Connect with us

Business

MATERNAL MORTALITY: UTILISE GOVT HEALTH FACILITIES, AMBODE’S WIFE TELLS EXPECTANT MOTHERS

Published

8 years ago

on

 

Wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, has again called on expectant mothers in the state, to utilise Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and skilled birth attendants, to reduce the incidence of maternal and infant mortality.

She gave the charge on Tuesday at a town hall meeting on reduction of maternal and child mortality, in Epe local government, organized by the State’s Ministry of Health.

Mrs. Ambode noted that refusal by expectant mothers for various reasons to access obstetric services, was a major contributor to the maternal mortality rate in the State.

According to her, “Almost every minute, somewhere in a corner of the world, a woman dies as a result of complications during pregnancy and childbirth. For every woman that dies, about twenty others survive but suffer from serious diseases, disability or physical damage, caused by these complications. Majority of these maternal deaths are avoidable if expectant mothers access quality reproductive health care, including skilled attendance at birth.

“Non-use of essential obstetric services is a crucial factor that contributes to high maternal mortality. Some women refuse to access care when highly necessary either because of cultural practices or because decision-making is the responsibility of other family members’, she said.

She stressed that while the role of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) is acknowledged, it is important they know their limitations and ensure prompt referrals to the Primary Health Care Centres.

She appealed to all women of child-bearing age, pregnant women, as well as children under the age of five years, to avail themselves of the free services during the Child Health Week, commencing from Monday throughout the week, by visiting the nearest Primary Health facility closets to them.

The Governor’s wife, who urged women to pay attention to their nutrition during pregnancy, enlisted the support of families, religious and community groups to win the battle against the menace.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, noted that it was important for TBAs to be registered with the state government, adding that reports indicated expectant mothers still visited TBAs, who knew not what to do when complications arose.

The Commissioner said that the State Government had done so much in the area of primary health-care, as the Governor was very passionate about the health of the citizenry.

He enjoined everyone to come together at the end of the town hall meeting and resolve to do the right thing, beneficial to mothers during pregnancy and babies after child-birth, stressing that everyone had a role to play.

Delivering their goodwill messages, the member Federal House of Representative, representing Epe Federal Constituency, Hon. Tasir Raji and Chairman House Committee on Health in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Segun Olulade, both alluded to the fact that there was a strong link between the health and survival of a mother and that of her new-born.

Raji said it was imperative for the State Government to explore the possibility of registering the TBAs with a view to integrating them into the healthcare delivery system, as this according to him, would considerably help build capacity to ease burden in the health sector.

Olulade on his part, stressed that all efforts must be concerted to ensure no woman in Lagos State loses her life during pregnancy or childbirth.

In attendance were top government functionaries, traditional rulers, stakeholders in the health industry, Traditional Birth Attendants, and other relevant stakeholders.

 

Related Topics:

Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact [email protected]

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Business

FirstBank Partners Eko Hotels & KEY Academy for ChessMasters 2026 Tournament

Published

6 hours ago

on

April 9, 2026

By

FirstBank Set to Launch Tailored Financial Services for Blind and Physically Challenged Customers  

FirstBank Partners Eko Hotels & KEY Academy for ChessMasters 2026 Tournament

 

Lagos, 30 March 2025 – FirstBank, West Africa’s premier financial institution and the leading financial inclusion service provider, has announced its strategic sponsorship of the second edition of ChessMasters, Africa’s largest school chess tournament. The announcement was made at the official press conference of the tournament held on 16 March 2026 at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.

 

ChessMasters is an annual chess tournament designed to equip the next generation with critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership skills. The competition targets children in primary school aged between 6 and 11 years old. Organised by Eko Hotels and Suites & KEY Academy , ChessMasters was created to provide thousands of children across Nigeria with opportunities to develop modern educational skills, bringing schools together on a national stage.

 

Speaking at the press conference, Olayinka Ijabiyi, Acting Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications at FirstBank, said, “Our sponsorship of ChessMasters 2026 reflects our commitment to building talents and communities, driving inclusion, and deepening engagement through our First@Sports initiative, a platform that celebrates talent and promotes social impact through sports. With over a century of supporting legacy sports in Nigeria, we are proud of our enduring partnerships – 105 years with the Georgian Cup, 65 years with the Lagos Amateur Golf Championship and 35 years with the Dala Hard Court Tennis Championship.”

 

Ijabiyi further highlighted how the sponsorship aligns with FirstBank’s sustainability pillars of Education, Health, and Welfare. “We recognise the potential of chess to help school-age children challenge themselves, think critically, and compete at the highest level, hence we see the tournament as a launchpad for a pan-African movement leveraging chess as a tool for education, empowerment, and leadership development. We are utilising this platform as another avenue to promote social impact and drive positive change in the community.”

 

Caline Chagoury Moudabar, Director and Co- Founder of ChessMasters and her partner Damilola Okonkwo of Key Academy, expressed appreciation for FirstBank’s support, noting that the partnership will help scale the impact of ChessMasters and inspire more schools to participate. “We are happy to welcome FirstBank on board. This collaboration will boost chess development in Nigeria and promote critical thinking among young minds. With support from partners like FirstBank, we are opening the doors of participation to more children and more schools in this year’s edition.”

