Social Reporters News Service, published by IOE Publishers - CAC/BN/3400383

…charges  to  come up with new programmes that will meet the urgent and contemporary needs of the society By Our Correspondent Benin: Professor of Physics and Director, Center for Atmospheric Research (CAR), Prof. Rabiu Babatunde has commended Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki on the establishment of the Edo State Geographic Information Service (Edo-GIS) as well as the setting up of the Edo Innovation Hub, noting that such technology-driven solutions will position the state for economic prosperity. Professor Rabiu gave the commendation at the maiden convocation ceremony lecture of the Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, held at the institution’s auditorium, in Usen, near Benin City. Professor Rabiu heads the CAR, a center under the National Space Research and Development Agency, supervised by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology and Kogi State University. In a lecture entitled Repositioning Higher Education towards effective patronage of Science and Technology for Sustain

By Isaac Eranga Benin: Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has called on Edo people and residents to emulate Jesus Christ as they celebrate Christmas. In his Christmas Message issued on Monday in Benin City, Obaseki said: “On behalf of the government of Edo State, I rejoice with all Edo people, at home and in the diaspora as well as residents, as we celebrate Christmas.” According to the governor, “Christmas season is an auspicious occasion to show love and reflect on the life of Jesus Christ, whose birth we are commemorating. “As we celebrate with our friends, relatives and neighbours, I enjoin you to spread the message of oneness, love, generosity and hope for greater things as demonstrated by Jesus Christ.” He expressed the state government’s gratitude to the people for their support for his administration. “As a government, we are grateful to all Edo people and residents who have stood by us in our pursuit of a united and prosperous state, where we all can realise our drea

By Isaac Eranga Benin City: A new executive to govern the affairs of football referees in Edo State for the next four years have been elected by members of the Edo State (Football) Referees Council in Benin. Speaking, the outgone Chairman of the council, FIFA Faith Irabor appreciated members for the cooperation she enjoyed from them while she was chairman and appealed that such cooperation should be extended to the new Chairman, Mr. Johnbull Okundolor and members of his team. She employed members to shun sentiment and always go for the truth in order to move the council to enviable height. She also called on elders of the council to mentor those coming after them. Speaking, the newly elected chairman, Mr. Johnbull Okundolor thanked members for electing him and promised to operate on open door policy. He urged members to be functional in their various positions, as discipline will be a watchword in the council. According to Mr. Okundolor who joined referee in 1995 during his youth s

The Emergency Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, chaired by the President of NFF, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, rose from a meeting at the weekend to announce that it had directed the go-ahead of the Super 8 Tournament of the Nigeria National League to produce four teams to be promoted to the Nigeria Professional Football League for the 2018/2019 Season. This is, as enshrined in the NNL 2018 Rule Book and in line with the propositions of the expanded meeting of chieftains of the NFF, the LMC, the NPFL Clubs, the NNL and NNL Clubs, that the NNL should stage its statutory Super 8 to produce the four teams for NPFL. The Emergency Committee said it took the decision after careful consideration of the relevant rules and regulations, contemporary best practice and what is obtainable and defensible in the international sphere. Members commended the NFF President for the tremendous efforts he made to meet with the NNL leadership, the eight NNL Clubs qualified to participate in the Sup

By Isaac Eranga Lagos: Stakeholders comprising researchers, research ethicists, health research ethics committee members, civil society groups, academics, philosophers, advocacy groups and the media have advocated for a comprehensive research ethics literacy education program among social/behavioural and biomedical researchers in Nigeria. They said this will help enhance their roles as researchers in their various disciplines. They made this call at the 2018 Annual International Bioethics Forum held recently in Lagos. The Forum which had as its theme, Bioethics, Vulnerability and Protection from Exploitation in Research, was organised by the Bioethics Society of Nigeria (BESON), in collaboration with the New HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society (NHVMAS), with support from the Deepening Research Ethics in Nigeria (DREIN) project, a consortium consisting of Center for Bioethics and Research (CBR), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Council o

Stakeholders comprising Research Ethics Committee members, International Ethics Consultants, Bioethicists, Philosophers, Advocates and the Media, have called on researchers to embrace community engagement in order to make the community better. This call was made at the 2018 International Bioethics Forum which was held December 12-13, 2018, in Lagos. They reiterated that engaging the community will make it possible for the researchers to know the research needs of the people and will help answer the question: how is my research going to make them better? Speaking on the theme titled: Bioethics, Vulnerability and Protection from Exploitation in Research, a member of People Living with HIV, said the issue of exploitation will be mother if the researchers put themselves in the place of the community. "You need to know what they feel, how they feel,  and what is expected. "Your target is nor just target, they are not just data, they are human beings. We need to change our attit

By Isaac Eranga Lagos: Kanu Nwankwo said 20 children with heart problems have recently be selected by his foundation- the Kanu Heart Foundation, to undergo curative treatment in India and Sudan soon. Mr. Kanu made this known while speaking with the Social Reporters News Service Wednesday 12 December in Lagos. He said the foundation which started since year 2000 have been able to conduct 548 operations on children with heart diseases. According to him, a football competition was held September 30 in London to raise fund for the foundation, and 42000 pounds was raised. He said the foundation will add more money to it for the treatment of the 20 children. "We are thinking of carrying out a documentary to show what the foundation have been doing. "We even surprised the family and making them happy and thanking God for what has happened to them by going to their houses. Many of them has heard of Kanu but has not seen him. Today, it is not them coming to the office but Ka

By Isaac Eranga, Benin The Executive Director of Connected Advocacy for Empowerment and Youth Development, a nationally registered non governmental organisation in Nigeria, Prince Israel Orekha has commended the Rev. David Ugolor led Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) for their effort in reducing corruption in the different strata of the Nigerian society. Prince Orekha made this commendation in the course of the 2018 World Anti-corruption Day celebration organised in Benin City by ANEEJ, with support from UKaid. He said the fight against corruption cannot be overemphasized especially as merit has been crucified on the altar of mediocrity, thereby pulling the nation backward. He said it takes conscientious effort like that of ANEEJ to revise the social cancerous trend. "I want to use this medium to encourage Rev. David Ugolor and members of his team not to relent in their effort at reducing the scourge of corruption in Nigeria. "Corruption is cance

By Isaac Eranga Benin: The Executive Director of Center for Bioethics and Research (CBR), Prof. Clement Adebamowo has identified lack of government commitment to health research ethics, as a major factor affecting the health system in Nigeria. Prof. Adebamowo made this known in Benin City while commenting on the deepening research ethics in Nigeria (DREIN) project put together by a consortium consisting of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Center for Bioethics and Research (CBR), National Health Research Ethics Committee of Nigeria (NHREC) and Council of Health Research Ethics Development (COHRED)  The CBR boss said "lack of government commitment to health research ethics leads to inadequate facilities and infrastructure, limited infrastructure, limited resources, little or no policies and significant brain drain in the medical field". He therefore called on the Nigerian government to show more commitment on research ethics. Speaking