Tobacco Control: Expert Advocates more Stakeholders involvement

By Temitope Musowo

In furtherance of the effort at controlling the use of Tobacco and its harmful effects  in our society , the Branch Head, Tobacco Control Unit from the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Dr. Mangai Toma Malau, has called on stakeholders to get more involved in the campaign to reduce tobacco use.

Dr. Malau who was  speaking in Lagos on Thursday at a training organised by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)  to educate members of Tax Justice Advocacy Network in the South West  region of Nigeria, emphasised the need for stakeholders to be more committed to the cause.

While peaking on the topic ; " Harmful Effects of Tobacco Use Anchoring Argument on the National Tobacco Control Act", Dr Malau gave revealing statistics about tobacco, which kills over 7 million people annually, 6 million direct use and 1 million smokeless, quoting from a 2012 survey, he added that 20 billion sticks are consumed in Nigeria annually.

He highlighted the harmful effects of Tobacco on our  Health, Environment and the Economy , noting that for every dollar tobacco companies make government spend 3 dollars to combat tobacco related ailments,therefore, for the global goal of cutting down the use of tobacco by 30 percent by the year 2025, all hands must be on deck to achieve this. 

A board member  of CISLAC, Barr. Adesina Oke in his address earlier stated that the essence of bringing together members of Tax Justice Advocacy Network was to galvanize regional support to achieve this advocacy for tobacco control 

"Tax and Price is one of the measures put in place by the Federal Government of Nigeria to control the use of Tobacco in the country, since you are already into tax justice advocacy, you need to understand issues around tobacco taxation so you know where to direct your advocacy "

CISLAC is a member of Tax Justice  Network in Africa ,you are members in Nigeria, as you advocate for tax payments and holding government accountable for the use of taxes paid ,you need to also join the effort to use tax and Price as  measures to control the use of Tobacco ", he said.

According to the Programme Manager, Democratic Governance, CISLAC,Mr Okeke Anya,who said while the use of Tobacco drops in elsewhere, it increases in the developing countries, meanwhile,the benefits of the sales goes to those society where the use is dropping. 

Mr Anya urged members of Tax Justice Advocacy Network to engage the Federal Ministry of Finance to give account of the revenue accruing to the ministry since the increment in the tax on Tobacco. 

At the end of the programme which was on Tobacco Tax Advocacy in Africa, supporting  effective Tobacco Control through Responsive Tax System in Nigeria,Mr Anya implored the members to continue with the advocacy in their own way to reduce the use of Tobacco. 

U.S. Advocates Greater Investment in Girl-Child Education, More Female Political Participation

BY Temitope Musowo 

United States Consul General F. John Bray has called for increased investment in the education of the girl-child and greater political participation by women in Nigeria.

Delivering the keynote address on the second day of the 17th Annual Conference of Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), in Lagos on November 2, Consul General Bray encouraged the women leaders to continue working to promote gender equality in Nigeria.

He spoke on the topic “Unstoppable You: Reinvent & Reinvigorate” at the event attended by leading women from both the private and public sectors.

“Nigeria cannot achieve its dreams of a prosperous and inclusive society without reinventing its approach to how it is treating the overwhelming majority of the women and girls that live in this country …  It may be up to you to change the tenor of the national discourse and prod Nigeria to place education and health, and the status of women and girls higher on the national agenda.”

Bray lamented that Nigeria is reportedly home to the largest number of out of school children in the world, many of them girls.

“If Nigeria properly invested in the education of women and girls, how many more Amina Mohammeds will represent this country on the world stage?  If more women and girls are given equal opportunities, how many more Chimamanda Ngozi Adichies will be able to tell stories that enthrall the world?” Consul General Bray asked.

Noting that removing the barriers to women's full economic participation is key to an inclusive and prosperous Nigeria, he challenged the conference participants to press for greater involvement by women in the nation’s politics.

Bray said the current political order in Nigeria does not offer enough opportunities for women. He added that low female participation in politics must change if issues of concern to women are to rise in prominence and draw the interest and resources that they deserve.

“WIMBIZ and various Nigerian women’s organizations can help Nigeria decide the course of its future and chart a course that will lead to a more democratic and prosperous nation. You can start by working to ensure that the 2019 elections are free, fair, credible, and peaceful. That would be a great start!” Consul General Bray added.

