The NAFDAC Head of Investigation and Enforcement, Federal Taskforce, Embugushiki-Musa Godiya, also said the agency would work to ensure that fake cosmetics and other counterfeit products were completely wiped out of the country.
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Foundation donates N500m to Obasanjo’s library
The Future Africa Leaders Foundation (FALF), has donated N500 million to former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo’s Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
In a statement issued by the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Loveworld, Pastor Ifeoma Chiemeka on Tuesday, FALF is the sub-organisation of the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International (COFI).
The donation was made to the library on Jan. 3, as Obasanjo also received the 2022 winners of the Future Africa Leaders Award, held on Dec. 31, 2022.
Newsmen, reports that the foundation awards 10 youths, from different countries in Africa, with 10,000 dollars each, and a star winner amongst them with an additional 25,000 dollars annually.
The awards given is for the youths to support their work in developing Africa from their locality.
The award was founded in 2013 by COFI.
Speaking on behalf of COFI, Chiemeka said the library was a historic, tourist and academic centre, established as a national archive for the preservation of documents and materials.
The COO said there was the need to support its further growth for future references.
She also said the library was established for the purpose of deepening democracy, engaging the citizenry, and to seek the enhancement of transparency and accountability.
She, however, said this was to ensure the policy choices of Nigeria and other African countries were better understood, and in line with the ideology of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.
“Aside from mentorship and provision of facilities for the most vulnerable in communities across the African continents, we also have over 2000 youths who are currently under our educational scholarship programmes.
“The foundation is also impacting African youths around the world through mentorship programmes that enable them to tackle prevalent challenges in Africa, and also various projects aimed at building young people and preparing them for a positive future,” she added.
Also speaking, a Senior Executive Director, FALF, Olajumoke Akinsanya, said the foundation had identified more than 100 youths who had the potential to be leaders within their communities and countries.
“The foundation fosters these young leaders through training and support initiatives, aimed at helping them to achieve their full ability, and to use their leadership skills to improve the lives of others.
“This programme seeks to recognise, promote and award young men and women, whose exemplary leadership skills have been utilised in developing solutions to issues addressed in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” she said.
She listed the goals to include: No poverty, no hunger, quality healthcare, quality education, gender equality, sanitation and hygiene, renewable energy, jobs and economic growth in Africa.
On his part, the Head of Department, FALF, Ayo Adedeji, said the foundation was ready to do more for African youths, and it was also open to more partnership with like minds.
“Through its programmes, the Future Africa Leaders Foundation hopes to empower African youths to be leaders and change agents, acting to find solutions to challenges facing their various African societies.
“Their acts of service have a powerful impact on their communities, nations and society,” Adedeji added.
Speaking on the impacts, the 2022 star prize winner, 22-year-old Lebsey Petmia from Cameroon, said the award would propel her to do more for her people.
Petmia’s ground breaking projects were on deepening primary health-care for the various vulnerable communities.
“I watch lots of people die from treatable diseases simply because they lack access to healthcare. Even my elder brother died from a minor complication from anaemia.
“So I decided towards making this primary healthcare available by training locals from various communities in Cameroon.
“With this award and the voice it has given me, I’ll advocate for better health policies in Cameroon, especially in the area of health insurance for the less privileged,” she added.
Meanwhile, the 2021 star prize winner, Nervis Tetsop, also from Cameroon, said being a star prize winner had opened greater doors for him in the last one year.
Tetsop also said that FALA winners and ambassadors had become mentors that were mentoring other young Africans on the need to “develop Africa for Africans by Africans”.
“FALA has made my voice so loud now to the extent that no one could ignore my voice.
“It has opened doors for me to the highest places in my native country. I have been able to meet with ministers and top government officials and corporate giants,” he added.
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Invoke executive order for state, LG police, Afenifere tells Tinubu
The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation, Afenifere, on Saturday, urged President Bola Tinubu to invoke an Executive Order for the establishment of state and local government Police.
Afenifere, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi,in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, also called for the erection of close-circuit television sets and deployment of modern technology for security purposes in strategic locations to end insecurity.
Ajayi said, “There are indications that Tinubu is desirous of putting an end to this deleterious menace. Towards the end of January this year, he approved the procurement of digital tracking tools to enhance the apprehension of bandits, terrorists and armed robbers.
“On Monday, April 22, this year, he used the occasion of addressing participants at the African Counter-Terrorism Summit which opened on that day in Abuja to assure everyone of his government’s readiness to ensure greater security. Unfortunately, recent happenings have not shown that the President’s desire in this respect is being worked upon.
