Blog

NAN-HG-11
Cancer
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Sept. 30, 2016(NAN) Prominent medical experts in the country have stressed the need for Nigerian women to embrace cervical cancer screening as preventive measure to reduce the prevalent deaths caused by the disease.

They made the call in Ibadan on Friday at a medical symposium and workshop on “Cancer, Control and Awareness” organised by Access to Basic Medical Care Foundation (ABC Foundation).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ABC Foundation, a non-profit and non-governmental organisation, was founded in 2013 by Mrs Florence Ajimobi, wife of the Oyo State Governor.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, who spoke on “The Role of HPV Testing in Cervical Cancer Screening in Nigeria”, said that cervical cancer was sexually transmitted.

He said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended that resource-poor nations should screen all women at least once in a lifetime.

He added that “as at today, there is only one cervical cancer centre partially working in the country and the nation needs at least 150 radiotherapy machines.

“However, we have contacted manufacturers of the machine and will be available soon. We would also ensure that screening for cervical cancer is available at Primary Health Care centres.”

Adewole pledged to partner the state government in their health programmes aimed at rendering quality healthcare services to the people.

Emeritus Prof. Olu Akinkungbe, who was the Chairman of the occasion, said that the salvation of the nation was in the health sector, especially preventive medicine.

Akinkungbe, a professor of medicine, said it was distressing to record high mortality in cancer, where prevention could have played a huge role in forestalling such.

He commended the foundation for its effort at promoting preventive health care initiative, adding that the organisation had recorded tremendous feats since its establishment.

Prof. Oluwarotimi Akinola, the Chairman, Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians, Lagos State chapter, said that cervical cancer was the fourth most common cancer worldwide.

He said the Oxford declaration of March 2009 stated that “a woman in Africa dies of cancer every minute; cervical cancer is the commonest genital cancer in Nigeria.

“It is a disease that can be arrested if identified at any stage.”

Akinola hinged the prevalent deaths on ignorance, poverty, socio-cultural aversion to modern medical values and beliefs leading to affinity for tradition and spiritual intervention as solution

According to him, the cases of cervical cancer in Nigeria are very sad and stressed the need to recognise cervical cancer as a major reproductive health challenge.

“Cervical cancer screening and treatment should either be free or heavily subsidised. We must adopt a complete paradigm shift to screening that recognises the limitations of cytology based approach,” he stated.

Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State said that the challenges must be frontally resolved, if truly the nation would attain greater reduction of deaths caused by the disease.

He called on well-meaning Nigerians to emulate the example of ABC Foundation in changing their environment for good.

Ajimobi reiterated his administration’s determination to give quality healthcare services to the citizenry through partnership.

He said “we will intensify efforts at improving the health status of our people through adequate education, information and awareness.

“We call on developmental partners to partner the state government in providing quality healthcare services to the underserved communities and demography.”

He commended the Federal Government for cascading healthcare services to the grassroots.

Mrs Bolanle Ambode, wife of the Lagos State Governor, appealed to Nigerians not to stigmatise persons living with cancer, saying it was a health challenge that could be managed.

She urged persons living with the challenge to follow medical advice very strictly, including regular use of prescribed medication.

Ambode, who commended the founder of ABC Foundation for the initiative, stressed the need for well-meaning Nigerians to emulate such initiative.

In her address, Florence Ajimobi said that the organisation took into cognisance experiences in the last three years, saying such required urgent intervention against the scourge of cancer.

She said that anniversary activities had begun with sensitisation rally, which included free HPV testing among a host of other activities all geared toward kicking out cancer.

“To date, we have offered free cervical cancer screening to more than 5,000 women, while more than 3,000 others have accessed highly subsidised cancer programmes.

The wife of the governor said that the Foundation’s target was to ensure more women understood that they have to take charge of their health and take preventive action by undergoing requisite measures.

She expressed the hope that the efforts of the Foundation would create greater awareness about cervical cancer and educate people on the importance of screening , especially HPV test.

She added that “we believe it will sensitise the medical community into taking more proactive steps to ensure cervical cancer is controlled.

