BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

OWERRI—Nigerians have been urged to cooperate with the federal government in ensuring that the proposed national conference was held successfully.

President Goodluck Jonathan

The South East Zonal Coordinator, University of Jos Alumni Association, UJAA, Sir Ned Ulelu, made the appeal while welcoming participants to the quarterly meeting of the Association.

“There is no doubt that there is urgent need for Nigerians to come together in a conference by whatever name, sovereign or not, to address the contentious issues and challenges that have been threatening the unity of our dear nation, Nigeria,” Ulelu said.

While commending President Goodluck Jonathan for his bold decision to hold the conference and for promptly appointing the Presidential Advisory Committee to chart the course, Ulelu also called for full implementation of decisions reached.

“It is our wish and desire that decisions reached at the National Conference should be sincerely and faithfully implemented,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nigerians have been advised to be very cautious with the medicines they consume, especially as every external substance consumed was basically foreign to the body.

A Professor of Microbiology in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Ifeoma Enweani, gave the advice while delivering a lecture at the South East zonal meeting of University of Jos Alumni Association.

“Be cautious with the medicines you consume. Every external substance consumed is basically foreign to the body. Take medicines when it is absolutely necessary and on the recommendation of a physician. Beware of fake pharmaceutical products”, Professor Enweani cautioned.

She appealed to Nigerians to form the habit of going for medical check up at least once a year, even people assume they are very healthy.

“We must check our blood pressure and sugar level regularly. A serious heart attack, especially for women, may start with left arm hurting, intense pain in the jaw line, chest pain, nausea and intense sweating,” Enweani said.

She was particularly irked that Nigerians had virtually abandoned the nation’s local but nutritious foods for other foreign and processed foods.

“Eat nutritional foods and do not be carried away by look or taste. Make use of our local spices like uziza, onion, ginger, scent leaf and garlic. Eat more fish, crayfish, snail, mushroom and avoid red meat,” Professor Enweani said.

She advised Nigerians to resist the temptation of consuming refined foodstuff like white wheat flour-based products, fatty foods like cholesterol based margarine or bleached vegetable oil.