Ajoni LCDA Fights Against Child's Morbidity, Mortality, Distributes Food Supplements to 400 Infants and malnourished Children.

Ajoni LCDA Fights Against Child's Morbidity, Mortality, Distributes Food Supplements to 400 Infants and malnourished Children.

....canvasses exclusive breastfeeding for infants.

Being part of the measures to curb incidences of child's mortality and malnourishment, the Ajoni Local Council Development Area of Ekiti State, has distributed food supplements to 400 infants and children in the local councildevelopment area.

The Chairman of the Council, Hon. (Amb.) Michael Ogungbemi fcpa, who said the programme was being prosecuted since 2022 under Child's Cares policy of his administration, advised nursing mothers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding as part of the ways to mitigate infant morbidity and mortality rates in the state.

Hon. (Amb.) Michael Ogungbemi fcpa, Executive Chairman Ajoni LCDA.  

Prince Ogungbemi, who disclosed this in a statement he released in Ayedun Ekiti, headquarters of the LCDA, on Wednesday, stated that the policy was in tandem with the Human Capital Development of the Biodun Oyebanji's administration and high premium value it places on wellness of the citizens, especially the infants and children.

The council boss said the distribution of the free food supplement, was midwifed by the office of his wife , Olori Christianah Olayinka Ogungbemi, the Chairperson, while the staff of the community department of the council were saddled with the responsibility of mobilizing the mothers for the programme. This is the second phase with fair and equitable distribution to Ipao, Oke Ako, Irele, Ijowa, Itapaji and Iyemero communities.

Ogungbemi stated that the programme was being undertaken in partnership with the Bountiful Children's Foundation, BCF, USA to Improve the use and provisions of rich macronutrient food supplement for malnourished infants and children within 1,000 days of life into the new programme.

Ogungbemi said under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Children, that every infant and child is entitled to proper nutrition, consistent with their rights to life, survival, and development. 

The Chairman described as unacceptable, the frightening statistics that over 45% of deaths traceable to infants and children were caused by poor nutrition globally, adding that records substantiated the fact that over 820,000 children's lives could be saved each year, if all children between ages 0–23 months were optimally breastfed.

Canvassing strong support for exclusive breastfeeding, Prince Ogungbemi revealed that the concept remained the most effective way to ensure child's health and survival. 

Ogungbemi said: "This new child's health outreach programne has screened over 700 infants and children across Ajoni Local Council Development Area and had provided free supply of rich macronutrient food supplement to over four hundred 400 malnourished infants and children within Ajoni Communities. 

In its first phase, Ayebode, Odo Ayedun, Esun and Oke Ayedun communities benefitted in the intervention drive for uninterrupted six months provisions of rich macronutrient food supplement to malnourished infants and children.

"The Ajoni Child cares programme is a sustainable efforts in reducing Child's morbidity and mortality rate across Ajoni communities and to also aids children brain development, cognitive reasoning and healthiness in different homes or families within the LCDA as said by my wife. 

"Breastfeeding exclusively for the first 6 months of life, and sustained for up to 2 years or longer with appropriate complementary feeding like the provisions of rich macronutrient food supplement from 6 months to 3 years old infants and children's, is the biologically normal and unparalleled method of nourishing infants, especially vulnerable newborns.

"The food supplements support optimal growth, improves immune function and neurodevelopment, and has been proven to contain antibodies, reducing the disease burden, as endorsed in clinical guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF Nigeria, and leading health organisations, including the frontline impact documented by globally recognized Bountiful Children's Foundation, USA".

Speaking further on the significance of the programme, Ogungbemi stated that for the global community to achieve SDG target 3.2, which borders on ending all preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age by 2030, that the council had focused efforts on scaling up the Ajoni health Advocacy outreach for malnourished infants and children.

He added that the Ajoni Child's heath Advocacy Programme, is to promote and support newborns and children requiring intensive medical care, addressing barriers, as well as educating on the importance, expression techniques, and utilising breastfeeding aids and at-breast supplemental systems.

"The Ajoni LCDA and BCF free screening and provision of free and rich macronutrient food supplement programme also include research and evaluation component to monitor effectiveness and data, guiding future evidence-based interventions and development of a sustained supportive environment.

"By leveraging on a multidisciplinary approach and prioritising parental involvement, this programme contributes to improve health outcomes of infants by reducing the child's morbidity and mortality rate in the Local Council Development Area and Ekiti State at large", he stated.

EKSG Names Eight-Member Committee On Food Security.

EKSG Names Eight-Member Committee On Food Security.

