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World breastfeeding week: 1,000 Nasarawa women breastfeed babies simultaneously
No fewer than 1,000 lactating women yesterday, breastfed their babies simultaneously in Lafia as part of the World Breastfeeding Record Initiative and commemoration of the flag off of 2024 World Breastfeeding week in Nasarawa State.
Speaking at the event, Gerida Birukila, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Kaduna, said that the attempt at the world record for the highest number of lactating women breastfeeding simultaneously in Nigeria, was geared towards making history and sending a powerful message to the world about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding.
Birukila said that breastfeeding was the foundation of lifelong health and well-being.
“It is a simple, cost-effective, and natural way to provide infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development.
“However, despite its proven benefits, exclusive breastfeeding rates remain low at 42% according to the the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICs 2021) done by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS),” she said .
She noted that many mothers faced cultural, social, and practical barriers that prevented them from breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of their child’s life.
“Today’s event aims to break down those barriers. By coming together, we are challenging harmful norms and practices, such as the introduction of water and other pre-lacteal feeds in the first six months.
“We are here to dismantle the stigma surrounding breastfeeding and to empower mothers with the knowledge and support they need to make the best choices for their children’s health including the approval of 6 months of paid extended Maternity leave,” She said.
Birukila commended all the participating mothers in Nasarawa State and across the locations in the 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and IDP camps.
“I salute your courage and dedication. Your participation is a testament to your commitment to your children’s health and the health of future generations. You are the true champions of this initiative, and your collective action will inspire many more to follow in your footsteps,” she added.
She stressed the need for the sustenance of the awareness creation on the need for exclusive breastfeeding beyond the weeklong event in order to have a lasting impact on health and well-being of children in the state
The Chief of Field Office, appreciated the wife of Nasarawa State Governor, Hajiya Silifat Sule, and other stakeholders for championing breastfeeding and child nutrition in the state.
She reiterated UNICEF’s commitment to support Nasarawa government towards a better child health and nutrition.
In his remarks, Dr Gaza Gwamna, Nasarawa Commissioner for Health harped on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr John Damina, the commissioner challenged lactating mothers to sustain the culture of exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first six months of a child’s life.
“Exclusive breastfeeding is crucial to the growth and mental development of every child. It’s important that culture without introducing any other feed for the stipulated period of six months.
“Also, the habit of spilling the the first milk after birth should be discouraged as it’s highly beneficial to the baby,” he said.
Some of the mothers, Mrs Charity Edeh and Asmau Agabi, gave testimonies about the benefit of breastfeeding their babies exclusively for the first six months.
They encouraged all women to adopt the practice, especially with the current economic realities with the attendant high cost of infant formulas.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of four new members to the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement yesterday, said the appointment is to fill existing vacancies and strengthen the board’s capacity.
The statement said the approved nominees are Mr. Olusegun Omosehin of the National Insurance Commission and Engr. Wole Ogunsanya of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria.
Tinubu also endorsed the nomination of Sam Onyechi, who represents the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum and Barrister Owei Oyanbo from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The President encouraged the new members to leverage their expertise and dedication to enhance local content development within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
It added, “The nominations arose from the exit of previous institutional representatives from the Governing Council.
“The NCDMB Governing Council, established under Section 69 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010, comprises representatives from key institutions.
“These include the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum, and the National Insurance Commission.”
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced plans to construct additional hostels, rehabilitate roads, and enhance power supply in the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
NDDC’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, disclosed this during a visit to the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday by a delegation from the UNIPORT’s Governing Council.
Ogbuku stated that the NDDC had committed to upgrading facilities at UNIPORT as part of efforts to foster partnership with educational institutions across the Niger Delta.
According to him, the implementation of additional projects at the university forms part of a broader strategy to improve education standards in the region.
“Aside from the construction of new hostel blocks and installation of a 300 KVA solar inverter system, the NDDC will also facilitate more projects in the university.
“The commission will also deploy its engineers to assess the condition of UNIPORT’s roads and hostels for potential rehabilitation,” he said.
Ogbuku noted that upon completion, the projects would add to various initiatives previously undertaken by the commission at the university.
“These and other projects reflect our commitment to actualising President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the Niger Delta region,” he added.
He reaffirmed the NDDC’s dedication to fostering development and strengthening partnerships across the region.
Earlier, Sen. Mao Ohuanbunwa, Chairman of UNIPORT’s Governing Council, who led the delegation commended the current leadership of the NDDC for its achievements in accelerating development in the Niger Delta.
He highlighted the university’s infrastructural challenges, noting that it lacked adequate facilities to accommodate its growing student population, and appealed for the NDDC’s support in addressing the shortfall.
“Currently, UNIPORT has a total student population of about 50,000, while its hostel accommodation capacity can only cater for 5,000 students.
“We therefore urge the NDDC to assist in the construction of additional hostels, improve transportation facilities, and facilitate the acquisition of gas turbines to enhance power supply for our students,” Ohuanbunwa pleaded.
The Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, commended NDDC for its impactful projects across the Niger Delta and extended an invitation to the commission to participate in the institution’s forthcoming 50th anniversary celebrations.
The Senate has rejected a motion to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters after the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, late Prof Humphrey Nwosu.
Nwosu presided over the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was truncated by the former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).
The election which was won by the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, was adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the electoral history of Nigeria.
The motion to rename INEC after Nwosu was re-sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe yesterday after lawmakers threw it out last Wednesday.
Abaribe called for posthumous national honours to be conferred on Nwosu in recognition of his role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
However, the proposal sparked a heated debate once again, with lawmakers deeply divided over Nwosu’s legacy.
Senator Osita Ngwu acknowledged that Nwosu operated under a military regime, which restricted his ability to announce the results.
He argued that “there was no way he would have announced the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t change the fact that some of us see him as a hero.”
Senator Austin Akobundu, however, described it as most uncharitable for lawmakers to dismiss Nwosu’s contributions, insisting that he deserved a place in Nigeria’s hall of honour.
On the other hand, several senators like Senator Jimoh Ibrahim dismissed the idea outright, questioning why the Senate should honour someone who failed to announce the results insisting that “nothing should be named after him”.
Senator Cyril Fasuyi argued that history does not reward efforts, but only results.
“As long as he did not announce the result, whether under duress or not, I am against naming INEC headquarters after him,” he submitted.
Also, Senator Sunday Karimi criticised Nwosu for lacking the courage to speak out, while Senator Afolabi Salisu warned that immortalising him would undermine the memory of MKO Abiola, the widely accepted winner of the June 12, 1993, annulled election.
“Any attempt to do anything beyond a one-minute silence is to rubbish Abiola’s legacy,” he tendered.
After intense deliberation, most senators rejected the motion through a voice vote.
They, however, agreed to honour him with a one-minute silence and extend condolences to his family, effectively dismissing the other prayers to immortalise Nwosu.