Nigeria National Association of the Deaf, Alhaji Dagbo President Enlightens the Nigeria Deaf Community on basic safety measures regarding the Corona Virus Pandemic.
Watch the Video Below:
This is sad! Popular Nollywood actor, Alkali “Matt” Mathew also known as “Dareng” of the African Magic series ‘Halita,’ has died!
According to the report, the fast-rising thespian died on set in Keffi, Nasarawa state.
Filmmaker, Dimbo Atiya, who shared the sad news on Facebook, wrote:
“Familiar Grounds Media would like to send our deepest condolences to the family of AKALI MATHEW, who played the character of DARENG on the TV Series HALITA. He was one of our much-valued cast, who died on the 24th of March 2020. This unfortunate event took place suddenly while he was filming on another set for an Epic movie in a village near Keffi. This has come as a rude shock to us all, and we pray that the Lord will grant his family the fortitude to bear this significant loss. From all of us at Familiar Grounds, we say Rest in Power “DARENG “
World heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has placed himself in self-isolation following a meeting with coronavirus victim Prince Charles.
Chales, the eldest son and heir to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, is showing mild symptoms of coronavirus and is self-isolating in Scotland, officials said on Wednesday.
It remains unclear when Charles caught the illness but on March 9, he spent the day with the Queen, prime minister Boris Johnson and stars of sport and entertainment — including Joshua — at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.
A spokesman for Joshua told the Daily Mail: “AJ is at home following government guidelines, he is fit and well. He wishes everyone affected a speedy recovery and a huge thank you to all the front line key workers.”
Joshua is due to defend his IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles against mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 20.
But the coronavirus could delay that bout and push back a hugely anticipated all-British fight with WBC champion Tyson Fury until next year at the earliest.
In a series of Twitter posts on Tuesday, Joshua thanked all those involved in trying to combat the coronavirus by saying: “It’s humbling to see people giving their everything right now to keep us safe. Shout to everyone on the front-line.
“We see you, we appreciate you, we thank you and we’re in awe of you!”
The Nigeria Center For Disease Control (NCDC) has insisted that Chloroquine has not been approved as a cure for the coronavirus disease.
The NCDC said this in a tweet on Wednesday while also warning Nigerians against self-medicating with the drug.
“Please remember that the use of chloroquine and its derivatives for the management of coronavirus disease has NOT been validated and approved. Self-medication can cause harm and lead to death. Do not misuse drugs,” the tweet read.
There has been controversy over whether or not the anti-malarial drug, Chloroquine, can cure the disease, especially after US President Donald Trump said on March 19 that it had been approved to treat the new coronavirus.
His announcement followed encouraging research into chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in France and China, but many in the broader scientific community cautioned that more work is needed to prove they work for COVID-19.
Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, has pledged N50 million to a coronavirus relief fund for Nigerians.
He announced this in a statement he issued on Wednesday.
He said the donation is being made on his behalf by Priam Group to form part of the stimulus package the federal government should create for Nigerians.
He said: “I commend all all individuals and corporate organisations who have one way or the other provided some form of relief for the Nigerian people. I further call on more more corporations and individuals with capacity, to assist the public in these trying times.
“To this end, Priam Group pledges N50 million on my behalf as my humble contribution to a relief Fund that will form part of the stimulus package.”
One of the sons of the former vice-president is currently receiving treatment in Abuja after testing positive for the virus.
More to follow…
In an effort to boost the enrolment of children with disabilities in schools and ensuring they access education regardless of their disabilities, the Festus Fajemilo Foundation, FFF has carried out an advocacy programme.
The advocacy programme tagged, “We Ring The Bell” is an annual Advocacy programme of FFF, Daughters of Charity with the support of Liliane Foundation, Netherlands.
Joined by Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, JONAPWD for this year’s edition held at the State Junior and Senior Grammar School, Itolo, Bode Thomas, Surulere, Lagos, the students were informed on the need to support their colleagues with disabilities and encourage other parents to enroll their children with disabilities in schools.
While speaking about the essence of the Advocacy and campaign Programme, Afolabi Fajemilo, Co-founder and Director, FFF, explained that “We Ring The Bell” is an annual advocacy programme which seeks to ensure children with disabilities have access to education.
Fajemilo commended the efforts of the Lagos State Government towards inclusive education but stressed that more needed to be done for in the interest of the children with disabilities and the society at large.
He said, “We want to appreciate the Lagos State Government in terms of having policy in place for Inclusive Education and we are working with the state government to further promote Inclusive Education in a way that teaching takes care of everyone regardless of disabilities.
“Lagos State has the highest number of inclusive schools in the country but there is need for more things to be put in place to ensure unhindered access to education.”
FFF identified 10 urgent Action Points which according to the director would ensure the full practice of Inclusive Education and not Integration.
