Headline

Begin Degree Programme in Traditional Medicine, Mamora Urges Varsities

Published

7 years ago

August 31, 2019

Eric

The Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, has called on Nigerian universities to introduce Bachelor of Science degree programme in herbal medicine for better healthcare delivery.

Mamora made the call at a news conference commemorating the 2019 African Traditional Medicine Day in Abuja on Friday.

African Traditional Medicine day is celebrated on August 31 annually.

The theme for the 2019 event was, “Integrating Traditional Medicine in Health Sciences Curricular in the African Region.”

He appealed to Nigerian universities to incorporate modules of herbal medicine in their curricular of health sciences, adding that this could be achieved with support from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.

The minister also unveiled the ministry’s report on curriculum development for the training of herbal medical practitioners and medical schools.

He urged agencies and departments working on traditional medicine in the country to work together for the development of the sector.

He said the ultimate goal of government in the sector was to derive maximum economic benefits from traditional medicine like China, India and other countries.

The minister urged state governments and the Federal Capital Territory to establish traditional medicine departments for healthcare development.

Mamora suggested that such department should be complementary to medicine department to provide opportunities for rapid development and integration of traditional medicine into the healthcare delivery system.

He said the ministry was working on a traditional and complementary medicine bill to be submitted to the executive for approval and forwarding to the National Assembly for passage.

The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Mr. Abubakar Rashid, said the commission would collaborate with the ministry to improve the knowledge of undergraduates of health sciences on traditional medicine.

Representative of Nigeria Traditional Medicine Practitioners, Mr. Loveth Iwuzu, appealed to government to initiate policy to guard the intellectual property rights of the traditional medicine practitioners.

In his remark, Dr. Clement Peter, Officer in Charge of World Health Organisation, Nigeria, restated the commitment of the organisation to support the federal government to integrate traditional medicine into national health system.

(NAN)

Headline

UK Court Acquittal: Diezani Goes Spiritual, Says God Will Always Be God

Published

2 days ago

June 18, 2026

Eric

Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has reacted to her acquittal by a London court after bribery charges brought against her were dismissed.

The Southwark Crown Court in London, United Kingdom, on Wednesday acquitted the former minister of all charges, including five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.

Reacting to the judgment, Alison-Madueke expressed relief and said she and her family had endured years of emotional distress over the case.

Speaking to News Central, she said she has remained in the United Kingdom since the legal proceedings began 11 years ago.

She said: “I’m just thankful to God, it’s been arduous, almost 11 years. It’s been traumatic not just for me but for my family, friends, my 93-year-old mother in Port Harcourt and for my son.

“It has been a hard journey, but I tell you this, God will always do as He will. God will be God and God is not a man that He should lie; when He promises you something, He will see it through.

“For almost 11 years I have been here. I did my job to the best of my ability.”

Headline

I Never Saw Report that Led to Natasha’s Suspension, Says Ireti Kingibe

Published

2 days ago

June 18, 2026

Eric

The lawmaker representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), at the Senate, Ireti Kingibe, says she did not see any report that led to the suspension of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Kingibe made this disclosure on Wednesday when she featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’.

She said she was at a retreat with Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, when she heard about the report.

“I never saw the report that led to Natasha’s suspension. I was at a retreat. I had earlier stated that I was there with three or four other senators who are members of the committee.

“We attended the Committee on Petitions and Public Complaints, signed the attendance register, and I later left for the tax reform retreat, which I considered more important at the time.

“It affects my constituents much more than disciplining a senator, and I figured that the other people who were not part of that committee would take care of it.

“I even complained to other Senators, specifically to Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. I complained to him very bitterly that I had not seen that report. I didn’t see it then. I have not seen it till now,” she said.

Headline

UK Court Clears Ex-Petroleum Minister Alison-Madueke of All Corruption Charges

Published

3 days ago

June 17, 2026

Eric

Former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke was on Wednesday found not guilty by a London jury of six bribery charges, after ‌a rare corruption trial of a high-profile former energy official.

Alison-Madueke, minister for petroleum resources between 2010 and 2015 under then-president Goodluck Jonathan, stood trial charged with five counts of accepting bribes and a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery, which she denied.

Prosecutors ⁠alleged Alison-Madueke, 65, was given “a life of luxury” in London from oil and gas industry figures seeking lucrative contracts in Nigeria, which has long grappled with mismanagement and corruption.

But the former minister, who was also briefly president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, said she never took any bribes and had no real influence over the awarding of lucrative government contracts.

After a trial at London’s Southwark ‌Crown ⁠Court, Alison-Madueke was acquitted by a jury of all six charges she faced after more than 46 hours of deliberation.

The not guilty verdicts are a major blow to British authorities, which began their investigation into corruption allegations against Alison-Madueke ⁠more than a decade ago.

Alison-Madueke stood trial alongside oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, who was charged with one count of bribery relating to Alison-Madueke ⁠and a separate count of bribery of a foreign public official.

Alison-Madueke’s brother Doye Agama, 69, was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery ⁠with his sister relating to payments made to Agama’s church.

Both Ayinde and Agama denied the charges against them and were also acquitted by the jury.

Source: Reuters