UNFPA, Gates Foundation donate Family Planning commodities to Lagos Govt...3 more states in focus

The Lagos State Government has delivered 25 million worth of Family Planning commodities to last for five years and gave them to clients free of charge.

Presenting the commodities to the Lagos State Government at the Central Medical Stores in Oshodi, Lagos yesterday, 18th of February, the Programme Coordinator /Head of Office, UNFPA, Lagos Liaison Office, Ms Abbiall Msemburi, stated that the family planning commodities were procured by the Gates Foundation.

She explained further that the Lagos State Government is going to have $5 million worth of family planning commodities every year for five years, which amounts to 25 million dollars. 

According to Msemburi, " Through this five-year program, where the Gates Foundation has given 25 million family planning commodities to three states, including Lagos. “The Foundation is committed to ensuring the availability of family planning services for women and girls. “This is the first handover ceremony that is taking place; there will be more that will be taking place.”

She says, " UNFPA, the United Nations Agency for Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, is proud to be partnering with the Lagos State Government and the Gates Foundation to ensure all women and all adults, especially the hard-to-reach, have access to family planning services. "

“I would like to express UNFPA's gratitude to the Gates Foundation for its commitment to ensuring the empowerment of women and girls through family planning,” she stated.

Msemburi,  “We have been supporting the Federal Government of Nigeria as well as the Lagos State Government by ensuring the provision of technical support to family planning. “And when we're talking about the last mile, we actually wanted to reach the last beneficiary that we intended to reach. We also make sure that our young people have access to sexual and reproductive health services as they may require them.”

Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, represented by Dr Folashade Oludara, a Public Health Specialist currently heading the Family Health and Nutrition Directorate of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, lamented that uncontrolled fertility often results in uncontrolled population.

“While expressing the pleasure of love, every child must be brought up wanted, and so family planning gives that opportunity to prevent unintended pregnancy.

“However, in this very populated state, the government has been doing a lot. We are used to taking quarterly supplies from the Federal Government, which have been inadequate, but over the years, rs have been inadequate. Lagos State has also tried to match up with the gap, but the gap keeps increasing because of what we all know. “The insurgency in the country that brings everybody to Lagos and the ever-growing population.”

Ogboye explained further, " Lagos State has over 31 million people. And when you talk of women of reproductive age group, there are 22 percent of that population, which is almost 7 million ".

" Analysing the figures, be stressed "You can imagine 7 million people with another 7 million sexually active males, We are talking about 7 million women, another 7 million sexually active males. Impregnating the 7 million people, like three to four times, if reproductive health is not controlled, if fertility is not controlled ". 

Ogboye hinted that " Lagos is used to taking quarterly supplies from the federal government, which although over the years has been inadequate." 

"  I'm excited because this is perhaps, apart from the state government, this is the most consistent supply that we would be having. We were told, or the ministry was informed, that the Gates Foundation is assisting the state with a 25 million supply of family planning ". He stated

On her part, the Special Adviser on Health to the Lagos State Governor, Dr ( Mrs )  Kemi Ogunyem, said over 3,000 people migrate into Lagos every day, an indication that there is pressure on the resources in the state.

To this end, she said the state is looking at about 30 million people residing in Lagos, and “we have to meet their needs.”

“ She noted, " Our indices for maternal and infant mortality rates are not where we really want them, adding that encouraging our women and men to do family planning, to ensure that they space out their births, their pregnancies, is also helping us to reduce maternal mortality rates as well. " 

And so not only is this important that we have the commodities, we still have to go out there and advocate and make people more aware that they have to have family planning services.” Ogunyemi 

GIFA Anniversary: WALGON Wins Novelty Football Match Against LEWA

In a thrilling display of sportsmanship and camaraderie, the Wives of All Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (WALGON) in Akwa Ibom State on Sunday, February 16, 2025, emerged victorious by a lone goal against the Legislators Wives Association (LEWA) in a friendly football match played in commemoration of the first Anniversary of the Golden Initiative For All (GIFA).

The match which took place at the Uyo Township Stadium, served as a platform to foster unity and friendship among members of both teams, members of the Board of Trustees of GIFA, political stakeholders and spectators who came out to witness the event.

