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By Uzair Adam Imam

The lives of journalists in Zamfara State are in danger as suspected thugs allegedly threatened to deal with working journalists in the state. 

The frustrated thugs reportedly beat up the state chairman of Nigeria Union Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Ibrahim Musa Maizare. 

The Secretary of the Union, Ibrahim Ahmad Gada, who spoke to journalists, said the traumatic incident happened on Thursday. 

Gada alleged that, after beating the union chairman, the thugs also threatened to kill some of them, calling on the authority to intervene on the issue. 

It was gathered that the thugs decided to deal with the NUJ chairman after he asked some workers who were at the NUJ Shops Complex at the Union’s Secretariat to renovate a shop for use as a campaign office to stop the work.

The thugs vowed not to stop the work or leave the place because it was given to them by a politician, and as long as that politician is breathing. 

“If an armed thug can threaten to kill working journalists, what do you expect? The safety of all working journalists must be guaranteed. 

“We are calling all the stakeholders to intervene. How can a thug dictate the way we can use our property in the state,” Gada said.

Although a team of police arrived at the NUJ Secretariat to settle the dispute, the thugs continued to hurl insults at the officials and other members of the union.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed that all providers of telecommunications services roll back the increased pricing adjustments for a select number of voice and data services.

This was revealed in a statement released on Wednesday by Reuben Muoka, head of public affairs at NCC.

The commission instructed the involved Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to reverse the increased price adjustment in a letter dated October 12, 2022, adding that the service providers’ networks’ unilateral 10 per cent upward price increases for some phone and data services had been approved and put into effect.

It noted that the order was issued in order to allow for further consultation for the good of both the service providers and consumers.

“The consideration for 10 per cent approval for tariff adjustments for different voice and data packages was in line with the mandates of the commission as provided by the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, and other extant Regulations and Guidelines, as this was within the provisions of the existing price floor and price cap as determined for the industry,” the commission said.

“The decision was also taken after a critical and realistic review and analysis of the operational environment and the current business climate in Nigeria, as it affects all sectors of the economy.

“Furthermore, even though the tariff adjustment was proposed and provisionally approved by the management, pending the final approval of the board of the commission, in the end, it did not have the approval of the board of the commission. As a result, it is reversed.

“The honourable minister of communications and digital economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has maintained that his priority is to protect the citizens and ensure justice to all stakeholders involved. As such, anything that will bring more hardship at this critical time will not be accepted.  

“This was also why he obtained the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari for the suspension of the proposed 5 per cent excise duty in order to maintain a conducive enabling environment for the telecom operators. Much as there is an increase in the cost of production, the provision of telecom services is still very profitable, and the subscribers mustn’t be subjected to a hike in charges.”

By Anas Abdullahi

The Nigeria of my dream—and arguably every patriotic Nigerian’s dream—revolves around the vision of a ‘thriving’ country; a country where the living condition of its citizens matches its natural endowments; a country where everyone, irrespective of background, has a sustainable source of livelihood, a secure environment to enjoy it and is able to attain the pinnacle of his/her potential. While there are divergent views of how this dream can be realised, everyone agrees that it is just a dream in the face of a dark mirror of an undeniable fact of life. The second part of the essay promptly asks an even more important question: how do we transform this dream into reality? From the onset, it appears that this question will be more accurately disserted by policy and strategy experts—two fields beyond the full grasp of my expertise. Nevertheless, in my own very limited way, I will give some ideas that may steer us towards the realisation of this vital dream.

Our problems are complex and multi-dimensional but traceable to a few independent variables; our deficient education system is chief among those variables. Education is the bedrock of every ‘elite’ society, but our government has gotten the basics of ours completely wrong. Basic education, which ought to be, according to the global standard, the level of education that must be free and accessible, is the most neglected by our government. The level of degradation in our public primary and secondary schools is such that many parents would rather their kids stay at home than attend such schools. Surprisingly, Nigeria spends three times more on tertiary education than it does on basic education. In a country with a high percentage of out-of-school children, this is not only a gross misplacement of priority but doesn’t also reflect our national priority. It becomes imperative then, as a matter of national agenda, that different tiers of government embrace and focus on basic education in addition to whatever they might be pursuing. This is viable via increased funding and robust teacher training to meet the challenge of providing quality basic education for all. Secondly, there’s a need for increased supervision; in most cases, private schools perform better than public schools because of stricter consequences management.

