An ophthalmologist, Dr Abubakar Olayiwola Ayinla, has cautioned against the use of mobile phone close to bedtime while submitting that doing away with blue-light emitting devices at least one hour before retiring to bed will help people’s eyesight.
Failure to take this medical advice may according to him negatively impact sleeps and hinder a healthy vision.
Dr Ayinla, who is the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Kwara state, said this while giving his keynote speech during the Reunion Dinner held by the 1984 UNILAG Mass Communication Alumni at the E – Phoenix Hotel, GRA, Ilorin on Saturday.
Ayinla’s keynote speech was titled ‘Maintaining The Eyes At Old Age’.
He submitted that it requires conscious efforts by the people to maintain an overall good health at all stages in life in order to grow and function optimally and meet dreams and expectations.
Dr Ayinla also noted that those who have advanced in years would need additional efforts to balance the effect of aging, natural predisposition through genetics, and environmental influence, ‘amidst our respective struggles for survival’.
They would according to him need to sustain a healthy living, and ensure that they enjoy a functional and an effective eyesight.
He has also cautioned people against the use of herbal medicines to relieve eye strain or eyesight problems submitting that this should be made a no-go area.
He added that it is also important that people should take their medications regularly , live well and never take chances with their eyes while noting that diseases like diabetes ,hypertension can result in eye diseases .
Dr Ayinla ,who urged people above forty years to visit eye doctor regularly, added that they may however do this at least one week after celebrating their birthdays to keep out diseases that are ready ‘to snatch sight ,beauty and window to our body and soul’ . He listed these to include cataract, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration.
He also urged people who are above forty years to read books that are ‘in bold print’ while stating the need to ensure strict compliance with doctor’s instructions.
The reunion dinner held by those who studied Mass Communication and graduated from the University of Lagos in 1984 also provided a platform for the UNILAG Alumni to gleefully share memories .
President, University of Lagos Mass Communication Alumni Association (UMCAA) 1984 set, Olorogun Fred Ohwahwa in an interview with Team@orientactualmags.com said the decision to hold this year’s reunion dinner in Kwara state has been ‘ productive ‘.
‘We took a decision to come to Ilorin because we have some members here who are very active, again, it is an opportunity to go to other parts of the country to see that the country is diverse and interesting and know that there are so many things that can be done and our coming has been quite good , useful and productive.
We have visited places including the museum , the Orphanage Rehabilitation Center in Amoyo where we donated food parcels, made cash donation and pledged to carry out a major project there , generally it has been productive’ he said.
Asked if there had been a fewer attendees than expected , Olorogun Fred Ohwahwa said some members could not attend the reunion dinner this year as a result of circumstances beyond their control.
‘No ,we have had bigger numbers before but some people could not come for one reason or the other at the last minute the number was larger than this in Port Harcourt , some also paid and made all neccesary arrangements to come but could not eventually do so but it is ok. We hope that by next year when we would be having the fortieth anniversary we would have a bigger number .
Those who did not attend have been seen images and videos on our platforms ,some are actually outside the country and they have been missing in action and they have made it known that they would have loved to be here . We do also converge when son or daughter of any of us is getting married , there are other opportunities to come together, generally it has been good, we do support ourselves in different ways . You know that friends that you made in your younger days are more enduring’ he said.
Asked to give his take on the reasonability or otherwise of hike in tuition fees by public tertiary institutions, Olorogun submitted that ‘it is an unavoidable reality’.
‘I don’t think the issue of being reasonable or otherwise arises here, in a good society, education is usually heavily subsidized and in most countries it is heavily subsidized even in Nigeria here but you cannot expect the way it was during our time to be the same way it will be now.
Firstly, the population is bigger , you know that there are some things that the government cannot do for the institutions you will need to have some resources and it is all about money , you need resources to do some things ,sometimes there may be some increase maybe not too high though.
What twenty naira can buy last year ,forty naira cannot buy it this year because of inflation in the system, those are the pressures that come to bear, we will just pray that people will have resources to send their children to school because without education we cannot have a decent society’ he submitted.
Members of UMCAA ’84 set that attended the reunion dinner include Oloriewe Raheem Adedoyin, who is the Vice Chairman, Director of Corporate Affairs, University of Ilorin, Mr. Kunle Akogun, Elder Oladipo Ojedeji, and Dr Yinka Daramola.
Giving her speech, Commissioner for Social Development, Hon Afolashade Kemi, noted that the reunion dinner served as a platform for ‘reunion of memories, dreams, and shared journeys’ while urging the 1984 UNILAG Mass Communication Alumni to ensure that they continue to make positive impacts on the lives of others.
‘I must say here that, today is a special occasion; a day that brings all back together after many years. This event is about remembering school days, the laughter, the lessons, and the lifelong friendships that you have made’ she said.
‘No matter the present condition and your position, it has become necessary for you to reflect and remember the young students that you once were, and should thank God for the remarkable individuals you have become.
In all, today is more than just a reunion. It’s about remembering, celebrating, and looking forward.
It’s about friendship, growth, and shared history. So, you should make this day memorable, for it’s not just a reunion of old classmates, but a reunion of memories, dreams, and shared journeys.
Importantly, you must not forget that for what you have become today, certain people at one stage or the other sacrificed for you, moulded you and it therefore become necessary that you all leave a wonderful mark in the lives of other.
On my own part and for the privilege availed me by our amiable and progressive- minded leader, the lover of the masses, His Excellency, the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, who has appointed me as Commissioner for Social Development, I must reiterate here that there are many ways to show kindness and appreciation for God’s blessings in your lives.
Our Social Welfare homes in the state house many of our dear sisters and brothers some of whom are motherless, disabled, imbeciles, moron, mentally- retarded and the likes; they also wish to be free and live comfortable like us but fate prevailed on them.
They all need us, we must show them love and concern as they are creatures like us.
With this, I believe the essence of celebrating years of God’s grace will be better expressed, likewise, the real definition of humanity will be fulfilled’ the commissioner added.
Dignitaries at the event include Commissioner for Women Affairs, Olaitan Bureimoh, who represented the Deputy Governor, Mr. Kayode Alabi, Commissioner for Social Development, Hon Afolashade Kemi , Permanent Secretary , Ministry of Health, Kwara state , Dr Abubakar Ayinla, Professor Lukman Azeez , a lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication, University of Ilorin, and General Manager, Herald Newspaper, Mr Clement Yomi Adeboye-Team@orientactualmags.com
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