The Concerned Citizens, a Humanitarian Group has appealed to Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara to help seek justice for Mr. Olatunji Jimoh, who was allegedly killed while in police custody.
Mr Owolabi Olumuyiwa, the leader of the group made the call on Friday in Ilorin during a news conference.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 35-year-old Jimoh allegedly died while in the custody of the Kwara State Police Command in Dec. 2024.
NAN reports that the deceased was taken into custody of the police because of debt of N220,000.
The family of the deceased however, seeks justice over the death of their son, while accusing the police of alleged torture leading to death.
Olumuyiwa said: ” We are asking the Governor of Kwara, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to help us look into this case as a father and as the Chief Security Officer of the state.
“Please sir, dont wait until election time before you realize that you have some youth somewhere to campaign,” he appealed.
Similarly, he also appealed on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene in the investigation into the death of their son.
He explained that the the family is seeking the IGP’s intervention to transfer the case out of the Kwara State Police Command, citing a lack of confidence in the command’s ability to conduct a fair and impartial investigation.
Olumuyiwa urge the IGP to take over the investigation and ensure that justice is served,.
Also speaking, the Lawyer to the family of the deceased, Barr. Olukayode Oloyede while commending the efforts of the IGP, appealed for him to ensure justice is served.
NAN recalled that the IGP had earlier visited the family of the deceased and assured them of a thorough and swift investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
The IGP had also directed the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) to take over the case.
The Nigerian Army Sobi Cantonment Ilorin on Saturday celebrated the 2024 West African Social Activities (WASA), to promote unity, honour cultural heritage and reflect on the achievement of the institutions.
The Commandant Nigerian Army Institute of Science education and technology (NAISET), Maj. Gen. Sumaila Ibrahim, said the event provides an opportunity for social activities of officers and men of the Nigerian Army to wine and dine with their families, friends and host communities as well as to showcase their cultural heritage as Nigerians.
Babangida urged all security agencies to maintain the level of synergy and collaboration, which is pivotal to achieving overall security success in the state.
He described WASA as an opportunity for Nigerians in the army to come together and celebrate their achievements for the year.
“It is platform to reflect on the successes of the past year while fostering unity and brotherhood.
” Therefore this event reminds us of our collective identity as Nigerians, enriched by our varied tradition yet united by shared values.
“It is also a reminder that discipline and togetherness are the foundation of excellence.
“As you witness today’s performance, our staff, host community and student are ambassador of unity, showcasing the beauty of our ethnic heritage through music, dance and other performances “, he added.
The Provost, Nigerian Army College of Education (NACOE),Maj. Gen. Umar Babangida, said that historically the reason for WASA is to celebrate with family and friends to foster unity and celebrate yearly achievement.
According to him, NAISET and NACOE have continued to strive to foster an environment that celebrates diversity, inclusivity, academic and professional excellence.
He prayed to God to spare their lives to witness more of it.
The fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is far from being over and Nigerians must remain steadfast in efforts to combat them, a medical expert, Prof. Ayodele Omotoso, has warned.
Omotoso, who is of the Department of Medicine, University of Ilorin, gave the warning while reflecting on the institution’s 272nd inaugural lecture held on Thursday.
He said, however, that the diseases could be curtailed through research, education and community engagement.
“Governments and stakeholders should enhance research development, inter-disciplinary collaboration, community engagement and curriculum integration.
“We should also resuscitate public lectures on NCDs and other health-related matters,” Omotoso said.
He called for policy implementation, access to health care services, public awareness campaigns, funding and resources, private sector involvement, the intervention of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and international collaboration.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Omotoso had in the inaugural lecture, which he delivered, urged the three tiers of government and stakeholders to invest in the control of NCDs.
He had contended that this would greatly help to improve health conditions and life expectancy.
NAN reports that the lecture, titled “Of the Heart, for the Heart and from the Heart: Communicating the non-communicables heartily”, was about diseases related to the heart.
Omotoso explained that the human heart is a three-layer muscular organ, roughly the size of a closed fist, weighing 250-300 grammes in the female and 300-350g in the male.
“Located slightly left of the centre in the chest cavity, the human heart has four chambers, which are the right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium and left ventricle which deal with blood circulation in the body.
“NCDs are chronic diseases that are typically non-contagious, non-infectious and not transferrable from person to person.
“They are responsible for a growing burden globally, causing about 43 million deaths in 2021,” he had said.
Omotoso had added that while the diseases are commonly linked to older populations, approximately 18 million NCD-related deaths occur before the age of 70.
“These diseases have also emerged as a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, contributing to a substantial burden of morbidity and mortality.
“Several risk factors contribute to the rising incidence of NCDs in Nigeria, which can be categorised into behavioral or lifestyle, environmental and socio-economic determinants.
