Students Lament Restriction of Movement Over Community Festival

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August 30, 2023

Students of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu Campus, have complained about the restriction placed on movement by the community in celebration of the Storm of Love festival, locally known as the Eluku Offin festival in the area.

According to reports, the students, especially those studying medical sciences were currently in the middle of their examination when the announcement was made, saying studying for their examinations was now difficult.

In a one-minute and 36-second video, the community warned the residents, especially the non-indigenes, of movement restrictions between 10 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., starting from August 27 to August 29.

The community also warned motorists, including taxi drivers and commercial bus drivers, to stay indoors during the restricted hours.

However, a level three nursing student at OOU who did not want to be mentioned in the media for fear of victimisation said the announcement had disrupted their plans and restricted them from going out to read.

Another student in the area said the festival would not affect the students but restaurants that close very late because of students in the area.

Meanwhile, in a letter jointly signed by Vice-President II, Hamzah Oyekunmi and assistant General Secretary II, Obayomi Emmanuel, of the Student Union Government, titled, ‘Temporary restriction of movement in Sagamu community for students safety,’ the SUG warned students in the community against violating the restriction order within the stimulated three days for their safety.

Adamawa State Receives 10 Purchased Luxurious Buses From Innoson Motors

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Angel Gimalo

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August 30, 2023

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The management Of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM), a Nigerian Automobile Company has officially handed over the purchased 10 Luxurious Buses.

Adamawa Receives 10 Luxurious Buses from Innoson Motors

The management Of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM), a Nigerian Automobile Company has officially handed over the purchased 10 Luxurious Buses to Adamawa State Government.

The 10 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) coaches with a 100-passenger capacity (54 seated and 46 standing) were procured by the state government.

This was following the countenance by the State Executive Council in that regard to cushioning the impact of fuel subsidy removal on the people.

Mr Obum Osigwe, General Manager Sales IVM Innoson motors presented the keys of the vehicles in the Government House, Yola on Tuesday.

According to him the vehicles which are of quality standard were purchased at the cost of over N1bn from the manufacturing firm.

Responding after receiving the keys of the vehicles, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri restated the commitment of his administration to the welfare of the state residents.

The Governor represented by his deputy Prof Kaletapwa Farauta said the state government will continue to partner the company in the interest of the citizens.

He called on the citizens to support the policies of the government as they are meant for their good and development of the state as a whole.

Great Green Wall Project: Reps Commence Probe

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Angel Gimalo

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August 30, 2023

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The House of Representatives has begun an investigation into the utilization of ecological funds released to the Great Green Wall project from 2015 to date.

Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee, Hon. Ismaíla Dabo said the objective of the investigative hearing is to gather data towards ensuring the project is optimally implemented, as well as to identify challenges affecting its execution.

This hearing is coming at a time of heightened public expectations, given the experiences with the management of public funds by agencies of government in recent times, which is threatening the development of Nigeria.

The objective is to expose corruption and guide the new administration in the continued implementation of the policy.

Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee, Hon. Isma’ila Dabo is worried that despite funds put into the Great Green Wall programme from both Federal Government and international partners, funds were being used inappropriately.

He expressed displeasure that some ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government, as well as several State Governments have either not responded to the Committee’s request to submit necessary documents required, or deliberately delayed such documents to prevent it from carrying out its mandate.

In another development, the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee investigating non-remittance to the National Housing Fund (NHF) and utilization of the funds from 2011 has summoned concerned Chief Executive Officers of insurance companies over unremitted N267 billion workers investment in NHF only for the year 2019.

Chairman of the Committee Dachung Bagos issued the summon following their failure to appear before the committee to explain the unremitted fund.

The insurance companies are expected to come and explain why they are still owing over 267 billion Naira of workers investment to NHF in 2019.

The Committee also expects the National Insurance Commission (NICON) to show proof of insurance companies who were in default of remitting workers investment to Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.

National AI Collaboration Will Bring Economic Development— Researchers

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Nzubechukwu Anodo

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August 30, 2023

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Scholars in the Computer Science field say the call for a co-creation of a National AI by researchers of Nigerian descent will lead to economic development.

