Lagos state Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu has charged the new Cabinet Members to build on the successes of his Administration’s first term in office.
Sanwo-olu gave the charge Wednesday during the swearing -in ceremony of Thirty Seven Commissioners and Special Advisers at the State’s Secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja.
The Governor tasked the Commissioners and Special Advisers to show dedication and commitment as they assume office in the interest of residents
Sanwo-olu commended members of the Lagos state House of Assembly for a job well done in the process of screening the Commissioner nominees saying there was no love lost between the Executive and Legislature.
Speaking on behalf of the newly sworn in cabinet members, the Commissioner for Information Gbenga Omotosho assured the Governor that they would key into his development vision and will not disappoint the residents.
Recall that the Governor had last month sent names of Thirty Nine Commissioners and Special Advisers nominees to the state Assembly out of which seventeen of them were rejected.
The Governor had to send another list including some of the rejected nominees early this month and two members were outrightly rejected.
Among the new Commissioners are Lawal Pedro who became Attorney-general and commissioner for Justice, Gbenga Omotosho returned as Information Commissioner, while Fatai Akinderu also returned as commissioner for Housing. Professor Akin Abayomi was reappointed as Commissioner for Health while son of Minister of Solid Minerals, Olatunbosun Alake was sworn-in as Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology.
Let them say continually, “Let the LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.” Psalm 35:27, NKJV
SAY CONTINUALLY It’s interesting that believers are supposed to say continually, “Let God be magnified who takes pleasure in prospering me.” You might think once or twice is enough. But there’s something powerful when you don’t go through the day talking about how big the problem is or how your back will probably never stop hurting. Instead, you’re saying, “Let God be magnified who takes pleasure in healing me, who takes pleasure in favoring me.”
Are you taking time to declare God’s goodness over your life? Are you speaking victory over your future? It’s not enough to do it every once in a while. It needs to become a habit where all through the day you’re declaring that you’re blessed, you’re strong, you’re healthy. When you wake up in the morning, say, “Lord, thank You that something good is going to happen to me today. Thank You that favor is surrounding me, blessings are chasing me down, and that Your being for me is more than the world being against me.” That’s setting your life in the right direction.
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
“Father, thank You that You take pleasure in providing for my well-being, my prosperity, and my health. Thank You that I can live with the expectancy for big things today and every day. I believe that You are for me and are surrounding me with favor. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
Now, please understand that I am not against reading or watching the news, but I want to encourage you to start your day with Jesus instead, practicing His presence, acknowledging Him, committing your plans to Him, and trusting Him for His unmerited favor, wisdom, and strength for the day.
SECTION TWO
It is amazing how many people wake up in the morning, and the first thing that they do is read the newspapers, which often brings us bad news about wars, unrest, disasters, financial collapses, violence, unemployment, famines, and new strains of deadly viruses.
Remember to be like Joseph in the Bible. The Lord was with Joseph and he was a successful man! Your success does not come as a result of you being updated about the latest virus or you being cued in to the latest disaster. No, your success will come as a result of your being tuned in to the presence of Jesus in your life!
There are many people in my church who start the day each morning by partaking of the Holy Communion, not as a ritual, but as a time to remember Jesus and the power of His cross. They look to Jesus for His strength, receiving His divine life for their physical bodies as they partake of the bread. They renew their consciousness of their free gift of righteousness purchased by the blood of Jesus on the cross as they partake of the cup. What a way to start the day!
Lagos State born rapper songwriter and a former signee to Naira Marley’s Marlian Records; Ilerioluwa Aloba popularly known as MohBad is dead.
The “Peace, Feel Good singer who left Marlians Records in 2022 died Tuesday September 12th 2023 in Lagos at the age of 27
There have been outpouring of tributes from his colleagues friends and Music fans.
Moh Bad first rose to Prominence as part of Naira Marley’s Marlian record label.
His Tunes and unique style quickly garnered him much followers.
While details of his death is still sketchy as at the time of this report, some reports have however alleged that he died as a result of an ear infection at undisclosed hospital where he was given an injection that made him pass out.
