Reason you must donate blood voluntarily - LSG.

             

As the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS) begins voluntary blood donation activities in 2025, residents have been urged to participate fully by donating blood to save lives.

The Executive Secretary, of LSBTS, Dr. Bodunrin Osikomaiya, who made the call at the official launch of the program at Alausa Ikeja, said, every day, countless lives depend on the generosity of voluntary, non-remunerated donors, but expressed dismay that, cultural myths and limited awareness have hindered the growth of the lifesaving culture in Lagos State.

She emphasized the critical importance of voluntary blood donation, saying, "Blood is a precious and irreplaceable resource that cannot be manufactured ". 

Dr Osikomaiya painted a stark picture of the current blood reserve levels in Lagos and reiterated the service’s commitment to addressing the challenge. 

"At present, our blood reserves are critically low, posing a severe risk to the health and well-being of our citizens, noting that, to bridge the gap, " we have implemented stringent safety protocols to ensure a safe and rewarding experience for donors and recipients alike." She noted 

The campaign, which commenced in Ikeja, marks the first in a series of community outreach initiatives designed to raise awareness and mobilize Lagosians to donate blood voluntarily. "We are calling on individuals, corporate organizations, faith-based groups, and community leaders to join this noble cause, explaining that, blood donation is not just a medical necessity, it is an act of humanity and kindness," Dr. Osikomaiya added.

According to her, LSBTS will engage in community sensitization drives, media campaigns, and stakeholder collaborations throughout the month to demystify blood donation. "Our goal is to make blood donation a civic duty ingrained in our culture. One pint of blood can save up to three lives. 

" Let us give this precious gift and ensure no one in Lagos suffers due to a lack of safe blood," she appealed.

Speaking in the same vein, the Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr. Oluwatoni Adeyemi further stressed the significance of the campaign, promising that the government will combat myths and misconceptions through outreach in markets, offices, and motor parks.

 "The focus is to ensure Lagosians understand the safety and importance of blood donation, by recognizing regular donors and encouraging new ones, we hope to maintain a steady blood supply in our blood banks," she said.

Director of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Mrs. Wuraola Makinde underscored the critical role of blood donation in emergencies. "Emergencies happen unexpectedly, and blood is essential for resuscitating victims of accidents and other critical conditions, noting that, the campaign is vital because the availability of blood can mean the difference between life and death," she remarked, urging residents to donate blood willingly.

 Recounted the prompt response to the victims of the Lagos train-bus collision in 2023, Mrs Makinde emphasized how the availability of blood donations saved the lives of those involved in the accident. 

"When you donate blood, you save lives, including the possibility of saving your own or that of your loved ones in the future," she added.

A passionate plea also came from Mr Jonathan Aghoro, a volunteer with the Nigerian Red Cross Society. Addressing societal myths, he expressed disappointment at the reluctance of some Lagosians to donate blood due to cultural and religious beliefs. 

"People fear their blood will be used for rituals or sold, which is far from the truth. Blood is life, and donating it is a humanitarian duty. We need to change this mindset through education and awareness campaigns like this one," he stated.

Mr. Aghoro shared his optimism about the campaign's impact, noting an increase in public participation in recent blood drives. "This outreach will help dispel misconceptions and encourage more people to join the cause. It is heartwarming to see the progress we are making," he concluded.

Themed "Blood, A Precious Gift: Give to Save Lives," the campaign which aims to combat the shortage of safe blood and foster a culture of generosity across Lagos, sets the stage for a sustainable voluntary blood donation culture that will ensure that no life is lost due to lack of safe blood. 

Residents are encouraged to visit designated centers and give the gift of life.

COREN visits FRCN Lagos Operations: urges professionals to embrace standards in all areas.

