Alhaji Abubakar Atiku donates a 25-year-old crocodile to the University of Ilorin Zoological Garden, enhancing the zoo’s collection and community ties.

Philanthropist and traditional leader, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, has donated a 25-year-old crocodile to the University of Ilorin Zoological Garden.

The donation, valued in the millions of naira, highlights Atiku’s ongoing commitment to preserving tradition and enhancing community development.

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Atiku, who is the Balogun Fulani of Ilorin, spoke about the cultural and symbolic significance of crocodile rearing, describing it as an important aspect of royal heritage and a source of attraction.

He emphasized the strong bond between the University and the Ilorin community, noting that his family has long been associated with the practice of crocodile rearing.

The crocodile, now part of the University’s animal collection, is a notable addition to the zoo, which is dedicated to both conservation and education.

In receiving the donation, Oyeyemi Jekayinfa, Chairperson of the Unilorin Zoological Garden Board Management, expressed her appreciation for the gesture and invited the public to visit the zoo for both educational and recreational purposes.

Olatunji Yusuf, the General Manager of the zoo, also commended Atiku’s unique contribution, highlighting the zoo’s rich features, such as its natural environment, suspended bridge, and expert staff.

Yusuf emphasized that the zoo serves as an important cultural and educational resource for the Ilorin community.

The donation serves as a reminder of the importance of community involvement in educational and conservation initiatives, with the University’s zoo now set to become an even more significant destination for visitors interested in Nigeria’s natural and cultural heritage.

Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) hosted a delegation from the National Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), led by Mrs. Alice Akinsola. The collaboration aims to enhance tourism and cultural heritage in Nigeria, focusing on engaging youth and educational institutions. The partnership will leverage upcoming World Tourism Day celebrations to showcase their joint efforts.

Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) recently welcomed a high-level delegation from the National Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), South West Zone, led by Deputy Director and Zonal Coordinator Mrs. Alice Akinsola.

The visit aimed to explore collaborative opportunities to advance tourism and cultural heritage promotion in Nigeria, with a particular focus on engaging youth and academic institutions.

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In her remarks, Mrs. Akinsola highlighted the NTDA’s mission to “spread the gospel of tourism and culture” across the region.

She emphasized the crucial role that tertiary institutions like YABATECH play in shaping future leaders and professionals in the tourism industry. “Our objective is to build a sustainable future for tourism among the youth and academic institutions across Nigeria,” she stated.

Mrs. Akinsola identified the upcoming World Tourism Day as an ideal occasion to launch this partnership, envisioning significant impacts both within Nigeria and internationally.

The visit was met with enthusiasm by Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, the Rector of YABATECH, who expressed his deep appreciation for the NTDA’s initiative.

Dr. Abdul reaffirmed YABATECH’s commitment to bridging the gap between academia and industry, stating, “At YABATECH, we are dedicated to building a bridge that links the town with the gown, facilitating the holistic development of our students, the institution, and the nation at large.”

Dr. Abdul outlined the college’s ongoing efforts to foster unity and collaboration with various industries, stressing the importance of these partnerships in equipping graduates with practical skills and industry knowledge.

He noted that YABATECH strives to ensure its graduates are academically proficient and prepared to contribute meaningfully to their chosen fields.

The discussions during the visit underscored tourism’s role as a catalyst for national development. Both YABATECH and NTDA recognized their partnership’s potential to create a robust platform for promoting tourism and cultural heritage, benefiting both the student community and broader society.

Both leaders expressed confidence that this collaboration would set a new standard for institutional and industry partnerships in Nigeria.

“This partnership is more than just a collaboration; it is a shared commitment to building a brighter future for tourism in Nigeria,” remarked Dr. Abdul.

The upcoming World Tourism Day is anticipated to be a fitting occasion to showcase the achievements of this new alliance, with YABATECH and NTDA ready to make significant contributions to the event.

Dr. Abdul emphasized that YABATECH is not only a center of learning but also a catalyst for national progress, driving innovation and development across various sectors, including tourism.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD), David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital (DUFUTH) Uburu, Ebonyi State, Prof. Uzoma Agwu, has called on Nigerians to desist from traveling overseas to treat their health issues.

According to the CMD, DUFUTH treats all kinds of illness including kidney, oncology, cancer and other centers with active medical facilities relating to health issues and also provides adequate care for their patients.

The CMD disclosed this at the hospital in an interview with Tribune Online in Uburu, Ohaozara local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The hospital CMD also noted that the hospital will be carrying out a free dialysis section by the second week of January 2024, as part of the awareness creation about the Hospital institution.

Akonitv  gathered that the hospital built by Senator David Umahi, former Governor of Ebonyi State and handed over to the Federal government has carried out over one hundred successful surgeries on the health issues that bordered on kidneys and livers.

“Under the radiology department, we have the full complement of the radiological services. We also have Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for the capturing of images mostly in the brain and the spinal cord, while the CT scan takes cross sectional images for bone resolution.

“Additionally, Mammograms meant for breast problems only have been activated and we have started using them already,” she said.

The CMD also noted that the Maternal and Child Health Center named after Muhammadu Buhari is fully activated with over one thousand radiological investigations done in the facility.

“The hospital is meant to provide everything relating to health issues, the staff have been gazetted into the Federal scheme, initially there were no seats and enough equipment but upon my assumption, everything was put in place,” she said.

According to her, the hospital has gotten the needed manpower and specialists as gynecologists, surgeons, pediatricians and many others to complement the 30 full-time consultants already in the facility to provide adequate services to the patients.

The CMD added that the hospital, under him had made some amendments in the structures of the facility, activated all the five floors which include the medicine, surgery departments, among others including community medicine and their services, noting that the services are not expensive compared to the prices of other hospitals of the same standard .