When Malaria Hits Home Dr. Oluyemi Olawaiye

According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) figures in 2012, the top five killers in Africa were HIV/Aids, lower respiratory tract infections, diarrheal diseases, strokes, and Malaria.  In my role as founder and president of Yeloto African Children’s Foundation, a non-profit organization named for my own children, I have made raising awareness of the ills and needs of children in Africa a central aspect of the mission of my efforts.
As I have shared before in both public and private arenas.   When I reflect on what I have seen and continue to see day to day during my vacation’s and annual charity sojourn to Nigeria, it generates great sadness in my heart to see how our country’s most valuable resource, its children, are not all provided for in a manner that ensures their optimum development and success.  What I find even more disheartening is reminiscent of a quote by entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar, who is quoted as saying, “The world’s most deadly disease is “hardening of the attitudes.”

In too many arenas, from the average citizen to the highest echelons of government there is a sense of complacency about the needs of one of the most vulnerable populations in our midst. Our children need us and they need us now.  At the risk of sounding cliché, the truth remains; the children that we are passing by begging or hawking in the streets, or those that are dying as a result of preventable illnesses are our future.  I know that something as conceptually simple as paradigm shift in thinking as well as the synergism of individuals that choose to function as change agents hold the key to turning the tide and changing the present narrative for our African children.

Aside from the fact that Malaria has taken the lives of approximately 627,000 lives (90 percent of the deaths belonging to Sub-Saharan Africa, and 77 percent were among children under age 5), I have chosen to write on Malaria because of my most recent personal experience.  In the never  ending struggle to raise our children to become well rounded, knowledgeable, scrupulous and upstanding citizens of the world my wife and I decided to avail our oldest son to some additional academic and cultural enrichment.  Despite all necessary preparations and what seemed like adequate precautions, approximately three weeks after he returned home from a four  week program he became significantly ill. In a matter of hours after his arrival to the emergency room he was transferred to the intensive care unit where he spent the next five days, my wife never left his side for his duration at the hospital.  Having experienced this has prompted consideration of not only the illness itself, but its impact.  Many questions came to mind. How could this have happened? What if he had not been in the US with both my wife and I (both of whom are healthcare professionals) watching him like hawks and with readily available and competent resources?  What if we had not taken him in time?  How unsettling it was for me to hear that my son had been transferred to the intensive care unit but how grateful I was that treatment was in fact available to him!  Then my thoughts turned to the WHO statistics and those children and families who are not as lucky and lose their lives (in significant numbers) to this illness.  Why is this the case?  Shouldn’t this scourge of an illness been eradicated already?  The health care community knows that Malaria is preventable and treatable, and history shows that it can be eliminated. Less than a century ago, it was prevalent across the world, including Europe and North America. Malaria was eliminated in most of Western Europe by the mid-1930s; the United States achieved elimination of the disease in 1951.

Improving the delivery of existing interventions as well as the development of new tools and strategies provides us the opportunity to accelerate progress toward complete elimination in all countries.  By mobilizing the required commitment and resources, global eradication can be achieved and millions of lives saved.

While pondering the question why isn’t more being done? I was struck with the idea to pursue a public health approach.  In as far back as a 1920 publication, Winslow defines public health as “the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting human health through organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals.  This is a key concept to keep in mind! The efforts of non-profit organizations both in the US and Nigeria are important long term strategies.  However, addressing the needs of those at risk of infection or currently afflicted is contingent on awareness and action NOW.  It is in this spirit I offer to you a consolidated review of Malaria, from its cause to treatment, and in my last few personal words before the review, implore you to take to heart the importance of each individual’s role in the most important aspect of Malaria….. Prevention!

Malaria Review:
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans as well as animals caused by parasitic protozoans. It belongs to plasmodium type. The symptoms of malaria usually manifest itself within 10 to fifteen days after a person is bitten. Common symptoms of malaria include fever, fatigue, vomiting and headaches.  And in severe cases of malaria symptoms include yellow skin, seizures, coma, or death. It is advised that people be properly treated to prevent reinfection.
In those who have recently pulled through infection, re-infection commonly causes moderate symptoms. This partial resistance may be lost over months to years if a person has no continued exposure to malaria. It is usually transmitted by infected female anopheles mosquito. Parasites are passed to human’s blood from mosquitoes saliva.

