17.5 MILLION CHILDREN IN NIGERIA ORPHANED YEARLY

Research has shown that not fewer than 17.5 million Nigerian children are orphaned yearly, out of which 7.5 million are caused by the Human Immuno- deficiency Virus/ Human immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). This was made known by Ekiti State Commissioner for Woman Affairs, Mrs. Fola Ricie-Adewusi who further complained that there are no accurate data to deal with this category of children at both the state and federal level. She further revealed that Ekiti state government has made plans to make life comfortable for these orphans. Adewusi said that the State Government is partnering with some Non governmental organisation like Ekiti Development Foundation, Pact Nigeria, Health Management and other Community based organisation to raise N18.8 million to prepare bio-data of such children in the state. According to her, the state Government will pay N11.8 million while the partners will subscribe N7 million. The state is embarking on this project to get to the root of those factors that are responsible for orphanhood and vulnerability in the state. Furthermore, the commissioner said that research assistants have been trained to ask questions and get required information from those that are concerned. She bemoaned the attitude of the victims to give information to government as this as obstruct the Government in punishing offenders. Adewusi said the State is hopeful as they know they are going to record a huge success.

Impact of Technology On children

A group of women in the information technology sector of the economy, under the aegis of Women in Technology in Nigeria, have decried the negative impact of technology on the Nigerian child. The group said that as mothers, the hearts of its members are bleeding daily over unusual trends and terrifying stories of how Nigerian youths have become victims of attacks through technological devices. As a result, the group has concluded plans to organize a forum that will put parents, guardians and others on the alert about technology, its developments and impacts. This, they said, will help curb the growing negative trends coming from the adoption and use of technology, especially by the children. The international forum, which comes up in Lagos on October 4, would among others expose the risk factors and vulnerabilities connected with children’s use of the Internet. President of the group, Mrs Martha Alade-Omoekpen, said the world today is shaped by the advancements in the field of ICT, its relevance to the development of individuals, organisations, nations and the entire world cannot be contested but that at the same time children must be guarded against its adverse effects. Alade-Omoekpen added that ICT has frequently been incontrovertibly acknowledged to be the driving force behind today’s economic growth while playing a key role in the recent extraordinary economic and human development. According to her, the use of ICT innovations by children in the new world of freedom for empowerment has in different ways influenced and to a certain degree also changed roles and processes within child development. But the point is that ICT has its negative sides. She said these negative sides would come to fore at the forum, which would have in attendance speakers from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). The conference with the theme: “ICT and Child Development:Benefits and Challenges” would be a forum to discuss topics like the role of mothers in children use of ICT; mobile phones usefulness, risks and myths; bridging the gender digital divide: girls in ICT ( which would be taken by ITU representative) and ICT for improved healthcare of children. Minister of Communications Technology Mrs Omobola Johnson, and Dr. Eugene Juwah, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC are expected to attend the event. culled from Naij.com

Habits That can Cause Obesity

Do you find yourself glued to the screen, whether it's your computer or TV? It could be packing on pounds. Researchers found a direct link between spikes in technology usage and increases in obesity rates in 27 countries between 1988 and 2009. Specifically, the increase in "screen time" was cited as a major factor, meaning time devoted to using computers, watching TV and playing video games. Technological innovations, more processed foods, a greater amount of 'screen time,' less exercise, and higher consumption of snack foods have all played a role. These are all the adverse effects of a knowledge-based society. Here are some easy tips to cut down on your screen time today: Stick with the shows you LOVE. You should limit yourself to one hour a day of your favorite show. You can also watch movies and shows at the gym. Can't make it to the gym? Get moving while watching TV. Beware of mindless snacking! Snacking in front of Modern Family and snacking at your desk while you work both add to the problem. Avoid bringing snacks to the couch or your desk. If you do need a snack, go for crunchy vegetables or air-popped popcorn, and limit your high-calorie treats to small snack bags once in a while. Get up and away from the computer. For people who work in front of a screen all day, getting moving can be a challenge, but you gotta do it. Get up every 20 minutes to prevent the slowing down of your metabolism. Move the other room, walk up and down a flight of stairs or go to the next cubicle to chat." Do your social networking ... in person! The next time you want to make contact with a local friend, make a date for a walk in the park instead of "liking" her latest photo. Face time and fresh air -- what a concept!

