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Transfer: Victor Osimen Preferable for Chelsea than Manchester – CEO, Brila Media

by Folarin Kehinde February 13, 2023

written by Folarin Kehinde

Anyebe Victor, Abuja

The Chairman CEO Brila Media, Dr Larry Isamoje popularly known as Coachy has had his take on the transfer speculations of Victor Osimen from Napoli to the English Premier League. Either to Chelsea or Manchester United who are both in the race for the services of the hot inform Nigerian Napoli striker.

Speaking on radio, Brila FM on the show, No holds Barred” with Ifeanyi Udeze an ex International of the super eagles who is also one of the OAPs of Brila FM Dr Larry Isamoje said, ” If you want my honest and sincere opinion of where Victor Osimen should go between Chelsea and Manchester United, I would say he should go to Chelsea.

“Chelsea jut signed one of the best midfielders currently in Europe and for a British record transfer fee of £107m, Enzo Fernandez, who is so gifted on the ball that whenever he’s with the ball he looks vertically first which is where Victor Osimen would be positioned.

“He could also look horizontally where Chelsea have also strengthened during the last January transfer window where you have Noni Madueke, Mykhaylo Mudryk and João Felix on loan from Athletico Madrid blistering from the middle.

“Victor Osimen will also look at Chelsea and all former Nigerian and African players that have succeeded in the club to be an extra motivation. Examples are Didier Drogba, John Obi Mikel, Micheal Essien, Solomon Kalou and a host of others.

Even in this current Chelsea team is Noni Madueke, a Nigerian who he can easily relate with and even speak pigin English when necessary. Kai Havertz is Chelsea’s main striker this season and can be easily displaced by Victor Osimen unlike Manchester United where Marcus Rashford is in the form of his life.

“Marcus Rashford is also an English player, whom Osimen would need a miracle to displaced from that position at the moment. Also Manchester United just bought a forward who is from the same country with the manager of Manchester United.

“Let’s be honest, Eric Ten Hag(Manchester United manager) might play politics on who to play among the two knowing fully well his country man is involved”.

Adding his own view, another Nigerian ex International, Victor Agali who was also a guest on the show said, ” He would advise Victor to still remain at Napoli and still enjoying his football than moving but also said Chelsea has the best midfield than can play to Victor Osimen’s strength”.

As the summer transfer window will open in June, it remains to be seen where Victor Osimen would end up playing next season.

Napoli FC would do everything possible to convince him to stay with them perhaps for another season. Give and take, the choice is still down to Victor Osimen’s final decision but one thing is sure, Victor Osimen won’t go for cheap. Whichever club that needs his services must cough out over a £100m for Napoli.

February 13, 2023 0 comments

Headlines

Valentine’s Day: Share Love, Not HIV, NACA Tells Nigerians

by Folarin Kehinde February 13, 2023

written by Folarin Kehinde

Ahead of the February 14 valentine’s day celebration, the Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Gambo Aliyu has urged Nigerian youths to abstain from unprotected sex during the season.

The DG NACA disclosed this in a statement signed by the agency’s Head of Public Relations and Protocol, Toyin Aderiabe on Monday stating that the season gives rise to the highest number of people infected with the HIV/AIDS disease.

Aliyu had earlier revealed that Nigeria currently has a total number of 1.9 million people living with the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV).

However, due to the increasing rate of HIV/AIDS in the country, the DG NACA pleaded with Nigerians most especially the youths to abstain from indiscriminate sexual activities during this season to curtail the growth of the disease in the country.

Aliyu said “This occasion, though significant in the lives of people globally, brings a lot of cause to worry about, as the expression of love, especially among adolescents, youths, and other diverse populations most often falls out of context.

“As we express love for our partners during this Valentine’s Day, remember to love wisely. As members of a wider society, your health and productivity count to both your nuclear and extended families and the entire country.

“Nigeria stands to benefit greatly from your contributions. So, I urge you to desist from practices that might expose you to risks of contracting HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases as we commemorate this special day. Once again, I urge you to love wisely, share love, and not the virus,” the statement reads.

Aliyu also stated that about 4.2 per cent of the population infected with HIV are young people between the ages of 15 and 24 years.

He said, “The new HIV infections is highest among young people aged 15-24 years and with the national data suggesting that about 4.2 per cent of young people (ages 15-24) are living with HIV.”

He stated that the statistics are discouraging and urged that condom options should be prioritized and made available as a preventive measure to youths and people of reproductive age who cannot abstain from sex.