There is also a need for us to re-adjust our position on the payment of tuition for tertiary education. Is it not ironic that basic education, which is supposed to be free, has become more expensive than tertiary education? Most parents no longer have confidence in our public primary and secondary schools and prefer high-paying private schools. The bigger irony is that even those parents expect tertiary education to be free. To be honest with ourselves, researching innovation—the hallmark of tertiary institutions—requires a lot of funding, and government cannot do it alone. If we truly want to have a world-class education, then we must be ready to do what it takes to have it. Nigerians squander billions of Naira in pursuit of quality education abroad, and while this is not inherently bad, why are they then disinclined to

pay tuition in Nigeria? Meanwhile, the fact that students pay tuition does not mean the government should discontinue funding our tertiary institutions; tuition is only meant to increase the revenue of tertiary institutions, which in turn expands infrastructure and research capability. Students who can afford it should pay, while exceptional students whose parents are poor should receive scholarships and student grants. This will induce healthy competition for academic excellence and make parents demand more from teachers and institutions.

The restructuring requires our post-secondary education to be expanded. The glamour attached to university education at the expense of polytechnics and colleges of education conflicts with Nigeria’s contemporary and future needs. What a country bedevilled by high unemployment needs is high-level, hands-on manpower, which comes from polytechnics; as a matter of urgency, there is a need for our education at all levels to be solidified along vocational, technical and academic lines. There are many opportunities in ICT, construction, manufacturing, services, etc., that do not even require a university degree but some specific skills and certifications. Government can even go as high as liaising with companies to offer internships and apprenticeships, and the companies get reduced taxes. The one-year mandatory national service scheme NYSC has outlived its relevance and should also go in that direction. The government must realise that its politically-motivated attempts to expand university access without increased investment will only increase the amount of ‘unemployable’ graduates, which remains a major issue in the labour market. Fixing our education remains the key to fixing our country. It is necessary that we get the basics and the structure absolutely ‘spot-on.’

The proportion of youths in our population is probably our greatest cause for optimism, but only if we are able to groom a generation that is more preoccupied with “what can I do?” rather than “what certificate do I have?” As youths, we must be ready to understand how today’s labour market works and outgrow the comfort zone where a university certificate is tantamount to a government job. Albert Einstein famously said: “Problems cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them.” We must learn the skills that are needed by today’s highly demanding market and if the job doesn’t come, be ready to look within our environment and find opportunities; we must see education as a tool that helps us navigate the high-competitiveness of today’s job market and a mirror through which opportunities are seen; we must desist from excessive and often pointless use of mobile phones but instead leverage on the formidable power of the internet as a learning tool; we must be ready to accept that unemployment is not the inability to get a job, but rather the inability to see opportunities and utilise them; we must not be discouraged by our situations and remember that all the things we admire in the world today were not the product of people that complained about their

situation, but products of those who changed their situations. Poverty, it is said, is passing over opportunities repeatedly.

Parents have a crucial role in grooming this new generation of Nigerians. In addition to quality education, parents should teach their children resilience, discipline and the ruthless art of ‘living’ right from childhood. We must recalibrate our thinking to align with our reality and environment; parents must be willing to let go of the obsolete notion that learning a trade or handwork is detrimental to the pursuit of academic excellence. To achieve the Nigeria of our dreams, we must throw away a fundamental misconception about the role of government: the job of the government is not to create jobs but to create an enabling environment for businesses and the private sector to thrive and, in return, the government gets revenue through taxation. The misconception of the role of government has led to people demanding the government create jobs, and because the government wants to please people, what does the government do? Create endless and often unnecessary agencies and roles so that they can create jobs. The result is an exponential rise in recurrent expenditure that the government cannot simply afford. And because the government cannot afford it, they try to find ways to supplement their revenue. The government has been increasing taxes and VAT to pay salaries, and who is the innocent victim? Nigerian citizens and businesses are the very groups the government ought to protect.

