News

UNICEF Moves To Enhance Massive Vaccine Uptake In Bauchi

Published

1 year ago

July 18, 2024

In order to enhance the massive uptake of vaccines and fight against disease outbreaks in Bauchi state, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has established ‘Fathers for Good Health Support Group’ as an agent of change.

Mr Eki George, Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) Specialist, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, stated this in an interview with newsmen on Wednesday after interacting with members of the group in Misau Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, the support group was established in two Local Government Areas of Ningi and Misau with 360 fathers as members in the pilot programme to promote vaccine uptake by their families and children.

He explained that the two selected LGAs were zero dose ones, the low performing LGAs in vaccine uptake across the state and with a high number of children that have never received a single dose of vaccine which he said, was a recipe for disaster.

“This is one of our gender projects which came about from some of the work we have done with the federal government immunization programme across the country.

“Consistently, some issues around uptake of polio vaccines have actually come up and one of them that has been a reoccurring issue is the issue of fathers or head of a household not giving permission for their children to be vaccinated.

“Because of this, you get to homes where a woman tells you sorry, I can’t vaccinate my child because my husband has not given me the permission to do so.

“It became very obvious that the role of men in vaccine uptake is becoming very critical. As a response to that, UNICEF as an organization decided to work with the National Healthcare Development Agency and the Bauchi state Primary Healthcare Development Agency to pilot what we know as Fathers for Good Health Support Group.

“It’s a support group of men selected from their own communities and using the knowledge that we have taken them through to talk to other fathers to see how we can resolve the issue of children not being vaccinated because fathers are not giving consent,” he said.

The SBC Specialist explained that since the inception of the programme a couple of months ago, impacts have been made and fathers were seen accepting and taking their children to facilities to be vaccinated because the group was sensitizing other fathers on the importance of vaccination.

Also speaking with newsmen, one of the members of the group, Aliyu Abubakar who lauded UNICEF for coming up with such ‘a life saving Programme, said he has six children that had not been vaccinated.

“I have six children and none has been vaccinated at all due to my ignorance, thinking it’s something harmful but since the training started, I am now enlightened.

“Henceforth if I am going to have ten children, all of them must be vaccinated from birth.

“The three younger ones that started vaccination among them are looking healthier than those who have never had one,” he said.

He called on all parents to start taking their children to facilities to be vaccinated so as to be healthier and easily fight off disease outbreaks.

News

Grassroots To Global Podium: Edo Sports Commission Marks Enabulele’s First Year In Office

Published

10 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Editor

The Indoor Sports Hall in Benin City came alive on Wednesday as the Edo State Sports Commission rolled out the drums to celebrate the first anniversary in office of its Executive Chairman, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele. Management, staff, coaches and athletes gathered in an atmosphere charged with pride, reflection and optimism.

The colourful ceremony drew executives and members of various sports associations, officials of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), coaches, athletes and other key stakeholders in Edo sports.

In her welcome address, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Mrs. A. P. Amenze, praised Hon. Enabulele for what she described as focused and purposeful leadership. She said the past year had seen renewed confidence, discipline and energy return to the state’s sports ecosystem.

Adding excitement to the event were exhibition bouts and demonstrations by the Kung Fu, Karate, Taekwondo and Judo associations, staged in honour of the Executive Chairman.

Speaking for SWAN Edo State, Chairman Comrade Kehinde Osagiede commended Hon. Enabulele’s open-door leadership style and consistent support for sports development. He noted that the Commission had effectively driven Governor Monday Okpebholo’s “Catch Them Young” policy through practical grassroots programmes that identify and groom young talents across the state.

In recognition of his contributions to sports development and media relations, Comrade Osagiede conferred the Patronship of SWAN Edo State on Hon. Enabulele and presented him with a special anniversary card.

Goodwill messages followed from Executive Directors of the Commission, including Hon. Frank Ilaboya (Edo North), Coach Baldwin Bazuaye, MON (Edo South), Barr. Anthony Ikuenobe (Edo Central), and Mrs. Sabrina Chikere, Executive Director, Sports Development and Operations. Representatives of coaches, athletes and sports associations also took turns to acknowledge the progress recorded under the current leadership.

In his stewardship address, Hon. Enabulele expressed gratitude to Governor Monday Okpebholo and Deputy Governor Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa for the trust placed in him, noting that their backing and shared vision had driven the Commission’s achievements.

He highlighted Team Edo’s third-place finish at the 9th National Youth Games in Asaba, where the state recorded its best-ever outing with 79 medals—33 gold, 18 silver and 28 bronze—reinforcing Edo’s reputation as a national sports powerhouse.

The Chairman also pointed to the impact of inclusive and grassroots sports programmes, citing Favour Ojeabu, a visually impaired para-cyclist who won three gold medals to emerge Africa’s champion at the African Track Para-Cycling Championship in Egypt.

Other milestones listed included outstanding performances by Edo para powerlifters on the international stage, historic achievements in cricket, weightlifting, cycling, judo and deaf athletics, as well as structural reforms such as the repositioning of Bendel Insurance FC and deeper investment in grassroots sports development.

Cultural performances added colour and tradition to the celebration, as stakeholders closed the event united in their assessment of the past year as a truly transformative period for sports development in Edo State.

News

Otuaro Tasks Media On Objective Reportage

Published

18 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Editor

The Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Dr. Dennis Otuaro has charged media practitioners particularly members of the Ijaw Publishers’ Forum to promote ethical journalism through their reportage.

He gave the charge in Warri on Wednesday during the 2nd Annual Ijaw Media Conference organised by the Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF).

Represented by Princewill Binebai, spokesman, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Otuaro while stating that the Niger Delta stories have been told in such a way that is quite different from what is obtainable in the real sense, said this, IPF must do everything possible to correct.

The administrator added: “I am happy that Ijaw journalists have boldly come out together to champion the Ijaw struggle in a very dynamic perspective”.

“The Ijaw story was misrepresented over the years, but IPF’s emergence had corrected this error and the story is gradually changing for better.”

Otuaro, however, challenged Ijaw media practitioners to be objective, truthful, accurate and fearless in their reportage to correct many years anomalies of the Ijaw struggle.

He admonished members of IPF to see themselves as brothers and love one another in the discharge of their activities to achieve a common goal.

News

Police Confirm Edo Tanker Explosion, say No Casualty

Published

18 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Editor

The Edo State Police Command has confirmed tanker explosions that rocked Auchi, the administrative headquarters of Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.

The Command’s Police Publice Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, who confirmed the incident via the phone, said the explosion occurred at about 6:30 p.m. following the fall of a fuel tanker along the road.

Ikoedem said the incident occurred on Wednesday evening at about 6:30 p.m. following the fall of a fuel tanker along the road.

She explained that spilled fuel seeped into underground tunnels, which later ignited and caused three explosions in different parts of the Auchi community.

According to her, officers from the Auchi Divisional Police Headquarters and the Area Command were mobilised to the affected areas and successfully cordoned them off to prevent loss of lives.

She added: “No casualty was recorded. Our men on ground were able to cordoned the affected areas.”

It was gathered that three separate explosions rocked the town simultaneously in different parts, which led to properties worth millions of naira destroyed.

A resident who does not want his name in print said via the telephone that the blasts occurred along Igbei Road, Igbo Shade, and along the Auchi–Okene Road, close to Winners Junction.

The resident, who alleged the explosions appeared to have been coordinated, called for a thorough investigation into the incident to prevent future occurrences.

Calls put across to Mr. Monday Edogiawere, Chairman, Red Cross, Edo State, were not picked.