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Healthcare investment can solve Nigeria’s challenges – Expert 

By
Cleopatra Okohai
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An expert in healthcare, Dr Ola Brown has said that Nigeria’s economic challenges can be solved through strategic ongoing investments in the healthcare sector.

Dr Ola, who is the Founder, Flying Doctors Healthcare Investment Company said Nigeria’s economic challenges can be solved through strategic ongoing investments in the healthcare sector. explained that investing in healthcare would serve as a multiplier effect that would boost the economy, create jobs and contribute to overall development. 

Brown stated this at the 2022 Nigeria Healthwatch Conference tagged “The Political Economy of Health: Investing in the Future of Nigeria”, according to a statement on Wednesday. 

According to her, When we invest in healthcare, we are not just investing in healthcare but in the economy. The largest employer of skilled labour in the entire world is the NHS in the UK.

She added that if Nigeria is able to invest in a sector that has massive job creation potential, the country will be able to solve both the security and unemployment challenges. 

Read Also: NMA tells FG to declare State of Emergency in Health sector

While highlighting the four key reasons why young Nigerians are relocating from the country with their families, Dr Ola Brown, whose company invests in technology-enabled healthcare businesses, fintech startups as well as public-private partnerships in healthcare infrastructure projects in Africa, opined that it is possible to address those concerns through sustained investments in the healthcare sector. 

“In my interaction with people travelling out of the country in recent times, they mentioned some reasons for their decision to relocate, chief among which are: Nigeria does not have the necessary healthcare facilities to take care of their families in a medical emergency and so they are scared; the level of insecurity and constant news of kidnappings in the country; lack of opportunities exemplified by the over 36% unemployment rate in the country; and macro-economic indices like high inflation rate, currency instability and high-interest rates. 

“The UK’s National Health Service was created by an economist to help solve Britain’s economic problem so that British people could become more productive. So, when we invest in healthcare, we are not just investing in healthcare but in the economy. The largest employer of skilled labour in the entire world is the NHS in the UK. 

“The reason I link healthcare to both security and employment is that if you have a job, you won’t go and join Boko Haram since you won’t be idle. If Nigeria is able to invest in a sector that has massive job creation potential then we will be able to solve both the security problem and the unemployment problem. 

“For many developed countries, 2020 showed that what the world thought was a global supply chain was actually a Chinese supply chain. The West is now looking to diversify its sources of raw materials and medicine security which presents an opportunity Nigeria can take advantage of. 

“Because we lack forex, when we manufacture and then export, we are able to generate more foreign currency. If we are able to do more Public-Private Partnerships projects (PPP), that improves investment and stimulates other sectors of the economy,” Dr Brown, who was recently honoured as a Member of the Federal Republic honour, said. 

Benue NMA Urges State Govt. To Review Health Workers’ Emoluments

By
Olasunbo Okoromi
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The Benue chapter of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called on the state government to review the salary and allowances of medical and other health workers in the state.

The state NMA Chairman, Dr Ushakuma Anenga, made the call on Wednesday in Makurdi at the opening of the association’s scientific conference.

The conference was part of activities to mark the 2022 Physicians’ Week, which is theme: ‘Nigeria’s Health Care Delivery System and the 2023 Democratic Transition: A Time to Change the Narrative.’

The NMA Physicians’ Week is marked annually to celebrate the works of medical doctors.

Anenga said in spite of efforts of the Benue government in revamping the health sector, medical and health personnel are still not getting their dues.

The NMA chairman, therefore, said the government should approve hazard allowance for doctors and protect them from kidnappers.

He said the situation had led to brain drain as medical doctors move out of the country for better working conditions.

“In Benue we have more patients waiting to see a few doctors, more time spent in waiting, surgeries suspended,” he said.

Anenga, however, said in spite of the challenges, the prevalence of HIV has dropped in the state while Benue was the best in vaccine coverage in North Central.

According to him, there is significant infrastructure development, especially in the area of primary health care in the state.

