AFRICAN COMMUNICATION: OUR CULTURE, OUR HERTIAGE

BY BUKOYE OLUWAFUNSO

In promoting the African culture and heritage in the minds of her students, Nigerian Institute Of Journalism, Ogba takes African Communication System to a new dimension.
African Communication System (ACS), a course offered in the institution by National Diploma 2 students is aimed at promoting African culture, heritage and means of communication. According to the lecturer, Mr. Osuji, he describes African communication system as the process and system which utilizes symbols, values and institutions which directly appeal and readily connects with the people and thus enhances the variety and effectiveness of messages that circulate in the community.
Showcasing this culture, the ND2 students came up with various traditional plays to portray the means of African communication. The class was divided into ten groups and each group came up with different concepts and idea at which African Communication can be portrayed. Group A showcase the Eyo Festival, its importance and relevance to African tradition, Eyo festival is done in honour of a dead personality or king in Lagos. Eyo only comes out on rare occasion and the masquerades are donned on white attire. Some rules are made during Eyo festival like Women not plaiting a traditional hair style called “SUKU”, not wearing slippers or shoes among others.
Furthermore, Group B came up with the “ARUGBA” concept. Arugba is a festival done in Osun/oshogbo state of Nigeria. The festival entails a virgin carrying a calabash of sacrifice for the town. The significance of this festival is to ensure there is peace in the land and that the land should be fruitful.
Also Group C came up with the African Traditional way of getting a husband for a princess. “IJAKADI” entails vibrant, hardworking, courageous and mighty warrior fighting to get the hand of the princess in Marriage. This was practices in the Old Oyo empire and Ancient Yoruba towns. The various groups made use of traditional instruments like Gong, talking drum, ekwe, traditional flute among others to portray the African culture.
According to Oluwatosin Gbemile, he wishes the course is made compulsory in all tertiary institutions as this will be a means of reviving and showcasing the old traditional means of communication. As more groups come up with different presentation, it is evident that African Communication System has been revived in the student’s mindset as many have known the various traditional means of communication.

WORLD’S SMALLEST DESKTOP PC LAUNCHED

BY OLUWAFUNSO BUKOYE

In a bid to meet up in the race of technology improvement in Nigeria, indigenous computer manufacturers, Omatek recently in Lagos introduced into Information Communication Technology (ICT) market the Omatek Handtop PC.
Omatek Handtop PC, the smallest desktop PC ever manufactured comes in various platforms like Windows XP Home, Window XP Pro and Window Vista Basics. According to the Group Managing Director of Omatek, Miss Florence Seriki, Omatek Handtop PC is the latest improvement in computer creation. “Omatek Handtop PC is of a great value for anyone looking for a basic PC for managing photos, sending email, surfing the web and performing other tasks”, she said.
Furthermore, the machine can be described as a 3-in-1 system, which can be mounted behind the Plasma LCD to serve as presentation screen or TV monitor. Seriki added that the machine comes with equipped Intel’s new miniature, power efficient of 1.6 GHz, Atom Processor 1GB of DDR2 RAM and a 160GB 54wrpm 2.5 inch SATA hard drive. The PC can also afford executives the opportunities to surf the web.
First of its kind to be launched in Africa, Omatek Handtop PC has an integrated Intel GMA 950 graphics card with shared video memory that can be useful to executives as a mobile desktop. For home and small office users, it will be a valuable compact tool and for as for students, it will be an extremely efficient tool for e-learning environment backed up by Omatek resources centers established in major institutions in Nigeria.
Seriki further added that the company is living up to her reputation in the PC market as the 1st indigenous factory in Africa who buys her component from first class industries in Asia. “This is not our best as we will not rest on our oars in our quest of remaining Africa’s foremost solution provider”, she said.