Don’t get me wrong: I am not, in any way, asserting that the Nigerian government has done its part or that government should not be giving people jobs, but this sustained pressure has led to the over-saturation and, ultimately, the inefficiency of our civil service. The gross redundancy and inefficiency are nothing compared to the massive corruption that is going on in this place; civil service is simply the epicentre of evil in Nigeria. During the COVID-19 pandemic, low-ranking civil servants were asked to stay at home for two years; given the fact that these cadres constitute the majority ranks in the service, it is safe to say that most civil servants sat at home. One would have expected things to stagnate especially given the huge amount of money that is spent on salaries every month; quite the contrary, everything moved seamlessly. The country, both the government and the public, did not feel the effects whatsoever; there was simply no vacuum created by this absence. Think about this very carefully: the civil service executes the economic and social function of any government; it is the medium through which the impact of government is felt. In Nigeria, it is more of a curse than a blessing because it consumes a chunk of our revenue without performing its vital function. Nigeria will not change unless the institutions of government are changed and corruption is drastically reduced. Unless civil service is reformed, the dividends of government will never be truly felt in Nigeria.

Public institutions must be streamlined, professionalised, and realistically incentivised; government must block fiscal leakages and let off redundant agencies and roles while

concentrating on having an efficient civil service department that will contribute towards solving the socio-economic problems of this country. The government should be bold enough to take the next step, which is, of course, privatisation. The government must, simply and plainly, back off. Every sector that seems to work effectively in Nigeria is because of less government, not more. Government, economists say, has no business running businesses. Many sceptics of privatisation argue that privatisation is a mixed fortune in Nigeria. While this is true, is it not better to embrace something that partially works rather than something that doesn’t work at all? The commercialisation and planned privatisation of NNPC is laudable. More state-owned assets like airports, railways, power plants, etc., should follow. We are sentimentally attached to these things, but when we look critically, it is easy, as Nigerians, to see why privatisation is the way forward. For example, our four refineries have a combined monthly operational cost of N10 billion despite not refining anything; no businessman, in his right senses, will accept this. In addition to greater efficiency, privatisation will free up government responsibilities and allow the government to concentrate on social sectors like education, health, roads, etc.

Privatisation, though, will be met with strong resistance. To begin with, privatisation of NNPC means petroleum subsidies will be scrapped, adding to the economic situation that is already looking gloomy; half of the population already lives in poverty; the unemployment rate has, according to the latest statistics by the National of Bureau of Statistics (NBS), rising to 33%; and inflation is high, which means the prices of commodities in the markets are not affordable to the poor. Secondly, despite the incessant call by the government that Nigeria is broke, many people simply couldn’t believe the government, and sometimes, for good reasons. This assertion doesn’t align with the larger-than-life lifestyle of politicians and top government officials, nor has it been helped by a stereotype propagated especially among the lower class that if this country’s wealth were to be divided among its citizens, everyone, even an unborn child, would never experience poverty. It becomes necessary, therefore, that the government show transparency and carry Nigerians along the way. The first place to begin is our expenditure; the governments must re-prioritise by spending only on very essential items and reducing the cost of governance. A radical idea, albeit difficult, is to cut down the size of the national assembly. Again, the government must explain things to Nigerians in a matter that they would understand. Continued subsidy payment means N6 trillion will be borrowed next year, adding to the cost of servicing our debt, which according to the finance minister, exceeds our revenue. We are not even talking about the principal yet.

Why does this matter? CBN will be forced to keep covering financial gaps through means and ways that may have severe inflationary consequences. Furthermore, exploiters of financial leakages offered by the scheme and their networks will keep getting returns until the scheme is terminated. Privatisation will set the tone for our economic revival. The next economic reform

will be to increase our revenue through proper taxation. This is achievable through efficient tax generation and collection processes, strengthened tax laws and demands more compliance (by individuals and corporations). Tax collection agencies should also collate data on businesses and individuals in the informal sector and facilitate easy compliance, and more tax should be imposed on harmful products. The caveat is low economic growth; when individuals and companies are not making money, you can’t effectively tax them. One very important question that everyone at this juncture may be desperate to ask is: will this increased revenue translate to the prosperity of the people? Will it give us the Nigeria of our dream? Increased revenue means increased capacity of the government to carry out developmental projects, but it certainly doesn’t solve all our problems because even when the economy blossomed, many Nigerians wallowed in poverty—the Nigerian economic paradox. This is further illustrated by the fact that Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa but ranks below many other African countries in human developmental indexes. To address all the problems, we need to go back to the fundamental of growth.

