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University of Lagos (UNILAG) Inducts 45 Medical Laboratory Scientists
CC™ PersPective
By Chioma Obinna
Forty-five medical laboratory science graduates, including two from Ladoke Akintola University, were inducted into the profession by the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
Representing MLSCN Registrar/CEO Professor Tosan Erhabor, Dr. Gregory Uchuno, emphasised the council’s commitment to regulating and advancing the profession.
Uchuno congratulated the graduates and highlighted the 12 students who achieved first-class honors, including top graduate Akinkwa Joshua.
He expressed hope that their success would inspire future generations of medical laboratory scientists.
The MLSCN also pledged to reward the best graduating students.
Addressing the audience, Uchuno praised UNILAG Vice-Chancellor Professor Folashade and her team for their contributions to the growth of the Medical Laboratory Science program.
He urged training institutions to collaborate with the MLSCN to develop professionals who can address the challenges in the Nigerian health sector.
He stressed the importance of improving local healthcare infrastructure and services to reduce the trend of citizens seeking medical care abroad.
“It is our priority, it is our patriotic duty, to change the unflattering narrative of a few citizens continually seeking quality diagnosis in other climes, while the rest bemoan the existential lack of access to quality healthcare,” Uchuno stated.
He also acknowledged the support received from senior medical laboratory scientists who continue to contribute their expertise to the MLSCN.
Uchuno encouraged the inductees to embrace the opportunities ahead and to gain practical experience before venturing abroad.
“Classroom work is not like bench work,” he cautioned, emphasising the importance of skill development. While acknowledging the trend of professionals seeking opportunities abroad, he urged them to contribute to the Nigerian health sector before leaving.
He suggested that improved equipment, salaries, and overall working conditions could help retain talent within the country. He revealed that out of the 47,000 medical laboratory scientists trained in Nigeria, approximately 20,000 have left the country.
Speaking, the Guest lecturer, Anyanwu Ikechukwu Charles of DCL Laboratory Products Ltd., challenged the graduates to contribute to national development. He emphasised the need for patriotism and urged them to bring back their acquired knowledge and skills to Nigeria.
He encouraged the graduates to consider establishing mega-laboratories rather than numerous smaller ones to improve quality control and resource utilisation.
“It is not all about making money. It is also about national development. It’s about tomorrow. It’s about our youth. It’s about the future of the country,” Anyanwu stated.
Speaking, Head of the Department of Medical Laboratory Science at UNILAG, Professor Kolawole Oyedeji, presented the 43 UNILAG and 2 LAUTECH graduates.
He highlighted the remarkable achievement of the graduating class, with approximately 30 percent earning first-class honors, a testament to the dedication of the faculty.
He declared that the department, in its 8th induction, is a leading force in medical laboratory science education in Nigeria, producing highly sought-after professionals globally.
On his part, the best graduating student, Joshua Adepoju, shared his journey to medical laboratory science, explaining that his initial interest in medicine and surgery led him to discover his passion for laboratory research.
VANGUARD NEWS
Friday
FG to cancel visa-on-arrival (Fulani-on-arrival) policy, to introduce landing, exit cards
CC™ Global News
By Staff
The Federal government has announced plans to cancel its Visa-on-Arrival policy, saying “it is not working”. Accordingly, government is set to introduce landing and exit cards which prospective visitors would pre-fill before coming into the country.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo spoke on Friday during the closing ceremony of the week long capacity building training on Advance Passenger Information / Passenger Name Record API/PNR Data in National Security and Law Enforcement held at the headquarters of the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS in Abuja.
According to him, some persons of interest have been trying to evade the new systems out in place across Nigeria’s five international airports. He said intelligence has revealed that such persons now travel to neighbouring countries in order to access Nigeria through its vast land borders.
Consequently, he said the ministry will work with relevant partners to deploy the API/PNR system across its land borders, noting that Nigeria cannot be a destination for criminals.
At the event, Comptroller General Immigration Service CGIS, Kemi Nandap said the programme originated from discussions held with the United Nations Organization on Counter Terrorism in Bangkok, Thailand last year. Nandap said the immigration service has a crop of well-trained and patriotic personnel who are ready to give their best to the country.
