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Lagos Keys Into Global One Health Initiative

Published

6 years ago

October 17, 2019

Prof. Akin Abayomi,

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health Prof Akin Abayomi has disclosed that the state has keyed into the global One Health Initiative to expand its interdisciplinary collaborations and communications in all aspects of health care.

Abayomi said this at the ongoing 3 day 2019 National Organic Agriculture Business Summit on Thursday in Lagos with the theme ‘Organic Export Opportunities for National Development’.

`One Health’ is an integrated approach for preventing and mitigating health threats at the Animal-Human-Plant-Environment interfaces with the objective of achieving public health, food and nutrition security, sustainable ecosystems and fair trade facilitation.

“What we have done in Lagos state is to establish what is called the `one health’ approach to ensure a coordinated effective way for addressing cross-cutting problems.

“You can’t say you are concerned about just the health of human beings because the health of the human being is determined by food you consume, the water they drink and even the air they breathe in.

“So it addresses the human health, environmental health and agriculture health (when we talk about agriculture we mean plant and animals’’.

He said that we must start to think of health as a holistic approach for the planet.

“Problems impacting human health, animals, plants and the environment can be effectively resolved through improved coordination, communication and collaborative actions across disciplines and that these solutions be sustainable.

“Lagos is such a crowded place and we want to make sure that it is growing in a healthy way, so we must to avoid any medical emergency.

“With rapid population growth, globalization and environmental degradation, health threats have become more complex and solutions cannot be found by one sector alone’’.

He said the state is looking at what is being brought in and how they are preserved.

`We grow food fast, we grow poultry fast, are there holistic, do they pose more harm than good? if you are supposed to grow a chicken in three or four months and you grow them under 15 days then something is wrong.

“We want everything perfect, do you know how long it takes to grow anything perfect, some of the chemicals people use to grow things in Nigeria are banned.

“if you go to farms, you see people using these chemicals even without wearing protection, as a matter of fact they are not even aware of the dangers they expose themselves to.

The commissioner said his ministry is working with that of Environment, Agriculture, Environment and Justice to have a `Biosecurity Law’ for a holistic healthy state.

“We have to ensure that the environment is healthy and as well the food chain.

“We must move towards prevention rather than cure, give the wellness messages, eliminate stress by decongesting the roads, regulate pollution, ensure that drainages are free and flowing and no illegal dumping of refuse’’.

Dr Olugbenga Adeoluwa, Country Director, Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Initiative in Nigeria while giving the overview of the summit said there is the need to improve local development for export business in organic agriculture in Nigeria.

“Organic agriculture is becoming more popular all over the world and Nigeria is currently among the least organised countries in organic agriculture sector.

“So building the capacity of practitioners of strategic stakeholders in the organic agricultural sector of Nigeria is needed to contribute to food security, income generation, employment, systems resilience, among others.

“Thus, the annual National Organic Agriculture Business Summit (NOABS) is one of the ways of addressing challenges of organic agriculture development in the country.

He said that some of the objectives of NOABS Initiated by Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) partners in Nigeria are to ensure wide spread of benefits of organic agriculture to all stakeholders of organic agriculture sector in the country.

“Provide a national platform for organic agriculture stakeholders in the country and sustaining the drive for sustainable organic agriculture development in the country’’.

Some of the highlights of the event include presentation of awards to some outstanding stakeholders of organic agriculture initiative.

Some of the recipients include Mrs Ebere Agozie of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as Media/Advocacy Personality of the Year Award, Ms Olusola Sowemimo, a Lawyer/Farmer and Anambra State Government.

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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

1 week ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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