Nigeria typically exports primarily raw materials and imports finished consumer goods. While this may increase GDP, it has negative effects on other developmental areas as a result of the low participation of citizens in this model. What we need is to fully maximise the entire value chain of our raw materials; manufacturing touches all parts of development and is much more resistant to external economic factors that can bring sudden cracks to the economy. Economic diversification is a worn-out narrative in Nigeria, but we need to see it happen. Our policymakers took this too far and tried to achieve forced industrialisation by restricting imports. The result was counterproductive. We do not need to produce ‘everything’ we consume; we should instead play to our strength by exploring areas of production and trade where we have a comparative and competitive advantage and by dominating value chains in which we have factor endowments. This will cater to our domestic demands and, at the same time, give us a strong export push given the free trade platform that the African Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) provides. We must be intentional about this: we should select a few industries that we desire to compete in, focus on them and assist them for the next few years. What is the sense, for example, in having timber and importing paper? Our internal disparity should also be taken into consideration. For example, the northern part of Nigeria produces greater agricultural output and has a greater proportion of semi-skilled and unskilled labourers. By extension, this means that agro-processing factories will be suited to this region.

Restoration of the ‘enabling environment’ for this structural transformation is necessary to attract local and foreign investors. To this effect, the government should clearly define and make accessible its policies, regulations, and tax laws to remove the issues of multiple and duplicate regulations, which often emanate from the excessive drive for tax revenues. Secondly, foreign exchange currency should be made easily available and accessible to

manufacturers to purchase raw materials and equipment from foreign countries. Thirdly, infrastructural challenges posed by dilapidated transport networks and insufficient power supply should be eliminated. Government should rehabilitate major roads leading to industrial areas, improve access to ports and continue the ongoing development of the rail system; these will drastically reduce the operating cost associated with transportation. Another constraint that must be overcome is electricity fluctuations. The bill recently supported by our lawmakers to allow the state governments to generate and transmit electricity is recommendable. This will allow private investors to take part in the Nigerian energy market. Another alternative is using abundant renewable energy sources (hydro, solar, wind) to supplement the national energy mix, which will be particularly instrumental in remote areas where the distribution of electricity is difficult.

Finally, we need a ‘meritocratic’ environment for anything to work; an environment where hard work, excellence and discipline are rewarded and corruption bastardised; an environment where achievement becomes a function of merit and not sentiment; an environment where everyone will be given what is due for them at the right time; an environment where accountability and transparency are institutionalised in government. For us to achieve the Nigeria of our dream, we must grant full and complete independence to our judicial system; whoever is found guilty must be punished according to the rule of law. No amount of ideas will work in Nigeria with selective justice and wasteful expenditures by the ruling class. I dream of Nigeria with selfless leaders who are not afraid of ‘one big man’ and who put the national interest above their interests. I dream of Nigeria, where everyone does what ought to be done to the best of their ability. I dream of a country where corrupt officials become ‘outcasts’ in society. I dream of a country where politicians will be unable to mortgage the conscience of the people with bread and butter.

Endowed with 923,768km² of land mass (80% arable), 37 billion barrels of crude oil deposit (estimated), huge deposits of solid minerals, an 853km long coastline, and a youthful demographic—Nigeria is a country that oozes ‘greatness.’ What remains is for us to collectively put our hands together right now to achieve the Nigeria of our dream.

Anas Abdullahi sent this via anaschemical2008@gmail.com.

By Ibrahim Uba

Many observers have already concluded that no gubernatorial election in Kano has ever drawn more aspirants like the forthcoming 2023 election. There are over ten politicians who are vying for the governorship position. All these contenders have started their publicity campaigns, creating political razzmatazz on social media, radio stations, and across every nook and cranny of Kano state.

I carried out some research about each of the aspirants and also studied their campaign activities carefully. Some appear to lack experience and competence to govern the great Kano state, while others adequately fit the job. But I form an opinion that Bala Gwagwarwa, of SDP, is the overall best for the following reasons:

1. Of all the aspirants, Gwagwarwa is the only one who held leadership positions in all three tiers of government — local, state and federal. He served as local government chairman, commissioner for water resources; commissioner for science and technology; and national treasurer of the All Progressive Congress (APC). None of the other aspirants has as huge hands-on administrative experience as he does.