Ekiti State Government has named an eight- member committee on Food Security with a mandate to provide support for farmers and enhance local food production, contributing to the primary goal of reducing food prices and addressing hunger in the country.

The committee, headed by the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade, comprises the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akintunde Oyebode; Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning and Performance Management, Mr. Oyeniyi Adebayo; Special Adviser/Director General Office of Transformation and Service Delivery, Dr. Moyo Ekundayo; Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Peju Babafemi; Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani and the Special Adviser on Governance, Mr. Odunayo Ayeni.

The State Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun who made this known in a statement made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti on the outcome of the meeting of the State Executive Council held on Tuesday, explained that the committee was to come up with strategy to mitigate food crisis. 

Reiterating the commitment of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji’s administration to the general wellbeing of residents, Rt. Hon. Olatunbosun stressed that food security goes beyond adequate food supply, adding that the administration considers it to include availability, accessibility and utilization of food as well as the vital role of trade in the equation.

He assured that the State Government would continue to make farming attractive in the State and move farmers from the, hitherto, subsistent farming to improved mechanized/commercial farming.

Olatunbosun highlighted some of the administrations interventions in agriculture in the State to include land clearing for cluster farming in about 30 points within the state aimed at promoting and increasing productivity in maize, rice, and cassava production, distribution of maize to livestock farmers, distribution of SF2 Solar Irrigation Pumps to farmers, facilitation of low interest loans under Ministry of Trade, Industry, investment and cooperatives to benefit cooperative farmers, introduction of the State Tractorization Subsidy Scheme, and renovation of moribund Agricultural Farm buildings to accommodate the Livestock Development Centre (LDC) and Ekiti Youth in Urban Farming project (EYiUF).   

Other Government’s interventions are: payment of N20M counterpart fund for Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES), establishment of 2 hectares model polyclonal cashew farm/scion garden, sales of 12,000 hybrid cocoa seedlings at 50% subsidy to farmers, sales of 5,000 polyclonal cashew seedlings at 50% subsidy to farmers, 50% subsidy on tractorization to farmers, enumeration of non-exhaustive crops on 250 hectares of land, Overhauling of the poultry pens at Livestock Development Centre (LDC) and construction of drainage system at the poultry site at Erifun as well as renovation of the existing borehole for steady supply of water at the poultry site amongst others.

Nigeria Opens Land, Air Borders With Republic Of Niger, Lifts Other Sanctions.

Nigeria Opens Land, Air Borders With Republic Of Niger, Lifts Other Sanctions.

President Bola Tinubu has directed the opening of Nigeria's land and air borders with the Republic of Niger and the lifting of other sanctions against the country with immediate effect.

This directive is in compliance with the decisions of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at its extraordinary summit on February 24, 2024, in Abuja.

ECOWAS leaders had agreed to lift economic sanctions against the Republic of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.

The President has directed that the following sanctions imposed on the Republic of Niger be lifted immediately:

(1) Closure of land and air borders between Nigeria and Niger Republic, as well as ECOWAS no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger Republic.

(2) Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between Nigeria and Niger, as well as freeze of all service transactions, including utility services and electricity to Niger Republic.

(3) Freeze of assets of the Republic of Niger in ECOWAS Central Banks and freeze of assets of the Republic of Niger, state enterprises, and parastatals in commercial banks.

(4) Suspension of Niger from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly EBID and BOAD.

(5) Travel bans on government officials and their family members.

President Tinubu has also approved the lifting of financial and economic sanctions against the Republic of Guinea.

Ekiti State Govt Inaugurates Medical Emergency Treatment Committee.

Ekiti State Govt Inaugurates Medical Emergency Treatment Committee.

As part of steps to strengthen the State’s medical emergency architecture, Ekiti State Government has inaugurated the State Medical Emergency Treatment Committee.

The inauguration which was performed by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oyebanji Filani was to set in motion a committee that will oversee the State Emergency Medical and Ambulance System in order to provide quality, efficient and accessible transport and treatment services at no cost at all Points of Care (PoC) across the state.

While speaking at the event, Dr. Filani charged the committee to show a high level of commitment in the discharge of their mandate with every sense of professionalism. 

Also speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Olusola Gbenga-Igotun called on medical practitioners and healthcare providers to constantly approach issues concerning medical emergencies with a human face and prioritize saving lives before any other consideration.

Reacting on behalf of the Committee, the General Manager of the State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Oludare Asaolu and the Director, Hospital Services and Training, Ministry of Health and Human Services, Dr. Olumide Obbe pledged their resolve to work and deliver on their mandate.

