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

AYRH: Connected Advocacy conduct training for Social Mobilizer By Isaac Eranga Benin City: The Executive Director of Connected Advocacy for Empowerment and Youth Development Initiative - Prince Israel Orekha, said there was need for concerted effort to address the prevalent rate of unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion amongst adolescents and youths in Nigeria through life planning programs.  Prince Orekha said this in a one-day step down training for social mobilizers on adolescent youth reproductive health (AYRH) services in Oredo local government area, put together by Connected Advocacy with technical support from The Challenge Initiative (TCI), recently in Benin. He said the role of the social mobilizers is to help adolescents and youths understand how their body works, equipping them with information and provision of services to make informed decisions as they transit to adulthood. "It is also to help them make responsible life choices and healthy de

Exclusive Interview with CEO, MobiHealth By   AgroNigeria  - December 27, 2019 Dr. Funmi Adewara, a Cambridge University trained bioscience entrepreneur speaks with AgroNigeria on the consequence of health and safety for farmstead productivity. Please introduce yourself and tell us what MobiHealth is about My name is Dr Funmi Adewara, I am a UK based Physician of Nigerian heritage and a Cambridge University trained bioscience entrepreneur. I am the founder and CEO of Mobihealth International. Mobihealth is a Telemedicine provider registered in the UK and Nigeria, the first of its kind, fully integrated telehealth platform in Africa. We are a revolutionary telemedicine platform on a mission to provide people in Africa access to quality medical care at low cost leveraging technology. Our intervention will improve the time to diagnosis and treatment, reduce hospital congestion by more than 60%, reduce the cost of treatment significantly and save many liv

NPFL,NNL; Referees under watch, says NRA Otunba Tade Azeez, NRA President The Nigeria Referees Association, NRA, has unearthed a heartwarming information that would rekindle confidence in the minds of stakeholders of Nigeria Football. The revelation that would elicit excitement is the close watch of referees handling both divisions of the Nigerian leagues  by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and the NRA, which the President of the NRA, Otunba Tade Azeez said is meant to ensure perfection on the field of play. Giving further insight, the NRA President opined that the involvement of Referee Assessors in the NNL and NPFL is part of the strategic modules to know what match officials do at centres. He therefore stated that all reports from the Assessors are veritable tools for the growth and development of referees as well as to ascertain how the referees manage the game. Otunba Tade Azeez while wishing all members best of the Yuletide season prayed for journey mercies and

Breaking: Edo people weep as they watch Ekiosa market gutted away by fire -----In four months, four markets engulfed with fire in Benin City Barely a week fire gutted popular Oliha market, another fire outbreak was this afternoon recorded at the popular Ekiosa Market, Benin City, Edo State capital, destroying property worth millions of naira. However, no life was lost at the the time of filing this report. The fire which started at about 12.noon was said to have broke out at the section where animals are sold. An eyewitness, Osas Ugiagbe, told journalists that the fire started when power was restored in the market. “ I was at gate of the market when I heard a noise from the place where they sell goats and chickens. Then we saw balls of fire coming out. We called the Fire Service, but they didn’t respond and some people said, they don’t have water in thier vehicles” , he said. Popular Ekiosa market in Benin City on fire on Sunday afternoon Another eyewi

Federated Chapel of Edo NUJ hold by-election Federated Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Chapter, has conducted a by-election for the positions of Financial Secretary and Assistant Secretary. The election was held at the conference Hall of Edo NUJ. At the end of the election, Pst. Dr. Isaac Eranga of the Nigerian Observer Newspaper emerged Assistant Secretary, while Mr. Nosa Uwadia of KU Fm emerged the Financial Secretary. Both candidates were returned unopposed after a majority vote of acceptance by members of the chapel. Speaking after the election, the Chairman of the chapel, Comrade Moses Uyi Osaretin urged the newly elected officials to be productive in their sphere of operation and act according to their area of jurisdiction. "Now that the vacant positions of the Exco has been filled, the chapel is now ready to embark on programs that will enhance the professional growth of members. "I have no doubt that the presence of the newly e

NNL wk 5: Buoyant Insurance FC host Wounded Stores Tomorrow By Kehinde Osagiede Bendel Insurance FC will be playing host to wounded Stationery Stores of Lagos tomorrow in the week 5 game of the Nigeria National League (NNL) at the University of Benin Sports Complex. Both sides are traditional clubs that are no strangers to each other,but are meeting in a competitive league game after a long while. They recently played in a preseason friendly with the Benin Arsenal winning 2-1 at the Agege stadium in Lagos. Insurance will be going into the week 5 game with the Lagosians with confidence, revelling in their 2-2 away draw at Joy Cometh in week 4 game played last week Thursday in Lagos. The Benin Arsenal are second on the Group B2 table with seven points from four games after two wins,one draw and a loss to follow table toppers,Crown FC (9 points)who defeated the Stores 2-1 away from home last week. The 2-1 loss to Crown FC last week has compounded the  woes of Stores who are

