All Posts in "Day: June 10, 2022"

Oyo, Mottainai Sensitize Hausa Community On Waste Disposal

The Oyo State Government in collaboration with Mottainai Recycling Africa has taken its sensitisation campaign on proper waste disposal to leaders of the Hausa community in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abiodun Oni, led the sensitization drive which began on Thursday

The exercise alerted the community on the essence of keeping a cleaner and healthier Oyo state.

Speaking at Sabo Community, Mokola, Ibadan, the team urged leaders of the Hausa community to ensure they follow the laid down protocols on how to contain the spread of diseases, which could be caused by a dirty environment.

The team also engaged the community leaders and members on the cons of disposing their wastes on the median, adding that it is important to henceforth properly dispose of their refuse in government approved trucks.

They appealed to the Hausa community to consider the dangers of living in a dirty environment, and its implication on their health.

They implored all residents and business owners in Sabo Community to bring out their wastes once the Mottainai Recycling’s truck is around by 8:00am on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

“The community engagement was very strong and positive. After the exercise, we listened and noted their feedback to give them a sense of ownership and to also ensure sustainability of the entire stakeholder process”, noted the Mottainai’s CEO, Ade Adewuyi.

Responding, the Seriki Hausawa of Ibadanland, Alhaji Dahiru Zungeru pledged the community’s readiness to adhere to Government’s directives on ways to dispose of their waste.

admin by — June 10, 2022 in Environment 0
Experts To Dissect Nigeria’s Financial Inclusion Initiative At Oriental News Nigeria Confab

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s financial sector would engage in a robust round table discussion on governments key policy which centers around inclusive financial system that will cover all strata of the society.

They would gather at the inaugural conference on ‘Financial Inclusion’ being hosted by STANMEG Communications, publishers of Oriental News Nigeria.

The Commissioner for Insurance, Sunday Thomas, who had earlier confirmed participation of the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, also endorsed the theme of the conference, an initiative he said is a major policy drive which NAICOM is passionate about.

NAICOM would be joining other key stakeholders from the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, the National Communications Commission, First Bank Plc, who will be part of discussants at the confab.

According to a release issued by the organizers, the conference is being organized given that over the past couple of years, the Federal Government and stakeholders in financial sector have had to deal with expanding financial services to large community of underserved population and dealing with resilience challenges brought about by the confluence of events that have taken place.

Financial services now going digital and dearth of knowledge and risen levels of data and associated costs of telecom services brings huge questions about the effectiveness of the initiative and interruption coverage when combined with the supply chain crunch.

Most underserved groups are demanding cost reductions and our challenging environment peculiarity is part of why the conference is holding to allow stakeholders take a collective view on how to create a suitable path To Advance the initiative.

STANMEG Communications using rigorous research tools observed huge gap in the financial services system with some members of other social strata excluded.
Since 2005, the Nigerian financial services sector has witnessed increasing activities by both the government and the regulatory authorities aimed at deliberately promoting policies that are intended to grow financial inclusion.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has been at the vanguard of encouraging and supporting products that are specifically targeted at the low income and financially excluded, while the government have focused more on both interventionist financing arrangements and building institutions and frameworks that promotes financial inclusion.

This financial exclusion has significant outcomes for the real sector as lack of access to credit can be a disincentive to entrepreneurship, investment, and economic growth.

The principle of financial inclusion has assumed greater level of importance in recent times due to its perceived importance as a driver of economic growth. Giving access to the hundreds of millions of men and women who are presently excluded from financial services would provide the possibilities for the creation of a large depository of savings, investable funds, investment and therefore global wealth generation.

The low-income earners constitute the largest proportion of the population and so control enormous chunk of the economy’s idle fund albeit held in small amounts in the hands of each of the several million members of this group. Harnessing and accumulating these resources provides a huge source of cheap long-term investable capital.

