The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Police retirees to Tinubu: sign Police Pension Bill

    Police retirees to Tinubu: sign Police Pension Bill

    • •Hold prayers

    Association of Retired Police Officers, Kaduna State chapter has called on President Bola Tinubu to accent to the Police Pension Bill passed by the Ninth National Assembly.

    The retirees made the call in Kaduna yesterday during an inter-faith prayer held for Nigeria and the President Bola Tinubu administration.

    The retired force personnel had written several times to the lawmakers demanding exemption from the police Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), a programme they claimed have impoverished them and their families.

    The Ninth Senate had proposed the payment of 75 per cent to retirees as lump sum on attaining the retirement age, to bring respite to distressed retirees.

    Vice Chairman of the retirees under CPS, CSP Mannir Lawal (rtd) said the hope of most of their colleagues was kindled upon hearing that the bill had been passed by the Senate and that they are waiting for the approval of Mr. President so they could get their entitlements and take proper care of themselves and their families.

    The chairman further said the contributory scheme has done more harm to them than good, adding that the association has recorded no fewer than 500 deaths since 2007 due to the hardship imposed on them by the agency.

    He said they had hope in the Tinubu administration, following some critical steps the government had taken so far.

    They urged the president not to listen to the pension operators or take advice from external forces, stressing that as a former  governor and lawmaker, he understands the plights of people on such condition and so they will continue to pray for him to succeed as the 16th president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  • ASUU grounds Ondo varsity over sack of lecturers

    ASUU grounds Ondo varsity over sack of lecturers

    • •SSANU, NASU, others reject sack

    Academic activities at the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa (OAUSTECH), Ondo State, were grounded yesterday over the sack of 35 lecturers.

    Members of the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) shut the institution’s entrance gate to protest the sack of the lecturers who were employed last year.

    They vowed to paralyse academic and non-academic activities till the management reinstated the sacked workers.

    It was gathered that some of the sacked lecturers were First Class graduates of the institution. They were offered appointment letters in March 2022, but resumed duties in October due to ASUU’s nationwide strike.

    Chairman of ASUU-OAUSTECH Dr. Rotimi Olorunsola said the institutionwill remain shut until their colleagues were recalled.

    Read Also: BBNaija’s Emmanuel bags Doctorate Degree in US Varsity

    He said: “We cannot guarantee industrial harmony unless they reverse the decision. We taught those that were sacked. They are our First Class graduates. If the Council is having issues with the management, they should resolve it. These appointments were made by the former Council. There is no point sending them away. There will be no examination and no lectures.”

    Spokesman for the institution Paul Adeagbo could not be reached for comments.

    Sister unions in the institutions also rejected the sack, saying the Council’s justification for the sack was not tenable and would not be accepted.

    A statement by Dayo Temola, chairman of the Joint Action Committee, comprising SSANU, NASU AND NAAT, called for the reversal of the mass sack. It also called on the government to set up a Visitation Panel in line with the University laws.

  • SSANIP to Fed Govt: end dichotomy between HND, B.Sc qualifications

    SSANIP to Fed Govt: end dichotomy between HND, B.Sc qualifications

    The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) has called on the President Bola Tinubu administration to address the issue of dichotomy and segregation between holders of Higher National Diploma (HND) and Bachelor of Science degree (B.Sc) qualifications.

    SSANIP National President Mr. Phillips Ogunsipe made the call during the association’s congress hosted by the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) branch in Lagos.

    According to him, the polytechnic sector at the national level has been battling with the issue of dichotomy, describing it as a discriminatory practice and great disservice to the country.

    He noted that the bill, which was passed at the last 9th National Assembly, abrogating dichotomy between HND and B.Sc holders, was not signed into law by the last administration.

    According to him, the basic entrance requirements of both the West African Examination Council (WAEC) of five credits and the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) are the same.

    “The quality of lectures we have in the polytechnic is not less nor inferior to what is obtained in the universities, hence the need for the bill to be signed into law.

    “And we know that the average Nigerian parents, irrespective of the programme or course, will prefer to have their children in the university due to the recognition the society accords to B.Sc in Nigeria.

    “Coming from these backgrounds and considering these procedures, we have not seen any need why the HND entry point will get lower and their terminal point will still be lower.

    “We are concerned about the bill because Nigeria, like other developing nations,  will only move, only  if polytechnic education is given the recognition it deserves,” he added.

