By Daily Sports on October 9, 2017

At last, the Super Eagles booked a space in next year’s World Cup football summit coming up in Russia. The road to Russia has been coated with determination, diligence, hard work, strategies upon strategies by teams and the fittest clinched the sole ticket of group B.

The Nigerian side began the journey all on a bright note by defeating this hard to crack nut called the Chipolopolo of Zambia in the opener in October last year in Ndola. The Gernot Rohr boys did not relent as Algeria came calling and got their faces bruised in Uyo, then Cameroon and then the more desperate and fortified Zambia team again that gave Eagles the run for the hard earned victory at last on Saturday in Uyo where the seal was put in our sixth World Cup finals appearance. Ask the players they will tell you what they were going through in their minds when the game dragged, but determination and never say die spirit to accomplish the uphill task they set for themselves prevailed. It was not hidden that the Zambians were all out for it and thank God they met a Nigeria side that were fully prepared and loaded; A side where Goalkeeper Ezenwa and his defence stood firm.

There was better communication among the players as the game lasted. Mikel Obi marshalled the midfield adequately relying heavily on experience to upstage the fit fighting side from the South African region. Then everything seemed lost and the only magic was the timely strike by Alex Iwobi. It became the last straw that broke the camel’s back.

This truncated the visitors’ aim of causing the upset of the century. I did say that this page will unveil the FC Ifeanyi Uba safe gloves because of his outstanding bravery when the chips were down. This, we will do on him to salute the towering lad who instantly played himself into the Russia 2018 World Cup tournament. Now that we have picked the ticket though not on platter of gold, I believe that the next stop would be outright preparations for the Mundial, which would hold much for the country and the continent.

Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu’s exemplary social work

This week we bring you, the widely acclaimed philanthropy of Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu, wife of Governor Bagudu of Kebbi State, which caught our attention when Daily Sports ran two stories on her efforts to save lives and it sweetens our hearts in sports arena that the amiable Dr. Zainab Bagudu finally ferried in to offer her charitable work to those that need it in that section. What she is currently extending, again brings to the fore her humanist nature and after very careful research far reaching deliberations on her activities anchored on superior reasoning, her passion for human dignity and hope for the homeless which cut across every segment of life was so disarming that this unsolicited write up had to be done to further highlight her enduring social work and also Daily Sports contribution towards enlightenment and education on the dangers of this dreaded ailment.

A recap: The Kebbi State First Lady is a mother, wife, Paediatric Consultant, Child’s Right Advocate and ardent anti-cancer campaigner. She was born to Umaru and Rakiya Shinkafi. Her primary and secondary education was in Lagos. Her father, a seasoned Police Officer and the Marafa Sokoto, rose to become the Director General of then Nigerian Security Organisation (NSO) now known as SSS. After graduating from Queens College, Lagos in 1984, Dr. Zainab Bagudu obtained an MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine) from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. She then proceeded to the United Kingdom for specialist training in Paediatrics and Neonatology, which lasted nine years. Amongst others, she obtained a Masters in Paediatrics, Diploma in Tropical Child Health and membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Upon completion of her training she returned to Nigeria in 2002 to set up and head the Paediatric Unit of Garki Hospital under a new PPP scheme with the FCT. In 2009, she set up a trail blazing Diagnostic Centre, Medicaid. Medicaid was set up to rectify the paucity of scarce diagnostic tools in the region. The centre provides MRI, CT scan, Endoscopy, mammogram, Echocardiology, Digital Fluoroscopy etc. Despite being trained in Child Health. Her marriage to Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the Executive Governor of Kebbi State is blessed with children and she plays an important role in mobilising women and youth of Kebbi State. As then Senator's and now Governor’s wife, her role as chief advocate of women, children and youth is exemplary and cuts across health, education and empowerment programmes.

It is instructive to point out that this unassuming First Lady of Kebbi State has become a loud and potent voice in the fight against cancers in Nigeria particularly breast and cervical cancers and serves as a role model for women particularly in the Northern parts. She is chief executive of Medicaid Cancer Foundation. Dr. Bagudu is currently serving on the Ministerial Committee to build world class diagnostic centres in Nigeria and a mentor on the Cherie Blair Foundation and YOUWIN project. She has mentored many young adults under this project and shows a keen interest in early year’s education and health. Dr. Shinkafi Bagudu describes herself as politically aware and recently became a fund raiser for the treatment of cancer patients and internally displaced persons in the North East of Nigeria.