The NMA chairman advised members of the union to join politics to push for the prioritization of the health sector by government.

In his remarks, Benue Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Joseph Ngbea said medical doctors should join politics so as to shape decisions that affect their profession.

The commissioner pledged that the government would look into issues affecting health workers as it strives to upgrade health facilities in the state.

The Guest Speaker, Prof Shima Gyoh, who has been in the medical field for 62 years, called on government to end the gross under funding of the health sector.

The retired surgeon and Professor of Surgery, called for strict regulation of traditional medical practitioners to save the public from exploitation.

Also, Dr Hameed Mohammed, an Associate Professor and Consultant Radiologist, Benue University Teaching Hospital, spoke on “Mitigating the Impact of Brain Drain on the dwindling human resources for health in Nigeria”.

According to him, in spite of the negative effect of brain drain on the nation’s health system, there are some advantages to it.

“Though it is a tragedy, there are some advantages like exposure, knowledge acquisition, remittance flow and other benefits in source countries for both returnees and the diasporas.

Another paper on health sector reforms in the face of emerging health threats was presented by Prof. Audu Onyemocho, a Professor of Community Health, Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo.

The week-long event began with media engagements and will be rounded off with visits to orphanages, a novelty football match and breast cancer awareness walk.

Oscars: Cameroon’s ‘The Planter’s Plantation’ Starring Nkem Owoh Selected For Academy Awards

By
Koko Lawrence
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With the recent controversies rocking the Nigerian Oscar Selection Committee (NOSC), ‘The Planters Plantation’, featuring Nollywood’s Nkem Owoh, has been selected as Cameroon’s entry for the 2023 Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences awards, otherwise called The Oscars.

The Nollywood star played a lead role in Planter’s Plantation, Cameroon’s fifth Oscar entry.

Cameroon submitted a film for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film (IFF) for the first time in 1980. The film was titled ‘Our Daughter.’

IFF is handed out annually by the United States Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to a feature-length motion picture produced outside the United States that contains non-English dialogue primarily.

For the second year in a row, earlier this month, the Nigerian Oscar Selection Committee (NOSC) announced that no Nigerian film is eligible for the International Feature Film category of the 2023 Oscars.

Nigeria’s last Oscar submission was “The Milkmaid” in 2020.

This decision generated furore as the Committee received and deliberated over three prominent films, Kunle Afolayan’s ‘Aníkúlápó’, Mo Abudu’s ‘Elesin Oba: The King’s Horseman’ and Femi Adebayo’s ‘King of Thieves.’

While the controversy rages, the Board of the Cameroon Film Industry has submitted ‘The Planter’s Plantation’, directed by Eystein Young.

Shot in Cameroon, ‘The Planters Plantation’ is set in 1960s West Africa. At independence, James Whitaker (Alexander David Silverstone Powers) bequeaths his plantation to Mr Planter (Nkem Owoh).

Years later, Mr Planter’s daughter finds herself battling family and society to preserve her late father’s legacy, a colonial plantation left to him at independence amid disagreements, betrayal and secrets.

NYC: Court Reinstates all Fired Unvaccinated Employees, Orders Backpay

By
Rhoda Onuzulike
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The New York state Supreme Court has reinstated all employees who were fired for not being vaccinated, ordering back pay and saying their rights had been violated.

The court found Monday that “being vaccinated does not prevent an individual from contracting or transmitting COVID-19.” New York City Mayor Eric Adams claimed earlier this year that his administration would not rehire employees who had been fired over their vaccination status.

NYC alone fired roughly 1,400 employees for being unvaccinated earlier this year after the city adopted a vaccine mandate under former Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Many of those fired were police officers and firefighters.

FDNY-Uniformed Firefighters Association President Andrew Ansbro and FDNY-Uniformed Fire Officers Association President Lt. James McCarthy condemned Adams earlier this year after the mayor allowed an exception to the vaccine mandate for athletes and performers, even as firefighters were still being fired over their status. The pair called on the city to expand the exception to all New Yorkers.

