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Captain Bunmi Gindeh of the National Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), has emerged the president of the National Association of Air Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) beating his rival, Francis Igwe, an aircraft engineer with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

ýThe election took place on Friday, September 27th I. Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, with Gindeh polling 51 polling while Igwe got 17 votes.

ýMudi Muhammad, an aircraft engineer at Arik Air, emerged the national deputy president. He had no opponent. While Adewale Adenugba won a second time as the first trustee.

ýOther elective positions were financial secretary, won by Edwin Udoh, Publicity Secretary, won by Blessing Ahmadu, Michael Nicholas won the position of second trustee.

ýSpeaking after emerging victorious, Gindeh expressed appreciation to the outgoing administration, saying they worked very hard to achieve a lot. ‘I must commend my predecessor, Abednego Galadima, for taking the initiative to set up a training institute. It was an amazing idea and we will work very hard to utilise that facility to meet with international standards. He performed well and we owe him a lot of gratitude,’ he said.

On how his campaign played out, he said: ‘There was an intensive campaign before now but we went to all the various chapters and spoke to them on why they should vote for us. We are a team. It wasn’t just me, the deputy president was the engine room of my campaign and I appreciate the work he put in.

ý’During the campaign, we talked about the welfare of our members and we would be pushing for standardised contracts across board like we have abroad. We are also going to advocate for safety for our members. We will also improve our secretariat so that it can be up to date.

ýý’One of the issues that came up during the campaign was that pilots would not have the time to carry out union functions but the beautiful thing which I have learned is to delegate responsibilities to my team. We would get more done that way. I was in the NCAA but was seconded to the NSIB, so my chapter is the NSIB. The public service rule is very clear on that,’ he said.

ýýMohammed who emerged as his deputy, expressed happiness, saying he is excited to work with someone whom he has always wanted to work with. ‘I want to work with Capt. Gimdeh because he has a big vision for NAAPE. The outgoing leadership has done their best and we are grateful to them. We are going to build on the foundation they have laid You can see that we don’t have anything pilots in the association but he has said that his goal is to bring in more pilots,’ he said.

ýIgwe, who conceded defeat, congratulated Gindeh and pledged to work to ensure that the association remains united. While the immediate past President, Galadima urged the newly elected administration to work for the unity of the association.

HAVING a baby is a life-changing experience. Being a parent is exciting but can also be tiring and overwhelming. It’s normal to have feelings of worry or doubt, especially if this is the first time. But if the feelings include extreme sadness or loneliness, frequent crying, fatigue, guilt and anxiety, it may be because of postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a type of depression that happens after giving birth. It affects up to 15% of women. It’s common to experience hormonal, physical, emotional, financial and social changes after having a baby. However, these changes can cause symptoms of postpartum depression.

Preventive interventions are crucial in addressing postpartum anxiety and depression. However, the use of psychoactive drugs by nursing mothers can cause several problems, such as severe sleepiness, decreased response to cries, changes in s3xual function, fatigue, confusion, and low blood pressure.

These drugs also have sedative effects on the infant who receives breast milk. Therefore, their use during breastfeeding is limited.

While some mothers may choose not to take medication during breastfeeding due to concerns about potential side effects on their babies, herbal remedies, including curcumin, have garnered attention for their potential therapeutic benefits.

Turmeric is an edible root used in cooking. It’s powdered into a bright yellow spice popular in Asian cuisine. Turmeric also has a history of medicinal use. It contains an active compound, curcumin, that has also been used for many years in the treatment of various diseases.

Additionally, epidemiological studies have indicated that individuals who consume curcumin daily exhibit better brain function and higher cognitive abilities.

Research has found that curcumin has the potential to improve a number of health conditions, including depression. This includes postpartum depression and anxiety in first-time mothers.

A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial in Iran had provided strong evidence that curcumin can be a beneficial and accessible complementary treatment for managing postpartum depression and anxiety in new mothers, offering a valuable alternative where conventional treatments may be restricted.

It found that curcumin effectively reduces postpartum anxiety and depression, suggesting it can improve the mental health and quality of life for first-time mothers.

The trial published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies included 96 first-time mothers in Tabriz City, Iran, who were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (48 women) or a control group (48 women) using a random block method.

The intervention group received 500 mg curcumin capsules, while the control group received a placebo, both taken once daily after meals for eight weeks starting seven days after delivery.

They were all women aged 18 or older, residing in Tabriz City, with no chronic liver/kidney disease, no history of depression or other mental disorders, no alcohol/drug consumption, no natural birth or caesarean section within the last 12 hours, and not taking drugs causing depressive symptoms.

