President Cyril Ramaphosa has postponed his trip to the DRC on doctors’ advice to first recover from an upper respiratory tract infection before undertaking prolonged travel.
The high office on Tuesday said the President is receiving medical attention and making a good recovery.
President Ramaphosa was due to travel to Kinshasa on Monday, 15 October.
“President Ramaphosa and President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will at a future stage ratify the agreements reached between the two countries at the 11th Session of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) currently underway in Kinshasa.
“The South African government has been in communication with the government of the DRC regarding this change in President Ramaphosa’s schedule and has expressed its appreciation for the DRC’s hosting of the official and ministerial deliberations that have taken place in Kinshasa in preparation for the participation of the two heads of government in the BNC,” said the Presidency on Tuesday.
Leaders at the 5th SKA and AVN projects African Ministerial Forum meeting in Cape Town.
Leaders at the 5th SKA and AVN projects African Ministerial Forum meeting in Cape Town.
South African Science and Technology Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane says the partner countries in the African Very Long Baseline Interferometry Network (AVN) projects are happy with progress that has been made to prepare for the construction of telescopes in their respective countries.
Kubayi-Ngubane addressed a media briefing shortly after opening the 5th Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and AVN projects African Ministerial Forum meeting in Cape Town on Tuesday.
“We will be issuing a final communiqué at the end of the day once the Ministers have gone through the details and that will include [a response to the question of which country will launch a telescope next]. But we are happy with the number of milestones [that have been achieved],” she said.
The Minister also said that along with the African partner countries, they were also satisfied with the human capital development in those countries and the number of bursaries that had been awarded for Master’s and Doctorate studies in the fields of astronomy.
Following the completion of the 64-dish MeerKAT in the Karoo in the Northern Cape earlier this year, the construction of the second phase of the SKA project, which is set to commence in 2021, is scheduled to be completed in 2026.
The recently-launched telescope in Kuntunse, Ghana, which was converted from a redundant communications antenna into a radio telescope, will be integrated into the African VLBI Network (AVN) in preparation for the second phase construction of the SKA across the African continent.
In the end, the SKA project, which South Africa is co-hosting with Australia, aims to build the world’s largest radio telescope, with eventually over a square kilometre of collecting area that will eventually use thousands of dishes and up to a million low frequency antennas that will enable local and international astronomers to monitor the sky in unprecedented detail and survey the entire sky much faster than any system currently in existence.
Addressing the opening session earlier in the day, Kubayi-Ngubane said the SKA/AVN project is a clear demonstration that member states of the African Union can work together and coordinate science, technology and innovation activities to benefit of the people in the continent.
She said as leaders responsible for science and technology in their respective countries, they have a huge responsibility to ensure that science and technology is placed at the epicentre of achieving the six priorities outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals. This includes eradication of hunger and achieving food security; prevention and control of diseases; communication (physical and intellectual mobility); protection of space; living together and building society; and wealth creation.
She said following the launch of Ghana’s radio telescope, which has already made first light observations, several milestones had been achieved in other African partner countries.
“We have rolled out two-dish interferometers at universities for teaching and training purposes in Botswana and Mozambique as pilots. We have also rolled out about 10-20 computers loaded with software used in radio astronomy in Botswana and Mozambique as pilots.
“We have been able to provide assistance to university astronomy programmes in partner countries through workshops and support to curriculum.
“Lastly, we have initiated an AVN Human Capacity Development Programme, which has supplemented the SKA Human Capacity Development Programme to increase the number of recipients and training opportunities from the SKA/AVN partner countries.
“So far, 136 recipients mainly from African SKA partner countries, have benefited from this initiative, many returning home to initiate radio astronomy programmes at their home universities,” she said.
Benefits of the MeerKAT
Dr Rob Adam, the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory’s managing director, said the MeerKAT has yielded a number of socio-economic benefits for towns surrounding the SKA site in the Karoo.
This includes the construction of a tarred road, a training centre and a community centre that have contributed to skills development, investment in education and health, empowerment of local contractors and human capital development.
Giving a status update of where other partner countries are in terms of preparing for the construction of their telescopes, he said while different countries varied in terms of progress, AVN sites have been assessed in Botswana, Mauritius, Namibia and Kenya, while in Zambia, a site has been secured.
Kaduna State Government says it is committed to ensuring academic excellence, as it identifies with the youngest female Phd holder in Northern Nigeria.
The State Commissioner for Education, Jafaru Ibrahim Sani made the remark at a forum to honour the 27-year old Madinah Abdulazeez, the Phd holder along with some others in Kaduna, Northwest of the country.
He restated with delight the recent employment of thousands of qualified primary school teachers across the State by the government.
The Commissioner disclosed that arrangement have also been concluded for the recruitment of additional secondary schools’ teachers aimed at achieving the desired result.