Why IPC trains journalists ahead of the 2019 elections

By Temitope Musowo 

As overt and covert shuffling of cards continue in preparation for the 2019 general elections, one need not be a prophet to accurately predict the burgeoning polical atmosphere when fully charged would not leave the country the same. 

These unfolding political realities informed the decision of International Press Centre (IPC) and its foreign partner, European union (EU) to begin massive training of journalists in Nigeria,  particularly political correspondents who will play critical roles in the electioneering process. 

The training which is targeted at political correspondents across the country started in Abuja, Kano, and lately Abeokuta, with not less than 140 journalists who have hitherto gone through the training. 

According to the Director of IPC, Lagos, Mr Lanre Arogundade who in his opening address at the just concluded southwest edition of the training at Abeokuta, Ogun State, said the essence of the training was to equip journalists with adequate knowledge about election reporting and also make them be abreast of using mordern  technology in reporting. 

Mr Arogundade asked the participants to count themselves lucky for being successful among about 500 journalists who applied for the workshop, he urged them to take advantage of the knowledge and skill acquired to improve on their job and better their lots.

One of the facilitators, Mr Bolaji Adebiyi harped on the need for journalists to be sufficiently equip with the knowledge of the Nigerian constitution, Electoral Act and party manifestos, so they could feed the public with the right information. 

Mr Adebiyi a media practitioner and media  aide to former President,late  Musa Yar'adua who spoke on a paper titled, "challenges of elections coverage in Nigeria : A reporter's account" , explained how inadequate knowledge of relevant section of the constitution can  hamper  journalists from carrying out their duties effectively, he therefore  enjoyed them to be objective and always verify their facts to avoid misinforming members of the public.

Also speaking as a facilitator at the two-day workshop, a political affairs analyst, Mr Jide Ojo explained the imperative of issue based campaign ahead of the coming elections  and journalists holding  politicians accountable for their actions and inaction instead of allowing themselves to be used as tools by politicians in doing their trade. 

Mr Jide spoke to the socio-economic statistics and human development index that should form the issue for political debates ahead  of the 2019 general elections. He also advised journalists to always set the agenda by raising these issues about Health, Job creation , Housing, Infrastructure,  Water and Sanitation, etc, especially when they go to interview the politicians. 

Another facilitator, Mr Obe discussed with the participants the necessity of using digital tools and apps in reporting, urging the journalists to take advantage of the avalanche of opportunities available  on digital journalism to solve the problem of poor welfare. He added that the  mastery of these social media tools could help journalists overcome those limitations that tends to limit their success on the job.

The participants who later broke out into group session made presentations on identified problems associated with transparency as related to electioneering process in the country, while proffering solutions to those problems.

One of the participants, Miss Blessing from Women Radio, Arepo, who spoke with our correspondent on her take on the training said, "I found the workshop very illuminating, the facilitators who are experts in the field were able to train us effectively and I must say I have been equipped on how to give in depth and accurate report about election. The lecture on digital tools and apps awed me and I believe it will have a positive impact in my reportage of the 2019 elections and beyond", She said.

The IPC Director  assured that the training outfit would continue to do its best to take political reporting to the highest level as part of the efforts to promote good governance  across the country.

Ambode’s Wife Restates Commitment To Zero Infant Mortality

By Temitope Musowo 

Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode has said that no effort would be spared, to achieve zero infant mortality in the State.

She made the commitment during the donation of two transport incubator ambulance to Gbagada General Hospital and Lagos Island Maternity, by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), as part of their health intervention project for this year.

A transport incubator ambulance is specially designed to transport ‘pre-mature’ babies to standard medical facilities, equipped with Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

She said that members of the Committee were touched by the high mortality rate of pre-term babies, occurring before they could access intensive care.  

The transport incubators according to her would provide a womb-like environment for the baby, with the right temperature and life-saving gadgets, to help the newborn hang unto life till it gets to the ICU.

She said, “The special ambulance can also be used to convey infants with severe post birth complications and others in serious emergency situations. The women of COWLSO reckon that with this intervention, many more newborns, infants and children in Lagos State, will be saved from avoidable deaths with attendant happiness to their parents”.

The Committee also donated two hearing defect management equipment, Portable Otoread OAEs, to Alimosho and Shomolu General Hospitals, also as part of their intervention effort.

