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  • NAFDAC Boss Warns Nigerians on Products Containing Potent Medicinal Ingredients dangerous to Health

    NAFDAC Boss Warns Nigerians on Products Containing Potent Medicinal Ingredients dangerous to Health

     

    By Biola Lawal

    Abuja (Flowerbudnews): NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Christiana Adeyeye has warned Nigerians to beware of four products found to contain steroids and banned substances injurious to human health.

    Prof. Adeyeye gave the warning in a public notice issued by NAFDAC on the the implicated potent medicinal ingredients which may cause severe side effects on consumers, including muscular and bone disorders.

    She disclosed that NAFDAC was notified of the dangerous products by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) of Singapore, which confirmed that four consumers experienced adverse effects after taking three of the products.

    The NAFDAC Boss said that the potent medicinal ingredients used in the implicated products were not allowed as they could cause severe side effects on consumers.

    Prof Adeyeye said that Labouratory analysis conducted by HSA – Singapore on the products revealed that they contained potent medicinal ingredients, including steroids, sibutramine (a banned weight loss medicine) and tadalafil (an erectile dysfunction medicine).

    She listed Information on the implicated products as follows:

    Further details of the products as provided by HSA are as follows; Product Name   Potent medicinal  ingredients

    Source    ‘ENRU PLUS+’Sibutramine (banned substance)Local e-commerce and social media platforms    ‘HKT HERBA KURUS

    TRADISI’ Sibutramine (banned substance)
    Local e-commerce platforms    ‘PILL HUA LUO CIN TAN Dexamethasone, Diclofenac, Prednisolone (potent steroids)

    Local e-commerce platform; also bought overseas from Malaysia  ‘Spinach GINSENG   HERB SUGAR’ Tadalafil (potent anti-impotency
    medicine).

    Parcel post detained by Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) (Singapore).

    Possible Adverse Effects of Potent Ingredients Found in the Products Dexamethasone and Prednisolone. Dexamethasone and prednisolone are potent steroids that are usually prescribed for inflammatory conditions and should only be used under strict medical supervision.

    Long-term unsupervised use of steroids can cause increased blood glucose levels (which may lead to diabetes), high blood pressure, cataracts, muscular and bone disorders.

    It can also cause an increased risk of infections and Cushing’s syndrome (a round or ‘moon face’ appearance and upper body obesity with thin limbs).

    Discontinuation of steroids without proper medical supervision can cause serious withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue, confusion and low blood pressure.

    Diclofenac: Diclofenac is a potent painkiller that may potentially cause serious gastric bleeding, as well as cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and stroke when used for a prolonged period.

    Diclofenac should be used under close medical supervision, especially in consumers with underlying heart conditions.

    Sibutramine: Sibutramine was a prescription-only medicine for weight loss but has been banned in Singapore since 2010 because of an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.

    Other serious adverse effects including fast heart rate, hallucinations or hearing voices have also been reported by consumers who took slimming products adulterated with sibutramine.

    Tadalafil: Tadalafil is a prescription medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction that should only be given under medical supervision.

    Inappropriate use of tadalafil is dangerous and can increase the risk of serious adverse effects, including heart attack, stroke, headache, migraine, irregular heart rate and priapism (painful and exceedingly long erections).

    Tadalafil can also pose serious risks to certain individuals, including those with heart-related problems.

    It can cause potentially life-threatening low blood pressure in those who are on heart medications, especially those containing nitrates.

    PHOTOS OF PRODUCTS TESTED BY HSA

    ‘ENRU PLUS+’ ‘HKT HERBA KURUS TRADISI’

    ‘PILL HUA LUO CINTAN ‘Spinach GINSENG HERB SUGAR’

    Prof. Adeyeye said that though the products were not in NAFDAC database, importers, distributors, retailers and consumers are advised to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the importation, distribution, sale and use of the above mentioned product.

    She counselled that ”the product authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked. Members of the public in possession of any of the products should discontinue sale or use and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office”.

    The NAFDAC Boss urged Healthcare professionals and consumers to report adverse events experienced with the use of the products to the nearest NAFDAC office, via pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng,

    E-reporting platforms available at www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the Med- safety application for download on android and IOS stores, she stated. (Flowerbudnews)

     

    About Flowerbudnews

    Established by Hon.  Biola Lawal, a former Acting Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Flowerbudnews is a consortium of active journalists, media veterans and image makers in both public and private sectors of Nigeria’s media Industry determined to enhance the practice of responsible journalism.

