Reasons have been adduced for why the Federal Government is yet to convert the oldest Federal Medical Centre in Nigeria, the FMC, Umuahia to a teaching hospital. The Chief Medical Director of the FMC Umuahia, Prof. Azubuike Onyebuchi, who the staff have dubbed ‘Mr. Project’ disclosed that one of the reason is the absence of a conventional federal university that offers medical sciences courses in the state. Onyebuchi stated this while speaking after a two-day programme of Thanksgiving Day and a guided tour of facilities for unions in the centre. Onyebuchi lamented, “FMC Umuahia is the oldest Federal Medical Centre in Nigeria and it is a shame that we are not a teaching hospital yet.” He pleaded, “We are appealing to our political leaders in Abia State to come in unison and go fight for the establishment of a conventional university that will be offering Medicine as a field of...

The Vice President of Air and Logistics of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr Segun Musa, has criticised Nigeria’s approach to implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), describing it as overly theoretical and ineffective. Musa argued that the government and stakeholders have reduced AfCFTA to mere talk shows and paper presentations, noting that practical strategies and actionable plans are urgently needed to ensure Nigeria participates meaningfully in this continental market. Speaking with maritime journalists, Musa further accused committees overseeing AfCFTA implementation of failing to engage relevant stakeholders effectively. “Their lack of seriousness and practical engagement is a missed opportunity for Nigeria to leverage the agreement,” Musa lamented. He warned that Nigeria’s unpreparedness for AfCFTA could turn the country into a dumping ground for goods from other African nations. He also highlighted Nigeria’s stark deficiencies in manufacturing, industrialisation, and infrastructure, describing the country’s current...

27 December was mapped out as World Iyan Day during the carnival. Ekiti State has hosted the maiden edition of the World Iyan Carnival, with the state’s rich culture displayed colourfully with thrilling performances. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Iyan (pounded yam) is a local cuisine peculiar to Ekiti indigenes. On Monday, Ade Ajayi, carnival convener, said the carnival was meant to showcase Ekiti’s rich culture and improve the state’s economic status through tourism. He says the carnival theme is “Agrotourism: A New Frontier For Sustainable Tourism And Economic Development.” Mr Ajayi said the recent event at Midas Arena in Ado-Ekiti was anchored on four transformative initiatives. He said these initiatives included cultivating 50 million yam tubers, documenting the origin of Iyan in partnership with Netflix, Aafin Iyan Resort, and the annual Iyan Carnival. Mr Ajayi said the event featured cultural displays of Ekiti and Idoma people,...

Doctors in Ondo State under the Association of Resident Doctors, University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital Ondo chapter, on Tuesday, began an indefinite strike over alleged poor working conditions and welfare packages. The resident doctors had on Monday staged a protest against the management of the state-owned teaching hospital, accusing it of ignoring their demands. The doctors highlighted several issues fueling their industrial action, including illegal salary deductions, exorbitant taxes, and the non-payment of hazard allowances. Speaking to journalists in Akure, the state capital, on Tuesday, the President of UNIMEDTH ARD, Dr. Olaogbe Kehinde, lamented the increasing workload on doctors due to mass resignations triggered by poor welfare. “Many doctors have left the hospital without prior notice because of the harsh conditions of service. “Despite our repeated calls for a review of our working conditions, the management has failed to address the critical issues affecting us,” Kehinde said. He outlined...

Members of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH), in Ondo City, headquarters of the Ondo West Local Council Area of Ondo State town, have embarked on an indefinite strike over alleged poor conditions of service. According to the resident doctors who protested within the premises of the medical facility, the industrial action became imperative following the refusal of the management of the hospital to listen to their plight.   With their demands including a stop to illegal deductions from their salaries, a check on huge payments of taxes, and non-payment of hazard allowance, amongst others, President of the UNIMEDTH ARD, Dr. Olaogbe Kehinde, lamented that the workload was too much for doctors in the hospital.   While revealing that many doctors have resigned while others left without prior notification due to poor conditions of service, Olaogbe stated doctors could no...

