The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • 150 physically challenged get empowerment from Church in Anambra

    NO fewer than 150 physically challenged persons were empowered by one of the churches in Anambra State at the weekend as the beneficiaries cried for joy.

    It was during service at the Great Unchangeable Christ The King Church, Amenyi, Awka in Awka South local government area of Anambra State.

    In his sermon, entitled ‘Your hair will grow again’,  the founder of the Church, Prophet Onyedika Igali, told the congregation to be their brothers’ keepers by helping the poor and less privileged in the society.

    He said the decision of the church was not because it had money, but to follow the biblical injunction of rendering help to the helpless.

    Igali, said the church started the programme of feeding the down trodden since four years ago, which, according to him, had become an annual ritual.

    Read Also: Fed Govt to focus on youth empowerment

    Some of the items distributed to the beneficiaries including the widows, the blind, the crippled, the deaf and dumb, among others, included cartons of noodles, rice, cooked food, wrappers, among other things.

    Most of them could not hold back tears of joy as they received their items from the man of God.

    83-year-old Joseph Ilo and one of the blind men, Augustine Oku, who prayed for the progress of the church, told The Nation that they visit the church every September 1st for the gesture.

    Some of the widows, Oluchi Eze, 72-year-old Deborah Okoye, Ngozi Onwe, among others, said Igali had been a source of life to them in the past four years, adding that even before then, he had been good to the helpless.

  • Luciano celebrates anniversary of IYD

    Non Governmental Organisation, Luciano Global Development, in collaboration with the United Nations Information Centre in Lagos, recently celebrated the 2019 International Youth Day, IYD, themed: “Transforming Education” to mark the 20th anniversary of the day.

    The chaplain of the parish youths, Revd. Fr. Joachim Erahbor, SDV, welcomed the guest speakers and the youths to the event which took place inside the mini hall of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Igbogila, Ipaja Deanery of the Archdiocese of Lagos.

    Chairman of the parish youth wing, Mr. Paul Asuquo, in his opening speech, reminded the youths that they were gathered to hear what the future has in store for them.

    Read Also: Be self-confident, NGO advises students

    The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, represented by Mrs Oronsanye, in her address, thundered with the slogan “Build the Youth, Build the Nation”. She noted that the youths are the bedrock of societal development and should be given the opportunity to contribute to national development.

    In her keynote address to mark the day, Mrs Bolanle Olumekor from the Lagos Office of the United Nations Information Centre began with the partial message of the Secretary General of the United Nations. “We are facing a learning crisis. Too often, schools are not equipping young people with the skills they need to navigate the technological revolution. Students need not just to learn but to learn how to learn.”

  • South Africa: Youth stage peaceful protest in Kano

    Some youths in Kano on Saturday staged a peaceful protest against the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa.

    The youth, who marched from Zoo Road to Audu Bako Secretariat along the State Road, carried placards with various inscriptions condemning the action on Nigerians.

    They asked the South African government to bring an end to the attacks and vowed that they would not fold their arms while Nigerians were being attacked and killed.

    Spokesman for the protesters and Chairman of Joint Action Campaign Against Xenophobic Attack, Khalid Sanusi, urged the federal government to take urgent steps to check the ugly trend.

    Read Also: Xenophobia: Nigeria to commence evacuation Wednesday-NICASA

    Sanusi said the youths would continue to show their anger to such attacks and picket companies owned by South Africa in Nigeria, until measures were taken to end the attacks.

    He attributed the high rate of unemployment in South Africa as the major reason behind the xenophobic attacks, and advised the South African government to tackle the issue.

    “It must create job opportunities to the teeming number of unemployed youths in their country,” he said, stressing, however, that there was no justification for attacking others simply because of the failure of South African leaders.

    NAN reports that diplomatic relations between Nigeria and South Africa has gone sour as a result of series of xenophobic attack by South Africans on some Nigerian citizens.

  • Useni bags ‘Grand Merit’ award

    The gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Plateau State in the last general election, Gen Jeremiah Useni (retd), has received a grand merit award from The Shippers’ Association, Jos.

    The award was handed to him at the just concluded Annual General Meeting of the Association held in Jos.

    A statement prepared by the Publicity Secretary of TSA, Dr.  I.J. Nubuya, explained that the Merit Award was for Useni’s contributions to the development of The Shippers’ Association (TSA) Jos.

    “It is also in appreciation of his invaluable support and contributions as Grand Patron of TSA, Jos toward the sustainability of the association.”

    The Shippers’ Associations generally are voluntary and non-profit transportation cooperatives which arrange for the domestic or international shipment of members’ cargo.

    Read Also: Useni heads to court, rejects Lalong’s victory

    TSA Jos is affiliated to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, which regulates cargo transportation at Nigerian ports through the control of tariff, rates, charges and other economic services.