Objective profiling
The Interior minister said the API/PNR is not optional, recalling that system was not on place when he was made minister. He said; “What the API, PNR gives us is objectivity in decision making, objective profiling, not subjective profiling. What we had was subjective. The visa system, that is one of the core, because I always tell people the visa is not just an approval of entry, it is a migration management device. It is a security device to manage migration into your country. So the way it is at the moment is very subjective. We are not really too objective and that is why we are automating the whole process end-to-end. And the e-visa solution, we are working hard to be able to meet the first of March or peradventure if we are unable, the 1st of April, we will hit it live.
“We automate the system. People apply online and we will do what we need to do. That solution will be integrated with the Interpol system, the criminal records system, so that we can be able to take decisions. We do not want foreign attachés approving and issuing visas. It is not going to be that any more, we want to be able to screen people more. This cannot be a destination for wanted criminals in the world. Nigeria is not a safe haven for any criminal and it will never be.
“Another thing we are trying to do even for our expatriates is to see how we can integrate all these our immigration solutions. What we are doing is to harmonize all these solutions in our data centre, harmonize the database and be able to let the solutions speak to one another rather than having solutions in silos. “We want to have integrated solutions. So what we are looking at is that for any decision that borders on immigration into Nigeria, it will be impossible for approvals to be given without the clearance of interpol, criminal records system and all background checking agencies in real time. Security is not a sector where you can afford to be 99.9% correct.
“People must fill the landing card which will be integrated with the visa solution, integrated with the passport solution, then to all background checking systems across the world before you come. So we will be able to share this data with other agencies and across the world. This is to sanitize the process. A scenario where it is difficult for NIS,on the tip of a finger, to tell me the number of foreigners who are into Nigeria is unacceptable. A scenario where somebody comes into Nigeria, disappears, and becomes untraceable is unacceptable. A scenario where there is abuse of immigration policies and processes is unacceptable. A scenario where somebody needs to come to Nigeria, stay for six months, waiting to regularize the residency in Nigeria is unacceptable. It is not done anywhere in the world. So we are going to bring these massive reforms and these reforms start between March 1 and April 1. Why we are trying to do these is to be able to safeguard our people, is for us to be responsible in the comity of Nations, and for us to be able to contribute our fair quota to international peace”, he added.
FG approves relocation of 29 custodial centres
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has approved the relocation of 29 out of Nigeria’s 256 Custodial Centres due to rapid urbanization. Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo disclosed this on Friday in ABUJA when he commissioned 39 mini green maria for conveyance of inmates to and from courts, and five bullet resistant guard booths at the headquarters of the Nigeria Correctional Service NCoS in Abuja. The minister also explained the idea behind the establishment of a paramilitary academy, saying paramilitary jobs are not poverty alleviation schemes but lifelong careers that young Nigerians should aspire to get.
Tuesday
God bought my first aircraft not Living Faith offerings – Bishop Oyedepo
CC™ PersPective
The founder of the Living Faith Bible Church, Bishop David Oyedepo has declared that God bought him his first aircraft and not church offerings.
Speaking during his sermon at the church’s headquarters in Ota, Ogun State, Bishop Oyedepo dismissed rumours of using church funds to acquire his aircraft.
He, however, revealed that God miraculously provided the aircraft without any prior planning or prayer.
According to Bishop Oyedepo: “He bought the first aircraft without any prayer, without any idea that the aircraft was coming. He said it, he delivered it nobody had any pressure on his life. There was no pressure on the offering
“The offering didn’t buy it, God bought it. There was person contacted under heaven? No! God said it and I believe it and that settles it.
“It wasn’t an ambition, it was a unveiled divine agenda. If God asked me David when do you want that aircraft to be bought I would have said “God take it easy, take it easy, we are not near ready. Aircraft?
“Okay, let me find out first how much they sell it, he didn’t give us the room to find out. Not the aircraft that would go from here to Ilorin or Ogbomosho, we travel the whole of Africa with the aircraft.”
GLOBAL NEWS DESK
Monday
Atiku, Tambuwal, Imoke in closed-door meeting with Obasanjo in Abeokuta
CC™ Global News
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is currently in a closed-door meeting with his former boss, former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Atiku, who arrived Obasanjo’s residence, located on the premises of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) at exactly 12: 37p.m., was accompanied by the former governors of Sokoto and Cross Rivers State, Senator Aminu Tambuwa and Senator Liyel Imoke among other eminent political stalwarts from the northern region.
Upon arrival, Atiku alongside members of his entourage were received at the Obasanjo’s residence by the elder statesman, Oyewole Fasawe, before they all went straight into a private meeting with Obasanjo who had been waiting for his visitors.