Umuahia — The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has assured Igbo people living in the diaspora of their safety and protection if they return home for the Christmas and New Year festivities. In a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, IPOB pledged that operatives of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) would ensure a peaceful and secure atmosphere throughout the festive season. The statement read: “Alaigbo is a very peaceful region. IPOB encourages our people to return home and enjoy a peaceful festive season. “ESN operatives will provide a peaceful atmosphere during the festive period. Our people should come home and contribute their best to ensuring that Alaigbo remains peaceful.” IPOB emphasized the importance of peace and security in the Southeast, describing it as a strategic economic hub in Africa. “We need peace to thrive as an economic powerhouse. Every Igbo man and woman must work towards...

Motherhood is a journey fraught with challenges, but for visually impaired mothers in Nigeria, the obstacles are exponentially magnified. In this report, DAYO OYEWO writes about how mothers without the luxury of sight navigate the complexities of childcare and parenting Based on societal conditions, the blind are engulfed in an unfavourable struggle. This is because vision is life, and in the words of Helen Keller, “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” Agnes Forte, 34, a blind mother, has been in a constant race to beat the odds. At the tender age of five, she had a dream. “I wanted to be a doctor,” she told this reporter, but fate had other plans. Her present-day life, she said, “has been hellish.” But with courage, “I have been waging this war without my sight.” This war Forte lamented about is not the type fought on...

2024 wasn’t a happy year for many globally. A profound economic crisis and sweltering experience further sunk many below the breadline and complicated their despair in Nigeria. Yet at the confluence of these trends is a new nation of foraging Nigerians that has made the world its home. As bleak as the home front appears, Nigerians in Diaspora are the bastion of self-help, lodestars of hope in many homes, and a Nigeria of our dreams. They earned our highest honour. Jon Clifton, the Chief Executive Officer of Gallup, a global analytics and advisory firm that tries to explain most pressing work and life issues through the famous Gallup World Poll, once argued about the true measurement of happiness. While happiness means so many things to different people, so also is its measurement. But one thing is constant, happiness is mostly devoid of negative emotions, misery, pain and worry. Suppose CEOs closely...

Mr Farotimi was released from a correctional facility in Ekiti State on Tuesday after meeting bail conditions in a defamation case involving senior lawyer Afe Babalola. Nigerian human rights activist and lawyer Dele Farotimi has attributed his release from 20-day detention to the collective support of Nigerians, who lauded their unity in demanding Justice. Premium Times reported that Mr Farotimi was released from the correctional facility in Ekiti State on Tuesday after meeting the bail conditions granted him in a case where he faces criminal charges of defaming senior lawyer Afe Babalola in his book, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’. In his Amazon best-seller book, Mr Farotimi accuses Mr Babalola, a Senior Nigerian advocate and founder of the Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti, of corrupting Nigeria’s Supreme Court in service of his clients. Subsequently, the police charged him with 16 counts of criminal defamation, leading to his arraignment before...

The Gombe State Executive Council has approved N4.205 billion for the payment of gratuities to 2,204 state retirees. Speaking after the SEC meeting presided over by Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, the Deputy Governor, Manassah Jatau, disclosed that the approved funds would cover retirees from 2019 to 2020. Jatau stated, “We assumed office in 2019, and after clearing the backlog, we focused on retirees from 2019 to 2020, totalling 2,204 individuals. The government has approved N4.205 billion for this purpose. So far, this administration has paid N17.235 billion in gratuities.” He further explained that the current administration had cleared gratuities owed from 2014 to 2018, using N8.571 billion to settle payments for 5,658 retirees. “When this government came into office, it discovered that gratuities for retirees between 2014 and 2018 had not been paid. The total number of affected retirees was 5,658. This administration took pity on them and has since paid...