society
Czech Republic Funds N194m medical equipment to Ogun
Czech Republic Funds N194m medical equipment to Ogun
The Ogun State government on Tuesday took delivery of medical equipment worth N194m from the government of the Czech Republic.
The equipment includes fifteen ICU beds, an incubator, children’s cribs, a generator, and a phototherapy machine.
Handing over the equipment, the Czech Republic Ambassador to Nigeria, Marek Skoll, to the state governor, Dapo Abiodun in his office, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, expressed his home government’s delight to support and partner the state government, particularly in the area of health development.
Skolil added that the Czech Government is concerned about how Nigeria, being the centerpiece of the regional architecture of the African continent, was not developing not only in terms of infrastructure but also in terms of human and social well-being.
The Ambassador who noted his country’s industrial development, mechanization of agriculture, and the health sector, commended the state government for the role it played during the global pandemic.
While also noting that the Czech government was bringing an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) center into Ogun, he expressed the belief that the center would help the state government to further develop its healthcare sector.
In his remark, Governor Dapo Abiodun commended the Czech Republic for donating the ICU Unit beds, incubator, children cribs, a generator, and a phototherapy machine to the state.
“I am glad that at a time when we needed you the most, you chose to support us as a state and a country by extension.
“I want to personally appreciate that gesture of donating fifteen ICU beds, an incubator, children cribs, a generator, and a phototherapy machine to us in Ogun State, we appreciate your kind gesture, the equipment is estimated at $47,000; this donation is deeply appreciated,” the governor said.
Abiodun, while also calling for collaborations in the area of engineering and air surveillance from the Czech Government, said his administration since it came on board had been able to remove all forms of administration bottlenecks, through business-friendly policies.
“We know you are quite experienced in the area of engineering, infrastructure, and agriculture, those are areas, I am so optimistic we can collaborate on. We are looking to deploy air surveillance across the state in terms of using drones, we can also collaborate in this area, as we see security as an important part of our administration,” Abiodun added.
He disclosed that his administration was awaiting the donation of about six ambulances before the end of the week, saying his administration is also waiting patiently for the Czech Government to deliver on its promise to donate ambulances to the state.
“We are anxiously waiting for those ambulances you promised us. When we assumed office, there were only five ambulances in the state, today, we have twenty ambulances. I think somebody else is donating about maybe five, six ambulances sometimes this week, so, we have about twenty-six. We aim to have about thirty-five to forty ambulances because we want to have one ambulance per state constituency and we have twenty-six of such constituencies.
“What we want to do is to provide enough ambulances to make that operational, we are providing ambulances in the primary health care centers, tricycle ambulances for pregnant women in that neighborhood, we are rehabilitating the centers so that they give our people the confidence. At the end of this month, we should have about a hundred of those in place, which is about five per local government, we are hoping to do two-hundred and thirty-six between now and the end of next year.
“We are hoping that once we have our Primary Health Care Centers in place, we can launch our health care Insurance Programme as well,” Abiodun submitted.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, commended the Czech Republic Government for its numerous support to the state.
She disclosed that the medical equipment would be installed in Ijebu-Ife, one of the local communities visited by Ambassador Skolil.
society
RAMADAN CHARITY: TY BURATAI HUMANITY CARE FOUNDATION AND UFAM HOLDINGS LTD EXTEND FOOD RELIEF TO MANDO COMMUNITY
*RAMADAN CHARITY: TY BURATAI HUMANITY CARE FOUNDATION AND UFAM HOLDINGS LTD EXTEND FOOD RELIEF TO MANDO COMMUNITY*
In a remarkable display of compassion and community support, the TY Buratai Humanity Care Foundation, in collaboration with UFAM Holdings Ltd, successfully distributed food relief to over 1,000 less privileged individuals in the Mando community, Afaka, Igabi, Kaduna State, as part of the Ramadan celebrations.
The initiative, aimed at alleviating hunger during this sacred month, saw community members receiving essential food items to ensure they can observe Ramadan with dignity and sustenance. The distribution took place at the Skill Acquisition Centre, where beneficiaries gathered to collect their food packages.