There are 5 species of plasmodium, the most deadly specie is P. Falciparum. In poor countries, the best and most cost effective way to diagnose malaria is by microscopic examination of blood using blood films. A more expensive way is by Antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDT).
In areas where these tests are unaffordable, it has become a common place for both physicians and patients alike to see a history of fever as the indication to treat for malaria. This is a dangerous practice as it leads to over diagnosis of malaria and also contributes to drug resistance. Misdiagnosis can erode confidence in an already trust challenged health care system.

PREVENTION.

This can be classified under 3 major categories-

1.    Medications
Medications can be used to prevent and treat malaria. Chloroquine, mefloquine (Lariam), doxycycline and combination medication like sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine also popularly known as fancidar. Fancidar is recommended in infants of greater than 2 months of age. Women after the first trimester of pregnancy can also take fancidar in a country with high rates of malaria like Nigeria. The recommended treatment for in most sub-saharan African countries is a combination of anti-malaria medications that include an artermisinin. The second medication maybe either mefloquine or sulfadoxine/ pyrimethamine (fancidar). Quinine along with doxycycline maybe used if an artemisinin is not available.

2.    Mosquito Elimination
Prevention of malaria has shown to be more cost effective than treatment of the disease. The initial cost to maintain low endemicity is too costly for poorer countries.

3.    Mosquito control
Refers to the different practice’s used to diminish malaria by reducing the levels of transmission by mosquitoes.

•    Insect repellants based on DEET or picaridin
•    Insecticide treated mosquito nets
•    Indoor residual spraying (IRS)
•    Prompt treatment reduces chance of transmission.
•    Decrease the availability of open water or add chemicals to decrease development of mosquito larva
•    Intermittent preventive therapy with Fancidar should also be considered

CATEGORIZATION

Malaria is classified into 2 major classes either severe or uncomplicated by World Health Organization. It is considered  severe when any of the subsequent criteria are present, otherwise  it is deemed uncomplicated.

•    Decrease consciousness
•    Significant weakness such as the person is unable to walk
•    Inability to feed
•    Two or more convulsions
•    Low blood pressure (less than 70mmHg in adults and 50mmHg in children)
•    Breathing problems
•    Circulatory shock
•    Kidney failure or hemoglobin in the urine
•    Bleeding problems, or hemoglobin less than 50g/L
•    Pulmonary oedema (excess of watery fluid collecting in tissues of the body)
•    Blood glucose less than 40mg/dL
•    Acidosis or lactate levels of greater than 5mmol/L
•    A parasite level in the blood of greater than 100,000 per microliter

                   TREATMENT

•    Simple or uncomplicated malaria may be treated with oral medications
•    The first vaccine, called RTS,S, WAS APPROVED BY European regulators in 2015, there is a pilot implementation of the vaccine  currently on going in Africa.
•    The most effective treatment for P. falciparum infection is a therapy that combine’s  artemisinin or its derivatives with some other antimalarial drug. These treatment are both effective and well tolerated in patients.
•    These additional antimalarials include : amodiaquine, lumefantrine, Lariam (mefloquine) or Fansidar (sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine), dihydroartemisinin and piperaquine
•    Artemisinin-combination therapy, or ACT is about 90% effective when used to treat uncomplicated malaria.
•    In pregnant women in first trimester use quinine plus clindamycin
•    Use ACT in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.
•    The recommended treatment of severe malaria is the intravenous use of antimalarial drugs. It should be done in a critical care unit. Symptoms include but not limited to high fevers, seizures, poor breathing, low blood sugar, low blood pressure and low blood potassium.

Dr. Oluyemi Olawaiye, Pharm D. is the Founder & President of Yeloto African Children Foundation (www.yeloto.org)
Instagram: @yelotoacf

2017 Appropriation bill to be passed on Thursday May 11th- Saraki says

Senate president Bukola Saraki during plenary today, disclosed that the 2017 Appropriation bill or budget would be passed into law on Thursday May 11th. Saraki said this after receiving the Appropriation bill from the senate’s committee on Appropriation. More photos below;

Nigerian doctor and her husband allegedly ‘trafficked’ Nigerian woman to the UK, made her work 18-hour shifts for £20 a week

A Nigerian doctor and her husband have been accused of trafficking a Nigerian woman to the UK before making her work 18-hour shifts and beating her when she asked for higher wages.

Dr Ayodeji Adewakun, 44, and Abimbola Adewakun, 48, are alleged to have paid babysitter Iyabo Olatunji, just £20 a week for looking after their two young children at home in Erith, south east London.

Ms Olatunji, 37, told Southwark Crown Court on Monday, May 8th, that she was also made to work long arduous days cleaning their house before staying late and cooking the couple dinner. She claims that when she asked for higher wages, and was slapped by the couple.