“We’re here to say that we support the revocation of the vaccine mandate that the mayor announced on Thursday,” McCarthy said. “We think that it should be extended as well. We support the revocation of the mandate for the athletes and performers that work in New York City. We think that the people that work for New York City should also have the mandate relocated for them.”

“If you’re going to remove the vaccine mandate for certain people in the city, you need to remove it for everybody in the city,” Ansbro said. “If you’re going to follow the science, science is going to tell you there isn’t any danger right now, and putting hundreds of firefighters, police officers and other emergency workers out of work is not in the best interest of the city. It’s not safe.”

Goals, Assists For Super Eagles Players In Europe

By
Emenike Agu
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Five Super Eagles players were on target for their respective clubs last weekend

The recent weekend was a bountiful harvest of goals for Super Eagles players playing in Europe. From defenders to strikers, some players found relief and put smiles on the faces of their fans and paymasters by scoring or assisting.

Goal rush

Victor Osimhen (AS Roma vs Napoli)

Aside from scoring his third consecutive goal for Napoli against Roma on Sunday, Osimhen also assisted Luciano Spalletti in setting a record for the Partenopei as they moved to 11 consecutive victories in all competitions. The only time they came close was during the 1986/87 season when the late Diego Maradona captained the Neapolitans to 10 consecutive victories.

Osimhen scored in the 80th minute after he got on the end of a long pass and held off the former Manchester United defender, Chris Smalling, before firing a swerving effort from the right side past Rui Patricio. This was Osimhen’s first goal against a top-six team in Italy since he joined Napoli in 2020.

It has been a refreshing restart for Osimhen in the Napoli setup since the forward returned from injury. He scored the game-winning goal for Napoli against Bologna the week before his current brilliant finish against Jose Mourinho’s side.

Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool)

Awoniyi marked his third start of the season with a goal for his floundering club, Nottingham, against Liverpool, a club on whose roster he was for six years before his permanent transfer to Union Berlin in 2020.

The 55th-minute goal by the Nigerian striker proved to be the winning goal as Nottingham Forest battled to a 1-0 victory over the Reds.

Going into the game Forest had not won a match in the last two months, even their last victory before Saturday’s stunning lone-goal win against Red. This was Awoniyi’s first start since he scored two minutes into the first half of added time against West Ham.

Despite the challenge of being bottom of the table, Awoniyi still holds his head high because of the record he just set as being the first player to score in all his three starts for Forest.

Paul Onuachu (Royal Antwerp vs KRC Genk)

Onuachu has been all shades of greatness in his last five games, registering eight goals. Onuachu’s latest exploit is a brace he got against Alhassan Yussuf’s Royal Antwerp in a 3-1 victory on Sunday.

Earlier, Onuachu had scored a brace in a 6-1 thrashing of KVC Westerlo last Tuesday.

Peter Olayinka ( Slavia Praha vs Sparta Praha)

Peter Olayinka scored the fourth goal for Slavia Prague in a big 4-0 win over Sparta Praha on Sunday. Olayinka scored in the 48th minute to double his goals in the league for the Czech giants.

Leon Balogun (QPR vs Wigan)

Leon Balogun scored what eventually was the winner for QPR against Wigan in a 2-1 win. It was the defender’s first goal for the season in eight appearances for the Championship side and he did score it when it mattered.

The Super Eagles defender scored with a header as he connected to Stefan Johansen’s corner kick in the 24th minute, two minutes after Wigan’s Nathan Broadhead had cancelled out Sam Field’s 12th-minute opener.

William Troost Ekong (Watford vs Luton)

Troost Ekong scored his first goal since November 2020 for Watford in a 4-0 win over Luton at the Weekend. The Super Eagles defender scored with a header from Joao Pedro’s cross in the 45th minute of the game.

Ola Aina (Udinese vs Torino)

Just like other Super Eagles defenders, Ola Aina also got on the scoresheet on Sunday for the first time since 17 February 2021 during Torino’s 2-1 victory over Udinese.

