Davido is the ‘King of Nigerian Music’ – Atiku [VIDEO]

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar has revealed the current reigning king of Nigerian music.

A viral video posted by Davido on his Instagram had the former Vice President declaring the ‘OBO crooner’ the king of Nigerian Music.

Asked about his favorite musician, he said Fela was his favorite musician in the past but Davido is his present favorite.

Atiku said: “At my youth, Fela was the king of music, and believe me, he was my favorite musician. And I made sure I attended all Shrine musical events throughout the night and till morning.

“But of course, currently, the reigning king is Davido.“

Video:

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Our Incoming President knows Wassup!!!!!!! @aatiku God bless you sir !!

A post shared by Davido Adeleke (@davidoofficial) on Feb 5, 2019 at 8:07am PST

Gov. Ambode finally presents 2019 budget after Tinubu’s intervention

The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has presented a budget proposal of N852.316b before the State House of Assembly.

Ambode made the presentation on Tuesday for the 2019 fiscal year.

Before the budget was finally presented on Tuesday, DAILY POST had reported a faceoff between the governor and members of the State Assembly.

Just last week, plans were concluded for the Governor’s impeachment before the intervention of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other leaders of the party in the State.

The budget presented to the House contains a recurrent expenditure of 385.6billion, capital expenditure of 462.7billion and a capital recurrent ratio of 54-46.

According to Ambode, the budget is projected to consolidate on the gains made so far in the state. He added that the budget is targeted to cater for the needs of the entire residents of the state.

FCMB Launches Hub One

The Nigerian Tech industry has grown in leaps and bounds over the years. Many innovative ideas, platforms and more have been developed, which have provided more job opportunities. However, certain infrastructural gaps created a need for affordable tech spaces and enabling environment where tech start-ups can thrive, collaborate and share ideas without having to deal with exorbitant overhead costs.

To address those gaps, FCMB has created Hub One, a tech-themed co-working space. Hub One is a space that allows for partnerships, collaborations and possible investments. It is a professional office space with unlimited internet, constant power supply, free coffee and a community of like minds.

Speaking at the official launch of Hub One, Adam Nuru, Managing Director of FCMB, said the Bank recognizes and believes in the power of technology and youth driven enterprises. He assured the public that FCMB will continue to invest in initiatives that support and develop Tech start-ups in Nigeria.

According to Bukola Smith, Executive Director, Business Development, FCMB “Hub One is designed to engage the Tech ecosystem as a means of providing solutions for today and the future’’.  She further stated that the Bank intends to create physical and virtual hubs across the nation over the next few years.

Situated in the heart of Yaba, Lagos, Hub One which is created in partnership with Passion Incubator, is a conducive environment designed to foster collaboration and drive creativity within Nigeria’s tech start-up ecosystem.

Olufunbi Falayi, CEO of Leadspace by Passion Incubator commended FCMB for the initiative. He disclosed that “Hub One provides necessary infrastructure for tech start-ups, as well as capacity building events, to enable them focus their limited resources on their business development. Routinely, Hub One will host several incubation programmes, hackathons and pitches to support and provide a platform for tech start-ups”

For FCMB, Hub One is more than just a physical location, it’s a vision. A vision that supports the aspirations of Nigeria’s tech start-ups to attain their full potential.

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited is a member of FCMB Group Plc, which is one of the leading financial services institutions in Nigeria with subsidiaries that are market leaders in their respective segments. Having successfully transformed to a retail banking and wealth management-led group, FCMB expects to continue to distinguish itself through innovation and the delivery of exceptional services.

Visit

https://www.fcmb.com/hub-one/ for more information.

Valentine: Nigeria needs 564 million condoms yearly – AHF

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, has claimed that Nigeria suffers from a deficit of 564 million condoms annually.

To check the trend, AHF says it will distribute over 600,000 condoms across the country as part of activities to commemorate this year’s International Condom Day.

The Advocacy and Marketing Manager of the Foundation, Mr. Steve Aborisade, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja said the day was set aside to promote the prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections, HIV and unwanted pregnancies.

“The commemoration is usually observed on February 13 in preceding Valentine’s Day; however, the day was moved to February 7 due to the 2019 general elections.

“The condoms will be distributed in Abuja and five other states of Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Anambra and Cross River,’’ he said.

The Country Programme Director, Dr. Echey Ijezie, AHF-Nigeria, said that the Nigerian National Condom Strategy emphasised a deficit of 564 million condoms annually in the country.

He said the National AIDS and Reproductive Health Survey 2012 indicated that despite the increased awareness about condom in Nigeria, there is still low acceptance.

“Abstinence from sex, for those who can, remains very effective in preventing STIs and unplanned pregnancies.

“AHF is confident that when we keep reminding people about using condoms with access to free condoms, we would have helped to reduce new HIV and STIs, prevent unwanted pregnancies, while promoting healthy lifestyle choices,’’ Ijezie said.

According to Chief Global Policy and Advocacy AHF, Mr. Terri Ford, condoms are still the cheapest and best option for preventing HIV, STDs, and unwanted pregnancies.

“Our International Condom Day events are a fun way to bring people together and get them information about how to keep themselves and their loved ones safe and healthy.