The couple allegedly persuaded Iyambo Olatunji to leave her home in Nigeria to look after their two young children at their three-bedroom home in Erith, southeast London, in 2004. Ms Olatunji, who had worked as a secretary for the local government in Nigeria, was forced to work 18-hour shifts cleaning the house and to share a bed with the youngest child. She also worked for Mr Adewakun’s pastor father as a househelp in the 1990s.

Ms Olatunji, who did not have her own bank account, was originally promised a £450 monthly salary over a 15-month period, jurors heard.

She told the court Ayodeji, or ‘Aunty Ayo’, ‘said she would look after me’.

“She said I would be fine. She said she would pay me money, a salary. The salary would have been higher than the one I was earning in the local government.”

The Kent-based doctor promised her new childminder £450 per month in a contract signed by the couple and Ms Olatunji which also set out a range of terms and conditions of her employment which began when she arrived in February 2004.

They included caring for couple’s two young children ‘at times agreed in advance’ during working hours ‘stipulated as Monday to Saturday’ six days per week between 7am and 5pm.

Ms Olatunji denied she was made aware of any duties expected of her outside of her babysitting role and added that she had never even had a bank account set up for her to receive her wages into.

‘I told Aunty Ayo ‘I do not have one’ but she just said ‘I have plans for you’,’ she added.

She said Ayodeji’s brother accompanied her to the British Embassy in Nigeria to get her passport and held onto it until they landed in the UK.

When she first arrived at the three-bedroom house she met the couple’s Hungarian au pair who showed her the children’s nursery, school and local park before leaving a week later with ‘a bad attitude’.

Jurors heard Dr Adewakun spotted Ms Olatunji chatting to the au pair and raged ‘Are you listening to her? She is not happy you are here because she is leaving.

“She is not a good au pair.” he said.

The court heard Ms Olatunji, who came to the UK with just five Nigerian Naira in her pocket, was not even treated to a t-shirt she liked during a family holiday to Euro Disney.

On their return, she claimed she was made to get up at 6am to get the children fed and off to school before tidying the home during the day and preparing meals for the evening.

“I am not sleeping at 8pm or 9pm – it is midnight,”said Ms Olatunji.

She recalled that the doctor and her husband sometimes did not return home from work until well after 10pm.

“Sometimes she would speak nicely to me – 25% nice to me, 75% anger,’ Ms Olatunji said. “She did not pay me. Both of them did not pay me, they just gave me £20 on Friday“

She was even told a landline call to her parents back home was ‘too expensive’ and spent some of her wages on Africa Tel calling cards.

Ms Olatunji said she was slapped three times by the doctor when she asked for more money.

The first occasion, coinciding with her birthday, was documented in a diary she kept, which also detailed the lax payment schedule. Jurors heard the babysitter wrote:

“Aunty fight with me today.She slapped my face twice.. The day I will never forget in my life – the first time in history that somebody has slapped my face.”

Ms Olatunji claimed she was assaulted again twice before she reported her situation to Mrs Adewakun’s mother.

Dr Adewakun and her husband Abimbola, both deny obtaining services by deception and trafficking a person into the UK for exploitation.

Mrs Adewakun further denies assaulting Ms Olatunji and two further counts of fraud and trafficking a person into the UK for exploitation in relation to a second victim.

The trial continues.

Source: Daily Mail

Update: Teenager who slammed elderly woman to the ground turns himself in to the police

Yesterday we wrote about an elderly woman who got slammed to the floor before getting thrown into a swimming pool by a group of young party-goers just because she asked them to turn the noise down.

Now, officials in Florida have confirmed that a teenager turned himself in to police after a video showing him dragging and throwing a woman into a pool was posted online. He turned himself in Monday afternoon and has been charged with battery of a person 65 years of age or older.

Buhari’s Health Will Not Affect His Government – House Member Says

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, May 8 said there was no cause for alarm over his absence because it would not affect the smooth running of government.

He disclosed this in a tweet on his Twitter handle @MBuhari in the late hours of Monday.

”As I noted earlier, I have absolute confidence that government will continue to run smoothly while I’m away. God bless the Federal Republic,” Buhari said.

Femi Adesina, a special adviser on media and publicity to Buhari,, said the president’s trip is a follow-up medical consultation with his doctors.

Adesina added that the president was supposed to travel on Sunday, May 7 afternoon but could not because of the release of 82 Chibok girls who arrived Abuja that same day.