“We will continue to be at the forefront of this fight with future plans of moving from opportunistic screening to population based screening with HPV testing as screening modality.

“We have deployed the latest technology in testing and provided care and we intend to move with the current trend in technological development to make sure that we provide the best in terms of service.”

She then solicited the support of well-meaning like-minded individuals, religious bodies, corporate organisations  and others, to partner with the the Foundation in taking the programme further. (NAN)
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(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

NAN-H-70
Results
By Olayinka Olawale
Lagos, Sept. 30, 2016 (NAN) The Lagos State Government said its investment in education has yielded dividend as the state’s public schools recorded a 50.41 per cent pass in the 2016 result of the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate (WASSCE).

The result represents the best performance of the state in the examination since 2007.
Mr Adesina Odeyemi, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, said this in a statement on Friday in Lagos.

According to the statement, a breakdown of the result obtained from the examination body revealed that out of the 44,108 candidates who sat for the examination, 22,233, representing 50.41 per cent, got credits in a minimum of five subjects, including Mathematics and English.
“This is a major improvement on the result of 2015 which saw 15,542 students, representing 37.27 per cent, obtaining credits in at least five subjects, including English and Mathematics, out of the 45,991 who sat for the examination.

“A total of 24,069, representing 54.57 per cent, got credits in a minimum of five subjects, including Mathematics and 27,885 candidates, representing 63.22 per cent, got credits in a minimum of five subjects, including English.
The permanent secretary said this was a very commendable result when compared to the statistics obtained in 2015.

“A total of 18,094 students out of 41,697, representing 43.39 per cent, recorded credit passes in at least five subjects, including Maths and 20,731 students, representing 49.71 per cent, in five subjects including English respectively in 2015.

“Also, 22,524 candidates, representing 53.33 per cent candidates got four credits including Mathematics and English; while 25,999 candidates representing 58.94 per cent got four credits including Mathematics.
“30,635 candidates, representing 69.45 per cent, got four credits, including English.
“This is a direct reflection of the investment of government in training and welfare of its staff.
“For instance, 300 Mathematics teachers were trained on effective classroom delivery of the subject at a cost of N4.5M, while 100 Physics teachers were also trained on the same class delivery of subjects”.
Adesina recalled that the state government had in 2015 organised a Mock Examination for the students as part of efforts to groom them ahead of WASSCE.

“The result of the mock examination showed that 41.06 per cent of the students obtained credits in five subjects, including Mathematics and English, a feat that encouraged the government to pay the sum of N561,346,100 for the 2016 WASSCE, ” he said. (NAN)
OOG/BOS

NAN-H-68
Pilgrims
Sokoto, Sept. 30, 2016 (NAN) Alhaji Abubakar Kaoje, the Zonal Coordinator, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), said 5,000 pilgrims from Sokoto and Zamfara states have so far returned through Sultan Abubakar 111 International Airport, Sokoto.

He made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto on Friday.

He said that the pilgrims were transported on 10 flights by Max Airline.

Kaoje explained that of the figure, 3,000 pilgrims from Zamfara were transported in six flights, while 2,000 from Sokoto State were transported in four flights.

He expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the pilgrims during the screening exercise at the customs and immigration service.

Also, Alhaji Nuhu Badamasi, the Public Relations Officer, Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, said 2,049 pilgrims from the state have so far been transported back home after performing the 2016 Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

He told NAN on Friday that the pilgrims were transported to the country by Max Airline in four flights.

According to him, the fifth flight, with 500 pilgrims, will depart the King Abdul’aziz International Airport, Jeddah later on Friday, expected to arrive the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport around 2 a.m. on Saturday, Nigerian time.

He said all the pilgrims would collect their luggage on arrival in Kano as agreed by the board’s officials and management of the airline.

Badamasi expressed the hope that the transportation of the pilgrims back home would be completed within the next 10 days.

He commended the airline for its commitment for keeping to the flight schedules.

He added that “if the transportation of pilgrims to Nigeria continues the way it is going now, we are confident that it will be completed in the next 10 days.”