The visit, among other things,  Any society that must develop in the area of good infrastructure must take the engineering practice seriously.
   This was the submission of the Lagos Regional Co-Ordinator of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, Engineer Tomide Akinaowo, when he led a team of  COREN Officials on a courtesy call on the Director, Lagos Operations of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, Mrs Bolanle Owoyemi and her Management Team, at the Broadcasting House, Ikoyi, Lagos.
       Engineer Akinaowo said that they came to appreciate the FRCN, for its laudable programmes and the sensitisation efforts the Corporation had been making to pass relevant information to the people for positive change.
      He, however, expressed disappointment at the constant neglect of engineering facilities in various sectors of society, which had most times resulted in decay in infrastructure, particularly in key sectors of the economy. 
    According to him, if the engineering aspects of various sectors were not usually compromised, society would be better for it. 
Engineer Akinaowo therefore, called for adequate sensitisation on the need to take the issue of caring for engineering facilities in the society seriously.
The COREN Regional Co-Ordinator noted that if all stakeholders could play their roles professionally by embracing standards in all ramifications, society would be better for it. 
        He, therefore, called on relevant authorities to always place the right peg in the right hole by allowing only professional engineers to handle relevant projects in society.
He stressed that attention should also be given to various infrastructures in the society so that some buildings that were already weak could be detected on time to avoid cases of building collapse, as observed particularly on Lagos Island recently.

        Mr Akinaowo, however, advised the Government against what he described as "breakdown maintenance", which he said was usually very expensive to manage. 
He, therefore, solicited partnership with FRCN and seized the opportunity of the visit to invite the Station to the Council's upcoming event in Lagos.
      In a response, Mrs Owoyemi thanked the team of  COREN officials for the visit and took out time to brief the guests on the three stations on the stable of FRCN in Lagos. 
She, however, advised COREN to patronize the stations as a means of sensitizing the public on its mandates and activities.
       Underscoring the importance of engineering, Mrs Owoyemi gave kudos to the Engineering Staff of the Lagos Operations of FRCN for their ingenuity in solving issues in the stations.
      She, however, assured the Guests that FRCN would always adhere to engineering standards in all its operations.
Issues of blocked drainage, theft of manhole cover on the roads, vandalisation of bridge railings and the act of pulling down the national grid were brought before the Engineers for discussion.
 In her contribution, the Deputy Director of New Media, Mrs Julie Ekong, appealed for prompt clearing of debris at the site of building collapse to avoid blockage of drains.
The high points of the visit were the exchange of souvenirs between Mrs Owoyemi and Engineer Akinaowo and the taking of group photographs.
Story by John Obot

Three-day warning strike in progress.. ..as Media Workers in Lagos protest non-payment of minimum wage

Activities at the Lagos State broadcasting premises are at a standstill as staff of the Radio and Television stations shelved work to protest the government's decision not to pay the workers N80,000 approved minimum wage.

The aggrieved staff involved in the three-day warning strike are that of Lagos Television (LTV), Radio Lagos, Eko FM and Traffic FM.

The workers decried the government's failure to implement the minimum wage, which has been paid to other state employees since December 2024.

Chairman of NUJ Lagos State Council, Mr Adeleye Ajayi, delivered a fiery address, declaring the unions’ frustration.

Lagos State Chapters of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, and the Radio, Television, Theatre, and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria, RATTAWU, have jointly shut down the Lagos State Broadcasting Corporation, LSBC.

The Unions had previously issued a notice to the state government, following unproductive meetings that failed to address their demands.

By Wahab Akinlade

NAFDAC to regulate maternal health products against postpartum ... declares 2025, Year of Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health & Nutrition

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC says, it will focus on five pillars of healthcare, which are, strong governance and leadership, institutionalisation of best practices, safety and quality of regulated products and monitor the supply chain.

The Director General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, made this known at a news briefing in Lagos on Thursday, while reflecting on the agency’s accomplishments over the past seven years and what it will do in 2025. 

It says, " apart from the promotion of local pharmaceutical manufacturing and  further strengthening of the regulatory system to safeguard public health, it will  focus more on maternal, newborn, and child health ". 

Explaining further, the DG NAFDAC notes that, the Agency stopped the registration of sachet alcohol since February 2024 as part of a campaign to curb its accessibility, especially to young people.

