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First Lady Flags-Off NYSC’s 2022 Nationwide Medical Outreach For Rural Dwellers

Published

3 years ago

February 22, 2022

… Launch Ultra-Modern Mobile clinic

Joel Ajayi

In furtherance of her desire toward provision of an improve health service delivery across the country, the first lady of Nigeria Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari has officially flagged off the first quarter of 2022 National Youth Service corps NYSC Nationwide health outreach for people living in the rural areas in the country.

This even as Mrs. Buhari launched well equipped high quality mobile clinic, she donated to the scheme weeks ago, saying the gesture will no doubt boost the general well-being of rural dwellers across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria.

Speaking at the flag of and launching of mobile clinic at the rural community in Kpaduma ll, Guzape Area Asokoro District on Tuesday in Abuja, the President wife who was represented at the occasion by the wife of the Nassarawa state governor Mairo Tanko Al-Makura expressed NYSC’s significant contributions prompted her to donate the mobile clinic to complement the scheme’s effort.

According to her, we are here today for the formal flag off of the first quarter of 2022 nationwide health outreach by NYSC under initiative of HIRD

“This laudable project further receive a boost with launch of well-equipped high capacity ambulance that will be operated as NYSC mobile health clinic.

“This is significance step forward for health initiative of NYSC, our numerous interventions is complement the effort of Federal government toward provision a quality health service in Nigeria especially indigent members of our society.

“My decision to donate a mobile clinic, to improve the health of rural citizen this inform.”

She however, assured not spare any moral and material supports for the scheme to be sustained for the benefit of the citizenry.

“As a mother, I remain committed to initiative to program that will eliminate or reduce to the barest minimum the issues of maternal mortality rate, as well as preventable diseases such as high blood pressure, child birth amongst other.”

She therefore, appealed to governments at all level as well as private organizations to always redouble their effort toward provision of quality health for all Nigerian.

In his address, the Director General, NYSC, Major General Shuiabu Ibrahim thanked Dr. (Mrs.) Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, for her unrelenting efforts toward the wellbeing of the ordinary citizens especially the indigents.

“NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers was introduced in 2014 as a platform for the Scheme to complement the efforts of the Government in the provision of free and quality health care services to Nigerians, especially the indigent members of our rural communities.

“The programme brings together Corps Medical Doctors, Optometrists, Pharmacists, Nurses and other health specialists for medical outreaches that usually feature sensitization on health matters, free consultation, diagnosis, treatment and referral. Since its commencement, over four million rural dwellers have been reached in communities across the thirty-six States and the FCT.

“This is another significant step forward in Her Excellency’s unrelenting efforts to contribute to the wellbeing of the ordinary citizens, especially women and children.” He said.

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Featured

RMRDC: Making Giant Strides Under Prof. Nnanyelugo Martins Ike-Muonso

Published

2 days ago

September 19, 2024

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

As we embark on a journey, we always pray for an able, experienced, and courageous driver, pilot, or sailor depending on the means of transportation.

This is because the captain will have enough experience and boldness to navigate out of turbulence and to bring all the passengers and crew to the intended destination.

Interestingly, these fine qualities of ability, experience, boldness, and many more, abound in the man, Prof. Nnanyelugo Martins Ike-Muonso, who we all are pleased was appointed the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, RMRDC, the Director General/CEO by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a few months ago. This is because he has brought his knowledge, ability, experience, and doggedness to bear in carrying out his assignment in charge of the Council.

The RMRDC, operating under the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, is pivotal in driving Nigeria’s industrial growth by optimizing local raw materials exploitation, development, and utilization. RMRDC, ab initio, was conceived as a child of necessity when Nigeria was reeling from the throes of global recession and plummeting crude oil prices.

Without an iota of doubt, today, the council is experiencing a transformation with massive innovation in raw material exploitation, development, and utilization, supporting business and industrial growth, and contributing to Nigeria’s economic prosperity.

Speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday, in Abuja to commemorate his 100 days in office, he said the council is laying a solid foundation through numerous innovations that will further enhance growth in the country.

According to him, “In the past 100 days, my strategic pursuits have been to lay solid foundations for enduring success in these goals.

“Upon assuming this position, I set five crucial deliverables which include, refocusing the Council as a premier research institution; Strengthening the Council’s productivity and operational efficiency; and Significantly improving the staff welfare to be the best in the class of similar organizations.

“Others include, Boosting the Council’s visibility and instituting remarkable culture change that encourages ownership and productivity as well as Strengthening and deepening the Council’s place in the international arena.”While speaking on his Achievements so far, the DG revealed further: “My first task, therefore, was to implement a strategic goal-setting for the Council’s staff to define and set out clear objectives and targets to be achieved by the Council within a specified period towards refocusing on this historical mandate. We unleashed five significant initiatives in that regard.

“The nationwide raw material data collection exercise that focused on technical and investment information to drive our mission forward.

“The restructuring and renaming of the former Technology Innovation Complex (TIC), at the Obasanjo Space Center at Airport Road, Abuja, to a Research and Demonstration Plants Complex (RDPC). This complex will be Africa’s first center of excellence in raw material research, featuring state-of-the-art laboratories, technology development workshops, and proof of concept demonstrations.

“We have reactivated the Council’s Journal and repositioned it internationally. The repositioned Journal of Raw Material Research (JORMAR) will host RMRDC’s researchers’ publications, which are crucial in promoting awareness, facilitating knowledge sharing, and informing stakeholders about the opportunities and challenges in Nigeria’s raw materials sector. “The collaboration with universities and academies will strengthen our capacity for conducting market-guided research, ensuring sustained workforce training while deepening our orientation in science.

“The council has reformulated a new template for all our research proposals to ensure and sustain a clear departure from the old culture of blue-sky and deliberately endless research.”Speaking further, Prof Nwanyelugo Martins Ike-Muonso stated that Staff welfare remains a top priority as an issue of unpaid salaries is settled as well as set up a comprehensive welfare program. “Similarly, we established the RMRDC Training School to sustainably build our staff and stakeholders’ capacity to further the staff welfare improvement goal.

“We are committed to openness, inclusiveness, and performance management and have initiated steps to continuously improve staff ownership, orchestrate transformative culture change, boost our corporate visibility, and enhance.

“To further strengthen our visibility and communication strategies, we are upgrading our media infrastructure, which includes the launch of the RMRDC online media platform, The RMRDC TV Online.

“Additionally, we are working hard to effectively enhance the intellectual property and patent portfolio of RMRDC from its current 40 to approximately 200 new patents within the next 24 months. This proactive approach secures valuable IP assets and positions the Council as a leader in innovation within the raw materials sector, contributing to Nigeria’s overall economic growth.“As well as launching an e-registration and certification portal to enhance transparency in the raw materials sector,” DG revealed.

He however reaffirmed his commitment to reshape the future of research, technology, and innovation, driving Nigeria towards an industrially vibrant and technologically resilient economy.

“As I mark 100 days in office, I boldly say that the Council is on the verge of rewriting its history.

“I believe that in no distant future, RMRDC will play a leading role in enhancing raw materials’ development to boost raw materials’ industrial trial processing and attain sustainable industrial growth in Nigeria.

The DG, however, applauded the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, for his unwavering support and mentorship, saying the Minister’s leadership has been instrumental in the progress made so far.

In his opening remarks, the Directorate of Corporate Affairs, Mr Chucks Ngaha commended the hard-working DG who has weathered the storm further to put the Council on the ladder of more prosperity.

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