NAN reports that 5,808 pilgrims from Kano State performed this year’s pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. (NAN)
Reporters/DO/IS/HA
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(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

NAN-AE-5
Weather
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Sept. 30, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted cloudy weather conditions over the central states of the country on Saturday.

The NiMet’s Weather Outlook issued by its Central Forecast Office (CFO) on Friday in Abuja, predicted chances of early morning isolated thunderstorms over Abuja, Jos, Jalingo, Markurdi, Mambilla and its environs.

It added localized thunderstorms would prevail over the high ground areas of Abuja in the afternoon and evening hours with maximum temperatures of 27 to 33 degrees Celsius.

The agency also predicted that the southern states would experience increased cloudiness in the morning with probability of localised rains over Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Enugu.

It also predicted localized thunderstorms/rain showers over Delta, Bayelsa and Lagos, Benin, Akure, Ibadan, Owerri and Awka during the afternoon and evening hours with maximum temperatures of 28 to 32 degrees Celsius.

NiMet predicted cloudy to partly cloudy conditions over the northern states in the morning with thundery activities later in the day and maximum temperatures of 32 to 37 degrees Celsius.

According to the prediction, rainfall activities are expected to occur over some parts of the country with varying intensities in the next 24 hours. (NAN)
OYS/AMM/HA
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Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

ECOWAS urged to ratify protocols on money laundering, terrorism financing
NAN-H-62
Terrorism
By Temitope Ponle
Abuja, Sept. 30, 2016 (NAN) The Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) has called on member countries of ECOWAS to ratify protocols relating to money laundering and financing of terrorism.
Col. Adama Coulibaly, Director-General, GIABA, made the call while delivering his address at a ceremony to mark the 2016/2017 Legal Year of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Abuja on Friday.
Coulibaly was represented by Mr Buno Nduka, Director, Programmes and Project, GIABA,
The GIABA boss expressed concern that money laundering and terrorist financing would not be controlled in the sub-region without the non-ratification of necessary legal texts.
“GIABA is concerned about the fact that almost 15 years after the adoption of the ECOWAS Protocol for the Prevention of Corruption, the protocol has not yet entered into force due to lack of ratification.
“Under Article 22 of this protocol, it is supposed to enter into force upon the ratification by at least nine signatory states, in accordance with their respective constitutional procedures.
“So far, only eight member states have ratified the protocol.
“The entry into force and effective implementation of the protocol and other relevant instruments will enable ECOWAS member states control money laundering and terrorist financing.
“It will also serve as a signal of our commitment to taken ownership of such efforts and be each other’s keepers,” he said.
Coulibaly also called on the Community Court of Justice to encourage member states to ratify and effectively implement the protocol and regional instruments relating to money laundering and terrorist financing.
He emphasised that the control of such criminal acts in West Africa required the maintenance of the rule of law and the respect for the independence of the judiciary.
“These may be achieved through the appointment of judicial officers on the basis of merit, absence of political interference in the exercise of judicial functions and security of tenure of office of judges.”
He urged member states to enhance modalities to recover stolen assets by putting in place measures to confiscate the proceeds of crime and prevent returned assets from “leaving the country back to western banks”
He further called on member states to establish, where needed, and strengthen special courts to facilitate the effective adjudication and management of cases on economic and financial crime.
He called on the ECOWAS Court to enhance its partnership with GIABA to sensitise the judiciary in the sub-region.
He also stressed that the court had a role in protecting the international financial system from the menace of money laundering and terrorist financing and ensuring economic development, peace and security in West Africa.