The statement said:”One of our findings is that all efforts are currently challenged on how to ensure that the poor rural dwellers are carried along considering the lack of financial sophistication among this segment of the Nigerian society due to the general low level of financial literacy.

“It is on this that we are organising the conference as advocacy measure by bringing experts, policy makers and other Key agencies of government in the vanguard of closing the seeming gap to proffer solution on challenges mitigating the initiative”

The conference will help to advance inclusive financial systems for the identified groups which include Community Based People, Artisans, Low Income Groups, Market Men and Women, Special Persons (Disability Group) that undertake various vocations as well as displaced persons.

The theme of the conference is :”Engaging With Critical Grassroots Groups To Develop Effective Financial Inclusion Initiative” with sub theme ‘Identifying Key Action Areas For Financial Inclusion Strategy’ and is scheduled to hold on June 16, 2022, at the Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja Lagos.

The conference chairman is Dr. Uju Ogubunka, Chairman, Bank Customers Association of Nigeria (BCAN), while the Guest Speaker is Mallam Garba Kurfi, managing director APT Securities and Funds Limited.

admin by — June 10, 2022 in News 0
Ecobank Nigeria Unveils “Adire Lagos Exhibition”

Ecobank Nigeria, an affiliate of the leading Pan-African banking Group, Ecobank Group,is extending promotion of culture and tradition to the Lagos community through Adire festival, themed ‘EPAC Adire Lagos Experience’.

The exhibition will be held at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC) in Lagos from Friday, June 10 till Sunday, June 12, 2022.

Originating from Abeokuta in Southwestern Nigeria, Adire textile is an indigenous indigo-dyed cloth made by using different wax resist methods to create dazzling designs.

Announcing the EPAC Adire Experience, Carol Oyedeji, Executive Director, Commercial Banking at Ecobank Nigeria said the exhibition is in line with the bank’s policy to deliver value beyond banking, adding that it is one of the several initiatives aimed at boosting tourism, culture and the creative industry using Adire as a key driver.

She stated that the exhibition will have different music genres of Yoruba origin; an infusion of local food; and mild atmospheric branding infusion of a wide variety of Adire into the setting to create a nostalgic mood. The festival will attract exhibitors, expatriates, influencers, dignitaries from all walks of life and members of the public.

“The EPAC Adire Lagos Experience is in line with our brand promise as a Pan-African Institution that delivers value to all its stakeholders. We will continue to curate experiences customized to peoples’ lifestyle whilst promoting the richness and diversity of our nation’s culture. The event will feature a series of masterclasses and exhibitions, as well as networking opportunities with entrepreneurs, shoppers and everyone who is interested in the making or trading of Adire. We promise a cozy ambience and utmost serenity to make participants feel comfortable and safe,” she stated.

She noted that the dates of the exhibition were carefully chosen to coincide with the weekend leading to Nigeria’s Democracy Day.

Some of the art and culture exponents expected to attend the fair include Ogun State First Lady, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, a major proponent for Adire in Southwest part of the country; Princess Ronke Ademiluyi, CEO, Adire Oodua Textile Hub & Founder Africa Fashion Week; Iya Oloja of Abeokuta, Adire Market; Joke Ladoja, CEO, Dye Lab; Mrs. Funmi Sosanya, Creative Director, Afume Global Concepts and Moyo Ogunseinde, CEO, Aga Culture & Upbeat, among others.

admin by — June 10, 2022 in Travel & Tourism 0
Ogun ABAT Movement Congratulates Tinubu,Urges More Support For Him

The Ogun State Chapter of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Movement of Nigeria and the Diaspora,ABAT, has congratulated the national leader of All Progressives Congress,APC,Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his emergence as the the party’s flag bearer in the 2023 presidential election.

The group conveyed the congratulatory message in a statement jointly signed by the Director -General of Ogun state chapter of ABAT,Otunba Femi Soluade,and chairman of the group,Cardinal James Omolaja Odunmbaku,made available to newsmen.

