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The Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr. Salma Ibrahim Anas, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ending preventable maternal and child deaths through the full implementation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed health agenda.

Speaking at the Proposal and Scaling Workshop organised by the Rotary Action Group for Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health on Tuesday in Abuja, she said the initiative aligns with the government’s policy direction and demonstrates how strategic partnerships can strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system.

She said, ‘This is a timely initiative that fully aligns with the vision of the renewed health agenda under President Bola Tinubu.

‘We are excited because it complements our national efforts to improve the wellbeing of women and children. For too long, our statistics on maternal and newborn health have not been encouraging, but under this administration, we are determined to change the story.’

She explained that the administration was committed to reducing deaths associated with pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal complications through evidence-based interventions, improved access to primary healthcare, and collaboration with development partners.

‘We invite all civil society groups, development partners and individuals to join hands with us. Rotary International’s project is a clear example of what partnership can achieve, especially as it scales up to reach more women and save more newborn lives,’ he noted.

Ibrahim-Anas commended Rotary for expanding its maternal and child health project to 14 states across the six geopolitical zones, urging states to take ownership of such initiatives and provide enabling environments for their success.

‘We are not expecting Rotary to replace government’s efforts,’ he said. ‘Rather, it should demonstrate best practices that can be replicated across all states. Every sub-national government must invest in high-impact interventions that directly improve women and children’s health.’

The presidential adviser highlighted the administration’s focus on strengthening the primary healthcare system, decentralising decision-making to local governments, and encouraging community participation in health delivery.

‘We are devolving power to the lowest level,’ he stated. ‘The goal is to ensure that services are available and accessible. Communities must take ownership of healthcare programmes because the majority of those in need-women and children-are at that level.’

Dr. Anas identified persistent challenges such as inadequate funding, insecurity, and cultural barriers as factors affecting health outcomes, stressing the need for innovative solutions.

‘Funding gaps will always exist, but the real question is how effectively we use available resources,’ he explained. ‘Security challenges in parts of the country, particularly the North, have restricted access to care, while cultural practices still discourage some women from seeking medical help.’

He revealed that the government was working with private sector partners to boost investment in healthcare and promote local production of essential drugs.

‘Government alone cannot do it. We are encouraging private sector investment in primary healthcare and supporting local manufacturing of life-saving medicines such as oxytocin, to ensure availability and affordability.’

While commending Rotary International’s contribution to Nigeria’s health sector, she said the Federal Government would continue to support efforts that align with its universal health coverage (UHC) goals.

‘Rotary has shown through its work that partnerships can create lasting impact. Your approach to building local capacity and institutionalising programmes guarantees sustainability and long-term results.’

She reaffirmed President Tinubu’s resolve to build a stronger, inclusive, and equitable healthcare system for all Nigerians.

‘The renewed health agenda provides both the policy direction and financial commitment to transform maternal and child health in Nigeria. Together for a healthy family is not just a slogan-it is a national goal we are determined to achieve.’ She added.

Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the Rotary Action Group for Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health (RMCH), Professor Adedolapo Emmanuel Lufadeju, said the Rotary is scaling up its flagship intervention – the Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria programme – to all six geopolitical zones, following its impressive outcomes in pilot states.

According to him, ‘We want to scale up our ongoing programme, which is a programme of scale of the Rochi Foundation called Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria. We are currently working in four locations – Nasarawa, Gombe, Ekiti, and the FCT – and because of the excellent implementation and execution of the programme, we are now scaling to other parts of the country,’ he said.

Professor Lufadeju explained that the expansion is aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery systems and reducing maternal and child deaths across Nigeria. ‘The idea is to improve healthcare delivery in the states where we are working, to ensure that maternal deaths are reduced, child deaths are reduced, pregnant women attend antenatal clinics, deliver safely in health facilities, and also return for postnatal care,’ he stated.

Speaking further on the success of the programme, the Coordinator noted its model-based approach. ‘At the moment, the programme has several models, and one of the most important is the public engagement model. This involves community dialogues, medical outreaches, and home visits to hard-to-reach places. These are activities that we have templates for – we have perfected the procedures – and now we want to replicate them across other parts of the country so that more communities can benefit,’ he said.

Professor Lufadeju also explained the importance of data in driving interventions, particularly through the group’s robust monitoring framework.

‘We have a strong data collection system under the Maternal, Perinatal, and Child Death Surveillance and Response (MPCDSR), which essentially functions as a death audit mechanism.

‘It helps us track how many women are dying from pregnancy-related complications. We can now identify and tag these cases electronically, ensuring maternal deaths are no longer issues hidden under the carpet but openly recognized and addressed,’ he explained.

On the criteria for selecting new states for the scale-up, Lufadeju made it clear that the process is evidence-driven. ‘We have about four or five criteria for selecting the states we are expanding to. One is the maternal and child death burden in each state. We also consider security and accessibility, particularly in terms of transportation,’ he said.

He added that states demonstrating strong political commitment and active community participation were prioritized. ‘We look at how states have performed in our previous engagements, those that have shown political will to support the system and drive change. We also assess the responsiveness of beneficiaries to our interventions. All these factors guided our decision in selecting the new locations for expansion,’ he said.