Aina scored first in the encounter in the 14th minute from a left-footed guided finish after an assist from Aleksey Miranchuk. However, Aina’s goal was cancelled out by Gerard Deulofeu in the 26th minute. The visitors got back the lead in the 69th minute from Pietro Pellegri.

Assists

Alex Iwobi (Everton vs Crystal Palace)

Iwobi won’t stop making the headlines every week for Everton as he created two assists for his teammates against Crystal Palace on Saturday. The Nigerian midfielder made two clinical assists as the Toffees got back to winning ways when they trounced Crystal Palace 3-0 at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Iwobi’s first assist was for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who just returned from injury in the 11th minute. Having been involved in multiple chances created by the Toffees, Iwobi also helped Dwight McNeil score his second goal of the season in the 84th minute.

Iwobi, 26, has caught the attention of Premier League watchers with virtuoso performances that continue to help the Frank Lampard-managed side stay above the relegation zone. He scored a screamer against Manchester United and was nominated for the Premier League player of the month award.

Moses Simon (OGC Nice v Nantes)

Moses Simon was instrumental in the 10-man Nantes 1-1 draw against OGC Nice on Sunday.

Nantes scored first after Moses Simon’s pass found Ignatius Ganago, who slotted home for the visitors in the 49th minute, but Nicolas Pepe salvaged a point for the homers in the 97th minute.

This was the second assist for Simon, who had scored four goals for struggling Nantes in 10 games in the Ligue 1 this season.

Nigeria Cricket Federation Appoints Kenya’s Tikolo As New Head Coach

By
Emenike Agu
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Steve Tikolo replaces Sri Lankan Asanka Gurusinha who resigned in April 2022 due to health concerns

The Nigerian Cricket Association (NCF) has appointed a Kenyan, Steve Tikolo, as the Federation’s new head coach and High-Performance Manager.

Musa Ehizoje, the Federation’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), disclosed in a statement on Sunday that the Kenyan has a two-year contract and would oversee the senior men’s team.

“Following the restructuring of the coaching department in the Federation, Tikolo will head the senior men’s team and he will be assisted by our national coach Uthe Ogbimi.

”Other coaching structures will remain the same, however.

“Tikolo’s initial contract will run for two years, with his first opportunity to meet with the senior team players being when they resume camp for the T20 World Cup Africa Sub Regional Qualifier in November,” Ehizoje said.

Tikolo’s appointment followed the resignation of Sri Lankan Asanka Gurusinha as Head Coach in April 2022 due to health concerns.

‘Trashion’ Designer Displays Latest Art At Sydney Beach Exhibition

By
Koko Lawrence
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Australian-based artist, Marina DeBris, stands with her latest sculpture, 'A Drop in the Ocean, Said 7.8 Billion People' at the 2022 Sculptures by the Seas exhibition in Sydney, Australia, October 19, 2022. REUTERS/Cordelia Hsu TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Australia-based environmental artist Marina DeBris aims to portray the power of one person in the planet’s fight against marine pollution with her latest sculpture showcased at a Sydney beach exhibition.

“Just a drop in the ocean, Said 7.8 billion people” is on display at Sculpture by the Sea, which opened on Friday.

More than 100 artworks are on display along the 2km (1.24 miles) coastal walk between Sydney’s Bondi beach and Tamarama, with organisers expecting about a half-million visitors across three weeks.

“It’s about how one person can make a difference in a positive way or in a negative way,” said DeBris, who uses a punny pseudonym to highlight the threats faced by marine life from plastic and waste.

People may not feel like their actions matter in the big picture but if every person picked up one piece of rubbish, there would be 7.8 billion bits of trash removed, she said in an interview.

DeBris, who begins her day by picking up rubbish washed ashore on beaches, has been transforming the trash into sculptures and wearable art since 2009.

Her art has been called “trashion”, which she says has raised awareness about single-use plastics and pollution in the oceans.