February 13, 2023 0 comments

Headlines

Why Elections Will Not Hold In 204 Polling Units – INEC

by Folarin Kehinde February 13, 2023

written by Folarin Kehinde

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced Monday that the forthcoming national and state elections will not be held in 204 polling units scattered across 28 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The INEC boss, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this during his meeting with political parties on Monday in Abuja.

Yakubu said security challenges in the locations of the polling units prevented new and existing voters from choosing the polling units during the recent Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

“You may recall that in 2021, with your support and that of other critical stakeholders, the Commission successfully expanded voter access to polling units 25 years after the last delimitation exercise in 1996. Consequently, the number of polling units increased from 119,973 to the current figure of 176,846.

“At previous meetings, we also briefed you on our efforts to redistribute voters to the polling units in order to avoid the congestion that made voting cumbersome in many of them nationwide. This requires the redistribution of voters to new polling units in proximate locations. Where they are separated by distance, this must be done after consultation with the voters.

“This has been done by our State offices nationwide. However, there are 240 polling units without registered voters spread across 28 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). They range from one polling unit to 12 polling units in each State and the FCT, except Taraba and Imo States with 34 and 38 polling units respectively.

“In our avowed commitment to transparency, the Commission is making available to Nigerians a comprehensive list of these polling units by name, code number and their locations by State, Local Government and Registration Area.

With this development, the number of polling units where elections will hold nationwide on 25th February 2023 and 11th March 2023 is now 176,606. Hard copies of the list are included in your folders for this meeting.

“Above all, Nigerians deserve the right to know the locations of these polling units. Accordingly, the soft copy of the list has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information and guidance,” said Yakubu.

Speaking further, the INEC boss said the commission was making efforts to address issues pertaining to voters finding it difficult to identify their polling units.

“From the feedback we received from our officials and accredited observers following the recent nationwide mock accreditation using the BVAS, it is clear that some voters could not easily identify their polling units.

This should not happen on election day. Consequently, the Commission is advising voters to confirm the locations of their polling units through a dedicated portal on our website.

“In addition, all voters who have been assigned to new polling units will receive text messages from the Commission indicating their polling units. We have also compiled the register of such voters and our State offices will give it wide publicity, especially for those who may not have provided their telephone numbers during voter registration or those whose numbers may have changed.

Voters can locate and confirm their polling units before election day by sending a regular text or WhatsApp message to a dedicated telephone number. Details of the simple procedure will be uploaded to our social media platforms shortly,” he added.

February 13, 2023 0 comments

Headlines

How 2023 Valentine’s Day Can Still Be Colorful Despite Naira Scarcity

by Folarin Kehinde February 11, 2023

written by Folarin Kehinde

Kenny Folarin, Abuja

Every February 14 globally, the language of love is spoken by all and sundry irrespective of tribe, race, color or religion, Nigerians are undoubtedly no exception.

The day is commonly regarded as a special day for lovers and families who believe in love, sacrificing for what they stand for and reciprocating the act of love to one another.

Unlike other Valentine’s Day, 2023 began with high hopes for a new government in Nigeria, hence power must definitely change hands.

Unfortunately, the love month was heralded with naira scarcity and many lovers and families now have their hopes dashed as the non availability of the legal tender bites harder.

Despite this hitches, below are tips that lovers can enjoy to have a fun filled Valentine’s Day.

Don’t Overstress

Valentine’s Day is just a day, 24 hours! and as long as life remains, there will still be more Valentine’s Day to celebrate. So rather than borrow money or make mouth watering promises, it is better to stay within ones budget. Buy what is affordable and enjoy.

Be Romantic

Unfortunately, many believe that being romantic must involve spending heavily, buying flowers or expensive gift items to really appreciate a lover. Surprisingly, it is not! Being romantic means doing something common in an uncommon way. Surprised your partner with that special and simple love message or voice notes, as a guy take it upon yourself to cook that special simple meal, play, ludo games or whot together, look deeply into each others eye and profess love.

Go the old Skool Way

The advent of technology has made lovers especially on Valentine’s Day to forget quickly how love use to be back in the day when writing love letters was still in vogue, also partners can decide to wear old Skool clothes and dance to the rhythm of old romantic music wrapped in each other arms.

Have a Pillow Talk

With hands cloves in each other, partners can decide to have a pillow talk and discuss about issues relating to achieving a better life, confess wishes and aspirations and plan on how to accomplish them and ultimately forgive and appreciate each other.

