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About 1,000 residents of Sepeteri, Saki East local government area of Oyo state have benefited from a non-governmental organization, Enablers Diaspora Grassroots Support Outreach (EDGSO), free medical and food support.

The NGO’s President, Mrs Ayoyinka Wilson, at the annual free medical outreach on Monday, said that the exercise was aimed at touching lives and giving back to the community.

Wilson, a registered nurse in the United Kingdom, stated that beneficiaries of the free medical check-ups and treatment include the poor, the aged, and individuals who could not afford paying for their treatments.

According to her, EDGSO has no political affiliation, therefore, its programmes and gesture to the public has no political undertone.

The president urged beneficiaries to take their health issues seriously, always endeavour to use their drugs rightly and shun self-medication.

‘Our target is to take care of as many people as possible. We are treating all participants and giving them multivitamins, paracetamol and other essential drugs.

‘Apart from drugs, we are giving foodstuffs, clothes, shoes and household essentials to the people,’ she said.

Wilson stated that plans had been concluded to extend this year’s medical outreach to other communities in Lagelu and Olorunsogo local government areas of the state.

Also, the Life Patron of EDGSO, Dr Junaid Ogundiran lauded members and other sponsors of the NGO for allowing Sepeteri to be among the selected centres for 2025 outreach.

Ogundiran who is also an indigene of Sepeteri ,added that the visits of the NGO to Sepeteri over the years had contributed to wellbeing of the residents.

Speaking, a 69-year-old beneficiary, Mr Musibau Oladokun, commended the foundation and appealed to other kind-hearted Nigerians to emulate its gesture.

Another beneficiary of the initiative,Mrs Janet Faniyi, said she was given necessary drugs and foodstuffs after a comprehensive test had been conducting on her, adding that she was also given necessary medical advice.

The outreach services included checking blood pressure, health education on chronic and preventive diseases as well as free medical check-ups.

Other services rendered at the outreach included: free distribution of basic medications, sensitisation on eating and living healthy, and awareness of dementia and memory loss.

The Basel Convention Coordinating Centre for the African Region (BCCC-Africa) has organised a workshop for students of the University of Ibadan to train them on how to create awareness on the dangers of plastic waste and solutions to the menace when they proceed to their compulsory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme across the country, and for serving corps member currently enrolled in the scheme.

The workshop tagged, ‘Accelerating Community Awareness on Plastic Waste through Interventions with Students and Graduates of Tertiary Institutions in Ibadan, Nigeria,’ is a continuation of a project which commenced earlier this year. Earlier on June 18, BCCC-Africa held a one-day Inception Workshop for a project titled: ‘Accelerating community awareness on plastic waste through interventions with students and graduates of tertiary educational institutions in Ibadan, Nigeria,’ on the campus of the University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan, Oyo State.

The BCCC-Africa Executive Director, Professor Percy Onianwa, at the project inception, noted that ‘Nigerian students and youth corps members have never before been utilised in this manner for any community awareness raising programme. The scheme has a high potential for a wide reach within the country. The trainees are also likely to carry on with awareness-building activities even beyond the lifespan of this project.’

He added, ‘The project is being executed by the BCCC-Africa, with funding provided by the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions through its third Small Grants Programme (SGP-3) on Plastic Wastes.’

The project aims to engage about 450 final-year students of the University of Ibadan (UI), and 450 final-year students of The Polytechnic Ibadan, and also work with National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members that are already deployed to serve in the metropolitan city of Ibadan.

The project will also develop educational materials that are suitable for awareness raising and outreach programmes on plastic waste in Nigeria and build the capacities of higher academic institutions’ students and NYSC members for the purpose of engaging them in community awareness through advocating activities on plastic waste and management.

The intensive full day programme held on Saturday, September 20, for students of UI could be broadly divided into two parts, namely ‘problems’ and ‘solutions’ to the plastic waste challenge in Nigeria. The first part with the broad topic of ‘Plastics, Plastic Wastes, Plastic Pollution,’ took them through sub-topics including: ‘Nature of Plastics/Plastic Waste/Single-Use Plastics’, ‘Microplastics and Chemicals in Plastics’, ‘Plastic Pollution: Health Hazards of Plastic Wastes’.