Women Education can curb HIV/AIDS Spread- NACA

The National Agency for the Control of AIDS has said that the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS could be reduced if more women were educated on the causes and prevention methods. This was made known by NACA Director General, Prof. John Idoko in Enugu, during a three-day retreat aimed at reviewing the performance of the Global Fund implementation programme. He said, “Women are 60 per cent of people that are infected. If you educate and empower more women, the prevalence rate will be cut down.” According to him, “The agency will commence circulation of the pre-exposure prophylaxis drug known as Tuvala in Nigeria by 2013.” The Director further noted that the drug would only be made available to sero-discordant couples and pregnant women due to the low availability of resources. Idoko also stated that the agency would embark on formative, feasibility study to have systematic, methodical and rational evidence as its policy statement. According to Idoko, “We are going to do a study which is called the formative study where we are going to go round and interview a lot of people, over 200, and ask them, do you think that this thing is right? We would find out their fears about the Tuvala drug in the country; some people say it may make people more promiscuous. “We are hoping that that study is going to take us to like October, November then, we are going to call everyone, doctors, journalists and people living with HIV/AIDS, religious people to have a big discussion round it.” He said, “Beyond that, we are going to do another study which is called a feasibility study. Even if we agree, how do we deploy it in our country? It is only after all this that we can now advise policy makers that this is something good and then it can enter our policy. “So we are looking towards sometime next year before there is a policy statement on it.” Meanwhile, Idoko has urged the state and local government to support the Global Fund implementation programme by providing necessary facilities in hospitals in order to tackle HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. “We need to tell our politicians, they are doing well but where are the people who will use them. They need to support their citizens to be alive and well,” he said. He added, “We need to look at the drivers of the epidemic. Gender issues, poverty, education. “If you look at far northern states where culture prohibits promiscuity, prevalence is low, if you look at the South-West where education is high, prevalence is low

Oliver Twist,A Monster Hit Because of Beyonce

Alongside the usual dancehall and soca, a good proportion of the anthems that fuelled this year’s sound systems and floats are the hits that have propelled the rise of Afrobeats in the UK: Atumpan’s The Thing, Ice Prince’s Oleku and, of course, D’Banj’s own Oliver Twist, a song of such popular reach that it even made it on to EastEnders. Keeping that carnival spirit going is D’Banj’s MO tonight, as is that of a significant proportion of the audience, who have hotfooted it down the road from the carnival. As an entertainer, D’Banj treads the line between suave and rambunctious with ease: his dapper yellow-lapelled blazer is swiftly shed as he starts to rival his own dancers in snake-hipped, low-grinding ability, and the gold chain follows as he plunges off stage for a spot of crowd-surfing. By the show’s climax, D’Banj is half-naked and essaying moves that seem to refer mostly to the title of his forthcoming album, Mr Endowed. After a late entrance compounded by technical difficulties leaves the crowd slightly restless, D’Banj may feel putting that level of work in is necessary – but it transpires that the music does the trick just as well. “This is not a fluke,” he announces midway through the show, perhaps mindful that not everyone present is aware of his seven-year career before Oliver Twist. Tonight, though, his older material goes down almost as well, from the call-and-response of Why Me to the lovelorn Scapegoat, and D’Banj bridges the gap between his more lilting, organic songs and his recent tougher, trancier dance-floor anthems with ease. His between-song patter has a tendency to ramble, but the show’s culmination in Oliver Twist is stellar proof that an international hit can be engineered with ease if based around a resonant, inarguable statement such as “I like Beyoncé”. culled form Naij.com

Only Death Penalty Can Cure Nigeria Of Corruption -Cleric

Worried by the spate of corruption in the country, Prophet (Dr) S. A. Alao (JP) has advocated death penalty for offenders as the only panacea to mitigate the monster. The grand patron of the Oyo State chapter of Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria, made this call at a press conference to signal the commencement of the 6th annual convention and thanksgiving ceremony of the church. The three-day convention, with the theme: “Judgment Must Begin at the House of God,” is taking place at the auditorium of Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, District Headquarters, Kilometre 139, Iwo Road-Ojoo Express Way, Ibadan, Oyo State. Among eminent clerics of the mission present at the briefing were Pastor A. O. Olaofe, Senior Apostle Dr. B. A. Adebayo, Prophet E.A. Olaleye, Prophet E.O. Akintola (JP), Prophet J. A. Ibikunle, among others. Admitting its crudity, Prophet Alao said that enshrining death penalty in the nation’s Criminal Code as it is done in China, was necessary because serious criminal issues deserve serious penalties to serve as a deterrent to others. The cleric, who informed that the C&S church had rediscovered and in the process of rebranding and reasserting itself in the comity of churches in Nigeria and beyond, he accussed the government of fertilising corruption in the civil service through delay in payment of gratuities and pensions of retired civil servants, making them to engage in corruption to save their future. By: Ebenezer Adurokiya