Nation
Armed Forces Rememberance Day: Cleric Tasks FG On Boko Haram
The Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province and Anglican Bishop of Enugu, Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, has tasked the Federal Government on the need and importance of winning and ending war against Boko Haram, insurgency, banditry, corruption and oil theft in the country.
Chukwuma gave the task on Sunday while delivery his homily at the Thanksgiving Service to mark 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Week at the Cathedral Church of the Good Shepherd, Enugu.
The cleric noted that it took the Nigeria military three years to end the civil war, but Boko Haram war had lingered longer with its negative consequences on the people and Nigeria as a nation.
According to him: “We have lost fighting men, whose wives are widows today. We have lost huge resources and our people are displaced in large numbers due to Boko Haram war.
“Today, insurgency, armed bandits and other forms of negative elements have continued to disturb various parts of the country, thus making the people to feel insecure in their localities.
“Corruption among politicians and public office holders remains in the increase and they are stealing in mind blowing manner.
“Added to all these is the recent oil theft that nearly brought government earnings to zero and subjected the country and her government to keep borrowing to remain afloat.
“In all these, I sincerely believe the Federal Government through our gallant military and exercising the will-power can win and end all these wars if we are committed and sincere to deal with them head-on”.
Bishop Chukwuma further noted that Nigerians wanted rest and peace from the myriad of challenges that had confronted them all these years.
“This is why we are earnestly praying and calling for a New Nigeria, where Nigerians will feel secured and those abroad come back home whenever they want or like to do so.
He reasoned that the forthcoming general elections remains critical to achieve this and returning the nation back to its lost glory.
Bishop Chukwuma, therefore, urged politicians to live exemplary lives like Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and other first generation politicians did.
On the South-East, the cleric also urged the Armed Forces, including the police and NSCDC, to end the “retrogressive Monday Sit-at-home” in the region.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
A pan-Nigeria organisation committed to the promotion and preservation of indigenous languages, Indigenous Language and Culture Promoters (ILCP), has called for the deliberate development and compulsory teaching of indigenous languages in both primary and secondary schools across the country.
The group made the call during its maiden Congress held in Bori, Rivers State, which was convened to examine challenges hindering the official adoption and effective teaching of Ogoni languages in schools.
Speaking at the Congress, the Executive Director of the organisation, HRC Mene Magnus Edooh, Amb.P, emphasised the critical role of indigenous languages in preserving a people’s culture, values and history. He warned against the gradual extinction of native languages, noting that language loss equates to identity loss.
“Years ago, Latin was a language of global relevance, but today it is largely extinct. We do not want Ogoni languages to suffer a similar fate. As a people, we cannot afford to lose our identity through the death of our languages,” Edooh said.
He explained that the Indigenous Language and Culture Promoters was established to collaborate with language stakeholders to ensure that children and younger generations remain connected to their mother tongues. The organisation also appealed to governments at all levels, as well as relevant institutions and individuals, to take strategic actions aimed at promoting and sustaining Nigeria’s indigenous languages.
Also speaking, the newly appointed Director of Media and Information, Prince David N. Gbarato, questioned the rationale behind government reluctance to accord indigenous languages their rightful place in national development policies.
According to him, “People with well-developed languages are people with well-developed indigenous systems and affairs,” stressing that language development is fundamental to cultural and societal advancement.
The Congress further served as a platform for the ratification of key officers of the organisation and featured the participation of representatives from various indigenous language groups and other language stakeholders, all of whom echoed the call for renewed commitment towards safeguarding Nigeria’s linguistic heritage.
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