To complement and boost government efforts in tackling the issue of malnutrition in Nigeria, the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) has initiated processes to reach and properly feed one million children across the country, commencing immediately
 
According to the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) malnutrition is a direct or underlying cause of 45 per cent of all deaths of under-five children, and Nigeria has the second highest burden of stunted children in the world, with a national prevalence rate of 37 per cent of children under five.
 
The UN agency in a statement on its website also noted that an estimated 2 million children in Nigeria suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), but only two out of every 10 children affected is currently reached with treatment. It added that seven percent of women of childbearing age also suffer from acute malnutrition, and that the first 1,000 days of a child's life offer a unique window of opportunity for preventing under nutrition and its consequences.
 
However, to reverse the negative trend, the Chairman of Aliko Dangote Foundation and Africa’s wealthiest man, Aliko Dangote said, “We recognise nutrition as a cross-cutting issue which affects other critical development goals, that is why nutrition has become our core focus. We want to reach one million malnourished children in Nigeria and we know that for every dollar invested in nutrition, the nation as a whole will reap huge economic dividends...In addition, we shall reach households of children with SAM and their communities that contribute the most to the SAM burden with food security, cash-based interventions and livelihoods support, engendered infant and young child feeding, hygiene and care-seeking behaviours"
 
Aliko Dangote Foundation is the private charitable foundation of Aliko Dangote, incorporated in 1994 with the mission to enhance opportunities for social change through strategic investments that improve health and wellbeing, promote quality education, and broaden economic empowerment opportunities.
 
Twenty-seven (27) years later, the Foundation has become the largest private Foundation in sub-Saharan Africa, with the largest endowment by a single African donor. The primary focus of ADF is child nutrition, with wraparound interventions centered on health, education and empowerment, and disaster relief. The Foundation also supports stand-alone projects with the potential for significant social impact.
 
Under its Aliko Dangote Foundation Integrated Nutrition Programme(ADFIN), the
Foundation in 2016, announced its intention to launch a community-based nutrition programme, various components of which have been implemented with some stakeholders. The intent has always been to use proven interventions linked to social and behaviour change, promotion of fortification of  staple foods with essential micronutrients, community management of acute malnutrition (CMAM), using ready to use therapeutic foods (RUFT) and  nutritious foods

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Ayobami Adedeji Society 2021-02-08

Rosemary Adebutu, one of the wives of Adebutu Kessington, a Nigerian businessman better known as ‘Baba Ijebu’, has passed away.Rosemary reportedly breathed her last at a hospital located in Lagos Island on Saturday after a brief illness.

She was said to have been in a good health condition but suddenly took ill at her Ikoyi home and was thereafter rushed to the hospital where she passed out.

Kola Oyefeso, a close associate of Adebutu, who is the founder of Premier Lotto, confirmed the development.

“Yes, he (Adebutu) lost one of his wives today’s (Saturday) afternoon. It is true,” he was quoted as saying.

He, however, said her death was not connected to COVID-19. “No. It has nothing to do with it,” he added.

Rosemary was said to be the mother of Temitope, the estranged wife of Olujonwo, the son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.It also comes about three years after Adebutu report lost Olaide, another of his wife, who died in 2017.

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Ayobami Adedeji Society 2021-01-11

No fewer than 344 abducted students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina, have been freed.Abdul Labaran,the Director General,Media to the Katsina State Governor,Aminu Bello Masari,reportedly confirmed the release of the students.He  said the students are currently on their way to the government house from the hideout of their abductors.

