Blog

Depression
By Lydia Ngwakwe
Lagos, Sept. 3, 2018 (NAN) Some physiotherapists on Monday in Lagos said that physical exercise of any sort was vital for good mental health, especially in the treatment of depression.

The experts, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that physiotherapy was also important in the well-being of people suffering long-term health issues.

According to them, physiotherapy and mental health go hand in hand.

The physiotherapists spoke on the sideline of an awareness programme in Ikeja organised by some NGOs to commemorate the World Physical Therapy Day.

The NGOs namely: Pro-Health Community Physiotherapy in partnership with the Physiocraft Team and Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative, specialise in physical therapy and mental health.

Mr Makinde James, a Physiotherapist with special interest in the treatment of Orthopedic and Neurological conditions, said:“The message I will like everyone to understand is that physiotherapy is very important when it comes to health and also mental health is very important when it comes to physiotherapy conditions.

“Conditions such as stroke, recovery from fractures, children with poliomyelitis, cerebral palsy or even adults with issues of peripheral nerves (nerves that run along your arms and legs) require physiotherapy.”

James said that persons suffering from long-term conditions needed to know the place of physiotherapy and mental well being in their recovery process.

“In fact, they don’t get healed in a short time, they take a long time, and the longer the recovery time, the more the person is mentally tasked.

“So, it is very important for family members of those that are suffering from these conditions to know how to encourage and positively affirm their care,’’ James said.

A representative of Pro-Health Community Physiotherapy, Mrs Opeyemi Bakare, urged people to engage in physical activities that they love and to stick to it.

Bakare said: “Exercises help in improving one’s mood because of the adrenalin effect that comes up with exercises.

“People who suffer from chronic illnesses get depressed; not only them but also their caregivers as well.

“As physiotherapists, it’s our job to look out for these signs and also use exercises to help treat depression.

“Exercises make you feel good, improve your self-esteem and momentarily just battles and lowers the effects of depression.

“I advise people to find an activity that they like, do it with a group of friends or even alone stick to it,’’ Bakare said.

Mrs Joy Akumabor, a Physiotherapist from Physio-Craft, however, expressed the hope that Nigeria would see physiotherapy as a multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of chronic illnesses.

“Aside from physical therapy, we hope that we will get to a stage in our country where we see physiotherapy as a multidisciplinary approach to treatment.

“There has been studies abroad even some emanating from here that have shown how physiotherapy can be influential in the management of people with depression, bipolar disorders, e.t.c,’’ Akumabor said.

The Coordinator for Training, Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative, Mrs Shola Ogunbiyi, said that there was no health without mental health.

“Depression is a mood disorder because it affects your social life as well as your day to day activities.

“Depression is not a feeling; it is an illness just like malaria, tuberculosis and what have you, and people suffering from depression should see a doctor,” she said.

Ogunbiyi said Nigerians lacked the understanding of what mental illnesses were, adding that this was why people focused mostly on physical therapy and neglect mental therapy.

NAN reports that the World Physical Therapy Day is celebrated annually on Sept. 8 to give physical therapists the opportunity to raise awareness about the crucial contributions of their profession to health.

The general theme for each year is “Movement for Health’’, which is usually broken down into different health conditions yearly.

This year’s theme focuses on the role of physiotherapy and physical activity in mental health.

As part of the awareness programme, there were free screening for different health conditions, counseling and measurement of anthropological features. (NAN)
LED/COF/PDE
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(Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Peter Ejiofor)

Strike
By Lydia Ngwakwe
Lagos, Sept. 3, 2018 (NAN) The Lagos State Government on Monday appealed to resident doctors at the State University
Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) to shelve its proposed three-day warning strike in the interest of the people.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, who made the appeal, urged the doctors to consider the plight of the masses
who always bear the burden of such actions.

The Association of Resident Doctors at LASUTH had at a news conference on Sunday indicated its plan to embark on an indefinite
strike following what they called acute shortage of resident doctors and house officers in the teaching hospital.

The association said failure of LASUTH management to immediately employ House Officers and Resident Doctors will trigger the
three-day strike beginning from Sept. 5 to Sept. 7.

The ARD-LASUTH threatened a total shut down of services in the hospital and that they will not attend to emergency cases
during the period.

“There are plans by the state government to employ more house officers and resident doctors. We have started that already.

“If you will recall that the Lagos State Health Service Commission care facilities have an approval to recruit more house officers
and we are working on the other approval for the teaching hospitals.

“So we are aware of the agitations and we are working seriously on how to address the issue; we will meet with stakeholders today.

“I appeal to the doctors to shelve their strike in the interest of the people,’’ Idris said in an interview with the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN).