According to Adeyeye, “There was a publication some days ago from the United States (U.S), linking alcohol to almost all the bad things that can happen to a human being, from cancer to liver failure and all. “That is part of the reason why we are focusing on sachet alcohols because of children.”

To this end, she said NAFDAC was stepping up sensitisation on it.

“We have stopped the registration of sachet alcohol completely, there is no registration of sachet alcohol since February of 2024.” she said

According to her, despite NAFDAC extensive regulatory responsibilities, the agency is acutely understaffed, hence the need the address the problem of inadequate workforce in the agency. 

She said, " to meet the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Benchmarking requirements, the agency plans to engage volunteers while awaiting statutory approval for additional hires.

" The agency requires 10,000 workers to effectively oversee the population's needs but has only 2000 staff nationwide ".

“We burn candles on both ends,” she stated, emphasising that the current workforce is overstretched, but remains resolute to safeguarding public health and maintaining Nigeria’s global standing.  

“Efforts to address this include stringent recruitment processes to ensure integrity and competence. While the agency seeks to double its current staff, identifying funding as one of the challenges limiting the pace of expansion. 

“Volunteers are also being incorporated into the workforce, with candidates undergoing the same rigorous screening as regular staff.  

On infrastructure and tools for efficiency, she said NAFDAC plans to complete 10 state and zonal offices, as well as laboratories, including the Vaccines, Biologics, and Medical Devices Laboratory in Oshodi.

Manufacturers will be incentivised to produce paediatric medicines, supported by regulatory inspection and WHO Prequalification processes, she stated.

Further, on tackling Substandard and Falsified Products: 

“The agency aims to minimise the prevalence of falsified and substandard products to less than five per cent through stringent post-marketing surveillance and inspections. 

Cluster registration of globally listed products and enhanced stakeholder engagement will ensure transparency and consumer safety.” Adeyeye stated

National Grid tripped off, didn’t collapse —TCN

 The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has clarified that the National Grid did not collapse on Saturday, January 11, 2025, but rather experienced a tripping event. TCN spokesperson Ndidi Mbah issued this clarification in a statement on the same day. 

This clarification follows reports that the National Grid recorded its first collapse of 2025, which led to power outages in some parts of the country. However, TCN confirmed that the Benin-Omotosho line tripped at around 1:41 PM on Saturday, affecting the
electricity supply to the Lagos area.

According to TCN, electricity generation on the national grid was at 4,335.63 megawatts just before the tripping. After the incident, generation dropped to 2,573.23 megawatts, indicating that a full grid collapse did not occur. 

The tripping affected several transmission lines, including those serving Egbin, Olorunsogo, Omotosho, Geregu, and Paras. TCN reported that all affected lines have been restored, except for the Benin-Omotosho 330kV line, which is currently undergoing restoration. 

In 2024, the national grid collapsed at least 12 times, highlighting ongoing issues such as grid failures and vandalism that continue to challenge Nigeria's electricity supply industry.

Rising Tennis Talent Attracts National Sports Commission's Support

Nigeria teenage tennis sensation Khadijat Eleojo Mohammed has received some career-building backing from the National Sports Commission, NSC.

Shortlisted on the NSC's adopt-an-athlete initiative, the tennis prodigy is expected to enjoy the best of support on her way to greatness.

NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko assured that the Commission would ensure that Khadijat's full potentials were realized. 

"I am quite impressed with what you have been able to do with your tennis career. No doubt you deserve all the encouragement and support that you can get. Even if you didn't come here, I am sure we would have found you along the line. I will make sure we support and help you to be the best you can be. The potential is there. For you to be winning big tournaments professionally at such a young age, the future is very bright. We will support you so that you don't fall by the wayside," Mallam Dikko promised.

"We have the adopt-an-athlete program, so we will see how we can put you on the platform where the companies we are dealing with can come to support you in addition to whatever support that we can give as commission under our grassroots policy. We will look at you and see how we make you part of our program."

Dikko made the comments in the presence of the player and her father/trainer, Mohammed Ohinoyi, a certified ITF coach and a former professional tennis player, who had appealed to the NSC for  Khadijat's support. 

