News

ATBU Trains 100 Academics On TETfund Research Fund Proposal

Published

1 year ago

December 11, 2024

The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi has commenced a two-day capacity building of 100 academics on Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund)’s National Research Fund proposal writing and development.

Speaking during the opening of the training on Tuesday, Prof. Ibrahim Garba, the Vice Chancellor of the institution charged the trainees to work hard to secure reasonable slots from the 200 allocated to higher institutions in the North.

According to him, the training was for academics whose 30 concept notes have been approved by TETfund.

He called on them to work towards securing maximum slots from the pool of 200 allocated to institutions in the North under the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETfund National Research Fund NRF Proposal Development.

Represented by Prof. Muhammad AbdulAzeez, immediate past VC of the institution, Garba said the National Research Fund is secured on merit hence the need for them to be highly attentive throughout the training to expand the notes to better proposals.

He said the training was organised in order to effect all the necessary corrections on the developed concept notes for them to scale through the rigorous screening process of securing the research grant.

Earlier, the Director Research, Innovation and Development, Prof. Fatima Sawa who congratulated all the participants for passing through all the hurdles to write the concept notes, urged them to support each other and brainstorm towards elevating the institution’s ranking by winning as many NRF slots as possible.

She said that the two-day training was organised for 100 academics from the faculties of Agriculture, Management Technology, Engineering, Environmental Technology, Computing.

Others, she said included Science, Directorate of Distance Learning and the TETFund Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards (SPESSE) Project, Centre of Excellence.

Sawa said TETfund NRF is designed to support research across multiple thematic areas, enhance innovation and capacity building in Nigerian institutions and provide funding for impactful research with national relevance.

“The NRF grant is meant to motivate staff and encourage them to conduct impactful projects that will impact directly on the society.

“On the basis of that, they brought out a guideline. First of all, you have to develop a concept note, which is sent to TETFund, and they have a team of experts who normally assess these concept notes.

“Then, out of the lots that have been submitted, they screen out those that are not good enough, and then they respond to the ones that are successful”.

“This year, we were able to have 30 successful concept notes. But that is the first step. The second step is for us to develop the proposal fully, and then it will be subjected to another set of screening”, she explained.

While presenting a paper on Marking Scheme for the Proposal, the Deputy Director RI&D, Prof. Balarabe Yushau, observed that for the research proposal to scale through, it must be within the specific word limits, have quality team members with track record, good and detailed budget with specified activities and timeline for execution.

Similarly, Prof. Muhammad AbdulAzeez Advised the institution to expand its training on research proposals to other faculties for more inclusion and access to local and international grants.

He emphasised the need to integrate more facilities into the training, adding that the wider the area of coverage in terms of fields of study, the more opportunities for the institution to achieve groundbreaking discoveries and ranking among higher institutions of learning.

“I want other faculties also to come in, to buy into this project. The NRF is just trying to tell you that you have a project that you now develop and the finances from TETfund, and these projects are projects that are helping the community.

“If you help the community, that is a kind of reason for setting up a university in any place. It is trying to solve community problems”, he said.

He called on the participants and other academics to use their brain towards getting out of the current economic situation by initiating research ideas to attract funding.

He expressed happiness with the number of concept notes that scaled through the TETfund scrutiny this year, hoping that the development would lead to the securing of more research grants by the university.

News

Eating Takeout Food Often May Increase Heart Disease Risk — Study

Published

2 days ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

Research suggests that higher takeout food consumption may increase a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease, like heart disease.

In a new study, published in Food Science & Nutrition, researchers said eating takeout food too often can influence systemic inflammation that underlies much cardiovascular disease.

The study of over eight thousand people in the 2009 to 2018 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) found that those who eat greater amounts of takeout food are likely to have various elevated risk factors for heart disease.

They were interviewed in their homes and also visited a mobile examination centre, where they recalled their food intake, received cardiometabolic health assessments, and had blood collected.

Mammograms may predict heart disease risk in women — Study

The researchers found a correlation between the amount of takeout food a person consumes and their likelihood of developing chronic low-level inflammation, a key driver of cardiovascular pathology.

Deaths from cardiovascular disease and the consumption of takeout foods are both on the rise, and while that does not prove a causal relationship, the study explores whether there is a connection between the two.

The study tracked degrees of systemic inflammation according to the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), a scale that quantifies the risk of inflammation related to the intake of specific dietary substances.

The three major takeaways from the analysis included that a higher level of takeout food consumption corresponded to an unfavourable cardiometabolic profile consisting of lower HDL, as well as higher triglycerides, fasting glucose, serum insulin, and insulin resistance.