The second part of the session on ‘Managing Plastic Wastes’ dealt with sub-topics including Sorting, Collection and Recycling. Mr Victor Okunola, a recycler from Plastic Edge, said that recycling can become a viable source of income. Professors Adie and Ipeaiyeda spoke on ‘Alternatives to Plastics’ that are less harmful to the environment, such as bamboo, liquid wood and substances that can be added to make plastic biodegradable.

Mr Rafiu Akorede of the Oyo State Ministry of Environment, who spoke on the topic: ‘Managing Plastics in Ibadan,’ mentioned strategies the state government is using for waste management, including decentralised waste collection through waste management consultants, public awareness and advocacy and promoting reusable items.

The ‘Role of Extended Producer Responsibility in Managing Plastic Waste in Nigeria’ was handled by Agharese Onaghise of the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA).

Before she spoke, Prof Onianwa noted that the economics of waste management has changed with the increase in the cost of managing dumpsites. He added that one of the ways to cope with this challenge is the extended producer responsibility.

Onaghise said FBRA, established in 2018, with just four members, now has about 47, adding that the organisation empowers Nigerian industries to manage plastic waste effectively.

Speaking about their experiences, Happiness Abiodun, a 400-level student in the Department of Chemistry, said the workshop was indeed insightful, as she not only learned about the activities of BCCC-Africa but also discovered how plastics can be harmful to the environment, despite their usefulness.

She added, ‘I am grateful to BCCC-Africa and all the speakers for teaching us how to enlighten secondary school students and market women on plastics recycling.’

She said she planned to use her upcoming national service year (NYSC) to initiate a group of corps members that would embark on an enlightenment campaign to students and market women. ‘I also plan to introduce clubs in secondary schools that will focus on plastic recycling, and also bring in resource persons to teach them. Secondary school students are well-exposed these days, and I believe they will catch the message quickly,’ she added.

David Adewale, a Geology student of the university, said he was now fully aware of the need to reduce the usage of plastics due to its impact on the environment. ‘I understand that there are alternatives to plastics.

BCCC-Africa also conducted another session of the same workshop on Thursday, September 25, for corps members currently enrolled in the NYSC scheme for the same purpose of creating awareness on the dangers of plastic waste and how to manage it.

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After the session, Babalola Sunday, a corps member serving in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, described the session as educative. ‘I understood what BCCC-Africa stands for and its functions. I now understand the dangers of plastic pollution, and we can help to save the situation.’

Ayomide Hannah, another corps member, thanked BCCC-Africa for the opportunity to attend training on plastic waste. ‘I learned about the history and objectives of BCCC-Africa, particularly its role in protecting human health from hazardous waste.

‘The sessions emphasised the hazards of plastic pollution on land and in aquatic environments, supported with statistics, and also explored existing policies and management strategies. I was especially encouraged to create awareness by communicating plastic waste issues to people of all ages.’

IN spite of the multifaceted challenges confronting the education sector in Nigeria, the Federal Government has affirmed commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu towards repositioning education to serve as a catalyst for national renewal.

Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, speaking on key efforts of the current administration to transform education acknowledged the unwavering leadership of Tinubu, whose Renewed Hope Agenda has made education one of the cornerstones of national development.

Alausa revealed that concerted efforts are ongoing to strengthen the foundational educational by refocusing the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to perform its pivotal role of ensuring that no child is left out in the country.

He particularly noted that the Federal Government, through UBEC had expanded access to basic education especially in rural underserved areas, and marginalized populations.

He disclosed that in the past six months only, 4,900 classrooms were constructed, 3,000 classrooms renovated, 34 model and SMART schools schools built, 353,000 furniture supplied, which has impacted 2.3 million learners nationwide.

Speaking on the efforts to address the challenge of out-of-school children, the Minister revealed that Almajiri Commission has opened offices in all the states of the Federation while they have done national mapping of almost 1 million out-of-school children.

He added that government had developed a technology platform bringing together National Secondary Education Commission (NSEC), Nomadic Education and Almajiri Commission under one roof, saying this would help in data collection, analysis and planning to reduce the out-of-school children population.