In a report, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani called on top researchers of Nigerian descent from all over the world to join in co-creating a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy.

Tijani said Nigeria needed to develop a national strategy to harness the power of AI for sustainable development.

In a document titled, ‘Co-creating a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy for Nigeria,’ which he shared on his X handle disclosed that Al had become a multi-purpose technology transforming production and service delivery, with the potential to significantly impact economic growth and social progress.

Speaking on the development, Olumide Obe of the Computer Science Department, School of Computing, Federal University of Technology, Akure, said that the crossbreeding between researchers and industry would lead to all-round development.

He said the National Information Technology Development Agency has an arm that is into AI and robotics, but all researchers in the field of ICT should come together and create the national AI strategy.

He complained about the isolation style of operation which he said was common to Nigerian professionals.

A Professor of Computer Science and Director of ICT, Lagos State University, Ojo, Oluwatoyin Enikuomehin said AI would only work on concepts and entities that already existed, adding that the Nigerian Researchers were the ones who understood the localisation of these new IT technologies to the immediate environment.

He said AI must be accepted as this is what will define where we will be as academics in a globalised society.

He added that the level of success from AI intervention would depend on the level of investment the FG was ready to make available for AI research, training, and deployment.

Recall the world is now leveraging on the successes of Internet of Things, a concept that has made leaving smarter and now we are looking at what AI will bring.

Anambra Governor Pledges To Prioritize Teachers’ Welfare

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Nzubechukwu Anodo

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August 30, 2023

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The Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo has advocated for increased support for teachers in the society.

He emphasized that teachers’ welfare is the bedrock of true development.

The Governor who was speaking during the 9th (7th Quadrennial) Conference of delegates of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Anambra State wing at Anambra Teachers’ House Awka, affirmed that the nation is directionless without the services of teachers.

He reiterated that one can predict the future of any nation when a cursory look is taken at the quality of teachers and teaching.

He maintained that teaching is a profession that should be dignified, as such teachers should not be recruited based on who knows who but on merit, which saw Anambra leading the way in its recent recruitment exercise.

The Governor commended Anambra teachers for stellar performances and winning laurels at different competitions, assuring that the present administration will continue to appreciate the pivotal role of teachers in development.

Speaking on the theme of the event; Petrol Subsidy Removal, its impact on the teacher and learner and the way forward, Governor Soludo stressed that truthfully, Nigeria is presently going through long overdue changes, pointing out that the subsidy has been a scam over the years.

He commended President Bola Tinubu for having the courage to remove the subsidy, noting that over the years, the country has been living above its means.

The Anambra State NUT Chairman, Nonye Chibueze praised the Governor for giving matters concerning education and teachers first consideration.

Chibueze urged the Governor to recruit more teachers into the public primary and secondary school system.

Breast Cancer Patients to Begin Clinical Trial to Reduce Heart Damage – Cardiology Society

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Cleopatra Okohai

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August 30, 2023

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The European Society of Cardiology has revealed that women with breast cancer would be enrolled in a clinical trial to reduce heart damage.

This was revealed in a statement by CARDIOCARE Project Coordinator, University of Ioannina, Greece, Professor Dimitrios Fotiadis, on the website of the association.

According to her, the clinical trial would examine the ability of behavioural and psychological interventions to reduce heart damage from anti-cancer therapies.

According to the World Health Organisation, breast cancer is a disease in which abnormal breast cells grow out of control and form tumours.

WHO says that if the tumours are left unchecked, they can spread throughout the body and become fatal.

Fotiadis said cardiovascular disease is a devastating complication of anti-cancer treatment that affects the physical and mental health of patients.

According to him, breast cancer is the most frequently occurring tumour in the EU, accounting for 13.3 per cent of all new cases in 2020.

“It is estimated that one in 11 women in the EU will develop breast cancer by the age of 74.

“CARDIOCARE will provide women over the age of 65 with breast cancer, the tools to improve their physical health and to psychologically adapt to the disease,” he said.

The health expert explained that the CARDIOCARE project was being conducted by a consortium of European partners, including the ESC.

