Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) Weekly Subject Experts’ Presentation was held at Hall B, TY Buratai Block, Abuja. There were two presentations made by the Subject Experts on East/Central Africa and Eastern Europe.
The first presentation was made by Brig Gen ED Idimah subject experts on East and Central Africa. His presentation centered on, Ministry of Health Orders Closure of Select Beauty Spas and Aesthetic Clinics. On Friday, 7 February 2025, the Ministry of Health (Kenya) directed the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) to close all unregistered aesthetic clinics and beauty spas operating illegally. This directive follows a comprehensive assessment of aesthetic clinics and beauty spas offering plastic surgery and invasive cosmetic procedures in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, and Eldoret counties. The assessment was conducted after the Ministry of Health launched an investigation into compliance with licensing and safety standards following the tragic death of a patient during a cosmetic surgery procedure.
In his analysis and lessons for Nigeria, Brig Gen ED Idimah noted that, in Nigeria, illegal beauty spas operate in informal settings, lacking the accreditation required by health authorities. Services often include skin whitening, unregulated cosmetic injections, and other high-risk procedures not overseen by qualified professionals (Akanbi et al., 2019). Many of these establishments exploit the lack of awareness among consumers regarding the qualifications of practitioners and the safety of the products used.
Several factors drive the operation of illegal beauty spas. First, the high demand for beauty treatments in Nigeria, often fueled by societal pressures and beauty standards, creates a lucrative market for unregulated services (Adetayo et al., 2022). Secondly, the relatively low cost of these services makes them attractive to a broad demographic, including individuals who may not afford legitimate clinics (Eze et al., 2021). Kenya’s approach to the closure of illegal beauty spas and aesthetic clinics offers valuable lessons for Nigeria in addressing the risks posed by unregulated cosmetic procedures. By improving regulatory frameworks, ensuring the enforcement of safety standards, and fostering public awareness. Nigeria can better protect its citizens from the dangers of illegal beauty clinics while promoting ethical practices in the beauty industry. A coordinated effort between government agencies, professional bodies, and the public will be crucial in regulating the sector and ensuring its growth in a responsible, safe, and sustainable manner.
He recommended that, the Federal Ministry Health and its relevant agencies should develop and enforce stricter regulations for the beauty and cosmetic industries, including mandatory licensing, certification, and regular inspections of clinics and spas.
The second presentation was made by Brig Gen AK Egwuagu (Rtd) subject experts on Eastern Europe. His presentation discussed, Commemoration Visits for Putin and XI Jinping. The Russian Presidential Spokesman, Dmitry Peskov on 10 February 2025, announced the arrangement made for the mutual visits of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin to Moscow and Beijing respectively, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the World War II (TASS, 10 Feb 2025). The celebration to mark the anniversary of the victory of the Great Patriotic War will be held in Moscow on May 9, 2025, while Beijing will host a celebration in September 2025 to honour the anniversary of the end of World War II.
Russia’s ambassador to China, Igor Morgulov said earlier, that Xi Jinping had accepted an invitation to take part in the celebration in Moscow on May 9, 2025 marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Pacific War, and in turn invited Russian leader Vladimir Putin to China for the celebration due in early September 2025 (Reuters, February 10, 2025). The Kremlin uses Victory Day celebrations for propaganda purposes, showcasing its military might and drawing on the Soviet victory in World War II to justify its aggression against Ukraine (The Kyiv Independent, February 10, 2025).
In his analysis and lessons for Nigeria, Brig Gen AK Egwuagu (Rtd) noted that, Nigeria could learn from Russia and China by expanding the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration (AFRDC) program and inviting leaders from neighbouring countries and others with cordial relationship including Liberia and Sierra-Leone. This will help to a large extent, in fostering a sense of unity, solidarity, promote shared understanding of history, reaffirm commitment to peace, diplomacy and international cooperation to prevent conflicts, provide opportunity for cultural exchange, education and mutual understanding. It may also help to generate national pride, address religious and ethnic differences, discourage secessionist movements and insurgency, while playing a crucial role in promoting patriotism, unity and national security in Nigeria.
Currently, the AFRDC is celebrated annually on 15 January in honour of veterans of World Wars I and II, the Nigerian Civil War and commemoration of all servicemen of the Nigerian Armed Forces (Wikipedia). There is however, the need to include Nigeria’s fallen heroes from international peacekeeping operations in Africa and the fight against insurgency and insecurity in the country. The holiday was originally celebrated on November 11th as Poppy Day in which people wore poppies to honour the end of World War I, when Nigeria was still a British colony, but was later aligned with the remembrance day for World War II veterans in the British Commonwealth of Nations (Meta AI).
The AFRDC is celebrated with parades, wreath-laying ceremonies and other events to honour the Nigerian Armed Forces and veterans who have served the country (Wikipedia), without the presence of foreign nationals. Military parades are held, including guard of honour from the NA, NN and NAF, with wreath-laying by the President at the National Cenotaph in Abuja’s Eagle Square and special ceremonies at the 36 federal cenotaphs nationwide.
The event is usually planned by the MOD but organized by the veteran’s association of the Nigerian Legion to honour military heroes who died in the line of duty, retired and serving military personnel, in celebration to their patriotism and sacrifices to the armed forces. The Nigerian Legion Act established the veteran’s organization for former members of the Nigerian Armed Forces in Sept 1988, which has remained a lame duck due to inadequate funding and is currently threatened by a bill in the NASS to replace it with Veterans Federation of Nigeria (VFN), while the Nigerian Legion is to cater for members of paramilitary establishments. The MOD and CDS need to rescind this idea and to review the role of the Nigerian Legion with a view to reorganising and upgrading it to a ministry status, to enable it to be properly funded to carry out its duties effectively.
He recommended that, the FGN and MOD should invite leaders of neighbouring countries and other friendly nations including Liberia and Sierra-Leone for subsequent AFRDCs.