“International Condom Day also helps remind people that there is still an HIV crisis across the globe,’’ he added.

AHF President, Mr Michael Weinstein, also said that promoting safe sex practices was also important in a time when funding for global health has remained flat for the last several years.

He said that lack of funds also includes money for condoms, adding that it is critical to stay healthy and be disease-free, particularly in countries that experience higher prevalence rates for HIV.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the largest global AIDS organisation, currently provides medical care and services to more than one million clients in 43 countries.

Expert warns of breast, butt surgery dangers

Dr Biodun Ogungbo, a Neurological Surgeon with a private hospital in Abuja, has warned Nigerians to avoid unsafe plastic surgery to prevent risking their health.

Ogungbo gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.

“Recently, there has been a rash of complications following plastic surgery in Abuja.

“Many patients going to have liposuction or indeed fat transfers to have a bigger butt have ended up with massive infections and even a stroke in one case,” he said.

Ogungbo said cheap, unsafe operations further erode the confidence in local practice.

“It is very difficult to lose a bad reputation, even if it is unjustified. The bad news travel far and wide and it forces more Nigerians to consider medical tourism.

“Anyway, the disappointment dissipated very fast, as we got to grips with clients who appreciate the worth of providing local solutions right here in the heart of the nation.

“Clients who are prepared to pay a fair price for solutions here in Nigeria. Many know full well that the cost of surgery in Nigeria is a fraction of what it costs going abroad,” Ogungbo said.

He said one of the reasons why surgeries were expensive was the deployment of human and material resources to ensure the success of the operation.

“We need to be able to cover all bases and not cut corners, if we want to achieve a good outcome.

“This is an increasingly recurring decimal where clients want the best but will not pay for it,’’ Ogungbo said.

He, however, said there was need to continue to provide a safe environment for the patient, saying that Nigerians should ensure they go to reputable surgeon who knows what is required.

Tension in Ondo as Lassa fever claims over 50 lives, residents, health workers panic

With over 50 deaths recorded in Ondo state as a result of Lassa fever outbreak, residents, as well as medical practitioners, are in panicky mood.

The endemic disease which DAILY POST gathered has been ravaging the state for the past weeks has found its way into Akure, the Ondo State capital after cases were earlier reported in the border towns of the northern senatorial district area of the state.

According to some sources at the Federal Medical Center, FMC, Owo, where victims were being taken to for treatment, presently the state government is not doing anything as expected at curbing the deadly disease.

Stating that the situation is going beyond control, a medical practitioner at the FMC, Owo disclosed that at the “isolation ward” of the hospital where patients of such outbreaks are treated, bed spaces are no longer available.

The medical practitioner who craved for anonymity, further confirmed to DAILY POST that the medical facility is currently battling what she described as negligence from the part of some of her colleagues as a Lassa fever patient who was under observation “mysteriously” escaped from the hospital.

“What we currently facing, is quite beyond what anyone would ever imagine.

“Almost all the patients in the isolation ward are those that have contracted Lassa fever and most of the reported cases are from the border communities within Ose Local Government area of the state.

“It’s quite sad how the state government is not even attending to the situation.

“Citizens are dying from preventable disease, but the government is not showing any concern at all.”

Also, a source at the state’s Ministry of Health who requested that he should not be named being a civil servant, disclosed that the situation is such a terrible one that a state of emergency ought to have been declared within the state health sector.

The medical doctor in the ministry berated the state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for allowing the situation to deteriorate to its present level, due to what he described as lackadaisical attitude on the part of the governor.

“From the ministry here, we have approached the governor, on the need to urgently arrest the situation but he his not seeing it that way.

 “He claims there are no funds to spend on the medical needs of these people (Lassa fever patient) but let’s be frank with ourselves, all those money being spent on political activities in the state, where are they coming from?

“I believe it is high time our political leaders started to set their priorities right. Because in the real sense of it, it’s those that will vote for them that are dying so cheaply.

“You won’t believe that as terrible as the situation is at present, there’s no single sensitization or awareness going on in the state as regards the outbreak, all in the name of that there is no fund.

“Even for the outbreak to effectively contained, schools within the affected communities should have been shut with intensive awareness taken to market places, churches, mosques and other public places.

“It will interest you to know that health workers might down tools if anyone of us is affected.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Wahab Adegbenro emphasized that the situation calls for a combined effort of stakeholders as the state cannot bear the burden alone.

Dr. Adegbenro disclosed that the treatment of a Lassa patient costs at least N1.2m, which he said was beyond what the State Government alone can handle considering the number of people infected.

While calling on Chairmen of affected Local Government Areas in the state, Security Agencies, Development Partners and other stakeholders to brainstorm and come up with strategies that would help tackle the disease.

Also the State’s Epidemiologist, Dr. Stephen Fagbemi said there is a war against Lassa Fever and the state should be in a war mood.

He recalled that about 27 States were affected with Lassa fever last year and Ondo and Edo topped the list as they accounted for about 80% of those affected including mortality.

Dr Olalekan Ojo of the Federal Medical Center Owo said the State was witnessing more Lassa patients than any other states of the federation ”and the whole budget of the state cannot handle”

He added that the Federal Medical Center Owo was overwhelmed due to lack of sufficient manpower to cope.