Speaking further, she observed that COWLSO was constrained to continue its previous intervention in early detection and management of hearing defects, because of the serious consequences of hearing loss in children.

She recalled that the Committee, two years ago had upgraded the Ear, Nose and Throat Department of the Lagos Island General Hospital, Odan, subsequently followed with the donation of Portable Otoread OAEs equipment to Badagry, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ikorodu and Gbagada General Hospital.

The objective, according to her, was to enable early screening of newborns for possible hearing defects, to eradicate the worrisome menace, which comes with a network of consequences like delayed language development, academic under performance, social isolation and higher risk injuries among others.

The Governor’s wife stressed that the incubator ambulance must be made available for use by other government hospitals.

In his address, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, noted that the Ambode Administration had always promoted the use of appropriate modern technology for delivery of qualitative and affordable healthcare to the people.

According to him, “the donation of Transport Incubator Ambulance to two State general hospitals will help to reduce the neo-natal morbidity and mortality indices of the state significantly”.

He commended the committee for their continual intervention in the healthcare sector, stressing that it had impacted lives, given hope to the downtrodden, empowered women and protected the environment in the State.

The Commissioner urged the lucky beneficiary hospitals, to make good and optimal use of the modern equipment, towards achieving the health objectives of the State Government.

Chairman of Lagos State Health Service Commission, Dr. Bayo Aderiye, represented by Dr. Oluwole Tokunbo, commended COWLSO for the series of health interventions over the years.

The Medical Directors of Gbagada General Hospital and Lagos Island Maternity, Dr. Tayo Lawal and Dr. Muyiwa Eniayewun, unanimously thanked COWLSO for the kind humanitarian gesture, noting that it had closed the gap of challenges in the health sector, as it affects children.

20 delegates, 15 countries storm UI for climate change conference

By Temitope Musowo 

Delegates from 15 different countries across Africa and Europe have stormed the International Conference Centre of the University of Ibadan,Nigeria,  for a 2-day  workshop on Climate Change Adaptation in Africa slated for 19th and 20th of September, 2018.

The conference which is the second of its kind this year is jointly organised by the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Rome, Italy, with the theme: “Enhancing IFAD's Evidence-informed Country Strategic Opportunities Programmes and Projects in Design and Technical Advisory Supports to Adapt to Climate Change in West and Central Africa”.  

According to a press statement signed by the workshop coordinator, Dr. Olawale Emmanuel Olayide, the workshop will facilitate the cooperation agenda between IFAD and Research Institutes/Academia, Business Schools with the support of African research in the area of climate resilient agriculture, with the objective of discussing and sharing experiences on climate change and integration of research into development strategies and investments in the regions. 

The statement further stated that,  the theoretical exchange proposed would focus on understating climate change adaptation in Africa.,adding that the workshop aim at assessing implementation mechanisms, as a means to promote progress made in terms of adaptation of smallholder farmers to climate change.

"This is equally expected to explore a range of topics to deepen and widen the understanding of the role of research with respect to its responsibility for offering a wide spectrum of research work and services to IFAD investment and strategies", the statement read. 

Dr Layide further stated that, "the  workshop would help IFAD identify relevant pipeline of research on adaptation relevant to IFAD’s programmes and projects, moreover,it will elaborate upon efforts within the field of research and which aim at advancing the implementation of IFAD work at country and regional levels.

On the activities lined up for the workshop, the statement reads further, "there will be field activities and classroom discussions. Presentation and discussion sessions will include: climate change adaptation and sustainable rural livelihoods; climate change resilience and disaster risks management; climate change and system dynamics; climate change project financing and insurance mechanisms; and climate change information service and 

Some of the countries represented at the conference include; Sudan, Niger, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Benin, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Cote D’Ivoire, Senegal, Nigeria, and Italy. 

Ondo Governor’s wife makes case for female education as she flags off bootcamp for girls

By Temitope Musowo 

Female education has been described as a veritable means of achieving rapid national development in any country of the world.

Wife of Ondo State Governor, Her Excellency, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu

 said this while speaking at the opening ceremony of BeMore Summer Bootcamp for Girls Naija, 2018, put together by BeMore Empowered Foundation in conjunction with the Office of the First Lady, of Ondo State where over 400 girls are to be trained in Information Communication & Technology (ICT), Solar Technology and other life enhancing skills.

