Dangote Named Chair As Buhari Inaugurates National End Malaria Council

 

Chairman of Aliko Dangote Foundation and Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote has been named the pioneer Chair of the National End Malaria Council (NMEC), a body established by President Muhammadu Buhari to eliminate the scourge of malaria in the country. The National End Malaria Council (NMEC) was inaugurated by the President at a well-attended event in the Presidential Banquet Hall, Aso-Rock Villa, Abuja yesterday. 

Dangote, who accepted the responsibility of chairing the Council, said the new function was in tandem with his current roles as the Nigerian Ambassador for Malaria, his role on the Global End Malaria Council, and with the work that his Foundation, Aliko Dangote Foundation is doing to mobilise the private sector to support malaria control in Nigeria in particular, and Africa at large. 

While inaugurating the 16-member Council, President Buhari projected that the successful implementation of the Council’s agenda and savings from the estimated economic burden of the disease would save Nigeria about N687 billion in 2022 and N2 trillion by 2030.

The President told the Council that beyond improving the quality of life, health and well-being of Nigerians, the concerted strategy to tackle malaria had both public health as well as socio-economic benefits for Nigeria.

“Our inauguration today will therefore ensure that malaria elimination remains a priority on our agenda, with strong political commitment from leaders at all levels. Additionally, the End Malaria Council will provide a platform to advocate for more funding to protect and sustain progress made so far by our country, and put us on a pathway to ending malaria for good,” the President said.

Expressing concern that the age-long disease had remained a major public health challenge in Nigeria, the President cited the World Health Organisation (WHO) report of 2021, showing that Nigeria alone accounts for 27 per cent of all cases of malaria and 32 per cent of deaths globally.

On his choice of Dangote to chair the Council, Buhari explained that it was in recognition of the track record and passion of Africa’s richest man in supporting initiatives on various health issues such as polio and primary health care system strengthening.

He expressed confidence that Dangote would bring his outstanding achievements to help the country achieve its goal of malaria elimination, adding that a group of eminent personalities, who have also made their mark across all walks of life, have been selected to work in the Council. He added that the membership of the Council reflects Government’s commitment to significantly reducing the malaria burden in Nigeria, to a level where it is no longer a public health issue.

President Buhari also thanked the Chairman of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, the Executive Secretary of ALMA, RBM Partnership in Nigeria for their continuous support to the Federal Ministry of Health and the malaria programme, in particular. He also acknowledged the contributions of the Global Fund, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the President’s Malaria Initiative, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, WHO, UNICEF, UK Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, other implementing partners, and the private sector.

In his acceptance speech, Dangote thanked the President and all members of the Council for entrusting him with the enormous responsibility, pledging to work hard to achieve the mandate.

“I must confess that this resonates with my current role as the Nigerian Ambassador for Malaria, my role on the Global End Malaria Council and with the work that my Foundation is doing to mobilise the private sector to support malaria control in Nigeria and Africa at large,” he said.

“It is with humility that I today accept the responsibility to be the Chair of the National Malaria Elimination Council. I am also grateful to the Minister, Federal Ministry of Health for nominating me to serve in this capacity. I would also like to express my gratitude to all the members of the Council for entrusting me with an enormous responsibility which I pledge to fulfil.

“In 2016, Aliko Dangote Foundation supported the development of a Private Sector Engagement Strategy for Malaria Elimination in Nigeria. The document highlighted private sector support in the fight against malaria as well as a strategy for private sector engagement and steps for implementation. In fulfilling our longstanding commitment/investment to end malaria, my Foundation will continue to support all efforts at mobilising all sectors to end malaria in Nigeria and Africa at large”, Dangote added.

Speaking on behalf of the Council members, Dangote said, “Together we will work hard to ensure that malaria elimination remains high on Nigeria's agenda with strong political commitment from leaders at all levels. We will advocate at the National and State levels to ensure sufficient funding for malaria elimination. The Council under my watch will drive progress toward malaria elimination by focusing on two key areas: Ensure that malaria elimination remains high on Nigeria agenda with strong political commitment from leaders at all levels; and advocate at all levels to ensure sufficient funding to protect the progress made so far, sustain the progress, and be on an irreversible pathway to ending malaria for good.”

