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  • Nigerian singer Yemi Alade up for Grammy Award

    (FLOWERBUDNEWS) Nigerian afro beat singer, Yemi Alade, has been put into consideration for Grammy Award 2019.

    The singer, who recently dropped her anticipated album ‘Woman of Steel’, took to her Instagram account to celebrate the great news as she aims to move her musical career to global stage.

    “We are up for Grammy Award consideration. Reaching out to all voting members @recordingacademy to consider my Album ‘Woman of Steel’ for Best World Music Album.

    “This has been an incredible project and I would love to celebrate it with all of you.

    “#Grammy2019, #GrammyAwards, #WorldMusicGrammy@recordingacademy#fyc#womanofsteel#yemialade,” she wrote.

    The singer, who is also a songwriter, was being considered for a Grammy Award due to the fact that she has acquired over a million global streams.

    Also, for being the first afro beat female to have over 100 million views on a single video which is her hit single ‘Johnny’

    The singer has several landmark achievements, which include BET, MTV African Music Award and MOBO awards as well as changing the narratives with her music outside the shores of Africa.

    She was recently listed as one of the most influential people in Africa in 2018, as she is being introduced as ‘Mama Africa’.

    Her 2013 single Johnny, with over 100 million views is still the most viewed video by any African artiste on YouTube six years after its release.

    Alade is the only female Afro beat artiste with this record without any collaboration. (NAN)

  • Pharmacists raise fresh fears over brain drain

    (FLOWERBUDNEWS) The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has expressed fears on the rising number of pharmacists who are leaving the country in search of better opportunities abroad.

    Mr Abiodun Ajibade, PSN Chairman in Oyo State, told newsmen on Monday in Ibadan that the association was worried over the massive brain drain that had hit the health sector.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ajibade spoke at a news conference held as part of the association’s activities to mark its 2019 Pharmaceutical Week with the theme: “Pharmacy Practice, the Reality of Digitalisation.”

    Ajibade said : “Pharmacists’ population in Nigeria is very low; this is in spite of the great potentials for growth occasioned by continuous emigration of pharmacists whom Nigeria has spent heavily on to train.

    “Out of less than 30, 000 total population of practicing pharmacists in Nigerian, over 5, 000 of them have gone outside the country.

    “In the last couple of months, out of the few numbers of pharmacists in University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, a lot of them have migrated to Canada.

    “Most young pharmacists from Nigeria are all on their way to Canada, processing their visas here and there.’’

    According to him, among the causes of the mass exodus of pharmacists is their marginalisation and the attendant rivalry with doctors.

    “There is no enabling environment for pharmaceutical practice in Nigeria.

    “ Therefore, pharmacists in the country have such low level of recognition and are underappreciated over their qualitative role in healthcare delivery,’’ he said.

    While sparking on the menace of counterfeits and self -medication in the country, Ajibade said that out of pocket payment and lack of universal health insurance had contributed to the challenges.

    “Even though medicines are produced under the approved good manufacturing practice, conveyed through good distribution practice and stored appropriately, it does not guarantee the safety and effectiveness of medicines in the hands of the health consuming public.

    “In a nation where the average populace spends heavily on out of pocket basis for their health needs, it is so sad that the required value is lost because many of them are often denied quality pharmaceutical care.

    “A situation where our hospitals do not have pharmacists, especially the private hospitals,  but are offering medicines to the patients,  is a great disservice Nigeria is doing to the populace and a breach of their fundamental human right,’’ Ajibade said.

    He stressed the importance of technology in delivering safe and effective medicines for all Nigerians.

    “Imbibing technology in its various shades has great advantage to multiply the capacity of pharmacists to reach a larger number of the population.

    “With over 85 million Nigerians using smartphones, services of pharmacists can obviously be sought if this is well exploited,’’ he said. (NAN)

  • FG urges collaboration to ensure maritime security in Gulf of Guinea

    (FLOWERBUDNEWS) The Federal Government has restated the need for collaboration and partnership to ensure maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.

    Mr Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation, made this assertion at the Global Maritime Security Conference in Abuja on Monday.

    Amaechi, represented by the Minister of state for Transportation,  Sen. Gbemisola Saraki, said striving to maintain safe, secure shipping in our seas and oceans was non-negotiable.

    This, he said, was because the prosperity as nation-states today was linked to maritime security considering that over 90 per cent of world international trade was done by sea.