Fotiadi said that the five-year EU-funded project aimed to radically change the management of older women with breast cancer.

“A clinical trial evaluating the impact of behavioural and psychological interventions on quality of life, physical and mental wellbeing, as well as the cardiotoxic effects of breast cancer treatment, will be conducted in 750 breast cancer patients at six clinical centres in Europe.

“All patients in the trial will receive the CARDIOCARE mobile application (app).

“Participants will be randomly allocated to receive the app, incorporating the ePsycHeart and eHealtHeart, or to receive the app with ePsycHeart only.

“ePsycHeart will monitor the quality of life, mobility and mental health using a wearable chest band heart rate sensor, smartwatch and questionnaires.

“eHealtHeart will encourage patients in the intervention group to adopt behaviours including physical activity, healthy diet, games to improve memory and changing the home environment to reduce the risk of falls,” he said.

The project coordinator further said that another goal of the trial was early identification of women with breast cancer at the greatest risk of heart and blood vessel damage from anti-cancer treatments.

According to him, “Cutting-edge technologies such as next-generation sequencing will be used to pinpoint changes in gut microbe species that signal damage of the heart and blood vessels before symptoms occur.

“In addition, artificial intelligence will be used to analyse images of the heart to predict the likelihood of heart damage.”

Fotiadis noted that the project would harness the expertise of cardiologists, oncologists, psychologists, molecular biologists, bioinformaticians, computer scientists and biomedical engineers from seven countries across Europe.

He said the multi-speciality experts would improve the monitoring, treatment and care that the patients would receive.

“CARDIOCARE is on track to improve the physical and mental health of older women with breast cancer by detecting the cardiovascular side effects of anti-cancer treatment early and providing digital tools to help patients improve their mental and physical wellbeing,” he added.

A WHO report shows that half of all breast cancers occur in women with no specific risk factors other than sex and age.

WHO said that breast cancer occurs in every country in the world and caused 685,000 deaths globally in 2020.

Transfer:Wolves Target Kelechi Iheanacho

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Emenike Agu

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August 30, 2023

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Wolves are reportedly interested in signing Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho before the end of the summer transfer window.

Reports say the Nigerian striker is valued at around £20 million by the East Midlands club. Gary O’Neil is in the market for a striker following Raul Jimenez’s move to Fulham earlier in window, but with just two of the summer window remaning, any deal for Iheanacho would have to move fast.

The news comes with Matheus Nunes set to be fined by Wolves after he missed training in an effort to secure a move to Premier League champions Manchester City. Guardiola’s club have had a £47m bid for the 25-year-old Portugal player rejected, but Nunes is trying to force through a move to City before Friday’s deadline.

Team news

Elsewhere, and Wolves are unlikely to risk Hwang Hee Chan in their Carabao Cup clash against Blackpool at Molineux on Tuesday night. Hwang was forced off on Saturday at half-time in Wolves’ 1-0 win over Everton, and it emerged that he had suffered a hamstring problem.

Hwang felt his hamstring in the first half so we were forced into that one,” said O’Neill when questioned about the decision to bring off the South Korean at the weekend. It is his third hamstring issue that he has suffered since his arrival, and it is unsure how long he could be out for.

O’Neil was unable to call upon Matheus Nunes on Saturday because of suspension, and he is unlikely to feature against Blackpool tonight.

No Alcohol Level is Safe For Human Consumption – WHO

By

Cleopatra Okohai

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August 30, 2023

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The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that no level of alcohol consumption is safe for human health.

The WHO said the risks and harms associated with drinking alcohol have been systematically evaluated over the years and are well-documented.

In a statement published in The Lancet Public Health, WHO said there is no safe amount of alcohol that does not affect health.

It noted that alcohol is a toxic, psychoactive, and dependence-producing substance and has been classified as a Group 1 Carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer decades ago.

“This is the highest risk group, which also includes asbestos, radiation and tobacco. Alcohol causes, at least, seven types of cancer, including the most common cancer types, such as bowel cancer and female breast cancer,” it said.