According to him, 35,000 learners have been reintegrated into formal education through Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres across the country while 1,400 Tsangaya teachers have been trained and policies on Almajiri and non-state schools have been strengthened.

He said the government is also working on expanding the annual enrollment of medical students to 20,000 so as to expand access to medical education and retain critical health manpower in the face of the rising Japa (emmigration) trend, which has seen many professionals leave the country in search of better opportunities abroad.

According to him, the reforms are part of the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), inspired by President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which positions education as a catalyst for national renewal.

Alausa disclosed that enrolment in Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy has doubled in recent years, with medical student intake rising from about 5,000 to a projected 20,000 in the 2025/2026 academic session. Nursing admissions have also grown exponentially, from 28,000 to 115,000 nationwide.

He said: ‘We have doubled the intake of students in Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy in our health educational institutions. For medical students for example, from an enrollment of 5,000 students a couple of years back, we are well on our way to achieving 20,000 this new academic year. These are all aimed at addressing the critical manpower shortages in the health sector.

‘These interventions are deliberate steps to address critical manpower shortages in the health sector and ensure that Nigerians are not denied access to quality healthcare because of the japa syndrome,’ the minister said.

He further disclosed that 18 medical schools are being equipped with modern facilities, while 1,000 laboratories are being upgraded in senior secondary schools in partnership with the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).

‘We are partnering with the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) to equip 1000 Laboratories in our senior secondary schools nationwide.

‘Nursing student intake has risen to 115,000 nationwide, from an initial figure of 28,000 which we met on ground. This would greatly increase the number of Nurses that would serve the nation despite the JAPA syndrome we are currently facing now,’ he said.

On TVET initiative, Alausa said this is designed to translate training directly into employment opportunities and entrepreneurship, disclosing that government has effectively launched the TVET digital platform which attracted 1.3 million applicants within a few weeks of opening the portal, with 960,000 completing applications.

‘Over 1,600 accredited centres are now onboarded. Already, 58,000 students have been matched to centres, with a target of 125,000-150,000 trainees in the coming phase. The first cohort will be starting in the next 2 weeks.

‘Commencing with the 2025/26 academic year, we are providing free education in our technical schools. This initiative covers full tuition, boarding, and feeding at federal and state technical colleges, plus a monthly stipend (?22,500) for students. This is designed to reduce financial barriers to vocational education.

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‘We have identified one technical school per state that will also benefit from this free education apart from the federal schools. Also over 5,600 technical teachers and instructors have been retrained in modern pedagogies,’ the Minister stated.

He also spoke on Nigeria’s membership of WorldSkills International, giving artisans global certification opportunities and training of 6,000 teachers in Artificial Intelligence (AI) to prepare learners for the digital future.

Alausa said the current administration has also introduced the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), a ?10 million interest-free revolving loan scheme for staff of public tertiary institutions.

He maintained that education remains central to national renewal, assuring Nigerians that the government continue to implement reforms that bridge gaps in access, quality, and relevance while tackling brain drain across key sectors.

Stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime industry have said that the commendations of various maritime policies of the Federal Government by the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez might help Nigeria win election into the Council seats of the apex maritime body come end of the year.

Recall that the IMO Secretary-General, during his visit to Nigeria, had commended Nigeria’s maritime safety and security achievement, particularly in safeguarding the Gulf of Guinea.

Speaking on the development, the National President of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM), Captain Tajudeen Alao explained that the timing of the visit and the commendations from the IMO Secretary-General is being monitored globally.

According to the NAMM President: ‘It is a plus and a recommendation for Nigeria that the man commended our policies. Yes, individual countries will vote, and the IMO man won’t be involved in the voting process. However, the fact that he has publicly commended our efforts speaks volume.

‘He has seen the Deep Blue assets. He has visited the Maritime Academy of Nigeria in Oron and other assets. His coming is good timing for Nigeria to showcase her maritime potentials because everywhere the IMO man goes, the world follows him.

‘The man’s utterances are being followed globally. That he commended Nigeria, some countries will buy into that. This may swing some votes for Nigeria during the elections.’

