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TIP Releases Communique On National Conference, Designs Roadmap For Policy On Education

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Joel Ajayi 


The need for the development of a national policy on vocational education and training to address the disparity and duplication of intervention programmes has been identified as one of the solutions to tackling youth unemployment in Nigeria.


The Communique released by TIP Head of Media and Strategic Communication Wale Abydeen on Wednesday in Abuja reveals that recommendation was part of the 12-point communique released at the end of a three-day National Conference on Skill Acquisition organised by The Progressive Institute (TPI), a research arm of the ruling All Progressives Congress, held in Abuja recently.


The conference, which was planned as part of the efforts geared towards the implementation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noted that there was a huge gap between education output and employment opportunities in the country and pointed out that technical and vocational education and training was grossly undervalued in Nigeria in comparison with university education.


Other observations noted in the course of the deliberation during the conference include lack of progressive structural transformation of artisans from agrarian economy to modern industries, gaps in skill acquisition and training, absence of a national policy on vocational education which had led to the duplication of interventions without adequate coordination across various sectors and agencies, lack of gender inclusivity and barrier to skills acquisition in rural communities among several others.


As part of its recommendations, the conference, among other proposals, called for the establishment of a central coordinating body such as a national commission or a Federal Ministry to facilitate the realization of the federal government’s objective of addressing unemployment among youths as well as existing skills gaps in the economy. 


The institute further stated: “The establishment of well-equipped modern skill acquisition centres in each of the country’s six geo-political zones with arterial links to existing technical and related entities.


“The federal government should establish a Nigeria Digital Literacy Management Office in the Presidency through a Presidential Order which would serve as a national coordinating centre on digital matters.


“The government should integrate digital literacy at all levels of the country’s educational system and encourage collaboration between the government, private sector and other stakeholders through Public Private Partnerships (PPP) initiatives to expand skills acquisition for economic development as obtainable in South Korea, Singapore and South Africa.”


The conference which attracted the top echelon of the ruling APC including President Bola Tinubu who was represented by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Muhammed Idris and the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio represented by Sen. Barau Jibrin, Deputy Senate President; national chairman of the party, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje among others, also called for the integration of a six-month compulsory national youths skills acquisition program upon the completion of tertiary education and the promulgation of an ‘’end poverty 2030 agenda’’ through rural Industrialization, as parts of its recommendations.

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NICRAT, Roche, Oncopadi launch BRANT app for breast cancer care

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NICRAT, Roche, and Oncopadi unveiled the Breast Cancer Access Navigation and Testing (BRANT) application on Thursday in Abuja, aimed at reshaping breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in Nigeria.

At the launch, Prof. Usman Aliyu, Director-General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), described BRANT as a significant step in the country’s efforts to enhance patient care and streamline support systems.

He emphasised that the app would also empower individuals battling breast cancer, offering them better access to resources and guidance throughout their journey.

Represented by Dr Waziri Usman, the Director of Cancer Prevention and Control, Aliyu emphasised that breast cancer remained one of the most prevalent and deadly forms of cancer among Nigerian women.

He noted that early detection, timely intervention, and leveraging technology could greatly improve diagnosis and treatment outcomes.

BRANT, he explained, was designed to make navigating the complex landscape of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment easier, by connecting patients, healthcare providers, support groups, NGOs, and civil society organisations into one unified system.

Dr Omolola Salako, CEO of Oncopadi, highlighted the shortage of oncologists in Nigeria, with fewer than 95 oncologists nationwide, particularly in rural areas.

She stressed the need for technology to bridge the gap, allowing oncologists to reach patients across the country.

“Oncopadi has already been mobilising cancer patients for online care and educational resources over the past seven years.

“In partnership with Roche, Oncopadi is supporting 5,000 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

“The collaboration leverages Roche’s expertise in oncology diagnostics and Oncopadi’s digital oncology capabilities to launch BRANT.”

Dr Ladi Hameed, General Manager of Roche Products Limited, emphasised the organisation’s commitment to address the growing burden of breast cancer through awareness, early detection, and access to treatment.

“The BRANT programme, which includes free immunohistochemistry testing and multidisciplinary teams, aims to remove financial barriers that delay diagnoses and treatment,”he said.

While the programme would run for the next 18 months, Hameed called for collective efforts to ensure its sustainability.

Mr Alexander Chimbaru, Deputy Country Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to Nigeria, lauded the initiative, calling it a valuable solution to reduce the burden of breast cancer.

He stressed the importance of taking action to ensure the programme’s success.

Dr Fatima Kyari, Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), supported the initiative, urging the organisations to adhere to regulatory guidelines regarding specialist support, digital health tools, and patient information.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports BRANT is a user-friendly platform offering personalised care, expert consultations, diagnostic tests, treatment facilities, and support for patients throughout their breast cancer journey.

NAN

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