A Bill aimed at addressing the mortality rate arising from sickle cell passed Second Reading on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday.

The bill sponsored by Senator representing Kaduna South, Sunday Katung seeks to improve access to specialised care for patients through the establishment of Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD) Research and Therapy Centres across the six geopolitical zones in the country.

The Centres when established, will offer diagnostic, curative and rehabilitative services, while also serving as hubs for research, data collection and patient education.

Presenting the Bill, Senator Katung submitted that the objective is to provide a painstaking, structured and sustainable approach to the management of sickle cell disorder which he described as one of the most common inherited diseases in Africa.

The lawmaker maintained that ‘the Bill seeks to establish the Sickle Cell Centres in each of the six geo-political zones in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and make comprehensive provisions for the due administration of the Centres.’

He explained that they would not only deliver advanced medical care but also support families and communities affected by the disorder through counselling and public education.

Further advancing the argument on the imperative of the Centres, Senator Katung described Nigeria as the global epicentre of sickle cell disorder, accounting for about half of the estimated 300,000 newborns with the disease each year.

‘Sickle Cell Disorder is the most common inherited disorder in tropical Africa, with over 650 children dying per day. In Nigeria, most of those with the most severe form of the disorder die before the age of five.’

He noted that while more than 90 per cent of patients in high-income countries now survive into adulthood due to improved treatment and care, Nigeria continues to record a high mortality rate because it lags behind in diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.

‘Despite tremendous global scientific progress, Nigeria still records a very high rate of SCD complications and deaths because we have not fully implemented the treatment plans that have worked in other countries.’

In his contribution, Senator representing Enugu West, Osita Ngwu, commended his colleague for the initiative as he described the presentation of the Bill as timely.

He said, ‘It comes from a genetic transmission, due to ignorance of the parents. This bill is timely and will go a long way in providing therapy and saving lives.’

Senator representing Oyo North, Abdulfatah Buhari said the bill should prioritise enlightenment and rural outreach to sensitise more people on the disorder. He stated, ‘Most people don’t even know who to marry in terms of genotype compatibility.’

In her contribution, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan said when established, the Centres should be attached to university teaching hospitals to enhance research and reduce establishment cost.

Deputy Senate President. Jibrin Barau who presided at plenary referred the bill to the Committee on Health for further legislative action.

Professor Kolawole Olawale from the College of Liberal Studies, Bowen University, Iwo, has delivered the university’s 24th inaugural lecture.

Olawale, a professor of Music and Applied Musicology, presented a lecture titled ‘Music as Revelation: Journeying through the Mysterium Tremendum Et Fascinans in Sound, Spirit and Scholarship.’ He noted that music education in Nigeria lacks scholarship opportunities to support those with interest and talent in the field.

He urged education stakeholders to promote the study of music through scholarships at all levels of learning, stating that the absence of such support has hindered the growth and impact of music education in Nigeria and across Africa.

According to him, the value of music education in national development-especially in shaping positive human psychology and mindset-cannot be overstated. He also observed that Nigeria has not fully explored music therapy to address health challenges and improve social well-being.

He said, ‘Through teaching, I encouraged people to view music not simply as a sound, but as a vessel of mystery to awaken an awareness of how music reveals, heals and unites. Music has a unique power to lift the human spirit, carrying it beyond the ordinary into encounters with the sacred.’

Professor Olawale described music as more than art or science, calling it a revelation-‘a sacred paradox that inspires awe and draws humans closer to the mystery of existence.’

He added that music reflects cultural values and life experiences, appearing in every society because it meets emotional, spiritual, social, and intellectual needs.

Olawale explained that applied musicology extends beyond theory and classroom teaching, emphasising the need to use music for the benefit of society.

He encouraged composers and performers to embrace African rhythms, melodies, and stories as meaningful elements in their works rather than surface embellishments. He stressed that African music should be preserved, celebrated, and shared globally in ways that respect its origins.

Olawale said music connects people to their past, shapes the present, and inspires a better future. He warned that colonial influence, cultural erosion, and technology threaten African music but also offer opportunities to revive indigenous traditions and strengthen cultural expression.

He stated, ‘Let us compose not only for performance but for purpose. Let us perform not only for applause but for awakening. For music is more than sound, it is soul made audible. It is revelation, and the revelation never concludes-it moves from this moment into the lives we live, the songs we use, and the stories we preserve.’

In conclusion, he advised Nigerian musicians to deepen their understanding of music education and avoid lyrics that incite violence, encouraging the use of uplifting and transformative words instead.

The Vice-Chancellor of Bowen University, Professor Jonathan Babalola, commended Olawale, noting that every well-taught and well-researched discipline contributes meaningfully to national development. He added that music holds deep significance and plays a vital role in human social growth.

The Oyo State Government has reiterated its commitment to transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness in the preparation and implementation of the 2026 budget, assuring citizens of improved welfare and sustained development across all zones of the state.

This assurance was given during the 2026 Budget Stakeholders’ Consultative Meetings held across Oke-Ogun, Ogbomoso, and Iseyin zones, where top government officials engaged residents on their needs and priorities for the forthcoming fiscal year.