Speaking shortly after the bout, Coordinator, office of the First Lady, Akwa Ibom State, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, congratulated WALGON on their win, hinting that the match will be played annually as part of activities to celebrate future anniversaries of GIFA. 

"Thank you to everyone that has come out to witness this match. It is something that we will be doing annually to mark our anniversary. Golden Initiative For All (GIFA) will be one year on the 20th of February and this match is in commemoration of the anniversary. Congratulations both teams and bigger congratulations to WALGON," she said. 

Others who bared their mind during the friendly match were commissioner designate, Mr Linus Nkan, the Chairman of Nsit Ubium Local Government Council, Mr Alfred Charles and his Nsit Ibom counterpart, Hon. Otobong Aaron, a former Dean of commissioners, Dr. Glory Edet and others, who lauded Lady Obareki for the initiative, describing football as a full-body workout that promotes joint flexibility, physical fitness, emotional well-being and creates harmony between players.

They commended the female players for their dedication and enthusiasm in participating in the match, noting that the introduction of the match among the female stakeholders will foster unity of purpose, teamwork and peaceful coexistence.

Also speaking, the physically elated coach of the winning team and President of WALGON, Mrs Akaninyene Udo, said she was happy over their win against LEWA, adding that the novelty football match has offorded both team the opportunity as foot soldiers, to take to the pitch in commemoration of the first anniversary of GIFA and the post humous birthday of its Founder, Pastor Patience Umo Eno.

Drug shops in Idumota Lagos under lock.... as NAFDAC rids the market of fake and substandard drugs

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC has again called on members of the public to report any bad medicine to the agency for immediate action. 

The Director - General, NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye made the call while raiding the Idumota Drug market of fake, unregistered and counterfeit drugs. 

She said, the essence is to control the selling of medicines that are injurious to health especially the unapproved ones. 

According to her, " we have over 5000   open market shops in the country, adding that they not supposed to be open, they are supposed to be in what is called, "  Coordinated WholeSale Center " we are going to get there in Onisha, Aba and Lagos " she promised 

The DG emphasized that, there must be control because the health of the people matter, hence the need for the 7 days lock up exercise. 

" You and I matter, we are not individual that could be killed immediately because of bad medicine and we have to be very very sensitive about this. " The medicine you are taking must make you well, not kill you". If you get a medicine and it's not making you well, call NAFDAC, " we would  trace it, we would track it". Adeyeye 

"If it is bad medicine, it will kill you, it will kill a child, many people have died in this country because of bad medicine, but enough is enough ". she warned.

The Director, Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, NAFDAC, Mr  Shaba Mohammed, said the operations which started some days ago, were being carried out in three major open drug markets in the country.

Mohammed said, "Today's operation is about substandard medical products in Nigerian market, On Sunday night, " we sealed the three major open drug markets in the country, Idumota drug market, Bridget drug market in Onitsha and Ariaria drug markets in Aba ", noting that, " we have all the securities, military police, SS and pharmacy Council of Nigeria, along with NAFDAC staff working in those markets ".

" No time is too late for any action taken against counterfeit,  before now, we were involved in so many investigations, and we come to all these markets and seize products, but we are doing this now so that we'll be able to remove virtually all counterfeit products in the store in those markets, because they are the hub of distribution of over 80% of drug needs in the country ". he explained 

In the same vain, the Deputy Director Investigation and Enforcement in Charge of team two and three, Mrs Florence Ubah, said, "So we are screening this shop, and the owner of the shop is the head of the tax force, as he claimed". 

 " Although confirmed by other tax force members, yesterday, some people were trying to run out of the market with these cartons, here, they are about 14 in number. So when the tax force came along, they ran away, and they couldn't apprehend them, but they were able to pick the products, and because they didn't have anywhere to put them, because it was already late, he had to put them in his shops, he explained before I opened the shop " Ubah stated.

 She explained further, " So I said, Okay, since they are products abandoned by whosoever they are, we have to pick them to NAFDAC office for more verification. So that's exactly what we have done. " We have picked the products that they recovered, and we are now screening his shop as part of the exercise ". she said

Chairman, Lagos State Medicine Association, Island Zone, Mr Innocent Ezennaya, who expressed concerns over the ongoing inspection exercise said although he is in support of the exercise, the one week lock up would have economic consequences both on the owners, the hospital and the patients who rely on drugs to survive.

