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Journalists Honour National Ear Care Centre Kaduna MD

For consistently engineering strategies of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose and throat (ENT) diseases and coordinating research and training of specialists, the Freelance Journalists Federation ((FJF) has honoured the management of the National Ear Care Centre, Kaduna.
According to the federation, the center, despite paucity of funds and other challenges, has excelled in the areas of; human capacity development, accountability and due process in resource utilisation thereby deserving encouragement.
Presenting a plaque to the Medical Director of the Centre, Dr Mustapha Yaro, ((FJF administrator, Solomon Semaka explained that the award of International Health and Safety Standards was a confirmation of the views of Nigerians from all works of life.
“The 2021 extraordinary award committee has its members drawn from the civil society, religious organisations and the media. The Committee is at the National Ear Care Centre Kaduna on a mission to confirm the views of ordinary Nigerians as reflected in our surveys; as well as convey appreciation of Nigerians to the leadership and management of this great institution” above all to Mr President for his commitment to health sector revolution in Nigeria.
“Since the establishment of the centre, it has grappled with multiple challenges, ranging from lack of funding, inadequate infrastructure amongst others. But in the face of all this challenges, successive managements of the centre have continued to do their best to offer essential services to the public in line with the Act establishing the centre.
“The most outstanding milestone recorded under the current management based on our assessment has been in the areas of; human capacity development and staff training; accountability and due process in resource utilisation, improved staff professionalism and ethics; above all, the centre has continued to be public sector driven. Under the current management, the drive for research has doubled. These efforts no doubt have yielded tremendous accolades for the centre both nationally and internationally. The many reforms by the current management of the centre have enhanced the availability of essential services the centre was established to provide”, the group noted.
The Forum regretted that despite the huge achievements recorded at the centre, much was not heard of and pledged to support in publicising the good works going on in the centre.
“…it is pertinent to note that regardless of whatever successes recorded in the centre, if the achievements are not properly reported by the media, the fundamental objective of the centre; which is, to offer essential ear care services to Nigerians would be defeated. Nigerians need to know about the centre, what essential services they offer to the masses.
“It is for this reason that the committee is here to honour the management and to offer a hand of partnership to help in promoting the image and activities of the centre using our broad based digital and mainstream platforms”, Semaka assured.
Earlier, while conducting the delegation round some of the physical infrastructural achievements of the centre, the MD lauded the forum for identifying with the centre saying it was the height of patriotism.
Dr Mustapha Yaro while assuring that the centre under his watch will continue to strive to achieve its mandate highlighted some of the gains made under his watch.
He listed procurement of radiology and laboratory equipment, conversion of pharmacy block to a storey building, renovation of ENT blocks, post basic ENT nursing and students hostels, construction of two hundred seats capacity lecture auditorium amongst many others.
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PANDEF Clarifies Visit To Tinubu, Knocks Wike Over Inflammatory Comments

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has called on President Bola Tinubu to prevail on the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike to retract his publicly disparaging remarks made recently against the socio-political body.
PANDEF described as regrerrable and embarrassing comments by Wike in the aftermath of the group’s visit to Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, even to the extent of insulting the late former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South Leader, Chief Edwin.
Recall that the FCT minister had, on Thursday, during a media chat, described PANDEF as “the worst organisation anybody can rely on”, while also calling the board of trustee members of the body “political merchants”.
In a statement signed by PANDEF Chairman on Saturday in Abuja, Ambassador Godknows Boladei Igali, urged President Tinubu as the father of the nation, to prevail upon the Honourable Minister to retract his inflammatory statements and extend due respect to these eminent.
Igali clarified that the meeting with the president provided a valuable platform to discuss pressing issues of national and regional importance. Adding that “PANDEF remains unwavering in its commitment to peace, stability, and equitable development in the Niger Delta. We will continue to engage with great vigour, all relevant stakeholders in pursuit of lasting harmony in Rivers State and the broader South-South region.”
His words: ^To set the record straight, PANDEF the foremost socio-political body representing the South-South regions, composed of some of Nigeria’s most distinguished personalities. The delegation to Mr. President included chairpersons of at least four of the six SouthSouth states’ traditional councils, senior traditional rulers of major ethnic groups, former governors, past presiding officers of the Senate, prominent entrepreneurs, academics, and high-ranking retired military officers.
“It is, therefore, highly regrettable and totally unacceptable that a serving minister in the Federal Government would exhibit such brazen disrespect towards individuals of this standing. This attitude perhaps explains his continued refusal of the Minister to engage with the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, which PANDEF constituted as far back as October 2024, despite repeated attempts to reach.
“The Honourable Minister (Wike) characterized PANDEF as the worst organization ever” and accused its members of visiting the Presidential Villa merely to solicit financial favors. These statements are not only false but also unbecoming of a public official of his stature.
“PANDEF hereby calls upon Mr. President, as the father of the nation, to prevail upon the Honourable Minister to retract his inflammatory statements and extend due respect to these eminent Nigerians and traditional rulers who were, after all, esteemed guests of the Commander-in-Chief. It is apt to remind that the Minister does not own the Niger-Delta and his errant conduct should not be condoned.
“Notwithstanding this regrettable development, PANDEF remains unwavering in its commitment to peace, stability, and equitable development in the Niger Delta. We will continue to engage with great vigour, all relevant stakeholders in pursuit of lasting harmony in Rivers State and the broader South-South region,” Igali stated.
On efforts to restore peace in River State, Igali restated PANDEF’s commitment for peace in the oil-rich State.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, which remains committed to resolving the Rivers State crisis,” Igali stated.
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