OGUN COLLEGE OF NURSING SCIENCES TO ADMIT CANDIDATES THROUGH UTME

Ogun State Government has disclosed that the admission process for candidates into its College of Nursing Sciences for 2024 and subsequent academic calendars would be done through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, who made this known in a statement, said government had demonstrated its resolution to foster the standardisation of nursing education by securing collegiate status for its erstwhile Schools of Nursing and Midwifery in 2021, through the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).

Dr. Coker revealed that the state had also secured accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in 2023, empowering the College to award Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and Higher National Diploma (HND), adding that it is now a requirement for prospective candidates to commence admission into the colleges through Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB).

"Governor Dapo Abiodun has supported us continually in our resolve to reform the educational aspect of the nursing profession. Our rationale for this reform is founded on the pivotal roles nurses play in healthcare delivery. If we desire the best health outcomes, the schools that produce our nurses must offer nothing but the best form of education.

"This government will continue to ensure that only the best candidates gain admission to the campuses of our College of Nursing in Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode and Ilaro; and more importantly, only the best students make it through the institutions. This would ensure that our Registered Nurses are highly productive anywhere they work, whether at home or outside the shores of the country", she said.

Dr. Coker further disclosed that only candidates with a minimum of five credits, including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, at not more than two (2) sittings in West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) could apply for the OND/HND Nursing programme, while the UTME subject combination must be Use of English, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

She further revealed that successful candidates, who meet the minimum cut-off marks, would be invited for a screening/interview by the College, adding that the high standards which the government had established in recent years would be sustained throughout the admission process.

While warning prospective candidates to be wary of fraudsters, the Commissioner stated further that government no longer conducts sales of entrance examination forms, advising them to visit JAMB website and select any of the three campuses of the College from the listed state Monotechnics.

DSAP COUNCIL CONGRATULATES ABIODUN, SAYS SC JUDGEMENT AFFIRMS PEOPLES' TRUST

The Governing Council, D. S Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori-Ewekoro, Ogun State, has congratulated Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State over his victory at the Supreme Court. 

Chairman of the Governing Council, Amb. Toye Okanlawon in a release, stated that the Supreme Court judgement was an affirmation of the trust reposed in the Governor to steer the ship of the State for a second term. 

"I join a throng of friends and well wishers to rejoice with our amiable governor, Prince (Dr) Dapo Abiodun, over his victory at the Supreme Court" Okanlawon said.

He added that "governance is a serious business that requires total focus, especially at this time that our Nation is experiencing her own share of the current global economic challenges. I am glad of this closure to the long drawn electoral battle in the State. At least all stakeholders will now put their hands on deck to move our dear State forward".

The statement noted that the Council called on all citizens of the State to join hands with Governor Abiodun in the critical task of "building our future together".

The March 18, 2023 gubernatorial election in Ogun State has been a subject of legal dispute between Governor Dapo Abiodun and his main opponent, Ladi Adebutu. But the Supreme Court finally laid the matter to rest with last week's declaration of Dapo Abiodun as the duly elected governor of the State.

OGUN PHCs BRACE UP FOR DIGITAL OPERATIONS

Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in Ogun State will effectively run an efficient digitisation of medical records before the end of year, to provide continued health care services to patients from any facility across the state.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, gave the assurance during the 2024 Leadership Retreat, at Mitros Residences Hall, Ibara, Abeokuta, for the leadership of Ministry of Health, Hospitals Management Board, Primary Health Care Development Board, State Action for the Control of AIDS, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Ogun State Alternate Medicine Board and all Heads of health facilities across the state.

Dr. Coker explained that the retreat was to review the level of performance in the sector in the last four years, brainstorm and strategise for the years ahead, adding that the digitisation process would also assist in reducing time spent by medical personnel to attend to patients.

She hinted that five Primary Health Centres were already running their medical records digitally, while another eight centres were almost ready for digital operations, assuring that others would be digitised before the year runs out.

In their contributions, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Kayode Oladehinde and his counterpart in the Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Olayinka Elemide, enjoined all participants to use the retreat as an avenue to cross-fertilise ideas and network for the development of the health sector.

Appreciating the leadership of the Ministry of Health on behalf of other participants, the Chief Medical Director, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Bunmi Fatugase and the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Wellington Ogunsanya, commended government for the retreat, saying, "we have been better equipped to deliver better health care services to the people of the state".