“The four major groups of diseases that constitute 82 percent of all NCDs are cardiovascular diseases, cancers, respiratory diseases and diabetes mellitus,” he said.
Omotoso went on to note that the diseases have four main lifestyle-related risk factors in common, which include cigarette smoking, harmful alcohol use, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity.
He said these diseases also share four metabolic risk factors which are hypertension, overweight and obesity, hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia.
“As I reflect on the title of this lecture, I am reminded of the core values that have guided my work.
“It is my hope that these values will continue to inspire future generations of researchers, educators and health care professionals,” Omotoso stated.
Renowned academic and community leader, Prof. Abubakar O. Sulaiman, has announced plans to kick off the New Year with an exciting festival of fun and togetherness.
The event promises a day filled with laughter, adventure, and unforgettable memories for all attendees.
The celebration, set to take place on January 1, 2025, will be hosted at Diamond Park, Ilorin, and feature activities designed to bring joy and foster community spirit.
The first 500 attendees will enjoy exclusive experiences, making it a truly special way to welcome the New Year.
Prof. Sulaiman encourages residents of Ilorin and beyond to join in the festivities and make the start of 2025 a moment to remember.
Professor Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman, Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), has restated his commitment to quality people-centric service.
This reassurance was expressed on Sunday in Ilorin during a meeting with a team of media personalities.
A seasoned academic and politician, Prof. Sulaiman boasts an impressive track record.
As a teacher, he recounted how he taught for seven years at the University of Abuja without receiving a salary, demonstrating his commitment and passion to education and community development, even when he had better opportunity to work elsewhere.
“What this tells us is lessons of patience and perseverance. This is a tertiary institution, where people were brought in and placed over me.
“This is an institution where I served as an examination officer of a department, yet I did not compromise despite the alienation,” he said.
As a result of the patience, he said the appointment was later formalised and became the first Ilorin man to be a lecturer at the University of Abuja.
He explained how he made several sacrifices in his public life to ensure he impacted his people positively, saying he had worked for people than he did for himself.
Prof. Sulaiman also chronicled his achievements as Minister for National Planning under the Goodluck Jonathan government, during which he provided job opportunities for over 100 people from the state within a 10-month period.
The professor of political science also hinted at how he had silently purchased not less than 700 JAMB forms and shared it to students across the state to support their academic ambitions.
The NILDS DG who also hinted at the race to Ahmadu Bello government house in 2027 said his desire is to contribute meaningfully to the development of the state via a foremost office.
According to him, my ambition is always to serve my people by deploying my all-round knowledge to develop the state and secure a better and brighter future for younger ones by addressing joblessness and youth idleness. Investing in the youth is crucial for the state’s future development.
He boasted that he had the requisite credentials for the coveted governorship seat that whoever might be eyeing the seat.
With his wealth of experience, academic credentials, and commitment to public service, he said he was well-positioned to make a positive impact as governor of Kwara state.
He, however, lauded Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq for changing the narrative of the state in terms of infrastructure development, saying the state is long overdue for urban renewal and must be sustained beyond 2027.
Ilorin, Dec. 20, 2024 (NAN) Prof. Hamdalat Yusuf, of the Department of Social Sciences Education of the University of Ilorin has advocated a ratio of one teacher to 35 students across Nigerian schools.
Yusuf made the call in Ilorin in her paper presentation at the 271st Inaugural Lecture of the University of Ilorin entitled: ” Navigating the Nexus of Teacher Education, Curriculum Development and Social Studies”.
The education expert examined how school factors of class size, teachers’ workload, and qualifications impacted performance in the examinations.
She said: “These schools and teachers’ variables were related to classroom teaching and the extent each of these variables impacted learners.
She disclosed that the results indicated these variables, including class size, teacher workload, and qualifications, influenced the performance of students in their examinations.
Similarly, Yusuf advised the Federal Government to integrate ICT training as part of the pre-service teacher education program in Nigeria.
According to her, such an initiative will prepare future teachers to effectively use technology in their classrooms.
She observed the need for teacher-education curricula to be designed to incorporate ICT tools and resources so that teachers can make them an integral part of the teaching and learning process.
“There is a need to provide schools with adequate ICT resources, including Internet facilities and digital resources so that teachers can integrate them into their instructions.
The don enjoined Lecturers should assume the role of counselor caring for the psychological and emotional needs of students enrolled in their courses.
Yusuf, who teaches in the Faculty of Education of the University, explained that such a practical role has been shown to help students improve poor grades in their courses.
She also underscores the importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, particularly in the development of teacher education and enhancing community development in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Kwara chapter has recorded the best-performing state in the area of community development and humanitarian activities.
The Amirah of the Association, Hajia Nimat Labaika, stated this while delivering her address in Ilorin at the formal opening ceremony of the Step Down of the 39th Annual National Conference.