Also speaking on the development, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Genesis Shipping, Captain Emmanuel Ihenacho backed the idea that the IMO Secretary-General commendations of Nigerian efforts is being monitored globally.

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In the words of the former Minister of Interior, ‘I don’t think the IMO Secretary-General can single-handedly decide who goes into the Council. It is entirely up to the officials of an aspiring country to draw up a plan, a campaign to convince members to vote for them.

‘I know the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy together with the DG of NIMASA has been working tirelessly in this regard. If the IMO Secretary-General was truly impressed and made all those commendations publicly, that could possibly impact the number of countries that will be voting for us on that election day because his words are being monitored globally,’ he said.

RECENTLY, the United Nations (UN) organisation has been celebrating activities marking its 80th anniversary. It was indeed a glamorous event as the UN General Assembly Hall this year hosted congratulatory messages, reflections and expressions of hope as the world body commemorated the landmark. More than 140 world leaders were in New York to mark the organisation’s 80th birthday. The United Nations will be 80 years old on October 24, and this milestone has been marked by various events this year, including the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, an annual gathering of UN member states and a major diplomatic event to discuss global issues. It was held last month. The UN Charter Day was held on June 26, 2025, to commemorate the signing of the UN Charter. On October 24, 2025, the annual celebration of the UN Charter’s entry into force, which marks the UN’s 80th anniversary, will be held.

Taking a look at the history of the body during the General Assembly, the president of the assembly, Annalena Baerbock, recalled that it was founded in the aftermath of two world wars and the unspeakable horrors of the Holocaust, and at a time when 72 territories were still under colonial rule. She added that the signing of the UN Charter on June 26, 1945 was a promise from leaders to their peoples, and from nations to one another, that humanity had learnt from its darkest chapters. However, she expressed worry that with the crises in several parts of the world, including Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and Haiti, not to mention the ‘unfiltered hatred online’, the hours indeed feel dark once again. Her words: ‘As we mark 80 years of our United Nations, we are once again standing at a crossroads. We cannot take the easy path and simply give up. We have to choose the right path; to show the world that we can be better together.’

Also speaking on the occasion, the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, referenced the horrors of the past when many of the first staff members and delegates bore visible wounds from war but were determined nevertheless to chart a new world order and a path towards peace and prosperity. According to him, the founders of the organisation were not idealists but had seen the worst of humanity and knew that ‘peace is the most courageous, the most practical, the most necessary pursuit of all.’ He added: ‘In building the United Nations, they created something extraordinary; a place where all nations – large and small – could come together to solve problems that no country can solve alone.’ Yet, as he observed, the principles of the UN are under unprecedented assault, saying: ‘As we meet, civilians are targeted, and international law trampled. Furthermore, poverty and hunger are rising as progress to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) falters, while the climate crisis rages. At the same time, we are moving towards a multipolar world. To meet these challenges, we must not only defend the United Nations – but strengthen it.’

That summation is indeed hard to fault. At its inception, 50 countries met in San Francisco, United States, in the aftermath of World War II to sign the UN Charter. That was in June 1945. By October 24 of that year, the charter came into force. Over the years, the UN has played pivotal roles in advancing the cause of humanity. Among other achievements, it has promoted and protected human rights. The UN oversaw the transition of more than 80 former colonies to independent states, especially during the 1950s to 1970s, reshaping the international order, and its peacekeeping and conflict resolution efforts saw the deployment of missions that helped to stabilise post-conflict regions, including the Middle East and Africa. The UN pioneered the concept of ‘peacekeeping’ under UN authority. It is also generally acknowledged that the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights set a universal standard, followed by numerous treaties safeguarding civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. The much touted Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), global frameworks that drove progress in diverse areas is the brainchild of the UN, as are landmark agreements such as the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Refugee Convention, and the Paris Climate Accord, among others. For decades, the UN has coordinated global responses to famines, pandemics, and natural disasters, delivering food, medical supplies, and shelter to millions.