 

Femi Osipitan,

Information Officer, HMB

JUSTIFY YOUR PAY- OGSIEC PERM. SEC.

 Staffers of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC), have been urged to justify government pay by being diligent and productive.

The Permanent Secretary in the Commission, Eng. Olabode Ojetola stated this, during a meeting with staffers, saying they should sustain unity and love that exist between the management and staff.

Engr. Ojetola enjoined members of staff to embrace positive change and initiate new ideas that would be beneficial to the Commission and the people of the state, noting that attendance and punctuality at work should be paramount to them.

The Permanent Secretary implored them to be security conscious, particularly on fire outbreak, revealing that the Commission would collaborate with the Ministry of Special Duties and Inter- Governmental Affairs on training of staffers on fire outbreak prevention.

Some of the staffers who spoke at the prayer session appreciated the Permanent Secretary for his fatherly advice, promising to uphold the Public Service Rules and Regulations, in order to contribute their quota to the development of the state.

 

Damilola Akindele,

Press Officer, OGSIEC

2024 GIFT: JCI ABEOKUTA EMPOWERS JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL HOME CHILDREN WITH 3 MONTHS SKILLS ACQUISITION

... Advocates Mental Health Campaign, Donates Food Items

As it has been the usual tradition of the Junior Chamber International (JCI), to positively touch lives and to celebrate the first day of the new year with the less privileged and the needy, the Abeokuta chapter of the Chamber has organized three months skills acquisition programme for children in the Juvenile Correctional Home, Asero, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The President, Junior Chamber International, Abeokuta, JCIN Amb. Olamide Olurin who led the Annual I-Care project, a venture of the organization that goes beyond traditional giving to instill lasting skills and promote mental well-being said this year's project holds a special significance as the chamber embarks on a transformative journey for the children with trainings in the areas tailoring, hair making, and barbing. 

"Over the next three months, these children will be engaged in tailoring, hair making, and barbing trainings. Our goal and commitment goes beyond mere donations; as we are dedicated to providing skill acquisition opportunities to the children to equip them with skills that can shape their futures and provide a pathway to self-sufficiency upon their release from here", JCIN Amb. Olurin said.

While encouraging the children not to think that being at the Correctional Home at this point in time is the end of their lives, the President charged the young minds to believe in themselves and think of who and what they want to become in life while enjoining them to pay rapt attention to the three months skills acquisition training.

JCIN Amb. Olurin while celebrating the children and sharing the joy of the New Year with several gift items and food donations, underscored the importance of the mental health of the children and launched a mental health advocacy campaign that focuses on addressing depression and other related mental illness among youths which would help to raise awareness, reduce stigmatization, and foster a supportive environment for those who may be experiencing mental health challenges.

In his lecture on Depression, a Senior Registrar at the Neuro Psychiatry Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Dr. Oluwatobi Ogunyemi said Depression is a condition characterized by consistent sadness which can be as a result of broken homes, lack of love and care, bullying and harassment, health challenges to mention but a few and can lead to suicide, mental health problems and poor academic performance.

Dr. Ogunyemi disclosed that when an individual gets angry often, experiences constant headache and abdominal pain, these and many more can be symptoms to watch out for adding that self-love and good parental love are ways of avoiding depression.

Earlier in his address, the immediate past President of JCI, Abeokuta, Mr. Olufemi Emmanuel Adeleke disclosed that the organization provides leadership development opportunities for young people to create positive changes while enjoining the children to open themselves up to the training that is coming their way. 

Mrs. Olubukola Adeleye, one of the Instructors at the Home disclosed that there are various categories of children under their care; children under the conflict with the law, children in conflict with their parents, children roaming the streets without love or parental care and love and special children especially those that have been abandoned by their parents because of their health challenges. "We counsel them and speak to them on depression", she said while appreciating the team for coming to show the children love and care and to also impact skills, train and empower them. 

Miss Kikelomo Abiodun on behalf of other children at the Home appreciated the leadership of JCI, Abeokuta for putting smiles on their faces and for not forgetting them pledging her commitment and that of her mates to the skills acquisition programme.

In their separate remarks, representatives of Ray of Hope and JibuluCare Foundation, partners of JCI, Abeokuta said, "we believe that it is important that stakeholders and organizations pay attention and commit to making their communities a better place. We are most thrilled about the impact of this year as we prepare the juveniles for better opportunities to improve the state of their lives"

*Femi Osipitan*