It would be recalled that the Medicaid Cancer foundation was set up in response to needs that were made more apparent by results from the diagnostic centre. The MCF has screened and sponsored over 100,000 free mammograms. The foundation creates awareness, prevention, treatment and diagnosis of Cancers across the country. The Medicaid Cancer Foundation has sponsored treatment over 300 cancer patients and over 10,000 screenings. The first lady of Kebbi State’s office has sponsored health programmes which include immunisation, distribution of birth kits and the sickle cell related illnesses. As the UNICEF Hilwa grand patron, Dr Zainab Shinkafi has spearheaded girl child education and school enrolment. She is also fondly called the godmother of the Health sector in Kebbi State. Dr Shinkafi Bagudu is also a contributor on health for a number of National dailies; her articles are widely read and include subjects such as early marriage, Cancer Awareness, kidney ailments; In January 2017, Doctor Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu was one of the nominees of the Most Valuable Governors’ Wives Awards. Little wonder therefore she widely referred to as a woman with a heart of Gold. She was recognised with a well-deserved Silverbird Man of the Year Special Achievement Award.

This newspaper is fully committed to helping to disseminate information and we are also angled to promoted human interest stories hence we are solidly behind Kebbi State First Lady to succeed in her spirited crusade and renewed awareness against cancer in sports arena. She has done much ever before she found herself in the present position.  Her quest to create platform (Medicaid Cancer Foundation) a non- governmental organisation where these cases would be heard and her sustained advocacy on the need for early dictation of the disease calls for wider applause from men and women of great mind and will.

Let me refresh your memory that we in this newspaper just don’t join the bandwagon, we thoroughly analyse situations based on merits and then put them in their right perspectives. This is no exception and Mrs. Bagudu has done extremely well to secure her place on the positive side of history. It such endeavour we gladly identify with, aside reporting her foot steps on the sands of time which attracted high traffic hits due its human angle nature; here we are again this week doing the commentary on her selfless efforts to humanity.  

Presently, the First Lady’s NGO, Medicaid is partnering with the League Management Company as captured in Daily Sports edition of September 29, with its attendant massive traffic hits thus:

LMC, MEDICAID fight cancer with football

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Medicaid Cancer Foundation is partnering the League Management Company (LMC) to fight cancer with football.

Founder of Medicaid and wife of Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu said during a courtesy visit to the LMC office in Abuja that Medicaid is soliciting technical assistance from the league body to organise a charity tournament to raise awareness for the fight against cancer.

She and her entourage were received by the LMC team led by the Chairman, Shehu Dikko.

She explained that Medicaid elected to partner the LMC in recognition of the power that football as a platform can drive the message on cancer prevention and cure to every part of the country.

“We want to organise a football tournament in Abuja on Saturday, 21st October 2017, and our target is to use football which enjoys mass appeal cutting across tribe, gender and age to help spread the message about cancer and facilitate our reach to near and remote places,” Shinkafi-Bagudu said. In his response to the visitors, Dikko offered the assurance of technical and human support to the NGO for a successful organisation of the tournament consistent with its Corporate Social Responsibility objectives of supporting humanitarian efforts and positive engagement with the community.

“We see this as our Corporate Social Responsibility to support members of the community with health challenges and we hope to drive this campaign with Her Excellency. We will work with your organisation to ensure that all goes well and the message on the fight against cancer is well spread,” Dikko said.

The LMC has through the VAT Wonder Goal award for players in the just concluded season offered financial support to 15 charity organisations nominated by players who won the award. This the league did to promote club and community engagement and also assist the charity homes.

The LMC has also through its media platforms and match venue communications consistently campaigned for the unity of the country and for awareness on AIDS and HIV scourge.

It remains a welcome development and the sustenance of this awareness campaign would be on the increase with Daily Sports on the fore front. Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu has set the tone for great things to come. We salute her coverage and forbearance in all facets to identify with this. She did not isolate this group, despite her silver spoon background.  She has character and acumen. Let’s continue the discussion on Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook and WhatAPP. Hers is a lesson in character.  Keep shooting hard till next week!

Source Daily Sports

Posted October 9, 2017

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