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Ayobami Adedeji Society 2020-12-17

It is no more news that he leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has kicked-off his annual humanitarian activities in 2021, with visitation to schools that are in need. The 14-day program kicked off on 1st of February, 2021, and will be running till 14th of February, with massive empowerment programs for the needy and less privileged. So far, Primate Ayodele has visited Best Precious Gift Schools in Ogun state, and Golden Focus Nursery and Primary School in Lagos state to pray with the pupils, advise the leadership of the school, and support them with a huge amount of money. According to exclusive information, February 14, the grand finale of the annual humanitarian activities tagged, 'Living in peaceful world,will be the mother of all empowerments, as needs of people from different backgrounds, religion, age grades will be met. Also, several dignitaries from different walks of life will be gracing the event. Before the grand finale,the popular seer,has taken his annual humanitarian activities to his hometown in Ekiti. The prophet stormed Ekiti on Wednesday, 3rd Of February, 2021 to empower people, give the needy, most especially the widows. According to eyewitness, about 250 widows were empowered by the philanthropic man of God in Ekiti. During his visit, He hailed the governor of the state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi for doing excellently well in the development of Ekiti state, most especially at the local levels. He made it known emphatically that every Ekiti indigene and residents are enjoying the governor’s approach to leadership. The grand finale,fixed for February 14,at the hedquarters, Oke Afa,Isolo,Lagos church, incidentally coincided with Primate Ayodele's birthday.International association of world peace advocates, African Union, and other international organizations. United Nations delegates, African Union delegates, Governors, religious leaders, are expected to massively grace the event.

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Ayobami Adedeji Society 2021-02-05

Adam Nuru, managing director of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), has opted to go on leave amid the allegation of marital infidelity.

A panel is currently probing the allegation against Nuru, who has been accused of having an affair with a former official of the bank, who is married.

“The managing director volunteered to proceed on leave pending the outcome of the investigation of this scandal,” the source said.

“Although it is a personal matter, the issue has gone really far and many allegations were made.”

According to a communication credited to Adam Nuru,'following the recent events in respect of the negative media reports circulating.I have elected to proceed on vacation to allow the Bank's board conduct an independent review of the circumstances surrounding these negative reports.

It is important to protect the integrity of the process as well as our Brand,which is of utmost importance to us all.

i urge you to please continue to put in your best so we can achieve the objectives we have set for the year'

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Ayobami Adedeji Society 2021-01-06

The Petroleum Products Marketing Company, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, has increased the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, to N155.17 per litre from N147.67 per litre.

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Ayobami Adedeji Society 2020-11-13

The palace of the Ooni of Ife has through the media aide Moses Olafare said Ooni Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi was unperturbed by the uncouth manner the Yoruba activist derogatorily addressed the foremost monarch. The Palace however said Igboho has been forgiven. "Sunday Igboho still remains a son to the Ooni. Baba has already forgiven him because he had tendered an apology via a video clip he produced via social media yesterday evening," Olafare said. The royal father, according to Olafare, could not bicker with any of his sons, even in the face of quantum of provocations. Comrade Olafare revealed that though, tendering of the unreserved apology to the Ooni by Igboho was the handiwork of Olugbon of Ile-Igbon and Vice Chairman, Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, Oba Olusola Alao, who had called the activist to advise and warn him of the consequences that might follow his misconducts towards the Spiritual Head of Oduduwa Race whose sons and daughters are the Yoruba he claimed to be fighting for. "Before tendering the apology, it was the Baba Olugbon of Ile-igbon that first called and informed Arole Oodua on phone that he had scolded Sunday on phone on his misdeeds and that, and that he would soon tender a public apology to him on the matter via a video release. Sunday Igboho thereafter released the video in which he tendered his apology. Even though the way and manner Sunday had behaved was sacrilegious to the Oduduwa throne but he has already apologized and I can confirm that Arole Oodua has forgiven him, because, there is no perfection in humanity. Sunday is a human being like any other normal human being who could misbehave as well. No one is perfect.’’ "As the father of all, the Arole Oduduwa, Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II remains his father who had even identified with him in the past two weeks he had begun with the struggle and he is still solidly behind him for the liberation of the Yoruba from criminal herdsmen who have adamantly terrorized our land. Just that he must watch his back so that people with ulterior motives will not hijack his movement." When asked if the Ooni has ever made an official statement on the issue, Olafare swiftly replied that it not in the habit of the palace to make official statements on any matter that threatens the unity and peace of the country, especially as it affects the descendants of Oduduwa. "No no no, palace has never officially responded and will never respond over the video. As a matter fact, it is not even our style to do so, and we have a 'Talkless & Listen more" history on issues like this because we focus more on what unites us together than what divides us as a people of one source." Like I said, he has apologized through Kabiyesi Olugbon who called Baba on his behalf and Arole Oodua has forgiven him. Let's just let the matter rest,".Olafare said. The traditional ruler however appealed to all and sundry to let the sleeping dog lie on the matter because Sunday had been forgiven and life must go on.