2. From his interviews and speeches, Gwagwarwa is very aware of how people suffer from growing poverty, especially in rural communities. He also seems to understand all the needs clearly and wants of the Kano people. The recurrent statement in all his speeches is that:

 “When I am elected as the governor of Kano, my administration will prioritise vital sectors of the economy. I will not concentrate on insignificant projects of building flyovers and underpasses which have nothing to do with the economic progress of the people. My administration will  empower the poor and restore the autonomy of local governments to help the development of rural communities…”

3. Moreover, while the rest candidates are campaigning through splashing money and political mobilisations, Gwagwarwa’s campaign focal point is explaining his blueprint and plan of action. He is fully prepared and ready to swing into action from day one. I was awed at his recent interview on radio stations, where he skillfully explained ways to revitalise small business owners in Kano.

4. Gwagwarwa is also well-educated and visionary. Moreover, he is a man with a good disposition and charisma that the Kano people will be proud to call their governor.

I hope the good people of Kano state will pay attention and vote wisely. Any aspiring candidate who is inexperienced and/or without a manifesto doesn’t deserve our votes. We tried many, but they failed us. Our inability to vote for the right people is the main problem.

May Allah make the best of choices for us, Ameen!

Ibrahim Uba wrote from Kano via ibrahimuba752@gmail.com.

By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq

The Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufa’i, has appointed Prof. Abdullahi I. Musa as the substantive Vice-Chancellor of the Kaduna State University (KASU).

A statement made available to journalists in Kaduna shows that Prof. Musa is the current University’s librarian.

He holds a PhD in Library Science from Emporia University, Kansas, and an MBA from Bayero University, Kano (BUK).

The new vice-chancellor also obtained his bachelor’s degree in Library Science from BUK and a master’s in Library Science from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

By Uzair Adam Imam

A woman who regained freedom from bandits’ captivity said her abductors gave her N2,000 as transportation fare after collecting N6 million ransom from her husband.

The woman, Hajiya Fatima Ibrahim, said this when she appeared before a High Court in Zaria as prosecution witness (PW).

She was testifying as PW two at the resumed hearing of the case at Kaduna State High Court 1, Dogarawa Zaria.

Hajiya Fatima recounted, “On Jan. 2, 2021, in the night, I heard some strange noises in the house. As I woke up and switched on the lights, I saw the four defendants with a gun and machetes.

”They wanted to know where my husband was. I told them he was away. They kidnapped me and took me to Galadimawa Forest in Giwa Local Government Kaduna state after they had taken away money, children’s clothes and other valuables from the house.

”They called my husband and negotiated a ransom of N6 million to be paid in two instalments. The money was paid in my presence and the fourth Defendant (Usman) gave me N2,000 out of the money as transportation fare,” she told the court,” she stated.

She added that the defendants directed her on where to board a vehicle that will take her home and assured her that nothing will happen to her.

The police charged the arrested Dalhatu Shehu, Lawal Aliyu-Bullet, Nuhu Ismaila and Nura Usman with criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, illegal possession of a firearm and kidnapping.

The police said the offence contravenes the provisions of sections 59 (1), 246 (a-b) of the Penal Code and section 6 (b) of the Fire Arms Special Provision Act.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, denied the allegation made by the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufa’i that he was detained during Anambra governorship election in 2013.

El-Rufa’i laid the claim on Monday at an event for presidential candidates organised by the Arewa Joint Committee, saying that Obi ordered security operatives to detain him some nine years ago.

Responding, the LP candidate stated that he was not behind the directive for El-Rufai’s detention in Anambra.

He said, “When I came in now, somebody told me that my brother, the governor of Kaduna state, said that he came to my state and I detained him. Let me tell you, it is good when these things happen, you clarify them.

“Number one, in my eight years of being governor, only in the first three months did I have a commissioner that is not from the north — Commissioner of Police. And that’s because I met the person.

“At the time the governor said this, it was during election. The police commissioner that was there then was from Adamawa — CP Gwari from Adamawa. The AIG that supervised that election was CP Nasarawa from the north. The DIG that came for that election was from Kano.