    According to him, there is a significant global concern on the rising spate of maritime insecurity and the perception that the Gulf of Guinea Region accounts for most of these cases.

    “It is for this reason that Nigeria has decided to take the lead on behalf of the Gulf of Guinea states in convening this conference to examine the strategies and coordinated responses in place to address maritime insecurity.

    “The absence of legal frameworks within member states seems to be a significant challenge in the regional effort to stem the tide.

    “Nigeria, in this regard thankfully has put in place detailed legislation in the form of a Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act to tackle and repress piracy and other maritime crimes in the Nigerian maritime domain,” Amaechi said.

    The Minister expressed optimism that the conference would foster better cooperation in addressing the challenges of maritime security in the region for the benefit of member states and the world at large.

    Also speaking, Mr Dakuku Peterside, Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), restated that maritime insecurity remained one of the significant challenges affecting international trade.

    He said it also affected the quest for sustainable use of the country’s ocean resources by member states for economic growth, improved livelihoods and job creation.

    According to Peterside, Nigeria is keen to drive this initiative because it is a significant destination in the international and domestic shipping map accounting for over 65 per cent of cargo generated from the region.

    While reiterating the expectations of the conference, he expressed optimism that it would provide the platform and catalyst for enhanced and robust regional and international collaborations.

    He further said the collaboration when in place would deter and repress these challenges in the region.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that delegates from over 80 countries were partictipating in the conference.

    Over 40 global maritime experts would be making presentations in the course of the three-day Conference with 11 thematic sessions.(NAN)

  • Trump threatens to ‘destroy’ Turkey’s economy if it goes ‘off limits’

    (FLOWERBUDNEWS) U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to “totally destroy and obliterate” the Turkish economy if Turkey takes any action he considered “off-limits” following his decision to withdraw American forces from northeastern Syria.

    “As I have stated strongly before, and just to reiterate, if Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider being off limits.

    “ I will totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey (I’ve done before!)” Trump posted on Twitter, referring to sanctions of 2018.

    Trump stressed that Turkey and European nations would be responsible for a prison camp in north-east Syria where thousands of Islamic State fighters and families are held.

    “It is time now for others in the region, some of great wealth, to protect their own territory.”

    The president is facing pushback in Congress over his decision to withdraw U.S. troops from the border area.

    The White House had announced that Turkey would move ahead with its “long-planned operation” in Syria and that the U.S. would not be involved.

    Similarly, the U.S. Senate will seek to sanction Turkey and even suspend the country from NATO if it invades north-eastern Syria and attacks Kurdish forces, Sen. Lindsey Graham said on Monday, as he lambasted Trump.

    “We will introduce bipartisan sanctions against Turkey if they invade Syria and will call for their suspension from NATO if they attack Kurdish forces, who assisted the U.S. in the destruction of the ISIS Caliphate,” Graham, a Republican, said on Twitter.

    Graham, a hawk who is often a vocal supporter of Trump, said he was working with Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen on the bill and was hoping for a “veto-proof” majority in the upper chamber.

    “Congress must make it clear that Turkey will pay a heavy price if they attack the Syrian Kurds,” Van Hollen said, denouncing “Trump’s decision to betray” the Kurds.

    Members of both parties have blasted the president over his decision to allow Turkey to enter northern Syria and attack the Kurdish-led forces who have been the main partner for Washington in the fight against Islamic State.

    Republican Senator Mitt Romney warned the decision would be seen as “a betrayal” of the Kurds and set up the U.S. as “an unreliable ally.”

    Chris Murphy, a Democrat, called Trump’s move “positively sinister,” noting that just this month the U.S. convinced the Kurds to remove military fortifications against Turkey, under an apparent promise to continue to defend them.

    Sen. Bernie Sanders, a left-wing progressive running in the 2020 Democratic presidential race, slammed Trump’s “abrupt announcement,” saying the U.S. ” must responsibly end our military interventions in the Middle East.” (dpa/NAN)

  • BOI MD calls for more technology varsities to drive dev’t

    The Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Mr Olukayode Pitan, has urged State and Federal Governments to establish more universities of technology to drive development.

    Pitan gave the advice during the ancillary meeting at the 25th Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The 2019 summit has as its theme: “Nigeria 2050 Shifting Gears”.

    He said the country must identify the kind of education that would gurantee accelerated development.

    He said other developed countries like United States and India gave a lot of priority to technological education.

    According to him, there is no doubt that investing in education is key in ensuring rapid growth and development.

