FG Seeks Concerted Efforts In Fight Against Drug Abuse In Nigeria

Published

8 months ago

February 2, 2024

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FG Seeks Concerted Efforts In Fight Against Drug Abuse In Nigeria—-The Federal Government has called on relevant stakeholders to make concerted efforts towards ending drug abuse among youth in the country so as to prepare them for employability, entrepreneurship as well as future leaders.

Mr Ayodele Olawande, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Youth Development, made the call during a working visit to the United Nations office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Abuja.

Olawande said that the ministry was planning to establish an institution that would be known as the Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA).

He said in the institutions, youths would be taken through some training to engage them in meaningful ventures in order to avoid the temptation of drug abuse and crime.

The minister said that lack of engagement, unemployment and skill gap have led to an increase in the consumption and abuse of drugs among the youth.

“The youths are more concerned with following trends. It is now time for the youth to stop following unproductive trends and start thinking and working,” he said.

Olawande said that the ministry planned to introduce a door to door campaign, which would be spearheaded by him to engage the youths in all the 774 Local Government Areas of the federation.

“We will use the corp members as a force to engage the society at large, especially secondary school students, to curb drug abuse, corruption, and cybercrime,” he said.

According to him, it is time that society stopped neglecting the youth in the informal sector, as they are flexible and open to activities that can cause disruption and commotion in the society.

The minister called on the UN to collaborate with the government to establish the Nigerian Youth Academy in ensuring that the youths were gainfully engaged.

Earlier, Mr Oliver Stolp, Country Representative of UNODC expressed his appreciation to the minister and his team for taking out time to pay him a visit.

Stolp said that the UN had numerous intervention programmes on youth engagement, drug abuse, cyber crime, and corruption.

He called for the support of the government in these interventions.

NAN reports that the UNODC World Drug Report 2023 warns of converging crises as illicit drug markets continue to expand.

The data put the global estimate of people who inject drugs in 2021 at 13.2 million, 18 per cent higher than previously estimated.

Globally, over 296 million people used drugs in 2021, an increase of 23 per cent over the previous decade.

The number of people who suffer from drug use disorders, meanwhile, has skyrocketed to 39.5 million, a 45 per cent increase over 10 years.

The Report features a special chapter on drug trafficking and crimes that affect the environment in the Amazon Basin, as well as sections on clinical trials involving psychedelics and medical use of cannabis; drug use in humanitarian settings; innovations in drug treatment and other services; and drugs and conflict.

The World Drug Report 2023 also highlights how social and economic inequalities drive – and are driven by – drug challenges; the environmental devastation and human rights abuses caused by illicit drug economies; and the rising dominance of synthetic drugs.

The demand for treating drug-related disorders remains largely unmet, according to the report. Only one in five people suffering from drug-related disorders were in treatment for drug use in 2021, with widening disparities in access to treatment across regions.

The UN says youth populations are the most vulnerable to using drugs and are also more severely affected by substance use disorder in several regions.

In Africa, it said, 70 per cent of people in treatment are under the age of 35.

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Health & Wellbeing

Polaris Bank Provides Free Breast Cancer Screening for 250 Nigerian Women

Published

3 days ago

October 9, 2024

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Polaris Bank Provides Free Breast Cancer Screening for 250 Nigerian Women—-Polaris Bank, Nigeria’s leading digital retail commercial Bank, has announced the sponsorship of free breast cancer screening for 250 Nigerian women, in commemoration of 2024 October Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
This initiative underscores Polaris Bank’s unwavering commitment to women’s health and is part of the Bank’s long-standing efforts and intervention to support breast cancer awareness behavioral change, advocacy and prevention in Nigeria.

For over a decade, working with its NGO Partner, Care Organisation Public Enlightenment (C.O.P.E), Polaris Bank has been a leader in breast cancer advocacy, behavioral change communication, funding support and the screening of more than 20,000 women across the country. This year’s sponsorship further supports the Bank’s mission to ensure that more women, particularly those with limited access to healthcare, have the opportunity for early detection, which is vital for successful treatment and survival.