“Tell me my power, that I was in APGA — government was PDP and APC. Tell me how APGA person will issue order for somebody to be detained. Even me was detained in my local government.

“However, the only offence I committed is that when they asked me, I said ‘that’s how they treat everybody; that I wouldn’t be in Kaduna on the day of election’. That was the only thing.

“I cannot do that. As governor of Anambra state, I had the best ADC in Nigeria — the best policeman. My ADC, Mohammed, is from Kano. He’s the best policeman that I have ever met. Who will I give the order? How will I tell who lives in my house every day; I’m close to his family; I get up and say ‘Mohammed, I want to deal with your people’, and he will stay there.

“Call my ADC today. I will give you his phone number. He’s the best policeman. He’s a CSP now. So, when people say Peter Obi is black. 2019, I was [vice-presidential candidate], I was a good man. Now that I want to be president, I’ve become a bad man. I did not do anything wrong. I want to change Nigeria.”

By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq

The popular shopping center in Kaduna metropolis, Ramat Shopping Mall is currently on fire.

For now the cause of the fire outbreak is yet to be ascertained.

More details later.

By Aisha Musa Auyo

World Menopause Day (WMD) is held annually on the 18th of October. The purpose of the day is to raise awareness of menopause and the support options available for improving health and well-being. Professionals and women are encouraged to participate in this global awareness-raising campaign by printing and sharing these materials, organising events to engage their communities, and sharing WMD social media posts. The theme for the 2022 WMD is Cognition and Mood

Before going into this year’s theme, I’ll explain the basics of menopause as a reminder and enlightenment for those who do not know much about it.

Menopause happens to most women with an average age of 51 years, but it’s normal to have menopause anywhere between 45 and 55 years – although some women have it earlier or later. Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause, and postmenopause is the time after the final period. So it’s likely that you have reached menopause if you haven’t had a period for 12 months.

What happens at menopause?

From about 35–40 years of age, a woman has fewer eggs left in the ovaries, so one often doesn’t ovulate (release an egg from your ovary) regularly. Menopause means ovulation and periods stop.

Hormones are chemicals in one’s body that relay messages through the bloodstream. For example, your hormones tell your body to eat and sleep. The three main hormones that change as one approaches menopause are oestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone; change in hormone levels leads to different menopausal symptoms and the menopause transition

1. Perimenopause is the stage before your final period (menopause). It’s when your body reaches the end of its reproductive years. Perimenopause is a natural part of a woman’s life, and it usually happens sometime in her 40s. On average, it lasts four to six years but can also last from one to 10 years.

During this time, your ovaries begin to run out of eggs. This causes hormone levels, particularly oestrogen, to fluctuate, causing different symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings. Changing hormones can also affect your menstrual cycle. For example, your periods may be irregular, shorter (or longer), lighter (or heavier), or they may not come for a few months.

Some months you may ovulate, and other months you may not. You may even ovulate twice in a cycle. Symptoms include: Irregular periods, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, chills, night sweats, sleep problems, mood changes, weight gain and slowed metabolism.

2. Menopause occurs when you’ve stopped producing the hormones that cause your menstrual period and have gone without a period for 12 months in a row. Once this has happened, you enter postmenopause.

3. Post-menopause is the time after menopause has occurred. Once this happens, you’re in post-menopause for the rest of your life. Your hormone levels will remain low, and you will no longer have a monthly period. You can’t get pregnant because your ovaries have stopped releasing eggs.

Most people in post-menopause feel lingering symptoms from menopause. However, the symptoms are less intense. In some cases, they almost disappear. Lingering symptoms are caused by low levels of reproductive hormones. Women in post-menopause can feel symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats, vaginal dryness and sexual discomfort, depression, changes in sex drive, insomnia, dry skin, weight changes, hair loss and urinary incontinence.

Talk with your healthcare provider if your symptoms become more intense or interfere with your daily life. They may want to rule out any underlying condition causing these symptoms.

How do I manage symptoms of post-menopause on my own? Particular lifestyle or at-home changes can help you manage symptoms of postmenopause. Some of these include:

• Using a water-based vaginal lubricant during sex to make it more pleasurable. Lubricating the vagina helps with dryness and pain.

• Regular exercise, meditation and other relaxing activities can help with depression and other side effects of postmenopause.