The women were contacted weekly by phone to check on the baby’s weight and remind them to track capsule use and report side effects.

Depression was measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and anxiety was measured with the postpartum-specific Anxiety Scale Research Short-Form (PSAS-RSF).

The study found significant reductions in both depression and anxiety scores in the curcumin group compared to the placebo group. Four individuals in the curcumin group and one in the placebo group reported gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and stomach pain.

It therefore suggested curcumin’s potential as a cost-effective and accessible adjunctive therapy due to its efficacy, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness, particularly given the limitations of conventional medications during breastfeeding.

They declared that further large-scale clinical trials are recommended to validate its efficacy in diverse populations and establish standardised guidelines for clinical use.

Curcumin supplementation may serve as a beneficial non-pharmacological intervention for postpartum women by promoting healing, reducing inflammation, and supporting reproductive health. Its multifaceted properties can address various postpartum challenges, making it a valuable addition to recovery strategies.

A study found that curcumin application led to a greater reduction in wound healing scores, particularly for perineal repair after episiotomy, compared to traditional treatments like povidone-iodine.

Curcumin influences hormonal balance and ovarian function, potentially aiding in the recovery of reproductive health post-delivery.

Its ability to modulate hormonal pathways may support women experiencing reproductive disorders, thus enhancing overall well-being during the period after child birth.

While curcumin shows promise as a supportive intervention for women after childbirth, it is essential to consider that individual responses may vary, and further research is needed to establish standardised guidelines for its use in this population.

INDEED it is an irony that as a young school teaching, Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari (who was to later emerge as the First Executive President in the America styled administration of the defunct second republic) has in 1948 written strongly against the amalgamation. The Northern opposition to the amalgamation process was to be re-enacted against in 1953 debates leading to the call for the independence of the country, when Sir Ahmadu Bello was quoted as saying that the ‘amalgamation process’ was a ‘mistake of 191’. In his book on ‘Nigeria’ the German author Walter Schwarz had quoted Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto as saying ‘I would rather be called Sultan of Sokoto than President of Nigeria’. The above underscores the position about the faith in the geographic expression called Nigeria, previously held by the Northern political elites.

Nationalist movements

The first major constitution for the country since the fusion of administration (amalgamation in 1914) was the Sir Hugh Clifford’s Constitution of 1922). Though the constitution was handed down in veiled reaction to a steady growing feelings of Nationalist movement, its provision failed to completely address the crux of the expectations of the Nigeria elites. The divergence of opinions as between the colonialists and Nationalists may be understandably traceable to a crisis of loyalty and allegiance. The British had for several years after the purported amalgamation, failed and or neglected to translate the full text of the legal concept of amalgamation into a political reality. As much as possible Nigeria had remained a union only for economic reasons and until after the first world war the Northern and Southern sections were being administered as two distinct countries, the south enjoying all the trappings of a normal colony/possession protectorate having an Executive and Legislative councils whilst the Northern part of the country was being ruled by the Governor’s proclamation. In view of this therefore it was difficult for a common outlook amongst the British officials in the North and in the South on the one hand and their wards in the others.

When however following the promulgation of the constitution of Sir Arthur Richards and the division of the country for administrative purposes in 1939, into the Eastern, Northern and Western group of provinces, the colonial administration was reaction to the political reality in Nigeria.

Ever since this administrative division, regional parties had grown from trial organisations. Invariably the largest number of these parties membership were drawn from the regions of the party leaders. The Nigerian Youth movement form in 1934 by Dr. J. C. Vaughan, Ernest Ikoli and Samuel Akinsanya soon disintegrated because of trial jealousies and machinations of rival supporters of Samuel Akinsanya and Ernest Ikoli whop fought over Dr. Kofoworola Abayomi. It was this unhealthy state of affairs which watered the soil of decampings and new entrants into political struggle that greeted the formation on the 24th of August 1944 of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC). Suffice it to submit that the emergence of NCNC marked the beginning of Nigeria’s tortuous journey into Nationhood. As events were changing in England politically. The effect of the second world war which was going on can also not be over emphasized in considering factors which convinced the British in believing that there must be a gradual process towards a progressive disengagement from her colonies. With the intention of forestalling nationalist demands the British unfolded their plans for constitutional reforms in Nigeria.