    He, however, urged those intending to start Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) not to rely on bank loans alone but to source for funds from family and friends.

    “Character is credit. Those with good character can easily access funds from friends and relatives,” he said.

    The Deputy General Manager of Abuja Enterprises Agency, Mr Shehu Abdulkadir, also called for merger of MSMEs to be more productive.

    Abdulkadir explained that merging of small businesses would address collapse of enterprises which often arise after few years of establishment.

  • Open Govt Partnership: Nigeria has made remarkable progress- Malami

    Nigeria has made remarkable progress in Open Government Partnership (OGP), Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has said.

    Malami who is also the Coordinating Minister of OGP, Nigeria said this during the Country visit of OGP International Support Unit to Nigeria on Tuesday.

    He said that Nigeria has made progress in Open Budget, Open Contracting, Extractive Industries, Tax Transparency and Anti-Corruption and establishing Beneficial Register of Owners of Companies through the OGP.

    “In open budget, the Budget Office in line with global best practice and open budget survey index, developed the citizens’ imonitor portal which enables citizens across the country to access budget information in real time and to monitor projects while encouraging proactive feedback to the government.

    “The open contracting led to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) developing the Nigerian Open Contracting Portal (NOCOPO) which is designed to ensure improved transparency, prevent corruption and enhance active citizens’ participation through increased disclosure of information to stakeholders’.

    Malami said Nigeria joined the OGP in July 2016 to further deepen institutional and policy reforms already initiated by President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    “The Nigeria OGP first National Action Plan (NAP) is made up of 14 commitments around 4 thematic areas namely 1.Fiscal Transparency, 2. Anti-Corruption 3. Access to Information, and 4. Citizen Engagement.

    “A lot of progress and achievements were recorded in the implementation of the first NAP, Lessons and learning also took place during the period of implementation.

    “Nigeria experience with OGP has shown that technology and innovation play great roles in OGP process which leads to openness and accountability.

    “While changing the ways in which citizens engage with government, empowering them and non-state actors to take a more active role in holding government accountable.

    He added that as noted by the Support Unit, Nigeria under the first NAP has set high standards for consultations with civil society and ambitious commitments that other countries aim to follow.

    He said that the federal government had approved the harmonized National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) and Asset Recovery and Management Unit (ARMU) that serve as the secretariat for the implementation of National Anti-Corruption Strategy.

    “To ensure citizens’ engagement in government processes/ different government agencies and CSOs continued to deploy tech-based interactive platforms to engage citizens and government on various aspects of governance and service delivery.

    Mr Sanjay Pradhan, the CEO of OGP congratulated Nigeria for being elected to join the global Steering committee of OGP which is a global leadership role that represents more than two billion people on the planet.

    He encouraged them to embrace all the attributes of leadership.

    “One of the attributes of leadership is to be discontent with the status quo; you want to go further so as a leader and supporter on the global stage, I urge you to raise your ambition further.

    “If you continue to raise your ambition further in the implementation of the action plan, this will deliver dividend for Nigerians both domestically and internationally.

  • Kebbi govt. Partners World Fish Programme to revitalise fish production

    (FLOWERBUDNEWS) The Kebbi Government is partnering the World Fish Programme to boost the fisheries potentials of the State.

    Gov. Abubakar Bagudu said on Tuesday while receiving officials of the programme in Birnin Kebbi that the state’s huge fisheries potentials were being affected by the effects of climate change.

    He noted that even the Matanfada river, where the Argungu International Fishing Festival takes place, is already drying up.

    Bagudu said in spite of the set back, the government was determined to invest in the sector as the “state has the potential to do much better in fishery, just like rice farming”.

    “We are going to improve fishing activities in the state because Kebbi is the home of farmers and fishery.

    “Many fishermen around Nigeria particularly in places like Bornu, Kogi, Taraba are from Kebbi.

    “We acknowledge that climate change is frustrating our fishing activities in the country.

    “In 2018 I visited Argungu, the Emir of Argungu took me to Matanfada, we stood on its stone and he said never in his life had he ever seen the stone with his naked eyes which was at the bottom of the river, but now drying up,” he said.

    The government will mobilise all fishing communities to change the situation, he said.

    The governor, therefore, urged the world fish programme to bring in its expertise and work with local experts to improve the situation.

    Bagudu said his administration’s target was to help lower income earners get out of poverty.