Of course, the organisation has faced so many challenges, including the inefficacy of the Security Council, where veto power and political divisions often block decisive action on conflicts; budgetary shortfalls that limit peacekeeping and humanitarian operations; tensions between major powers like the United States, China and Russia) that undermine its resolutions of critical issues; the continuing rise of global emissions continue to rise, and the UN struggles to enforce climate commitments, among others. Indeed, critics like the US President Donald Trump see the organisation as a failure for failing to actualise world peace. Said the US president: ‘What is the purpose of the United Nations?All they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter. It’s empty words, and empty words don’t solve war.’

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But the UN has been a force for good in many ways, even if there is a lot of room for improvements and a major tinkering with its mission and structure. Like any human organisation, the UN is a mixture of the good, bad and ugly. Still, any dispassionate study of its impact since its inception cannot but acknowledge its landmark roles in world affairs. Warts and all, the UN has been a stabilizing factor. It has afforded nations and organisations a global platform to express their desires, fears and frustrations, such that it is difficult to see voices of marginalised groups that have not been heard on its platforms around the world. It is true that in spite of its existence, there is instability in different parts of the world. And to be sure, the cold war between the Eastern and Western power blocs is still there, and may never be thawed. It is playing out in places like Turkey and Ukraine, among others. But to dismiss the UN’s efforts outright is to refuse to acknowledge reality.

We salute the UN at 80. Its efforts to enhance peace in the world are commendable. We urge it, going forward, to set up structures for addressing the concerns that critics have, and to work harder at fulfilling its mission. As the UN Secretary-General has said, it is time for the international community to rise to this moment with clarity, courage, and conviction and realise the promise of peace. The consequence of failure will be the emergence of much more divided nations, global instability, and an elusive search for peace.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has blamed the sales of critical government enterprises under the guise of privatisation from 1999 till date as the reason for the massive infrastructure challenge in the country.

He stated that privatisation of government enterprises is wrong, while also blaming former President Olusegun Obasanjo for the sales of public assets as the then National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), the Nigeria Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) the National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria (NICON) and the Nigerian Hotels Limited, among others.

He argued that what the government should have done was to privatise the industry or the sector but not the enterprise.

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He lamented that the ripple effects of that singular policy have been massive infrastructure challenges, massive savings challenges, massive unemployment and lack of where to train people.

‘This is because in those days, if you finish school, you can join NEPA and they will train you. Many engineers in Nigeria today were produced there; many people who are great engineers today are products of NEPA.

‘So, you have somewhere to go and work but we have destroyed the public works department. So if you see any state government in front of the camera trying to commission or start a 10km road, you will see one Lebanese person standing in front of them. Even simple works that they could do with the public works department, they will not.

‘I have more equipment inside my compound, you know, than the entire ministry of works. I have more caterpillar equipment and other things that I create inside my private house than they have in the works department in Akure, Ondo State. So with that, what have we benefited from privatization?’ he stated.

He argued that even with the privatization of NITEL, there is still a telecommunication problem because most of the telecom companies still rely on NITEL exchange to function optimally. ‘We also have a telecommunication problem because most of the carriers are still relying on NITEL; they are still relying on NITEL exchange and all of that. They do the company investment. So that will require them to carry broadband across the country but they can’t do that because the private sector will not do backbone investment,’ he said.

He also queried the rationale behind the privatization of the power company when the operators lack the capacity to run it efficiently and effectively. ‘People are now generating electricity but what has happened is that many of these investments will rely on consumers to buy their own transformers,’ he said.

He noted that what the government should have done was to open up the sectors instead of privatizing the enterprises. ‘What you privatize is the industry, the sector, not the enterprises. Privatization of government enterprises is wrong. What you need is to open the sector; that’s all,’ he said.

He promised that his party, the SDP has a better idea, saying, ‘The idea is to reconstitute and raise new Nigerians who are going to now man these enterprises and then grow industries out of them.’

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, has once again disowned the use of his name and image in various online promotions and business endorsements, describing such actions as fraudulent and deceptive.

In a statement released on Thursday, Obi expressed concern over the activities of individuals and groups who persist in exploiting his identity to promote commercial ventures and mislead unsuspecting members of the public.