Ezennaya who expressed dismay that despite regular checks on members to ensure no person is caught wanting, some were still in the habit of cutting conners, stressing that, " this particular operation which is more intense, with inspectors checking shops one after the other will add value to their business". 

He called on the law enforcement agencies who are stationed at the borders to intensity checks as those fake and adulterated medicines pass through the borders. 

" All those drugs pass through the borders, the water, air and by road, what are they doing ? It is their duty to to ensure those medicines don't come in ". Ezennaya stressed 

" He assured members of the public that business will resume in earnest as not all sealed off shops that are found wanting., staying that, it was just a modernity to differentiate between shops that had been checked and those that had not been investigated ".

Julie Ekong

School in Lagos gets digital learning gadgets, from Airtel and UNICEF...as over 600,000 learners in 1260 schools across Nigeria benefit

E - learning has been described as a platform that brings engagement, 

stimulation and collaboration between students and teachers in order to achieve the primary objective of teaching and learning.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Alli-Balogun, Mr. Jamiu Alli-Balogun, stated this at a joint field trip by AIRTEL Africa /Nigeria and UNICEF at St. Agnes Primary school, Maryland, Ikeja, Lagos.

Mr. Alli-Balogun noted that, the world has gone digital and education cannot be left behind and to this end digital teaching and learning process has to be deployed

"We know we're in digital world right now and we cannot be isolated from the global competitiveness which has to do with the deployment of digital teaching and learning process and that is what we are witnessing today".

He added that Lagos State Government in support of digital teaching and learning methods has it's own projects whereby digital methods and contents are being deployment to schools.

The Commissioner said, " the joint field trip is a collaboration where data is given to some primary schools to enable them have access to the internet, learn contents and the teachers are able to deliver their works effectively.

On the maintenance of the gadgets, Mr. Alli-Balogun stated, " they are bound to get spoilt and they will be repaired or replaced as soon as possible to continue learning and teaching" . 

"The gadgets are not forever, along the line, some will get spoilt and we do repair, replace also that is the sustainability aspect of it, adding that,  for the digital education to continue you  have to repair and replace at the right time". Alli- Balogun

The Chief Executive Officer, AIRTEL Africa  and Nigeria , Mr Sunil Taldar, noted that, the partnership between his company and UNICEF for the past three years is a very important one as about 360 schools and 600,000 learners have been impacted through the partnership.

Mr Taldar explained that, " 40% of the population in Africa are below 16 years, that makes education important for the future of the children ".

"  The collaboration which is aimed at providing standardized education through the Nigeria Learning Passport, NLP, will be added to the education improvement in Africa and making bigger progress ". he stated

The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, Chief of Field Office, Lagos, Celine Lafoucriere, who described the partnership with the Airtel Africa and Nigeria as one of the most important in the country, stated that, amongst other countries that is implementing the programme, " Nigeria is doing very well ".

Lafoucriere further identified the importance of connectivity to the internet for learning for children to include, minimizing disruption in their education and ensuring standardization in delivering of quality education, " adding that 1.8 million learners have been registered on the Nigeria e-learning Passport ".

"1.8 million learners are now registered for e-learning Passport, so it's very important for children to be connected to the internet to have access to digital learning and to have minimal distraction in their education ".

She noted further, " This will ensure that we have across the board standardization when it to delivering quality education and we are doing doing, together, UNICEF and Airtel is doing well ". 

 Representatives from UNICEF, the network provider and members of the Lagos State Education Board graced the occasion.

Julie Ekong

Mohammed, Bulus Capture Rainoil Tennis Titles

Christopher Bulus delivered a masterclass performance to win the 2025 Rainoil National Tennis Open yesterday, February 9, 2025, at the Ikoyi Club 1938 Lagos.

The US-based star made light work of homeboy Daniel Adeleye 6-0, 6-4 to cart home his first Rainoil men's singles title.

The win came as a succors'
to Bulus, who spearheaded Nigeria's Davis Cup World Group II Playoffs campaign last week in Pretoria. The country came short against its South African hosts.

Elsewhere in the Rainoil tournament, top seed Khadijat Mohammed came from a set down to lift the lady's singles crown after beating hard-fighting Bright Emmanuel in the final.