The WHO noted that ethanol (alcohol) causes cancer through biological mechanisms as the compound breaks down in the body, saying that any beverage containing alcohol, regardless of its price and quality, poses cancer risk.

It added that the risk of developing cancer increases substantially the more alcohol that is consumed.

Meanwhile, available data from WHO, indicate that half of all alcohol-attributable cancers in the European Region are caused by ‘light’ and ‘moderate’ alcohol consumption – less than 1.5 litres of wine or less than 3.5 litres of beer, or less than 450 millilitres of spirits per week.

According to the data, this drinking pattern is responsible for the majority of alcohol-attributable breast cancers in women, with the highest burden observed in countries of the European Union.

It noted that in the EU, cancer is the leading cause of death with a steadily increasing incidence rate, and the majority of all alcohol-attributable deaths are due to different types of cancers.

“We cannot talk about a so-called safe level of alcohol use. It doesn’t matter how much you drink – the risk to the drinker’s health starts from the first drop of any alcoholic beverage.

“The only thing that we can say for sure is that the more you drink, the more harmful it is – or, in other words, the less you drink, the safer it is,” explains Dr. Carina Ferreira-Borges, acting Unit Lead for Non-communicable Disease Management and Regional Advisor for Alcohol and Illicit Drugs in the WHO Regional Office for Europe.

Buttressing this point, in a work titled, ‘What’s next for WHO’s global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol?’ published in the National Library of Medicine by David H Jernigan, and team, the authors stated that alcohol is responsible for about three million deaths per year.

It read, “Alcohol continues as the seventh leading risk factor, responsible for approximately three million deaths per year, and the leading cause of death among persons aged 15 to 49 years. Alcohol is also, notably, the only drug for which there is no international convention.

“Along with alcohol-related harm, the alcohol industry and its marketing activities transcend national borders and call for a transnational response. Both the alcohol and the noncommunicable diseases global strategies have relied on voluntary action by Member States. Neither has shown success in stemming the rise of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harms.

“Almost 10 years after the World Health Assembly adopted the Global strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol, and seven years after the inclusion of alcohol as one of the key risk factors in the WHO’s Global action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2013–2030, Member States have made little progress in addressing alcohol use as a risk factor for health.

“We reach this conclusion based on analysis of Member States’ self-reports of actions to reduce the harmful use of alcohol. Results were published in WHO’s 2018 Global status report on alcohol and health, mostly with data from the 2016 survey, but also including some data from the 2015 survey. Both surveys showed that progress on alcohol policies has been slow.

“The alcohol strategy outlined 10 areas, with three identified as the most effective and cost–effective interventions to reduce alcohol-related harm, costing less than 100 United Sates dollars (US$) per disability-adjusted life year averted.

“These interventions include strengthening restrictions on alcohol availability, bans or comprehensive restrictions on alcohol advertising across multiple media platforms and increasing alcohol excise taxes.”

However, a Consultant Gynaecologist at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Awka, Anambra State, Dr. Stanley Egbogu, said alcohol does not serve any good to pregnant women.

“What we advise is that they should abstain from alcohol. That is the baseline,” he added.

Egbogu, who stated that no level of alcohol is good for a foetus, said the attitude of some women who underestimate the impact of alcohol consumption during pregnancy and still indulge in the act, is regrettable.

“Alcohol affects every organ of the baby and might lead to a baby having a small head – microcephaly. It affects the heart, kidney, and liver of the baby,” he said.

According to him, microcephaly is a condition in which a baby’s head is significantly smaller than expected, often due to abnormal brain development.

Egbogu urged pregnant women still taking alcohol to stop while reminding them that there is no known safe amount of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

More so, a fertility expert and Managing Director, Nordica Fertility Centre, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi urged the women who are trying to achieve pregnancy to stay away from alcoholic drinks and others, saying that it may affect the chances of one getting pregnant.

Ajayi, who is also a Consultant Gynecologist and Obstetrician added that though the most likely impact of alcohol on getting pregnant would be from mid-cycle to the time of the expected period, it is safer to steer clear while expecting conception.