    Lawal, on his part, is also a former Honourable Commissioner for Information,Youth, Sports and Culture of Osun state, his home state.

    Biola Lawal had also successfully served two tenures as Press Secretary to the ECOMOG Force Commander in Liberia during the Liberian and Sierra Leone Civil wars.

    Lawal holds the honour of being the only journalist that served two terms on the ECOMOG international assignment due to his high professionalism and decency)

     

     

     

  • Policy document: NBTE lauds Tinubu on TVET as 4th pillar

    Policy document: NBTE lauds Tinubu on TVET as 4th pillar

    By Funmilayo Adeyemi

    Prof. Idris Bugaje, the Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), has commended President Bola Tinubu for making Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) as the fourth pillar in the policy document of his administration.
    He said that this was a reflection of Tinubu’s commitment to transform technical education for national development.
    Bugaje, who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja said that this gesture would also grow the number of technical colleges in the country.
    According to him, almost 60 per cent of the population is youthful and one of the highest in the world.
    According to the executive secretary, there is the need for the country to reposition TVET so that the youths can be empowered.
    Bugaje said: “We commend President Bola Tinubu for efforts to transform Nigeria.
    “He has made TVET training his fourth pillar and this the the first time TVET is featuring as a pillar in the policy document of any government.
    “So, we are very hopeful that he is going to reposition technical education because we must grow the number of technical colleges in Nigeria from the present number of 126 out of over 15,000 senior secondary schools.
    “Our technical colleges are the ones to feed the polytechnics. It is the absence of products from technical colleges that leads to the low number of technicians.”
    While also appealing to the president to adequately fund technical education, Bugaje said that infrastructure in technical education were already dilapidating, hence the need to revive the sector.
    “When you enter the hall they do practicals in technical schools, it is either the roof is leaking, the machines there are obsolete or the materials used for practicals are not available.
    “The principal in such a school is a graduate of sociology, the instructors have no experience and so they are not delivering.
    “There is need for a marshall plan for technical education in Nigeria. We have to declare not only state of emergency which is easy to do.
    ” But let us also have marshall plan for technical education so that we can reinvent the colleges, retrain the teachers and instructors and bring new equipment.
    “Buy state-of-art equipment in welding- underwater welding and train the people and give them proper certification so that can have jobs across industries. So funding is fundamental,” he said.
    The executive secretary stressed the need to bring the informal skills sector into TVET training programme so as to discourage the importation of skilled manpower.
    Bugaje said: “If we don’t produce the skills ourselves, we loose a lot from other countries.
    “We need to reposition our polytechnics and to do this, we must bring in the informal skills sector into our training programmes.
    ” Look at Apo mechanic village in Abuja, the Ariaria market in Aba, Computer Village in Lagos, Panteka in Kaduna and see the wonderful things they are doing there.
    “In Panteka, there are about 38,000 enterprises, they don’t have any certification and there is no quality assurance.”
    According to him, the board is now asking polytechnics to engage them to give them skills qualification training and certificate for the skills they have.
    Bugaje added:”So, that if the private sector is looking for skills qualification they will go there and recruit certified welders and fabricators and certified pipe fitters.
    “So, that is why we need to mobilise resources so that TVET can lead to the real industrialisation of Nigeria.”
    He said that if the government concentrated on the informal skills sector, train the technicians and craftsmen, Nigeria would be able to feed not only her industries but also industries from other countries of the world.
    Bugaje, while calling for the creation of more polytechnics to deliver the skills needed for the overall development of the country, also suggested the conversation of some universities that were not performing into polytechnics.
    “Some states have two to three federal universities but in reality, for every university graduates of HND from the polytechnic, so we are doing the reverse.
    “At the moment, Nigeria imports skilled manpower to deliver the dangote refinery and if we don’t produce the skills ourselves, we lose a lot from other countries.
    “We need to reposition our polytechnics and there is the need to also bring in the informal skills sector into our training programmes,” he said.
    NAN
  • Don’t blame judges for delays in justice dispensation, says Appeal Court Judge

    Don’t blame judges for delays in justice dispensation, says Appeal Court Judge

    By Mustapha Yauri

    Hajiya Binta Zubairu, Justice of the Court of Appeal (JCA) on Sunday in Zaria said judges are not the cause of delay in the dispensation of justice as erroneously believed by some Nigerians.