Source of picture: www.images.google.com

CANCER: A SCOURGE IN WOMEN BODIES

BY BUKOYE OLUWAFUNSO

Cancer has become a bitter pill for many human beings to swallow. According to world health report not fewer than five million women and six million men worldwide are yearly affected with this disease. Besides, experts have revealed that over 50 percent of cancer patients living in developing countries have less than 10 percent resources required for treatment.
In Nigeria, not less than 100,000 cases of cancer are recorded yearly which will increase to 500,000 by 2010. Cancer is a malignant tumor or growth caused when cells multiply uncontrollably destroying health tissues. There are various myriads of cancer which includes breast cancer, cervix cancer, lung cancer, prostrate cancer among others.
According to Ministry of Health, not less than 7,000-10,000 new cases of breast cancer are recorded yearly in Nigeria. Globally, more than 400,000 deaths are recorded of female cancer. Breast cancer has rendered many women deformed and there is less than 20% assurance of cure. Also more than 20 cases are reported daily in general hospitals daily.
Another deadly form of cancer raging the country is cervical cancer. It is caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease which is linked to 99.7 percent cases. At University of Ibadan, college of Medicine, not less than 10,000 cases are reported ever year. Not fewer than 8000 will die from cervical cancer every year usually in a painful miserable and undignified manner. Unfortunately, not less than 80% of the affected women in Nigeria are still present in the advance stages where little could be done to prolong their lives. Dr. James Adisa, a medical laboratory scientist added that, worldwide there are more than 273,000 deaths from cervical cancer each year and it account s for 9 percent of female cancer deaths. Mortality rate vary seventeen fold between the developed and developing regions of the world. Cervical cancer contribute over 2.7 million years of life lost among women between ages of 25 and 64 worldwide, some 2.4 million of which occur in developing areas and only 0.3 million in developed country.
Education, awareness, prevention, screening, early detention, available and affordable multimodality treatment, chemotherapy and radiation have decreased mortality and increased survival for breast and cervical cancer in most countries. Women are advised to do regular checkup and detection should be reported immediately and necessary tests carried out.

Source of picture:www.images.google.com

WORLD’S SMALLEST DESKTOP PC LAUNCHED

In a bid to meet up in the race of technology improvement in Nigeria, indigenous computer manufacturers, Omatek recently in Lagos introduced into Information Communication Technology (ICT) market the Omatek Handtop PC.

Omatek Handtop PC, the smallest desktop PC ever manufactured comes in various platforms like Windows XP Home, Window XP Pro and Window Vista Basics. According to the Group Managing Director of Omatek, Miss Florence Seriki, Omatek Handtop PC is the latest improvement in computer creation. “Omatek Handtop PC is of a great value for anyone looking for a basic PC for managing photos, sending email, surfing the web and performing other tasks”, she said.

Furthermore, the machine can be described as a 3-in-1 system, which can be mounted behind the Plasma LCD to serve as presentation screen or TV monitor. Seriki added that the machine comes with equipped Intel’s new miniature, power efficient of 1.6 GHz, Atom Processor 1GB of DDR2 RAM and a 160GB 54wrpm 2.5 inch SATA hard drive. The PC can also afford executives the opportunities to surf the web.

First of its kind to be launched in Africa, Omatek Handtop PC has an integrated Intel GMA 950 graphics card with shared video memory that can be useful to executives as a mobile desktop. For home and small office users, it will be a valuable compact tool and for as for students, it will be an extremely efficient tool for e-learning environment backed up by Omatek resources centers established in major institutions in Nigeria.

Seriki further added that the company is living up to her reputation in the PC market as the 1^st indigenous factory in Africa who buys her component from first class industries in Asia. “This is not our best as we will not rest on our oars in our quest of remaining Africa’s foremost solution provider”, she said.

NIGERIAN PERFORMS FIRST CARDIAC ANGNOPLASY SURGERY

In pursuit of developing the medical industry, a Nigerian doctor, Dr Adeyemi Johnson performed the first coronary cardiac angioplasty and stenting process in Nigeria and West Africa on Monday.