The first set lasted almost an hour with Emmanuel stretching her opponent before Khadijat saw off the tie to win the ultimate prize.

This is Mohammed's 2nd national title on the bounce after capturing the Dala Hard Court tournament last November 2024.

.....by Kelechi Bernard(@woramangra)

Grassroots Scrabble Initiative Continues Spread Among Nigerian Universities.

Ahmadu Bello University,  ABU, Zaria, Kaduna, is the latest university to welcome the ongoing 'Take Scrabble To School Initiative.'

Engineer Toke Aka president. of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation NSF spearheaded the project drive to ABU.

He reiterated the importance of the initiative to grassroots Scrabble development.

"The future of the mind game belongs to the teeming youth population and the schools are where you will find and get them on board an experience they will cherish for a lifetime," Engineer Aka pointed out.

He explained that over 75 percent of universities and higher institutions in Nigeria have keyed into the 'Take Scrabble To School Initiative' program, and more will join in the months ahead.

President Aka donated four complete sets of Scrabble boards and tables to the newly created Ahmadu Bello University Club as part of the move aimed at driving the  'Take Scrabble To School Initiative'.

university's 

The Sports Dire,sity Dr. Danlami Isa, presented to receive the equipment,ment and he had some pleasant and thoughtful words for the donor, Engineer Aka.

He said the equipment would go a long way in encouraging more students to take up the sport.

During Engineer Toke Aka's two-day visit to ABU, Zaria, the school's new Scrabble Club staged its first mini-open tournament with 22 players in attendance, while 30,000 Naira was shared as prize money.

The president used the occasion to appeal to Scrabblebble stakeholders to support the 'Take Scrabble To School Initiative, which aims to introduce the sport to schools with high technology.

“Other African countries are developing their game, as the leader in the business, we must expand our player base and portfolio to keep our leadership status,” Aka said.

It's noteworthy to mention that the current African Champion Oluwatimilehin Doko and immediate past African Champion Enoch Nwali ruled the scrabble circuit while in school.

....by Kelechi Bernard @woramangra

NANs changes its decision....promise to work with FRSC.

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has pledged to mobilize its members across the country to support the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, to rid the nation's roads of fake number plates.

This is against the initial decision to reject any attempt by the FRSC to claim down on vehicles that are not compliant with the rules guiding safety on roads. 

The partnership was sealed during a meeting between the national body of the Association and the Corps Marshal in Abuja on Friday 7 February 2025.

Meeting that comprises the President, Comrade Lucky Omonefe, the President of the Senate of the Association, Comrade Akintoye Babatunde, and other Excoswase led by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Affairs, Mr Sunday Ashefon.

Addressing the meeting, Mr. Ashefon condemned in totality, the proliferation of fake number plates, describing it as, " a threat to national security and a mockery of the country's transportation system," " Noting that the President Tinubu administration is not ready to fold its arms while unscrupulous individuals undermine the efforts of the FRSC and other law enforcement agencies in enhancing the safety and security of the citizens ".

He affirmed that NANS being a highly reputable and recognized body will not allow its name to be stained by participating in unlawful escapades.

The President of the Association, Comrade Lucky Omonefe, while commending the efforts of the Corps under the leadership of Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed says, that, " the Association is ever ready to support and partner with the Corps towards the actualization of the corporate mandate of the Corps ".

While appreciating the present leadership of NAN for its understanding, highly focused, and ready for fruitful partnership, Comrade Lucky pledged that, " his administration is prepared to engage members across the country and sensitize them on the implications of using fake or unauthorized number plates".

The Corps Marshal, Mr Shehu Mohammed who had earlier given reasons for the ongoing operations and why it is imperative for the enhancement of safety and security, commended the Association for the decision to join FRSC in this regard, describing it as, " a welcomed development.

"We appreciate the support of NANS and we look forward to working together to achieve our common goal of ensuring road safety in Nigeria," said the Corps Marshal. Muhammed

The partnership between NANS and FRSC is to sensitize students and the general public about the dangers of fake number plates and the importance of obtaining genuine number plates from authorized dealers.

NANS has pledged to mobilize its members across the country to support the FRSC in its efforts to rid the nation's roads of fake number plates.