In separate remarks, the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, and the Minister of State for Health, Joseph Ekumankama Nkama, said since 2010, Nigeria has been recording a continuous decline in malaria from 42 per cent in 2010, 27 per cent in 2015 to 23 per cent in 2018.

Quoting figures from the 2010 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey and the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, they attributed the decline to the thorough implementation of the National Malaria Strategic Plan (NMSP). Both ministers, however, admitted that funding gap has impacted the implementation of the malaria programmes in Nigeria, adding that the country needs N1.89 trillion to reduce malaria prevalence and mortality by 2025.

The Council members are: Shehu Ibrahim, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Vice President on Political and Economic Affairs, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Sen. Yahaya Oloriegbe, Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Hon. Abubakar Dahiru, Chairman, House Committee on AIDS, TB and Malaria, Dr. Ehanire, Hon. Ekumankama, Mahmuda Mamman, Permanent Secretary, Federal Minister of Health.

Others include, Tony Elumelu, Chairman, Board of Directors, UBA, Folorunsho Alakija, CEO, Rose of Sharon Group, Herbert Wigwe, CEO, Access Bank, Femi Otedola, CEO Forte Oil, Hajiya Lami Lau, President, National Council of Women Societies, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Emeritus Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Archdiocese, Alhaja Rafiyat Sanni, National Amira, Federation of Muslim Women Nigeria (FOWAN) and Dr. Perpetua Uhomoibhi, NEMC Secretariat/National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP).

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is preventable and curable. In 2020, there were an estimated 241 million cases of malaria worldwide. The estimated number of malaria deaths stood at 627,000 in 2020.

The WHO African Region continues to carry a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden. In 2020 the Region was home to 95% of all malaria cases and 96% of deaths. Children under 5 years of age accounted for about 80% of all malaria deaths in the Region.

Four African countries accounted for just over half of all malaria deaths worldwide: Nigeria (31.9%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (13.2%), United Republic of Tanzania (4.1%) and Mozambique (3.8% )

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2023: 260 Enugu Councillors Pledge To Deliver PDP In Their Wards

Councillors in the 260 electoral wards in Enugu State have assured Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State that they will work round the clock and mobilise massively in their respective wards to deliver the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidates in the 2023 general election.

The 260 councillors, who gave the assurance when they paid a 'Thank-you' visit to Gov. Ugwuanyi at the Government House, Enugu, on Tuesday, unanimously declared their support for the governor, the PDP governorship candidate, Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, and all other candidates of the party in the state.

They stressed their solidarity to Gov. Ugwuanyi and expressed gratitude to him for the uncommon leadership role he played towards their emergence as councillors in their respective wards on the platform of the PDP.

The elated councilors added that if not for the magnanimity and selfless leadership style of the governor, none of them would have emerged as a councillor in the state.

They also appreciated Gov. Ugwuanyi for always believing in the youths, disclosing that 99.9 percent of the present councillors in the state are youths.  

Speaking on their behalf, the Coordinator of 260 Ward Councillors in Enugu State and Leader of Udenu Legislative Council, Hon. Nnamdi Odo, said that past councilors during previous administrations did not enjoy the privilege they enjoyed during the selection process leading to their emergence, stressing that they emerged without godfathers.

“Your Excellency, we came to tell you thank you. We owe you thank you and part of our coming is to also tell you that we are going to deliver our wards to the PDP come 2023. There is no ward in the 260 wards that will be lost to the opposition.”

Stressing their eagerness to work as grassroots mobilisers, Hon.  Odo said: “Your Excellency, if you look carefully, you will see that we have the strength to work and we are eager to work.  It is not that of social media. We are on the ground at the grassroots.