The Talented Musician with a network of about $30 use Dollars was born on the 8th Of June 1996 in Lagos State South West Nigeria. He survived by a five Months old Baby Named Liam Light with his unknown Girl friend according to report
Today’s Scripture Fight the good fight of the faith. 1 Timothy 6:12, NIV
THE GOOD FIGHT Some of the difficulties we complain about, the challenges we don’t like, are meant to prepare us for greater favor, greater influence, greater opportunities. Quit telling yourself, “It’s too hard. They did me wrong. I can’t put up with this.” Instead of trying to pray away all the things that make you uncomfortable, pray away the people who get on your nerves, pray away the delays, try a different approach and say, “God, help me to keep a good attitude in the midst of these challenges. Help me to stay in faith when people aren’t treating me right. Help me to fight the good fight of faith and resist the temptation to compromise, to take the easy way out, so my character can develop and I can handle what You have in store.”
You can handle every difficulty through Christ. You have been armed with strength for every battle. Dig your heels in and stand strong in your faith. Keep a song of praise, keep being your best. You have the grace you need for every situation.
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You for the abundance of grace You give me to go through every difficulty and challenge I face. Help me to fight the good fight through Christ Jesus and to overcome what has overcome me. I will stay in faith and be my best. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
SECTION TWO
I remember reading about an art competition where the theme given was “peace.” The artist who most effectively depicted peace in his artwork would win the competition. The artists gathered their paints, canvases, and brushes and started creating their masterpieces.
When the time came to judge the artworks, the judges were impressed by the various scenes of tranquility illustrated by the artists. There was a majestic piece capturing the brilliance of the sun setting over lush greenery, one that depicted a serene landscape of moonlit hills, and another evocative piece that showed a lone man walking leisurely through a rustic paddy field.
Then, the judges came upon a peculiar piece that looked almost horrifying and perhaps even ugly to some. It was the very antithesis of every other piece that the judges had seen. It was a wild cacophony of violent colors and the aggression with which the artist had lashed his brush against the canvas was obvious.
It depicted a raging storm where the ocean waves were swollen to menacing heights and slamming against the craggy edges of a cliff with thunderous force. Lightning zigzagged across the blackened sky and the branches of the single tree that was perched atop the cliff were all swept to the side by the force of the gale. Now, how could this picture be the epitome of peace?
Yet, the judges unanimously awarded the first prize to the artist who painted the turbulent storm. While the results initially appeared to be appalling, the judges’ decision immediately became clear once you give the winning canvas a closer look. Hidden in a crevice in the cliff is a family of eagles snug in their nest. The mother eagle faces the blustering winds, but her young chicks are oblivious to the storm and have dozed off under the shelter of her wings.
Now, that’s the kind of peace that Jesus gives to you and me! He gives us peace, security, covering, and protection even in the midst of a storm. The psalmist describes this beautifully: “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. . . . He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge.”
There is no safer place than under the protective shelter of your Savior’s wings. It does not matter what circumstances may be raging around you. You can cry to the Lord for His unmerited favor, as David did in Psalm 57:1—”Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by.”
The New American Standard Bible says, “Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by.” What blessed assurance we can have today, knowing that even if destruction rages around us, we can take refuge in the Lord.
They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. Acts 12:10, NIV
13/09/23
TODAY’S WORD
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
HIDDEN Peter was arrested for sharing his faith and put in prison. King Herod ordered sixteen soldiers to guard him and had him chained between two soldiers in his cell. The night before Peter was to go on trial and likely be executed, an angel appeared, woke Peter up, and suddenly Peter’s chains fell off. The angel said, “Come with me.” The prison doors opened of their own accord. They walked past one set of guards, then a second set, who were diligently watching, and yet none of them saw Peter.
God didn’t say you would never have problems, but He promised that when trouble comes He will hide you. He won’t let the circumstances stop your purpose. He has angels watching over you right now, protecting you.
He knows how to open doors that you can’t open, how to get you out of problems that look impossible, how to blind the eyes of those who are trying to hold you back. You may not see a way out, but God can make the chains fall off.
“Father, thank You that You supernaturally open doors and make things happen that I can’t make happen and don’t deserve. Thank You that I can stay in peace in difficult times, knowing that at any moment You can turn things around. Whether You do it gradually or suddenly, I will rest in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
SECTION TWO
Bartimaeus was a blind beggar at the gate of Jericho. Talk about being insignificant. Not only was he just another beggar in a place probably swarming with them, he didn’t even have a real name—”Bartimaeus” merely means “son of Timaeus”!
