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NURHI declares, ‘family planning is not a licence to abortion’.
The Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI), has declared that its aggressive campaign on family planning and child spacing methods and strategies is not in any way to encourage abortion.
Mr. Tunji Samuel, NURHI Senior Program Officer, Advocacy and Demand Generation, Oyo State Field Office, made the declaration recently in Ibadan at a one-day training for religious leaders on methods, choices and benefits of family planning.
While speaking at the training which had in attendance of no fewer than 50 clerics drawn from the 15 Local Government Areas covered by NURHI in the state, the Senior Program Officer disclosed that the organization since its inception in 2010 has impacted positively on methods, strategies of family planning and its benefits on the women, men and the entire family and the nation in general.
Samuel who hinted that the organization which is presently working in Oyo, Kaduna and Lagos states is also working in Senegal, India and Kenya to promote healthy living among families through the promotion of family planning.
He said the program was organized to increase the level of family planning awareness and campaign among religious leaders in the state, adding that the family planning services is free as he warns prospective clients to always patronise the designated health facilities in case of any side effect.
His words, “we are the organizers of the training for religious leaders, we want to build the capacity of religious leaders so that they will be able to preach about family planning to their congregation. We are telling them to preach to their followers on how to adopt family planning and the benefits attached to it.
“Now we are telling them that family planning is not a license to abortion neither is it for promiscuity. We discovered that very many men are accusing their wives that many of them are taking family planning for the purpose of promiscuity. We are telling them that family planning is not for abortion, it is not for promiscuity, so that is what we are telling them that family planning is for them to space their children and be able to cater for the number of the children they want to have and cater for”.
He said the need to call religious leaders to the meeting was because of their influence on their followers and congregations because religious plays an important role in the life of couples and their families.
“Religious leaders can address problems among couples directly, religious leaders can address gender issues”.
“We want religious leaders, community leaders and other stakeholders to help us and support family planning. Please, don’t preach against family planning anymore, we want a situation where women will be having safe delivery, we don’t want women to die prior, during and after pregnancy”, he continued.
The benefits according to him include those for the women, men and the society in general.
Stressing further, Mr Samuel said that the father, mother and the children will have enough time and care to attend to what they suppose to attend to.
He added that when families embrace family planning, it will help them to be “Able to receive good care and attention, promote bonding. Will not feel bored and neglected and thus will be less prone to juvenile delinquency tendencies. Will not be forced into child labour in order to help the family meet financial needs, reduction on infant illness and death as well as better health, education, clothing among others”.
Former Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Adeolu Akande, has extended warm felicitations to Barrister Sarafadeen Ali, the Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial district, on the occasion of his 61st birthday.
In a statement released on Saturday in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, on Saturday, Akande lauded the lawmaker, describing him as a luminary whose life has been marked by distinguished service to the nation.
“Today, I join the world in celebrating you on your special day, as you mark 61 years of God’s abundant love and glorious impact on humanity,” the former NCC gaffer expressed.
He added, “I wish you many more years of God’s grace in your life.”
The headquarters of Heritage Bank at Victoria Island, Lagos, was besieged on Thursday by members of the labour union, protesting the recent dismissal of 1,000 support workers.
The National President of the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees, Comrade Anthony Abakpa, led the demonstration, condemning the bank’s management for what he deemed a lack of adherence to due process in the termination of employment contracts.
Speaking during the protest, Comrade Abakpa asserted that the leadership of Heritage Bank failed to follow established protocols before executing the mass layoffs.
He emphasised the union’s commitment to pursuing justice for the affected workers, vowing to escalate their demands until the bank’s management rectifies the situation.
“We will intensify our demands for justice,” declared Comrade Abakpa, urging the bank’s management to take corrective action to address the grievances of the dismissed workers.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, clarified that Nigeria is not utilising its foreign reserves to bolster the naira, despite recent fluctuations in reserve levels.
Speaking from Washington DC, where he is attending the International Monetary Fund-World Bank Spring Meetings, Cardoso highlighted the influx of $600 million into Nigeria’s reserves account within the past two days.
While the naira has experienced a notable appreciation against the dollar in recent weeks, climbing over 40% from approximately N1,900/$ to about N1,000/$1, Nigeria’s foreign reserves have been dwindling. As of April 15, reserves dropped to approximately $32.29 billion, marking the lowest level in over six years.
Cardoso emphasised that the shifts in reserves are typical for any country, where various financial obligations, such as debt repayments, necessitate withdrawals.
He stated, “What you’ve seen with respect to the shift in our reserves is normal in any country’s reserves where, for example, debts are due and certain payments need to be made. They are made because that is also part of keeping your credibility.”
Continuing, Cardoso underscored the dynamic nature of the market, advocating for a system driven by willing buyers, willing sellers, and price discovery.
He emphasised, “The shift in our reserves has really little or nothing to do with defending the naira, and that is certainly not our objective.”
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