“The debt we owe you, our father and leader, and our great party, the PDP, is come February 2023, we will deliver all the candidates of our party starting from you, Your Excellency, our governorship candidate, Barr. Peter Mbah, and other candidates for the senatorial seats, House of Representatives and House of Assembly.

“It is our task and we are going down to our wards to ensure that we deliver all these candidates come 2023 elections.”

Commending Gov. Ugwuanyi for his youth-friendly initiatives, the coordinating councillor pointed out that Enugu youths have never had it so good, saying: “You (Ugwuanyi) are the only governor in this state who came and accommodated many youths in your administration through political appointments and election into public offices.”

Pointing out that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration is “the only administration that faced the nation’s recession twice within five years,” Odo added: “We are wondering and we said when we come today, we will ask His Excellency, how he is doing this magic of entrenching peace and good governance in Enugu State.

“At the end of every month, our parents receive their salaries, workers are not being owed, and you construct projects in all nooks and crannies of Enugu State.  The communities in Enugu State bear testimonies to what His Excellency is doing. We urge you to keep it up.            

“Your Excellency, as a man with a large heart, you accommodate all. The payback time will come by 2023. We are united more than ever. We have become a formidable structure in the 17 local government areas and 260 wards in the state and we assure you as grassroots mobilisers that we will deliver all the PDP candidates.”  

Corroborating Odo’s remarks, the Zonal Coordinators for Enugu East and Enugu West senatorial districts, Hon. Caleb Ani (Enugu South LGA) and Philip Igwe (Aninri LGA) respectively, applauded Gov. Ugwuanyi’s exemplary leadership qualities, peace and grassroots development initiatives and commitment to the well-being of youths of the state, reassuring him that the 260 councillors will deliver all the candidates of the PDP in the forthcoming elections.    

Encouraging the councillors to remain focused, steadfast and committed to the ideals of the PDP and progress of the Gov. Ugwuanyi-led PDP administration, the Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi, thanked them for opting to work for the victory of the PDP at the polls in 2023, assuring them that they stand to benefit more in the future.

Listing the challenges his administration has encountered since inception to include economic recession which was experienced twice within five years, COVID-19 pandemic and EndSars protests, Gov. Ugwuanyi who appreciated the councillors for the solidarity and support, attributed their emergence as councillors to the will of God.

The governor thanked them for their contributions towards the peaceful atmosphere in Enugu State and reiterated his administration’s commitment to their well-being, disclosing that Enugu was not among the eight states in the country listed by BudgIT to be owing at least six months salaries of some of their workers.

He therefore called on the councillors to continue to pray for his administration, the state and a peaceful transition in 2023.

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Nigerian Marketing Award Receives Intl Accreditation

The Nigerian Marketing Awards® has been awarded the Awards Trust Mark accreditation by the Independent Awards Standards Council(IASC).The accreditation from the United Kingdom based IASC makes Nigerian Marketing Awards the first marketing awards in Nigeria to be accorded this recognition.

The Awards Trust Mark Scheme is a not profit accreditation programme managed by the IASC to enhance trust between those entering award schemes and organizations running such awards. In a letter conveying the awards, Karen Sutton, Member, IASC, congratulated Nigerian Marketing Awards® for passing the criteria for the Accredited Standards Awards Trust Mark.

Mr. Anthony Agenmonmen, founder, Nigerian Marketing Awards®, said the organization is immensely proud of this achievement and the opportunity to be listed in a global directory of awards: http//www.awards-list.co.uk. “This accreditation is a major boost as we look forward eagerly to the spectacular night of 11.11.2022 when we host the maiden edition of the Nigerian Marketing Awards®” he said.  