A Prayer for Today
And yet Jesus, the King of heaven and the incarnate Son of God, stopped in His tracks when this blind, nameless, and often-ignored beggar called out to Him. Jesus heard him and had compassion on him, and responded to his need. He treated Bartimaeus with respect, empathized with the desire of his heart, and set him free to see again.
Like Bartimaeus, your need is your qualification for His miracle. And when it comes to your need, it is NEVER too insignificant to Jesus!
The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has joined the list of Dignitaries mourning the passing of elder statesman and Doyen of accounting in Nigeria, Chief Akintola Williams, who died at the age of one hundred and four years.
In a statement, Governor Obaseki says he is immensely saddened by the news of the passing of the elder statesman and doyen of Accounting in Nigeria, Chief Akintola Williams, who lived a long and fulfilled life, having made his mark as the first Nigerian to qualify as a chartered accountant and led an envious legacy as one of Nigeria’s most accomplished professionals in the Corporate world.
He described him as a rare breed Nationalist who was perhaps one of the few Nigerian Professionals who attained continental acclaim in pre-independent Nigeria, crossed over to the digital age and kept on with the changes of the times.
Obaseki noted that late Akintola Williams played a key role as a Nationalist, as he was a contemporary of key figures in Nigeria’s historical development, including Chief Obafemi Awolowo, fighting together for the independence of our dear nation and keeping on with the drive to see Nigeria lead the continent on different fronts.
Chief Williams, perhaps, made some of the most consequential contributions to the development of the Nigerian economy through his interventions in the setting up of the Nigeria Stock Exchange, NSE, and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN.
He was upright, intelligent and Cosmopolitan, making an enormous impact in the business Community and in promoting probity and good Governance.
The Governor who commiserated with the Williams family, friends and associates , prayed that God will grant all the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
The Speaker, Cross River House of Assembly, Mr Elvert Ayambem, has declared the Country Director, Debate and Development Resource Centre (DEDERC), Mr Jerry Nwigwe, wanted for allegedly promoting homosexuality in the State.
A release signed by Ayambem’s Press Secretary, Mr. Mathew Okache, made available to newsmen in Calabar, revealed that the Speaker had already initiated contact with relevant Security Agencies and Stakeholders.
Okache said that Nwigwe was declared wanted for allegedly promoting, sponsoring and taking part in homosexual activities contrary to the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act 2013, which was signed into law in 2014 and further assented by the Cross River Assembly.
He said that Nwigwe had, in June 2023, organized a Gay Party at a prominent Hotel in Calabar, with many Teenagers attending, adding that the Speaker’s unwavering stance against homosexuality reflects the prevailing sentiment in Cross River, where the practice is deemed illegal.
“It has come to the notice of the Hon. Speaker of the Cross River State House Of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, that on the 30th of June 2023, a certain Hotel in Ekorinim, Calabar Municipality, hosted a Gay Party in their premises, where under age Teenagers were also in attendance.
“Already, the speaker has reached out to security agencies in the State and relevant Government MDAs to ensure that organizers of that obscenity and their Collaborators are brought to book as a deterrence.
” We seize this occasion to warn anyone or any Organization in connection with such unlawful activities to desist from such acts or risk prosecution by the authorities, as former President Goodluck Jonathan, on the 7th of January 2014, signed the “Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill” into law.
“The law imposes a 10-year prison sentence on those who ‘directly or indirectly make public show of same-sex amorous relationships’ and anyone who registers, operates, or participates in gay clubs, societies, and organizations, including supporters of those groups,” he stated.
He further reminded Hospitality Operators in the State that no Hotel or Club should entertain anyone under 18 years of age at any time, unless they are accompanied by their Parents/and or Guardians.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that an interim police investigation report revealed that the police had declared Nwigwe wanted over same allegations.
The Police in a release by its Spokesperson, Irene Ugbo, said it was able to make some arrests and confessional statements were gotten from some of the young men and women involved in the party.
