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Stakeholders Urged to
Sustain Fight against Polio
By Noah Ocheni
Stakeholders and other partner groups in Polio Eradication Exercise
in Kogi State have been challenged to sustain the polio-free status
of the state to enhance the wellbeing of children.
The wife of the Kogi State Governor, Hajia Zainab Idris, gave the
charge at Lokoja while flagging-off the August 2008 Immunization
Plus Days (IPDS).
Hajia Zainab noted that the collective efforts of stakeholders, WHO,
UNICEF, Federal, State and Local Governments in the state have led
to the present achievement for the children and mothers.
She reiterated her determination to contribute morally and
financially towards the success of polio eradication and other
childhood killer diseases from the state and Nigeria at large.
In his speech, the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Fred Achem, disclosed
that a total of 552 cases of Wild Polio Virus (WPV) was recorded in
the country as at the beginning of August 2008, adding that “in
spite of the strategic gate-way location of Kogi State, we have been
able to keep the state polio free”.
The Commissioner further disclosed that the state Governor, Alhaji
Ibrahim Idris, has approved counterpart funds for the conduct of the
exercise in the state and urged local government Chairmen to also
contribute towards the sustenance of the programme.
Earlier, the Chairman of Lokoja Local Government Council, Hon.
Yabagi Bologi, stressed that Primary Health Care Services is one of
his priorities being the constitutional responsibility of the local
council area.
The Chairman noted that apart from the provision of adequate
materials, funds and personnel for the IPDS, routine immunization
would equally be given attention as the Primary Health Care
department of the council has been charged to meet the target of 95
percent coverage.
Bologi therefore enjoined nursing mothers and guardians to
reciprocate the good gesture of stakeholders, WHO, UNICEF, state and
local governments and other donor agencies who have been
contributing towards the eradication of childhood killer diseases by
making their children available during the IPDS.
Yagba East NULGE Charts New Course
By Abdul Aji
Yagba East Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government
Employees (NULGE), has elected new officers to manage its affairs
for the next four years.
The election, which was described as free and fair by the Yagba East
Local Government Council’s Protocol Officer, Comrade Olu Mohammed,
in a press statement, said Comrade Kayode Ibikunle emerged as the
Chairman. According to the statement, Comrade Ibikunle scored 249
votes to defeat Ebenezer Inubiwon who got 120 votes.
David Oshagbemi was elected as Vice Chairman, while Comrade A.T.
Omolehin became Secretary and Walid Adetiba, Treasurer.
Others elected are Mrs. Mary Adebayo, (Assistant Secretary), Mr.
Abayomi James, (Auditor), Solomon Babatunde, (Trustee), Mr. Patai
Mamud (PRO) and Sunday Alege (Welfare Director).
In his post election speech, the new chairman, Comrade Kayode
Ibikunle, promised to be honest and transparent in discharging his
duties.
The new executives were sworn-in by the Kogi State President of
NULGE, who presided over the election.
HOS Hails Community Health Workers over Peace
Members of the National Association of Community Health
Practitioners of Nigeria have been commended for maintaining
industrial peace in the state.
The Head of Service, Alhaji Isah Usman Ichaba, made this statement
in his office when the Executive members of the association led by
its Chairman, Comrade Salihu Abdullateef Adeiza paid him a courtesy
call in his office.
The Head of Civil Service seized the opportunity of the occasion to
highlight some of the achievements of the present administration
under the leadership of Alhaji Ibrahim Idris in the areas of
workers’ welfare. He therefore implored members to be dedicated to
their duties and loyal to the present administration, promising them
the absolute support and co-operation of his office especially in
the area of the welfare of their members and other issues raised.
Earlier, the Chairman of the association in the state, Comrade
Salihu Adeiza Abdullateef, while congratulating the Head of Service
on his appointment to the exalted office called on him to use his
good office to ensure the implementation of scheme of service for
their members in all the tertiary institutions in the state.
The Graphic GM, 9 Others Get ICEN Awards
By Bayo Aka
The Institute of Corporate Executives of Nigeria (ICEN), has
conferred the Distinguish Leadership Awards for Excellence on about
ten Chief Executive Officers of both public and private
establishments in Nigeria.
The General Manager of Kogi State Printing and Publishing
Corporation, Publishers of The Graphic Newspapers, Pastor Ezekiel
Oyekanmi, is one of the recipients of the awards.
