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http://ift.tt/2sWolKD NATURAL HONEY…A natural sugar found in honey could prevent heart attacks, new research suggests.  PHOTO CREDIT: http://ift.tt/2sWqfeA *Natural sugar found in popular sweetener reduces artery plaque by 30% A natural sugar found in honey could prevent heart attacks, new research suggests. The sugar, known as trehalose, activates a protein that causes immune cells to remove fatty plaque from arteries, the study found. Trehalose was found to reduce the size of plaque in mice by around 30 percent. Plaque builds up inside the arteries in a condition known as atherosclerosis. This causes the arteries to harden and become less elastic, putting people at risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and even heart attacks. Trehalose is also found in mushrooms, lobsters and prawns. Researchers from Washington University injected mice at risk of atherosclerosis with trehalose or a different type of sugar. Some mice were also given trehalose orally. Results, pub...

http://ift.tt/2sWyPtR NLC was reacting to the latest report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) that showed unemployment rate rising from 13.9 per cent in the third quarter (Q3) or 27.12 million people to 14.2 per cent or 28.58 million in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2016. 28 million Nigerians unemployed in Q4 2016, says NBS The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said Federal Government’s target of creating 1.5 million jobs by the year 2020 was unrealistic and ambitious considering the rising rate of unemployment in the country. NLC was reacting to the latest report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) that showed unemployment rate rising from 13.9 per cent in the third quarter (Q3) or 27.12 million people to 14.2 per cent or 28.58 million in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2016. Titled: “Nigerian Economy and Policy Environment,” the report had given so much hope for 2020. The Lagos State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Idowu Adelakun said: “Creating 1.5 mill...

http://ift.tt/2rULw9N But whatever the fundamental causes might be, until now a clear diagnosis has only been possible once a child has started to develop more complex social behaviours, usually around the age of two. PHOTO: Time.com Scientists have developed a brain scan, which can accurately predict whether a newborn will develop autism. This is the first time that just one scan has been used to diagnose the disorder in children, experts claim. Developed by a team of scientists at the University of North Carolina (UNC), United States (U.S.), it works with 96 percent accuracy in six-month-old infants – much more precise than other scans. It shows which regions of their brains are connected and synchronized, and which are not. With this information, they can predict which babies have certain abnormalities in their brain connections, which puts them at higher risk of developing autism before the age of two. A previous UNC-lead study, published in Nature in February, used Magnetic R...

http://ift.tt/2smxL5c Keynote speaker, Principal Partner, Phillips Consulting Limited, Foluso Phillips said organisations could improve productivity of their employees by driving engagement, commitment and motivation.  Employee engagement in any organisation is key to staff effectiveness, productivity, optimal performance and the sustainability of every business. This was the submission of experts at a breakfast seminar organised for human resources managers by Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, with the theme: “Increasing Employee Productivity Through Engagement,” held in Lagos recently. Keynote speaker, Principal Partner, Phillips Consulting Limited, Foluso Phillips said organisations could improve productivity of their employees by driving engagement, commitment and motivation. He identified some key drivers of engagement to include career opportunity, organisation reputation, pay package, brand alignment, innovation, recognition or reward, as well as people and human resources ...

http://ift.tt/2qJs9A6 We must collectively raise the bar and insist on very high standards of leadership. And to those planning to get into public office, if your predecessor’s shoes are too big for you please, for posterity’s sake, step aside. A couple of years ago, I went to Ado Ekiti for the burial of a friend’s mum. The friendship goes way back to our days in boarding school in Ikere Ekiti more than 35 years ago. Back then, Ekiti was part of Ondo State. After the burial ceremonies in Ado Ekiti, we decided to drive to our school in Ikere Ekiti, just a ten minute drive away. We wanted to see our school again after more than three decades. When we drove into the school, we spent the first ten minutes wondering whether we had missed our way. We were beyond shocked at the state of the school. One of the guards on duty conducted us round what used to be a well laid out beautifully landscaped learning environment. We were too sad to even cry, seeing what had become of our once beautif...