    Useni was a onetime Nigeria’s Minister of Transport, as well as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

    He was represented by Hon. James Stephen Pam.

    While reacting to the award, Useni, who thanked the association for honouring him, appealed for “honesty and improvement in haulage services from the nation’s ports to the hinterlands.”

    It is the expectation of the Shippers’ Association that the Grand Meritorious Award will spur General JT Useni as the Grand Patron to do more for the TSA, Jos.

  • ‘MALLPAi will continue to empower the less-privileged’

    Wife of Kebbi State governor, Hajia Aisha Atiku Bagudu, has said that the empowerment of the less-privileged in society and enrolment of children in schools will continue to be her priority in the state.

    Bagudu, who is the founder of  MALLPAi Foundation, stated this when she reached out to various Fulani groups at their RUGA settlement in the last couple of weeks.

    Bagudu, who flagged-off vaccination of animals against various animal diseases in the state, personally supervised the vaccination of cows in the Fulani settlement, stressing that one of the ways of improving the lives of the Fulani is by ensuring the good health of their animals.

    She also distributed mosquito nets, food items and other household materials to the people and presented tricycles, clutches and other visual aids to the disabled.

    Founded in 2009, the Mass Literacy for the Less Privileged and Almajiri Initiative (MALLPAi) was founded to render humanitarian services in almost all sectors of life such as health, education, agriculture and social life.

    In the area of health, the foundation has purchased drugs and hospital equipment worth millions of naira for maternity and health clinics in both rural and urban areas in the state.

    Read Also: Kebbi State students exco suspended over corruption

    MALLPAi also distributed free drugs to the Fulani settlements where about forty communities benefited.

    It has also helped in expanding many schools in almost all parts of the state. It assisted Tsamiya Schools with skills acquisition equipment, as well as helping to employ teachers to teach vocational skills. It has also extended the gesture to Islamiya Schools and public schools, providing them equipment on how to make cosmetics soap and chalk.

    In the area of agriculture, it has assisted youths in the state, particularly students in public schools and Almajiri with farm inputs, including hectares of land.

    The foundation has rehabilitated over forty (40) Fulani settlements in the state, constructing structures for clinics, schools, open wells and roads.

  • ‘Lack of fund increasing malnutrition in Niger’

    The ongoing fight against malnutrition in Niger State is currently being hampered by lack of funds to combat the scourge, the state Nutrition Officer, Hajiya Amina Isah, has disclosed.

    Speaking at a two-day health and nutrition budget meeting for officials of nutrition line MDAs from Kaduna, Nasarawa and Niger states, Isah lamented that cash backing has been a serious problem facing funds releases in the state.

    According to her, ministries, departments and agencies in Niger State always get funds approval on paper but there are usually no cash backing.

    “After getting budget approval, we write memos, get approval, but to get the cash is a very serious issue. This is the area I will really like to see improvement. That is why we are here in this meeting with people that matter, such as the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Accountant-General.

    “We are equally here with members of the Niger House of Assembly, Deputy Speaker, chairmen of House Committees on Finance, Health and Appropriation to garner their support,” Isah disclosed.

    Read Also: Polaris Bank takes financial inclusion to Niger State

    Isah further bemoaned the huge number of malnourished children in the state, disclosing that a reasonable number of children under five years in the state were acutely malnourished.

    “We are currently implementing Community Infant and Young Child Feeding programme in eight local government areas, as part of intervention to prevent malnutrition among children under five years.

    “We are equally implementing Community Management of Acute Malnutrition in one council to provide access to curative services and save affected children from dying of acute malnutrition.

    “We will be able to treat affected children and carry out effective preventive intervention only if needed funds are made available.”

    The Permanent Secretary of the state’s Ministry of Finance, Mr. Mohammed Sadauki, promised to ensure timely cash backing of approved funds for nutrition intervention.

    The meeting was organised by Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), Alive and Thrive (FHI 360) and Save the Children International (SCI) to push for improved nutrition funding.

  • Red Cross tackles emerging health challenges in 8 LGAs in Katsina

    The Nigerian Red Cross Society has revived its healthcare activities, particularly in the eight frontline local government areas affected by banditry attacks and other forms of insecurity.

    This followed the improved security situation in the state occasioned by the dialogue currently going on between Katsina State government and the bandits.

    Secretary of the Katsina State Branch of the NCRS, Bala Abdullahi Hussein, told newsmen at a workshop on a refresher training for selected health volunteers and field workers, that the programme was designed to equip the trainees and ensure that they go back to translate the knowledge they acquire to volunteers and other field workers on how to identify related health challenges and forward same for field reports.