The action points are; “Provide children with disabilities transport to school; Make buildings, furniture and grounds accessible for Children with Disabilities, CWDs; Provide adapted restroom facilities; Adapt lessons and rules for CWDs; Allow CWDs to participate in sports and games at schools;
“Teach regular children how to support CWDs; Stand up as parents for CWDs; Train teachers on interacting with and counseling CWDs; CWDs have the right to go to school; Let CWDs advance and enjoy.”
Fajemilo noted that with inclusive education, children are able to learn together in the same environment adding that, “when children learn together they perform excellently both socially and academically.”
While speaking, Dr. Mrs. Sherifat Yusuf, Principal, State Junior Grammar School Itolo noted that the school practices full inclusion and there is no sort of discrimination and stigmatization among the students adding that regular students are interested in learning sign languages so they could communicate effectively with those with hearing impairment.
She charged parents of CWDs not to deny their children access to education and also stressed the need for parents of those already enrolled in schools to provide the necessary support for their children.
State Junior and Senior Grammar School, Itolo, she affirmed, is an inclusive school with students who are Physically Challenged, Deaf and those with learning disabilities learning in the same academic environment.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has tested negative for coronavirus, 24 hours after he went into self-isolation following fears he could have physically interacted with some persons who tested positive.
In a tweet by Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Special Adviser to the President of Nigeria on Political Matters, Vice President results have returned negative.
“Vice President Yemi Osinbajo test negative,” he tweeted on Wednesday morning.
Mr. Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant, Media, and Publicity to the Vice President, had on Tuesday disclosed that Prof. Osinbajo had begun social distancing and self-isolation.
“VP Osinbajo yesterday at the office conducted his meetings via video conferencing while observing social distancing.
“Today, he continues his work from the home office, as he is in self-isolation by NCDC protocols,” he tweeted Tuesday evening.
As on Wednesday morning, the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria had swelled to 46 following the announcement of two new cases in Osun and Lagos.
There is debate over how to resolve the current campaign amid the coronavirus crisis and Ferdinand is of the opinion that it should be called off altogether.
Rio Ferdinand says this season should be declared void – denying Liverpool a first league title win for 30 years.
Liverpool, with a 25-point lead at the top of the Premier League, were just two wins from securing the title when the season was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Premier League clubs have agreed to suspend of football until April 30 at the earliest, although that date could ultimately be put back even further.
Against that backdrop, former Manchester United and England star Ferdinand said the season should be scrapped – even if that means heartbreak for Liverpool.
“I just think the Premier League should just be voided,” said Ferdinand. “Just void it.
“I know there are going to be a lot of Liverpool fans going ‘Oh Rio, it’s just because you support Manchester United and it’s Liverpool’.
“It’s not that, it’s just that I don’t see a way that it can be done, where health isn’t compromised. Simple as that.
“All this behind closed doors business, you’re still going to have the players there. What, are the players not classed as part of society?
“There are players who are going to go down lame from the illness, who might not have recovered or who will catch it from someone.
“Then it spreads to other players, so it won’t be fair, it’s not a level playing field, I just don’t feel it’s right.
Liverpool were just two wins away from sealing the title when the season was suspended (Image: Getty Images)
Rio Ferdinand says this season should be declared void – denying Liverpool a first league title win for 30 years.
Liverpool, with a 25-point lead at the top of the Premier League, were just two wins from securing the title when the season was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Premier League clubs have agreed to suspend of football until April 30 at the earliest, although that date could ultimately be put back even further.
Against that backdrop, former Manchester United and England star Ferdinand said the season should be scrapped – even if that means heartbreak for Liverpool.
“I just think the Premier League should just be voided,” said Ferdinand. “Just void it
“I know there are going to be a lot of Liverpool fans going ‘Oh Rio, it’s just because you support Manchester United and it’s Liverpool’.
“It’s not that, it’s just that I don’t see a way that it can be done, where health isn’t compromised. Simple as that.
“All this behind closed doors business, you’re still going to have the players there. What, are the players not classed as part of society?
“There are players who are going to go down lame from the illness, who might not have recovered or who will catch it from someone.
“Then it spreads to other players, so it won’t be fair, it’s not a level playing field, I just don’t feel it’s right”
“And there’s going to have to be people in that stadium to man the stadium – security, etcetera, as well in there, which puts everyone at risk.
“At this time, all this ‘we’re gonna win this or so and so might not go down or so and so might not get promoted’, you’ve got to put those type of things to one side.
“This is about life and death situations, about society and the wider grand scheme of things. So, football, it ain’t that serious in that sense.
“Listen, we all love it. I love football, we all love it. But it ain’t life or death.
“When it comes to matters like these, you’ve got to put people’s health before anything and I just think that’s the way it should be.
“Start the season with a clean slate. Once this health situation is all ironed out, all sorted out, then we can start a new season, because I just don’t see it happening in that time.