http://ift.tt/2poABSo This include the sum of N30 million value of the Specialized Ethical drugs carted away, N5, 530,000 being the value of expired drugs during the closure of the Plaintiff’s premises and N1million for general damages. A Federal High Court, Lagos has ordered that the sum of N36million be paid to a pharmaceutical company for wrongful closure of company premises. This include the sum of N30million value of the Specialized Ethical drugs carted away, N5, 530,000 being the value of expired drugs during the closure of the Plaintiff’s premises and N1million for general damages. The decision was in respect of the suit between Edichart Investment Ltd and the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria, Lagos State Task Force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome processed Food and others. The Plaintiffs, Edichart Investment Ltd, Mr. Samuel Edih and Pharm. Alexander Ani Eton had approached the court to declare the action of the defendants as illegal, unconstitu...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Onozure Dania T he Police Special Fraud Unit, SFU, yesterday, charged a 45-year-old man, Adeleke Isiaka, before a Federal High Court in Lagos over N8.5 million fraud. The accused is standing trial on a three-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence and stealing. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecutor, Mr. Sylvester Azubuike, told the court that the accused committed the offence sometimes in March 2013, at Abdul Oladejo Avenue, Mokore Town Wawa Bus Stop, off Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. He alleged that the accused obtained 50,000 dollars (N8.5 million) from one Ismail Abdul, adding that the money was obtained by inducement under false pretence of praying for Allah’s blessings on the money, to enable the complainant purchase two trucks and for business to be free from all encumbrances. According to Azubuike, the accused bolted with the sum. The offence is said to have contravened the provisions of Sections 1(1) (a), and 8(a) ...

http://ift.tt/2smTQ3s President, Board of the Society of Corporate Governance of Nigeria (SCGN) and distinguished administrator, Mr. Pascal Dozie. Although, Corporate Governance is meant to facilitate effective, entrepreneurial and prudent management that can lead to long-term success of a company, many Nigerian organisations have shied away from adopting good and acceptable best practices. In this interview with BERTRAM NWANNEKANMA, President, Board of the Society of Corporate Governance of Nigeria (SCGN) and distinguished administrator, Mr. Pascal Dozie, gives an insight into how regulatory environment affects adherence to best corporate governance practice. Excerpts: Non-adherence to good and acceptable corporate governance practices in some of the institutions in the financial services sector have been a major problem in Nigeria. What do you consider as the reason for this? That is a very good question. When you hear of corporate governance, you think of regulations. That is ...

http://ift.tt/2qH6Cpi Federal High Court – and not the High Court of the FCT – is the proper forum to pursue the second set of charges. At the last count, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed at least two sets of criminal charges in connection with the allegedly corrupt disposal by the Federal Government and/or Malabu Oil and Gas Co. Ltd. of Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 245 to Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Co. Ltd. (SNEPCO) and Messrs. ENI/AGIP for the sum of N1.1 billion. The first set, filed on the 20th day of December, 2016 charged the defendants with fraud-related money-laundering under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012. The second set of charges filed on the 20th day of February 2017, alleged conspiracy and official corruption against the defendants contrary to the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act 2000. Whilst the first sets were filed at the Federal High Court, the second set, with Charge No. C...

http://ift.tt/2smF0KB The court also awarded N20 million general damages against the 1st defendant (UACN) for depriving the claimants of the peaceful and quiet enjoyment of the property as well as N300, 000 cost. A Lagos High Court, Ikeja has nullified the sale of a parcel of land in Lekki, Lagos to UACN Property Development Company Plc by Knight Rook Limited. Justice Abisoye Bashua declared the sale null and void, in his judgment, following a legal action filed against the two defendants by Grant Properties Limited and Fibigboye Estates Limited over the rightful owner of the contested property. The court also awarded N20 million general damages against the 1st defendant (UACN) for depriving the claimants of the peaceful and quiet enjoyment of the property as well as N300, 000 cost. In his decision, the judge declared that: “The deed of assignment assigning 2.4321 hectares of land within Igbokushu village, Eti-Osa local government area, Lagos within the Victory Park Estate ...

http://ift.tt/2sWeXqo As part of efforts to reward its numerous and loyal subscribers in Nigeria, Pay TV company, StarTimes, has launched a reward programme that would allow a customer pay two months subscription and have two weeks free. While speaking on the promotion, Acting Brands and Marketing Director, StarTimes, Mr. Qasim Elegbede, said the promotion tagged, “Pay for two months get two weeks free” has already started and would be on through July 31. He explained that subscribers could recharge for two months across any bouquet on all decoder types (product) and enjoy for free two weeks of uninterrupted access to their bouquet plan. “Subscribers can recharge for four months and get free four weeks’ viewing time,” Elegbede added. “All subscribers using our decoder or Real Digital TV can participate in this promo.” Elegbede noted that StarTimes aggregates various exciting and top-notch channels on its platform to offer millions of digital TV subscribers a ric...