Membership of the committee was drawn from various medical and healthcare providers associations and relevant agencies which include; Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Nigeria Police Force, National Blood Transfusion Agency, Public Health Facilities and various other associations.

Oyebanji vows to immortalize late APC Chairman, Omotosho.

Oyebanji vows to immortalize late APC Chairman, Omotosho.

....As Forum of State Party Chairmen condoles with EKSG, family. 

 

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji has said that his government would immortalize the late Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Barrister Paul Omotosho, in recognition of his numerous contributions to the development of the State.

Governor Oyebanji, made the pledge in Ado-Ekiti while receiving representatives of the Forum of State Chairmen of the APC who were in his office to present the Forum’s letter of condolence. The Governor said the gesture is designed to preserve Omotoso's legacies of service, humility and loyalty.

Emphasizing the late chairman’s unwavering dedication to the party and his selfless service to the state and humanity, Oyebanji said the deceased was a dedicated leader, unifier and highly committed party leader.

He also assured that his administration 

will provide adequate support for the family of the diseased to ensure that the vacuum left is not noticed. 

“This is a very tough moment for us, and like you said, Barrister Omotosho was a very straight forward person; he was loyal and humble. We promise you before God and man that whatever we can do as a government to ensure the family does not suffer, we will do. We will ensure, even though we cannot replace him, that whatever we can do to lessen the burden and the pain of his departure we shall do, God helping us. we will not stop there, we are going to immortalize him and we will give him a befitting burial”, the Governor said.

Earlier in his remarks, the Acting Chairman of the Forum, Hon Cornelius Ojelabi, said the purpose of their visit was to commiserate with the Governor, the Party, and the good people of Ekiti State over the death of the late APC chairman in the state.

Ojelabi, who presented the Forum’s letter of condolence to the Governor, described the late chairman as a principled leader who worked tirelessly for the betterment of the party and the nation at large.

He maintained that the Omotosho was a solution provider and a beacon of hope for all who knew and admired him.

Present during the visit were the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye; Secretary to the State Government, Dr Habibat Adubiaro; Special Adviser Political and Inter- Party Matter, Chief Jide Awe; Acting Chairman of the Ekiti State chapter of APC, Mr Ola Elesin; chairmen from of state chapters of the party from the six geo- political zones, among others.

VP Shettima Supports President Tinubu’s Agric Revolution, Launches Empowerment Scheme

VP Shettima Supports President Tinubu’s Agric Revolution, Launches Empowerment Scheme.

...Farmers get tractors, fertilizers, seeds, other inputs for 2024 farming season.

In support of the food security and agriculture mechanisation drive of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, Vice President Kashim Shettima has flagged off an empowerment scheme to assist farmers in the country.

The scheme, Kashim Shettima Foundation's Agricultural Empowerment Programme, launched in Kaduna State at the weekend, heralds the commencement of distribution of tractors, seeds, fertilizers, herbicides, and other essential farming inputs to beneficiary farmers for the 2024 farming season.

The Vice President described farmers in the country as “the underappreciated heroes who till the soil, sow the seeds, and nourish our nation, to whom we owe a mountain of appreciation for putting the county first, come rain or shine,” noting that it is their unwavering commitment that sustains the country.

Speaking during the launch of the empowerment programme in Kaduna, VP Shettima said the gesture is in honour of the nation’s resilient farmers, assuring that the Tinubu administration will take action to unlock the nation's agricultural potential and provide essential support to farmers.

In his address, the VP emphasised the crucial role of agriculture in Nigeria's economy, highlighting its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and its significance as the primary employer for millions of citizens.

“Agriculture has always been a strong pillar of Nigeria's economy, contributing one out of every five US Dollars to our GDP and providing livelihoods and sustenance for 36% of the labour force,” he stated.

The Vice President outlined the challenges facing the agricultural sector, including input shortages, lack of access to finance, conflicts, and outdated practices leading to low productivity.

Despite these hurdles, he however recognized Kaduna State's agricultural potential, emphasizing the need for intervention to boost productivity and empower farmers.

He explained that the Kashim Shettima Foundation’s Agricultural Empowerment Programme aims to support farmers in Kaduna by providing farming inputs, technical guidance, and financial empowerment.

Senator Shettima pledged to cultivate 500 hectares of land through the programme and provide financial support to beneficiaries and farmer cooperatives to establish commercial farms.

He noted: “Through this initiative, I commit to supporting the cultivation of 500 hectares of land in Kaduna through the provision of farming inputs which are seed-applied, soil-applied and foliar applied alongside technical direction, extension and good agronomic practices support to beneficiaries of this initiative.

