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Ebola: Panic in Anambra over Corpse from Liberia, Prof Maurice Iwu Claims Cure

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There was palpable tension in Anambra State, Thursday, as the state government raises the alarm over suspected Ebola-infected corpse flown from Liberia to the state through Lagos.

This is coming as a research, led by Professor Maurice Iwu, head, the Bioresources Development and Conservation Programme, a plant, commonly eaten in West Africa, Garcinia kola has been found to halt the deadly Ebola virus in its tracks in laboratory tests.

The corpse was deposited at Apex Mortuary, Nkwelle Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area, at the weekend and over 50 persons who had contact with the corpse had been quarantined until epidemiologists from Federal Ministry of Health certifies them free.

Dr Josephat Akabuike, state commissioner for Health, disclosed that the corpse was flown into the state at the weekend, adding that the state had collected all the necessary preventive garments to protect the virus from spreading.

The state government, through the state Ministry of Health, immediately ordered for temporal closure of the hospital until the staff and patients, including the deceased family members, were screened by the epidemiology unit of the Federal Ministry of Health.

Dr Akabuike said that “We had a report that a corpse was brought into the state through Lagos and the deceased was said to be taken from Liberia, where there is a several reported cases of Ebola virus disease.”

The commissioner also informed that the state government had instituted a rapid response team, saddled with the responsibility of responding to emergencies, revealing that the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano,had ordered for the acquisition of 400 personal protective equipment to protect the health workers in the state.

He urged all residents to call the following emergency numbers, 08030890440 or 08030864502 anytime there was a suspected case of Ebola disease in their area.

But Professor Iwu, head, the Bioresources Development and Conservation Programme, a plant, commonly eaten in West Africa, said that Garcinia kola has been found to halt the deadly Ebola virus in its tracks in laboratory tests.

If repeated in humans, this would give the body a chance to fight off the virus.

They used a compound from Garcinia kola, a plant. Compounds from the plant have also proved effective against some strains of flu.

If the anti-Ebola compound proves successful in animal and human trials, it will be the first medicine to successfully treat the virus that causes Ebola haemorrhagic fever, an often-fatal condition.

The discovery was announced at the 16th International Botanical Congress in St Louis in the United States of America in 1999.

The Ebola virus was first documented in 1976 after an outbreak in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where 88 per cent of the 318 human cases died.

More recently, a 1995 outbreak in the same country had a death rate of 81% of the 315 infected.

There are four types of the virus; they include Ebola-Zaire, Ebola-Sudan and Ebola-Ivory Coast, which affect humans and Ebola-Reston, which has so far only affected monkeys and chimpanzees.

 “This is a very exciting discovery, the same forest that yields the dreaded Ebola virus could be a source of the cure.” said Professor Iwu.

The virus multiplies rapidly in the human body and quickly overwhelms it, and in advanced cases the patient develops high fever and severe bleeding.

The active compound in the Garcinia kola is what is known as a dimeric flavonoid, which is two flavonoid molecules fused together.

Flavonoids are non-toxic and can be found in orange and lemon rinds as well as the colourings of other plants.

The tests are in the early stages still, but the researchers hope that if they continue to prove successful the compound the US Food and Drug Administration will put it on a fast track, making a drug available to humans within a matter of years.

“The discovery of these important properties in a simple compound; flavonoids, was very surprising,” said Dr Iwu.

“The structure of this compound lends itself to modification, so it provides a template for future work.

“Even if this particular drug does not succeed through the whole drug approval process, we can use it to construct a new drug for this deadly disease,” he added.


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Cloud Energy Solar Shines Bright with 200 Watts Street Lighting Bulb

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Nigeria’s foremost indigenous Renewable Energy Company, decorated by industry partners as the most Outstanding Energy Provider, Cloud Energy Solar, living true to its appellations, is focusing its renewable energy competencies beyond the home and office.

Cloud Energy has increased its impact in street lighting with the design and production of the 200 Watts street lighting bulb.

The 200 Watts bulb consolidates the reputation of brightness and long lasting for the Cloud Energy range of energy saving bulbs, in the homes and offices.

Spurred by the abundance of the sun, the Cloud Energy Solar Company seems challenged to never let the sun set. The Managing Director of Cloud Energy, Mr. Theophilus Nweke, launching the 200 Watts bulb observed that the times are dangerous in terms of security.