He said the president had transmitted the vacation letter to the National Assembly in accordance with Section 145 of the constitution,

”The president wishes to assure all Nigerians that there is no cause for worry. He is very grateful for the prayers and good wishes of the people, and hopes they would continue to pray for the peace and unity of the nation.

”The length of the president’s stay in London will be determined by the doctors. Government will continue to function normally under the able leadership of the vice-president.

”President Buhari has transmitted letters about the trip to the Senate and the House of Representatives, in compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution,” the statement added.

ThisDay reports that the senior special assistant, legislative matters (House of Representatives) Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila however said Buhari is fit to seek re-election in 2019 elections.

According to him: “From what I have seen at close range, my boss is quite fit for the 2019 electoral battle.’

”President Buhari’s fitness was played upon in 2015 general election. He survived the campaign rigour, won the election and is on the verge of taking Nigeria to the promised land.

”Buhari is quite alright, he is fit to pass through a familiar terrain, and its human to fall sick. I am highly confident he would get better.”

‘He added: ‘Those who have legitimate ambitions should step forward, but they should also have at the back of their minds the fatal consequences of such misadventure in 2015.

”He also said that the president’s two years in office had been “eventful and fruitful.

”His ability to degrade the insurgency was a landmark in the history of this country.”

Sumaila also urged Nigerians to continue support the government so that it can accomplish the dividends of democracy.

He left the country on Sunday, May 7 after he met with the vice president Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Senate president Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

Team SLY Another PDP Senator, John Enoh Decamps To APC

Senator representing Cross River Central, John Enoh, has cross-carpeted from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Enoh, who is the Chairman of the senate committee on finance, made the announcement on the floor of the Upper Legislative Chambers on Tuesday.

The lawmaker disclosed that he had registered as a member of the APC in his ward. Reacting to Enoh’s defection, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki wished him well in his new political party, the APC.

“I wish him fruitful service to his people on the platform he has chosen,” Saraki said.

JAMB 321 visually impaired candidates to take 2017 UTME

The Head, JAMB Information and Media, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made this known in an interview in Bwari, Abuja.
The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) said it has registered 321 visually impaired candidates for the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The Head, JAMB Information and Media, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Bwari.
Benjamin said that the figure was higher than the 201 candidates registered for the examination in 2016.
He said that adequate arrangement has been made for the visually impaired candidates to participate fully in the forthcoming UTME.
According to him, the board used to conduct the Computer Based Test (CBT) using Braille Apex Machine, but most of them complained about its usage.
“They said they do not know how to use these machines: we are going to bring all visually impaired persons to come and write the exam in a particular location.”
“It could be Digital Bridge in Lagos or Digital Bridge in Abuja.”
“One of the things we have always done for them is to ensure that the few of them that meet the minimum requirement get it.”
“We encourage universities to admit them; we also give them courses that they want to read, so that we can give room for inclusiveness.”
“So that is our preparation as it relates to visually impaired candidates; they are 321 that is 18 per cent of the 1.7 million candidates that registered for this year’s UTME,” the JAMB’s spokesman said.
The visually impaired candidates who sat for the 2015/2016 UTME practiced with the Braille Apex machine at their respective centres a day before the main examination.
The practice was also done in the 2015 edition of the UTME through the use of CBT platform.
He explained that the Board often encourage universities to offer admission to visually impaired candidates who met the basic requirement, saying that 2017 will not be an exception.
Benjamin said plans were underway to employ the services of experts in the field of education, to be able to achieve the desired goal.
“We will get some of Nigeria’s best hands in some of those various subjects that they are going to write; these are professors, and people with integrity.”
“They will sit down together with the visually impaired candidates; ask the candidates questions, assess them and then rate them, so it is that rating that will be used for admission purposes.”
On preparation to hold the UTME on May 13, he said all hands were on deck to conduct a hitch free exercise.
He noted that the Board did not receive any complaint about irregularity in the course of registration of candidates, as being alleged in certain quarters.
“There is no complaint from anybody; we have passed the stage of registration, we registered 1.7 million candidates, so if there are issues, we will not have arrived at that number.”
“The hitches that we had were experienced at the initial stage of registration, which was basically as a result of non-compliance with our instruction.”
“We have made necessary effort to ensure that those instructions are adhered to, there is no complain as regards registration again across the country,” he added.
He, however, said that the posting of candidates to their various examination centers would start from Tuesday May 9

President Buhari’s letter says his vacation period is indefinite

President Buhari’s letter to the Senate says Vice president Osinbajo will remain in acting capacity until his return

– The letter also says the president cannot determine the date of his return because only his doctors can clear him for return

– The trip, President Buhari says, is a follow-up to an earlier one made in January 2017

The Nigerian Senate has read a letter from President Muhammadu Buhari on his travel to the United Kingdom for medical check-up.