At only 15, Khadijat has proven to be the next big thing in Nigeria's tennis. 

She became the first West or Central African player to win the ITF.J30 World  Tour. 

The following year in 2023 at 14 years old, she became the first teenager to win the Dala Tennis, a title she retained this year.

Aside from conquering the home front, Dikko believed Khadijat had the potential to excel at the Olympics someday.

"Tennis is also an Olympic sport. It is at this age that we can start nurturing the best tennis players to get us to the podium. With the right training, I believe that in two or three years, with the right roadmap, you should be having a go at the Olympics and other top competitions and we see how we take it from there. So we need to get more details about her training and the plans," he enthused.

"We will liaise with the Nigeria Tennis Federation because whatever we have to do, we will align with the programs of the Federation and make sure they are part of what we are doing. We will try to push you as much as we can to take you to the next level."

The NSC Chairman instantly assigned an aide Bar. Musa Amadu to follow up on Khadijat and provide updates.

"Since you train in our facility here at the MKO Abiola Stadium, we will come to watch. Be rest assured that we will keep a tab on you. We will follow your progress in the tournaments and circuits. You quite align with our vision to catch them young. We would be doing aggressive grassroots sports development as part of the overall vision, so you have come to the right place at the right time. We will ensure you are properly guided and your dreams activated," he added.

Dikko cautioned the player against dumping the nation afterwards. 

"Be careful, it is not after we have pushed you up now, tomorrow, you say you are representing another country. You are laughing now, it's not funny. Not after we have done all the hard work now, tomorrow another country will come and reap where they didn't sow," he concluded. 

While appealing for the Commission's support, Kadijat's father and coach, Ohinoyi said, "We as her parents have done our best, we can no longer take her beyond here. The remaining is in the hands of the National Sports Commission. That is why we are here. We have come because we can't continue with her."

Khadijat added, "If I am supported to get up there, I will also like to lift others and help them to make it in tennis. I want to be a source of inspiration to young tennis players in Nigeria."

By Kelechi Bernard(@woramangra)

FRCN, Lagos Operations starts 2025 with prayers....as clerics urge employees to be thankful at all times

  

It was a special day at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, Lagos Operations as the Management and staff prayed for God's mercy and guidance as they started the new year.

The programme which started with praises, prayers and thanksgiving to God, saw everyone go spiritual.

Two Clerics, Utaz Abdullateef Olatunde and Venerable Oladehinde Olotu, who gave words of admonition urged staff to always be thankful no matter the challenges they face at work and home.

Starting the programme was the Islamic prayer presided over by Ustaz Abdulateef Olatunde, an employee of the Cooperation.

Ustaz Olatunde called on Allah to grant the Organization and its employees all-around blessing in 2025, and " prayed against a repeat of the unfortunate fire incident that gutted a section of the broadcasting house last year ".

There was a praise and worship session led by the Manager of News, on Radio One, Mrs. Iyabo Adoderin.

Delivering the Words of exaltation, an Anglican Priest, the Venerable Oladeinde Olotu advised employees to embrace the act of gratitude and thank God in all things for him to continue to bless them.

The Cleric who spoke on the topic "Be thankful and bless his name", from Psalm 100 verse 4 b, said that, " the fact the workers still retained their jobs and are alive to witness another year, are good enough reasons to give thanks to God ". he advised 

Intercessory prayers for various intentions for the good of the workers, the organization and the nation were offered.

In the course of the service, a moment of silence was observed in honour of some staff members who died last year.

The Thanksgiving Service which is still ongoing is being attended by Director Lagos Operations, Mrs. Bolanle Owoyemi and her management team.

In her remarks, the DLO, Mrs Bolanle Owoyemi Charged staff members with loyalty to the organization and commitment to duties, praying that the Almighty God will bring them good tidings in 2025.

They include the Deputy Director of News and Current Affairs, Fred Shaka-Braimah, Deputy Director of New Media, Julie Ekong, General Manager, of Radio One, Korede Ogunbumi and the newly promoted Assistant Director Procurement, Benjamin Igute.