“Breast cancer continues to pose a significant threat to women, not just in Nigeria, but globally. As a responsible corporate organization, we understand the importance of early detection, and we are committed to empowering women with access to this life-saving screening. Our partnership with C.O.P.E. is integral to making this service accessible to more women,” the Bank stated.
Aligned with United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), which focuses on preventing needless suffering from preventable diseases and premature death, Polaris Bank is taking a crucial step by funding free breast cancer screenings for women in underserved regions.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), early detection of breast cancer increases survival rates and reduces treatment costs, making Polaris Bank’s initiative a vital contribution towards improving health outcomes and reducing breast cancer-related mortality in Nigeria.

This year’s screening programme reflects Polaris Bank’s broader Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda, which focuses on key areas like health, education, and youth/women empowerment; and community development. The Bank has consistently invested in causes that positively impact the lives of Nigerians, and this screening effort is yet another testament to its commitment to improving public health.

In addition to the screenings, the Bank continues to champion breast cancer awareness through education, advocacy, behavioural change and outreach, encouraging women to engage in regular self-examinations and seek medical attention promptly. This holistic approach to advocacy aims to build a healthier society where early detection becomes the norm.

The 2024 free screening intervention, marks another milestone in the fight against breast cancer, as the brand remains at the forefront of efforts to combat the disease, ensuring that Nigerian women have access to the critical health resources they need.
In over decade, Polaris Bank’s footprint in the fight against cancer in Nigeria, has been described by commentators as phenomenal:

In collaboration with the Care Organisation Public Enlightenment (C.O.PE) Foundation, Polaris Bank has sponsored treatment for over 30 indigent cancer patients and provided free breast cancer screenings for over 20,000 women, including its own female staff and customers. The Bank has also donated three state-of-the-art breast cancer screening machines, improving the quality of diagnosis and clinical practices nationwide. To further raise awareness, Polaris Bank organized a 10-kilometer walk with over 2,500 participants to draw attention to the breast cancer crisis.

The Bank, as part of its ongoing commitment to health awareness and community support, previously organized an impactful event for breast cancer survivors themed ‘Celebrating Our Pink Heroes’ at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. The event brought together over 50 survivors and featured music, networking, and educational and experience sharing sessions. Same exercised was repeated just last year Oct with in Ikoyi with added spice where another 50 breast cancer survivors were treated to a full spa and wellness session involving sauna bath, manicure, pedicure, healthy meals, movie and experience sharing sessions.

It provided a meaningful platform for survivors to share their experiences, raise awareness about breast cancer, survival techniques and encourage positivity among their community. The initiative also sought to educate the public and demystify myth by reducing the stigma associated with the cancer, reinforcing Polaris Bank’s dedication to social responsibility and health advocacy.

The Bank had in making life more beautiful to breast cancer survivors had in 2019, presents over a 100 units of Prosthetic bra to cancer survivors registered under the Bank’s NGO Partner @copebcnigeria C.O.P.E.

Polaris Bank, in partnership with C.O.P.E, hosted a special full spa outing for some breast cancer survivors. The event strengthened the bond between the Bank and Cancer Survivors as it offered therapeutic services such as; steam baths, massages, manicures, pedicures, and a healthy meal, along with a health talk. Experiences were also shared amongst the survivors
In addition, Polaris Bank part financed the establishment of arguably sub-Saharan best Cancer Hospital, Marcelle Ruth Cancer Centre and Specialist Hospital (MRCC).

Overall, the Bank’s initiatives reflect its dedication to responsible business practices, integrating social and environmental considerations into its operations, and ensuring a net positive impact on both society and the environment.

Women interested in taking part in the free screening exercise should visit our website or click the link below, or follow us on our social media pages @polarisbankltd for more information and registration details: https://www.polarisbanklimited.com/breast-cancer-screening-2024/ and thereafter visit the C.O.P.E. Center at 39B, Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. Screening is scheduled for third and fourth Saturday of October, 2024 and every third Saturday of every other month.
Polaris Bank was adjudged Nigeria’s Digital Bank of the Year in 2023, 2022 and 2021 in Business Day’s Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.