The letter read was read by Senate president Bukola Saraki during plenary on Tuesday, May 9. In the letter, the President said he had no definite date for his return as his doctors would be the ones to determine his return date. President Buhari has told the Senate that only his doctors can determine the date of his return President Buhari said his trip to the UK is for a medical follow-up to his initial treatments and tests from his earlier trip to London. The letter said length of the President’s stay in London will be determined only by his doctors. Acting president Prof Yemi Osinbajo is expected to continue to coordinate the affairs of the country until President Buhari is allowed to return to Nigeria by his doctors. There was however a moment of drama after the letter was read when a senator, Mao Ohabunwa faulted the position given to Osinbajo in the letter. Ohabunwa raised a point of order noting that there is no provision in the Nigerian constitution for a coordinating vice president as stated in the President’s letter. Personal Assistant to President Buhari on new media Bashir Ahmad denied that there is a vacuum in the leadership of the country as indicated in the report. According to him, the vice president Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is now the acting president because President Buhari properly handed over to his deputy.

JAMB: UTME Exams Begin Saturday May 13, Record 1.7Million Apply

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has concluded the sale of 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) forms, recording over 1.7 million applications.

The exams will begin on Saturday May 13, 2017.

This is contained in a statement on Sunday by JAMB spokesman, Fabian Benjamin.

The Board urged Nigerians to have trust in its processes as they are meant to enhance productivity, eliminate examination malpractice and promote transparency to an unprecedented level.

It reads further: “We registered a number that has never been done in the entire 39 years of the existence of JAMB within a time frame Nigerians were sceptical about.

“The highest we have ever had was 1.5 million, this is record breaking. We will look at the system so far and make adjustments where necessary to ensure a full proof process of registration and examination.

“We are always sure of our systems and will continue to expand our frontiers of thinking to transform the Board to an agency that Nigerians will be proud of.

“JAMB wishes to state clearly that it will continue to be very open in all its activities and ensure inclusiveness even in the areas of its finances.

“The disclosure of the actual number of candidates registered is a clear invitation for the public to know what the Board has realised from the sale for this year and we are not perturbed because we have nothing to hide in our dealings. We are determined to make Nigerians proud of us.

“Examination is all about transparency and an agency that conducts such a competitive examination must be above board in all its life cycle. As we conduct the 2017 examination beginning from Saturday May 13, we call on all Nigerians to give us the needed support.

“We will do our very best and where they notice challenges, we will work without hesitation to ensure that it is corrected immediately for candidates to have a smooth examination.

“Nigerians should note that there could be one or two challenges in some centres; but the most important thing is our ability to urgently address such when they rear their face. We use this opportunity to call for patriotism. Let us learn to always support our agencies, they are not as bad as we are always quick to want them to be.

“Nations are grown through innovation and there is no innovation if there is no trial. Please don’t be quick to condemn, rather look at the end result and see how all of us can contribute to the Nigerian education of our dream. We have resolved to bell the cat in order for other public examination agencies to thrive.

“We will also not be distracted by some highly placed Nigerians who, for selfish personal interest of what they were making but which they are no longer making through corrupt practices and others for sheer envy and personal grudges against actors in JAMB, resolved to do everything to paint all our processes even at infancy level in bad light.

“Thank God, the number of registration and short period as against the six months in the past has vindicated us”.

Naira Appreciates Against Dollar

The Naira on Monday appreciated against the dollar at the parallel market, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The Nigerian currency gained three points to exchange at N388 to the dollar, stronger than N391 it traded on Friday, while the pound sterling and the Euro closed at N495 and N425.

At the Bureau De Change (BDC) window, the Naira was sold at N362 to the dollar, while the pound sterling and the Euro closed at N495 and N423.

Trading at the interbank market showed that the Naira closed at N305.7, while the pound sterling and the Euro closed at N453.18 and N386.28.

Currency traders said the liquidity boost at the FOREX market had forced the naira to appreciate.

Acting President Osinbajo Set To Sign 2017 Budget, Inaugurate New Ministers

Though report of the three-man Presidential Committee that investigated the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal, and the Director-General, Nigerian Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ayo Oke, is yet to be made public, both men stand suspended, a Presidency source has said.

