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RSG Expresses Concern Over Cardiovascular Disease
The Rivers State Government says the upsurge in the prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease in the country is worrisome.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara stated this during the opening ceremony of the 53rd Annual General and Scientific Conference of Nigerian Cardiac Society at Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
Represented by his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, Governor Fubara said “For us in the State it is a triple pronged approach that is being taken. It takes a tripartite combination of people who can deliver. When you have a Governor that has put healthcare as a top priority and he does it with robust funding, and you have a Commissioner that is strategic, dynamic and very focused in knowing the interventions that could give us positive impact in the health sector and a Chief Medical Director (CMD) who is result oriented you can imagine that you could not have chosen a better location for this conference”.
Governor Fubara who expressed the hope that the interactions and exchange of ideas and discussions would be beneficial to all of us in the world, thanked the President of Nigerian Cardiac Society for making a little introduction on the aspect of involving Primary Healthcare as a phase of intervention of gauging the issues of cardiovascular diseases down to the grassroots.
“It is something that is of a great concern to us you will hear a young man of 42 years goes to sleep and does not wake up, you hear that somebody goes to the gym and drops dead at the gym or you hear people are just driving and they slump. All these tell us that there is a burden and Cardiovascular Diseases must be taken seriously”. The Governor stressed.
According to him the difference between the incidence in the urban and rural areas is narrow, which calls for something to think about, noting that when poverty is a driver, lack of education is a driver it means we have to involve Primary Healthcare so that they can work assiduously with the Ministry and the people that will carry the message down to the villages and remote areas which is expected to change certain dimensions.
He thanked the society for bringing the conference to Port Harcourt, adding that “coming here tells the world that Rivers State is a safe place; it tells the world it is a good place to do business, it tells the world that Rivers State is hospitable and focused in governance”.
In her remarks the Chairman of the occasion, Hon. Justice Mary Odili who is the Pro Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of Rivers State University said Just as the Courts sit down to deliver Justice and fairness medical professionals strive to deliver health, stressing that together they are united in their commitment to the welfare of Nigerian people.
“Your dedication to advance the health and wellbeing of our nation is commendable and it is a great honour for me to be a part of the gathering of Medical Professionals who are at the forefront of the fight against Cardiovascular Disease in Nigeria”. Hon. Justice Mary Odili further stressed.
Also speaking, the National President of Nigerian Cardiac Society Prof. Augustine Odili urged Stake holders to synergize efforts to bring an end to cardiovascular disease in the country.
Prof Amam C. Mbakwem Presented the Guest Lecture on the theme “Socio-Economic Burden of Rising Cardiovascular Disease Profile in Sub- Saharan Africa”.
Highlight of the occasion was the presentation of Award of Appreciation to His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State, Her Excellency Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, Deputy Governor, Rivers State, Hon. Justice Mary Odili, Pro- Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council, Rivers State University. Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, Hon. Commissioner for Health, Rivers State.
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.