 

Prince Adeyinka Adewole, Vice President of the Nigeria Chess Federation, commended the initiative, emphasising its role in nurturing future chess talents. “Chess connects people, ideas, and opportunities. It teaches children to be analytical, patient, and manage their time and resources effectively. Chess also improves concentration and has been particularly beneficial for children with autism.”

 

The second edition of ChessMasters will be held on Saturday, 2 May 2026 at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos. The competition is open to 150 schools across Lagos, with over 700 students expected to participate and vie for a total prize pool of N10 million.

 

FirstBank’s involvement in the 2026 edition of the tournament reinforces the potential of ChessMasters to become a launchpad for African children, leveraging chess as a tool for education, empowerment, and leadership development.

Continue Reading

Business

Alpha Morgan Bank Reinforces Commitment to Education at Redeemer’s University Business School Commissioning

Published

2 days ago

on

April 7, 2026

By

Alpha Morgan Bank Reinforces Commitment to Education at Redeemer’s University Business School Commissioning

Alpha Morgan Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to education and institutional development through its support for the commissioning of the Redeemer’s University Business School.

The Business School was officially inaugurated by Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye, at the commissioning ceremony attended by distinguished guests including Her Excellency, Mrs. Bola Obasanjo; the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of Redeemers University, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe; the Vice Chancellor, Professor Shadrach Olufemi Akindele; and other notable dignitaries.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of Alpha Morgan Bank reiterated the  Bank’s commitment to supporting institutions that drive intellectual growth and national development.

As part of its broader focus on knowledge sharing and thought leadership, Alpha Morgan Bank will host its Economic Review Webinar in May 2026, bringing together experts to share insights on key economic trends and opportunities.
The Bank’s involvement reflects its continued dedication to empowering institutions and shaping the future of business and leadership in Nigeria.
Read more about Alpha Morgan Bank on www.alphamorganbank.com

 

 

PHOTO

L-R: Prof. Shadrach Olufemi Akindele, Vice Chancellor, Redeemers University, Engr.  Eloka Eje, Dr Perez Araka, Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye, Mother-In-Israel, The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Mr Ade Buraimo, MD/CEO Alpha Morgan Bank, Dr (Mrs) Oluwatomi Somefun, Dr. Simeon Ifere, at the inauguration of the Redeemer’s University Business School, Redemption City, Ogun State on Thursday 2nd April, 2026

Continue Reading

Business

Tinubu Aide Rebuts Rufai Oseni Over ₦3.3tn Power Debt Deal

Published

2 days ago

on

April 7, 2026

By

Otega Ogra: Online Misinformation Endangers Public Trust and Stability

Tinubu Aide Rebuts Rufai Oseni Over ₦3.3tn Power Debt Deal

The Presidency has strongly refuted allegations of “accounting fiction” and misinformation surrounding Nigeria’s ongoing power sector financial reforms.
O’tega Ogra, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Digital and New Media, took to social media to challenge comments made by Rufai Oseni, accusing the broadcaster of misrepresenting government efforts to resolve legacy debts in the electricity value chain.
At the heart of the dispute is the reconciliation of longstanding debts owed to Generation Companies (GenCos) and gas suppliers—an issue that has long constrained liquidity within Nigeria’s electricity market.
₦1.4 Trillion Reduction Explained
Responding to criticism over debt figures, Ogra clarified that total legacy obligations were reduced from ₦4.7 trillion in initial claims to a verified ₦3.3 trillion, representing a roughly 30% reduction.
“That is not spin. It is the difference between a claim and a verified obligation,” Ogra stated.
“In a regulated electricity market, submitted claims must be validated against contracts, market rules, and settlement records.”
Ogra also outlined tangible progress under the reform program, emphasizing that it has moved beyond “paper restructuring” to actual financial disbursements:
₦1.23 trillion structured under Phase I
₦501 billion already raised for the first series
₦223 billion disbursed to GenCos and gas suppliers
₦197 billion currently being processed
As of March 31, 2026, eight GenCos—covering 17 power plants—have signed settlement agreements totaling ₦2.28 trillion.
According to Ogra, the reform timeline, from President Tinubu’s July 2024 directive for a sector-wide review to Federal Executive Council approval in August 2025, demonstrates a deliberate push for transparency in a sector historically plagued by opacity.
“The real question is whether the final figure reflects verified contractual exposure. That is exactly what the review process was designed to achieve,” he said.
While defending the administration’s approach, Ogra acknowledged that clearing debts alone will not resolve Nigeria’s electricity challenges. He noted complementary reforms underway, including:
Tariff alignment based on service quality
Nationwide metering expansion
Improved payment discipline
Targeted subsidies for vulnerable citizens
In a pointed remark, he urged media commentators to distinguish between incomplete progress and misinformation:
“This is not the end of the problem, but it is a structured attempt to fix it.”
Continue Reading

Cover Of The Week

RSS Africa-Newsroom

RSS APO Group – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa

Trending