GLOBAL NEWS DESK
Friday
Unchristian Trump unveils ‘anti-Christian bias’ Task Force
US President Donald Trump announced Thursday the creation of a task force to “eradicate anti-Christian bias” in government, intensifying a right-wing crackdown since returning to power.
The Republican billionaire said he was putting new Attorney General Pam Bondi at the head of the force to end “persecution” of the majority religion of the United States.
Trump said its mission would be to “immediately halt all forms of anti-Christian targeting and discrimination” in the Department of Justice, the Internal Revenue Service, the FBI and other government agencies.
He also said it would prosecute “anti-Christian violence and vandalism in our society.”
“We will protect Christians in our schools, in our military and our government, in our workplaces, hospitals and in our public squares,” Trump told a national prayer breakfast at a Washington hotel.
He also announced the creation of a “White House faith office” led by his spiritual advisor, the televangelist Paula White.
The announcements came amid a wider purge of the federal government at the start of Trump’s second term.
Trump has unveiled a slew of orders backing a conservative agenda, including several targeting diversity programs and transgender people.
Despite a criminal conviction for hush money payments in a porn star scandal and sexual assault allegations, Trump has long made himself a champion of right-wing Christians.
Trump’s cabinet contains several members with links to Christian nationalists, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
And while Trump is not seen as particularly religious, he said he had become more so after surviving an assassination attempt at an election rally in June 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“It changed something in me, I feel even stronger. I believed in God, but I feel much more strongly about it,” Trump told a separate prayer breakfast at the US Capitol on Thursday.
“We have to bring religion back.”
Trump said in his inauguration speech on January 20, referring to the assassination attempt, that he had been “saved by God to Make America Great Again.”
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday
US TECH GIANT IBM EXITS NIGERIA
American technology company, International Business Machines (IBM), has exited the Nigerian economic space.
The company announced that it is also leaving other African countries like Ghana, while it transfers its operations to a third-party company.
IBM is one of the latest international companies to exit the Nigerian economic space in recent times. In 2024, Guinness left, and Meta, the internet giant, and Microsoft reduced their physical presence in the country, scaling back their office spaces and transitioning to desk sharing for workers.
Under this new agreement, IBM will transfer its regional functions to MIBB, a subsidiary of Midis Group, a multinational IT and telecommunications conglomerate operating across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
The company said in a statement, “MIBB will market and sell IBM products and services in 36 African countries, thereby giving MIBB’s sales network direct access to IBM products, services, and support, further boosting innovation and growth in the region.”
The company’s presence in Nigeria spans over 50 years, but this marks the twilight of the present period.
In the 1960s, IBM helped to set up an educational centre at the University of Ibadan, aiding in building digital capacity.
The company was integral to the growth of the technology landscape, providing infrastructure and consulting services to industries such as education, banking, telecommunications, oil and gas, and government.
GLOBAL TECH DESK
Tuesday
South Africa gives Taiwan deadline to leave Pretoria
The South African government has given Taiwan March deadline to relocate the island’s de facto embassy outside of the capital city Pretoria.
The Taiwanese Foreign Ministry said this, blaming Chinese pressure for the move.
South Africa severed official diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1997 and only maintains formal and very close relations with China, which views the democratically governed island as Chinese territory with no right to the trappings of a state.
In a statement, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said South Africa’s government had sent a letter in January demanding the de facto Taiwanese embassy leave Pretoria before the end of March and “even be renamed as a trade office”.
China’s foreign ministry said South Africa was a “good friend and partner” of China, and the country was doing exactly what it should when it comes to upholding the “one China principle” which states Taiwan is part of China.
“Taiwan independence does not enjoy popular support, and will fail,” the ministry said in a statement to Reuters.
South Africa made a request last year for what is called the Taipei Liaison Office to leave Pretoria.
A spokesperson for the South Africa’s foreign ministry told Reuters “our department is coordinating with the Taipei liaison office regarding administrative matters related to accurately representing its diplomatic classification in South Africa.
China is South Africa’s largest trading partner globally and one with which it is looking to expand cooperation in areas such as renewable energy.
Taiwan’s government rejects China’s sovereignty claims and says it has a right to forge ties with other countries.
Taiwan only has formal diplomatic ties with 12 countries, and in Africa it only has a single ally left, Eswatini, which is almost surrounded by South Africa.
NEWSDESK
Monday
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