No fewer than 3,500 persons have been slated to benefit from a free five-day medical mission in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River.

The medical mission is being sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with aim of providing healthcare services to medically underserved rural communities in the region.

The Commission’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbudu, said that the medical mission, which had already taken place in eight states of the region, had seen to the treatment of over two million people in Niger Delta.

Represented by Dr Eme Inyangabia, Assistant Director, Education, Health and Social Services (EHSS), he said the mission was the flagship of the Commission, serving to endear NDDC to the medically needy communities.

“The medical mission is one of several health programmes of the Commission, targeted at changing the health situation and narrative of our people in the region.

“It is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) No. 3 which aspires to achieve Universal Health Coverage and ensure health and well-being for all,” he stated.

Similarly, the Executive Director, EHSS of the Commission, Dr George Uzonwanne, said they were looking at 12,000 to 15,000 data points as a particular patient may be treated on more than one ailment.

‘‘We are carrying out a one-week short term intervention free of charge to the people of Cross River State.

‘‘We are looking at treating 3,000 to 3,500 patients but not really the number of patients but the number of data points because one patient may have more than three interventions.

‘‘So, we are looking at between 12,000 to 15,000 data points.

‘‘Treatments will range from things like malaria to things as complex as having fibroid surgery or general surgery,’’ he said.

Uzonwanne added that a team would be on standby to look after patients before they were discharged and others with more severe ailments would be treated by the commission in a referral hospital. (NAN)

A special task force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), has arrested six suspected bandits and recovered weapons and 47 rustled cows in Manguna, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau.
Commander of OPSH, Maj.-Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar, disclosed this at the Eid-el-Kabir luncheon, organised for troops of the operation on Monday in Jos.

Abubakar, who doubles as the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Rukuba, near Jos, said that the feat followed intensified operations by personnel of the operation.
”As part of our resolve to completely eradicate banditry and criminal elements and ensure a successful farming season and security of lives and property, our intensified operations continue to yield results.
“This has led to recovery of different calibers of arms and ammunition in different parts of Plateau.
”Specifically on June 10, OPSH Tactical Team raided a suspected criminal hideout at Manguna village in Bokkos local government area and during the operation, troops recovered one G3 rifle, two revolver rifles and one magazine with rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
”We also recovered a quiver with 20 arrows and 47 herds of cattle, while a total of six bandits and cattle rustlers were captured with the rifles and ammunition,” he said.
The commander further stated that his troops also raided the Pandam forest in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of the state and recovered various weapons and ammunition.
”Similarly on June 12, troops, acting on credible intelligence, conducted clearance operations at suspected bandits’ hideouts at Pandam forest in Qua’an.
”During the operation, troops recovered two AK-47 rifles, two AK-47 magazines and 13 rounds of 7.62mm special.
”Troops are currently sustaining operations in the area to intercept and neutralise the fleeing terrorists,” he added.
Abubakar said that the troops also arrested 29 suspected members of a cult group known as Sara-suka, with fabricated rifles, pistols and other assorted dangerous weapons recovered in Jos.
The commander, who thanked the personnel for their efforts, assured residents of the state of the operation’s readiness to secure their lives and property. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

Stakeholders has called on African leaders to prioritize functional education and effective leadership toward achieving growth and development for the African continent.

This was handed down at this year 2024 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) Democracy Dialogue held in Benin, Edo State capital.

Participants at the dialogue comprised foremost African leaders, academics, development experts, politicians, civil society groups, traditional rulers and students spoke on the need for African leaders to develop innovative educational policies that will help guarantee growth and sustainable development.

According to a press statement by the Communications Officer Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, Wealth Dickson Ominabo and made available to Daily Asset via email said, some of the dignitaries at the event were the former President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, former president of Niger, Thomas Boni Yayi, former president of Nigeria and Chairman of Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan,   former Vice President of Zambia, Dr Mumba Nevers Sekwila and former vice president of Nigeria, Arch Namadi Sambo.

Others include, governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki,  former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Shri Balasubramanian, Director UNDP Sub-regional Hub for West Africa, Njoya Tikum,  Acting Executive Secretary National Universities Commission (NUC), Chris Maiyaki and deputy governors of Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Edo, and  Bauchi.

Chairman of the occasion and former President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta in his remarks called on African leaders and policymakers to develop strategies and policies that will set the continent on a winning trajectory.

His words: “As African leaders gathered here today, let us take up this task with the seriousness that it deserves to the leaders of tomorrow.

“As a continent, we must look at our curricula in comparison with the changing global needs and embrace an education system that aims to foster critical thinking, innovation and creativity as this will bolster the continent to immeasurable heights.

“It is our task as leaders of this great continent, to empower our youth with the tools that will shape and prepare them to be great and active participants in the global economy.

“We must therefore intentionally invest in education to ensure inclusivity, diversity and equal opportunity for all our children. This will help foster a conducive environment for innovation and growth.”

Keynote speaker at the dialogue Prof Olubayi Olubayi in his address called on governments around the continent to rethink their educational policies to foster growth and guarantee inclusivity.

He said :  “Each country that wants to succeed must provide education for 80% of its population that is of average ability, but it must also, at the same time, provide education for the other 20% that is exceptionally highly gifted and highly talented. This is the better meaning of inclusion. Education for the 80% and education for the 20% in institutions that maintain symbiotic collaborations.

“The open secret is that for a country to have a genuine functional education it must have a two-sided strategy that is based on the pareto principle of 80/20.

“Our current school systems will continue to educate the 80% who are the majority.

“If we care for Africa’s future, If we care for our grandchildren, If we care for our dignity as human beings, If we care at all, we must ensure functional education within our home regions and countries.

“If we care at all, we must find a way to ensure that each African nation or state establishes at least ONE highly selective world-class university that will be the primary source and catalyst for effective leadership, innovation, technology, growth and development.”

Speaking further he said: we must each return to our villages or towns working or local government areas or counties or districts and start the sacrifice and hard work of mobilizing resources to set up the first highly selective world-class primary or secondary school as a centre of excellence for the free education of the less than 20% of the population of our children that is most gifted and most talented.

Speaking on the importance of the theme of this year’s dialogue, Functional Education and Effective Leadership as a Panacea to Growth and Development, the Executive Director of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, Ann Iyonu noted that functional education and effective political leadership are interconnected goals that require concerted efforts from governments, civil society, and the private sector.

She said: “Functional education can empower citizens to actively participate in the political process, hold their leaders accountable, and contribute to the socio-economic development of their countries.

“Conversely, effective political leadership can create an enabling environment for education reform, investment in human capital, and the creation of opportunities for all citizens to thrive.”

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