Investigations by Vanguard, last night, revealed that chairman of the committee, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo would not take any soft measure that may exonerate Lawal and Oke.
Findings also indicated that Osinbajo may have quietly submitted the report to President Buhari during their meeting the night the President departed.

The top Presidency source, privy to the workings of the committee, which concluded its assignment last week, said Osinbajo, as the Acting President, was likely to implement the outcome of the report without waiting for President Buhari’s return.

The source also told Vanguard that Osinbajo was most likely to sign the 2017 budget into law should the document be passed by the National Assembly any time soon.
The same goes for the swearing in of the two minister-designates, who had been screened and confirmed by the Senate.

The source said: “Look, the President, before leaving, had briefed Osinbajo. He had empowered him to do certain things on his behalf. Both had some discussions on a wide range of issues. So, those things may be part of what they discussed.”

Buhari Speaks To Nigerians After Arriving In London For Further Medical Checkup

President Muhammadu Buhari has told Nigerians that he is confident that his administration will run smoothly, despite his indefinite absence.

Buhari left the country Sunday night for further medical check-ups in the UK, after meeting the 82 released Chibok girls in Aso Villa.

Amid fresh concerns about his health, the President has now assured Nigerians.

“As I noted earlier, I have absolute confidence that government will continue to run smoothly while I’m away. God bless the Federal Republic,” he tweeted via his @MBuhari handle.

Buhari has handed over the reins of power to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The President’s media aide, Femi Adesina, admitted that the duration of his principal’s stay in London, would be determined by the doctors

Why We’re Delaying 2017 Budget – Faleke Explains

Member of the Federal House of Representatives, James Faleke has said that the delay in the passage of the 2017 budget was to avoid padding.

He made this disclosure to Journalists at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, after meeting with All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders from Kogi.

He said: “Budget process takes some time, unlike what we had before where you talk about budget padding or no padding. What the national assembly tried to do this time is to do the needful once and for all with the budget details being submitted.

“The budget is ready, only to be considered on the floor as all committees have finished their work, probably this week. It is not about delay but doing the right things; if we hurriedly do it and get things wrong, Nigerians will condemn us.”

Faleke further stated that, “It is true that this government will be two years by May 29. I can tell you sincerely that the country has moved forward from what we used to have.

“We have done a lot in terms of re-organising our income, especially with regards to what the federal government gets as revenue.

“You cannot imagine how much has been recovered from individuals. If the looting had continued, this country would have collapsed and I want to give kudos to the president for having done that”.

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Nigerian Lady Graduates Among 40 Exceptional Women From Harvard University(Photo)

Congratulations are in order for a Nigerian lady identified as Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji who recently graduated as part of 40 exceptional Harvard women of the Harvard University Women and Public Policy Program.

According to her, the final graduation of her Master degree in Public Administration Degree Program will hold in May (this month) with Secretary of State John Kerry as the Commencement Speaker after which Harvard University will send them all forth the next day with Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg.

WOW! Two Roommates Graduate With First Class In UNIZIK

Like Siamese twins, they share many things in common. Aside having the same middle name, Henry Ikenna Ozor and Joshua Ikenna Akuchi, are close friends with a common destiny.

After being classmates in secondary school, they were admitted into the Faculty of Engineering of the Nnamdi Azikwe University (UNIZIK) in Anambra State, where they became roommates.

At the school’s 11th convocation last month, Henry and Joshua were the cynosure of all eyes as the best of graduating students.

Read as The Nation Reported the case below:

Henry, from Iwollo in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, graduated with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.85 to become the best graduating student not only in the Department of Chemical Engineering, but also in the faculty.

Joshua, who hails from Ezza North Local Government in Ebonyi State, graduated with a CGPA of 4.66, emerging as the best graduating student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Their record-breaking academic journey started before their admission. Henry scored an aggregate of 332 in the 2011 United Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). After his admission, he represented the university in the maiden National Engineering Competition organised by Committee of Deans of Engineering and Technology (CODET). Joshua was the first runner-up; Henry the second.

Sharing their experiences and challenges with CAMPUSLIFE, the valedictorians said the feat would not have been possible if they had not won scholarships to complete their studies.

Henry said: “As an indigent student, I had a challenge of paying my fee. I remember I could not pay school fees and house rent when I was in 100-Level. I would have lost my admission, because I had no financial support. I searched for scholarship, and I wrote many examinations as possible. By the grace of God, I got scholarship from ABC Transport Company, Shell Petroleum Development Company and Chevron/Agbami Joint Venture. I was also encouraged and financially supported by Allied Energy. The money I got from these companies yearly helped me to pay my fees and buy books.”