Preparation for independence

The Richard constitution therefore tried to address some of the demands of the nationalists by enlarging membership of the legislative council to forty-three. For the first time also the jurisdiction was countrywide unlike what happened before wherein the Northern region was being administered separately. The constitution also contained the provision which related to election of four members, three representing Lagos and one, Calabar. Regional legislatures were established in Enugu, Ibadan and Kaduna with an upper house of Chiefs in the North where the Emirs have been so important and necessary for the purposes of the Colonial administration.

The powers of these regional legislatures were clearly defined. They included mainly a consideration of budgets and also serving as electoral colleges for the legislative council in Lagos. The Richard Constitution was the first attempt in Nigeria’s history of arranging within a Constitutional framework an arrangement to associate different ethnic groups with one another for the purpose of governance. Notwithstanding the far-reaching provisions, the Nationalists were far from being placated and called for a situation wherein more people would be elected. The constitution was also seen by some of the Nationalists as a subtle device by the British to perpetuate the division in the country by creating regions around which vested interest would revolve.

As political awareness increased there arose the need to accommodate people of similar political learnings. The action group emerged from a cultural association of the Yorubas called ‘Egbe Omo Oduduwa’ of which Chief Obafemi Awolowo was Secretary. The Northern Peoples Congress emerged from similar cultural movement in the North called ‘Jaman Mutane Arewa’.

With the formation of the Action Group and the NPC, the NCNC was increasingly identified with the Igbo aspirations. They represented the stage of political situation in the country when in 1951, the Macpherson Constitution came into operation. The constitution actually formalized the informal division of the country into regions by the Richard Constitution. Slight modifications were made in the constitution to enlarge membership of the Legislative and Northern House of Assembly continued to be bicameral i.e. the Governors still had reserve powers like under the Richard Constitution and could be invoked to guarantee law and order and good government. Nigeria still continued to operate a Unitary system since all the subordinate lieutenant-Governors in the regions were still loyal to the Governor General and the state legislature still served as electoral colleges for the central legislature the constitution was still a far cry from true federalism.

In 1953, when Anthony Eronmonsele Enahoro moved a motion calling for the independence of the country in 1956, the British government was quick to point out to the uneven development in the country and the hostility existing between Northern and Southern elites. The motion was roundly condemned as been unrealistic by the Northern Peoples Congress Leadership, Sir Ahmadu Bello later opined that independence at the time the southerners wanted it would have been suicidal for Northerner if they had accented to it. He meant by this that the North would have been at a disadvantage in that most of the administrators would have been southerners because there were few qualified Northerners at the time. Opposition of Northerners to independence earned them public jeers from a motley of crowd in Lagos an unfortunate development which further convinced the Northerners that maybe they after all did not have much in common with southerners.

In 1953, the AG sent a delegation led by Chief S. L. Akintola to the North to appeal to the masses. It was a wrong step forward and the delegation was attacked by rioting NPC supporters which resulted in mutual killings and Northerners and Southerners living in Kano. Alarmed by the violence, the British government became more convinced that a large measure of regional autonomy was expedient and that only a federal system could hold Nigeria together.

PDP is confused, members of the public should disregard the claim, says APC spokesperson

THE Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday raised an alarm over an alleged plan by the sacked APC chairmen in the state to illegally pay out almost N13 billion of the state’s local government funds as legal fees.

The party therefore called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the matter, saying that in a leaked letter trending online, one of the sacked chairmen instructed UBA to pay a law firm (name withheld) 15 percent of the allocation paid into the council’s account last week as legal fees.

PDP chairman in the state, Hon Sunday Bisi, described the directive as illegal, saying that the party even gathered authoritatively that the APC ex-chairmen in all the 30 local government councils gave the same instructions to the bank.

‘The total balance in all LG accounts is about N85 billion. Fifteen percent of that amount translates to N12.75 billion which these APC men wanted to pay out as legal fees. Fortunately, the Oyo State High Court order of last Friday stopped them and their scheme,’ he disclosed.

He alleged that the ex-council chairmen used non-council staff members as treasurers and co-signatories of the letters.

‘There is no officer designated as treasurer in the local government scheme of service across the country. Yet these people used individuals who are not local government staff to fill the nonexistent position of treasurer.

‘One of those so used to sign the letter is a non-teaching staff (member) of a private polytechnic in Boluwaduro Local Government Area.

‘It is shocking,’ the PDP chairman said.

According to him, the letter was written a few days ago, instructing a 15% deduction from the accounts of local governments to be paid to a legal practitioner with a UBA account.