“President Tinubu should get state and local government police off the ground immediately through the invocation of an Executive Order while the process of amending the Constitution continues.
“Close circuit television sets, deployment of modern technology for security purposes including drones must be effected immediately.”
He explained that the statement was motivated by the recent reports of banditry and kidnapping in Ogun, Edo, Ekiti, Oyo, Kogi, Zamfara and Niger States, respectively which made a research organization declare Nigeria as one of the top nations where kidnap ranks highest globally.
Ajayi noted that Fulani herders and farmers’ clashes kept occurring in Osun, Ondo and Oyo State; Otu, Igbeti and Alaga in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State were the latest victims.
The Afenifere spokesperson also said, “In order to end insecurity, enhance people’s welfare and ensure the sustenance of Nigeria as one of the top investment destinations in Africa as desired by the government, there is the urgent need by the Federal Government and security agencies to be more innovative and decisive.”
He lamented that banditry, including armed robbery, kidnapping was still occurring on South-West roads such as Lagos-Ibadan, Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode; Akure-Ilesa-Ibadan; Ore-Ijebu Ode-Lagos, Ikirun-Osogbo-Ilesa; Lokoja-Abuja, Owo-Benin and Ibadan-Iseyin-Saki.
“Latest reports have it that on Monday, May 13 instant, eight cocoa farmers were kidnapped at Marindoti Cocoa Farmers’ settlement in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State. Three students of Millicent Secondary School in the same area on their way to write their Senior Secondary School Examination, were also kidnapped at the same time.
“A sum of N31 million was reportedly paid to ransom three people who were kidnapped at Longe village on Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road last week Sunday. On Thursday, May 16, one Seliat Adeniji (nee Raji) was kidnapped in her Ebedi home in Iseyin, Oyo State. Her guard was killed in the process.
“Hon Bello Hassan representing Zurmi/Shinkafi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives last Tuesday claimed that terrorists have sacked about 50 communities and abducted over 500 people in his area of Zamfara State as bandits overran Zurmi, the second most populous town in the state killing palace officers as well as policemen.”
To put a serious check on all these, the Afenifere spokesman said that there was an urgent need to dig deep into the roots of the menace and to be decisive in applying the necessary measures.
News
NAFDAC shuts cosmetic shops in Lagos, seizes counterfeit products
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has shut three shops and raided others during a clampdown on the sale of unregistered “Dr. Teal’s” brand of cosmetics in Lagos State.
The agency disclosed this in a post on its X handle on Saturday, stating that the action came after a complaint from the trademark holder.
The statement read, “NAFDAC has shut down three cosmetics shops and raided others, targeting the sale of unregistered ‘Dr. Teal’s’ brand cosmetics. This action follows a complaint from the trademark holder regarding potential counterfeit products.
“Two suspected shops along Excellent Line at the Trade Fair Complex were targeted, resulting in sealed shops and invitation letters issued to attendants.”
It added that another development unfolded at Okas Global Link Limited where NAFDAC confiscated over 200 cartons of various Dr. Teal’s products and other unregistered cosmetics, suspecting them to be the source of distribution.
A shop identified as Cubana Stores at Phil Hallmark Plaza was also reported to have been sealed for stocking and selling the moisturising body and bath products of the alleged unregistered Dr. Teal’s brand.
NAFDAC added that according to its regulations, shop owners found guilty of selling unregistered products face penalties of up to ₦5m fine.
It said shop owners were also being questioned as part of ongoing investigations.
In the statement, the agency emphasised the health risks associated with fake cosmetics, stating the potential dangers of using products containing harmful substances.
News
Traders, soldiers clash at Banex Plaza in Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has deployed intelligence officers to Banex – an electronics and telecommunications gadgets market, in Abuja following a conflict that ensued between soldiers and some traders on Saturday.
A viral video seen by our correspondent on X on Saturday showed a multitude of civilians overpowering some soldiers during a free-for-all fight at Banex.
The Defence Headquarters, and the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, Onyema Nwachukwu could not be reached for comments as of press time.
Meanwhile, a trader who simply identified himself as Abdul, told our correspondent on Saturday that the conflict ensued over the sale of a mobile phone.
“There’s a problem at Banex now. Some soldiers came to complain about a phone, and during an argument with the traders, a fight ensued,” Abdul simply revealed.
When contacted over the development, the spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh said the Commissioner of Police, Benett Igweh has deployed officers of the FCT Intelligence Response Team to the scene of the incident.
“The CP has deployed the Intelligence Response Team to the scene,” Adeh confirmed.
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