The Nigerian Marketing Awards® which has the endorsement of relevant sectoral bodies in the country, was inaugurated on July 24,2022 to celebrate and honour hardworking marketing professionals in Nigeria. The Awards Advisory Board is chaired by Prince Yemisi Shyllon with Mr. George Thorpe and Alhaji Bello Kankarofi as members while the Awards Decision  Council is made up of seasoned marketing professionals, accomplished experts in marketing and leaders in the industry. The chairman of the Decision Council is Mr. Ekwunife Okoli, fnimn. Other members of the Council include; Mrs. Iquo Ukoh, fnimn, Dr. Ogechi Adeola, fnimn, Mrs. Bunmi Oke, Mrs. Joan Ihekwaba, Mrs. Nkechi Ali-Balogun, Mrs. Nsima Ogedi-Alakwe, fnimn, Mr. Adedayo Adefila,  mnimn-MIMN; Mr Yomi Benson – AAAN; Mrs. Angela Ukara-Makinwa, fnimn-EXMAN; Babs Fagade, fnimn-OAAN; Mrs. Ijedi Iyoha-APCON.

The first edition of the Nigerian Marketing Awards holds on November 11, 2022 at the prestigious Eko Hotels Convention Centre. Entries for the award opened August 15,2022 at https//www.nma-ng.com/ and would close on September 30, 2022. 

The Awards Categories include; Marketing Company of the year, Brand of the year, Campaign of the year, Best Rebrand of the year, Brand innovation of the year, and Excellence in Experiential Marketing. Others are Fintech Company of the year, Digital Agency of the year, PR Agency of the year, Advertising Agency of the year, Experiential Agency of the year, Out of Home Agency of the year, Hotel of the year, Financial Institution of the year, Telecom Company of the year, Best Use of Social Media, Best Alcoholic brand of the year, Best Non Alcoholic brand of the year, Best Dairy brand of the year, Best Public Sector marketing of the year, Best Reputation management of the year, Best Social Responsibility Campaign, Best Influencer Marketing of the year, The rising Star of marketing, Marketing Student of the year, Marketing Educator of the year, Brand Manager of the year, Marketing Journalist of the year, Inspirational Marketing Leader of the year, Doyen of Marketing (Special Award) and Iconic Brand of the year. 

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2023 : I’m Not Interested In Being Minister ..Nyesom Wike

 

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said that he is not interested in becoming a minister after his tenure as governor.

Wike stated this on Tuesday at the inauguration of the newly constructed lounge at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.

Wike said, “Only one person can be a minister from a state, I will not be a minister. I will not. I am not a liability, Rivers State is an asset.

“So if you don’t want to win an election, it’s your business. I’m not the one running the election.

“He who wears the shoes knows where it pinches him.”

As the usual practice, ministerial appointments are usually some of the appointments used to compensate aspirants who lost out or stepped down in a political contest.

Wike had inaugurated the lounge in the state unlike the usual practice of inviting special guests to do so.

Speaking further, Wike urged the supporters of any presidential candidate to come home and campaign for their candidate rather than staying in Abuja.

He said, “You want to support a candidate, you are not at home you’re in Abuja.

“Come home and campaign and work for the party.

“Stop this Abuja politics of carrying rumours to the candidate.”

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Imo State Govt Donates Personal Armoured Vehicles To Police

 

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, fdc, was at the Imo State Government House in Owerri on Tuesday 16th August, 2022, as a special guest of honour for the commissioning of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), weapons and some vehicles donated to the Imo State Police Command of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies by the Executive Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma. 

The IGP who was invited by the Imo State Government as the special guest, and was accompanied to the brief event by the AIG in charge of Zone 9, AIG Isaac Akinmoyede, Commissioner of Police, Imo State, CP Mohammed Barde, the Force PRO, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi,  and other staff officers, was received by the Governor of Imo State, top government functionaries, service commanders, traditional rulers and other invited guests who equally graced the occasion. Governor Hope Uzodinma expressed his belief that supporting the Police and other security agencies in the fight against crimes and criminality is pivotal to achieving developmental strides in the State. 

The Inspector-General of Police appreciated the  collaborative efforts of the Governor, government and good people of Imo State in stamping out the presence of criminal elements bent on breaking down the peace, law and order enjoyed in the State. The IGP therefore assured that the donated items will be strategically deployed for optimum security within the State, with a view to curbing suppressing the nefarious activities of criminals elements and boosting public safety in the state, and by extension, across the country. 