“Now if we wake up in the next month and it’s all gone and the country can get back to normal immediately, then I think a conversation can then happen about that.
“But I don’t see that happening, not from what we’re being told.”
Ferdinand, speaking on his Instagram account, reckons playing games behind closed doors, in a bid to finish the season, is also fraught with danger.
“PSG v Dortmund the other day, behind closed doors, but outside there were thousands of fans,” said Ferdinand.
“Now imagine Liverpool were to win the league, which they would.
“Do you think all those fans, after all those 30 years of hurt, are going to sit at home and say ‘well done guys, cup of tea, let’s go, cheers, on to the next season’?
Thousands of PSG fans gathered outside their stadium for the Champions League game against Dortmund (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
“They’ll be out. I’d want to go out, and not everybody is sensible in situations like that. People would be out trying to celebrate and go crazy, because that’s what football does.
“It brings out emotions and people sometimes act out of character.
“I think it would be silly to put these fans in a position where they are going to do stuff that’s not right for society in general, so just void the whole season.”
The National Assembly has adjourned plenary in the Senate and House of Representatives chambers for two weeks.
The President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, who announced this on Tuesday said the lawmakers would resume plenary on April 7.
This followed a resolution reached by members of the Upper Chamber during a closed session which lasted about 40 minutes.
Giving details into what transpired during the closed-door session, Lawan said lawmakers unanimously agreed that the National Assembly should adjourn plenary for a period of two weeks.
He explained that the decision was due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic which has led to most countries shutting down activities, in order to curtail the spread of the disease.
The Senate President, however, disclosed that the Senate would reconvene to attend to matters of national importance which require urgent legislative intervention within the period of the recess.
He said, “The Senate, in particular and the National Assembly in general, further resolved to adjourn sitting for two weeks from today, due to the pandemic of coronavirus ravaging the entire world, and therefore, the Senate resumes on the 7th of April.
“However, the Senate will be on hand in case of emergency in any national issue that requires its attention.”
The Senate President advised Nigerians to observe all preventive measures recommended by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
He called on the Federal Government to immediately set aside a Special Intervention Fund to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in the country and release financial assistance to states for the same purpose.
“As at now, the only way out of the pandemic is for the population to observe recommended measures and advice by the National Centre or Disease Control (NCDC),” the lawmaker said.
He added, “The Federal Government should devote special funds to fight the COVID-19 virus threatening Nigeria.
“The Senate Committee on Health and Private Healthcare and Communicable diseases will continue to engage the Federal Ministry of Health and Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.”
Medical supplies donated to African nations by Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba Group, have arrived Lagos and two other countries.
The shipment, which came in via an Ethiopian Airlines flight, carried 5.4 million face masks, 1.08 million detection tests, 40,000 sets of protective clothing and 60,000 sets of protective face shields.
Receiving the donation on Tuesday in Lagos, Firihiewot Mekonnen, General Manager, Ethiopian Airlines, Nigeria, said, “We appreciate the donation of the Jack Ma Foundation and the generosity of Jack Ma.
“We admire Abiy Ahmed, our Prime Minister, for his initiative and organisation of the entire coordination of the process.”
The donations entered the country less than 24 hours after the Nigerian Government waived a ban on cargo flights coming into the country as a result of the spread of the virus.
Mekonnen said, “Today, we are very happy to deliver these medical supplies to the Government and people of Nigeria.”
Also, the Ugandans and Kenyans counterpart has received a consignment comprising of 100,000 masks, 20,089 test kits, 741 Personal Protective Equipment and 1,111 face shields from Chinese billionaire Jack Ma.
The billionaire donated these items to Africa as support towards #COVID19 response.
📷 credit : WHO
The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, has tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mukhtar Gidado, announced this in a statement on Tuesday.
This comes a day after the governor took the test after he had contact with the son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, confirmed to have been infected with the virus.
Governor Mohammed had returned to Bauchi from an official trip to Lagos after he met with Atiku’s son on the plane where both men shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.
Although he has yet to show any symptoms of the disease, he has since gone into self-isolation to prevent any possible spread of the virus.
On Tuesday, Gidado revealed that the results of the tests carried out by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) were out.
According to him, six initial tests were administered on the governor, as well as his family and aides who accompanied him to Lagos.
“Of the six initial tests carried out, one sample was confirmed positive of COVID-19. The positive result happened to be that of His Excellency, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, the Executive of Bauchi State,” the statement said.
Read the statement from the state government below:
The Lagos State Chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) has reiterated the need for disability-inclusion strategies as a key step towards ensuring that youths with disabilities are not left out in the development programs of the State Government.
This was contained in the Association’s Position Paper presented to the State’s Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Olusegun Daudu when the JONAPWD State Chairman, Dr. Adebukola Adebayo led a four-man delegation of the Association’s members on an advocacy visit to the Ministry in Alausa.