FILE PHOTO: Australia-based artist, Marina DeBris, works on her latest sculpture in a garage in Sydney, Australia, October 6, 2022. REUTERS/Cordelia Hsu

A study by the University of New South Wales last year found 84% of rubbish found on Australian beaches was plastic and about 40% of marine debris was caused by littering.

Exploring Haʻamonga ʻa Maui, Tonga  

By
Angel Gimalo
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Haʻamonga ʻa Maui, sometimes referred to as the Burden of Maui, is a stone trilithon which is located in the northern part of the main island of Tongatapu, in the Kingdom of Tonga.

This interesting ancient masterpiece is actually a structure that has two large vertical stones which serve as posts supporting the third large stone that stands atop those two.

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Constructed entirely of limestone, the stone structure rises up to 5 meters (17 feet) in height, and it is 1.4 meters (5 feet) wide and 6 meters (20 feet) long, and it was mined from the sea coast which is a stone throw away.

As there is no way of precisely measuring the weight of the stones, they are considered to weigh between 30 and 40 tons.

There are no clear sources why Haʻamonga ʻa Maui was constructed, nonetheless, there is some evidence that suggests that it was built some time in 13 century by the Tongan King Tuʻitātui as a grand entrance to the royal compound that was located there.

There is another claim which was suggested by the king of Tonga Tāufa’āhau Tupou IV who said that the structure served as an astronomical observatory that was built in 6 century, since it helps to tell the position of sunrise at solstices and equinoxes.

Considered as a great symbol of the small kingdom in the Pacific Ocean, the Burden of Maui shall continue to attract visitors to the main island, and it will continue to be used as a symbol of unity between the people and royal family.

South African Designer Revives Family History In New Collection

By
Koko Lawrence
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Thando Ntuli, a young designer who just unveiled her new collection at South African Fashion Week, hopes her clothes will convey a sense of home.

The 25-year-old, who grew up in the township of Soweto, took inspiration from the dresses and skirts she used to borrow from her mother and grandmother in the 1980s and 1990s.

“I just want this sense of home to be given, or transferred to the people wearing the brand,” said Ntuli, whose brand is called “Munkus” after a term of endearment that her family uses for her.

The designer dedicated her Autumn/Winter 2023 collection to her mother and explored different roles women play in society.

“I looked into the five personas that my mum represents: she’s basically a giver, a nurturer, a lover, a fighter, and a leader,” Ntuli said in an interview.

This multitude of roles is reflected in different silhouettes and colours the designer used in her collection, which includes a dress with an image of Ntuli’s mother printed on the front.

2022 National Sports Festival: Sports Ministry Relists Para Sports

By
Emenike Agu
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The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development says it has relists the following Para Sports to the National Sports Festival in Delta State: Para Athletics, Para Table Tennis, Para Powerlifting and Deaf Sports of (Athletics and Table Tennis).

The decision, according to a press statement from the Sports Ministry was done in consultation with stakeholders in sports.

The National Council of State had, in its virtual meeting last week removed Para Sports in its entirety from the Delta 2022 Festival and subsequent editions.

However, the Ministry wishes to state that their events will be limited to where Nigeria has competitive advantages.

This decision was taken in the overall interest of Sports Development in Nigeria, as the National Sports Festival has become the Flagship Games for the discovery, grooming and empowerment of our youth athletes.

The Ministry condemns the behaviour of some misguided athletes who engaged in unwarranted acts of protests and blackmail without recourse to due process.

These actions which led to the disturbance of public peace and the good image of Sportsmen and women, especially with the recent public acceptance of the superlative performance of Team Nigeria at the 2022 Commonwealth Games is a breach of our Sports Ethical Code.

The Ministry wishes to state further that it will apply the rules in dealing with such acts in due course. Athletes must learn to follow the due process laid down for resolving issues.

The facts about this administration’s commitment to the upliftment of the Para Athletes and Parasports are in the public domain, well documented.

Para Athletes are therefore, advised to henceforth exhaust the channels of communication and processes laid down for airing grievances, rather than resort to public disturbance.

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