Group takes talent hunt to Nigeria Correctional Service inmates By Isaac Eranga Benin City: A one-day edutainment therapy programme has been held for inmates of Nigeria Correctional Service, Benin Custodian Center, Sapele Road, Benin City.  The programme which was tagged 'Talent Discovery Among Inmates', was put together by Securing the Creative Gold mine in Youths Initiative and Courageous World Foundation. Declaring the programme open, Head of the custodian center, DCC Dr. Andrew Egbobowaye encouraged inmates to freely display their talents and thanked the groups for coming. Speaking, the Executive Director of Securing the Creative Gold mine in Youths Initiative, Mr. Edwin Asibor said they decided to organise the programme in order to harvest talents that will make the students more productive. "We are into youth development; that is our thematic area. We decided to collaborate with Courageous World Foundation to bring out the talents in the

The moribund state of the integrated enterprises at the University of Benin: the task before the new Vice Chancellor - Prof. Lilian Imuetinyan Salami By Comrade Amieye D. Omorogie Prof. Lilian Imuetinyan Salami University of Benin (UNIBEN) is a research university located in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. It is among the universities owned by the Federal government of Nigeria and was founded on 23rd November 1970. It has two campuses(Ugbowo and Ekenwan). The University of Benin is a big community of its own, with an estimated population of Seventy five thousand(75,000) Students, close to eight thousand(8000) staff strength(Academic and non academic) and over five thousand(5000) people who renders various services within and outside the University environment. Comrade Amieye Omorogie  The integrated enterprises at the University of Benin was created to render various services to the ever growing population within and outside the University community and equally ser

-----Igue Festival: A Proud and Prestigious Cultural History The entire membership and leadership of the Edo State Chapter of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria have sent a message of goodwill to the Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Oba Ewaure 11 on the celebration of Igue Festival.  The Chairmen of the 18 local governments in the state remarked that the highly revered Benin Monarchy represents one of the internationally acknowledged traditional institutions with remarkably advanced cultural heritage-indeed, the Oba’s phenomenon  distantly predates the arrival of Western adventurers in some civilized societies on the Black Continent.   Continuing, ALGON stated that’’ the celebration of, Igue, definitely marks one of the zeniths in the encyclopedia of the rich and prestigious history of Benin people. The local government association observed that the, Ugiewere, aspect of the fourteen-day celebration’’ profoundly invokes inspiring chronicle of majestic and mysterious Benin history’’.

Our people need empowerment, development, says Ise-Idehen By Akpomejero Friday Hon. Jude Ise-Idehen Benin: The member representing Egor and Ikpoba-Okha federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Jude Ise-Idehen said the people who elected them into power needed empowerment and development in the different constituencies across the country and not to make the state underdeveloped. He made this statement during a Festival of Praise at St Patrick Catholic Church, Ugbowo, Benin city. Jude Ise-Idehen said,  "I'm  using this medium to appreciate God for seeing me through all the huddles, right from the time of  tribunal up to present. I want to also thank those who voted for me. May God bless you all in Jesus name. "This two-day events were put together for members of Egor and Ikpoba-Okha federal constituency to celebrate with me and to join me to thank God and have a feel of me during the indoor games  and choir competitions. "As a Nationa

Universal Health Coverage: NGO urged Government to keep to their promise A cross section of participants The Executive Director of Connected Advocacy for Empowerment and Youth Development Initiative, Prince Israel Orekha has called on  Nigeria government to keep to her promise of making quality healthcare accessable and affordable to her citizenry. Prince Orekha made this call while delivering a paper in a one-day summit to mark the 2019  Nigerian Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day. He said on 23 September 2019, leaders from all United Nations Members States, including Nigeria, unanimously committed themselves to achieving universal health coverage by 2030. "193 nations upheld health as a human right and pledged and pledged that all people, everywhere get the quality healthcare services they need without facing financial hardship. "For people at the grassroot or the urban poor Primary Healthcare Centers (PHC) is key to achieving UHC. In Nigeria, there has been eff

AFN: Urgent Correspondence to Sports Minister ....Will Sports Minister Sunday Dare align with the trajectory of progress or support the factionalization agenda of some deviants in AFN? .....The illegally self- imposed acting President of the AFN- Olamide George  has been suspended  by an overwhelming majority  votes at the Extra Ordinary Congress of the Atletics Federation of Nigeria held in Awka, Anambra State. It is now established beyond any iota of doubt, that the meeting which was allegedly held in Abuja on December 3rd, 2019, with some supposed board members of the athletics federation reaching some consequential decisions, was a brazen theatre of illegality and impunity. It is deeply regrettable that the recently suspended Vice President of the Association, Olamide George, will descend into the abyss of such desperation to engage in the antics of staging an absolutely fake and illegitimate board meeting against all provisions of the AFN constitution. After a thoroug