    The SSANIP president also solicited for the renewal of the agreement signed in 2010 between the 10 staff unions comprising  of the NASU, university lecturers, senior staff in universities, Colleges of Education,  polytechnics and the government.

    He also identified the agreement, renewable every three years as a way forward to end of industrial actions.

     “We started the process since 2017 and till today, it is still not concluded, this is not good and healthy for us.

    Read Also: NSCDC HND holders decry disparity in career progression

    “The only way to bring a permanent solution and end to this persistent industrial action by polytechnics, universities and Colleges of Education is for government to honour the agreement and do what is expected of it at the right time,” he added.

    He then appealed to the Head of Service of the Federal, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan to assist the polytechnic system, by issuing a circular convening the release of the new scheme of service.

    According to him, findings have shown that there is no uniform, current and up-to-date scheme of service in all the polytechnics in the country.

    “The process has been concluded and it is currently with the Office of Head of Service.

    “Two weeks ago, we met with the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, just to ensure that the new scheme of service is released,” he said.

    On his part, the branch Chairman of YABATECH SSANIP, Mr. Kayode Jason, commended the National Chairman, Ogunsipe, for making out time to visit and update members on crucial issues in the union.

    “This is a laudable visit and we are sincerely honoured to have our national chairman in our midst and made out time to enlighten us on important areas which have remained a challenge,” Jason said.

  • State of education in Kwara

    State of education in Kwara

    The KwaraLEARN programe is one year old. Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin, reports on how the programme is monitoring attendance and performance of pupils and teachers in classrooms, offering improved support and feedback.

    Kwara State last year took bold steps to transform basic education through its pet project, Kwara Leading Education Achievement and Reform (KwaraLEARN).

    At the launch of the project last year, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said the “flagship education programme takes the baton from pre-existing transformation programmes in Lagos and Edo states, both of which are local solutions already delivering value. We have understudied and have now made it fit for our own system here in Kwara”.

    He said further “in addition to getting our state off national blacklist, investing at least N16.5 billion over the past three years in rebuilding basic schools (inclusive of the UBEC counterpart funds), as well as injecting new 4,700 competent teachers in our classrooms, this week, we are rolling out our flagship education transformative programme.

     “This is in realisation that getting education right from the foundation will support our achievements in infrastructural development, agriculture, technology and social services, and open up new vistas of opportunities that will promote common good.

    “This is a lifetime investment that empowers teachers and gives public school pupils the best shot at 21st century education with reverberating effects on learning outcomes and the future of the state. The KwaraLEARN programme affords our teachers the right digital tools to be at their best, while providing an electronic platform to make classrooms and schools transparent.The technology will monitor attendance and performance of pupils and teachers in all classrooms, offering continual support and feedback.”

    One year after, and listing the strides so far taken by KwaraLearn, the state Chairman of Universal Basic Education Board (KWSUBEB), Prof. Shehu Adaramaja, said the transformative digital educational programme among primary school pupils had helped to increase pupils’ enrolment in the past one year.

    Adaramaja, who spoke at the first yearly performance review of the programme, said KwaraLearn had also helped to track absentee teachers in primary schools since its beginning.

    He said the only clog in the wheel of the programme was the general insecurity in the country, adding that the malaise had affected the smooth running of KwaraLearn in three local government areas of Baruten, Asa and Ekiti.

    Owing to the issue, some primary  schools in these local government areas had been closed down. Enrolment of pupils in primary schools was 117,000 before the beginning of the programme. It has increased by 13 per cent.

    Improvement in primary education

    The programme, which was launched in April 2022, had made remarkable strides in improving primary education. It is currently implemented in 872 primary schools across 10 local government areas.

    The programme has trained over 6,500 teachers and enrolled more than 120,000 pupils. These numbers highlight the extensive reach and impact of KwaraLEARN in enhancing educational opportunities for Kwara State’s children.

    “Our supervisors have devoted over 25,000 hours to providing invaluable support to schools, assisting teachers and head-teachers in delivering quality instruction.

    “Additionally, we have distributed 1.2 million textbooks and other learning materials to ensure that every student has access to essential resources,” Adadamaja said.

    Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Human Capital, Kemi Adeosun, said the state government was resolute in expanding the education programme to the remaining six local government areas, adding that it envisioned the programme extending to the Junior Secondary School level in the near future.