Jayne Morgan, MD, cardiologist and Vice President of Medical Affairs in a reaction, who was not involved in the study, explained that “Takeout food raises the cardiovascular risk not because of one ingredient, but because of a predictable combination of nutrients, additives, and preparation methods that adversely affect blood pressure, lipids, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and endothelial function.”

“This includes excess sodium that increases blood volume and blood vessel stiffness, and unhealthy fats, usually saturated fats or trans fats, that increase cholesterol level and atherosclerosis, a condition that can lead to heart attack and stroke.”

Michelle Routhenstein, Preventive Cardiology Dietitian at Entirely Nourished, also not involved in this study, declared, “It is also important to recognise that frequent takeout use often reflects broader lifestyle pressures such as demanding schedules, limited access to cooking resources, irregular meals, and disrupted sleep, all of which can quietly compound cardiovascular risk.”

News

How To Identify Fake Kiss Condoms In Circulation

Published

2 days ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has recently warned Nigerians about the circulation of counterfeit Kiss brand condoms in major markets across the country.

Contents
Original DKT Kiss condoms
Fake Kiss condoms

In a public alert published on its website recently and referenced as Public Alert No. 042/2025, the agency said the warning followed information received from DKT International Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation involved in contraceptive social marketing and HIV/AIDS prevention.

NAFDAC stated, “The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control is notifying the public about the sale and distribution of fake Kiss condoms in various Nigerian markets.

“The information was received from the MAH-DKT International Nigeria, a leading non-governmental organisation focused on contraceptive social marketing. Its mission is to provide Nigerians with affordable and safe options for family planning and HIV/AIDS prevention.

“The fake Kiss condoms have been reported to be found in Onitsha Market, Idumota Market, Trade Fair Market, and various markets in Kano, Abuja, Uyo, Gombe, Enugu, and others.”

Kiss condom is a brand of male latex condoms designed to offer sexual protection, including the prevention of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections such as HIV, gonorrhoea and syphilis.

To help consumers avoid counterfeit products, NAFDAC outlined key differences between original and fake Kiss condoms.

Original DKT Kiss condoms
The original product comes in a light red box pack with clear instructions printed on the lower part of the pack, including single-use warnings and storage and caution information. The box contains detailed medical device information, including MDSS GmbH, Germany, and a complete Nigerian address at Isolo Industrial Layout, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

The condom pack is light red, with the word “Kiss” closely written on six lines. The wallet outer pack is lighter red, carries the Oshodi-Apapa address, manufacturer details, and a clear product description beside the condom image. The hidden flap includes revision dates, medical device details, and caution information, while the wallet inner contains detailed instructions and eight bullet points under important notes.

The original condom is large, oval-shaped, well-lubricated, and has a large teat end for semen collection.

Fake Kiss condoms
In contrast, fake Kiss condoms come in darker-coloured box packs with little or no additional information. Some boxes are plain white inside and lack condom images. The address is wrongly listed as 42, Montgomery Road, Yaba, Lagos, while the manufacturer’s address is incomplete or missing. Storage and caution information is absent.

The condom pack is darker, with “Kiss” loosely written on five lines and wide spacing. The condom strip is longer than the original. The wallet outer pack is also darker red, carries incorrect or missing addresses, lacks colour wave designs, and shows inconsistencies in barcode lines. Medical device and caution information are missing, and the hidden flap contains no details.

Inside the wallet, information is summarised with only six bullet points. The fake condom is thinner, round-shaped, less lubricated, and has a smaller teat end.
(TRIBUNE)

News

Lagos: Police Arrest 14 Suspected Traffic Robbers On Lekki-Epe Expressway

Published

3 days ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

Fourteen persons suspected to be involved in traffic-related robbery have been arrested at various points along the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos over the past two weeks.

The arrests were confirmed on Tuesday by the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, via a post on her official X handle, @AbimbolaShotayo.

According to her, operatives of the Command’s Tactical Squad based in Elemoro carried out the operations that led to the suspects’ apprehension.

She explained that the arrests followed sustained patrols and intelligence-driven operations aimed at curbing criminal activities associated with traffic congestion and improving the safety of motorists and other road users along the busy corridor.

Adebisi noted that the development reflects the Command’s determination to strengthen security and uphold law and order on the Lekki-Epe axis, adding that the Tactical Squad has continued to proactively identify crime-prone areas and respond swiftly to threats posed by criminal elements.

She called on residents and commuters to support police efforts by providing timely and credible information that could assist in preventing and detecting crime.

“Security is a shared responsibility. Members of the public are encouraged to stay alert and promptly report any suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station,” she said.

The police spokesperson further reassured residents and road users of the Command’s commitment to maintaining aggressive patrols and security operations to protect lives and property in the area.

She reiterated the Command’s community policing message, “See Something, Say Something,” stressing the importance of cooperation between the police and the public in sustaining peace and security.