The PDP said the sacked chairmen signed ‘IR- REVOCABLE LETTERS OF DE- DUCTION in favour of the law firm, which were forwarded to a branch of UBA.’

The said deduction was to commence from February 2025 to September 2025.

‘The APC has descended to the lowest level with outright impunity and deliberate trampling on the law and the constitution.

‘Despite a court order and a subsisting case before the Supreme Court, the APC is violating all known laws and public finance rules and regulations,’ Hon Bisi said.

An Oyo State High Court on Friday granted an injunction restraining UBA from allowing any payment out of the accounts opened by the APC ex-chairmen, into which the CBN paid the local governments’ seized seven-month allocations.

‘We call on the Inspector General of Police to open criminal investigations into these letters and their authors. All perpetrators of this illegality must be brought to book,’ the statement concluded.

Meanwhile, the APC spokesperson, Chief Kola Olabisi, described the claim as falsehood, saying it is far from the truth. He charged members of the public to disregard it.

Olabisi said it is a plot to give APC a bad name in the face of members of the public, and that PDP is confused and does not know the right direction to take any longer.

Recent advances in In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) now make it possible for couples to select the sex of their baby before pregnancy. While the procedure is medically reliable, it comes with financial, ethical, and legal considerations.

In this article, Tribune Online examines key facts you should know:

1. The process is nearly 100% accurate

Through Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT), embryos are tested after about five days of development. Doctors can then determine sex chromosomes (XX for female, XY for male) before implantation.

2. First designed for medical reasons

Sex selection began as a way to prevent passing on sex-linked disorders, such as hemophilia and Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

3. Parents also choose for personal reasons

Some couples opt for gender selection for ‘family balancing’ or when they only want one child of a specific sex.

4. The cost is significant

According to Nevada Fertility Center, choosing an embryo’s sex adds $1,000 to $4,000 to the cost of IVF, which is already expensive.

5. Ethical debates remain strong

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) has urged caution, noting that non-medical gender selection raises concerns about bias and the commercialization of reproduction.

6. Not all countries allow it

While the United States permits elective sex selection, many countries ban it unless it is for medical reasons. Policies also vary between clinics.

7. More male embryos are chosen

Reports show that IVF transfers often result in more male embryos than female, with ratios as high as 164 males for every 100 females.

THE Lagos state government has dismissed claims by former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, that buildings recently demolished at the Trade Fair complex by the state government had valid approvals.

Obi, who visited the complex, had commended traders for their restraint and described the exercise as a test of impunity, justice and compassion.

The former LP presidential candidate also alleged that the affected structures were approved by the authorities.

But while reacting to Obi in a statement, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, described Obi’s remarks as not only misleading but an attempt to misinform the public.

According to him, investigations revealed that the owners of the demolished structures did not obtain planning permits from the Lagos State Government.

He explained that government had last year declared a general amnesty, giving property owners multiple opportunities to regularise their papers, but the owners failed to comply.

‘When physical planning officials visited the complex, they were attacked, and police had to rescue them. Even when the government invited the owners for dialogue, they refused to show up,’ Omotoso stated.

The Commissioner clarified that while the Trade Fair Complex Management Board, a federal agency, may manage leases and commercial activities within the facility, it has no powers to grant building approvals.

The Commissioner said, ‘Physical planning and building approvals remain the responsibility of the Lagos State Government.’

‘The Supreme Court in 2003 (AG Lagos v. AG Federation) affirmed that states retain authority over development control within their territories, including federal lands, except for exclusive federal enclaves like military formations,’

He maintained that the state government acted within the law, stressing that any construction without Lagos State planning permit is illegal and subject to demolition.

He said the state government will always uphold the rule of law in the interest of safety, order, and sustainable development, saying: ‘We must decide the kind of society we want – one governed by law or one run by emotions, fueled by political interests.’

The Vice Chancellor of the African School of Economics (The Pan-African University of Excellence), Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji, has urged Nigerians and the world at large to embrace hope despite the chaos that is increasingly becoming the order of the day.

He stressed that, as dark as the horizon may be, human beings cannot afford to lose hope that one day, there will be peace and justice in the world and that good will replace evil on the planet.

Prof. Adedimeji, a Fellow of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice, made this submission in his address, ‘A World Without War’, delivered on the occasion of the Special Lecture organised by the University on Monday as part of the activities marking the 2025 International Day of Peace.