Transfer: Fulham Eager To Sign Nigeria’s Alex Iwobi

By

Emenike Agu

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August 30, 2023

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Fulham are in advanced talks with Everton for winger Alex Iwobi and could sign Sevilla striker Lucas Ocampos.

Everton are willing to sell Iwobi, who is into the final year of his contract.

Iwobi’s time at Everton could be coming to an end after Fulham entered talks with Everton over a deal

Alex Iwobi was on a run of 52 consecutive Premier League appearances before he missed Everton’s 1-0 home defeat against Wolves at the weekend due to a hamstring injury

Fulham are in talks with Everton over the signing of Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi ahead of Friday’s transfer deadline.

The 27-year-old has entered the final year of his contract but has not been able to reach agreement wit Everton over an extension.

Fulham manager Marco Silva was in charge of the Merseyside club when Iwobi joined from Arsenal in 2019.

The Cottagers are keen to bolster their attack following the £46m departure of Serbian International Aleksandar Mitrovic to Saudi club Al-Hilal two weeks ago.

They have now opened talks with Everton over the signing of the Nigerian international before the transfer window closes on Friday, September 1st.

Aside from Fulham, two other clubs are also interested in the services of the former Arsenal player. While one is a club from the Premier League the other is outside England.

He started his club’s first two league matches this new season before he got injured in the second game against Aston Villa. The injury has since been confirmed as a hamstring injury which will see him out of action for a few weeks.

Iwobi has been a key player for Everton in the past two seasons and had a run of 52 consecutive league appearances ended last weekend when he was missing in the club’s 1-0 home defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

In the 2022/23 season, he notched 2 goals and 7 assists in 38 appearances as Everton escaped relegation on the final day of the season.

If he eventually joins the West London club, he will become a teammate with Calvin Bassey who signed for Fulham from Ajax earlier in the summer.

NAFDAC Disprove Glucozil Herbal Medicine for Diabetes Treatment

By

Cleopatra Okohai

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August 30, 2023

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has refuted claims that it granted approval for the use of “Glucozil,” a local herbal medicine, for the treatment and diabetes and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

NAFDAC said Glucozil was said to have been purportedly developed by the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, and that it underwent scientific testing, which certified it safe for both humans and animals.

Reacting to the viral information on Tuesday, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, explained that the product was listed by the agency on November 10, 2020, specifically for managing high blood sugar.

She stated, “The agency listed Glucozil capsule on November 10, 2020, for the “MANAGEMENT OF HIGH BLOOD SUGAR” (as captured on the approved label and Listing Certificate issued to the applicant), which was valid till 9th November 2022. Therefore, the herbal medicine certificate has expired.

“As specified in the Herbal Medicine & Related Products Labelling Regulations 2021, this listing was subject to the inclusion of the mandatory Disclaimer. “These claims have not been evaluated by NAFDAC” on the product label. This is the regular disclaimer that is used and required for other listed herbal products, which have not undergone Clinical Trials that the Agency deemed satisfactory.”

NAFDAC denies approving Glucozil herbal medicine for diabetes treatment

NAFDAC maintained that claims of the herbal medication being capable of treating, curing, or preventing diabetes, BPH, or detoxification, were never approved by NAFDAC and should be disregarded by the public.

“Treatment, Curative and Preventive Claims for Diabetes, Benign prostatic hyperplasia and detoxification were never approved for Glucozil as claimed in the publication and hence should be disregarded by the public,” she added.

The NAFDAC DG further clarified that AAU was not the manufacturer or applicant for the product, thus, rendering the listing invalid.

She emphasised that the university should have verified the status of the herbal medicine certificate and its approved claims.

“From our records, Ambrose Alli University was neither the manufacturer nor the applicant of the said product for which the listing is no longer valid. The University should have verified the status of the herbal medicine certificate and the approved claim.

“Manufacturing, Distribution or Marketing of this product is not allowed until the renewal application has been submitted and approved by the agency.”

She, however, assured Nigerians that NAFDAC is committed to ensuring public health and safety through stringent regulatory oversight remains steadfast.

“It is crucial to exercise caution when interpreting health-related claims therefore we encourage the public to refer to NAFDAC’s official communications channels for accurate updates and information.”