The group expressed that the huge support given to Asiwaju Tinubu during the primary election was a right choice and manifestation of his acceptance by the party and Nigerians in general.

It added:”We are very happy and proud of you that we made a right choice, when we resolved to vote and make you our principal and preffered candidate for the number one job, thus putting all our arsenal into use in the state to project you and canvass for people’s support for you, which was widely acknowledged throughout the nooks and crannies of the gateway state.

” Of a fact, we commend your doggedness, resilience and mastery of the political terrain of Lagos State, the South West and by extension, the entire Nigeria nation as obviously demonstrated in the APC presidential primaries, which further proclaim you as the “Generalissimo of the Nigeria’s politics”

It expressed optimism that Nigeria would witness unprecedented growth if Tinubu wins the presidential race next year.

It added:” We are confident that going by your glittering antecedents, unparalleled achievements and track records as a one time governor of Lagos State, which undoubtedly makes her the most viable in Nigeria and the 5th largest economy in Africa.
We have no iota of doubt that you will make the same to bear in the entire Nigeria, which all of us will be proud of in no distance future from the moment you assume office as the President of Nigeria and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic”

admin by — June 10, 2022 in Politics 0
Climate: World Bank Gives $385m To Africa

World Bank says it has provided 385 million dollars in International Development Association (IDA) financing, to Horn of Africa countries to tap groundwater potential and boost climate resilience.

The World Bank said in a statement issued on Wednesday night, that the Horn of Africa Ground Water for Resilience Project (HoAGWRP), a new multi-phased project, will boost the region’s capacity to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Boutheina Guermazi, World Bank Director for Regional Integration for Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and Northern Africa said “world Bank experience shows that gaining knowledge on aquifers is a long term project.

“Building trust around shared groundwater resources, and jointly developing groundwater management mechanisms among countries involve a long-term trajectory that needs to be approached gradually.’’

The bank said the project fostered cooperation with Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

It said the African countries would work together to tap into the region’s largely untapped groundwater resources to cope with and adapt to drought and other climate stressors impacting their vulnerable borderlands.

Djibouti and South Sudan had also expressed interest in joining the programme in subsequent phases, it said.

The World Bank said the first phase of the project was estimated to reach 3.3 million direct beneficiaries, of whom at least 50 per cent were women, through interventions designed to increase access to water supply and reduce vulnerability to climate change impacts.

The project will also contribute to improving food security in a region undergoing severe drought.

Daher Elmi Housssein, IGAD’s Director of Agriculture and Environment Division, said groundwater constituted a natural buffer against climate variability and change, as it was available in times of drought when other surface or subsurface resources were scarce.

“The potential is vast, and we are committed to building inclusive community-level use of this shared resource, along with better information, infrastructure, and institutions to ensure our groundwater is sustainably managed for generations to come,” Elmi said.

The lender said the project would establish the building blocks that would enable the medium and long-term agenda of improving transboundary water management in the Horn of Africa.

IGAD, a seven-member East African bloc that groups Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda, will play a central role as the main promoter and facilitator of the long-term regional strategy, including data and information sharing.

admin by — June 10, 2022 in Environment 0
Football Agents, Orphanages Now Engage In Human Trafficking -FG

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, has alerted Nigerians to new trends in human trafficking by owners of orphanages and football agents.

The agency’s Director, Public Enlightenment, Josiah Emerole, disclosed this while presenting a paper on “Emerging trends, routes and tricks in human trafficking,” yesterday, at an ongoing training for journalists in Asaba, Delta State capital.

According to him,orphanage trafficking involved recruiting children to attract donations from the rich, who visited the homes to celebrate their birthdays.

He added that  some orphanage operators sometimes approached vulnerable parents with the pretence to sponsor their children’s education, only to end up either giving the children out for child labour or selling them.

He also disclosed  that another new trend was football trafficking, where traffickers posed as football agents to exploit local footballers seeking to be enlisted into football clubs abroad.