“ We hereby declare Mr. Jerry Nwigwe wanted for violating the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act 2013.
“ He was alleged to have engaged in sponsoring and promoting homosexual practices in Nigeria through his organization as some of the apprehended Participants at the Gay Party confessed to after their arrest as working as volunteers to the organization.
“ Anyone with useful information about the whereabouts of Mr. Jerry Nwigwe should please contact the nearest Police Station or law enforcement agency for proper prosecution,” Ugbo said.
LAGOS TRAINS 314 PRIMARY HEALTHCARE WORKERS ON MENTAL HEALTH CARE
No fewer than 314 primary health care staff including doctors, nurses, community health officers (CHOs), community health extension workers (CHEWs), and social workers drawn from primary health centers across Lagos State took part in a mental health capacity building training session organized by the Lagos State Ministry of Health for health workers at the Primary Health Care (PHC) level.
The participants were trained to recognize and manage common mental disorders like depression, anxiety, drug abuse, psychosis and stress as well as dealing with psychiatric emergencies like attempted self-harm and other forms of severe mental distress. The training modules also encompass the provision of guidelines on the care approach.
The training which was carried out under the Mental Health in Primary Care (MeHPriC) project of the Lagos State Government is geared towards integrating mental health services into the Lagos State Primary Health Care System as a transformative approach that addresses the holistic wellbeing of citizens.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the five days batched training exercise which held between Monday 4th and Friday 8th September, 2023, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye explained that the integration of mental health services in primary healthcare centres stands as a pivotal stride towards addressing the comprehensive healthcare needs of individuals.
He added that the approach acknowledges that physical and mental health are intertwined, stressing that providing holistic health care entails recognizing and addressing mental health concerns within the community setting.
“The mental health in primary care strategy aims to bridge the gap between the often-siloed fields of physical and mental health, fostering a collaborative environment that benefits patients’ overall wellbeing”, Ogboye said.
The Permanent Secretary stated that the benefits of the MeHPriC project encompass early identification of mental health concerns, timely intervention, improved patient outcomes, and reduced stigma surrounding mental health issues
He noted that the sustainability and expansion of integrated health services at the primary care level hold the potential to create profound impact on communities by offering accessible, effective, and empathetic care to all individuals.
“By embracing this approach, the Lagos State Health System can take a significant step towards promoting not only physical health but also mental well-being, ultimately contributing to healthier and more resilient societies, and achieving universal health coverage”, Ogboye said.
Addressing the trained health workers, the Permanent Secretary advised them to know their limitations and explore referral options while providing mental health care services in their facilities.
He said: “The most important thing for any health professional and professional in any field is to know your limitations. So, this programme does not empower us to treat the whole spectrum of mental illness nor does it empower us to treat even the part of the spectrum that we have been empowered to treat, from start to end.
“There is a role that we have to play, and there is a point where we then pass the person off to the next level. What is important is that linkage and exchange is done in a way that does not add to the trauma of these patients.
“We also really need to open the conversation about the benefit packages that the Lagos Health Scheme has. I can’t recall here what it has for mental health or mental illness but I think it is something that if we are not going to pay lip service to this silent epidemic of mental illness, we need to have something in the benefit package for mental illness as well, it need to be a very strong part of health insurance”.
Speaking in the same vein, the Coordinator Special Project and Lagos State Ministry of Health Desk Officer, Dr. Tolu Ajomale explained that the mental health training for health workers at the primary health care level was fashioned along the World Health Organization Mental Health Gap Action Programme Intervention Guide (mhGAP-IG) with focus on identification and management of depression, anxiety, epilepsy and substance abuse.
He added that as part the training intervention delivery, participants are expected to appropriately identify and diagnose patients with depression, provide psychological intervention, prompt referral of severe cases to secondary and tertiary facilities, prescribe appropriate medication, identify medication side effects and appropriate remedies, provide psychoeducation and adherence support, and provide mental health talks and advice.
Ajomale who expressed delight at the level of knowledge gained by participants disclosed that the pre and post training knowledge assessment carried out on the participants is indicative that the knowledge gap on mental health has greatly been bridged.