Malam Jafaru therefore called on teachers in the State to continue to put in their best for the overall development of education in the state.
He congratulated Dr. Madinah Abdulazeez and seven others who have obtained Phd saying that “Governor Nasira El-Rufai is proud of their academic hard work”.
The Chairman Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Abuja Dr. Muhammad Abubakar who spoke on the importance of education, urged parents to always send their children to school.
He said UBEC is committed toward ensuring qualitative Basic Education in Nigeria.
Also speaking, an Educationalist, Aisha Aliko Muhammed described education as the only key to success.
The District Head of Tudun Wada,Tahir Mahmud Commended the people of his domain for accepting education as well as the prevailing peace and unity in the area.
Earlier in an address of welcome, the Chairman of Tudun Wada North Forum, organisers of the event, Isah Adamu said “we organised the event to celebrate Madinah Abdulazeez and seven others in our Ward who have obtained Phd.
According to him “it is important to note that attaining the feat, these sons and Daughter of Tudun Wada North Community have made us extremely vital to the Socio-economic well-being of the community, the state and nation at large”.
Responding, the celebrant, Dr. Madinah Abdul-Azeez called on Parents to always give specially attention to the education of their children, most especially the females.
Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr Mohammed Babandede, has said that the issuance of Nigerian Passport with 10 years validity will commence in December, 2018.
Babandede made the disclosure when he visited Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state on Monday in Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the immigration boss and some senior officers were in Ibadan for the first International Conference on Border In-Transition at the University of Ibadan.
He explained that the new passport would have features that could stand the test of time, adding that it would run concurrently with the old ones.
“We thank President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the new passport with 10 years validity.
“We have also re-positioned and improved on our services as directed by the president,” he said.
Babandede said NIS had also improved accessibility to visa through the introduction of Visa-on-Arrival for immigrants whose country was without an embassy.
“We have initiated the centralisation of Temporary Work Permit for immigrants who are in the country for a temporary assignment as well as made it easy for women to do change of name across the states.
“We have also introduced forward-front-border patrol to curtail activities of smugglers and criminals within the border areas.
“We will continue to ensure adequate security of the border and country at large,” he said.
He said that the president had directed that NIS officers should patronise the bushes unlike the street patrol system which operated before his administration.
In his response, Ajimobi charged NIS to ensure regular monitoring of the nation’s borders for the sustenance of peace in the country.
Ajimobi, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Moses Adeyemo, admonished the NIS boss to initiate policies towards checking illegal immigrants into the country.
He urged them to improve on border policing and ensure recruitment of credible people into the service.
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Monday reiterated the country’s commitment to nationwide health coverage as part of its sustainable development goals.
Al-Bashir made the remarks on the first day of the 65th Session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean held in the capital Khartoum.
“We reiterate the Sudanese government’s concern with the public health … regardless of their economic or social status,’’he said.
The Sudanese president described health as the main way to fight poverty and achieve comprehensive and sustainable development.
He also referred to Sudan’s national health policy for 2017-2030 as an approach to achieving the health objectives and prosperity for all citizens.
The Sudanese government has formulated polices and strategies to reduce child and maternity mortality rates, combat communicable diseases such as malaria, and protect families against risks and financial burdens, al-Bashir noted.
WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom and representatives from more than 22 countries attended the WHO session.
It is the first time that Sudan has hosted a WHO session.
Germany has deported a Moroccan associate of the Sept. 11 hijackers after he served most of a 15-year jail term for helping to organise the 2001 attacks on U.S. targets, authorities said on Monday.
El-Motassadeq, 44, was a member of a group of radical Islamists based in the northern German city of Hamburg, who helped bring about the suicide attacks with hijacked airliners that killed nearly 3,000 people.
Handed the maximum sentence of 15 years in 2007 for being an accessory to mass murder, Motassadeq is one of only two men convicted to date of involvement in the plot.
“It’s good to know that Mr Motassadeq is now out of the country so we can close this chapter for Hamburg,’’ State Interior Minister, Andy Grote, said in a statement.
Photographs showed a man with covered eyes being led by two armed policemen to a helicopter.
German media had reported that Motassadeq was taken to Frankfurt to be deported to Morocco, where his family lives.
At his 2007 trial, his lawyers argued that Motassadeq knew nothing about the Sept. 11 plot.
But prosecutors said he played a central role in suicide hijacker Mohammed Atta’s group by running the financial affairs of some cell members.
Nigeria's Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili
Nigeria’s Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili
A former Vice-President (Africa) of World Bank, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, has advised Nigeria to shelve its plan of raising 2.8 billion dollars in Eurobond to fund the 2018 budget.
Ezekwesili, who was a former Minister of Education, gave the advice while speaking to newsmen in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that she was reacting to the statement made by the Minister of Finance, Hajia Zainab Ahmed, on Sunday that the government would soon float the bond.