The conferment award and a one day seminar on the topic: Conflict
Prevention and Management took place at the Nigeria Union of
Teachers’ (NUT) House, Lokoja.
Some of the recipients include the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of
Environment and Physical Development, Mr. Julius Ipinniwa, the
Executive Secretary of Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Rev.
Nathaniel Adajo, the General Manager of Kogi State Transport
Company, Mr. Agugustine Ogah, the Managing Director of Gidec Nigeria
Ltd., Alhaji Ahmed Olajide and others.
Earlier, the resource person who is also the Director of School of
Management Studies, Kogi State Polytechnic, Dr. Titus Umoru,
disclosed that conflicts are unavoidable in organizational set up as
long as there are divergent views.
He averred that it could only be managed and resolved by managers in
order for the organization to achieve its goals.
Dr. Umoru explained four strategies that could be adopted to resolve
organizational conflicts, stressing that managers should handle
conflicts by compromise or collaboration.
The secretary of ICEN, David Onyeoguzoro expressed delight at the
success of the seminar, saying that the benefits derived by
participants would go a long way to help them better manage their
respective organizations.
Govt Urged to Budget for Conflict Management
The Anglican Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, Dr. Nathan Nyom, has called
on the state and federal governments to make special allocation for
conflict resolution throughout the country.
Dr. Nyom made the call while declaring open a workshop on the
promotion of culture and peace in Kwande LGA which took place in
Makurdi recently.
The Bishop, who noted that peace is necessary for development to
take place, also stated that without peace, proper evangelism cannot
take place.
The Network of African Peace Builders (NAPS) in conjunction with
Strategic Partnership for Peace in Africa (PASPA) organized a four
day workshop in order to promote a culture of peace in Kwande LGA.
In a statement signed by Regional Co-ordinator of NAPS, Mr.
Demenongu Ager, said the two bodies were encouraged by the
enthusiasm with which the grassroot people of Kwande have shown for
sustainable peace and development since 2006.
Kwande Local Government Area which is a political hot belt of Benue
State, has been engulfed in leadership tussle since 2004.
Awo Community Gets New Executives
Awo Community Development Association, Lokoja Branch in Ankpa Local
Government Area of Kogi State has elected new executives to run its
affairs.
A press statement made available The Graphic showed that Mr.
Williams Elaigwu was elected as the Chairman while Umoru Adaji was
elected as the Vice-Chairman.
Others are, Thaddeus Adejo (Secretary), Onuh S.B (Assistant
Secretary), Stephen Alfa (Financial Secretary) and Franca Egwu
(Treasurer). Mohammed Adejor (Public Relations Officer) Elias Egwu
(Legal Adviser), Blessing Uloko (Chairlady) Raymond Ocheje and Moses
Abah (Patrons) while Jummai Adaji emerged as the Matron.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman, Williams Elaigwu, thanked
the members for electing him and other members and promised to
justify the confidence reposed in them.
He also sought the collective effort of all members of the
association to the position where it could enhance the development
of the community.
He used the occasion to commend the governor of the state, Alhaji
Ibrahim Idris, for his developmental strides and appealed to him to
include Awo community in his developmental programmes.
Power Outage Paralyses Academic Activities in KSCOE
Owing to irregular and epileptic supply of electricity by the Power
Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCH) Limited to Kogi State College of
Education, Ankpa, both academic and non-academic activities in the
institution have been paralysed.
The Provost of the College, Professor Isa Ochepa, explained this in
an interaction with our correspondent in his office, saying that a
lot of activities came to a stand still owing to inactive and
epileptic power supply to the institution at several occasions. He
noted that the capacity of the transformer serving the college and
its environs is low and that the only generating set owned by the
college could not serve the entire college community.
While extolling Governor Ibrahim Idris whose leadership style has
enormously contributed to the repositioning of the institution,
Prof. Ochepa appealed to the state government to provide the college
with a 500 KVA transformer which, he said, would alleviate the
plight experienced by the people and facilitate the activities of
the college.
Meanwhile, the Provost has also called on government and
philanthropists for their intervention over the ecological situation
of Ankpa town, particularly that of the Mechanic Village which is
directly opposite the college. He described the devastative
situation of the area as a threat to the college and its entire
community.
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