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Nine Varsities May Lose 159 Courses’ Accreditation

 

The accreditation of no fewer than 159 undergraduate courses in nine federal universities across the country is set to expire in 2022 amidst the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, investigation has revealed.

The nine universities include the University of Ilorin; University of Jos, Plateau; University of Calabar; Bayero University Kano; University of Benin, Edo; University of Lagos; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; and University of Ibadan.

The PUNCH reports that the National Universities Commission is the agency of the Federal Government in charge of accreditation of courses in Nigerian universities, and the commission is empowered by law to set minimum academic standards for universities and accredit their degree programmes.

This led to the preparation, with the use of experts, of the minimum academic standards for the 13 disciplines taught in Nigerian universities in 1989.

The disciplines are: Administration, Agriculture, Arts, Basic Medical Sciences, Education, Engineering and Technology, Environmental Sciences, Law, Medicine and Dentistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sciences, Social Sciences and Veterinary Medicine.

The 159 courses were all granted full accreditation by the NUC in 2017; a document of the accreditation result of the schools from 1990-2021, which was obtained from the NUC, has revealed.

For instance, at the University of Ilorin, the Department of Information and Communication Sciences was accredited in 2017, with the accreditation set to expire in 2022, making it the only course whose accreditation is set to expire.

For the University of Ibadan, the NUC data revealed that only the accreditation for Pharmacy expires in 2022.

The accreditation of 20 courses at the University of Jos is set to expire; while 31 courses including Public Administration, French, German, History, Linguistics, Yoruba and Medical Rehabilitation will be affected at the Obafemi Awolowo University.

Others are University of Calabar (15); Bayero University Kano (14); University of Benin (27); University of Lagos (27); Ahmadu Bello University (23).

Efforts to get the Executive Secretary, NUC, Prof Abubakar Rasheed, on Monday proved abortive as calls and messages sent to him remained unanswered as of the time of filing this report.

When asked if pre-accreditation and accreditation processes can commence despite the ongoing strike, the ASUU chairman of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Dr Gbolahan Bolarin, said, “Accreditation of courses cannot be done during strike. All activities are suspended.”

The PUNCH reports that pre-accreditation activities such as drawing up a list of academic programmes to be accredited; compilation of list of panel chairmen/members, time-tabling and budgeting and organising the accreditation coordination meeting for panel chairmen and members in a simulation workshop can occur

Source : Punch 

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Revealed: Identity Of Man Who Slumped, Died After Weekend Sex Romp With Pnline Lover In Lagos Hotel

 

A 55-year-old man, Abdulwaheed Lamidi, has lost his life while lodging with his girlfriend at the City International Motel, Council Bus-Stop, in the Ikotun area of Lagos State.

Lamidi and his 32-year-old lover met online and after a series of conversation, they agreed to engage in a romantic relationship, Punch reported.

The relationship was said to have blossomed as the lovers decided to meet physically.

The lady, on Saturday, travelled from her house in another state to meet Lamidi at the motel.

The lovers were said to have spent the night together in a room.

However, things took another turn on Sunday morning.

A source said the lovers were in the room when the girlfriend suddenly ran out to call for help.

He added that when some motel workers rushed into the room, they found Lamidi lying motionless on the ground.

“The girl said the man wanted to enter the toilet but slumped and fell on the ground. A doctor that works in a hospital close to the motel was called and when the doctor got to the room, he certified the man dead.

“The girl said she came to Lagos to meet the man as he promised to marry her; she came with some property and had the intention of moving into his house to be his live-in lover. Instead of going to the man’s house, they went to the hotel and they were in the room when the girl ran out to call for help because the man slumped.

“So, when people rushed into the room, they found him lying unconscious on the ground. The incident happened around 8.40am on Sunday but the girl arrived from another state on Saturday. The girl said she met the man online and that they had been chatting,” the source added.

The corpse was taken to a mortuary, while the woman was arrested for interrogation.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the incident, said the suspect declined to involve her parents in the investigation.

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