Without mincing words, if the above points are practicalised, partners will not only enjoy the moment but would have saved a whole lot if naira was available.

February 11, 2023 0 comments

Headlines

Foundation Harps on Technology, Engineering, STEM for the Girl-Child

by Folarin Kehinde February 10, 2023

written by Folarin Kehinde

The Country Director, Stella Denis
Odyssey Educational Foundation, OEF has said it was imperative for the girl child to be grounded in Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, STEM in order to make a positive difference in the tech world.

Denis, who spoke during the launch of the Technovation Technology and Entrepreneurship for girls’, held in Abuja said the empowerment of the girl-child in technology would improve the esteem of the girl-child.

She explained that the Odyssey Educational Foundation has put a lot of effort into the Technovation Girls project over the last eight
years, creating over 1500 apps and instructing over 1000 students.

She said: “We have committed to promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education and application among young people, especially girls in Nigeria. We pursue the mission to promote STEM education and application with a view to catalyzing technological advancement and industrialization, while reducing the gender gap in low and middle income economies in the African region.

“Our approach is by staging intervention programs aimed at equipping especially
underprivileged young girls in public schools with 21st century technological skills. We
target the public schools because we realized that children from remote and
under-served communities are mostly found there.

“The wonderful initiative “Technovation Girls” encourages young women to use
technology to make a difference in the world. Girls have created smartphone apps over
the years to address issues in the community, including inadequate education, hunger
and poverty, gender inequality, corruption, and environmental challenges.

“I have to admit that one of the finest ways to learn how to code, develop products, collaborate with others, and begin thinking like an entrepreneur is through project-based competitions like Technovation Girls.

“Our girls’ confidence has increased
as a result of their involvement in this project, which has also given them skills in
teamwork, research, public speaking, and presenting.”

On his part, the assistant Cultural Affairs Officer, United States, US, Embassy, Peter Burba, while describing the initiative as best of its kind, said it would boost the girl-child’s Image, not just in Nigeria but in Africa.

He said that Nigeria has been implementing the Technovation program since 2013 and currently has six Technovation Regional Ambassadors.

He said that with the involvement of the girl-child in tech, the country is bound to experience major development in its economic, social, and political sectors.

“Technovation Girls Challenge 2023, a great initiative of the Odyssey Educational Foundation. Last year I had the good fortune to launch Technovation, and I understand one team of Nigerian girls went on to become regional winners, 1 in all of Africa.

“This is not the first time the U.S. Embassy has financially supported the Technovation Girls Challenge, which aims to train girls between the ages of 10 to 18 to use technology and employ those skills in solving problems in their community.

“Nigeria has been implementing the Technovation program since 2013 and by our latest count Nigeria has six Technovation Regional Ambassadors and three of the ambassadors are alumni of U.S. government exchange programs.

“Nigerian girls have a successful history in this program. In 2015, a group of Nigerian girls—Team Charis—won the 2015 Technovation challenge in San Francisco with their mobile app, Discardious, designed to solve the problem of waste disposal in Nigeria.

“In the broader context though, the participants in this program will learn skills that provide them with better chances to excel in their education and offer the opportunity to find meaningful employment.

“Women’s inclusion in the workforce, and in important fields like Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (or STEM for short) is key to a society’s economic, social, and political development.”

February 10, 2023 0 comments

Headlines

NAFDAC Declares State of Emergency, As Nigeria Rank First in Bleaching

by Folarin Kehinde February 9, 2023

written by Folarin Kehinde

The National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has declared a State of Emergency on bleaching after establishing that Nigeria today has been ranked first in cases of bleaching,

Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director General of NAFDAC, raised the alarm on the menace of bleaching creams in Nigeria, saying the problem has become a national emergency that calls for serious attention.

She stated this while flagging off a media sensitization workshop on Dangers of Bleaching Creams and Regulatory Control organized by the Association of Nigerian Health Journalists in Kano on Thursday.

She added that 77 percent of those engaged in bleaching in Nigeria are women, saying this calls for a multifaceted approach in fighting the menace of bleaching creams, which she warned have fatal health hazards.

“The World Health Organization study in 2018 revealed that the use of skin bleaching cream is prevalent amongst 77 percent of Nigerian women, which is the highest in Africa compared to 59 percent in Togo, 35 percent in South Africa and 27 percent in Senegal.

“These scary statistics have shown that the menace of bleaching creams in Nigeria has become a national health emergency that requires a multi-faceted regulatory approach,” she said.

