Alere healthcare organization has donated ten thousand dual rapid test kits to Mrs. Aisha Buhari’s pet programme, Future Assured, for the diagnosis of HIV and Syphilis.
The kits which aim at mitigating complexities associated with the ailments were presented as part of the assistance to the President’s wife who has continued with intervention in Health and women related concerns.
The test kits will be used to screen pregnant women to know their status for appropriate therapies that will eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV ,syphilis and infant mortality .
While receiving the kits, Mrs. Buhari said that the kits will reduce the associated burden of search for cure of those ailments that pose a threat to the lives of women and children who are most vulnerable in the society .
She said that her programme, Future Assured initiative, will ensure appropriate utilization among beneficiaries while implementing agencies will be monitored and articulated for further action to improve the well being of women and children in the society .
The wife of the President commended the organization for donating the facility which will help In various ways to enhance the health status of Nigerians.
This was even as the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole said that the donation of the kits was timely considering the passion of the Wife of the President for good Health of Mothers and children in the country.
Professor Adewole said that government is making efforts to scale up the momentum of dual elimination of HIV and Syphilis even as he expressed appreciation to the office of African first ladies for paying attention to the plight of mothers and children in conjunction with other stakeholders.
In her remarks, the Alere Healthcare Regional Director for west Africa, Mrs. Josephine Chukwuemeka said that their mission was to reach an additional 500,000 pregnant women, infants, adolescents and other vulnerable groups with screening and prevention services. [myad]
Minister of education, Malam Adamu Adamu has announced the scrapping of Post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (Post UTME) for candidates seeking admission into universities and other higher institutions.
Adamu Adamu, who spoke on Thursday when he declared open the 2016 Combined Policy Meeting on Admissions to Universities, Polytechnics and other higher institutions in Nigeria, said that all tertiary institutions should have the liberty to conduct screening for candidates seeking admission.
The minister insisted that examination conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is sufficient for students to gain admissions, adding that there is no need for other examination to be conducted by universities after JAMB. “As far as I am concerned the nation has confidence in what JAMB is doing. The universities should not be holding another examination and if the universities have any complain against JAMB let them bring it and then we address it. “If JAMB is qualified enough to conduct tests and they have conducted test then there will be no need to conduct another test for students to gain admission.” The Minister also asked the JAMB to stop extra charges on several categories of changes on admissions such as the change of course, change of school and others. Meanwhile, the JAMB has pegged the cut-off mark for admission for 2016 at 180. The 180 benchmark, applies to all universities and higher institutions in the country, including polytechnics, colleges of education, and others. JAMB’s Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Dibu Ojerinde, after a long debate with delegates from various institutions, told journalists that no institution would go below the 180 cut-off set by the board. “180 is given, no institution will go below 180 this year, And some universities can go above it, I know University of Ife will not go below 200 and University of Lagos will not go below 200 and also UI. All these ones stand but 180 as bench mark for others. “This year we have more than enough candidates, we have over 1.5 million candidates so we will get enough candidates to take in all the schools if they are serious. Re-distribution is already ongoing, because it is embedded in the registration procedure.” [myad]
Former Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo has emerged the Secretary General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). His emergence came after months of diplomatic shuttles, anchored by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu. Rising from its 169th Ordinary Meeting, the Conference expressed its appreciation to the outgoing Secretary General, Abdalla Salem El- Badri for his leadership of the Secretariat and the Organization during his tenure. The newly appointed Secretary General who will occupy the position for three years in the first instance with effect from August 1st 2016, is coming to the position with a 23 year career in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and the oil and gas industry. Barkindo was a one-time Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). He actually served as Acting Secretary General of OPEC in 2006 and handed over to his predecessor where he served with distinction. Other positions he held were Deputy Managing Director/Chief Executive Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, Managing Director/Chief Executive of HYSON/CALSON, an international trading arm of NNPC, General Manager of NNPC London Office and Head of the International Trade, NNPC London Office. The former NNPC GMD served for a record 15 years on the OPEC Economic Commission Board as Nigeria’s National Representative. Apart from chairing the OPEC Economic Commission Board, he also chaired the Strategic Production Quota Committee of OPEC. Barkindo is an advocate of Climate Change Initiative and has led Nigeria’s technical delegation to the climate change negotiations that produced the United Nations framework Convention on Climate Change UNFCCC and the Kyoto protocol to the UNFCCC during which he served on the Bureau of the UNFCC at various times. He obtained a B. Sc degree in Political Science in 1981 from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, a post Graduate Diploma in Petroleum Economics in 1988 from College of Petroleum Studies, Oxford University, UK and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the South Eastern University, Washington DC. The new OPEC Secretary General’s hobbies include reading and soccer. He is married with children and holds the traditional titles of Wazirin Musawa Katsina and Walin Adamawa. [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has warned that his government would no longer tolerate the current theft and illegal refining of crude oil in the Niger Delta.