The commissioner assured the doctors that the state government would do everything possible to avert the strike. (NAN)

LED/CHOM/DA
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Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Dele Akinsola

Theft

Abuja, Sept. 3, 2018 (NAN) The Police on Monday arraigned one Brown Iyke, in a Kado Grade 1 Area Court Abuja, for alleged theft of N6,000.

Iyke, who resides at Mpape, a suburb of Abuja, had pleaded not guilty to the two-count charges of causing hurt and theft levelled against him.

The prosecutor, Judith Obatomi, told the court that Chinemerenwu Obi, of Utako Village, Abuja, reported the matter at the Utako Police Station on Aug. 27.

Obatomi said the complainant reported that on that same date, while he was at Utako village, the defendant allegedly stole N6,000 from his pocket and hit him on the right eye where he sustained injury.

She said the offence contravened Sections 246 and 288 of the Penal Code.

The judge, Alhaji Ahmed Ado, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N50, 000, with one surety in like sum.

Ado said that the surety must be a family man, reliable and residing within the court jurisdiction.

He then adjourned the case until Sept. 17, for further hearing. (NAN)

NHM/KTO/MNA

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Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Maureen Atuonwu

Committee
By Sylvester Thompson
Abuja, Sept. 3, 2018 (NAN) Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami on Monday in Abuja. inaugurated a 17-man monitoring and evaluation committee on the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy spanning 2017 through 2021.

Malami, said the mandate of the committee, whose members are drawn from different sectors, was to ensure that the national anti-corruption strategy is delivered to the Nigerian citizens.

He said the national anti-corruption strategy was validated on April 27, 2017 and an action plan was developed, validated and adopted by relevant stakeholders on March 26, 2018.

According to him, the Strategy comprises of five pillars namely: prevention, public engagement, ethical re-orientation, enforcement and sanction as well as recovery and management of proceeds of crime.

He said that the Strategy’s (2017 to 2021) action plan, and the monitoring and evaluation working tools are documents which served as a guideline for the committee.

The AGF said further that the documents would help the committee on how best to actualise full implementation of the national anti-corruption strategy.

Malami said the monitoring of the national anti-corruption strategy implementation was to be achieved at three levels, which included monthly reporting and quarterly self-assessments within anti-corruption, law enforcement and regulatory agencies.

Another level, he said, was the annual review of the progress of the implementation, annual review and reporting by the national anti-corruption strategy monitoring and evaluation committee.

The AGF said the review would be based on quarterly statistics sent by anti-corruption, law enforcement and regulatory agencies to the National Bureau of Statistics, using a national anti-corruption data reporting template.

He disclosed that the review should take into account the periodic reports of the country assessments conducted pursuant to Nigeria’s obligations under the UN  convention against corruption.

“The annual report of the anti-corruption strategy implementation review shall be submitted to the secretariat of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy in the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

“This shall be transmitted by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to the Federal Executive Council not later than March 31, in respect of the proceedings,’’ Malami said. (NAN)
SET/COF
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edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Sadiya Hamza

SGF inaugurates committee to foster peace
By Kate Obande-Okewu
Peace
Abuja, Sept. 3, 2018 (NAN) The Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, has inaugurated a Committee for the Establishment of National Peace Commission.
Mustapha, represented by Dr Amina Shamaki, the Permanent Secretary, Special Services Office, Office of Secretary to Government of the Federation (OSGF), stated that the committee was critical to ensuring peace in the country.
The SGF noted that there were myriads of security challenges bedevilling the country that were yet to be halted.
“The National Economic Council (NEC) at its last security summit identified ethno-religious crisis as one of the sources of insecurity, which needs to be addressed.
“It therefore recommends the need to establish a National Peace Commission (NPC) by the Federal Government and Peace Agencies.
“The members of this committee were carefully selected based on their pedigree as sustainable peace builders. The committee is expected to submit its report within three months,’’ he said.
He listed terrorism, banditry, cattle rustling, kidnapping in the North-West, farmers and herdsmen crisis in the North-Central as security challenges in Nigeria.
Mustapha also noted the secessionists’ agitations in South-East, pipeline vandalism and oil bunkering in the South-South as part of the challenges.
The SGF added that these challenges indicated that all parts of the country were engrossed in one security challenge or the other.
Mustapha therefore enjoined the committee to recommend suitable platform for resolving these avoidable conflicts and return the country to the path of peace and sustainable development.
The SGF listed the Terms of Reference of the Committee to include developing a suitable framework for establishment of a National Peace Commission (NPC) at Federal Level and Peace Agencies at the state level.
“Also the committee shall articulate the functions to be performed by both the National Peace Commission and Peace Agencies.
“Draw the administrative structures and Organogram for National Peace Commission and Peace Agencies.
“They are to recommend the legal framework for National Peace Commission and peace agencies and any other issues the committee deems relevant to accomplish the assignment,’’ he said.
Members of the committee were drawn from the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Nigeria Inter-Religious Council.
Others were Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Defence Headquarters, Federal Ministry of Justice, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, National Orientation Agency and Special Services Office OSGF.
The Chairman of the Committee, Dr Bakut Tsawah Bakut, of Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, assured that the committee would work assiduously to carry out this national assignment and submit their report on time.
He stated that as a peace builder, the assignment was a thing of joy for him and he would put in his best to ensure success. (NAN)
KTE/OIF/MST
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Election
By Dorcas Jonah
Abuja, Sept. 3, 2018 (NAN) Mrs Gloria Shoda, the National President, National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), on Monday described as unsatisfactory the level of involvement of Nigerian women in governance and politics.

