The Cross River Government, in partnership with Helen Keller International, will provide free hydrocelectomy surgeries to 100 persons affected by hydrocele, beginning Aug. 19. Dr Henry Ayuk, the state’s Commissioner for Health, said this at a one-day morbidity management and disability prevention planning meeting for the exercise on Tuesday in Calabar. Hydrocele is a condition in which excess fluid collects in the sac surrounding a testicle, causing the scrotum to become swollen or enlarged. Represented by Dr Jonah Offor, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Ayuk said the intervention targeted boys and men aged 15 years and above, as part of…
Author: Newsdesk
Digital Encode, a Nigerian cybersecurity company, says it has deployed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform to help organisations fight increasingly sophisticated cybercrime. The Chief Executive Officer of Digital Encode, Prof. Adewale Obadare, said this in a statement on Tuesday. Obadare said the platform, DEPAS AI, was designed to help organisations move from periodic manual security checks to continuous testing of their systems and networks. He said DEPAS AI, meaning Digital Encode Penetration Autonomous System, was built to provide continuous and autonomous cybersecurity testing. He said the platform came as AI was increasingly being used by cybercriminals to launch faster and…
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling food shortages and high unemployment in the country through agriculture and livestock development. The Minister of Livestock Development, Mr Idi Maiha, made the statement at the second International Conference of Agrifood Systems Stakeholders Forum at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) on Monday. The forum, organised by the Agricultural Policy Research Network (APRNet), focused on solutions to food insecurity, poverty and youth unemployment in the country. Represented by the Director, Ruminant and Monogastric Development, Mr Victor Egbon, Maiha commended APRNet for organising the conference. He called for continued collaboration among stakeholders…
A 19-year-old automotive enthusiast from Katsina State, Ishaq Jamilu, has gained international recognition for his innovative electric vehicle design. Jamilu’s electric vehicle design was recognised by the International Art Magazine Japan for its innovation. The teenager, from Kusada Local Government Area of the state, disclosed this in an interview with reporters in Katsina on Monday. He said his passion for automobiles began at an early age and motivated him to acquire relevant skills through self-learning. Jamilu said he developed his knowledge through online research, technical drawing, 3D modelling and practical experience as a vehicle mechanic. “I have always been passionate…
Gov. Alex Otti of Abia has congratulated former Military President Ibrahim Babangida on his 85th birthday, describing him as the “Father of Abia State”. Otti conveyed the congratulatory message in a statement issued on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku-Ukoha, in Umuahia. The governor said Babangida was a visionary statesman whose administration created Abia from the old Imo State on Aug. 27, 1991. “On behalf of the Government and good people of Abia State, I heartily congratulate President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida on attaining this remarkable age of 85. “We recall with deep appreciation that 35 years ago, under…
A gender advocate, Dr Adetoun Dally, says women’s inclusion in decision-making complements men’s roles and leads to better governance and development. Dally said this in an interview with reporters in Abuja on Monday. She is the immediate past president of Women Community in Africa and founder of the Children Impact and Development Initiative. The advocate said the low representation of women in Nigeria’s parliament was a cause for concern, given the large number of educated and capable women in the country. She said women should have greater representation in political leadership and policymaking, noting that decisions made by government affect…
A registered dietitian, Mrs Sarah Abagai, has cautioned parents against the improper preparation and administration of infant formula. Abagai, a Fellow of the Institute of Dietetics in Nigeria, gave the advice in an interview with reporters on Monday in Abuja. She said some parents, in an effort to make the formula last longer, excessively dilute it because of its high cost. “The formula becomes too watery, does not offer sufficient nourishment, and could lead to issues of water intoxication. “Water intoxication is when there is an intake of too much water in the body; it begins to affect the kidneys…
The Mutual Union of Tiv in America (MUTA) has urged the Federal Government to reconsider the decision to include Benue in the implementation of the National Ranching pilot programme. MUTA made this known in a statement on Monday in Makurdi, jointly signed by its President, Prof. Akaa Ayangeakaa, and the Executive Committee Chairman, Prof. Joseph Zume. The union said Benue communities had endured years of violent attacks, killings, destruction of homes and farms, and mass displacement linked to herdsmen attacks. According to MUTA, many displaced persons are yet to return to their ancestral communities and remain in difficult conditions in…
The Federal Government/International Fund for Agricultural Development (FGN/IFAD) has called on the Anambra government to adopt a regulatory framework for all Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) projects to ensure their sustainability. Dr Fatima Aliyu, the National Programme Coordinator of FGN/IFAD VCDP, made the call during a one-day Policy Dialogue on Institutionalising Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Frameworks for Market Infrastructures in Awka on Monday. Aliyu was represented by Mrs Vera Onyeaka-Onyilo, the Knowledge Management and Communications Advisor at FGN/IFAD VCDP. FGN/IFAD, which recommended Operations and Maintenance (O&M) for market infrastructure and feeder roads, also called on Local Government Councils to localise…
The Kwara Government on Monday in Ilorin inaugurated a comprehensive Viral Hepatitis Elimination Roadmap aimed at eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat in the state. The Kwara Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam, said the inauguration marked a significant step in the state’s commitment to preventive healthcare and the attainment of Universal Health Coverage. She described the roadmap as a strategic blueprint that signalled the state’s definitive commitment to ending viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. “Viral hepatitis remains a silent killer in our communities. “Recent data indicates that Nigeria accounts for approximately 15 per…