#covid19 Preventive Materials Being Sold In Markets!

#Covid19NGR : Hand Gloves sold at N100 a pair. 

Video Source: Roving Informant Youtube Channel

As 'cheap' as they are sold, these corona virus preventive materials are supposed to be distributed free-of- charge to the public, by government agencies.

How Lagosians Are Complying To #Covid19 Directives!

It is no longer news that since the index case of the corona virus entered Nigeria through an Italian man, who returned from Italy via Turkey on Turkish Airline, the number of people who have tested positive to the virus has continued to increase. Check background story here: https://rovinginformant.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-other-passengers-with-index.html

As the number skyrockets across the globe, with highest number of cases and mortality in the United States, China, United Kingdom, and other Asian and European countries. It's impact on economies is equally alarming. People have lost their jobs and sources of livelihood, due to either ailments or shut-down orders. Likewise, large organizations stand the risk of folding-up, if some sort of intervention is not received. 

On their parts, governments, individuals, private/ public and religious organizations are rendering their supports through donations of: Money, ICU beds, Isolation centers, Ventilators, Face masks and Hand-sanitizers. 

In the United States and Canada for example, the government is providing financial supports to the poor, who are the most hit in these times. In Turkey, food and provisions are left on the streets for the poor.  

Recently, the Nigerian government, through the Central Bank, launched the N50bn Targeted Credit Facility as intervention to support households and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. See Link here: https://rovinginformant.blogspot.com/2020/03/in-face-of-covid19-induced-economic.html

Over the past couple of weeks, measures have been taken to contain the virus tagged #covid19. Among such measures are the: shut-down of borders, offices, businesses, schools, public places, stay at home order, self-isolation. There are also preventive advise like- regular washing of hands, use of hand sanitizers and face masks among other. 

The Nigerian community is not left out on this. Markets have been closed, except for essentials like: food, health and banks. As much as these measures are challenging for the average Nigerian, people are beginning to come to terms with this reality, adjust and complying to directives.

Take a look at how some areas of the Ikota and Ajah communities on the Lekki Peninsular axis of Lagos state, are obeying the directives:

Alesh, Ajah

Alesh area, Ajah

Ikota Complex: Road 5, seems more organized in their approach

Water dispenser and liquid soap placed on the street, near Ajah Market.

Shopping Complex at Alesh, Ajah

Ikota Complex: Road1 appeared a little bit disorganized, compared to Road 5.

Ikota Complex: Road 5

Obianuju Mbanusi Writes.

In The Face Of #covid19 Induced Economic Down-Turn, Nigeria's Apex Bank Moves To Provide Support!

As the effect of the corona virus pandemic continues to eat deep into the system of economies around the world, governments are rallying to provide interventions for their citizens and organizations. 

                    

A couple of days ago, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced the N50bn Targeted Credit Facility as intervention to support households and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the apex bank, those that stand to benefit from the fund which would be financed from the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund are :

• Households with verifiable evidence of livelihood adversely impacted by COVID-19.
• Existing enterprises with verifiable evidence of business activities adversely affected as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Enterprises with bankable plans to take advantage of opportunities arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Activities covered under the scheme include agricultural value chain activities; hospitality (accommodation and food services); health (pharmaceuticals and medical supplies); airline service providers. Also, manufacturing/value addition; trading and any other income-generating activities as may be prescribed by the CBN.

Information made available by the CBN indicates that the loan amount would be determined based on the activity, cash-flow and industry size of beneficiary, subject to a maximum of N25m for SMEs.

Households can equally access a maximum of N3m while working capital would be a maximum of 25 per cent of the average of the previous three years’ annual turnover.

Source: Punch News

A Call To Nigerian Youths!

Must watch video call to Nigerian Youths, for re-evaluation of their mind-set and a change in their approach to issues.

Covid Pandemic: Premier League Suspends Games Until April 4th!

The Premier league has suspended all pending games until the 4th of April 2020. This decision was reached after a meeting of stake holders on Friday, 13th March, 2020. 

According to information made available to the public, "the Premier League's aim to reschedule the displaced fixtures, including those played by Academy sides, when it is safe to do so".

More information will be given when necessary. 

COVID-19: Other Passengers With Index Case Declared Wanted!

Two weeks after the case of Corona virus was reported in Lagos, Nigeria, following the arrival of an Italian man, the Lagos State Ministry of Health has declared the other passengers on the same Turkish Airline flight wanted. 

The State's Health Commissioner, Akin Abayomi, at the press briefing, revealed the names of the two passengers, who were believed to have had main contact with the Italian as: Enwelunta Obumnore Godfrey and Salami Abiodun Sadeeq.

It will be recalled that the Italian man arrived Lagos- Nigeria from Italy on the 24th of February, 2020, on a Turkish Airline, through a connecting flight from Istanbul. He passed the night in a hotel close to the airport, before proceeding to his station in Ogun state the following day. It was in Ogun state, that he complained of fever and body ache. He thereafter tested positive to Corona Virus and was quarantined.