President Buhari, who was represented by the Vice-President, Yemi Osinbanjo, at the launch of “Clean-Up of Ogoniland” at Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State on Thursday, advised the regulators of the oil industry to carry out their responsibilities in line with best practices.
“The current oil theft and illegal refining will not be tolerated. The regulators in the oil industries must live up to expectations. They must ensure that oil companies carry out their operations in line with universal best services.”
President Buhari said that government is laying a foundation for change to ensure the rule of law and safety of the people, adding that the aim is to diversify the nation’s economy and provide jobs and wealth for the people.
According to him, the clean-up of Ogoniland will have sustainable development components will benefit the people, saying: “the methodology for the clean-up will ensure job creation for young people.
“The agro-allied industries required for processing of agricultural produce will also be put in place.”
Buhari said that approval had been given to set up necessary institutional framework to drive the implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme Report.
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State commended Buhari for inaugurating the implementation of the UNEP Report on Ogoniland, adding that the state government would provide the platform for the smooth implementation of the Report.
The governor said that environmental degradation had affected the ecosystem and wild life of communities in the Niger Delta.
The Minister of the Environment, Amina Mohammed, said government had taken stock of the work done in the past to start the implementation.
Mohammed said the clean-up would require collective responsibility of all stakeholders to ensure its success.
Amina Mohammed said the implementation “requires transparency, accountability, genuine partnership and proper representation of the people at the grassroots in what we are doing in investing in their future”.
Achim Steiner, the Executive Director of UNEP, said the organisation’s team had produced a document of what happened in Ogoniland.
Steiner said the team would stand with the Nigerian government to ensure the implementation of the report. [myad]
A former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, has said that he regretted serving Nigeria as a minister.
“I slept in the creeks for two weeks trying to persuade the militants to drop their weapons.
“Finally, we succeeded and we got amnesty. But see what I am being subjected to today.”
Orubebe who was testifying at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCB) during his trial, said that it was unfortunate that he served the country for over six years only to be put on trial for alleged non-declaration of assets.
“I love this country and I served as a minister with all my heart and to the best of my ability.
“But I am pained that the same country is putting me through all the things I know nothing about.” [myad]
No fewer than 12,609 ghost workers have been uncovered in the Adamawa State Government’s payroll.
Chairman of the Local Government Staff Verification Committee, Maurice Vunobolki, who presented the report of the committee to Governor Muhammadu Jibrilla Bindow in Yola on Thursday, said that 38,760 workforce was cleared and migrated to the e-payment data base as against 51,369 earlier presented to the committee.
He said that over 5,000 workers did not turn up for the verification exercise, while 1,780 among those that turn up were under aged employees.
He said that the gross figure after validation as at May 2016 stood at N1,366,632,447.2, resulting in gross monthly consequence of N341,584,091.60 and N4,094,140,059.60 annually.
While thanking the governor for finding them worthy to serve in the committee, Vunobolki said the report contained findings, observations and recommendations for further action by the government.
“It is therefore, hoped that government will find this report relevant and useful for the implementation of e-payment salary regime for local governments in the state,” he said.
Responding, Bindow lauded the committee for a job well done and vowed to prosecute anyone found wanting.
The governor said his administration was committed to addressing delay in payment of salaries at council level by placing council workers on first line charge.
He appealed to the local government workers to remain patient as their four months outstanding salaries would be paid before the end of June.
Bindow directed the Ministry of Local Government Affairs to furnish his office with details on local government/state joint account. [myad]
Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Abdullahi Mukhtar has been invited for interrogation by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC). Sources in the anti graft agency who spoke to us through phone would not be specific on the charge against the hajj commission boss, but information had it that it had to do with false declaration of assets which runs into millions. It would be recalled that the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), had similarly invited Alhaji Mukhtar for questioning a fortnight ago on the same alleged false asset declaration. Our EFCC sources hinted that Mukhtar arrived in their office in the noon of Thursday, and might not be left off the hook before the close of the day. The sources said that his release would be tied to how quickly he positively respond to vital information the anti graft agency would require from him. Mukhtar, who was Director of Operations in the hajj commission, succeeded the former chairman, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, who is now minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the Muhammadu Buhari government. [myad]
A police officer was alleged to have shot a commercial motorcycle rider, known as Okada man for refusing to bribe him with the usual N20 or N50, thus raising hell in Ilaro, Ogun state of Nigeria. Eye witness accounts said that because of the shooting of the Okada man, Ilaro town has turned into conflagration as civilians hauled missiles at any police man on site and burn government structures. It was gathered that in retaliation, the police people have been everywhere, firing their guns thereby throwing the once peaceful town into total confusion. Our reporter on ground said that he saw many dead bodies littering the streets even as police continued to shoot at hundreds of people that are running in different directions to take cover. “As I am typing this message, police continue to shoot sporadically,” the reporter lamented. He added frantically: “demonstrators took to the streets now, burning here and there.” Ilaro is located in Yewa Local South Local Government, Ogun State. [myad]
A 13-year-old student’s child has impregnated his 24 year class teacher, Alexandria Vera.