The Vice Chancellor noted that the significance of Peace Day has gained more resonance in today’s world, which is being devastated and divided by war. According to him, ‘We are living witnesses to racism and genocide committed with impunity as the world pretends that human lives only matter on the basis of their skin pigmentation and religious beliefs. And as the United Nations Secretary General, António Gutterres, said in his message to commemorate this year’s edition, ‘We must silence the guns. End suffering. Build bridges. And create stability and prosperity.”

The Fellow of the World Institute for Peace stressed that Nigerians should remain purposeful and peaceful because the entire water in the ocean cannot sink a ship and until the ship allows the water inside it. Accordingly, the prevalence of negativity in the world won’t change individuals who refuse to allow hubris and hatred inside them.

He illustrated his point with the scenario that unfolded during the Cold War when the East Berliners threw trash across the Berlin Wall, but the West Berliners returned their action with sweets and candies thrown across the wall, with a note, ‘Each one gives what they have.’ He encouraged Nigerians to have and keep peace so that they can give it. ‘Let’s have compassion and light so that we can illuminate the world,’ he added.

In his lecture delivered on the occasion, a former Nigerian ambassador to Mozambique, with concurrent accreditation to Swaziland, Madagascar and Mauritius, Albert Omotayo, decried the state of the world, which he said is full of complexities, paradoxes and the unknown saying that the world itself has not really changed much except that man has progressed in evil, increasingly becoming less human and more brutish in his ways.

Ambassador Omotayo described how various philosophers have described the concept of God, citing authorities like Plato, Aristotle, Plotinus, St. Augustine, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Immanuel Kant and others, pointing out that the divergence of their views shows how the idea of God has remained central to humanity’s search for meaning, truth and moral grounding.

While advocating forgiveness as a means of coping with the complexities of this world at a personal level, he traced the challenges that confront humanity regarding conflict and war to the beginning of creation, stressing that the world still has a lot of work to do now to achieve world peace in future.

Highlights of the occasion included the presentation of an award to Ambassador Omotayo by the Vice Chancellor of African School of Economics, assisted by the Registrar, Mrs Emilomo Ogunboye, and goodwill messages by guests, including the Assistant Director of Corps, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Raymond Yusuf and the Founder, Path to Peace Foundation, Mr Abubakar Akande.

In a ceremony that also marked Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, the National Arts Theatre in Iganmu was officially recommissioned on 1 October 2025 and renamed the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, following a multi-year public-private restoration.

The restored complex, whose silhouette has been preserved while its interiors were transformed, now houses world-class performance halls, cinema spaces, exhibition galleries, an African literature library, rehearsal rooms, media and medical facilities, landscaped grounds, and direct integration with the Lagos Blue Line rail.

Olayemi Cardoso, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, said the project was delivered through an extraordinary partnership between the Central Bank, the Bankers’ Committee, the Federal Government, and the Lagos State Government. He noted that the Bankers’ Committee committed approximately ?68 billion to the project, framing the funding as a deliberate investment in the nation’s cultural future rather than a mere act of corporate social responsibility.

‘This is more than a renovation; it is a rebirth,’ Mr Cardoso said, adding that the centre must be protected to prevent a return to years of neglect.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State described the reopening as a homecoming for a city that hosted FESTAC ’77. He said the state played a key role by ensuring a dedicated Blue Line stop and contributing additional land to expand the creative hub. ‘Today’s commissioning is only the beginning,’ he said, urging that the complex become a focal point for artistic excellence and urban renewal.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who performed the commissioning, urged Nigerians to speak positively about the country and to ‘lift Nigeria’ by believing in its potential. The President also pledged to contribute to an endowment fund to guarantee maintenance, accessibility, and job creation at the centre.

Professor Wole Soyinka, who expressed mixed feelings about having his name affixed to a public monument, accepted the honour and reflected on the theatre’s storied past, from its 1976 completion and FESTAC ’77 glory to the decades of decline that preceded the restoration. ‘If a group of bankers got together, using some of my money also. in order to honour me, what’s wrong with that?’ he joked, before urging that the centre serve future generations of artists.

Officials and cultural stakeholders lauded the project as a tangible union of culture and commerce, an effort to harness Nigeria’s creative industries for jobs, revenue, and soft power. With renewed facilities and a declared commitment to upkeep, the Wole Soyinka Centre is being positioned as a national landmark intended to keep Nigeria’s creative voice on the global stage.

In a landmark development for global aviation safety, the Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA) and the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) have signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Montreal, Canada, during the 42nd ICAO Assembly held on September 25 to October 4, 2025.