‘My attention has been drawn once again to the activities of individuals and groups who persist in using my name to promote or endorse various online businesses and ventures,’ he said. ‘Despite earlier clarifications issued by my aides, some persons have continued to exploit my identity for personal and commercial gain.’

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Obi categorically stated that he has no connection whatsoever with any of the businesses or endorsements being circulated online. According to him, he has never authorised anyone or any platform to use his name, image, or likeness for commercial purposes or profit-making ventures.

‘Such acts are fraudulent, deceptive, and aimed solely at exploiting public trust,’ he cautioned.

The former governor advised Nigerians to be vigilant and disregard any online claims or advertisements that suggest his involvement in business dealings or investments. He emphasised that any genuine information concerning him or his activities would continue to be shared only through his officially verified channels.

Obi reiterated his commitment to transparency and urged the public to report any fraudulent use of his name to the appropriate authorities.

7Star Global Hangar Ltd, an Approved Maintenance Organisation (AMO), has achieved another significant milestone in its regional expansion strategy with the official approval granted by the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) of the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), to perform base maintenance inspection services on TN-registered aircraft.

This approval positions 7Star Global Hangar Ltd as a recognized Approved Maintenance Organisation for operators from the Republic of the Congo, strengthening bilateral aviation collaboration between Nigeria and Congo-Brazzaville.

The authorization allows the company to undertake heavy maintenance checks, structural inspections, and other base-level engineering services for aircraft registered under the Congolese civil registry.

Speaking on the development, Engr. Isaac Balami, CEO of 7Star Global Hangar Ltd, described the approval as ‘a testament to our consistent pursuit of excellence, safety, and compliance with international aviation standards.’

He added that the certification underscores the company’s growing reputation as a Pan-African MRO hub, serving operators across Central and West Africa.

With this new certification, 7Star Global Hangar Ltd continues to expand its maintenance capabilities and reinforce its commitment to advancing Africa’s aviation maintenance ecosystem through quality service, safety integrity, and regional partnership.

THE World Health Organization, has stated report, that e-cigarettes are fueling an ‘alarming’ new wave of nicotine addiction, with millions of children now addicted to vaping.

The findings of the new report titled ‘WHO Global Report on Trends in Prevalence of Tobacco Use 2000-2024 and Projections 2025-2030’ are based on 2,034 national surveys, covering 97 per cent of the global population.

In its new global report, the WHO stated that more than 100 million people worldwide are now vaping, including at least 86 million adults-mostly in high-income countries-and at least 15 million children aged 13 to 15.

In addition, in countries with available data, children are, on average, nine times more likely to vape than adults.

The organization claimed that the industry was promoting vapes as supposedly less harmful than cigarettes but was, in fact, aggressively targeting young people and causing children to become addicted.

Etienne Krug, the WHO’s Director of Health Determinants, Promotion, and Prevention, said in a statement: ‘E-cigarettes are fueling a new wave of nicotine addiction. They are marketed as harm reduction but, in reality, are hooking kids on nicotine earlier and risk undermining decades of progress.’

In addition, the WHO reported that globally, fewer people are smoking, with the number of tobacco users declining from 1.38 billion in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024, despite the world’s growing population.

The number of tobacco users has decreased by 120 million since 2010, representing a 27 per cent relative decline. However, one in five people worldwide still use tobacco, contributing to millions of preventable deaths each year.

According to the report, although tobacco use has steadily declined among both men and women across all age groups from 2000 to 2024, women have been at the forefront of quitting tobacco.

The prevalence of tobacco use among women decreased from 11 per cent in 2010 to just 6.6 per cent in 2024, with the number of female tobacco users declining from 277 million in 2010 to 206 million in 2024.

By contrast, more than four out of five tobacco users worldwide are men, with just under one billion men still using tobacco. The prevalence among men has decreased from 41.4 per cent in 2010 to 32.5 per cent in 2024.

The report states that the prevalence of tobacco use in Africa is the lowest globally, at 9.5 per cent in 2024, and the region is on track to meet the 30 percent reduction target. However, due to population growth, the absolute number of tobacco users continues to increase.

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WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that millions of people are quitting or avoiding tobacco use thanks to tobacco control efforts by countries worldwide.