She explained that the Annual Ramadan community outreach and women empowerment earned the state the accolade in performance.
“We also partnered with some international NGOs to carry out various health intervention programs like awareness creation, prevention, and eradication of malaria, HIV, and TB in the community.
“Through this, we have been able to empower 100 people living with HIV and AIDS.
“Indigent women who are also petty traders across the 16 LGAs were empowered through zakat and donations collected from philanthropists,” she said.
Labaika appealed to philanthropists to help the Association do more in terms of humanitarian activities in the state.
She described the theme of the conference as apt, adding that it is a tradition of FOMWAN to organize a rotational Annual conference for members across the states of the Federation to gather to address contemporary issues as they affect the Muslim Ummah.
In his Lecture, Prof.Abdulquadir Abikan, the new Director-General and member of the Council of the National Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), Abuja observed that Muslim women stand as representatives of a collective struggle against a pervasive issue that transcends borders and beliefs.
Speaking on the theme: “Women and the Challenges of Insecurity”, Abikan said insecurity is not merely a statistic; but a live reality for many women around the world.
He observed that women are the worst victims of insecurity in any nation, adding that women of all ages are confronted with femicide.
Abikan, who was represented by Dr Muhammad Kamaldeen of the Department of Islamic Law, University of Ilorin described femicide as the intentional killing of women because they are women by men.
“Femicide is both a violation of human rights and a persistent global issue rooted in violence.
“Despite legal frameworks aimed at protecting women, femicide remains disturbingly prevalent. In 2022, the United Nations recorded 89,000 intentional killings of women and girls worldwide, with 55 percent of these murders committed by intimate partners or individuals close to the victim,” he said.
The expert in Law also pointed out that women can also be complacent in creating situations that result in insecurity of not only themselves but everyone at large.
He emphasized the crucial role that women play in societal development and the creation of the moral fiber of society.
According to him, individuals who end up as terrorists, armed robbers, kidnappers, fraudsters, criminals, and miscreants were all birthed by their mothers in the same way as other individuals who meaningfully contribute to society.
“The security challenges we are experiencing cannot be divorced from the breakdown of the family unit where the position of women as the first school of their children, according to Prophet Muhammad (SAW), has been left to decline.
“In several homes, women are faced with economic and emotional challenges that shift their focus from the care and appropriate training of the young minds to other material challenges.
“This is not to say that women should not be professionals outside of their homes, but the Islamic position is that a woman should not be constrained to fend for herself and her children to the detriment of the care of the young children,” he said.
He appealed to men to form a united front with women in understanding their roles in fostering safe environments for all.
“We must work together- across faiths and backgrounds dismantle the structures that perpetuate violence against women,” he said.
Also speaking, Abdullahi Ghali, Lecturer at the College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies (CAILS), stated that issues of security must start from the grassroots, individual, family level, and government levels.
He also appealed to women and mothers to give the best training to their children as dictated by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
The conference includes free medical checkups, HIV/AIDs screening, hypertension, as well as free medication.
Dr Tunde Ayeye, Medical Entrepreneur Group Managing Director International Facilities Services (IFS), Lagos has advocated innovative finance models as a panacea to some challenges in the health sector.
Ayeye made the call during his paper presentation at the 9th Kola Olafimihan College of Health Sciences Endowed Lecture of the University of Ilorin.
The programme was entitled: “Improving Access to Quality Healthcare Delivery in a Depressed Economy.”
He observed that financing models such as Real Estate Investment Trusts can drive sustainable funding for the health sector.
The public health physician calls for a holistic approach, saying that communities should be viewed as an ecosystem, where preventive care, early intervention, and education become cornerstones of health policies.
“Healthcare must transcend its current boundaries, becoming not just a service but an economic catalyst.
“By transmuting healthcare services into engines of economic growth, we can create jobs, attract investment, and foster a thriving health industry,” he said.
Adeyeye also advocated for the need to redefine Public-private intervention in health, a new health economy, and turning brain drain into brain gain.
Also speaking, Prof. Suleiman Alabi, the Provost College of Health Science of the University of Ilorin, pointed out that there is a global downturn in the economy and that Nigeria is not in isolation.
“We need to find ways to have quality healthcare despite the present economy. Government has a lot of roles to do, to better our lives in terms of health insurance,” he said.
Alabi commended the government for enrolling communities and schools, especially the Kwara-Care health insurance programs in the state.
He, however, observed that more people across Nigeria needed to be captured in the health insurance program.
In her response, Mrs. Mobolaji Adeniyi, the daughter of the Late Dr Kola Olafimihan, describes her father as a distinguished medical elder.
She commended University of Ilorin for the endowment lecture organised in remembrance of her late father.
The Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN) on Thursday in Ilorin disclosed that less than 200 psychiatrists attend to to the mental health needs of well over 200 million Nigerians.
The President of APN, Prof. Taiwo Obindo, stated this in his address at the 55th Annual General Conference and Scientific Meeting of the association in Ilorin.
The theme of the conference was entitled: ” Prioritizing Mental Health Needs of Nigeria in a Depressed Economy: an Urgent call for Integrated, Comprehensive and Sustainable Interventions”.
Obindo observed that the “japa syndrome” has largely depleted the Mental Health Practitioners’ work force in the country.
He lamented that these tides need to be stemmed and reversed as the remaining mental health practitioners are overworked and poorly renumerated.
Obindo stated that mental health is yet to be accorded the needed attention by the government, while citing the example of Canada, which had a functional Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions.
According to him, Nigeria needs to lay emphasis and importance on mental health.
“Mental health in Nigeria is still a programme under the Department of Public Health in the Federal Ministry of Health.
“One other area needing attention is the budgetary allocation to health, and by extension, the mental health, which is less than six (6) percent.
“This falls short of the Abuja Declaration of 2001, where health allocation was to be pegged at a minimum of 15 percent of every country’s annual budget,” he said.
The APN President said the association has achieved some milestones recorded in the establishment of Mental Health Programme.
He advised on the implementation of the Mental Health Act of 2021, which replaced the Lunacy Act of 1958, and is a significant milestone after more than 30 years of failed efforts.
In his Lecture, Prof. Owoidoho Udofia, of the University of Calabar, a Guest Speaker at the occasion said: “study showed 12 percent of Nigerians have mental and behavioural disorder”.
He asserts that certain characteristics in some practitioners are responsible for poor identification of mental illness.
Similarly, Udofia observed that certain presence of culture specific somatic symptoms, significantly lowered identification rate of mental illness by General practitioners in teaching hospitals.
The Consultant Psychiatrist dismissed the assumption by colonialists that Africans are not sophisticated enough to have depression.
“Mental illness makes up less than 30 percent of the burden in teaching hospitals in Nigeria,.
“The illness is not only restricted to Schizophrenia and Psychosis. Substance use is high and there is need to improve diagnosis.
“There is also need to imrpove on the rates, as there is poor identification and research,” he advised.
In her goodwill message, Dr Amina El-Imam, the Kwara Commissioner for Health, described the theme of the conference as a critical discuss.
The commissioner who was represented by Dr. Musiliu Odunaiya, the Director Medical Services and Training, said that the society has surrounded the issue of mental health with myths and stigma.
She advised the psychiatrists to produce more awareness campaign on mental health to reduce stigma in the country.
Earlier in his welcome address, Prof. Peter Ajiboye, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), said the theme of the conference reflects the collective recognition of the urgent need for tailored mental health solutions in Nigeria.
Ilorin, Nov. 26, 2024 (NAN) The University of Ilorin of has strengthen partnership with 28 varsities in eight countries on research, innovation and economic cooperation.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Egbewole stated this in Ilorin during a news conference organized on the commencement of the 3rd Summit of the Development-8 (D-8) Network of Pioneers for Reaearch and Innovation (NPRI).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the D-8 is an organisation dedicated towards development and co-operation on research and teaching among eight countries.
Other member countries whose universities are part of D-8 are Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Turkey, and Malaysia.
The Vice Chancellor explained that the idea behind the establishment of the D-8NPRI is to bring member states researchers, government and semi-government research institutes, industrial research institutes and research in D-8 universities under one umbrella.
He observed that Unilorin is the latest University to join the Network and hosting the summit.
Egbewole explained that Unilorin was established in 1975 as a second generation University in Nigeria.
According to him, the varsity is the most sought after University in Nigeria as well as the University with the highest number of foreign students in Nigeria.
“The essence of this summit in our view is to strengthen collaboration amongst members with a view to improving multi disciplinary research that will be beneficial to all members, our communities and most importantly our students.
“In doing this, we need to leverage technology, factor the emerging issues of Artificial Intelligence, gene editing, quantum computing, and such other great ideas that are shaping our world for future relevance.
“It is axiomatic to state that collaboration is key to development. In doing this, we need to emphasise issue of sustainability of all our processes,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor pointed out the need to recognize the changing times especially the overriding effects of climate change, global warming and disruptive technologies.
“It is my hope that this Summit will conclude the NPRI Charter which we hope will be adopted as the lorin Charter.
“This will determine the way we relate and operate with a view to shaping the future of the Network and create the road map for all our engagements,” he said.
In his remark, the Ambassador of Bangladesh, Mr Masudur Rahman commended the partnership of member States, addong that the network will expand the level of innovation, on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cloud Computing and bio-technology.
He advised members States to harness such wonderful networking and charter.
Kakaki 