    Earlier, the World Fish Program Coordinator, Dr Harrison Charo, said they were in the state on the invitation of the governor to assist in harnessing the enormous fish resources available in the state.

    Charo said ”we are ready to work and improve the status of fishing activities in the state.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that representatives of Gwandu, Arungungu and Yauri Emirates, made presentations on the effects of climate change, use of chemicals and smaller nets on fish production in the state.(NAN)

  • China accuses Apple of aiding Hong Kong protests through toxic apps

    Apple is the latest in a series of foreign companies and organisations to have come under fire in China for their alleged support of Hong Kong protesters.

    Chinese state-run newspaper People’s Daily on Wednesday accused the US tech giant of helping Hong Kong protesters engage in more violence through a transport app.

    “This mobile app claims to provide transportation information for the convenience of the public, but is actually used to identify the whereabouts of the police, allowing the rioters in Hong Kong to go on violent acts.

    “Apple’s approval for the app obviously helps rioters. What was its true intention?’’ the paper said.

    The publication also complained about the presence in the Apple Music store of a song advocating for Hong Kong’s independence from China.

    “Nobody wants to drag Apple into the lingering unrest in Hong Kong.

    “But people have reason to assume that Apple is mixing business with politics, and even illegal acts.

    “Apple has to think about the consequences of its unwise and reckless decision,’’ the paper added.

    Meanwhile, US lawmakers have criticised organisations including the NBA and video game developer Blizzard Entertainment for seemingly caving in to Beijing in exchange for market access.

    Highlighting the ripple effects abroad of China’s clampdown on freedom of expression.

    The State broadcaster CCTV on Tuesday suspended its broadcasts of NBA pre-season China games after the basketball league’s head defended the right of Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey to speak out in support of the protesters.

    Morey found himself in the middle of a controversy on Friday after he tweeted a since-deleted message to Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong.

    On Tuesday, Chinese active wear company Anta, which has endorsement deals with stars including Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, announced it would halt contract renewal negotiations with the NBA.

  • Kaduna Sexual assault centers record 662 cases of abuse against women, children

    (FLOWERBUDNEWS) A non-governmental organization (NGO), Save the Children, on Wednesday said that sexual assault referral centers in Kaduna State had received a total of 662 cases of abuse against women and children since inception in 2016.

    Isah Ibrahim, an advocacy advisor with the NGO made the disclosure in Zaria, during a two-day sensitization workshop on Violence Against Children (VAC).

    The workshop was organized by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

    “Out of the 662 cases recorded, 373 were received at Gwamna Awan specialist hospital, Nasarawa, 104 received at Sir Patrick Yakowa memorial hospital, Kafanchan, 114 cases at Yusuf Dantsoho specialist hospital, Tudun wada and 71 received at Gambo Sawaba hospital, Zaria”, he said.

    He said the centers provide medical consultation on individual cases and assist with psychosocial management of the family while in crisis.

    Ibrahim mentioned some major flashpoints of child abuse in Kaduna metropolis to include Tudun wada, Kakuri, Gonin Gora, Rigasa, Rigachikun, Sabon tasha, Nasarawa, Romi among others.

    He however noted that the centers were faced with challenges of weak implementation of policies and limited working time, urging the state government to ensure proper implementation of the Child Right Act.

    On her part, the centre manager of Salama sexual assault referral center, Kafanchan, Mrs Grace Yohanna said the centre provides medical intervention and optional legal intervention for victims of abuse.

    She stated that females were mostly affected in terms of abuse with 94 cases out of the 104 cases received at the centre.

    “We have 79 cases of emotional abuse and 25 cases of rape; children were most affected in the rape case.

    “That is why we want everybody in the community to be part of the war against all forms of violence against children; let’s be our neighbors keepers and report any case of abuse to the nearest center”, she said.

    Yohanna who commended the government for providing such centers that support survivors of rape and other sexual abuse, stated that the center needed more drugs.

    She appealed to members of the public to speak up and report any case of abuse whether physical, sexual or emotional.

    Mr Denis Onoise, a Child Protection Specialist with UNICEF, stated that most perpetrators of Violence Against Children (VAC) were not strangers, but people close to the children such as parents, teachers, religious leaders and relatives.

    Onoise said that a national survey conducted by the National Population Commission with support from UNICEF in 2014, showed that Nigeria has high prevalence of VAC, with six out of every 10 children experiencing some form of violence.

    He urged parents and caregivers to support their children and report any incidence of VAC to the appropriate authority. (NAN)