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Ayobami Adedeji Society 2021-02-05

'Man does not control his own fate. The women in his life do that for him.' These words of Groucho Marx, recently came to fore after the unfortunate death of Tunde Thomas about two weeks ago. Tunde Thomas,popularly known as  Tunde Gentle, died about two weeks ago from heartbreak,ata young age of 45.  It was an untimely death, linked to depression and heartbreak after he discoverred that the two beloved kids from his marriage were actually fathered by the current MD of FCMB, Adam Nuru, who was his wife’s boss. Tunde’s wife, Moyo Thomas (Nee Ojo,) was reportedly engaged in an office romance with her MD; a relationship that was well known to all in the bank.
 Happily married billionaire Nuhu, while he got carried away in fornicating with Moyo, spared no thought for Tunde, who was bringing up the two children he thought belonged to him. Those in the know say Tunde was so in love with and attached to his wife and children that he spent most of his resources on them. He severally took them to London and Dubai on holidays. He also spared no dime in putting the kids in the best schools. At the height of the shameful relationship and when the older child was about eight (8) years old, Moyo suddenly resigned from FCMB and travelled to the US with the two children, ostensibly on holiday. It was when the school session started in Nigeria and the children were not returned that Tunde started asking questions and the lady finally summoned the shameless courage to tell him the children were not his own. She then went to the extent of filing for asylum in the US on the ground of marital violence in Nigeria, against a man known to all men by his gentle and easygoing disposition. Her aim, we learnt, was to get the Green Card and also get Tunde barred from entering the US, so she would not be able to look him in the eye and tell him the bitter truth. Not long after receiving the sad news first in 2017, Tunde reportedly suffered stroke. He, indeed, recovered from the stroke but was said to have become a shadow of his former self, as he would often cry repeatedly without any reason. But immediately he got over the illness, Tunde was said to have tried to pick up the pieces of his life and moved on. He reportedly started another relationship with a lady lawyer. Soon, he invited some friends to accompany him to visit the lady’s parents on 26th December. However, the visit was not to be. Tunde was said to have got home from work in the night of 15th December 2020 and collapsed at his residence's staircase. He died instantly for reasons tat re yet to be ascertained. But autopsy report puts the cause of his death as 'heart failure.'  Tunde Gentle, a former staff of the defunct Oceanic Bank, was buried on Wednesday, 30th of December 2020. As you read this More than 400 people have signed a petition asking the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to sack Adam Nuru, the incumbent managing director of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), over “unethical grounds.” The petition, initiated on Wednesday, alleged that Nuru was responsible for the demise of Tunde Thomas, said to have died of depression on December 16. The petition claimed the news initially caused Thomas to be down with a stroke but later recovered and thereafter met another lady whom he planned to marry. Thomas was, however, said to have suffered a cardiac arrest after returning from work — about two days before his introduction to his already pregnant girlfriend. The petition, addressed to Godwin Emefiele, CBN governor, and the FCMB’s board, described the case as “an unjustifiable economic oppression by the elites against the less privileged in the society.” It called for a holistic investigation into the matter, alleging that the MD had been trying to sweep the “unethical conduct” under the carpet. “This is a case of gross misconduct based on ethical grounds and an unjustifiable economic oppression by the elites (Adam Nuru) against the less privileged in the society,” it read. “The MD has been doing everything possible to sweep this case under the carpet. We implore the Central Bank of Nigeria as the apex regulator and the board of FCMB to investigate this for the integrity of the bank and Nigerian banking industry.” But reacting on Thursday, Rafiu Mohammed, a staff, who spoke on behalf of Diran Olojo, FCMB’s spokesman, dismissed the petition as a “mere allegation.