The surgery which took place at Reddington Hospital in Victoria Island Lagos comprises of a team of physicians, nurses and technicians lead by Johnson was performed on two patients suffering from angina (chest pain) and heart attack. The highly specialized procedure involves opening blocked arteries of the heart and placing thin metallic tubes to improve blood flow in patients with angina and heart attack.

In achieving this exploit, Johnson had planned with Reddington hospital for over one and half years, assembling the critical team and equipment to accomplish these pioneering procedures. The first patent is a 46years old Nigerian who suffered from a heart attack recently while the second patient is a middle age lady with severe angina. Both procedures were successful as both patients are recovering in the coronary unit of the hospital.

Dr. Adeyemi Johnson is an experienced cardiologist who had practice for over 25 years in the united state of America before coming to Nigeria to establish First Cardiology Consultant.

In world health report, an estimated 37million people suffers heart attack or stroke every year worldwide and nearly 17million dies. In achieving this feat, it is a breakthrough in Nigeria medical history.

NO RETREAT: AKUNYILI WARNS……

Minister of information and communication, Professor Dora Akunyili has warned broadcast station that there is no retreat on the 2012 deadline for transition from Analogue to Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting.

        She said this yesterday, in Abuja while receiving the report of the presidential Advisory Committee’s report on “Transition from analogue to Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting”.

        According to her, the deadline is realisable as president Umaru Musa Yar’adua was committed in giving all the political and economic backing needed for easy transition despite the economic meltdown. She further said that the country’s national and state television broadcasting stations are expected in the next three years to transmit from analogue to digital inline with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The ITU resolution has fixed June 17^th 2015 as the switchover date for UHF and June 11^th for the DHF band respectively.

        In actualizing this dream and the urgent need to meet the transition date, the President has set up a Presidential Advisory Committee to meet the deadline as he has approved June 14^th 2012 as the switch over date; Akunyili said.

        Furthermore, the committee report will create a new policy direction and regulatory framework with far reaching consequences for the development of the broadcasting sector in Nigeria in line with international best practices and local government development. She assured the committee that the government would study its report and commence implementation to enable the country meet its target of 2012.

        Akunyili said that Nigerian Broadcasting industry has witnessed a tremendous progress over the years. Since the establishment of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) by ACT 38 of 1990, the industry has witnessed the most significant changes in communication broadcasting which had resultant effect on the economic growth of the nation.

        “In shifting to digitilaization, we are meeting up with the international standard of transmitting information as most private television station have gone digital and the public television station are gradually achieving this goal”, she said.

NO RETREAT: AKUNYILI WARNS……

Minister of information and communication, Professor Dora Akunyili has warned broadcast station that there is no retreat on the 2012 deadline for transition from Analogue to Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting.

        She said this yesterday, in Abuja while receiving the report of the presidential Advisory Committee’s report on “Transition from analogue to Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting”.

        According to her, the deadline is realisable as president Umaru Musa Yar’adua was committed in giving all the political and economic backing needed for easy transition despite the economic meltdown. She further said that the country’s national and state television broadcasting stations are expected in the next three years to transmit from analogue to digital inline with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The ITU resolution has fixed June 17^th 2015 as the switchover date for UHF and June 11^th for the DHF band respectively.

        In actualizing this dream and the urgent need to meet the transition date, the President has set up a Presidential Advisory Committee to meet the deadline as he has approved June 14^th 2012 as the switch over date; Akunyili said.

        Furthermore, the committee report will create a new policy direction and regulatory framework with far reaching consequences for the development of the broadcasting sector in Nigeria in line with international best practices and local government development. She assured the committee that the government would study its report and commence implementation to enable the country meet its target of 2012.

        Akunyili said that Nigerian Broadcasting industry has witnessed a tremendous progress over the years. Since the establishment of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) by ACT 38 of 1990, the industry has witnessed the most significant changes in communication broadcasting which had resultant effect on the economic growth of the nation.

        “In shifting to digitilaization, we are meeting up with the international standard of transmitting information as most private television station have gone digital and the public television station are gradually achieving this goal”, she said.

NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

I thought if was not good enough
Until I saw so many circumstances to make me know that I am good enough.
I thought I did not have enough clothes, until I saw those in the refugee camp.
I thought I was not pretty enough,
Until I saw accident victims, I knew I was pretty enough.
I thought my legs were not good enough,
Until I saw those who had polio, I knew I was good enough.
I thought I did not have enough to eat,
Until I saw those eating from the dustbin, I knew I had enough.
I thought my home was not beautiful enough
Until I saw those that sleep under the bridge, I knew my home was good enough.
I thought my parents were not good enough, until I saw those who are orphans, I knew I had to thank god for they were good enough.
In life, we always think we are not good enough, we do not have enough, but when we look around us, we know that we are good enough.

FIRST LADY ADVOCATES CHILD RIGHTS PROTECTION

        First lady of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria, Turai Yar’adua has expressed dismay over the child mortality as a major problem facing Africa and as called for effective intervention to prevent and treat major causes of morbidity and mortality in new born infant and under five children.

        Speaking at the 19^th edition of 2009 Day Of African Child, held in Abuja, Turai said that, the overall goal of ensuring child survival and health growth and development of Nigerian children requires urgent steps to address Factors influencing child health and other developmental issues in Nigeria. She further stressed that the full coverage of these universal access to essential interventions would be necessary to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other child-related policies and programmes. 

        Also, she said the high incidence of infant mortality in Nigeria and the continent in general requires a collaborative effort of both government and other stakeholders to ensure that the problem is reduced to the barest minimum. She stated that the major causes of child mortality includes preventable diseases like malaria, malnutrition, poor breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices which account for the major risk factors.

        According to her, pupils also face the challenges of survival as several infections which retard their growth and optimal development causes significant health burden and affect school attendance and performance. She also observed that the HIV/AIDS scourge has implications on child survival as thousands of children are infected, orphaned or vulnerable thus leading to poverty, exploitation and exclusions. Turai noted that the Day of African Child was set aside by the African Union to remember the tragic events which took place in Soweto and South Africa, where dozens of children were massacred while demanding for their rights to education in the course of anti-apartheid demonstration in 1976.

        She implored that the children were the leaders and future of tomorrow hence they should be given the right and freedom to live and other basic amenities of life. Meanwhile, some groups and non-governmental organizations have called for proactive steps to protect African Children.

GOVT TAKE UP ACTIONS AGAINST SWINE FLU

        In a bid to prevent further spread and impact of Influenza A (H1N1)/swine flu pandemic, the federal government through the federal health ministry, has stepped up measures to mitigate a possible outbreak.

        According to the Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, the Federal Ministry of Health was not unaware of the implication of the declaration of the pandemic as it affects Nigeria, especially against poor and weak health systems. He said that it was not certain how this virus would behave under the Nigeria tropical environment.

        Osotimehin reaffirmed that the federal government have prepared for any unforeseen circumstances concerning the spread of the flu into the country. He explained: “Ongoing public enlightenment campaigns at all levels will be stepped up at this time, to provide information to the citizenry about the pandemic and the imperatives of personal hygiene as ways of controlling the spread the influenza.”

        He further said that surveillance has been strengthened at all ports entry into the country and all Federal Port Health Services Officers have been sensitized and are at alert at the International airport. Furthermore, in other to put in check any suspected outbreak, the ministry has put in place the “National Epidemic Preparedness and Response Committee”. He also said that the Federal Government has set in motion systems to prepare plans, identify cases as efficiently as possible and minimize serious illness with proper health care health care treatment.

Moreover, there has also been training of State directors of public health, Epidemiologist, Prepositioning of drugs and supplies in all the states including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Federal Territory Hospitals; training of port Health services Officers on Swine flu identification and training of laboratory scientists on the laboratory confirmation of the flu. Sensitization meetings have also been held with International Health Regulations Stakeholders.

According to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) Report, not less than 74 countries have officially reported 29,669 cases of Influenza A (H1N1) Infections including death