In his address, Justice Jerome Traore, President of the ECOWAS Court assured that the court would offer the needed assistance to member states in preventing and containing money laundering and terrorism financing.
Traore said: “the court thus means to offer in resolute terms, the needed assistance to ECOWAS and member states.
“The court will do so within the confines of the powers currently conferred upon it, by particularly ensuring, that the rules and procedures in force, are in all respects, in consonance with the observance of human rights and guarantee of the rule of law.”
He said the court would strengthen its relationship with domestic courts of member states to enhance synergy among them.
The theme for the year is: “The Contributions of the ECOWAS Court of Justice in the Fight against Terrorist Financing and Money Laundering within the West African sub-region: the perspective of GIABA”.(NAN)
Controlled by Rotimi Ijikanmi

NAN-H-61

Commitment

By Isaac Aregbesola

Abuja, Sept. 30, 2016 (NAN) As Nigeria celebrates 56th Independence Anniversary, the U.S. has reiterated its commitment to deepen its partnership for the betterment of the country.

This is contained in a statement by the Information Unit of U.S. Embassy, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State said this in an independent anniversary message to Nigeria.

The U.S. secretary of state said that President Barak Obama also congratulated Nigeria on its 56th anniversary.

Kerry noted that there were still much to be done by the government and the people to address myriad challenges facing Nigeria.

“There is still much work to be done to provide economic opportunities for all, end corruption, win the fight against Boko Haram, ensure broad respect for human rights and provide humanitarian relief for millions of displaced people.

“But we know that Nigerians are working hard to address these challenges.

“The U.S. looks forward to deepening our partnership and friendship with Nigerians from all walks of life, so that we may work together for the betterment of Nigeria and all of Africa,” he said.

Kerry who visited Nigeria recently said he went away with a strong sense of the nation’s resolve to build a better future. (NAN)

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Edited Ese E. Ekama

NBA urges ECOWAS to build institutional capacity to tackle money laundering
NAN-H-60
Laundering
By Temitope Ponle
Abuja, Sept. 30, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on ECOWAS member states to strengthen institutional capacities to urgently tackle illicit money transactions and terror related funding.
Mr Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), President, NBA, made the call on Friday in Abuja at a ceremony to mark the 2016/2017 Legal Year of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice (ECOWAS Court).
Mahmoud, who was represented by Mr Olumuyiwa Akinboro (SAN), said strengthening the institutions would enhance collaboration and reduce money laundering related crimes within the sub-region.
“The region needs to build its institutional capacity to develop enhanced inter-agency collaboration in border surveillance, to prevent cross border small and light arms proliferation.
“It would identify suspicious transactions and terror related funding and reduce to the barest minimum, cash based transactions as terrorist activities thrive in informal settings,” he said.
He also called on the judiciary to be adequately equipped to readily tackle the challenges posed by acts of money laundering and terrorist financing.
“Without financing, terrorism cannot thrive and survive; we need to sharpen our understanding of applicable laws on combating terrorism, improve our institutional capacity and infrastructures to meet the challenges ahead, ‘’ he said.
Mrs Khadija Ibrahim, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, called on the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) to enhance its sensitisation efforts.
Ibrahim said both the ECOWAS Court and GIABA needed to redouble their efforts at sensitising relevant stakeholders to checking illicit financial activities in the sub-region.
“If the war against terrorism financing is to be won, member states must be encouraged and supported to enact laws that will regulate money laundering.
“Development partners are also requested to further assist ECOWAS acquire proper training for our anti-graft agencies in order to enable them combat money laundering and terrorism financing effectively.”
The minister assured of the Federal Government’s continued support to ECOWAS in the fight against financial crimes.(NAN)
Controlled by Rotimi Ijikanmi

Emir of Keffi woos foreign, local investors to Emirate
NAN-HE-17
Investors
Keffi(Nasarawa), Sept. 30, 2016 (NAN) The Emir of Keffi in Nasarawa State, Dr Shehu Chindo-Yamusa 11, on Friday urged foreign and local investors to set up industries in the emirate.
He said this when the Executive Director, USA-Africa Chamber of Commerce, Dr Gladys Loggin-Folorunsho, led some investors on a courtesy visit to the palace in Keffi.
Chido-Yamusa said that such industries would provide employment opportunities to the teeming unemployed youths in the area and reduce the menace of rural-urban migration.
“I want to assure you and all your business partners, that Keffi and its environs are safe and conducive for the establishment of any kind of business.
“Considering the proximity of the area to the Federal Capital Territory, your business here will succeed,” he said.
Speaking earlier, Loggin-Folorunsho said they were in the palace to congratulate the royal father on his appointment to the throne of his fore fathers, and to wish him long life in sound health.
She assured the emir of their readiness to invest in the emirate.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Burundi’s Ambassador at large to Nigeria, Dr Clyder Rivers was among the personalities on the entourage. (NAN)
Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz; Controlled by Rotimi Ijikanmi

NAN-HE-10
Shares
Lagos, Sept. 30, 2016 (NAN) Equity transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) closed upbeat on Friday as some major capitalised stocks sustained price rally.