Joshua said: “I squated in a friend’s hostel for about eight months when I was in 100-Level until I got money to pay my rent. Like Henry, I also applied and wrote many scholarship examinations. I was able to get Agbami Chevron/Agbami Joint Venture scholarship, which helped to pay my school fees.”

Their feats, the valedictorians said, got their parents excited. Henry said: “My parents were over excited, because of the challenges they experienced in getting me to the level I am today.”

Joshua continued: “My mum was overjoyed, though she expected it. She could not believe it when it was confirmed. My dad said he wanted to keep hearing the testimony of how I made it happen and each time he hears it, it is breaking news to him.”

Sharing the secret of their feat, Joshua said anybody’s success is dependent on the kind of company he keeps. “I have always had successful and hardworking people around me. So, I draw energy and motivation from them. I would say that God’s favour made it happen, but I enjoy reading in the night except at weekends,” he said.
Joshua continued: “Most of the time, I came back from night class around 5:30am to sleep before going for lectures. After lectures, I would return to my hostel to prepare for night reading. After sleeping for two to three hours, I would wake up to go for fellowship. From there, I would go for night reading till the following morning.”

Henry said commitment, consistency and discipline are the prices to pay for success. Anybody, he said, could be the best, if he shows discipline and commitment. “My daily routine is similar to Henry’s; only that I slept for more hours than I studied,” he said.

What is their sole desire? The valedictorians said they would be happy, if any of their junior colleagues in their respective departments could break their academic records. Achieving a CGPA of 4.85 would demand vigorous study. But, Henry believes his academic record could be broken if students set their priorities right.

He said: “The only thing that kills a mission is distraction. I will advise my junior colleagues to design a plan and timetable, because they cannot be reading at random and expect to have a well-structured result. They should try to summaries their lecture note and textbooks in their own understanding for better concentration, comprehension and retention.

“If, after reading, and one cannot clearly understand key concepts and highlights of a course, then it is a clear sign that such a person did not understand it or he may be cramming. I equally believe that everyone has its own way of achieving excellence. What is needed is self-discovery.”

Joshua said: “Academic excellence is achievable for students who wish to attain enviable feat and height in their studies. They must carefully choose their friends, dedicate quality time to studies and be ambitions. They must always make up for lost time. The Almighty God is the pillar of all wisdom and knowledge.”

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – Juventus Vs Monaco, 7:45PM Today [Drop Your Predictions]

MATCH FACTS

• This is the second time these sides have met in a Champions League semi-final – Juventus securing their passage to the final with a 6-4 aggregate victory 19 years ago, before losing to Real Madrid in the final (1997-98).
• After failing to reach the last four of the Champions League from 2003-04 to 2013-14, Juventus have now made the semis for the second time in the past three seasons.
• The Turin club has systematically reached the final in five of its six previous Champions League semis.
• Monaco have reached the Champions League semis for the fourth time after 1993-94, 1997-98 and 2003-04.
• No other French team has made the last four more than once.
• Juventus, alongside Real Madrid, are the only unbeaten team in this season’s Champions League (W8 D3).
• None of the two goals conceded by Juventus in this season’s Champions League have come from open play (11 games).
• Gonzalo Higuain scored two goals in the first leg, as many as in his previous 24 Champions League knockout games. With five goals this season, it’s already the most prolific campaign of his career in the competition.
• Falcao and Mbappe have scored 10 of Monaco’s past 16 Champions League goals. In the first leg, Mbappe failed to find the net for the first time after having started a game in the competition.

SEMI-FINALS – 2ND LEG

Venue : Monaco Stadium

Let’s know your predictions !!

BREAKING NEWS!! Buhari Hands Over Power To Osinbajo

It has been confirmed by CNN and Channels TV this morning…

President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Rtd. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has handed over power to his Vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo in the early hours of this morning at home where the President is currently working from.

This decision came after a close door meeting held by the cabals and chieftains of the APC.

According to the media adviser to Buhari, Mr. Femi Adesina, President Buhari handed over his 50,000mAh Power Bank to Osinbajo to enable him charge his phone whose battery is down as a result of lack of electricity in his location. ..!

Thanks for reading.

Come and beat me if U dey vex 

I dey ma house!….

“I wanted that degree” Grandfather says as he graduates from college at 88 with straight A’s

88-year-old Horace Sheffield has proven that it is never too late to chase your dreams. The grandfather, who quit his education from Shorter University in 1965 to help educate his daughters, finally went back to the same university and successfully graduated this year.