    He further disclosed that the workshop is also expected to review Year 1 reports and the lessons learnt, as well as identify strengths, weaknesses and opportunities of the operations of NCRS and to prepare master trainers to conduct refresher training with changes on data collection tool and so on.

    He said, ”The Year 1 project under review will focuse on indemnified issues on such health challenges including measles, yellow fever, cholera, tetanus and so on.

    Read Also: Foundation donates food items to Red Cross orphanage

    ”The NCRS has been complementing the state governments, NGOs and development partners, by assisting in identifying and reporting emerging health issues, as the government cannot be 100% available to address all health issues.”

    He further expressed satisfaction with the performance of the volunteers deployed in the affected local government areas, such as Safana, Jibia, Batsari, Kankara and Dan Musa.

    ”They risked their lives in the face of growing insecurity to look out for these diseases and reported back to us,” he said.

    Also speaking at the workshop, a health expert and field coordinator with CDC-AFNET, Samuel Baddung, said the volunteers do not have medical training but were given training to identify and report observed health challenges in their areas.

  • Abiodun gives free land to 2,000 farmers 

    Governor Dapo Abiodun has flagged off the Ogun State Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme, signalling the commencement of an agricultural revolution in the state.

    Speaking at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, the state capital, venue of the launch, Abiodun said that his government plans to turn the state into an agricultural hub, capable of feeding itself and other states in the country.

    He said the Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme was another avenue to boost the nation’s self-sufficiency in food production, which is line with the federal government’s agenda on food security to save foreign exchange spent annually on importation of food items that could be produced locally.

    The governor also said that the scheme would help in creating employment opportunities for farmers, women and the youths in the state.

    Already, about 2000 beneficiaries have been selected and would be given certificates of acceptance and leasehold, according to the governor.

    Read Also: Leave Buhari, Tinubu, Osoba out of my cabinet list delay — Dapo Abiodun

    He expressed surprise that despite the success of the scheme in other states, Ogun State did not take full advantage of funds availability in the scheme to help farmers improve their production.

    According to the governor, the scheme was a tripartite agreement between the state as facilitator, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, as financier and the beneficiaries, even as he called on the recipients to be committed and responsible in their repayment plan.

    Abiodun assured that beneficiaries of the scheme would be given one hectare of land free.

    “We will also provide clearing, seedlings, fertilizers, extension services and we will pay upkeep allowances until the first harvest,” he added.

  • Ondo begins citizens engagement on 2020 budget

    Ondo State has again reiterated its commitment to harness her abundant human and natural resources with a view to transforming the state to one of the most developed states in the country through strategic implementation of projects and programmes.

    The state commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Pastor Emmanuel Igbasan, stated this during the second edition of the ministry’s consultative meeting with Persons with Disabilities (PWD), coalition of Civil Societies Organisations  (CSOs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) in the state on the preparation of the 2020-2022 Medium Term Expenditure Framework  (MTEF) and 2020 budget held at the Babafunke Ajasin Auditorium, Igbatoro Road Akure, the state capital.

    Igbasan explained that it was in continuation of the lofty idea of inclusive governance of the Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu-led administration in the state, which necessitated strategic consultative engagement process with relevant organisations for the preparation of the state budgets.

    The meeting with this group signifies the beginning of series of further discussions with various groups on the 2020-2022 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and year 2020 budget of the state.

    According to him, Ondo State budget now assumes bottom up approach where government executes what the people really need and not what government thinks they need.

  • Sujimoto wins NIA award

    Sujimoto Construction Company has won the 2019 Bold Initiative in Property Development award by the Nigerian Institute of Architects.

    This is coming barely 30 days after the company was awarded the Luxury Developer of the Year 2019 at the Nigerian Business Leadership Awards, a globally acknowledged award which is annually hosted by Business Day newspaper.

    Speaking during the award, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Sujimoto, Mr. Sijibomi Ogundele,  said the award was given for their ability to outpace peers and engage in world-class, high quality luxury real estate development.

    He said lessons he learnt in his childhood were instrumental to his success.

    According to him, “Five years ago, when we started, some said our dreams were too big, our ambitions too grand; but we refused to think small and act local, we chose to think big and act global. By embracing the spirit of possibility, we created our own destiny. We understand that there is no nobility in poverty and to win in today’s economy, one needs an uncommon balance of integrity, creativity and quality. Our sold-out project, the GiulianoBySujimoto, was erected on these tenets. We defied the norm in real estate industry and constructed super terraces with private elevators wrapped in Spanish travertine stones. With our current project, the LucreziaBySujimoto Development, we are suspending villas in the sky and will be the first to adopt the Glass Reinforced Concrete (GRC) for our facade.”

    To emerge as the winner, Sujimoto Construction was screened alongside other eminent and well-respected companies by a jury of recognised foreign and local researchers.