The News Agenc y of Nigeria (NAN) reports that market capitalisation appreciated by N30 billion or 0.31 per cent to close at N9.733 trillion against N9.703 trillion achieved on Thursday.

Similarly, the All-Share Index recorded marginal gain, appreciating by 87.84 points or 0.31 per cent to close at 28,335.40 compared with 28,247.56 recorded on Thursday.

Nigerian Breweries recorded the highest price gain to lead the gainers’ table, growing by N4.57 to close at N150 per share, while Forte Oil came second with N3.91 to close at N165.9 and then Total Oil, N3.9, to close at N295 per share.

Dangote Cement also increased by N1 to close at N183 and Guinness up by 99k to close at N97.99 per share.

On the other hand, Mobil Oil topped the losers’ chart, dropping by N3.28 to close at N191.72 per share.

Con Oil trailed with a loss of N1.6 to close at N36.1 per share.

UACN shed 70k to close at N20.8, while Zenith Bank dipped by 49k to close at N15.21 and GT Bank decreased by 34k to close at N24 per share.

In spite of the high equity transactions, the volume of traded shares decreased, with an exchange of 217.81 million shares valued at N2.39 billion transacted in 2,804 deals.

NAN reports that this is in contrast with the 365.37 million shares worth N2.09 billion traded in 2,905 deals on Thursday.

UBA drove the turnover volume, having accounted for 66.99 million shares valued at N301.43 million.

It was followed by Access Bank with a total of 33.26 million worth N21.93 million and FBN Holdings sold 24.04 million shares valued at N74.12 million. (NAN)
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(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

NAN-HG-8
Women
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Abuja, Sept. 30, 2016 (NAN) The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Aisha Alhassan, said N200 million would be disbursed to eight pilot states each through the National Women Empowerment Fund (NAWEF) to empower women at the grassroots.

Alhassan said this during a media briefing on the take-off of the National Women Empowerment Fund (NAWEF) and the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) in Abuja.

She said the eight pilot states are Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Akwa Ibom, Osun, and Abia, adding that other states would benefit later.

She added that “the NAWEF targets 10,000 women beneficiaries in each of the pilot states; the condition of the loans both under the GEEP and NAWEF are the same.

“The GEEP programme is one of the five Federal Government Social Investment Programme targeted at providing loans to young men and women from all states on liberal condition.

“Under both programmes, each beneficiary will receive between N10,000 and N100,000, depending on the type of business or trade with no interest, no collateral and repayable in six months.”

Alhassan said beneficiaries would have to form functional cooperative groups or local trade associations or other community based groups of at least 10 persons per group.

She added that the administering bank for disbursements and recovery which is Bank of Industry (BoI) had concluded all necessary arrangements for the disbursement of the funds to successful beneficiaries.

“By next week, which is October, beneficiaries will be free to access the fund through their individual accounts.

“The repayment schedules are much easier and less stringent than those of conventional banking loans.

“We are sure the country will witness increased economic activities nationwide with the desired multiplier effects and subsequent boost in the economy.”

The minister said measures for monitoring and evaluation of disbursement, usage and recovery had also been put in place.

She added that it was necessary that beneficiaries repay the loans in order for fresh applicants to benefit from the revolving scheme.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Alhassan had met with state commissioners of women affairs in August on the implementation
of the fund.

The fund was specially targeted at grassroots women operating informal businesses, through start ups and scale up credit facilities to reduce high poverty and facilitate growth and entrepreneurial development. (NAN)
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(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)