On Friday, Sheffield of Barnesville, Georgia,  walked across the stage along with his tutor Amanda Brannock to accept his diploma at Shorter University. He had attended the University from 1960 to 1965 but quit before graduating.

“I dropped out with 115 hours,” he recalled. “At that time a piece of paper on a wall didn’t mean that much to me. I had my education and my brain and my heart, and I put them all to good use. But 60 years later I wanted that degree.”

Sheffield earned his Bachelor of Science in Christian studies through online courses after reading an article in a magazine that seniors could attend college for free.

“I’m retired and living on fixed income, and I did not think I could go to college and pay tuition,” said Sheffield. “But when I saw this article that senior citizens could go to college for free, Shorter accepted me at no tuition. I paid a $200 graduation fee and that’s all I paid. I walked with a walker.”

He credits Brannock, who “walked beside me to make sure I didn’t trip over wires or something,” for being the only reason he was able to pull off this accomplishment.

“She wrote out my assignments and told me what to do and she expected me to do it,” he said. “She expected me to make straight As and I did it. I wrote two papers a week and then had the test. I wrote it in long-hand and she typed it all up and put it into the computer. Without her, I would not have this diploma today.”

Brannock helped Sheffield to achieve his life-long dream by tutoring him even though she does not have her own degree yet. She took her computer and printer to Sheffield’s house the moment she heard he was studying for a degree and spent more time in his house than with her family, helping him with his studies and inspiring him.

“I’m relieved because it was a lot of work,” she explained of his course load. “I lived with Horace more than I lived with my own family the last two years. We’ve kept each other going. He’s inspired me to keep going and I hope I inspired him to keep going. Graduation was one of the happiest days of my life. I cried like a baby. It was one of the most precious moments and I couldn’t have been more proud even if it was my own degree,” Brannock said.

Brannock said she was misguided the first time she went to college and ended up not graduating but because of her love for learning, she enjoyed every bit of helping Sheffield study because it meant she learnt a lot too. Sheffield promised that when Brannock finally earns her degree, he will walk across the stage with her too.

Sheffield’s granddaughter, Jill Brazier, feeling as proud as only a grandchild can feel for their grandparent, spoke to ABS News about her grandfather.

“He’s smart as a whip, I’m not even lying,” she said.

Superstory awarded as Best TV Drama for its socially-conscious messages

The recently-concluded special season of Superstory, titled Free to Live, just bagged another honour as Health Communication Capacity Collaborative (HC3), funded by USAID – a United States of America President’s Malaria Initiative, awarded the TV Drama as the Best TV Drama with Malaria Content at a colourful event which took place on Thursday 27th April 2017 at Sandralia Hotel, Utako Abuja.

The event in which Wale Adenuga Productions (WAP) was represented by its Business Development Director – Mr. Claude Mwamba, was organised by the National Malaria Elimination Programme, in conjunction with other partners, as part of the activities commemorating the World Malaria Day.

The Managing Director of WAP, Wale Adenuga Jnr., had this to say: “For over a decade, millions of families have been watchingSuperstory every week, and we do not take this for granted. We are accountable to our audience and with this in mind, we always ensure that we dish out stories that not only entertain, but also contain socially-relevant messages. Special thanks to Society for Family Health who partnered with us on the Free to Live project. We appreciate this USAID award and vow to continue using our voice to contribute our quota to the overall development of Nigeria.”

The current season of Superstory, titledGodwin, has Solomon Omere (a multiple-talented 26 year old man actually living with Down Syndrome) playing the titular character as well as Kehinde Bankole, Zack Orji, ToyinAlausa, Bolanle Ninalowo, Chinyere Wilfred, Pa James, Cassandra Odita, Jide Kosoko,Georgina Ibeh, Victor Edogun, Scarlet Shotade,Paul Adams, Amara Uwakwe, Tunde Adeyemo,Patience Oseni, Emeka Darlington, Rex Maximus and many more popular artistes; it is already doing a great job at providing enlightenment aimed at the eradication of the prevailing stigma surrounding Down Syndromein Nigeria.

Superstory airs across Nigeria, and several parts of Africa and Europe, on wapTV (DStv262, StarTimes 116, GOtv 102, Consat 812,StarSat 189 and MyTV): Thursdays 8 – 9pm,NTA Network: Thursdays 8 – 9pm and AIT Network: Thursdays 9 – 10pm.