http://ift.tt/2sWe29B Shoppers outside the main entrance of a Shoprite outlet in Kano, Nigeria. – ©AFP PHOTO / AMINU ABUBAKAR Shoprite Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting locally manufactured products with its ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ initiative, which has benefited its producers and customers alike. Majority of products sold by Shoprite Nigeria are sourced locally and by pledging to stock even more local produce across its 23 stores, Shoprite is highlighting its commitment to the growth of the Nigerian economy. The initiative also provides the platform for networking for manufacturers on a quarterly basis to showcase their goods, and helping to strengthen the relationship between Shoprite and local manufacturers. Managing Partner at Integrated Factory Foods, Akhibi Onoke, said the benefits of being able to sell Naija Sweet Rice in Shoprite stores have been evident. Onoke, who started supplying to Shoprite four months ago, said, “The big advantage for us is that our produ...

http://ift.tt/2o31x8E The company’s indebtedness to the lenders, they claimed stands as follows: Access Bank: N9, 278,404,445; Ecobank: N6, 257,203,229.21, FCMB: N441, 700,000; GTB: N618, 004,854.73 In a bid to recover an alleged debt of N16.5 billion, a consortium of four banks, through their Trustee, United Capital Trustees Limited and Receiver/Manager, Gbenga Akinde-Peters have sued a firm, Metal Africa Steel Products Limited at the federal high court, Lagos. In an affidavit sworn to by a litigation officer, Mr Segun Omoshola and filed before the court by Temilolu Adamolekun, the deponent averred that, Metal Africa Steel Product Limited has a bank/customer relationship with Ecobank Nigeria Limited, Access Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) who are jointly referred to as lenders. The banks alleged that they availed several facilities to the Company between November 2012 and June 2015 in the course of their relationship. According to...

http://ift.tt/2p7WC8m Hepatitis The Guild of Medical Directors (GMD) has held a conference (and its 24th Annual General Meeting) in Abuja to deliberate on measures to check the upsurge of hepatitis in Nigeria. The conference with the theme: “Let’s Make Nigeria Hepatitis Free,” listed underscoring the invidious nature of the disease, where the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, represented by Director of Health Services, Dr. Joe Amedu, stated that whereas other infectious diseases have acute symptoms that can easily call for attention, hepatitis was a silent ailment that causes chronic liver disease, liver cancer and ultimately death. While commending the GMD for supporting ministry’s efforts in its drive towards a healthy nation, he said: “The conference is appropriate as it will create awareness on viral hepatitis. This will reduce the dangers associated with lack of knowledge on Hepatitis and prevent it from reaching epidemic levels like Meningitis and Ebola viruses.” ...

http://ift.tt/2rkSKoZ Ibadin Michael is the Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Prof. Ibadin Michael is the Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. He was appointed in 2009 and will be exiting the office in a couple of days. In this interview with MICHAEL EGBEJULE, he speaks on the challenges of being a CMD, proffering solutions to the challenges in the health sector, among other sundry issues. Excerpt Brain drain has become a challenge in the health sector, what is responsible for it? Brain drain is there, we cannot stop it, its not only doctors that are immigrating, other people are also immigrating. As long as there is a mark differential between what we earn in Nigeria and what is earned abroad, people would want to travel. What I think is responsible is the condition of service. If the condition of service here is preferable to what we have abroad, people would want to live here. If you compare the situation abroa...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Prince Okafor T he Minister for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu has granted Lekoil Limited consent to complete the transfer of the original 17.14 percent participating interest that the company acquired in Oil Prospective License, OPL 310, in February 2013, to Mayfair Assets and Trust, a subsidiary of Lekoil. OPL 310 is an offshore license that contains the Ogo discovery, which is located in shallow water offshore Lagos. Lekoil’s acquisition of Afren’s stake in the license brings its total holding in OPL 310 to 40 percent. Lekoil’s acquisition of Afren’s remaining 22.86 percent participating interest in OPL 310, as announced on December 1, 2015, remains conditional upon receiving ministerial consent. According to the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Lekan Akinyanmi, “We are delighted to have received ministerial consent on our original 17.14 percent participating interest in OPL 310. “This is an asset with tremendous potential and I am delighted ...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Kingsley Adegboye with Agency report AGAINST the backdrop of   the huge capital expenditure involved in mass housing development, housing experts have said the sector requires appropriate finance, insisting that finance is a critical ingredient in housing development. This is the submission of the experts who spoke at various forums. Recently, the Managing Director,Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria FMBN, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, an architect, disclosed in Abuja that meeting the affordable mass housing needs of Nigeria remains a major challenge, with estimated 17 million housing deficit in the country, which is anticipated to cost about N60 trillion. Dangiwa added that the present administration will develop a well functioning mortgage finance market that is able to attract large, long-term local and foreign investments needed to promote a vibrant, competitive, innovative and sustainable housing market driven primarily by private sector and public-private partn...