The Chairman, Ado-Odo, Ota Local Government area, Engr. Sheriff Adewale Musa, has called Covenant University ‘the best’ amongst other partners-in-progress, with the Local Government.
He made this assertion during a courtesy call of CAPIC-ACE and CUCDIIC members to his office, prior to the commencement of the Prostate Cancer Awareness Programme, Organised by Covenant University’s Covenant Applied Informatics Communications African Centre of Excellence (CAPIC-ACE), in conjunction with Covenant University Community Development Impact Initiative Committee (CUCDIIC). The event which held in the Deinde Memorial Hall, an Events Centre of the Local Government headquarters was aimed at driving awareness of the scourge of Prostate Cancer disease amongst the people of Ota and environs.
Engr. Sheriff further explained that Covenant University has been a partner in progress from the very beginning of the University, bringing many wonderful innovations that was invaluable to the citizenry of Ota, whose lives have been impacted positively by these many wonderful programmes. The people of Ota are so grateful to the University, he said, and are looking forward to more wonderful collaborations between the Local Government and the University.
In the course of his presentation, a Medical Consultant with the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Dr Ikemefuna Ogor, spoke widely about the issues pertaining to prostate cancer disease and how to prevent the disease or treat the disease if it comes.
He clarified that the Prostate gland is a part of the male reproductive tract that helps in facilitating the release of spermatozoa but a swelling around the gland could make urinating a serious problem and this is when the issue of Prostate cancer emerges.
He advised further that if detected early enough, the disease is treatable but advised against the abuse of herbal products which use is unquantifiable unlike that of the orthodox medicine.
During his remarks at the event, the Director, Covenant Applied Informatics and Communication, Africa Centre of Excellence (CAplc-ACE), Professor Emeka Iweala, a professor of Biochemistry, Covenant University, disclosed that prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancers among men. He made it clear that the awareness is brought to Ota communities in order to reduce the burden on the society, adding that the disease is common among men of 40 years and above. He told participants that knowledge and early detection are keys to live a prostate cancer free life.
He highlighted the research dimension of his Unit, CAplc-ACE and also used the medium to solicit the cooperation of the people to join hands in fighting the prostrate menace, by making themselves available for research endeavours in the foreseeable future. He thanked the Local Government Chair, Engr. Sheriff, for his support anytime the university comes calling.
The Chair of CUDIIC, Professor Tayo George, in her remarks also thanked the Ota Local Government people for making themselves available for the programme because according to her, if the people were not readily available, the programme would not have been successful.
She used the opportunity to intimate the audience about the activities of the Covenant University Community Development Impact Initiative Committee, as an arm of the University that is interested in ensuring that people around the University Community are adequately taken care of.
She cited ‘building of Boreholes, purchasing of transformers, donations of vehicles to the Obasanjo Police Station and the Nigerian Navy School of Music, as well as the expediting of many medical outreaches to some communities in Ota and environs amongst others, as part of the activities embarked on by the Committee.
She equally thanked the Ado Odo-Ota Local Government Chair for always being a pillar of support every time he is needed. She however promised to continue to send the wishes of the people back to Covenant University Management to help them continue to get informed relief and support from the University Community.