Rebranding Technical Education in Edo Adibe Emenyonu writes on the efforts by the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki to revive technical education not just for industrial growth, but for future job creation and self- sustainability Forty nine years ago, the Canadian Government built two technical colleges in Africa to cater for middle manpower for industrial growth. One of the institutions was built in Tanzania, while the other one was built in Nigeria. The Nigerian college was sited in Benin City, capital of the then Midwestern State and named Benin Technical College during the administration of late Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia. The school was said to have been built due to the clamour by Oba Akenzua II for the training of youths in technical skills and sports. Thus the complex was built by the Canadian government and fitted with machines for learning and skills acquisition and an Olympic size swimming pool, as well as other sporting facilities. Close to five decades after t

.... rejects new marriage certificate law  By Isaac ERANGA Benin City: The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), has kicked against the newly introduced marriage certificate law by the Federal Government.   National President of the fellowship, Rev.(Dr.) Felix Omobude, yesterday in a press statement he personally signed in Benin City, chided the Ministry of Interior for  imposing such anti-Christian law on the church in Nigeria.   Recall that the Federal Government through the Ministry of Interior recently announced a compulsory #30,000 charge licence for Christian worship centres for the conduct of statutory marriages in churches and #21,000 for each marriage certificate.   But the PFN leader in his reaction, described the policy as exploitative and an attempt to commercialize Christian marriages in the country.   "This is very unfair and to the best of our understanding, the new law is targeted against the Church because the Traditional and Islamic weddings are ex

Atletics Federation of Nigeria: Pushing for Excellence in Sports, Says Ibrahim Gusau International Association of Ultra Marathon Runner Shagamu : Nigerian athletes, both in the male and female categories emerged in top positions at an international marathon completion held at Shagamu, Ogun State today, the President of Nigeria's athletic federation is confident of remarkable improved performance by the country's athletes in all future global contests. The Athletics Federation President, Hon. Ibrahim Shehu Gusau, gave the assurance in his congratulatory message to the Nigerian athletes, male and female who both came third in their various categories at the just concluded international association ultra marathon runners competition held at Sagamu, in Ogun State. Hon. Ibrahim Gusau further remarked that the athletics federation was determined to raise the standard of the sports to rival world estimation.  Hon. Ibrahim Gusau projected his confidence that Nigerian

No room for godfather's in Edo State, says Philip Shaibu ......... Says the struggle of Oshomhole must be sustained By the Editor Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has said there is no room for godfathers in the state. He added that the struggle for the emancipation of the people of the state from the hold of godfathers was ongoing and had come to stay. Shaibu, in an interview with select journalists at his residence in Benin on Friday, thanked his political mentor and National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, whom he said spearheaded the struggle. There had been political disagreements between Shaibu and Governor Godwin Obaseki, on the one hand, and Oshiomhole, who is also a former governor, and some other political figures in the state, on the other hand. Shaibu, however, noted that he and others were helping him (Oshiomhole) to sustain the struggle, adding that his political differences with the governor had not changed his

Football Development: Edo Referees partner AAU By Isaac Eranga Ekpoma: The Chairman of Edo State Football Referees Council, Mr. Johnbull Nosa Okundolor said there was need for football bodies to collaborate with tertiary institutions in order to improve football professionalism in Nigeria.  Mr. Okundolor stated this when Executives of the Edo State Football Referees Council (ESFRC) paid a courtesy visit to the Vice Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Prof. Ignatius Akhakhia Onimawo. He said they decided to visit the Vice Chancellor (VC) because of the role he is playing to develop football in the nation. "I like to commend the VC for organising football competitions among the various communities in the university's environment; this has greatly helped in producing professionals that will help sustain the temple of football development in the nation. This cannot be achieved without the football referees who are the interpreters of the laws of the

Conference on Witchcraft: organizers say it's an academic forum The International Conference on Witchcraft on Tuesday kicked off at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, as scheduled, despite opposition to the conference from the Christian bodies. It was gathered that the opening prayer for the conference was conducted by a Catholic priest, while the moderator was a cleric. Music was also provided by the UNN Christ Chapel choir. The conference, organised by Prof. B.I.C Ijomah Centre for Policy Studies and Research, UNN, met stiff opposition and criticisms, but organisers rebuffed the calls to cancel the conference, and instead changed the initial theme:  “Witchcraft, meanings, factors and practices,” to ”Dimensions of human behaviours.” UNN management had directed the organisers to drop the initial theme of the conference on account of outcries from various christian bodies. However, speaking at the opening ceremony of the conference holding at Nsukka main campus of