Therefore, the brilliance of the street lighting will eliminate all lurking shadows from the streets and security posts. It is an answer to a call to duty for all patriots to deploy their competencies to enhance national security.

The renewable energy boss said that citizens must be prepared to make sacrifice to give Nigeria its deserved place as the giant of Africa. These sacrifices can come from the kind of opportunities that OEMs give to Nigerians. For example, Cloud Energy, a leading solar practitioner is currently offering rooftop solar panels with a flexible payment plan up to two years or more.

Property owners can now design their buildings with solar panels on the roof and keep paying long after they have completed and moved into the houses.

This flexible payment consideration, the Cloud Energy Boss explains, extends to the entire range of Cloud Energy Solar products – Energy storage products, Inverters, Batteries; Lifestyle products, Fridges, Freezers, Fans Television sets, and solar accessories.

These offers are conveyed in a campaign entitled Bridge the Energy Gap, a clear departure from the traditional way of presenting offers in the market.

The bridge has been used as a symbol to convey a sense of professional support, assistance, and partnership.

The bridge beyond meaning a make-up for a shortfall also provides a thorough fare to the energy transition, without bottlenecks. It deletes all doubts and gives a sense of certainty for a transition.to Solar.

The bridge is the fact that Cloud Energy in partnership with its finance partners offers different kinds of payment plan to ensure a done deal, in electricity, without tears.

Cloud Energy, founded in 2015 has earned respect by installing Solar and Inverter systems for discerning clients, mainly academic, research institutions and multi-nationals across the nation.

In less than a decade Cloud Energy has foot prints in the Banking and Finance sector with ATM installations; Homes and Public buildings with Solar Systems; and is a viable partner to governments through the Rural Electrification Project.


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Airtel HR Director, Adebimpe Ayo-Elias Honoured as HR Leader of the Year

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The Director of Human Resources and Administration at Airtel Nigeria, Adebimpe Ayo-Elias, has been awarded as HR Leader of the Year at the 2024 HR People Magazine Awards, organized by Mapelwood Global Resource.

The award ceremony, held recently at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, celebrated the achievements of outstanding HR professionals across Nigeria who have contributed significantly to organizational success and workplace culture.

Speaking on the recognition, Carl Cruz, CEO of Airtel Nigeria, expressed immense pride in Ayo-Elias’s achievement, describing it as a milestone not only for her but also for the company.

“Adebimpe’s impact, dedication, and leadership extend well beyond Airtel, and this award is a well-deserved recognition of her influence in the HR field. We are incredibly proud of her accomplishments and look forward to her continued contributions to the industry,” he said.

Receiving the award, Adebimpe expressed gratitude for the honour, reiterating her commitment to advancing world-class HR practices within her organisation.

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute positively to the lives of those we serve within and beyond the organization. Airtel Nigeria creates an environment that nurtures growth, encourages innovation, and prioritizes the well-being of every employee and as such, this award motivates me to continue championing these values,” she said.

This award reaffirms Airtel Nigeria’s commitment to developing and empowering talent, further establishing the company as a leading force in creating an impactful, forward-thinking workplace.


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Canada Orders TikTok to Shut Down Operations Amid National Security Concerns

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Canadian government has ordered TikTok to shut down its operations within Canada, directing the social media platform to close its offices in Toronto and Vancouver.

Despite the office closures, Canadian users will continue to have access to the app itself.

The decision was announced following a national security review led by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne stated that TikTok’s activities posed a threat to national security, though he declined to provide specific details.

“We came to the conclusion that these activities… would be injurious to national security,” Champagne told CBC News, underscoring the seriousness of the government’s actions.

TikTok has voiced strong opposition to the order, vowing to challenge it in court. A spokesperson for TikTok argued that the closure will lead to significant job losses and stated, “Shutting down TikTok’s Canadian offices and destroying hundreds of well-paying local jobs is not in anyone’s best interest.”

The move follows Canada’s previous restrictions on TikTok, including a ban from government-issued devices in 2023 due to privacy and security concerns.

TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has faced similar scrutiny from the U.S. government, which has also considered further restrictions over national security concerns.

TikTok maintains that it will continue to serve Canadian users on its platform, allowing creators to connect and businesses to operate.

However, the dispute between TikTok and Canadian authorities signals ongoing tensions between governments and the app’s China-based parent company.


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