Nigeria’s unity is sacrosanct, defend it – agency appeals to youths

The Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (OSPHCDA)  has tasked Nigerian youths to strive hard in defending the oneness of the country, saying there is strength in unity.

The Permanent Secretary of OSPHCDA, Dr Francis Akanbiemu, made the appeal when the National Association of Northern Nigeria Students (NANNS) paid him a visit in his office on Thursday in Akure.

The NANNS executive members led by their General Secretary, Bashir Nasir, presented an award of excellence describing the permanent secretary as an “epitome of health care development.”

According to Akanbiemu, Nigeria is  a great country that must be protected and secured  by its youthful population.

The permanent secretary said that he was  elated that a body from far north could recognise his roles in the health sector down south.

He, however, dedicated the award to the members of staff of the agency, adding that the successes recorded in the agency was as a result of hard work and commitment of all the staff.

Akanbiemu,  who said he was not given  to frivolous awards, explained that he accepted the award after he had researched and carefully studied the association’s antecedents and found it worthy.

Also speaking, the Director of Disease Control and Immunisation in the agency, Dr Victor Adefesoye, thanked the body for the initiative.

Adefesoye urged them to network with  students from other parts of the country and wage war against the various ills that had bedeviled the country, saying youths were the future leaders of the country.

Earlier, Nasir said the  association did not attach any monetary value for the  award.

He added that the awardee had distinguished himself in the health sector through his hard work, passion, doggedness, strategic leadership and achievements over the years.

He made specific  mentions to the awardee’s efforts  during  the COVID -19 pandemic,  tackling  of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) with innovations, measles  campaign, polio, and primary health care system strengthening in Nigeria.

According to him, Akanbiemu was  nominated after a detailed, in-depth and independent survey by the association.

Nasir said that the association was fighting the scourge of  examination malpractices, cultism, thuggery, insecurity and gender-based violence.

He added that the association was also advocating youth  entrepreneurship, improved health system in Nigeria, as well as  girl-child education across the country.

“The association has also worked with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and NAFDAC to discourage the menace of drug abuse and addiction.

“We collaborate with Centre for Democratic Studies on non violence election in Nigeria, among other numerous activities carried out in various institutions of learning in the country to ensure a better Nigeria,” he said.