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Ayobami Adedeji Society 2021-01-01

The threat posed by the recent destruction of key public assets to the economy of the Southwest has brought up a Peace Dialogue in which political leaders, traditional rulers and leaders of thought across the region came together to discuss the way forward.

Lagos State Government hosted the dialogue, which was at the instance of all the six Governors of the Southwest states, to forge a common front with traditional institutions in addressing the issues that led to the recent nationwide youth demonstration, which ended in violence that shook the region to its foundation.

President Muhammadu Buhari was represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari. Also, all serving members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) from the region and Inspector General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Adamu, attended the event held at the Banquet Hall in the State House, Alausa.

The session offered traditional rulers a no-holds-barred opportunity to bare their minds on the marginalisation of traditional institutions in the process of governance.

Chairman of the region’s Governors’ Forum and Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, said the coordinated violence sparked by the EndSARS protest shook the Southwest to its foundation, given the unrestrained manner with which public assets and infrastructure that had sustained the region’s economy were destroyed by hoodlums.

He said the style of the attacks, especially in Lagos, was worrisome, stressing that the peace in the region remained fragile in the aftermath of the violence.

Akeredolu said the need to fully restore peace in the Southwest and address the issues that made youths to be used by those who orchestrated the destruction.

He said: “Before our very eyes, what started as a peaceful demonstration turned to different thing that became a threat to all of us, who are regarded as elite. What we witnessed in the violence showed that something needs to be done to address the underlying issues and come out with solutions. We must be able to sustain the peace in our region at all cost.”

President Buhari, who spoke through Prof. Gambari, said the vigorous manner of the EndSARS protest indicated the frustration of the youth, who he said had been ignored for a long time in governance. He said the political class must go beyond the lip service and equip the young people with skills that would make them competitive in market.

The President reiterated his commitment to addressing the root causes of the protest, pointing out the reforms which the youths clamoured for would be done and cases of abuses would be pursued to logical conclusion.

Gambari said: “Our Government’s effort are emerging from multiple level. The Vice President and Governors are designing an engagement framework through the National Economic Council that will be rolled out across States of the Federation. Chief among them is police reform across all its dimensions. Community policing as an additional layer that can resolve some of our security issues.”

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the engagement could not have come at a better than the present period when the region had just come out from disturbing events.

He believed the dialogue would open a new chapter of peace and prosperity in the Southwest.

The discussion went into an executive session in which all the Southwest Governors, traditional rulers and head of security agencies deliberated on the way forward.

Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, applauded the initiative, which he described as “right step” but upbraided the political class for lack of consultation with traditional institutions in decision making.

He said the dialogue would bridge the gap of communication between political leaders and traditional rulers.

Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, attacked the unitary system being practised, saying the arrangement had led to insecurity and restiveness.

Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi, said security must be fortified in the region to protect the economy of the Southwest. He also called for the creation of Southwest Development Agenda to revamp and rebuild the destroyed assets.

Oba of Lagos fingered politicians as the cause of issues that led to the EndSARS protest, saying unemployment contributed to the problem.

At the end of the meeting, the participants issued a 13-point communique in which the Southwest Governors and traditional rulers demanded for the repair of destroyed economic assets of the region.

The communique, signed on behalf of the participants by Gov. Akeredolu and Ooni of Ife, reads: “The security architecture of the country requires adjustment to adequately address the threats and realities of insecurity in the country. There should be more police presence in communities in the Southwest states.