Ghebreyesus declared: ‘In response to this strong significant, the tobacco industry is fighting back with new nicotine products, aggressively targeting young people. Governments must act faster, more quickly, stronger decisively to implement tobacco control policies.’

Captain Jerry Eyituoyo Agbeyegbe, an astute pilot and fervent crusader for aviation safety, was tragically taken from this world by a bullet fired by haters believed to be within the government of his time. The pain of October 13, 2008, the day he died, still echoes in the hearts of those who knew him, worked with him, and were touched by his unwavering commitment to the safety of skies and humanity on the ground.

Jerry Boy, as those close to him would affectionately remember, was a down-to-earth humanist whose passion for aviation did not overshadow his compassion for people. He lived a life that carved paths of safety in the skies where others flew merely by routine. Every procedure, every check, and every decision in the cockpit was an embodiment of his crusade for safety. His baritone voice was one of reason in rooms filled with the hum of engines and the chatter of aviators discussing the next flight, the next route, and the next challenge.

Jerry spoke of safety not as a checklist but as a culture, a way of life in aviation that must permeate every level of operation. His was a legacy of diligence, of pushing boundaries of caution to protect passengers, crew, and the integrity of flight itself. Agbeyegbe’s dedication to aviation safety was unparalleled, and his impact on the industry continues to be felt.

The manner of his departure from this world casts a shadow over the brilliance of his contributions. A life dedicated to lifting the standards of aviation safety, to advocating for the human element in the mechanical world of flight, ended abruptly by violence rooted in hatred. It is a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the sometimes-harsh realities of standing for what is right in the face of opposition.

Yet, in death, as in life, Captain Jerry Agbeyegbe speaks. He speaks of the values he held dear – safety, humanity, and integrity in aviation. The legacy he left behind lingers, a lingering that transcends the years since his passing. It lingers in the hearts of those he touched, in the safety protocols he advocated for, and in the lives saved because of the stringent safety measures he championed.

In Nigeria’s aviation history, his name is etched as one who cared deeply, fought for what was right, and left an indelible mark on those who believe in the sanctity of safety in the skies. Agbeyegbe was more than a pilot; he was a guardian of the skies, a believer in the potential of aviation to connect and uplift humanity safely.

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His death was a loss not just to those who knew him but to the ideals of safety and humanity he so passionately pursued. Yet, in remembering him, in honoring his legacy, there is a renewal of commitment to the causes he held dear. Aviation safety remains a pursuit, a crusade where vigilance is key, and compassion for those who fly and those on the ground is paramount.

As we remember Captain Jerry Agbeyegbe, we remember not just a man cut down in his prime but a legacy that demands continuation – a legacy of safety, of humanity in aviation, of standing for what is right despite the odds. His story, though ended by violence, is a testament to the enduring power of ideals he lived by.

In the annals of Nigeria’s aviation, Captain Jerry Agbeyegbe’s name is a reminder of a life of purpose, of a death that speaks volumes, and of a legacy that lingers, calling on all to uphold the tenets of safety and humanity in all endeavors of flight.

As we reflect on his life and legacy, we are reminded of the importance of safety in aviation and the impact one person can have on an industry. Captain Agbeyegbe’s dedication to his craft and his passion for safety have inspired countless individuals in the aviation community.

His legacy serves as a reminder that safety is not just a priority but a fundamental aspect of aviation. It is a culture that must be nurtured, a culture that requires constant vigilance and a commitment to excellence.

In the years since his passing, the aviation industry has continued to evolve, with new technologies and procedures being implemented to enhance safety. However, the core principles of safety and humanity that Captain Agbeyegbe embodied remain as relevant today as they were during his lifetime.

As we move forward, we must continue to prioritize safety and humanity in aviation, ensuring that the legacy of Captain Jerry Agbeyegbe lives on. We owe it to him, to ourselves, and to the countless lives that are touched by the aviation industry every day.

Jerry’s life and legacy are a testament to the power of dedication, passion, a commitment to safety and humanity in aviation and his story serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing safety and humanity in all aspects of flight. His legacy will continue to inspire and motivate individuals in the aviation community.