🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Lagos State equips primary healthcare centers with automated laboratory machines
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
The Lagos State Primary Health Care Board has begun distributing automated medical laboratory equipment to selected primary healthcare facilities across the state. This initiative, part of the World Bank-funded Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity Primary Health Care Project HOPE-PHC, aims to enhance diagnostic services and healthcare delivery at the grassroots level. The distribution, which started on Monday, June 22, 2026, seeks to improve laboratory capacity, diagnostic accuracy, and reduce turnaround time for test results. Dr. Ibrahim Mustafa, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, stated that the equipment, procured through the HOPE-PHC Project, is a strategic investment to improve access to quality diagnostic services. The equipment includes haematology analysers, ISE electrolyte analysers, electrophoresis machines, Olympus microscopes, and semi-automated chemistry analysers. This intervention is part of broader investments under the HOPE-PHC Project, which also includes renovating facilities, deploying modern medical equipment, and recruiting healthcare workers. Measures for sustainability include proper installation, training of laboratory personnel, routine maintenance, and technical support. Beneficiary facilities will receive prior notification and training on equipment operation and maintenance. The board remains committed to strengthening primary healthcare services and expanding accessible, affordable, and people-cente
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Despite remarkable goalkeeping performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, former Super Eagles captain Vincent Enyeama's achievements at the tournament are still considered unmatched among African goalkeepers. His legacy was highlighted after Curaçao's Eloy Room made 15 saves against Ecuador, surpassing Peru's Ramón Quiroga's 1978 record of 13 saves in a single match. While Ghana's Richard Kingson holds the African single-match record with nine saves in 2006, Enyeama's sustained excellence across tournaments sets him apart. In the 2010 World Cup, Enyeama delivered a standout performance against Argentina, making six saves, four of which were against Lionel Messi, earning him Man of the Match honors despite a 1-0 loss. He continued this form in the 2014 World Cup, making 21 saves across four matches and securing clean sheets against Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina, helping Nigeria reach the round of 16. Only Kingson's 22 saves in 2010 surpass Enyeama's total for an African goalkeeper in a single World Cup. Other notable African goalkeepers like Morocco's Yassine Bounou, Cameroon's Thomas N’Kono, and Senegal's Tony Sylva have not matched Enyeama's consistency over multiple tournaments. The article also mentions current impressive performances from Cape Verde's Josimar Dias and the United States' Matt Freese, but concludes that Enyeama's World Cup legacy continues to be the benchmark for African football.
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Femi Thomas, a board member of Nigeria’s Cycling Federation, has declared Team Nigeria's performance at the seventh Tour D’Afrique a success. He stated that the outing will enhance Nigeria's global cycling standing. The team recently returned to the country after completing the cross-border expedition, which concluded at the ECOWAS Headquarters in Lagos. The 2026 edition, themed 'Riding Against Climate Change: A 1,110km Journey with Zero CO₂ Emissions,' took place from June 12 to June 19. Fifty cyclists from various Nigerian states and clubs formed Team Nigeria. The tour commemorated World Bicycle Day and also celebrated Nigeria’s Democracy Day, ECOWAS at 51, and the One Africa agenda, while promoting sustainable transport. Thomas, a former athlete, highlighted the invaluable experience gained by all participants, especially first-timers. He added that the tour directly supports three United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Team Nigeria’s participation was a collaborative effort between FT Cycle Care, the Cycling Federation of Nigeria, and the Velo NG Community. Stakeholders believe the successful ECOWAS leg of the tour has further solidified Nigeria's role in climate action and regional integration through sport.