• Eating a diet rich in phytoestrogens (plant-based sources of estrogen) such as whole-grain cereals, flaxseed, chickpeas and legumes. Reducing caffeine and alcohol intake has also been shown to help.

Cognition and mood in menopause

Cognition

During the menopausal transition, many women complain of memory problems such as difficulty with words, forgetfulness and “brain fog”, thus suggesting that hormonal changes related to menopause may be responsible for changes in cognition. This is due to the deep connection between estrogen and cognitive function. Still, some lifestyle changes one can make may ease symptoms and improve memory.

For example, you should eat a well-balanced diet; a diet high in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and fat may be bad for your heart and brain. Also, get enough rest, and exercise your body and mind.

Mood

Irritability and feelings of sadness are the most common emotional symptoms of menopause. Often, they can be managed through lifestyle changes, such as learning ways to relax and reduce stress. Here are some tips that may make it easier for you to handle your fluctuating emotions: Exercise and eat healthily; find a self-calming skill to practice, such as yoga, meditation, or rhythmic breathing; avoid tranquilisers and alcohol; engage in a creative outlet that fosters a sense of achievement; stay connected with your family and community; nurture your friendships.

Supporting someone through the menopause

Menopause can be associated with many physical and emotional changes for women, making it a challenging and complicated time.

If you know someone who might be going through menopause or perimenopause, it’s helpful to find out more about how you can support them. For example, some women will drop out of the workforce if not supported. Adapting working policies, such as providing access to flexible working, can help women remain in the workplace.

Learn more about menopause

Getting yourself and others informed is a significant step. It will give you an idea of what your partner, family member, friend or colleague might be going through.

A good first step would be to learn about all the various symptoms of menopause, the impact these symptoms may have on your loved one and others, and the potential treatments and support available.

Listen to them

Communication is key. Ask about how others feel or what they’re going through. It’s essential to keep in mind that not everyone might want to talk about specific symptoms or feelings. It is also important to remember that everyone’s menopause is different, so don’t make assumptions about what they are experiencing. However, letting them know you’re there if they need you will make them feel supported.

Encourage them

They might not feel like doing things they usually would, and their self-esteem might be low. Words of encouragement can help make them feel more uplifted and empowered. Inviting them to engage with various people or activities will also provide opportunities to feel good about themselves even when experiencing symptoms.

Help with their symptoms

An active, healthy lifestyle can ease some of the symptoms of menopause. For example, you can encourage them to go for a walk, swim or try a yoga class to get more active. In addition, changing the ways you spend time together, like cooking a healthy meal together.

Menopause and the workplace

Many women have said that they often find managing symptoms of menopause in the workplace very challenging. Coping with symptoms in the workplace can be hard, especially as many women find it difficult to talk about menopause at work.

Workplaces

It is vital that women feel supported to continue working throughout their menopause. Managers and organisations can make many small changes to ensure workplaces are healthy and welcoming places for women going through menopause.

Supporting staff

Menopause is a normal transition for many women. Thus, employers can contribute to a positive work environment by providing help and support for women who are managing menopause symptoms at work.

Menopausal symptoms can also be protected by employment law. Therefore, it is crucial that managers and colleagues feel informed and comfortable about the symptoms and impact of menopause.

Aisha Musa Auyo is a Doctorate researcher in Educational Psychology, a mother of three, a Home Maker, caterer and parenting/ relationship coach.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The BUA Group responded to the threat by the Kogi State Assembly to revoke the 500-hectare land allocated to the company a decade ago, saying the group is no longer interested in the land.

On Monday, the Kogi State House of Assembly summoned the cement firm to account for why it failed to pay the premium and other charges.

The assembly alleged that the company did not pay the charges despite being issued a certificate of occupancy

But, the management of the company, in a statement Tuesday, said the feasibility studies had shown that only about 30% of the entire land mass is suitable for their investment, while the rest (66%) consists of rocky, hilly and/or undulating areas.

The company also stated that the government had failed to provide infrastructure to make the area accessible, adding, “The land could also be reached by water.”

This is, however, coming amidst a crisis with the Dangote Group over the ownership of the Obajana cement plant in Kogi State.

The conflict deepened last weekend as the state government and Dangote Cement Plc continued to lay claims to the facility.