Just yesterday September 29, 2014 Nigerians joined their counterparts worldwide to celebrate the World Heart Day.
But while we do this, it is very important for Nigerians to look in wards into the heart disease and other related diseases which have been terrorizing and ravaging the people in the recent times.
Part of the worry is because of the high rate and daily increase in death ratio from cardiac arrest, hypertension, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases in the country.
Apparently, this year’s world heart day celebrations had its theme as “Creating Heart-Healthy Environment”, which obviously should be of great concern to every Nigerian.
Report from the World Heart Federation (WHF) is quoted as given the casualty death rate of patients at 17.3 million yearly in the world from cardiovascular related diseases.
Apart from the estimated yearly death rate, the more worrisome aspect of this revelation is that the death ratio is anticipated to increase to 30 million every year by 2030 if decisive measures are not quickly taken ahead of the deadline.
What this revelation shows is that Nigeria should as a matter of urgency key into the major goal of World Heart Federation known as the 25×25 aimed at globally reducing the cardiovascular death rate by 25 percent at the shortest possible time.
The need for Nigeria to que into this programme is to help her reduce the cardiovascular risk of her citizenry as well as promote a heart-healthy environment in such heart related diseases like cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory malfunctioning among few others.
This we can successfully do by taken a census of the number of patients with heart related diseases in the country as first step to checkmating its cure and increase.
Granted that there is no recorded national survey on this as we speak, but unconfirmed records show that the number of Nigerians coming down with hypertension is continuously on the increase as well as those with stroke and cardiac inversion with its attendant increase in death rate.
Therefore, the essence of the World Heart Day cannot be over emphasized especially for Nigerians as it has afforded yet another opportunity to further sensitize the masses on how to maintain their heart and heart-healthy environment. This we can do by avoiding junk and fatty foods with more concentration on vegetable fruits.
Dr. (Mrs.) Njoku’s Well-Deserved Re-Appointment
staff and Students of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri were not surprised on the re-appointment of Dr. (Mrs.) Cele Njoku as the Rector of the Institution by the President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan via the recommendation of the Institution’s Governing Council, as a result of the tremendous transformation going on in the Institution. The super Rector as affectionately referred by the Students turned the Institution to be the best East of the Niger, and the most sought after Institution in 2014 among the Federal and State Polytechnics in Nigeria according to Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The Infrastructural transformation and the conducive learning environment the Institution enjoys today speak of judicious use of available resources, effective coordination of human resources and leadership vision, which led to the completion of the projects started by her predecessors and the completion of the numerous projects she initiated.
To the surprise of people, within a short period of assumption of office, this Amazon and Intellectual has completed gigantic projects such as Evening and Weekend programme buildings, tarring of intra-Campus roads, construction of ultra modern building complex for the Staff nursery/ primary School, renovation and equipping of the Institution’s medical center, established a functional work aid center where the Institution produce their desk, stools, tables, teaching/ learning facilities for different programmes and block industry, to mention but a few.
Furthermore, within two years of Dr. (Mrs.) Njoku’s administration, the following academic programmes came on board.
a. ND Arts and Design, ND Chemical Engineering, ND Computer Engineering. HND Fisheries Technology., HND Mass Communication., HND Electrical Electronics Engineering (Instrumentation & Control option).
However, there are still other courses that will be presented for resource visitation in the newest future, namely Pharmaceutical Technology, Agricultural Technology, Optometry Technology, Mineral and Petroleum Resources Technology and so on.
It is noteworthy to State that Federal Polytechnic Nekede, is one of the few or if not only Institution that erected perimeter fencing in order to protect the lives of Students and Staff and property of the Institution.
Evidently, Dr (Mrs.) Njoku initiated Solemn Assembly where Staff and Students seek the face of God and also General Assembly through which the Polytechnic Community get to know of the happenings and activities of the Polytechnic. In the area of Staff welfare, this Amazon of our time has well motivated teaching and non-teaching Staff in the Institution. Staff salaries and other earned allowances accuring to Staff are promptly paid as well as the pensions and other entitlement of retirees. Staff promotions are regular while sponsorship of Staff to academic conferences/ worshops Local and Foreign, training courses have served to equip the Staff for growing challenges of the generation molding tasks. Through the intervention of TETFUND, the Polytechnic academic Staff is currently enjoying full sponsorship in their various postgraduate programmes locally and internationally.
Conclusively, time and space will not allow me to enumerate all the achievements recorded in the first tenure of the Super Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede. We pray to God to protect and shower her His wisdom to continue to pilot the affairs of the Institution. Amen!
Bravo our Super Rector FEDPONEK.
Ohaeri Kingsley Garba is a commentator on National Issues.