“The next step for the MeHPriC project is the synchronized launch in primary health in the primary health care centres before the end of the year, followed by development of advocacy campaign plans, supervision and monitoring by mental health team and presentation of project evaluation to stakeholders”, He said.
NAFDAC PLANS ON NATIONWIDE GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICE INSPECTION VISITS TO 614 HERBAL MEDICINE PRACTICE FACILITIES.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC has mapped out its strategic plans to take the herbal medicine practice to a greater height where products would be globally acceptable and competitive in the international market.
The Director General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye gave the hint over the weekend in her message to commemorate the 2023 International Traditional Medicine Day which is celebrated on the 31st of August every year.
Prof Adeyeye who commended the efforts of Herbal Medicines Manufacturers across the country for their resilience, noted with a sense of pride the foray of several Herbal formulations at the clinical trial preparatory to getting approval for NAFDAC registration number.
” The Guidelines for the Good Manufacturing Practice in Herbal Medicines production has been prepared by the Agency”, she said, adding that the Agency is working on a series of training for the Practitioners to get them accustomed to the guidelines.
According to her, officers of the Agency would thereafter commence vigorous inspections of facilities to ascertain the level of preparedness of the Herbal Practitioners in the business after the training.
Based on the training they will receive, she said we will be able to make sure that they follow the guidelines to the letter”, stressing that the Agency would pass down the knowledge of the guidelines to the over 614 herbal medicines facilities in Nigeria. The DG explained that the facilities have been divided into zones, with the Agency staff across the federation to be deployed for the exercise.
In the Southwest, our staff in Lagos, Ibadan, and Ogun will be deployed for the exercise. Likewise, people in the North, Southsouth and other zones”, she said, noting that deploying NAFDAC staff in each zone for the job would reduce the cost on the Agency.
Prof Adeyeye disclosed that the stakeholder’s training will start with Lagos which has over 317 facilities, noting that we cant enforce the rules when we have not taught them what to do”. She said after the training the Herbal Practitioners would be given about a month or two to get themselves ready before the Agency’s staff visit them for inspection, adding that anyone who is not functioning well will either have his facility shut or placed on hold. ” In herbal production, the level of hygiene is not so high. We have been telling those facilities that we visited that they needed to do something about their filling”. She identifies capsule filling as one aspect of their operations that has posed a big challenge. Admitting that sometimes the herbal medicines are in capsules or syrup, she said, they dont have an automated filling machine for capsules. She noted that the manual method is not safe, warning that after December, the Agency would not register any company without the semi-automated or automated capsule filling machines. She stressed that a lot of people are using herbal. ” The earlier we raise our standard the better for us”. She disclosed that the University of Lagos is trying to establish a manufacturing facility so that all the Herbal Practitioners who dont have funds can go there and use the facility for production at a token.
Giving an insight into the GMP guidelines, Prof Adeyeye said It will help the Practitioners to know how to run their manufacturing plant, adding that the guideline talks about personnel, qualifications of the personnel amongst others.
” Herbal manufacturing GMP requires that the Personnel be qualified, and the building be constructed to specific standards. The floor, walls, and roof must be clean, smooth, and impervious to moisture. All these are required to make contamination impossible.” Prof Adeyeye said that the guidelines emphasized the need for hygiene, adding that the guidelines also talk about the Premises. How the premises should be, insisting that “we want a building that will make contamination impossible”. She said the inspectors from the Agency would be concerned about how the equipment is placed to avoid cross-contamination because in manufacturing, Personnel are the greatest agents of contamination to Products. ”The machines should be well placed to allow free flow of movement of staff. She also talked about the Stores, where the raw materials are kept in such a way that contamination be avoided. The production flow and the finished products. We will find out how they source and store their raw materials and finished products’’. The NAFDAC Boss, however, expressed delight that three herbal Product manufacturers are being awaited to conclude the clinical trial.
Professor Adeyeye disclosed that the three products piloted phases one and two, adding that they are still being awaited to come back and validate their claims with a larger population sample size.
”We encourage the Practitioners to present the pilot study results and we will evaluate and if satisfactory, they can move on to the larger study and later grant approval for full registration”, she said, stressing that people react differently to different drugs, hence the need for a larger number of samples for the study in the larger phase 3 study of the clinical trial.
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