The Ministry of Youth Development has reaffirmed its commitment to creating platforms that promote mentorship and leadership development for the boy child.

Mr Ayodele Olawande, Minister of Youth Development, said this on Friday in Abuja during a news conference to commemorate the International Day of the Boy Child.

The day is marked annually on May 16, with the 2025 theme, “Boys’ Mental Health and Well-being.

Olawande stated that the government believed every boy, regardless of background or economic status, deserved quality mentorship to help him thrive.

“As a government, we are committed to creating platforms that promote mentorship and leadership development for the boy child.

The minister emphasised that the goal was to empower Nigerian youth, including boys, with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities necessary for success.

“In today’s world, many fathers have little time for their children, especially their sons. This can negatively impact their development and well-being,” Olawande noted.

He stressed the importance of mentorship in filling that gap: “Without positive male role models, many boys struggle to develop the skills and values needed to become responsible, productive members of society.”

He added that mentorship offered guidance, support, and helped boys build self-confidence, make sound decisions, and form positive relationships with adults.

Olawande also acknowledged the United Nations for recognizing the significance of supporting boys through mentorship, saying the International Day of the Boy Child reflected global commitment to promote their well-being and development.(NAN)

 The Enugu State Government has pledged to upgrade secondary healthcare facilities across its 17 Local Government Areas to reduce maternal and newborn mortality.

The commitment was made by the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Emmanuel Obi, during a dissemination meeting on the assessment of health facilities for Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC), in Enugu on Friday.

The meeting, themed “Strengthening Emergency and Newborn Care Through Evidence-Based Assessment,” was organised by the Enugu State Ministry of Health.

It was held in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health’s Sector-Wide Approach (SWAP) programme and Jhpiego, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University, USA.

Prof. Obi explained that the initiative aimed to ensure Enugu had efficient secondary healthcare systems capable of providing emergency maternal and newborn care.

He noted that the state had already commenced its own facility assessment, which would now be harmonised with the CEmONC assessment.

“This is an official presentation of findings from the facility assessments conducted by the Federal Ministry of Health, the SWAP Office, and our State Ministry of Health,” he said.

He added that the upgrade would enable Enugu to access federal funding under the “Hope Health” programme and SWAP, based on performance-linked disbursement indicators.

Mrs Francisca Ewoh, SWAP Desk Officer, described the programme as part of Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Initiative aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal mortality nationwide.

According to her, pooled partner funds will be allocated to states that meet readiness requirements, with 35,000 dollars available per qualified facility in each council area.

“Eligibility is based on providing adequate infrastructure, utilities, and staffing in secondary healthcare centres.”

Dr Chinyere Ezendu, the Enugu State focal person for the CEmONC assessment, said only two facilities in the state met the basic standards for infrastructure, amenities, water, and electricity.

She added that none of the assessed facilities had the full capacity to manage neonatal complications.

 “We are hopeful the findings will be used to develop actionable plans to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths in the state,” she said.

Dr Chioma Oduenyi, a representative of Jhpiego, reaffirmed their technical support to both the national and state-level SWAP efforts in facilitating the implementation process.(NAN)

Federal Medical Center (FMC) Abuja, has successfully performed its first living-donor kidney transplant.

Living-donor kidney transplant usually involves a donated kidney from someone you know. It might be a family member, friend or co-worker.

The facility’s management disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

According to the statement, the surgery which was conducted on May 6, was performed on a 69 year old male Nigerian, who suffered from end-stage renal disease, a condition where the kidneys lose the ability to function.

However, a healthy donor, aged 39 and a close relative of the patient, donated one of his kidneys to the recipient, allowing for a life-saving transplant.

It also said that the medical team led by Dr Ernest Aniede, consisting of in-house qualified surgeons, nephrologists, and other medical and non-medical professionals, worked diligently to ensure the successful outcome of the procedure.

Also, that the surgery was performed under strict sterile conditions and involved meticulous techniques to minimise risks and maximise the chances of transplant success.

The statement also notes that during his visit to the patient and the donor in the ward after the procedure, the Medical Director, Prof. Saad Ahmed, commended the patient and donor for their trust in the hospital’s services.

He also commended the medical team for a successful surgery.

“This is a major milestone for FMC Abuja and a positive sign for the healthcare landscape in Nigeria.

“This surgery demonstrates the hospital’s commitment to providing advanced and life-changing treatments to its esteemed patients.

“This momentous surgery represents a step forward in providing life-changing treatment options for patients with kidney failure in the region and beyond.”

He, however, said that the hospital’s dream was to be a world-class health institution for rendering quality healthcare through teamwork, leveraging on cutting-edge technology to enhance research, training, and innovation in healthcare provision.

According to the statement, Ahmed appreciated President Bola Tinubu, for his unwavering commitment to improving the health and well-being of the citizens and implementing crucial health reforms and initiatives in addressing kidney-related issues.

He added that the president’s vision and dedication has led to significant progress in strengthening the healthcare system, especially in expanding access to dialysis, increasing funding for kidney disease research, and enhancing training for healthcare professionals.

In response, the donor and patient (recipient) expressed their heartfelt appreciation to the hospital management and staff for the professionalism and dedication they demonstrated before, during, and after the procedure.

The statement added that the patient and donor have recovered fully and are awaiting discharge from the medical team. (NAN)