    Zubairu made this known on the sidelines of a reception organised in her honour in Zaria on recent elevation as a Justice of the Court.

    Judges are being wrongly accused of delay in dispensing justice by the public.

    “Judges work as a team with the prosecution, lawyers and others. Speedy dispensation of justice requires the prompt efforts of the police, prosecution, assembling of exhibits by lawyers and presenting them correctly before the judges in court in accordance with the laws.

    “Most times  the judges or magistrates are ready to adjudicate but the prosecution would not be ready or the lawyers will come with one excuse or the other.

    “These are facts that are glaring in Courts but because we the judges can’t voice out their frustration, all the blames are shifted and heaped on us, ” she said.

    She said most times it takes the police longer than usual to conclude investigation in a simple case.

    Zubairu commended the  Zazzau emirate for identifying and rejoicing with her over her promotion and appointment.

    According to her, her elevation to the court of appeal is for the joy of the entire Zazzau Emirate and humanity.

    She expressed gratitude to the Almighty God for making her the first female in the Zazzau Emirate to be elevated to the rank of Justice of the Court of Appeal.

    “As a child, it was not my wish to be a magistrate or a judge. I wanted was be a principal of a school.

    “I wanted to be a principal because as a kid I desired to see that all children go to school to be educated.

    “I have not in my wildest imagination, thought I will be a judge but destiny took me to the judiciary,’’ she said.

    Earlier, the Emir of Zazzau, Malam Ahmad Bamalli said “the emirate was proud of justice Zubairu’s as  the first female from the emirate to attain that height in the judiciary.

    The emir enjoined the celebrant to be good ambassador of the emirate by exhibiting high sense of honesty and professionalism in her endeavour.

    Also speaking, the Chairman of the Presidential task force committee on prison decongestion and former FCT Chief Judge, Justice Ishaq Bello urged young judges to imbibe the culture of hard-work and dedication to enable them excel.

    Bello while congratulating justice Zubairu, advised her to follow the ethics of the profession for effective delivery.

    NAN

  • Flood: NEMA distributes relief materials to 8,757 households in Kaduna

    Flood: NEMA distributes relief materials to 8,757 households in Kaduna

    By Ezra Musa

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Saturday, commenced the distribution of relief materials to 8,757 households affected by the 2022 flood disaster in Kaduna State.

    The Director-General of the agency, Mr Mustapha Ahmed, said during the distribution in Kaduna that the gesture was under the Special National Economic and Livelihood Emergency Intervention (SNELEI).

    Ahmed, who was represented by Ms Ngozi Echeazu, State Team supervisor, SNELEI, said that the distribution was aimed at bringing succour to the affected households in the state.

    He identified the items as food and non-food items, such as rice, beans, sorghum, blankets, mats, mosquito nets and detergents.

    Other non-food items include sewing machines, grinding machines, water pumps for dry-season farmers, sprayers, fertilizers, herbicides and seedlings.

    He explained that the agricultural inputs were given to take farmers back to the farms, stimulate crop production and safeguard national food security in the middle of economic downturn.

    The DG added that the livelihood support was to help artisans to improve their businesses and grow the economy.

    He called on the  beneficiaries to avoid selling the items and destroy the good intention of the Federal Government.

    In her remarks, the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, commended the Federal Government for the gesture.

    Balarabe, who was represented by Mr James Kanyip, Deputy Chief of Staff to Gov. Uba Sani, Office of the Deputy Governor, said that the items would assist the beneficiaries in rebuilding their lives.

    She also advised the beneficiaries against selling the items, which she said was to alleviate poverty and empower them economically.

    The deputy governor also called on the distributors of the relief materials to ensure that only the targeted persons and the vulnerable were given the items.

    Also, Mr Usman Mazabu, Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency, thanked the Federal Government for approving the relief assistance to the victims.

    Muazu assured that the relief materials would be transparently and jointly distributed to the affected persons by officials of NEMA, SEMA and representatives of the community and other relevant stakeholders.