According to information made available by the Ministry of Health, through its Boss, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, 40 individuals in Ogun state, and 20 more in Lagos, who had close contact with the index case were placed in isolation. So far, they haven't showed any symptoms of the virus.  However, three persons were tested to ascertain the possible presence of the virus in their system.

On Sunday, March 8th 2020, scientists found the presence of the corona virus in of the system of one of the Ogun state contacts with the index case; howbeit, there is no significant clinical symptoms. This development, makes it a second case of the corona virus case in Nigeria.

On Monday,  March 9th, 2020, Nigeria's Minister of Health, in what has been termed: first of its kind in Africa, announced that medical scientists from Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), in a combined efforts, successfully performed the genome in sequencing of the convirus strain brought into the country by the index case, and confirmed it to be the virus circulating in Italy and Wuham. This result was shared with International Organizations. 

World Health Organization's Director has extended congratulations to Nigerian scientists for this breakthrough. 

The MPK Foundation Reaching Out Through It's Programs To Foster Education!

Established in 2015, in memory of Mba Patricia Kanayo (late), a retired teacher, and my mother, the MPK Foundation is a Humanitarian Organization, set up to provide Social and Educational supports.

The Foundation grants full Elementary School Scholarships to underprivileged children, thereafter supports them with necessary skills acquisition or vocational training.

We equally grant high school scholarships to exceptionally intelligent children.

In addition, through free weekly sessions, we engage community children aged between 2-15 years on: Reading, Speaking, Writing and Listening skills, to better develop their English Language proficiency. 

Each lesson objective is achieved though the employment of- games, puzzles, matching activities, coloring, poetry, story telling, learning songs and their meanings in different languages and pronunciations.

Overall, Lesson deliveries are guided by well mapped out plans, and thought-out: Engage, Study and Activate stages. These, have facilitated better freer-practice of target language by the learners.

Our learning session:

In an interview with the Program coordinator, Obianuju Mbanusi, she disclosed that the foundation was established in 2015, in honor of her mother: Mba Patricia Kanayo (Nee Ononye), who was a retired teacher, from Asaba- Delta State - Nigeria.

On why the reading club was included in the scheme:  Obianuju said: The English Language is undisputed-ly a predominant language across the globe, for business, academics or leisure purpose. It is also the basis of all other subjects, since they are taught in English. Nevertheless, there is a huge gap in it's proficiency, which in turn has affected it's correct application despite being the lingua franca in most countries. This is evident in the challenges encountered in the effective flow of communication at all levels, and low scores in national, regional and major International English Language tests like - the Ielts, SAT, Toefl etc.

This situation has daunted the progress of most young people living in third world countries, especially the underprivileged whose parents cannot readily afford to send to schools that offer quality education. In the Nigerian context for example, good formal education is like a prerogative for the rich. If one's parent is not financially buoyant, the chances of getting a good education is slim.  Hence, you are left at the mercy of what the public schools can offer, which in most cases is a far cry compared to what could be obtained in some private schools or internationally. For this, the MPK Foundation introduced its Reading Club where, using acquired skills from my training in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), I teach children in my community the English language free of charge. This is what makes us different. I believe every child, irrespective of their parents or guardian's financial strength, has a right to quality education.

On what inspired setting up the Reading Club: Obianuju answered: My motivation came from my mother. Although, the reading club was established in 2019, two years after she passed, the whole idea started in 2015, when she was still around, with our first beneficiary. You see, notwithstanding the fact that we didn't grow up with lots of money, my mother ensured we had the best education she could afford, by supporting our formal education with home-coaching. Being a teacher, it was kind of easy for her. Also, she got us enrolled at the community library. We (I and my brother) would borrow books on different genre, read and return them after two weeks. Over-time, this helped develop my imagination, my love for reading, and learning about new things.


Why the Reading Club was introduced 4 years after the Foundation:  I decided to introduce the reading club in 2019, which was after my TESOL training in London, United Kingdom. By then, I felt empowered to do so. Although my training was focused on teaching adults, I have been able to design lessons for young learners. This is achievable through profiling. Observing, taking note of each learner's progress and challenge(s) and planing subsequent lessons to meet identified needs. 


Do you teach only the English language? Not at all, English language is our focus, but we also teach Geography, where we learn about places and people. We learn basic Mathematics, Ethics, about Plants and Animals, and about our Social environment. We learn Arts and Crafts as well. At the moment, we have few books in our little library for children to occupy themselves with. More so, periodically, we give out books as gifts to encourage reading. In all, the aim is to create a different learning environment from what they have at school, otherwise, the children will be bored. 

Do you teach all the children alone: I teach alone, sometimes I have friends volunteer to help out. Like a friend, Oiza, volunteers to teach the younger learners when she is free. She has been a lifesaver I must say. 

Challenges faced: Due to fund limitations, we are only able to enroll few children on our scholarship scheme. Also, a lot still needs to be done, in terms of getting a suitable place for the Reading Club and acquiring more learning materials. But we are making do with what we have and taking things as they come. I will also like to state here that the MPK Foundation is not limited to educational services. We are all about humanitarian responsibilities; we provide care supports to the less privileged and vulnerable.

 

Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obianuju-mbanusi-05bb6935/