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Entertainment

Dame Maggie Smith Oscar-winning Harry Potter and Downton Abbey Star Dies, Aged 89

Published

2 weeks ago

September 27, 2024

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Dame Maggie Smith Oscar-winning Harry Potter and Downton Abbey Star Dies, Aged 89—-In the Harry Potter films, Dame Maggie played the acerbic Professor Minerva McGonagall, famous for her pointed witch’s hat and stern manner with the young wizards at Hogwarts.

In hit ITV drama Downton Abbey, she played Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, the grand matriarch who excelled at withering one-liners through the show’s six series.

A statement from her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin said: “It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith.

“She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September.

“An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.”

They thanked “the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days”.

They added: “We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”

Tributes were also paid by her co-stars.

Hugh Bonneville, who appeared in Downton Abbey, said: “Anyone who ever shared a scene with Maggie will attest to her sharp eye, sharp wit and formidable talent.

“She was a true legend of her generation and thankfully will live on in so many magnificent screen performances. My condolences to her boys and wider family.”

Dame Maggie also reprised her role for the two Downton Abbey films.

In 2022’s Downton Abbey: A New Era, her character died of the illness she revealed at the end of the 2019 film, to the huge upset of her family and friends.

Downton followed the success of 2002 period drama Gosford Park, which earned Dame Maggie both Oscar and Bafta nominations for playing Dowager Countess of Trentham.

In his statement on Friday, the prime minister said Dame Maggie “introduced us to new worlds with the countless stories she acted over her long career”.

“Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones. May she rest in peace,” he wrote.

Dame Kristin Scott-Thomas, who starred alongside Dame Maggie in 2005’s Keeping Mum and 2014’s My Old Lady, said she “took acting very seriously but saw through the nonsense and razzmatazz”.

“She really didn’t want to deal with that,” Dame Kristin added.

“She had a sense of humour and wit that could reduce me to a blithering puddle of giggles. And she did not have patience with fools. So you had to be a bit careful. I absolutely adored her.

“The last time I saw her, she was very cross about being old. ‘Maddening’ I think she said. Much loved, much admired and irreplaceable.”

A National Theatre spokesperson said her career “spanned the theatrical, film and television world without equal”.

Praising her stage performances, the statement added: “She will forever be remembered as one of the greatest actors this country has had the inestimable pleasure of witnessing.”

Bafta added that she was a “legend of British stage and screen”, praising her five competitive Bafta wins, plus the special award and fellowship she received from the organisation.

Dame Maggie’s career spanned eight decades, with early acclaim coming when she gained her first Bafta nomination for Nowhere to Go in 1958.

In 1963, she was offered the part of Desdemona in Othello at the National Theatre by Laurence Olivier, and two years later it was made into a film and Smith was nominated for her first Oscar.

The actress’s other memorable roles included 1985 Merchant Ivory film A Room With a View, in which she played the chaperone Charlotte Barlett, accompanying Helen Bonham Carter’s Lucy Honeychurch to Italy.

The role earned her another Oscar nomination and a Bafta.

And along with another national treasure, Dame Judi Dench, she appeared as an English woman living in 1930s Italy in the film Tea with Mussolini, which was released in 1999.

The two dames also shared screen time in A Room With a View and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Dame Maggie played the firm but fair Reverend Mother in the two Sister Act films, starring Whoopi Goldberg as nightclub singer Doloris Wilson, who takes refuge from the mob in San Francisco by posing as a nun in a local convent.

Goldberg called Dame Maggie “a great woman and a brilliant actress”, adding: “I still can’t believe I was lucky enough to work with the ‘one-of-a-kind’.”

Rob Lowe, who starred with Dame Maggie in 1993’s Suddenly, Last Summer, recalled “the unforgettable experience of working with her”.

“Sharing a two-shot was like being paired with a lion,” he said.

“She could eat anyone alive, and often did. But funny, and great company. And suffered no fools.

“We will never see another. God speed, Ms Smith!”

The veteran actress also played the old woman who spent 15 years living in a van outside Alan Bennett’s house in a film adaptation of the writer’s The Lady in the Van in 2015.

Her final roles included 2023’s The Miracle Club, which follows a group of women from Dublin who go on a pilgrimage to the French town of Lourdes, co-starring Kathy Bates and Laura Linney.

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