Year: 2024

Mandy Park The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, said that his unwavering commitment to building a better nation through investing in the critical areas of human and national development; health and education, is ultimately for the good of the nation and the future of society. Obi made the remarks yesterday, when he paid a visit to Grimard College of Nursing Sciences, Anyigba, Kogi State, where he donated N10 million to the College for the training of nurses, who he said, are at the centre of primary…

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By: Mandy Park The African Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA) has alerted Nigeria to a push by British American Tobacco (BAT) for Pakistan to export small packs of cigarettes, known as “kiddie” packs, to Africa. In a statement backed by 60 public health advocates, representing 54 organizations from 25 African countries, ATCA appealed to the government of Pakistan to “Protect the world’s children: Do not allow British American Tobacco to export kiddie packs of cigarettes to Sudan (Africa).” ATCA noted that BAT’s plan, if not halted, would see BAT subsidiary Pakistan…

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By: Mandy Park Socially-relevant and need-meeting NGO, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has inaugurated the Healthy Food Policy Youth Vanguard (HFPYV) programme with a youth-focused public health and food justice advocacy. The two-day event, held in Lagos, featured the training and induction of over 28 young Nigerians as HFPYV pioneers from across the country. In his address on Day 1 of the programme, CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, disclosed that the HFPYV is designed to equip youths to promote healthy living lifestyle and resist attempts by corporations to…

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By: Mandy Park The International Trade Centre, an arm of the United Nations with WorldTrade Organisation, has pledged to work with the Agribusiness Incubation Centre, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, for enhanced service delivery in the Agriculture value chain. A five member team from the Centre based in Geneva made the pledge during a visit to ABIC in Umudike where they were received by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Maduebibisi Iwe and the Director of the centre, Dr Philips Nto. Leader of the delegation, Mr Richard Eke- Metoho, said they…

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By: Mandy Park Food justice campaigners, environmentalists, public health experts including, environmental think tank, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, Director, HOMEF, Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director, CAPPA, Dr. Francis Fagbule, Public health specialist, UCH, Ibadan, Fidelis Obaniyi, CSEA, Opeyemi Ibitoye, Project Officer, CAPPA, and Bukola Olukemi Odele among others have raised the alarm over the abuse of the fundamental rights of Nigerians to consume healthy foods and be protected from corporations promoting unhealthy diets. They expressed worry at the adoption and promotion of GMO and SSB products despite the growing rate of non-communicable…

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Mandy Park The Agribusiness incubation centre of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, ABIC- MOUAU, has flagged off Its Radio enlightenment programme tagged Farmers’ Friday. This is as the Director of the centre, Dr Phillips Nto pointed out that the Vice-chancellor, Prof Iwe Maduebisi is using the Agribusiness center to guarantee food security. Flagging off the interactive programme to be aired on Broadcasting Corporation of Abia state every Friday at 11.05 am, the Director of Agribusiness centre, Dr Philips Nto described Agribusiness as a modern concept that presents agriculture as…

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Mandy Park Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has condemned the Lagos State Government for allegedly pushing a single policy direction toward privatization of water utilities without considering alternative management models, to the detriment of disadvantaged communities within the state. The organisation noted expressly that privatization was not the solution, while expressing grave concerns about statements made during the just-concluded Lagos International Water Conference (LIWAC), hosted by the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO) from June 25 to 26, 2024. According to the accountability watchdog, although the LIWAC 5.0,…

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Mandy Park Worried by what it described as an abuse of individual right, intimidation and unsubstantiated allegation by the Nigeria Police Force over the ill-treatment of Çhíef Mrs Dorcas Adeyinka, the Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights, CHSR, has written to Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Rt. Hon. Mudasiru Ajayi Obasa, Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker for urgent attention and quick intervention. CHSR is a public good oriented non-governmental organization (NGO) registered as a corporate body to defend, sustain, promote culture, fundamental human and socio-economic rights of citizens…

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By Mandy Park Pan Ndigbo Socio- Political organization, Ala-Igbo Development Foundation, ADF has expressed its condolence to the family of late General Philip Effiong on the passing into grory of Mrs Josephine, wife of the Biafra hero.In a statement signed by ADF President. Emeritus Professor T Uzodinma Nwala, it noted that the organization and the entire commiserate with the family on the exit of the matriarch.Part of the statement reads ” With the Effiong’s family in our hearts.The message concerning the passage to eternal glory of our dear Matriarch- Lady…

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By Umar Ardo, Ph.D I feel thoroughly sad by what is happening in the Kano chieftaincy imbroglio. And every right thinking northerner should feel sad as well. I equally feel disappointed with especially the Kano politicians whom I put the entire blame on for, by their faulty judgements, both in governance and politics, instigating the whole unfortunate situation. At a perilous time of adversity like this against Northern Nigeria, and particularly against the Caliphate establishment, when all hands ought to be on deck to mobilize our people to use the…

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