Economy

By Temitope Mosadomi

 A cross-section of residents of Oko-Ogbomoso wants the Oyo State Government to revive the moribund fruit juice factory in the ancient community as the new cashew harvesting season approaches.

They made the call while speaking with Radio Nigeria on the abandonment of the state-owned fruits factory in Oko, Surulere Local Government Area of the state.

 The Oyo State Fruits Juice Factory was established by the defunct Western Region administration in Oko, Surulere Local Government Area shares boundaries with agrarian communities of Ifelodun and Orolu Local Governments of Osun State, Asa Local Government in Kwara State, Orire, Ogbomoso North and South Local Governments of Oyo State. 

Perhaps the main economic and occupation of the people of the area, farming and the expanse of arable land made the old western state government establish the factory to extract and process cashew juice and nuts for export and local consumption. 

However, the old money-spinning factory has since been abandoned by successive administrations in Oyo State but Governor Seyi Makinde’s visit and relaunch of the factory three years ago brought relief to the people of the area. 

Speaking on the development, a community leader, Mr. Nurudeen Tiamiyu, said a timely resuscitation of the juice factory would provide employment opportunities for the teeming youths and young graduates in the state.    

In his contribution, Mr. Taofeek Yakub, a stakeholder, who explained that the fruits factory was established for the socio-economic growth of the people and the state, pleaded with Governor Makinde to come to the rescue of the unemployed youths in Surulere local Government and other neighbouring councils.

Mr Yakub also reminded the present administration that the resuscitation of the fruit factory would go a long way in repositioning the economy of the state.

On the current state of the old fruit juice factory, a businesswoman, Mrs Alice Akinola expressed dismay and implored the government to bring the operation of the factory under public/private sector partnership for better investment returns.

A former federal lawmaker, Mr. Banji Folaranmi in a remark, observed that the factory was initially meant to add value to Oko township and neighbouring communities, regretting that its sustainability for the economic development of the state had remained a mirage.           

 Mr. Folaranmi appealed to the people of the state, especially residents of Oko, to exercise more patience and cooperate with the present administration to enjoy more dividends of democracy.

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Health

By Taiwo Akinola/Adetutu Adetule

Spicy & Trendy

Are you a lover of sugarcane? Then you have got yourself a good juice for a friend!.

If sugarcane is not on your menu, guess what, you are missing a lot.

Now, let’s get to know about sugarcane:

Sugarcane or Sugar cane (Saccharum) is a genus of 6 to 37 species (depending on taxonomic interpretation) of tall grasses (family Poaceae, tribe Andropogoneae), native to warm temperate to tropical regions of the Old World.

The genus is widespread across tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions in Africa, Eurasia, Australia, the Americas, and assorted oceanic islands.

There are three classifications of carbohydrates: sugars (these include monosaccharides and disaccharides), oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides. Saccharide originates from the Greek word for sugar, “sákkharon.” Mono-, di-, oligo- and poly- refer to the number of sugar units present in a carbohydrate

According to HealthifyMe Note, there’s nothing better than a chilled glass of sugarcane juice on a hot summer day. Sugarcane, a grass plant that can be found in 36 varieties, has no fats and is a 100 percent natural drink.

An 8-ounce serving, approximately 240 ml of sugarcane juice (with no additives) contains 98kcal. It has zero cholesterol and small amounts of fat, fiber, and protein. It also contains sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron.

Nutrition Value of Sugarcane Juice

One serving (28.35 grams) of sugarcane juice contains.

NutrientAmount
Calories98 
Protein0.3 grams
Fat0.5 grams
Carbohydrates22.8 grams

Here are Ten Health Benefits of Sugarcane Juice :

1.  Gives you a shot of instant energy:

There’s a reason sugarcane juice sells at most roadside kiosks in summer.

It’s the best way to energize yourself and ensure you don’t experience dehydration. The simple sugars in the juice are easily absorbed by the body and are used to replenish sugar levels.

2. Enhances liver function:

Sugarcane juice is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and helps support the health of vital organs such as the liver.

Studies find sugarcane juice is alkaline in nature, it helps in maintaining the electrolyte balance in the body.

3. Help the body fight cancer:

Studies have shown that the plant polyphenols in sugarcane juice have a high antioxidant and anti-cancer activity. It’s good to make sugarcane juice a regular part of your diet.

4. It eases the digestive system:

Sugarcane juice is exceptional for people suffering from digestive distress.

The potassium in sugarcane juice balances the pH levels in the stomach. Drinking sugarcane juice also keeps one hydrated and helps with regular bowel movements. It also helps prevent stomach infections.

5. Helpful for people with diabetes:

Though the high sugar content in sugarcane juice may make diabetics wary of consuming this juice, in moderation, sugarcane juice can benefit diabetics, the natural sugar has a low glycemic index that prevents frequent spikes in blood glucose levels.

Studies also reflect that sugarcane contains various polyphenols that help in better managing diabetic conditions and also offer antioxidants to the body.  

6. Maintains kidney health:

Being a natural zero-cholesterol, low-sodium food, with no saturated fats, sugarcane juice helps to keep the kidneys healthy.

7. It alleviates pain associated with UTIs:

If consumed in a diluted form, with lime juice and coconut water, sugarcane juice can help reduce body inflammation by increasing your fluid intake and help manage symptoms better, like urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and prostatitis.

8. Aids in the development of bones and teeth:

Back in the day, chewing on a sugarcane stick used to be a regular pastime for young children and adolescents.

Apart from keeping them occupied, the calcium-rich benefits of sugarcane juice also ensure the proper development of the skeletal system, bones, and teeth.

9. Keeps bad breath & tooth decay at bay:

Experiencing bad breath linked to tooth decay? Sugarcane juice can be your saving grace.

Sugarcane is rich in minerals, including calcium and phosphorus, and also helps build tooth enamel and strengthen teeth, ensuring they are prone to decay. It also overcomes bad breath caused due to the deficiency of these nutrients.

10. Can help cure acne:

The topical use of sugarcane juice has the ability to help reduce and cure skin problems such as acne. Since sugarcane juice contains alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic acid, it increases cell turnover.

The high sugar content of sugarcane juice may cause lots of people to avoid consuming this natural summer drink. However, there are many studies that show a lot of health benefits of sugarcane juice making it a healthy beverage even for diabetics when consumed in moderation.

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Health

Over one hundred people have been admitted to various government hospitals in the Kano metropolis and other Local Government areas of the state as a result of contracting an illness attributed to drinking expired juice.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa stated this during a chat with journalists, in Kano.
He said the strange illness which began five days ago lead to the death of two patients.

Dr Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa said the state government has taken prompt measures by taking the diagnostic samples of the patients for laboratory test to examine more deeply issues associated with the disease.

The Commissioner noted that the Kano state government has provided all the needed logistics for taking care of the affected patients free of charge.

He urged the general populace to observe all the necessary hygiene protocols aimed at curtailing the spread of the strange ailment.

Frcn, Abuja