During the event, the Deputy Chief Imam of Mando Central Mosque, Sheikh Bashir Adam Saleh Algoni, expressed his gratitude for the philanthropic effort. “We appreciate this gesture immensely,” he stated. He urged the public to keep the Grand Patron of the Foundation, His Excellency Amb Lt Gen Tukur Yusufu Buratai, in their prayers, acknowledging his ongoing commitment to helping the less privileged. He also highlighted the contributions of UFAM Holdings Ltd, urging support for their charitable endeavors.
Beneficiaries of the food relief expressed their profound gratitude, offering prayers for Allah’s blessings on both the foundation and the company for their generous assistance during this holy month.
In his remarks, the Special Guest of Honour, His Excellency Amb Lt Gen Tukur Yusufu Buratai CFR Rtd, former Chief of Army Staff and Grand Patron of the Foundation, who was represented by Col Haruna Idris Zaria Rtd, thanked the public for their continuous prayers. He emphasized the importance of using the month of Ramadan to pray for the betterment of the country and an end to the insecurity plaguing the nation. He also urged the community to support and pray for security agencies, recognizing their sacrifices in maintaining peace and safety.
This charitable initiative not only highlights the spirit of Ramadan but also reinforces the importance of community solidarity and mutual support during challenging times.
Obi’s Reform Agenda Rekindles Scrutiny of Nigeria’s Political Wealth
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG
“Momodu’s remarks spotlight elite affluence as analysts warn of resistance to cost-cutting reforms.”
Prominent publisher and politician Dele Momodu has reignited debate over the vast wealth attributed to sections of Nigeria’s political class, asserting publicly that certain politicians could raise as much as $500 million at short notice to secure presidential power. Though no names were mentioned, the claim has sharpened national conversations about transparency, accountability, and the true cost of governance.
Nigeria’s persistent struggle with corruption is well documented by bodies such as Transparency International, whose global assessments frequently rank the country low on public sector integrity. The optics of expansive private mansions, luxury assets, and foreign-based lifestyles among political families continue to fuel public suspicion, particularly in a nation grappling with inflation, debt pressures, and widespread poverty.
The controversy unfolds against the backdrop of reform advocacy by Peter Obi, who has consistently argued for cutting governance costs and institutionalizing fiscal discipline. Political economist Professor Pat Utomi maintains that entrenched elites often resist structural reform, describing elite capture as a systemic barrier to democratic accountability. Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has similarly warned that democracy without transparency breeds cynicism and instability.
While no specific officeholders have been formally indicted in connection with Momodu’s remarks, the broader issue remains potent: public demand for principled leadership is rising, and scrutiny of political wealth is unlikely to fade as future elections approach.
“Obi Would Defeat Even Jesus at the Polls”: Viral Remark Sparks Political Debate Online
By George Omagbemi Sylvester
A viral statement by a prominent supporter of former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has ignited widespread reactions across Nigeria’s political landscape. The supporter, popularly known as Mama Pee, declared during a live social media broadcast earlier this week that “If Jesus comes down to contest in Nigeria, Obi go win am,” a remark intended to emphasize Obi’s perceived popularity among his core supporters.
The comment, which surfaced on X and Facebook, quickly generated sharp responses from supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). While many Labour Party loyalists defended the statement as political exaggeration, critics described it as reflective of growing personality-driven politics.
Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party and placed third according to official results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, has not issued any public response to the remark.
The episode underscores the continued intensity of political engagement following the 2023 general elections, with online discourse increasingly shaping narratives around Nigeria’s evolving democratic space.
-
celebrity radar - gossips6 months agoWhy Babangida’s Hilltop Home Became Nigeria’s Political “Mecca”
-
society5 months agoReligion: Africa’s Oldest Weapon of Enslavement and the Forgotten Truth
-
society6 months agoPower is a Loan, Not a Possession: The Sacred Duty of Planting People
-
news7 months agoTHE APPOINTMENT OF WASIU AYINDE BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS AN AMBASSADOR SOUNDS EMBARRASSING