Tracing the history of two nations- Nigeria and United Arab Emirate (UAE) way back to the 1970, Mrs. Akeredolu pointed out that 40 years down the line, UAE has made tremendous progress to become a high income country while Nigeria still remains a middle income country.

According to Mrs. Akeredolu, what made the difference is female education as UAE made significant investments in Girl-Child education with more than 90% of their women educated.

"On the contrary, Nigeria female illiteracy population remains high till date.  More than half of our women are still without a formal education. These facts made me to conclude that; one more educated woman leads to much more national income.

“Every single day; 102 women die as a result of childbirth while 2,123 children's dream of celebrating their 5th birthday is crushed by death. These challenges are largely a result of low literacy level", she added.

Mrs. Akeredolu who expressed joy at being a part of the active movement working to help the nation achieve its sustainable development goal, restated her commitment to empowering  the women folk while also charging the beneficiaries to strive to be a part of the solutions bedeviling the country.

On the successes recorded after the completion of last year's training, Mrs. Akeredolu acknowledged the feats attained by Tomisin Tomoju, a  student of Fiwasaye who won the Africa Code Week Scratch Competition for Ondo State; young Oluwafunmilola Akeremale, a JSS1 student who has been mentored to become the youngest breast cancer advocate in the state; Tolu Ehimosan who built a state of the art solar oven among others who are blazing the trail urging the new entrants to do their best as their journey to greatness begins.

Mrs. Akeredolu also used the opportunity to laud the efforts of the Anambra Golden Girls who clinched the gold medal at a world technovation challenge while also thanking all those who invested both money and time to ensure the success of the 2nd edition of the Summer Bootcamp.

BeMore Ambassador, Ehimosan Tolu in her goodwill message acknowledged the roles women have played in the past towards impacting humanity.

Ms. Ehimosan who observed that though the society has not been fair in giving the girl child ample opportunity to excel however extolled Mrs. Akeredolu for creating such an opportunity through her initiative to train young girls.

In his own remark, the Chairman, OSOPADEC, Hon. Olugbenga Edema thanked the First Lady for providing the rare opportunity to train the young girls.

Hon. Edema who also lauded Mrs. Akeredolu for redefining urbanization by taking the training to the grassroots, expressed readiness to continue to support such laudable projects.

Earlier in his address, the chairman of the occasion, Dr. Moji Atalabi enjoined the girls to take advantage of the training saying it is a privilege they must explore to the fullest.

Akintan Ayomide and Arifayo Oluwanifemi, two of the beneficiaries in their remark thanked Mrs. Akeredolu for giving them the privilege to partake in the programme.

It is expected that the 14 day training programme will feature training in information Communication Technology ICT,  Solar Technology and Life Changing skills for the 400 school girls drawn from across the 18 local government areas of the state and beyond at the Public Service Training Institute, Ilara-Mokin.

LAGOS STATE GOVERNOR'S WIFE CANVASSES EXCLUSIVE BREAST-FEEDING FOR BABIES

 By Temitope Musowo

Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, has again reminded nursing mothers and pregnant women of the need to attach serious importance to exclusive breast-feeding of newborn babies.

Ambode, in a statement on Tuesday to commemorate the occasion of this year’s World Breast-feeding Week, held annually in the first week of August, said the benefits of breast milk to the infant were too profound to be ignored, as it was an important foundation for a baby’s life, capable of determining whether the baby would live or otherwise.

She said putting a baby to the breast in the first hour of life was a major safeguard against infant’s death, adding that exclusive breast-feeding for the first six months helps them to grow, prevents under nutrition, promotes brain development, as well as reduce the risk of overweight.

She further said that breast milk was vital because it acts as the baby’s first vaccine, thereby boosting immunity for newborn babies.

According to her, “Nothing can compare to the breast milk. No matter the nutritional value of the baby formula, it cannot adequately take the place of breast milk in the life of the new born.

“God who created it in His own special way to be baby-friendly, has made it the most important and most beneficial type of food a baby gets to know. Nursing mothers should not make excuses of their jobs or career for not doing exclusive breastfeeding because the advantages to the baby are too many”, she said.

The Governor’s wife commended the theme for this year: “Breastfeeding: Foundation for Life”, describing it as apt and the basic truth about the practice.

She explained further that breastfeeding was good bonding between mother and infant, adding that improved breastfeeding practices around the world, could save the lives of nearly one million children under five years, according to international health bodies.