    NAN

  • Sokoto Gov’t to partner local, foreign investors to exploit solid resources — Commissioner

    Sokoto Gov’t to partner local, foreign investors to exploit solid resources — Commissioner

    By Muhammad Nasir

    Alhaji Isa Tanbagarka, the Sokoto State Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, says the state government will collaborate with foreign and local investors to fully exploit the abundant solid minerals in the state.

    The partnership will also seek to enable the state to tap into the potential of mineral resources for its even socio-economic development.

    This was disclosed on Sunday in Sokoto by the commissioner when he received a team of experts from a consortium, ‘Solid Minerals Development Funds’, led by Exploration Manager, Sheikh Mukhtar.

    The visit was to seek the consent of the state government and also to partner with it in the exploration of the phosphate mineral resources around Dange-Shuni Local Government Area.

    Tanbagarka conveyed a sense of optimism that these efforts would translate into substantial and rapid development in improving the standard of living for the citizens in line with Gov. Ahmad Aliyu administration’s nine-point agenda.

    He also urged:”Traditional rulers must be fully involved in this quest in mining our God-given resource as they know the terrain better.”

    Tanbagarka expressed the state government’s commitment to harness and utilise the resources efficiently.

    He said:” We will do this proficiently to make solid minerals the next economic power house in the state and the country at large.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was attended by Aminu Abubakar-Gawo, Permanent Secretary of the ministry and Vikas Dhiman, Engineer in-charge of drilling and a Geologist, Lawal Abdulrahman. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

  • NDLEA intercepts 4 tons of illicit drugs HomeNDLEA intercepts 4 tons of illicit drugs

    NDLEA intercepts 4 tons of illicit drugs HomeNDLEA intercepts 4 tons of illicit drugs

    By Ibironke Ariyo

     The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has intercepted four tons of illicit and controlled drugs in seven states within one week, its Spokesman, Femi Babafemi, has said.
    The drugs include nitrous oxide popularly known as laughing gas, skunk, codeine syrup, methamphetamine and tramadol, he added in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
    Babafemi said that the seizures were carried out during interdiction operations in Lagos, Kogi, FCT, Jigawa, Kaduna, Sokoto and Edo states.
    He explained that 1,194 cylinders of laughing gas with a total weight of 2,547.2 kilograms was intercepted in Toyota Sienna buses on Sept. 22, along Okene-Lokoja-Abuja expressway.
    Two suspects: Onyebuchi Ikpozu and Kenneth Igwe, conveying the consignment to Abuja for distribution, have been taken into custody.
    He said one of the Toyota Sienna buses marked KTU 582 HV was conveying 99 cartons containing 594 cylinders weighing 1,267.200kgs, while the other bus, registered FKJ 329 YA, was loaded with 100 cartons with 600 cylinders weighing 1,280kgs.
    According to him, a 48-year-old woman, Mrs Ugo Eluba was also arrested in Abuja in a follow up operation after 2,400 ampules of pentazocine injection and 100,000 tablets of Exol-5 intercepted in Kogi were traced to her.
    “In the FCT, operatives intercepted 977 kilograms of skunk on Sept. 20 in a trailer marked LSR 343 XW, bearing cartons of maggi.
    “The skunk consignment was loaded into the truck at Ipele junction in Ondo state.
    “959kgs of the substance were meant for distribution in Sokoto state, the rest was to be dropped off at Gwagwalada.
    “Two suspects, Auwal Mohammed and Abdullahi Abubakar have been arrested in connection with the seizure,” he added.
    Babafemi also said two suspects: Mutari Abdulazeez, 31, and Ayuba Madaki, 28, were arrested on Sept. 23 at Zuba,  FCT with different quantities of methamphetamine, cannabis and 13, 930 pills of tramadol.
    He further said that during a stop and search operation along Kano-Hadejia road in Jigawa, two suspects, Shuaibu Yusif, 27, and Abubakar Hussaini, 20, were arrested on Sept. 23, with 89.1kgs of skunk.
    Babafemi said that 6,000 ampules of pentazocine injection were recovered from a suspect, Usman Sidi, 35, on Sept. 18 along Abuja-Forest road, Kaduna State, while on his way to Bauchi State.
    He said that a follow up operation in Bauchi led to the arrest of the actual owner of the consignment, Dominic Chukwuma, 35, on Sept. 19.
    The NDLEA spokesman added that at least 2.58kgs of Diazepam and 36.55kgs of pentazocine iinjectionwere recovered in Chukwuma’s house.
    “Two other suspects: Inuwa Nuhu and Isiyaku Dahiru Sani were also arrested same Tuesday in connection with the seizure of 49 blocks of cannabis sativa concealed in a black sack weighing 26kgs in a commercial vehicle coming from Ogere in Ogun to Kano.
    “A total of 183kgs of Ghana Loud, a strain of cannabis, were also recovered from the body compartments of a J5 bus intercepted in Lagos on Sept. 20,” he said.
    Babafemi disclosed that operatives in Sokoto State, on Sept. 19 arrested one Charles Okeke, 44, with 473 bottles of codeine syrup at Unguwar Kosai area of Sokoto.
    The NDLEA spokesman said that in Edo, 365 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa weighing 258kgs were recovered from a Toyota Camry car marked KTU 886 EZ at Igarra, Akoko Edo LGA.
    Meanwhile, the agency in a massive operation from Sept, 11 to Sept. 13, in a thick forests in Ijesha Isu-Ekiti, Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, destroyed 40 tons of cannabis plants covering 16 hectares of farmland.
    NAN
  • Jigawa records 91 suspected cases of diptheria, 10 deaths

