News
Cancer: Medical expert harps on regular breast examination
Dr Ifeoma Ajuba, Consultant Haematologist, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, has urged women to embrace regular breast examination to detect breast cancer at the early stages of growth.
Ajuba made the call on Monday at the annual seminar on Cancer Awareness and Support to Indigent Cancer Patients, organised by the League of Women Voters of Nigeria, Anambra State Chapter.
She said that breast examinations were best done the week after the menstrual cycle while women who had gone through menopause should do theirs on the same day every month.
According to her, women should remember to do the breast examinations every month.
“Breast cancer is not the kind of disease that gives obvious physical symptoms, therefore, regular breast screening or examination is necessary for women.
“Practicing breast examination helps you know how your breasts look and feel, as well as detect any abnormal swelling or lumps.
“This allows for early detection of breast cancer, which is the best way to manage cancer and, by implication, treatment which could either be through medication or surgery,” she said
Ajuba identified self-examination which could be carried out by the woman at home and mammograms as the two most common methods women use for breast inspections.
“For self-examination, gently use your fingers, press your breast and check for any abnormal changes in shape, feel or look. Should you find any cause for concern, immediately report to your doctor.
“Mammogram is an X-ray of the breast used to detect and screen for early signs of cancer and tumours too small to be felt,” she said.
Also speaking, Mrs Ify Obinabo, Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, said that deaths caused by breast cancer could be decreased by early detection with breast self-examination.
Obinabo urged women to take their health seriously by keying into the initiative of the wife of the Governor – Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo – to help checkmate unhealthy diets.
Earlier in her address, Dr Ego Uzoezie, Chairman, League of Women Voters of Nigeria, Anambra state Chapter, said the programme was aimed at promoting health for women’s empowerment.
“The objective of the league is to promote, in all its ramifications, the empowerment of women, employ ways of encouraging and assisting them to develop economically,” Uzoezie said. (NAN
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, on Friday announced the release of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, results.
Elanza news reported that over 1.9 million applicants participated in the just-concluded exercise.
The board also disclosed that 80 suspects across the country are currently under interrogation for examination fraud, with Anambra State leading the pack with 14 suspects.
The board said it is withholding the results of 39,834 candidates over issues relating to examination irregularities.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, stated this on Friday while officially releasing the 2025 UTME.
He also disclosed that while 467 underage candidates met the prescribed minimum score, 50 were engaged in cheating scandal.
A press conference to this effect is ongoing.
Details coming…
A massive fire razed a warehouse at Global Crystal Foam Nigeria Limited in Oko-Oba, Oyo State, on Thursday night, destroying property worth millions of naira, officials confirmed.
The blaze, which broke out along Akinmorin Road, prompted a rapid response from state and federal fire services, who managed to contain the inferno within 15 minutes.
Hon. Maroof Akinwande, Senior Adviser on Fire Service Reform to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, visited the scene and urged the company’s management to prioritise fire safety measures to prevent future incidents.
“The governor places immense value on the safety of lives and property,” Akinwande said, calling on the public to cooperate with firefighters during emergencies.
The Oyo State Fire Service Agency, led by General Manager Akinyemi Akinyinka, was alerted to the fire at 8:50 pm by a retired fire officer, Mr. M.O. Adewuyi.
“Upon arrival, we found the warehouse engulfed in flames,” Akinyinka said.
“Our team, supported by the Federal Fire Service, Oyo Command, applied firefighting chemicals to restrict the fire from spreading to other sections of the company.”
Akinyinka noted that the fire, caused by overheating foam blocks igniting nearby combustibles, had raged for an hour before the agency was notified by a passerby who spotted smoke.
Despite the delay, the coordinated response prevented the blaze from consuming the entire facility, saving property worth millions.
Security was provided by a team from the Oyo East Division of the Amotekun Corps, led by CFS Adeduntan, who ensured no looting occurred during the operation.
MTN Nigeria, a leading telecommunications company, has invested N3.5 billion in corporate social investment (CSI) in 2024, bringing its total CSI spending to N31.9 billion since its inception, the company’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Tobechukwu Okigbo, announced on Thursday.
Speaking at the Nigerian Exchange Ltd (NGX) during the presentation of the company’s Facts Behind the Sustainability Report, Okigbo highlighted the tangible impacts of MTN’s initiatives.
“Our efforts have benefited over 663,300 individuals, supported 628 small businesses, and improved educational outcomes in 62 schools across Nigeria,” he said.
The company also launched the Sustainability in Action, Value for the MTN Everyone (SAVE) campaign to enhance employee engagement in sustainability efforts.
To improve global accessibility, MTN’s 2023 sustainability report was digitally tagged with extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL), making it easier for investors and stakeholders to access.
MTN Nigeria made significant strides in reducing its environmental footprint, cutting Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 11% from its 2021 baseline of 113,826 tCO²e to 101,300 tCO²e in 2024.
The company expanded renewable energy use by adding 194 solar-powered rural telephony sites and became the first telecom operator in West Africa to introduce eco-friendly SIM cards.
On the social front, MTN reaffirmed its commitment to gender equality through its Yellowpreneur platform, which provides women access to low-interest loans.
“No fewer than 600,000 women have benefited from this initiative,” Okigbo noted, adding that the loans, facilitated through partner banks, carry an interest rate not exceeding N3.00.