He said: “Orphanage trafficking is one of the new trends in human trafficking. There was a case that involved somebody who took children in the name of trying to help.

“But when the parents were looking for the children, they could not be seen anymore. The number of children involved was over 140.So far, in that particular case, we have been able to rescue no fewer than 75 of them from different states, with some of them sold. The case is in court.”

admin by — June 10, 2022 in News 0
Varsity Teachers Reiterate Commitment To National Technological Aspirations

Six senior lecturers occupying academic chairs endowed in Nigerian universities by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), have reiterated their commitment to strategies that would enhance collaboration between the international oil company and the academia to meet Nigeria’s technological aspirations.

They spoke at a recent 2022 Joint Review with SPDC Joint Venture Professorial Chairs and Centres of Excellence in Port Harcourt, where they also discussed their work plans covering research, industry work experience for students in their care and schedules to meet the technological aspirations in selected gap areas.

One of the professors, Difference Ogagarue, who is the Director for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC)/Shell Joint Venture Centre of Excellence in Geosciences and Petroleum Engineering at the University of Benin said, “The collaboration is envisioned to be an industry-supported centre for the training of industry-ready graduates.”

He commended the achievements of the collaboration,adding that the centre in University of Benin had graduated seven sets with master’s degrees awarded to a total of 101 students.

He said:“Of the 101 graduates, 91 percent are gainfully employed; 44 precent are on tenured technical positions in major oil and gas companies in Nigeria; 23 percent are in the academia; some are already senior lecturers in universities; and 25 precent are either in government establishments or private practice. The aim is to position the centre in line with the global energy trend”.

SPDC’s Director and Head Corporate Relations, Nigeria, Mr. Igo Weli, said:“The collaboration with Nigerian universities, along with other academic programmes like the annual sabbatical and research internship programmes, continues to form key aspects of SPDC’s effort to contribute to the development of higher education in Nigeria.”

Weli, who was represented by SPDC Social Performance and Social Investment Manager, Mr. Emmanuel Anyim, said, “The collaboration is a mutually beneficial relationship in which Shell obtains specialised services from the professorial chairs and centres of excellence, while they, in turn, acquire industry experience and exposure to new technologies, train industry-ready graduates and improve the university curriculum.”

Sequel to a review of its decades-old support to education in Nigeria through scholarships and provision of industry experience to undergraduates, SPDC now sponsors two centres of excellence in Geosciences and Petroleum Engineering at the University of Benin – led by Ogagarue; and in Marine and Offshore Engineering at the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt – led by Dr. Charles Orji.

The four professorial chairs are in Environmental Management and Control, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (Professor Anene Moneke); in Petroleum Engineering, University of Port Harcourt (Professor Sunday Sunday Ikiensikimama); in Geophysics, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife (Professor Mary Olowokere) and in Mechanical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (Professor Danjuma Yawas).

Meanwhile, a two-time occupant of the SPDC-Aret Adams in Petroleum Engineering, University of Port Harcourt, Professor Adewale Dosunmu, has encouraged other organisations to emulate the strategies of Shell Companies in Nigeria in promoting academia-industry collaborations.

Speaking recently in Port Harcourt on a live radio discussion programme, Canvas: the Niger Delta Roundtable, on Radio Nigeria FM and Nigeria Info FM, Professor Dosunmu said, “Shell’s collaborations on professorial chairs and centres of excellence in Nigerian universities deliver high impact research agenda, multi-investigator programmes and multi-disciplinary laboratories.

They enable critical thinking in higher education, evidence-based criticism and debate for policy making and the development of capacity to train future generations of researchers.”

admin by — June 10, 2022 in Education 0
FG Mulls Curriculum Review To  Boost Employment

A new curriculum is being developed for the university system, which will focus more on skills and entrepreneurship concepts in the country, Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu has said

He  explained that  the development was  necessary in order to enhance the employability of Nigerian graduates.