She also explained that in response to these statistics, the Federal Government, through the office of the Secretary to the Government, Boss Mustapha wrote to NAFDAC last year seeking stringent measures to be implemented against the menace. She added that sensitization workshops in the six geopolitical zones were part of the measures being taken.

“This sensitization workshop is a training of trainers program with the great expectation that participants will assume roles of champions in the vanguard of the campaign against the use of bleaching creams.

“I wish to assure you that NAFDAC will henceforth constantly engage the mass media as we strive to bring down to the grass levels the positive impact of our regulatory activities.

Even though I have assigned some of my competent officers to carry out this training, it has become imperative on me to warn that some of the harmful effects of Bleaching creams include cancer, damage to vital organs in the body, skin irritation and allergy, skin burn and rashes, wrinkles, premature aging and prolonged healing of wounds,” she stated.

Speaking, the former National President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Pharm. Ahmad Ibrahim Yakasai warned that the cases of bleaching among women folks, including men, if not arrested, would create serious health cases in Nigeria.

The Director of Public Affairs of the NAFDAC, Dr Abubakar Jimoh, worried that the agency has only 3000 staff covering the entire federation of over 200 million citizens.

February 9, 2023 0 comments

Headlines

2023 Elections: NUC Orders Immediate Closure of Universities

by Folarin Kehinde February 9, 2023

written by Folarin Kehinde

The National Universities Commission, NUC, has directed the closure of all universities and inter-university centres between February 22nd and March 14.

NUC said there would be no academic activities during the shutdown.

The announcement was contained in a statement signed by the Deputy Executive Secretary (Administration), Chris Maiyaki.

According to the statement, the decision followed concerns about the security of staff, students and the universities’ properties during the general elections scheduled from February 25 – March 14.

The Commission said the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, gave the directive following consultation with relevant security agencies.

February 9, 2023 0 comments

Headlines

Chief Inegbeniki Emerge Brand Ambassador of Oseni Motorcar

by Folarin Kehinde February 9, 2023

written by Folarin Kehinde

Chief Francis Inegbeniki has become the new ambassador of Oseni Motorcar in Ewu Kingdom of Edo State.

Ewu, in his typical characteristic of promoting ingenuity and innovation in Esanland, the Edo State APC State Vice Chairman (Edo Central), Chief (Dr) Francis Inegbeniki, the Uzoya of Esanland, during the ongoing APC ward-to-ward rally, held yesterday at ward 07 in Ewu Kingdom, publicly acknowledged the ingenuity and creativity of an Ewu son, Mr Kadiri Oseni, who invented an automobile in Ewu Kingdom.

Mr Kadiri Oseni is a person living with disability, but, he has demonstrated to the world that, there is ability in disability.

Chief Inegbeniki and some of his followers ride with Mr Oseni in the made in Ewu motorcar, to the home of the eldest man in Ewu Kingdom, where the APC State Vice Chairman led other party chieftains to pay homage to Pa Omoeria Okonofua, who is 126 years of age.

Chief Inegbeniki use the occasion to call on relevant agencies of governments and private individuals to assist Mr Kadiri Oseni in whatever means to develop his ingenuity in a global level.

February 9, 2023 0 comments

Headlines

Over 18 million Nigerians Are River Blindness Free – FG

by Folarin Kehinde February 9, 2023

written by Folarin Kehinde

Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health has announced that it has achieved the criteria to stop treatment for onchocerciasis in four additional states representing more than 18.9 million people.

Nigerian States such as Imo, Abia, Enugu, and Anambra are no longer at risk of the disease whose symptoms include severe itching, visual impairment, and disfiguration of the skin.

These states join 10 others that have achieved interrupted transmission of river blindness, enabling Nigeria to stop treatment for more than 28 million people, more than any other country in the world.

Chair, Nigeria’s Onchocerciasis Elimination Committee, Professor B.E.B Nwoke expressed his delight
to see millions of Nigerians free from the threat of river blindness.

“Today I’m proud that Nigeria, once again, serves as a beacon of inspiration not only for river blindness elimination globally but also for all the countries around the world working to eliminate neglected tropical diseases,” he continued.

He explained that Nigeria has the largest population at-risk for river blindness of all countries globally, with more than 100 million people in 32 states and the Federal Capitol Territory affected. The country has also made the greatest strides globally in eliminating the disease.

“Nigeria continues to achieve incredible progress in its effort to eliminate river blindness and serves as an example of what is possible”.