    Jigawa records 91 suspected cases of diptheria, 10 deaths

    By Muhammad Nasir Bashir

    Jigawa has recorded 91 suspected cases of diphtheria in 14 local government areas.

    It also suspects the loss of 10 children to the childhood infection.

    “There has been diphtheria outbreak in the northern parts of Nigeria in the last four months.

    “This is especially in neighbouring Kano, Yobe, Katsina and Bauchi states,’’ Permanent Secretary, Jigawa Ministry of Health, Dr Salisu Muazu, told newsmen on Saturday in Dutse.

    “About two weeks ago, we received patients that had symptoms of diphtheria in 14 local government areas bordering states that already established the infection.

    “The National Reference Laboratory in Abuja confirmed two of the 91 suspected samples we sent to have tested positive to diphtheria,’’ Muazu said.

    He added that the two confirmed samples were those from Kazaure and Jahun local government areas of Jigawa.

     

    He explained that majority of the victims were those that either did not receive complete immunisation or those that received zero dose of childhood immunisation.

    “In fact, in the last 10 years, we have not had diphtheria in Jigawa, but in those neighbouring states that now have the epidemic.

    “The reason why we have it now may be due to the COVID-19 period when healthcare services completely broke down,’’ he said.

    Muazu urged parents and community leaders to support and cooperate with health workers as government had concluded plans to conduct mop-up immunisation in affected local government areas.

    He also called on residents to promptly report persons with symptoms of diphtheria to Disease Notification Officers in the local government areas or to the nearest health facility.