The agreement, which is the first of its kind between two Regional Accident Investigation Organizations (RAIOs), underscores a new era of international cooperation in aircraft accidents and incident investigations. It reflects the growing recognition that safety challenges transcend borders and require stronger collaboration to strengthen aviation oversight.

The landmark agreement was signed by Commissioner BAGAIA, Charles Irikefe Erhueh and his counterpart IAC Chairman, Oleg Storchevoy in Montreal, Canada, during the 42nd ICAO Assembly on September 25, 2025.

The importance of this MoU lies in its comprehensive framework for cooperation, which extends far beyond symbolic partnership. It is designed to enhance collaboration between both bodies in areas of investigation and prevention, ensuring that technical expertise and resources are no longer confined by regional boundaries. Through this arrangement, BAGAIA and IAC can exchange technical know-how, specialist equipment, and training opportunities, while also promoting joint research into accident causation and emerging technologies in aviation safety. Such collaboration creates a platform for sharing best practices and safety data, enabling both regions to reduce the risk of accidents and raise safety standards in line with ICAO provisions.

Equally significant is the agreement’s focus on capacity building. By facilitating joint workshops, regional training seminars, and mentorship opportunities for investigators, the MoU seeks to strengthen the pool of safety professionals in both Africa and Eurasia. It further enhances global networking opportunities by linking two regional agencies across continents, thereby fostering a broader web of aviation safety cooperation that includes other civil aviation authorities and organizations. The harmonization of regulations and investigative practices also forms a cornerstone of this MoU, allowing for more efficient cross-border investigations while ensuring consistency in accident reporting and analysis.

The provisions of the MoU are built on clear commitments. Both parties have agreed to collaborate in the improvement of aircraft accident investigation, prevention, and training by exchanging expertise and promoting a harmonized approach to investigations in accordance with ICAO standards. They will also provide counseling during investigations, share technical support and data analysis, and encourage the participation of investigators in each other’s training initiatives. Importantly, the agreement is guided by principles of mutual respect, confidentiality, and independent financial responsibility, with mechanisms in place for contractual arrangements, dispute resolution, and adherence to international data protection practices.

The MoU is open-ended, taking effect immediately upon signing, with provisions for amendment where necessary. Either party may terminate it with one month’s notice, provided existing obligations are honored. This flexibility ensures that the framework remains adaptable to future challenges while sustaining the spirit of cooperation.

This MoU is a historic first for RAIOs worldwide. For the first time, two regional agencies have formally committed to a partnership that cuts across continents, providing a template for future inter-regional cooperation.

By pooling expertise from Africa and Eurasia, the collaboration not only enhances investigative capacity but also accelerates the global push towards harmonized aviation safety oversight under ICAO. Industry watchers say it represents the beginning of a new chapter in international aviation cooperation, one that may inspire similar agreements between other regional safety organizations in the future.

FORMER Health Minister Professor Isaac Folorunso Adewole has been elected as the President of the Nigerian Academy of Medicine (NAMed), a body established to enhance the quality of healthcare through education.

Prof. Adewole was elected to take over from the outgoing President of the Academy, Emeritus Prof. Samuel C. Ohaegbulam, at the NAMed’s annual lecture, Induction Ceremony, and Scientific Conference in Abuja.

Adewole, in his acceptance speech, pledged to lead the Academy to greater heights and ensure that his tenure would consolidate on the achievements and successes of his predecessor.

A guest speaker, Dr Francis Ukwuije, who is a WHO health economist, while speaking on ‘Healthcare Financing in Nigeria: Are We Getting It Right?’ recommended that greater efforts needed to be made in financing healthcare to prevent catastrophic out-of-pocket expenses.

The second scientific session included a panel discussion with Dr Kelechi Ohiri, Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority; Dr Sir Frank Odafen, a medical entrepreneur; Dr Joyce Barber, an HMO provider; Dr John A. Onyeokoro, a public health physician; and a health insurance expert as panel speakers.

The discussion focused on health insurance in Nigeria, its progress since inception, challenges, and prospects, with emphasis on the way forward.

They suggested that the Academy should intensify advocacy to redirect and expand health insurance, which currently covers only 10 per cent of the population.

Earlier, Emeritus Prof. Samuel C. Ohaegbulam, the immediate past president, said that the academy purposefully selected ‘Emerging and re-emerging diseases’ as the conference’s theme because of the rise in illnesses in the nation.

The induction ceremony had 20 new fellows, among who are eminent physicians, distinguished professors, and medical scientists who hold critical positions, such as chief medical directors of tertiary health institutions and vice-chancellors of universities.