Speaking at the Oke-Ogun session held at Saki Township Hall, the Deputy Governor, Barr. Adebayo Lawal, urged residents to make relevant submissions and contributions to enrich the 2026 budget, emphasizing that the consultative process gives citizens a voice in shaping the government’s financial plan.

He noted that the state government had implemented several suggestions made during previous consultations, assuring that all ongoing projects initiated after the 2025 stakeholders’ meetings would be completed before the end of the current administration’s second term.

On security, Lawal reassured residents of the Oke-Ogun zone of the government’s resolve to maintain peace and safety in the area, stressing that all linking roads, entry and exit points, and other strategic locations would receive adequate security attention to boost economic growth.

‘The Oyo State Government will leave no stone unturned in strengthening security and ensuring that miscreants are dealt with according to the law,’ the Deputy Governor said.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Prof. Musibau Babatunde, reaffirmed the government’s dedication to transparent budgeting and prudent financial management, stating that every kobo allocated in the 2026 budget would be spent in line with development priorities.

He noted that the consultative meetings across the zones were crucial to ensuring citizen-driven budgeting, adding that Governor ‘Seyi Makinde remains focused on good governance and people-oriented development.

‘Governor Makinde has your interest at heart. What we are doing here is foundational to the 2026 budget presentation, and it ensures that the needs of residents guide government planning,’ Prof. Babatunde stated.

In Iseyin, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Mrs. Faosat Sanni, highlighted the government’s commitment to implementing the 2026 budget strictly in accordance with approved projects and sound financial practices. She commended Governor Makinde for the completion of the Iseyin-Fapote-Ogbomoso Road, describing it as a landmark infrastructure project enhancing connectivity and economic opportunities across the state.

‘The road is a testament to the Governor’s dedication to linking major regions and boosting economic accessibility for investors, local businesses, and residents alike,’ Sanni said.

She acknowledged the challenges faced during the 2025 capital budget implementation but assured that the government would intensify efforts to ensure full execution of all planned projects before the end of the administration.

At the Ogbomoso session, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, promised residents a better deal and more dividends of democracy in the 2026 fiscal year. He assured that Governor Makinde would continue to work tirelessly to improve the living conditions of citizens and consolidate on the gains of previous years.

‘Governor Seyi Makinde will act with speed to deliver more good governance before 2027. His leadership has brought greater opportunities and prosperity to Oyo State, and we will continue in that direction,’ Oyelade said.

Representatives of various communities, religious groups, market associations, artisans, and student bodies attended the sessions and presented their requests and recommendations to the government.

The consultative meetings, organised by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, are part of a statewide series designed to promote inclusive governance and ensure that citizens’ voices shape the 2026 budget priorities.

The Forum of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) State Chairmen has suspended the membership of Honourable Austine Nwachukwu (Imo State chapter), and that of Abia State, Honourable Amah Ibrahim Nnana, for allegedly plotting to derail the scheduled November 15 National Elective Convention of the PDP.

Nwachukwu, a former member of the House of Representatives, was until his suspension, the chairman of the Forum and also the Imo state chapter chairman of the body, while Nnana is the Abia state chairman.

The forum, which condemned the alleged plot, said the two worked with the backing of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in their bid to derail the convention.

‘Specifically, the Forum condemned the actions of Hon. Austine Nwachukwu (Imo State) and Hon. Amah Abraham Nnana (Abia State), who recently sought a court injunction to halt the convention.

‘Their actions were unanimously described as a betrayal of the party’s unity and collective resolve’, the forum said in a statement released on Wednesday following an emergency meeting it held in Abuja on Tuesday.

The Forum named Mr Tony Aziegbemi, the chairman of the Edo state PDP, as its new chairman to replace Nwachukwu.

Recall that Nwachukwu and Nnana are among the plaintiffs in a suit filed before an Abuja Federal High Court, seeking to halt the party’s convention.

Hearing in the case resumes on Thursday, October 16.

The forum, which declared full support for the Ibadan convention, also expressed confidence in the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party led by Ambassador Umar Damagum.

Blaming the actions of the suspended members on the APC, the forum said, ‘The Forum strongly condemned the All Progressives Congress (APC) for its undemocratic, desperate, and systematic efforts to intimidate, harass, and coerce PDP leaders-including governors, senators, and members of the National and State Assemblies-into defecting.

‘The Forum described these acts as an assault on democracy, warning that the ruling party’s conduct is a dangerous step toward establishing a de facto one-party state, which Nigerians must collectively resist.’

On the NWC, it said, ‘The forum passed a vote of confidence in the National Working Committee (NWC), the PDP Governors’ Forum, and all statutory organs of the party.

‘It reaffirmed its commitment to work harmoniously with these organs in rebuilding, revitalising, and repositioning the PDP as Nigeria’s credible alternative and leading political force.’

The meeting, said to have been attended by 25 out of the 36 state chairmen and the FCT, called on ‘all party members, supporters, and stakeholders across the country to remain calm, united and steadfast.’

It also ‘pledged continued cooperation with the party’s national leadership as it undertakes deliberate, strategic steps to strengthen the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.’