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WHO, UN Express the Need for Media to Understand Issues Surrounding Mental Health

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WHO, UN Express the Need for Media to Understand Issues Surrounding Mental Health

By: Michael Mike

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Information Center (UNIC) have expressed the need for the media to understand the issues surrounding mental health in order to act optimally in their role to assist in tackling its numerous challenges.

Both organisations gave the advice at the two-day training programme for journalists they put together in collaboration with other UN agencies on Monday in Abuja.

The training with the theme: “Celebrating the power of community kindness” was put together to commemorate the World Mental Health Day (WMHD) celebrated globally on October 10.

Speaking at the training, the WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr Walter Kazadi, described mental health as intrinsic and instrumental to the lives of all people as it could influence how they think, feel and act.

He said mental health disorders had increased and affected 15 per cent of working-age adults globally, noting that suicide contributed to death among 15-29 years old with up to 70 per cent of them living in low and middle income countries.

He said journalists by the nature of the jobs they do face tremendous amount of pressure, especially with lot of media outfits working for 24 hours, 7 seven days a week.

He added that: “Given the importance of the work you do, there’s a need to build your capacity on mental health.

“Therefore, various topics will be covered over the next two days, including what is mental health and why we all need to have good mental health.

“Mental health is universal human right, intersection between journalists and mental health, practical strategies to prevent and/or manage common mental health conditions, and how to empower you to report on mental health issues.”

He assured that WHO would always remain committed to building journalists capacity and to empower them on different aspects of health including strategies for managing individual health.

On his part, the Director of UNIC, Mr Ronald Kayanja said the training had become important to enable journalists understand proper ways to look after their mental health.

He said: “These days, we are so conscious about physical health, but now we should also learn a lot about our mental health.

“How we report about mental health issues requires capacity building, to help us understand how to keep ourselves and also report mental health.”

Meanwhile, Dr Tunde Ojo, National Coordinator, National Mental Health Programme, Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) said the training was designed to equip journalists with necessary tools to deal with mental health issues.

Ojo said it has become imperative to understand one’s mental state, while discharging one’s duty, therefore the training was organized to promote mental wellbeing of journalists.

He added that: “Journalist can be quite vulnerable while discharging their duties and if neglected it can cause serious damage to one’s entire wellbeing.

“Journalist are exposed to lots of things daily that impact their mental health negatively; we want journalists to know how to cope with mental health, when to take break or even see an health expert when necessary.

“Understanding mental health can help journalists give better reportage about it; we believe journalists and healthcare workers are strategic, because whatever they decide to do can affect the society.”

The event which was attended by journalists from across 40 media organisations featured discussion on prevention strategies for common mental health conditions, intersection between mental health and journalism.

WHO, UN Express the Need for Media to Understand Issues Surrounding Mental Health

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Bandit kill police operative, cart away service weapon in Bukuyum in Zamfara

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Bandit kill police operative, cart away service weapon in Bukuyum in Zamfara

By: Zagazola Makama

A mobile police operative attached to Operation Restore Peace has been killed in an ambush by armed bandits in Adabka village, Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Zagazola Makama gathered that the incident occurred on Tuesday at about 11:44 a.m. when the officer, deployed from Mopol 15, Ilorin, left his duty location in Adabka en route to Tibis village to purchase essential supplies.

Security sources in Bukkuyum told Zagazola that the operative was attacked at the outskirts of Adabka by armed bandits concealed in the surrounding bushes.

The attackers reportedly opened fire on the officer, killing him instantly before carting away his service riot gun.

“Field teams deployed to the scene recovered the body of the fallen operative, which was evacuated to Adabka Primary Health Care Centre for documentation,” the source said.

Sources said that the mode of attack aligns with operational tactics used by bandit factions linked to the Dan-Karama Gwaska and Dansadau networks, known for precision ambushes and rapid withdrawal.

Bandit kill police operative, cart away service weapon in Bukuyum in Zamfara

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GSU’s Public Administration Dept hosts maiden int’l conference

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GSU’s Public Administration Dept hosts maiden int’l conference

Stakeholders comprising academics, policymakers, security experts and public-sector practitioners have deliberated ways of tackling insecurity in the country through a multi-faceted approach that includes economic empowerment, improved governance, and enhanced security cooperation.


They made the submission during the maiden International Conference organised by the Department of Public Administration, Gombe State University (GSU).


The conference was declared open on Tuesday by Prof. Sani Ahmed Yauta, the Vice Chancellor of the institution who stated that any engagement aimed at proffering solutions to the security challenges of the country was an engagement borne out of the need to fast-track national development and stability.


Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) Prof. Danladi Umar, Yauta urged participants to leverage the conference to contribute to ongoing efforts at addressing security challenges so as to enhance peace and development in the country.


In his keynote address, Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, Secretary to the Gombe State Government, linked good governance to enhanced security and national development.
Njodi stressed that good governance remained a critical tool to earning citizens’ trust needed to maintain peace and to strengthen development across the country.


He stated that discourse around Nigeria’s governance had become imperative in view of the current security challenges confronting the nation and threatening national development.


He stressed the need for subnational governments to drive national development, adding that they have massive roles to play in determining Nigeria’s progress.
“It is the aggregation of subnational experiences—state successes and failures—that ultimately determines Nigeria’s trajectory.”


Njodi cited the Gombe State governance model and how it had contributed to improvement in human capital development as well as the development of the state and therefore resulting in the peaceful status that the state had enjoyed under Gov Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State’s leadership.


“The state’s development trajectory under Gov. Yahaya offers a practical demonstration of how visionary leadership, institutional innovation and participatory governance can transform a subnational entity within Nigeria’s federal system.


Speaking earlier, the Head of Public Administration Department, Prof. Matthew Funsho Bello, described the event as historic for both the department and the university.
Bello said that the conference’s theme, “Governance, Insecurity and National Development in Nigeria: Issues and Challenges,” was timely given the complexities of the nation’s socio-economic and security challenges.


“This gathering of distinguished scholars, public-sector experts, policymakers and practitioners from across the country marks a major milestone in our collective quest to address the vexing issues affecting our national life,” he said.


According to him, the theme reflects “the urgent need for academia, security agencies and public-sector experts to engage in constructive dialogue on how addressing insecurity and governance can drive sustainable development in Nigeria.


Security experts amongst other professionals made their presentations during the conference which are expected to form part of the recommendations at the end of the two-day event.


Dr Lawal Abdullahi Oladimeji, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the Conference, lauded all participants and invited guests for the success of the maiden event.

Oladimeji said that recommendations from the conference would be given to relevant stakeholders towards enhancing national security and development.

GSU’s Public Administration Dept hosts maiden int’l conference

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21 villagers abducted in kano communities as Security forces intensify search operation

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21 villagers abducted in kano communities as Security forces intensify search operation

By: Zagazola Makama

Twenty-one persons have been abducted by suspected bandits in three villages of Tsanyawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

Zagazola Makama learnt that the coordinated attacks occurred in Sundu, Biresawa and Masaurari villages.

According to community members, two women were taken from Sundu, while five women and two children were abducted at Biresawa.

In Masaurari, nine men and one woman were reportedly seized, bringing the total number of abducted persons to 21 comprising nine men, eight women and two children.

The Police Command in Kano confirmed the attack noting that efforts had been intensified to rescue all victims unhurt.

The sources added that additional operatives had been deployed to the affected axis, while the area was being combed in collaboration with local vigilance groups and other security agencies.

The command assured residents of its commitment to restoring peace and urged the public to provide credible information that could aid ongoing operations.

21 villagers abducted in kano communities as Security forces intensify search operation

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