By Abel Zwànke, Lafia

The Zumunta Association, USA has extended its congratulations to Hon. Kassim Muhammed Kassim on his recent appointment as the Chairman of the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB).

In a message on Tuesday by the President of the association, Sunday Bitrus, the group described the appointment as well-deserved, citing Hon.

Kassim’s dedication to public service and educational development in the state.

“This appointment is a testament to your unwavering commitment to public service, your dedication to the development of education, and your consistent track record of excellence in leadership,” the statement read.

Bitrus expressed confidence that Kassim’s leadership would bring about positive changes in the basic education sector of the state, noting that his experience and vision would help reposition the board for improved performance.

“We are confident that under your stewardship, the basic education sector in Nasarawa State will experience significant transformation and renewed progress,” he stated.

According to the association, Kassim’s elevation has brought pride not only to his constituents but also to the entire people of Nasarawa State.

“As a proud son of Nasarawa State, your elevation to this vital role not only brings pride to your constituents but also offers hope for the betterment of the future generation,” the association added.

While congratulating the new chairman, the group prayed for wisdom, strength, and divine guidance for him in the discharge of his duties.

“Once again, congratulations on this remarkable milestone. We wish you wisdom, strength, and divine guidance as you embark on this noble responsibility,” the statement concluded.

By Obi Light Ogbonnia

When the 5th Global Congress on Sickle Cell Disease convenes in Abuja in June 2025, it won’t just be another event in a long line of medical conferences, it will be a homecoming. For the first time, the world will gather at the very heart of the sickle cell crisis: Nigeria, the global epicenter, where over 150,000 babies are born annually with the condition.

For decades, sickle cell discourse has largely been shaped in the halls of Western research institutions and international conference centers.

Cities like Paris, Atlanta, London, and Accra have hosted past editions, laying foundations for research collaboration, clinical trials, and drug development. Yet none of these cities carry the raw urgency, the lived reality, and the generational impact of sickle cell disorder quite like Abuja does.

In Nigeria, sickle cell isn’t just a statistic, it is a daily struggle etched into families, communities, and over four million warriors fighting for survival, dignity, and access to care.

A Turning Point for the Warriors

For Nigeria’s sickle cell warriors, Abuja 2025 carries profound expectations. Many are hoping for more than discussions, they are demanding action. They seek the latest in gene therapy and emerging treatments, but they also need policies that make these breakthroughs accessible. They want to be recognized not just as patients, but as partners in designing their future.

We want to move beyond awareness to empowerment, beyond diagnosis to solutions, beyond pity to partnerships.

Healthcare Systems Must Rise

The Congress is also a moment of truth for Nigeria’s healthcare system. Despite being the sickle cell capital of the world, the country still struggles with basic infrastructure, nationwide newborn screening, early intervention, and accessible care remain far from reach.

Will Abuja 2025 be remembered for grand speeches and panels, or for concrete policy shifts, investment in care centers, and life-changing public health decisions?

From Civil Society to Global Solidarity

This is also a call to action for NGOs, foundations, and global development agencies. From the Obi Ogbonnia Sickle Cell Foundation to international players, Abuja offers a platform to forge scalable models of support, affordable insurance coverage, comprehensive education, mental health care, and grassroots outreach.

Now is the time to go from pilot projects to long-term partnerships that transform lives in underserved communities.

Reflecting on the Past, Building the Future

Past congresses made notable strides. Paris fostered cross-border ideas. Atlanta opened dialogue on health equity. London spotlighted funding and innovation. Accra brought a shift toward African-led solutions. But Abuja must be different, it must be decisive.

If the past was about raising awareness, Abuja 2025 must be about delivering change in the very land where the need is greatest.

The Legacy of the Global Congress

Since its inception, the Global Congress on Sickle Cell Disease has helped move the disorder out of the shadows. It has influenced global health conversations, spurred research, and laid the groundwork for policy advocacy.

Yet, without implementation in countries like Nigeria where the highest burden exists, those milestones risk remaining aspirational.

A Time to Choose Differently

Abuja 2025 is not just another conference; it is a test of commitment, solidarity, and vision. For governments, it is a call to political courage. For the global community, it is a call to equity. For sickle cell warriors, it is a chance to reclaim their narrative.

Sickle cell disorder may be genetic, but how we treat it as a society and as a global community, is a choice.

Let Abuja 2025 be the moment we chose differently.

Obi Light Ogbonnia is a 51-year-old sickle cell warrior, founder of the Obi Ogbonnia Sickle Cell Foundation and advocate for equitable healthcare access in Nigeria. He writes regularly on public health, policy and empowerment for vulnerable communities.

The former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief John-Nnia Nwodo, has expressed serious concern over what he described as “a drastic decline” in the quality of education in the country.

He said, “It pains me that children of our contemporaries in the university cannot get the quality education that we received during our time.

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Nwodo made the remark at the 2nd Matriculation ceremony of Maduka University, Enugu, on Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the university, founded by Dr Samuel-Maduka Onyishi, the owner of Peace Motors, matriculated 664 new students at the ceremony.

Speaking in a keynote address, Nwodo recalled that while at the University of Ibadan, their taps ran 24 hours and showers had cold and hot taps.

“They ran all day and night,” he said,
adding that the hostel had an airconditioned room, where they could entertain themselves and their guests with cold drinks, biscuits and cakes as well as tea or coffee.

He also said that the university laundry washed ten items of clothing for each student every week.

According to him, food was subsidised and breakfast was 20 kobo, lunch and dinner were 25 kobo, respectively.

Nwodo also recalled that the university buses left from the Main Campus to the Teaching Hospital Campus every 30 minutes, carrying students and staff members, who had lectures.

“We had departmental libraries as well as a Central Library.

“Any book published in Europe or America was available in our reference section of the library within one month of its publication. So were journals.

“We patronised the international literary traffic.

“We hardly experienced any power failure in the three years I spent in Ibadan.

“Photocopying machines were available at the departmental libraries and General Library.

“We had access to topical and contemporary knowledge,” Nwodo said.

He further said that the Faculty of Medicine had many lecturers, who came from Europe, while their Nigerian counterparts went on sabbatical, teaching in the universities in Europe, Canada and America.

“Notwithstanding that I was an Igbo man, I ran election against a Yoruba candidate and defeated him and became President of the Student Union without any bias of ethnicity.

“It pains me so much that you, as our children, cannot get the quality of education we, your parents got but those of you in Maduka University are privileged.

“You have good buildings, power and water supply and lecturers hungry and anxious to teach in an institution with facilities,” Nwodo said.

He, therefore, commended Onyishi for establishing the university, which many students were now benefiting from.

In a speech, Onyishi, who is also the Chancellor of the university, said that  university remained the pact he made with God to improve his community and society significantly in a positive way through the instrumentality of agriculture, education, healthcare and technology.

He said the school was established to fill the gap and solve the education needs of society, describing the institution as a fast growing private university in Nigeria.

“It is gratifying that within our first one year and five months, we have been blessed with close to 1,300 students.

“These figures testify to the acceptance of our brand of education at the tertiary level,” he said.

While thanking parents and sponsors for founding the institution worthy to send their children and wards, Onyishi said the university was committed to providing quality education and entrepreneurship skills to its students.

The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the university, Sen. Mohammed Daggash, urged the students to strife for excellence and take their lectures seriously.

The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Azuka-Mbata, also extolled Onyishi for establishing the university.

Azuka-Mbata called on other wealthy Igbo sons and daughters to emulate him by investing at home. (NAN)