The Commissioner who was joined by the Permanent Secretary and other top officials of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development to receive the JONAPWD delegation, appreciated the visit; assuring that the State Government would not relent in ensuring that persons with disabilities are prioritized in all policies and programs of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration.
Dr. Adebayo in his remarks, lauded the Ministry and the State government for making visible efforts towards protecting and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities in Lagos State.
Adebayo however observed that youth with disabilities were still lagging behind as beneficiaries of the very robust Lagos State Youth Policy and programs.
While presenting the position paper, he enumerated some of the challenges of persons with disabilities in noting that there are, “Absence of social support and rehabilitational services for PWDs (especially children) and their families at local and community levels and where such exist, there is very low level of awareness due to lack of adequate information about such.
“High unemployment levels among youths with disabilities and lack of appropriate platforms for promoting talents among young persons with disabilities in the ICT, Entertainment and sports sectors.”
The State’s JONAPWD Chair however recommended that, “the Ministry should support the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) to organize Annual Disability Summit to harvest ideas and set agenda for disability-inclusion in the State Government’s development programs
“The Ministry should strongly consider the integration of Disability Support and Resource Centres within its existing Social Service Centres in all the LGAs and LCDAs.
“The Ministry should encourage and mobilize the private sector to employ qualified persons with disabilities.
“The Ministry should, in line with the youth policy, facilitate political participation for youths with disabilities by ensuring appointment of one person with disability as Supervisory Counselor in all the LGAs and LCDAs in the State.”
The Association also passionately requested the Ministry to sustain the granting of subvention to the Association and other functional disability groups in the State.
Responding, the Commissioner promised to address the requests tendered by JONAPWD and assured the Association that its doors remained open to persons with disabilities; noting that the Ministry would be happy to strengthen its partnership with JONAPWD.
The Commissioner also advised the Association to strengthen its collaboration with LASODA especially in its engagement with other Agencies of government.
The Gombe State Governor Alh. Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has early yesterday, announced that all schools are to be closed effective from Tuesday 24th March 2020 until further notice due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in some parts of the country.
In a formal address made by the Governor on COVID-19, Governor Inuwa is quoted to have said “While we continue to pray, we need to abide by scientifically-proven preventive and protective measures. In accordance with the directives by the Presidential Task force on COVID-19, all schools are hereby closed effective from today, Tuesday 24th March, 2020 until further notice.
Furthermore, congregation for ceremonies, religious and other social activities are advised to limit numbers so as not to exceed the 50-person maximum as advised by the committee.
Additionally we shall constitute a 21-man Task Force to be headed by a renowned Professor of Immunology and Infectious diseases, Prof. Idris Mohammed, to immediately review and continuously monitor the situation in the state.”
The government has been urged to ensure that rural schools are fully inclusive to make them easily accessible for children with disabilities and their siblings.
Speaking at a programme tagged ‘We Ring The Bell’, initiated by The Liliane Foundation, Netherlands (an NGO that focuses on the empowerment of children and youngsters with disabilities from 0-25 years, Coordinator of Daughters of Charity Child Empowerment Programme, Rev. Sister Fidelia Unigwe said the event was aimed at raising the awareness of the government and the general public on the need for inclusive education for children and youngsters with disabilities.
Speaking further, she said “that it is not enough for government to have lots of schools in locations where children with disabilities will be in the boarding facilities, they should go beyond that to make schools in rural communities inclusive because it will make it easier for children with disabilities to go to school with their siblings and they will also have advantage of parental care. It will be easy for their caregivers to take them to school because of proximity of the schools.”
Principal of the School, Haijah Rukaiya Husseni said that the inclusive education, if fully implemented, will bridge the gap in education because it will provide opportunity for the style of learning of the children with disabilities to be included in the school’s curriculum.
The event also witnessed a presentation by Dr. Adebayo Adebukola where he described inclusive education as an emergency case in Nigeria.
He also said that inclusive education simply means good education because whatever children with disabilities can learn in special school, they can also learn in the conventional school.
“Inclusive school is best applied in scare resources, it is more expensive to build special schools and also build other schools. It is cheaper to make disability facilities available in the conventional schools and make them inclusive and have every child to learn in the same place,” Adebukola said.
The 2020 ‘We Ring The Bell’ event was held at Government Girls Secondary School Dutse Abuja where over 1,500 students rang the bell alongside their teachers.
The event was colourful as the girls rang the bell using their metallic plates and they sang their own composed song to affirm their acceptance of children with disabilities as classmates and playmates.
Rev Sis Unigwe said the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent De Paul Province of Nigeria through the office of Child Empowerment Programme put together the event which was initiated by the Liliane Foundation to draw the attention of the media, stakeholders and the public towards inclusive education.