At a one-day ‘Transforming Education Summit organized by the National Universities Commission (NUC) on Thursday in Abuja, the minister who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Sonny Echono, noted that the whole world is now focusing on skill based education because of the central role it plays.

He noted that the summit which is being held ahead of the global summit in September in New York by the United Nations Secretary provides opportunity to brainstorm on the many challenges facing Nigeria’s education sector such as poor funding, out-of-school children among others, as to find sustainable solution and transform the sector.

According to him, five thematic areas have ben identified for discussion “The issue of curriculum for example, it has become important that the education sector should be increasingly more relevant and the changing role of the teacher being a facilitator rather than absolute harbinger of knowledge.

“The type of curriculum that will now focus more on skills, entrepreneurship bevsue we want to enhance employability.  As we have been preaching, we don’t want to produce graduates that are looking for government employment,” he said.

The minister stated that the president has approved an institute in Abuja  that resembles the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) which will serve as a hub where all the top ideas of growing the country will be incubated and released for various sector of our economy. According to him, this institute will take off this year.

Speaking,  Isa Pantami, Minister of Communication and Digital Economy commended the NUC for developing a new curriculum for Nigerian Universities, saying it was apt due to the rate of unemployability of graduates in the country.

“We always complain about unemployment,  I agree that there is unemployment but the percentage is not as we think. The significant challenge we have in Nigeria is the problem of unemployability, this the major problem particularly when it comes to sciences , engineering,  technology”.

Chief Education, UNICEF,  Saadhna Panday-Soobrayan, in her remark said
Nigeria is off-track in achieving the sustaibable development goal 4, saying  the pandemic exacerbated the fragility of country’s education systems which was already struggling with poor access to quality learning and low resilience to shock.

“Additionally, frequent attacks on schools – including abduction of children, who should always be safe in school – has also resulted in prolonged school closures and is contributing to high rates of out of school children and low learning outcomes,” she said.

admin by — June 10, 2022 in Education 0
Ibom Air Flies  1.5m Passengers In Three Years

Ibom Air has recorded  over one and a half million passengers and flown about 22,000 flights in its three years of commercial operations in the country.

The company says it has come to be known for its brand promise of schedule reliability, on-time departures and excellent service.

The company disclosed this in a statement
signed by its Communications Manager, Mrs Aniekan Essienette.

The airline commenced its commercial operations on Friday the 7th of June 2019, exactly three years ago, with an inaugural flight from Uyo to Lagos,the statement noted.

“The story of Ibom Air began as an audacious, bold new idea, which has quickly grown to earn its place in the nation’s aviation landscape, winning notable awards along the way, including Airline of the Year two years in a row- 2020 and 2021 respectively, amongst many other awards from notable institution”.The release states

The company’s Chief Operating Officer, George Uriesi, said: “looking back over the last three years and how far we have come as a business, this milestone presents yet another opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to our esteemed passengers.

“And so, on behalf of the Board, Management and Staff of Ibom Air, I say a big thank you to all our valued customers and stakeholders, including our shareholder, the Government and people of Akwa Ibom State. Our immense thanks go to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, for taking the bold step, believing in and standing by this vision.”

“We are humbled by the overwhelming public acceptance and goodwill we have enjoyed from the Nigerian traveling public, which has motivated us to remain resolute and determined to keep pushing the envelope as we contribute our quota to the growth and stability of the aviation industry in Nigeria and Africa.”

“To commemorate the milestone, a lineup of activities have been planned to give back to customers and our community, including opportunities to win free airline tickets and an invitation to watch the private screening of the aviation-themed 2022 movie: Top Gun: Maverick”. he said

He  also reiterated the airline’s plan to commence regional routes later this year.

Ibom Air has a fleet of seven Aircrafts: five (5) Bombardier CRJ 900 and two (2) Airbus A220-300, covering seven (7) destinations.

admin by — June 10, 2022 in Aviation 0