cholera infection', she said. According to her, safer water can annually prevent 1.4 million child deaths from diarrhoea, 500,000 deaths from malaria, and 860,000 child deaths from malnutrition. She said that it could also protect 10 million people from serious illnesses like lymphatic filariasis and trachoma. Lafoucrier, however, said that disease outbreaks ultimately hinder Nigeria's progress in achieving health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3, which focuses on ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all. 'These outbreaks strain Nigeria's health system, diverting limited resources from essential services like routine immunizations and maternal and child care, undermining universal health coverage. 'However, outbreaks also present opportunities to strengthen Nigeria's health system. 'Prevention is more cost-effective than cure; thus, communities sho uld establish systems that promote key hygiene practices, transforming them into a cultural norm,' she said. Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Network of Youth for Sustainable Initiative (NGYouthSDGs) has inaugurated project empowering youth organisations to build stronger communities by addressing climate issues in communities. The project titled 'Empowering Youth Civil Society to Build Stronger Communities in Nigeria' also seek youth leadership in climate action policies and implementation to safeguard rural communities. Speaking during the project launch in Enugu on Friday, Joshua Alade, Founder of NGYouthSDGs, emphasised that youths had to play critical role in shaping Nigeria's future. He said the project was to raise awareness among young people, their peers and the broader community about climate issues and the importance of taking action and support youth innovations that enhance climate change adaptation and mitigation. Alade added that the idea would help to create a Local Climate Action Network of youth organisations and actors to mobilise local support and implementation of community-based climate solutions. He said the organis ation would work with at least 15 youth organisations from Delta, Enugu, Kaduna, Ondo and Nasarawa states to actualise the initiative. According to him, the project represents a significant step towards inclusive climate action and sustainable development to tackle looming threat of climate change challenges in Nigeria and Africa that require urgent attention. 'If young people are aware of their rights, and they can communicate and mobilise other young people as servant leaders in their communities, they can build alliances and sit with decision-makers to create programs and policies that will help youth to lead and thrive. 'This project perfectly aligns with our mission to resource youth leaders and youth-led organisations to influence policies that enable young Nigerians to lead and thrive,' Alade said. See also Emu kingdom, 67 others key into CBN oil palm programme in Delta --Official He explained that with support from the Germany Missions in Nigeria, the initiative aimed to equip youth-led civil soc iety organisations (CSOs) in partnership with young people in their local communities to initiate, drive and transform policies. This, he said, would lead to the implementation of Nigeria's National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). 'Through carefully designed capacity development sessions, these youth organisations will learn how to support NAP and NDCs. 'The trained CSOs will work together to mobilise young people and youth stakeholders in their states to facilitate the meaningful engagement of youth in the implementation of the NAP and NDCs. 'This include a National Sustainable Futures Dialogue with at least two hundred young people, therefore, raising awareness about the NAPs and the NDCs across the country,' Alade explained. He added that the youth CSOs would be equipped with tools to work with their communities to create a Local Adaptation Plan of Action (LAPA) which would be shared with their state government ensuring young people were in the driver's seat on po licies that affect them. According to him, the project will also provide technical support to not just the state government but other government agencies and ministries like the Federal Ministry of Environment on effective dialogue and meaningful youth engagement in the implementation of the NAP and NDCs. The Founder stressed that Germany Government recognised that the youths were key stakeholders in the national adaptation process to climate change. 'They are providing essential funding for this project, showing their commitment to walk the talk when it comes to climate action and resourcing young Nigerians to be at the forefront of action. See also FG condemns kidnapping of train passengers in Edo This support will help NGYouthSDGs strengthen its youth leadership initiative and equip youth with the tools they need to take social action in communities across Nigeria,' he added. He, however, urged youth organisations leading climate action in Delta, Enugu, Ondo, Kaduna and Nasarawa States, to use https: //climatevoices.nigerianyouthsdgs.org/ to apply and participate in the project. 'They should also reach out to Opeyemi Ogundeji Programmes Manager, NGYouthSDGs Email: opeyemi@nigerianyouthsdgs.org About NGYouthSDGs,' he said. Source: News Agency of Nigeria

'Dragon Boat Races' Music Video Blends Chinese and Western Music, Celebrating Guangdong's Cultural Heritage On the occasion of the traditional Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, the International Communication Center of Guangdong Province and British musician Shaun Gibson co-created a new music video, 'Dragon Boat Races,' featuring both Chinese and English lyrics. This MV highlights the enduring and evolving culture of dragon boat racing. This year's dragon boat races across Guangdong have been exceptionally lively, attracting large crowds and becoming a top trend both online and offline. The music video captures this vibrant atmosphere, detailing traditional customs from the awakening of dragons and ancestral worship to village gatherings, competitions, and the dragon boat feast. The video is fast-paced, blending tradition with modernity, and embodies the spirit of unity, cooperation, courage, and the pursuit of dreams. It reflects the youthful vitality and cultural confidence of contemporary Guangdong. 'Drag on Boat Races' is a unique blend of Chinese and British musical styles. The song is arranged in a Western folk music style and incorporates traditional Chinese instruments such as the Suona, Pipa, Guzheng, Flute, and Xiao, enhanced with electronic synthesizers. This fusion creates a contemporary sound that resonates with young audiences, showcasing a successful blend of Chinese and Western music. Contact Person: Zhang Yan Tel: 008610-68994660 Email: 1713543383@qq.com Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The new Pro-chancellor of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Dr Mohammed Santuraki, has pledged to turn around the fortunes of the institution. He said his wealth of experience as an education administrator would be deployed to ensure that the institution retains its pride of place. In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Minna, Santuraki said FUT, Minna would also maintain its academic excellence. ''FUT, Minna is one institution that has been a rallying point for not only people of Niger or the North but for all Nigerians. ''It is a microcosm of the country where youths are engaged in inventions, innovations and technology development with one common cause of realising the dream of a better Nigeria. 'Nigeria youth deserve to be encouraged to realise their full potential especially in a conducive educational environment,'' he said. NAN reports that President Bola Tinubu approved the appointment of Santuraki as the Pro Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing C ouncil of FUT, Minna a fortnight ago. He is a seasoned tertiary education administrator having served earlier in the same position at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), the Niger University. Santuraki also served as the Vice Chairman of the Committee of Pro-chancellors of State-owned Universities in Nigeria. The new pro-chancellor said that the appointment of the new boards of tertiary institutions would accelerate the Renewed Hope Agenda of Tinubu in the education sector. He said that the education sector of the country would be revitalised with a strong board comprising men and women with wealth of experience and passion to make positive changes. Source: News Agency of Nigeria