    NAN

  • CAC boss bags chartered secretaries and administrators award

    CAC boss bags chartered secretaries and administrators award

    By Lucy Ogalue

    The Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Alhaji Garba Abubakar, has been awarded as Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN).
    Abubakar, in a statement thanked ICSAN for the award and pledged to rededicate himself to greater service.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abubakar was among the six distinguished Nigerians conferred with Honorary Fellowship Awards by the institute at its 47th Annual Conference and Dinner.
    The event was themed “Sound Governance as a Cursor to a Thriving Economy: A Case for Inclusiveness”.
    Conferring the award on them, the ICSAN President/Chairman of Council, Mrs Funmi Ekundayo, described their performances in governance as superlative and worthy of emulation.
    Ekundayo, who stressed that ICSAN places great emphasis on ethics and uprightness, congratulated the awardees on their professional accomplishments.
    She said that the feat represented the zenith of professional membership and charged them not to view the achievement as the destination.
     Ekundayo said that the award signified the beginning of a new chapter in their career, providing them the opportunity to learn, relearn, and unlearn through capacity-building programmes, amongst others.
     In his remarks, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, congratulated the awardees on the achievements recorded in their respective fields of endeavour to enable them to haul the awards.
    Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Bimbola Salu -hundeyin, congratulated Ekundayo for becoming the first female president of ICSAN since its inception 47 years ago.
    The former Minister of Communications, Omobola Johnson, stressed the need for more inclusiveness for women in accordance with the conference theme.
     In his remarks, Sen. Ishaku Abbo (APC-Adamawa North) congratulated the awardees with special reference to the Registrar-General, whom he described as a good friend.
    Abo stated the resolve of the National Assembly to support the programmes and policies of the present administration to ensure a better and more prosperous Nigeria.
     Responding on behalf of the award recipients, Sen. Margery Okadigbo thanked ICSAN for finding them worthy of the honours and pledged to justify the confidence reposed in them.
    NAN recalls that the CAC boss had accomplished the full digitisation of all CAC services, thereby becoming the only government agency with a full-pledged self-service portal.
     The newest on the array of successes recorded by Abubakar was the launch of the Beneficial Ownership Register (BOR).
    The BOR made history for becoming the first in Africa and is in line with global data standards.
    NAN also reports that the other recipients of ICSAN honorary fellowships were: Amb. Shuaibu Ahmed, Executive Secretary Financial Reporting Council (FRC) of Nigeria, and Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, Director-General, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).
    Others included Mr Etido Inyang and Mrs Ekerebong Umoh.
    NAN
  • Expert urges FG to create enabling environment for domestic medical tourism to thrive

    Expert urges FG to create enabling environment for domestic medical tourism to thrive

    By Taiye Olayemi

    Dr Usman Isah, Convener, All Africa Medical and Wellness Expo (AMWE), on Saturday urged the Federal Government to create an enabling environment for domestic medical tourism to thrive in the country.

    Isah, who made the call during a zoom media chat said that Nigeria continues to lose huge amount of money to medical tourism, which has  succeeded in boosting other nation’s Gross Domestic Product.

    He said it was high time the federal government began  to view medical tourism from the perspectives of profit-making and non-profit making angles.

    According to him, it is  also important to foster private sector participation in healthcare development to spur investments.

    He said Nigeria remains  a hub for medical tourists where world-class facilities in cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and more beckon on visitors seeking top-notch healthcare.

    “Nigeria is doing a lot wrong in the drive to get medical tourism right. A strong policy on domestic tourism and incentive for quality patient management will go a long way for the sector.

    “We are not doing business in the health sector but our medical bills are always high. Many Nigerians cannot afford quality medical care and many countries have ensured absolute access to medical care.

    “We must get it right in Nigeria. We must upgrade the standard of care in our hospitals to be able to woo tourists to Nigeria.

    “Nigeria can only get it right in developing sustainable domestic medical tourism when investors are attracted to the nation. Investors are not coming because they have observed that Nigeria is looking at healthcare solely as a profit making venture,” he said.

    Isah described medical tourism as an aspect of the economy that could help drive healthcare development in Nigeria.

    According to him, if the private sector can see the medical sector as one with opportunities for investment, it will go a long way in enhancing development in healthcare as well as domestic tourism in Nigeria.

    He said to further educate Nigerians and government on the essence of developing a sustainable domestic medical tourism, he has organised the 2023 edition of AMWE, scheduled to hold on Oct. 4 and 5, at the Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja.

    He noted that the theme for the programme will be “Developing Sustainable Domestic Medical Tourism for Nigeria’s Health Sector”.

    According to him, the expo will be a comprehensive roadmap toward the development of domestic medical tourism in Nigeria, catalysing the growth and excellence of the healthcare sector.

    He also urged stakeholders in the country’s health sector to take advantage of the immense opportunities that comes with AMWE 2023, set to drive growth and development within both sectors.

    “2023 AMWE is poised to make a lasting impact on the trajectory of healthcare and wellness in Nigeria and the broader African region.

    “The event is such that stakeholders, experts, and visionaries come together to shape the future of healthcare, medical tourism, and wellness in Nigeria and beyond.

    ‘”This vision extends to a healthcare system that shines as a beacon of excellence and a society where wellness is deeply ingrained,” he said.

    Isah emphasised Nigeria’s abundant blessings, particularly its wealth of highly skilled medical professionals.

    He said these professionals were invaluable assets to the nation, and their talents should not be at risk of the “Japa” syndrome—an exodus of talent seeking opportunities abroad. (NAN) (nannews.ng)