The teacher teaches English in the middle school and was said to have engaged in an intimate relationship with the young student.
And in quick reaction, police have filed a criminal charges in Houston, Texas, against the teacher.
The teacher, who is believed by many to be very beautiful based on her Facebook photo, is in a position to enter into a relationship with a man of her own age without any problem, but she chose to start having affair with her 13-yr-old student until she eventually got pregnant.
According to police, Vera acknowledged having a love relationship with the student, telling them that the two of them began getting intimate last September after she fell in love with him.
Vera allegedly told investigators she had first met the student when he tried connecting with her via Instagram, which she initially ignored.
Then, when he failed to show for classes, Vera allegedly sent a message to the boy, who responded by asking for her phone number. She gave her phone number and that’s how they got started with the relationship.
Police claim that Vera told them the student asked if they could meet up and she agreed.
Court records indicate Vera told detectives she drove to the student’s house to pick him up. Thereafter, the two kissed in her car.
Police said that Vera told them that when she met with the boy’s parents in October, he introduced her as his girlfriend.
The parents approve of their relationship and are also happy about the pregnancy.
The boy’s parents were aware of the relationship, and were so approving of the union that they let their child spend nights at her house. [myad]
An inmate of the Ikoyi Prisons, Albert Emmanuel Ajogbor, was on Wednesday, presented with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in Theology, having successfully completed his studies at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
Ajogbor, who was incarcerated in July 2004 was among the over 10,000 others who graduated during the institution’s 2016 convocation held in Abuja in January.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ajobor was honoured at a ceremony at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons by the NOUN authorities alongside another inmate, Moshood Folarinmilekan, who was presented with a certificate of exemption from NYSC.
Folarinmilekan has spent 25 years out of a life jail term he was sentenced to at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons.
He graduated in 2015 alongside other graduating students of NOUN after completing his studies at its facility.
The inmate, awarded a degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree at the institution.
Ajogbor speaking on the sideline of the event told NAN that the achievement was a dream comes through for him.
According to him, the prisons, as reformative centres were living up to their mandates, having provided the enabling environment that led to the feat he has attained.
“I want to say that I am short for words in explaining how I feel.
“Indeed, I see myself among heroes, those to move the country forward and make it one of the greatest countries in the world.
“I want to thank the prison officials for their support and encouragement as well as all my sponsors as well as my co-inmates.
“They have all contributed in one way or the other to make this happen,’’ he said.
He, however, pleaded with authorities of the university to speedily address the challenges faced by the inmates in accessing course materials.
Earlier in his speech, the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Abdallah Adamu, acquiring the degree was a commendable feat, which would serve as a stepping stone to greater heights for the graduands.
He said that the institution was the only university in the country that was providing education to inmates in the nation’s prisons.
“Due to shortage of sponsorship offers for inmates therefore, and to help make the journey of producing a university degree a little less daunting and more achievable, the university over the years has supplied course materials for free and paid 50 per cent of payable fees for inmates.
“The other 50 per cent paid for by philanthropic bodies such as religious and non-governmental organisations as well as well meaning Nigerians.
“May I use this opportunity to thank all your sponsors for their generosity and contributions towards your education.
“I am sure that a number of your peers who are also incarcerated will like to register to study one of our programmes but for the fact that they have no means of funding their education to improve their destinies.
“It is in this light that I have decided to offer 100 per cent full scholarship to all inmates who are undertaking a NOUN degree programme,’’ he said.
The Vice-Chancellor who was represented by the institution’s Director, Learner Support Services, Prof. Nebath Tanglang, noted that already modalities were being worked out to ensure that the process was as seamless as possible.
He assured them that plans were on to upload all their course materials on the I-Learn platform, which would subsequently be downloaded in their computers for easy access.
Also speaking, the Controller of Prisons in charge of Lagos Command, Timothy Tinuoye, said one of the greatest challenges facing the inmates in the institution was that of inadequate facilitators.
He appealed to both the state and the local governments to assist the facility by sending some of the corp members and even full time teachers to assist the inmates in their quest for knowledge.
“We are in dire need of teachers for these people especially at the secondary school level.
“We all know today that the prison is not just to keep offenders in custody, but rather to reform and get them re-integrated into the society.
“Now, we discover that some of them came here without any form of basic education.
“We feel that giving them education will be one of the best values we can entrench in them in an attempt to change their orientations and perspectives about life and thinking, toward making them better citizens,’’ he said.
Tinuoye added that of the 75 inmates enrolled into NOUN, 59 of them were from the maximum prisons, which comprised of the medium, female and maximum sections. myad]
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Alere healthcare organization has donated ten thousand dual rapid test kits to Mrs. Aisha Buhari’s pet programme, Future Assured, for the diagnosis of HIV and Syphilis.