“This latest announcement is the largest one-time achievement in the history of river blindness”.

Dr. Wangeci Thuo, Chief of Party for Nigeria on USAID’s Act to End NTDs | East program, led by RTI International, on his part applauded
the Nigerian government and health system’s dedication to freeing its people from the risk of this devastating disease.

The leadership of the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health’s National Onchocerciasis Elimination Programme and the dedication of tens of thousands of community health workers across the country were critical to this achievement. USAID’s Act to End NTDs | East program, through partners The Carter Center and RTI International, have worked alongside the Nigerian government to achieve its aim of nationwide elimination of transmission of river blindness.

Nigeria achieved this latest record-breaking milestone after 27 years of consistent distribution of the medicine ivermectin (Mectizan®, donated by Merck & Co., Inc.), paired with health education, to treat, prevent, and eliminate the disease. The Nigeria Onchocerciasis Elimination Committee, which advises the country’s national elimination program, recommended cessation of treatment in these four states based on its review of surveillance results in early December. Results demonstrated interruption of transmission of river blindness.

February 9, 2023 0 comments

Headlines

Carter Center Celebrates Nigeria for Stopping River Blindness Spread in Several States

by Folarin Kehinde February 9, 2023

written by Folarin Kehinde

The Carter Center has congratulated the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health today for stopping river blindness transmission in four of the country’s 36 states, protecting 18.9 million people from the second-leading infectious cause of blindness.

The largest stop-treatment decision in the history of the global river blindness campaign — was announced today in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, following World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day Jan. 30.

The Director, the Carter Center’s River Blindness Elimination Program, Dr. Gregory Noland
stated that the magnitude of Nigeria’s latest ‘stop treatment decision’ for river blindness is incredible.

Noland explained that the feat is the largest in the history of the global campaign for perspective, prior to this decision, the 16-year cumulative stop-treatment total in 12 Carter Center-assisted countries was about 12.3 million this more than doubles that figure.

Nigeria’s National Onchocerciasis Elimination Committee determined and informed Federal Minister of Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire that four Carter Center-assisted states (Abia, Anambra, Enugu, and Imo) have interrupted onchocerciasis transmission and met World Health Organization criteria to halt Mectizan treatment for river blindness.

The minister’s decision, recommended by NOEC, covers a record of 18.9 million people with about 5 million people in these areas still require Mectizan treatments combined with albendazole for lymphatic filariasis, another parasitic disease; the program believes these areas will soon interrupt transmission of that disease too, enabling the start of post-treatment surveillance for both diseases.

Carter Center-supported laboratories contributed to the historic decision, processing 52,187 black flies and 12,718 blood samples to demonstrate transmission interruption.

The announcement follows last year’s news that Carter Center-assisted Plateau and Nasarawa states were the first in Nigeria to complete post-treatment surveillance for river blindness and achieve transmission elimination status.

For 30 years, we have worked with Nigerians at all levels to eliminate this debilitating disease,” said Dr. Emmanuel Miri, Carter Center country representative and one of the original team members to help launch the country’s national program in the early 1990s.

“Together, we’re committed to the goal of nationwide river blindness elimination.”

As a pioneer in river blindness elimination, The Carter Center assisted the world’s first four countries — Colombia (2013), Ecuador (2014), Mexico (2015), and Guatemala (2016) — to eliminate transmission of the disease through community-directed Mectizan treatments and health education, securing official WHO recognition.

Since 1995, the Center has assisted a dozen countries, including Nigeria, in the cumulative delivery of more than 500 million Mectizan treatments for onchocerciasis. Currently, more than 31 million people no longer require treatment in Carter Center-assisted areas in Latin America and Africa.

Together with partners, The Carter Center is committed to river blindness elimination on World NTD Day and every day. NTDs are a group of 20 diseases — six of which The Carter Center addresses — that are preventable and treatable, but still affect 1.7 billion people around the world. They usually affect people who don’t have access to the basics — clean water, nutritious food, and sanitation. NTDs cost developing countries billions of dollars a year in lost productivity.

Since 1988, The Carter Center and Nigeria’s Ministry of Health have collaborated to eliminate NTDs throughout the country, including WHO certification of the nationwide elimination of Guinea worm disease (2013), elimination of lymphatic filariasis and river blindness transmission in Plateau and Nasarawa states (2017, 2021 respectively) and the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem (2018) in the same two states.

February 9, 2023 0 comments

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