Speaking at the annual International Monetary Fund (IMF) meeting in Bali, Indonesia, Ahmed said the country was exploring the bond option to strictly fund capital projects in the budget.
“The upcoming bonds that we are trying to raise will be within the 2018 budget framework and with approved targets.
“So, we are not going beyond what was approved in the budget. The budget has approved for us to borrow both locally and internationally and we have a bond issuance with the range of 2.8 billion dollars that we need to raise before the year closes out.
‘’The bond will be used to fund capital projects in the 2018 budgets,’’ she said.
The minister added that the country had more legroom for borrowings despite high debt profile, saying the total debt profile of the country was just three per cent of the GDP.
Reacting, Ezekwesili said the plan to borrow more was not good for the health of the economy.
She argued that the country currently spent 69 per cent of its revenue on servicing both local and international debts.
The former World Bank chief added that borrowing more was not a sustainable step as the country was not generating much revenue to cater for its critical development needs.
“What, in my view, the plan to float the bond portends for the economy is that the Federal Government is digging in instead of digging out.
“Already, the debt service to revenue is so high. Today it is 69 per cent. 69 per cent of revenue is used to service our debts.
“That is not a sustainable situation. I see the government quote all the time `Debt to GDP ratio’, but that is like a blunt instrument in an environment where your GDP is not reflective of your productivity.
“We measure your productivity by the revenue the GDP generates in the form of revenue of government that comes as a result of the GDP.
“Your debt to GDP is three per cent and you think that gives you the legroom to borrow and borrow. No, that is not your instrument.
“Your instrument is your debt service tool, which is the revenue,” she said.
Ezekwesili urged the government to avoid plunging the country to insolvency someday with borrowings, by exploring innovative ways to increase revenue.
She particularly urged the government to diversify revenue sources and pursue deep sector and structural reforms to reposition the economy.
The former World Bank VP urged the country to prioritise its needs and deploy limited resources only in those areas with massive impact on development.
Ezekwesili, a presidential candidate of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), said the economy needed workable policies for revival, and promised to cause an economic turnaround if elected.
A Non-Governmental organisation which focuses on children and women health, Women 4 Women, has mobilised medical personnel to sensitise Almajiris, destitute and other children hawking along the streets and Kaduna Central Market, North west of the country, on the importance of hand washing.
The Sensitisation which brought together doctors, nurses and health volunteers is aimed at reducing the spread of infectious, viruses and bacterial diseases.
Founder of the NGO, Maryam Abubakar led the sensitisation campaign to some Almajiri schools, and other areas in the City to mark the Day.
Maryam said washing hands is the best way of stopping germs from spreading infectious diseases and the simplest, most effective measure of preventing the spread of bacteria, pathogens, and viruses that might harm children and adult in the community.
“Hands are the highways to the transmission and spread of bacteria, pathogens, and viruses that cause diseases, food-borne illness, and infections resulting from hospital treatment”.
“Unwashed hands could quickly spread germs around a building via the Door and cupboard handles, kitchen, Taps of water, Kettles, Telephones, Photocopier and printer buttons, Mice, Keyboard, Toilet, Hand shake and many domestic objects.
”We choose to celebrate the Day through educating Almajirai and other destitute children simply because we feel they are always left behind in terms of educating them on health matters, and we feel they need to be educated like every other child about preventive ways to avert spread of diseases ”
Maryam describes hand washing as the single most effective way to prevent the spread of infections among children.
“We must teach them how to wash their hands before eating and after eating to reduce spread of various diseases associated with lack of washing Hands”
“These children eat food without cleaning their hands, and we feel that there is need to educate them that is why we are here with them “she said
Additionally, you can also catch germs when you touch contaminated objects or surfaces and then you touch your face (mouth, eyes, and nose).
She warns all Nigerian children to stop eating or drinking all sorts of food stuff without washing their hands, so as to avert germs and other bacterial diseases.
She called on other NGOs and CSOs, state and federal ministries of health to double-up efforts in raising more awareness to both rural and urban children on the importance of washing hands.
She noted that many infections are transmitted to hospital patients from other patients or staff members by poor hand washing techniques adding that if hospital staff don’t wash hands between patients, they carry bacteria and viruses from one patient to another.
Another NGO “Foundation for the Protection of Women and Children,” has also visited some Kaduna communities, to create awareness and campaign among rural dwellers on the importance of washing hands.
The founder, Comrade Ramatu Tijjani said hand washing reduces the number of transient organisms on the skin surface hence the reason why they usually visit local communities and educate them
She said Keeping hands clean through improved hand hygiene is one of the most important steps one could take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.
Ramatu noted that many diseases are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean, running water,
She called on traditional, community and religious leaders as well as women and youth organisations to join the campaign to educate various communities on the importance of hand washing.