“A comprehensive programme that addresses youth employment and empowerment should be prioritised. Closer coordination and complementarity between the States and the Federal Government. Curricular of tertiary institutions should be reviewed, with emphasis placed on skills acquisition and entrepreneurship.

“We recognise the damaging and negative impact of fake and false news, and we worry about its destructive and dangerous potency. We call on Federal Government to use the instrumentality of existing laws and regulations bench-marked from other countries to provide safeguards against the spread of fake news. The 2015 Cyber Act must also be fully used.”

Leaders of Southwest demanded a review of reports of past constitutional conferences, including the 2014 National Conference and implement some of the recommendations, especially with reference to security, economy, equal treatment for citizens all over the country.

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Ayobami Adedeji Society 2020-11-10

Scientists at the Redeemer’s University, Nigeria, say they have found the United Kingdom’s ‘lineage B.1.1.7,’ a mutant variant of the COVID-19 global pandemic, in Nigeria.

They reported that the ‘lineage B.1.1.7’ mutant variant of the coronavirus had been existing in Osun State since August 3, 2020, when they obtained the first sample.

They also reported the collection of another sample from the state in October, and it also showed the presence of this new variant.

The ‘lineage B.1.1.7’ variant of COVID-19 has recently become a source of concern in the United Kingdom, leading to another round of lockdown, PUNCH Health Wise reports.

The RUN study, first published last September 6 in The Conversation, a copyright-free news channel, stated that genome sequencing helped researchers to understand the virus, its epidemiology and evolution.

More recently, the finding was also published online in peer-reviewed Journal of Virological Methods on Monday, December 21, and titled, ‘Detection of the New Emergent SARS-CoV-2 Variant in Nigeria.

Two scientists at Ede, Osun State-based RUN — Professor of Molecular Biology and Genomics, Christian Happi; and Ify Aniebo — carried out the study.

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The researchers are of the African Centre of Excellence for the Genomics of Infectious Diseases at the RUN’s Ede campus.

They worked in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and had reported 24 additional genome sequences of the COVID-19 from Nigeria.

Last week, the UK had reported a more virulent strain of COVID-19, with the potential to infect by 70 percent.

The B.1.1.7 variant of the virus, thought to be a mutation associated with higher transmission and pathogenicity, is the latest scourge in the United Kingdom and has made the British government to declare another lockdown to check its spread.

A handful of countries have also banned flights from the UK in order to prevent its importation into their countries.

Prof. Happi, in The Conversation article, said globally, there is only one strain of SARS-CoV-2, which is also the same as the strain circulating in Nigeria, noting, however, that there are more than 1,000 lineages of this novel virus in circulation around the world.

While identifying the root of the pandemic, the researchers said many sequences originating from China and many global exports — including to South East Asia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, the USA and Europe — are represented in this lineage.

More crucially, the researchers said the B.1 strain of COVID-19 was of a large European lineage that corresponds to the Italian outbreak.

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Ayobami Adedeji Society 2020-12-22

The leader of INRI Evangelical spiritual church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sack all his service chiefs which includes the Inspector General of police, Chief Of Army Staff and Others to douse the tension of the protests against police brutality in the country.

He stated that the protest isn't ordinary as God is involved in it because the protesters stayed united and prayed to God on the protest ground.

He warned President Buhari not to use the military to forcefully end the protest because it will only escalate it, He mentioned that the only solution to stop it is to sack service chiefs.

"Address the nation because there Is more to this protest, it is God's will, God is about listen to the angry people in Nigeria.

God wants to put something to Nigerians. It is high time for the president to act before its too late, nobody is against Buhari's government other than God. God is behind this protesters, it should be addressed as soon as possible.

Buhari should not use force to stop this protest or else it will become deadlier, he should address the nation and do what is right before its too late.

This is a warning to all politicians who are not fit to be in the seat of power, our democracy is shaking. Nigeria unity is shaking too"

By

Ayobami Adedeji Society 2020-10-19