Shoda told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the low participation had persisted in spite of the adoption of 35 per cent affirmative action, aimed at getting a balance in the society.

According to her, Nigeria needs to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Shoda said that the NCWS had come a long way, saying that the council would celebrate its 60th anniversary.

She said that the 60th anniversary of the Council would be marked with the theme: “The Change Leadership and Gender Balance: A Transformative Dimension to National Development’’.

“I am not satisfied with the current situation. If I am satisfied, we won’t be talking about balancing.

“If I am satisfied, we won’t be talking about having a political summit, where we will be asking for improved quota in the system.

“What is the percentage of women in the Senate, House of Representatives and the appointees of the executives?

“We are looking for more; we want to at least strike a balance.

“The question will not be 50-50 for now but at least, let us get to somewhere that we can look back and say yes we are getting somewhere,’’ Shoda said.

She said that the council, in the last two years had done a lot to advance the cause of women; through empowerment programmes, sensitisation and advocacy visits to critical stakeholders.

“We have just changed our constitution to include women governors and presidents as automatic members of the Council.

“Things are changing and we have reached a stage where we need to strike a balance.

“We want to know what is really our quota in the Nigerian political arena, because in all countries, why they have affirmative action is to make things balanced.

“It doesn’t mean that women in these countries are weak,’’ Shoda said.

According to her, in national development, when you develop a woman, you develop a nation.

“We need to develop the women, not only in their professional areas, which they have excelled but then, you wonder what is delaying these women from also being greatly involved in politics.

“There are many women in rural areas who don’t know what the SDGs initiative is all about, so we are going to increase sensitisation campaign.

“We want to reach out to every woman, so that we can balance power, knowledge and what everybody has. This will ensure that Nigeria will be on a better pedestal,’’ she said.

Shoda said that the council would not relent in encouraging women to be involved in politics.

She urged women to be focused, to learn and contribute to the development of the society. (NAN)
DE/AOS/AJA
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Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Adeleye Ajayi

APGA

Lafia, Sept. 3, 2018 (NAN) The Nasarawa Chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has assured members of neutrality in electing candidates ahead of the party’s primaries.

Musa Saidu, APGA Chairman in the state, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lafia.

According to him, the party has aspirants contesting on its platform in all the 24 state constituencies, five Federal constituencies, three senatorial districts and governorship.

“We wiil scrutinise our candidates for consensus when possible, if not, the party will conduct primaries to elect flag bearers in all the constituencies.

“We will present our best candidates in all elections because we will contest against candidates of other political parties.

“We will present our best team with very clear vision and programmes that will reposition the state for the overall benefit of the people,” he added.

In the same vein, Bala John, House of Assembly aspirant Nassarawa-Eggon East, expressed optimism that the party would win in the state given the quality of its aspirants.

He advised the leadership of the party to promote internal democracy in order to have credible candidates and avoid imposition that was common in other political parties.

John however, promised to offer the best representation to the constituency. (NAN)

SDJ/CHOM/MNA
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Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Maureen Atuonwu

NPFL
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, Sept. 3, 2018 (NAN) The Technical Adviser of Kwara United FC of Ilorin, Abubakar Bala, says the club has the capacity to prosecute 14 games in eight weeks as initially proposed by the League Management Company (LMC).

Bala told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  on Monday in Ilorin that he was not happy at the abrupt end to the 2017/2018 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

NAN recalls that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had been engulfed in a leadership battle which had delayed the resumption of the NPFL after the 2018 FIFA World Cup break.

Bala said that when he took over at Kwara United, the target given to him was to take the club out of relegation zone.

He, however, said he had put in place strategies to finish in the top 10.

“Having put into consideration the hazard of playing 14 games in eight weeks, Kwara United was ready to play the number of games within that stipulated period.

“We had used the mini break we had during the World Cup to prepare for such eventuality.

“We have two teams that we can rely on to prosecute those 14 games within eight weeks.