“Financial empowerment will also be provided to the tune of 100 thousand Naira per month to each of the 50 beneficiaries for 4 months which covers the planting period, after which farmer cooperatives (comprising 50 farmers) will be given startup funds of up to 30 million Naira to establish full-fledged commercial farms".

The VP also restated the Federal Government's commitment to improving agriculture in Nigeria through various policies and programmes aimed at enhancing food security and economic growth like the “recent directives to release 42,000 metric tons of grains from strategic reserves and reduce the cost of agricultural inputs by 93% through subsidies, to improve food security.”

He commended the efforts of the Kaduna State Government and private sector partners in driving targeted policy formulation and implementation across the agricultural value chain.

Earlier, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State declared his administration's support to the initiative and expressed gratitude to the Vice President for honouring the state to pilot the project.

Represented by his Deputy, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, Governor Sani, emphasised that Kaduna State identified with the initiative and would do all it could to support its implementation.

"Your Excellency, you have demonstrated that you are not just our leader but you are a friend of Kaduna. You have been extending a hand of friendship, whether during difficult times or at times like this, and we are indeed very grateful," the Governor said.

On his part, Malam Murtala Dabo, Kaduna State Commissioner for Agriculture, said the scheme is a beacon of hope for the youths, a catalyst for economic growth, and part of a solution to the multifaceted challenges facing the agricultural sector.

Also, Engr. Baba Kachallah, Chairman of the Kashim Shettima Foundation, explained that the initiative would take off with the provision of 10 tractors, adding that 50 farmers per state would be trained to become full-fledged agropreneurs and that they will be provided with land, fertilizer, sprayers, planters, pesticides, herbicides, seeds and working capital ahead of the beginning of the rainy season.

For his part, Dr Joshua Zira, Head, Agric (North) Strategy, Partnership and Solid Mineral Corporate and Investment Banking of Sterling Bank Ltd, said the initiative is coming even at the right time, noting that the bank will support the Foundation from the beginning all through.

Dignitaries who attended the event included Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, represented by the state Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Samson Bugama; Prof. Abba Makinta, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID); Prof. Lawan Asheik, Department of Crop Science, (UNIMAID); Prof. Mutawalli Ajagana; Prof. Yakubu Geidam; Engr. Muazu Yau, Niger Delta Power Holdings Company; Engr. Tijjani Yusufari, former Permanent Secretary, Yobe State, and APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Alhaji Ali Dalori.

Others are Alhaji Mahmud Muhammad, Personal Assistant to the President, Domestic (Northeast affairs), Office of the Vice President, and Marion Moon, Technical Assistant to the President on Agriculture, Office of the Vice President.

RAMADAN: Tinubu Appeals To Nigerians To Pray For Peace, Stability.

RAMADAN: Tinubu Appeals To Nigerians To Pray For Peace, Stability. 

 

President Bola Tinubu joined the Muslim faithful at the State House mosque for the Ramadan Tafsir (explanation of the Holy Qur’an) on Tuesday, appealing to Nigerians to pray for peace and stability in the country.

 

Declaring open the annual Tafsir, President Tinubu advised the Muslim faithful to demonstrate kindness to one another and their neighbours while also supporting the less privileged in society. 

 

''We thank Almighty Allah for sparing us to see another holy month of Ramadan. We thank Allah for sparing us through the elections and giving us the opportunity to be Nigerians. 

 

''Yes, things are tough, but Allah has ordained us to make sacrifices, to discipline ourselves, help others, and be kind to ourselves. 

 

''May Almighty God, that gave us this opportunity, strengthen our resolve; help us change our country, and extend our love to our neighbours.

 

''We face challenges of kidnapping, banditry, and others. May Allah show mercy on all of us, the dead, and accept our good deeds. 

 

''May Almighty Allah give us strength and good life to see the month of Ramadan through and to continue in good faith to worship him. I advise all of us to continue to pray for our country,'' the President said. 

  

President Tinubu told the Ulamas that God has given them the wisdom, knowledge, and the heart to teach others, emphasizing the importance of teaching forgiveness, patience, and endurance to the faithful, as well as sharing their blessings with others. 

 

''It is in our hearts to make sacrifices and share whatever little we have with our brothers and sisters. Be kind and humble enough. The sacrifice that this period teaches us is enough. 

 

''May Almighty Allah grant us the privilege and the strength; not the strength of hunger but the strength of character and attitude to love our country and make Nigeria great. As-Salaam-Alaikum," the President prayed.