Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says that approximately one million Nigerian children die annually before their fifth birthday due to various illnesses. The Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, said this on Friday at a news conference to kick-start the 2024 FCT Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week vaccination. The vaccination exercise, which is free for children aged 0 to 59 months, is scheduled to begin on July 20 and end on July 24. Represented by Dr Babagana Adam, the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Ms Fasawe said that the death rate among children between…

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has vowed to unravel the alleged missing 13,350 diapers for antenatal care at a Primary Health Centre in the Sambawa community, Kebbi. The commission said it would investigate the criminal conduct and bring the culprits to book. The chairman of ICPC, Musa Adamu, said this at a one-day conference organised by the ICPC in Abuja, on Thursday. Mr Adamu said, “Recently, the Sambawa community in Kebbi state sent a petition to us regarding missing antenatal care items for pregnant women and newborn babies donated to a healthcare facility.…

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed a troubling increase in vote-buying in Nigeria’s North-West region during the 2023 general elections.  According to a recent report titled “Corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and Trends Third Survey on Corruption as Experienced by the Population,” the incidence of vote-buying surged by 44 percent compared to the 2019 elections. The report details that vote-buying in the North-West rose from 23 percent in 2019 to a staggering 55 percent in 2023.  The NBS found that a substantial portion of the electorate, 55 percent, reported being offered money or other favours in exchange for their…

Daud Olatunji  The Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University has sacked the institution’s Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joseph Ikechebelu.  The decision was communicated through a letter made available to reporters on Saturday. Professor Ikechebelu, who previously served as the university’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), was appointed Acting Vice-Chancellor in early June following the expiration of Professor Charles Esimone’s tenure on June 3.  No reason was provided for Professor Ikechebelu’s abrupt removal from office. The letter announcing the sack was signed by Gregory Mbadiwe, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairperson of the Governing Council.  In the same letter, Mbadiwe announced the appointment of Professor Carol…

By Kunle Somorin In a rare moment of recognition and celebration, Nigeria’s literary giant, Wole Soyinka, was on Wednesday honored in his home state of Ogun. The occasion marked a significant milestone in the life of a man who has spent decades speaking truth to power and championing the causes of justice and equality. The grandeur of the occasion was akin to a floodwater that threatened to drown the very man it sought to honor. Despite facing persecution and exile, Soyinka has remained steadfast in his commitment to the Nigerian people and the pursuit of a better society. The reception,…

Parenting, simply put, is the process of raising and educating a child from birth until adulthood. Raising a child is one of the most taxing yet fulfilling, frustrating and rewarding tasks any human can attempt. Children really need love. What human organization requires most for its development is a nutriment of love, the source of virtually all health is in the experience of love. Children suffer serious crippling effects when exposed to an inadequate diet of love. Living in loveless, selfish world, therefore, strains family bonds and eventually bounces back on the children who are usually at the receiving…

By Aisha Ademigbuji Reading is a complex skill that opens doors to knowledge, imagination, and lifelong learning. For young learners, mastering the foundations of reading is crucial. This process can be distilled into five big ideas, each playing a vital role in helping children become proficient readers. Understanding these concepts is essential for educators, parents, and anyone involved in early childhood education. 1. Phonemic Awareness Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds—phonemes—in spoken words. It’s the foundation of reading, as it prepares children to understand that words are made up of these sounds. Activities like…

The Director-General of the Labour Party’s presidential campaign for the 2023 election, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has accused the party’s candidate, Peter Obi, of betraying the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to pursue his own presidential ambitions.  Okupe stated this in a viral video circulated on social media on Friday, clarifying his reasons for withdrawing support from Obi. According to Okupe, Obi’s decision to contest the 2023 presidential election led him to break ranks with Atiku, who had initially brought Obi into national politics by selecting him as his vice-presidential candidate in the 2019 election.  Okupe vehemently denied allegations…

Daud Olatunji In a bid to tackle the moral decline and rising societal ills plaguing Nigeria, the Dawah Front Ummu Forum , Abeokuta chapter, recently organised a thought-provoking session.  The event, headlined by some experts include ; the lead discussant, Dr. Muibat  Shittu from the Federal University of Agriculture,Abeokuta, Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, Dr Mutiu Agboke, the Administrator of Al-Ma’ruf Academy, Mr Maknun Adekunle and a young female advocate, Kabirah Indarabi, all shared their thoughts on the theme “Intentional Parenting: Youth Reformation.” The session drew insights from Islamic teachings to propose effective parenting strategies aimed at raising morally…

Daud Olatunji  Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has opened up about the perilous times he faced during the regime of the late Nigerian military dictator, General Sani Abacha.  Reflecting on his experiences as he marks his 90th birthday, Soyinka described his survival through that era as “a bit of a miracle.” In an interview, the  playwright and activist recalled the intense scrutiny and danger he faced from Abacha’s government, which he characterised as driven by madness and obsession.  “Abacha was mad. He was obsessed. He was really obsessed with me,” Soyinka stated, highlighting the personal vendetta the dictator harboured against…