“So we have prepared enough to end up in the first 10 teams;  I am not happy with the way the league has ended, ” Bala said.

NAN reports that an emergency joint consultative meeting of the LMC and the 20 NPFL club owners had declared the league concluded after matchday 24, pronouncing Lobi Stars of Makurdi as having the highest points and the league champion.

The meeting was called against the backdrop of the adverse circumstances in the administration of football in the country which resulted in the indefinite suspension of the resumption of the NPFL.

The circumstances also led to huge fixture congestion for both the league and Cup competitions.

The second of the six-point resolution of the meeting was that none of the 20 NPFL clubs would be relegated to the lower league.

The meeting also agreed that four clubs would be promoted from the Nigeria National League(NNL), bringing the number of the NPFL clubs for the 2018/19 season to 24.

It was also resolved that the 2018/19 NPFL season will commence in November with a total of 24 participating teams divided into two groups of 12 teams each.

The 2018/2019 Season commencing November would  be played on 22 match days ending with a playoff to determine the winner by May 2019

Also resolved at the meeting was that three teams from each group (a total of six) would be relegated from the NPFL after the conclusion of the 2018/2019 season.

Two teams would also be promoted to NPFL from the NNL 2019 Season, allowing the NPFL to revert to the normal structure of 20 teams as from the 2019/2020 season. (NAN)
OOH/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

Football

By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, Sept. 3, 2018 (NAN) The Kwara Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Muideen Alalade, has inaugurated three Sub-Committees in a bid to ensure a hitch-free hosting of the 2nd Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) sponsored Tertiary Institutions Football competition.

The three committees for the competition tagged, “Kwara 2018”are the Publicity Committee, Mobilization, Venues and Contact Committee as well as Technical Committee.

Alalade, who is the Chairman of the Main Organising Committee (MOC) for the competition, while inaugurating the sub-committees charged them to build positively on the successes recorded in the first edition and also address the challenges observed.

While commending JAMB for the second time opportunity, he pointed out that the feat achieved in the maiden edition occassioned the consideration to host the second, adding that Kwara had the potential and manpower to always do it right.

He also commended the state government led by Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed for providing the enabling environment and support for sports and youth development in the state and Nigeria.

The members of the three committees were drawn from the MOC and other football stakeholders in Nigeria, and the sub-committees, according to him, are reduced to three to curb wastage and ensure effectiveness.

He added that the MOC had earlier concretised agreement with the University of Ilorin and Kwara Football Academy on the hosting of the competition as well met with the leadership of the Joint Steering Committee for Sports Development in higher institutions, comprising NUGA, NIPOGA and NICEGA, on the way forward.

The competition has tentatively been fixed for the first week of October this year.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Niger College of Education, Minna, won the first edition of the 16-institution football competition which is being sponsored by JAMB and supported by the Kwara Government. (NAN)
OOH/PDE
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)

Legislation
By Edeki Igafe
Warri (Delta), Sept. 3, 2018 (NAN) Friends of the Creator Foundation (FCF), has called for legislation to protect the intellectual property rights of actors and actresses in the entertainment industry in Nigeria.
Dr. Ogaga Ifowodo, Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), of the intellectual property rights protection group, made the call in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Warri.
Ifowodo said that such a legislation would pave the way for stakeholders in the industry to reap the fruits of their labour.
He noted that it had become necessary to protect intellectual property rights because of the immense contribution of the entertainment industry to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“As Nigeria’s entertainment industry continues to contribute substantially to the GDP and national image, it is important that intellectual property rights of actors be protected so that they can enjoy the fruit of their labour,” Ifowodo said.
NAN recalled that FCF, established in 2017, was recently honoured with the “Best Intellectual Property and Creativity Foundation of the Year”.
The award was given to the foundation by the Prestige Anchor International in partnership with Law Students Bar Association, University of Benin (UNIBEN) Chapter.
Mr Nathaniel Adebayo, leader of the Prestige Anchor International, had said that FCF was given the award because of its ability to break even in the field of creativity and innovation in less than two years of its existence.
Ifowodo who was represented at the award ceremony by the FCF scribe, Mr Rockson Igelige had said the recognition would further energised the foundation in delivering on its mandate.
“We are particularly happy to note that this award is given by Law students who are future advocates and defenders of intellectual property rights in Nigeria.
” We thank the IPL Society of UNIBEN for the honour and look forward to collaborating with them for the goal of advancing awareness by consumers, private and corporate, of intellectual property rights and obligations,” he said.
He reiterated the commitment of the foundation to promoting respect for copyright, patent, trademark and ancillary rights. (NAN)
EDI/USO/ROT
Edited by Sam Oditah, Rotimi Ijikanmi