    “This expansion will ensure a seamless and continuous educational journey for our students, preparing them for the challenges and opportunities ahead,” Adeosun added.

    Read Also: FG, World Bank applaud Kwara education reforms, investment

    On his part, KwaraLEARN Managing Director Isaiah Owolabi said over 7,000 teachers and head-teachers had been equipped with devices and empowered with necessary tools to enhance teaching practices.

    “The results from the 2022/2023 school year demonstrate the effectiveness of the KwaraLEARN programme. Pupils have shown significant improvements in fluency, with notable gains observed in both progressive and primary schools during the first term.

    “The programme has also led to a significant decrease in the percentage of non-readers, particularly among lower and upper Primary students in Progressive schools.

    “Moreover, there have been noticeable advancements in numeracy, with an increased percentage of pupils successfully solving foundational numeracy problems across multiple grade levels in both Progressive and Primary schools after two terms.

    “These outcomes underscore the positive impact of KwaraLEARN in enhancing reading and numeracy skills among primary school pupils,” Owolabi said.

    UBEC and education funding contribution

    Apart from KwaraLEARN, the governor, in his first tenure, invested heavily in education.

    He said the administration spent the major part of the tenure by heavily-funding basic education to launch Kwara back to national reckoning — seven years after the state was blacklisted for the looting of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funds in 2013 by the former administration.

    AbdulRazaq said the introduction of KwaraLEARN came after the administration had stabilised the system, adding that the programme would give the Kwara child access to 21st century digital education in a sustainable way.

    “The former administration misbehaved. They did not invest in education at all. It is indeed saddened to know that they did what they did. We all know what UBEC stands for. It was created by the Federal Government to assist states with funding of basic education system. In 2013, the state was given about a billion naira and they just stole the money. Since then the state was barred from accessing the funds,” he said.

    “The state was blacklisted until 2019 when UBEC started forcing them to pay back. When we came in 2019, there was an outstanding of N450 million to be paid. So, we quickly paid that.

    “The sad tale is that there had been no significant investment in education. The school infrastructure had collapsed. Teachers were not paid. Teachers were promoted but they did not back it up. We are just backing it now, some dating back to 2017.

    “Teachers were paid half salaries. Teachers were working as bricklayers to supplement their incomes because they didn’t get their salaries.”

    The impact of KwaraLEARN in enhancing reading and numeracy skills has validated the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Basic Education and Services’ commendation to the state for efficient use of basic education grants.

    Last year, the committee applauded the state government’s determination to improve standard of education.

    The commendation came barely one month after UBEC said Kwara stood out for excellent utilisation of the grants — a feat the body observed was a departure from its horrible experience with Kwara State in the past, when the grants were diverted, resulting in the blacklist of the state for at least seven years (2013-2019).

    The committee specifically applauded AbdulRazaq for quality service delivered in the management of the Universal Basic Education Commission matching grants, saying the state deserves a pat on the back for the quality of the schools and other facilities funded from the money so far accessed.

    “What we have seen so far in Kwara is of high quality and satisfactory. There is evidence of focus and commitment, and a clear interest in promoting basic education and empowering our children to survive in an increasingly complex technology-driven global system,” chairman of the committee Prof. Julius Ihonvbere told reporters in Ilorin.

    Flanked by other members of the ad-hoc committee, Ihonvbere was speaking as the committee wrapped up its two-day oversight visit to Kwara State, to inspect the completed and ongoing UBEC-SUBEB projects.

    “I think the best way to appreciate what is going on is to have the proper understanding of how it used to be, and we’ve seen a lot in Kwara,” Ihonvbere added.

    “It is not always that we find a leadership (like AbdulRazaq) that understands basic education and its value to national growth and development. If the basics – the foundation – are contaminated and corrupted, what it produces can never promote peace, stability, growth and development anywhere in the world, that is why basic education is very critical.”

    With the transformative digital educational achievements under KwaraLEARN and efficient utilisation of UBEC funds by the state government among primary school pupils, the state is aimed at achieving better increase  pupils’ enrolment, enhance teaching practices and better reading and numeracy skills among primary school pupils.

  • Abeokuta 10km Race: Top five foreigners to share $12,500

    Abeokuta 10km Race: Top five foreigners to share $12,500

    Foreign runners at the forthcoming Lotus Bank Abeokuta 10km Race will share a total prize money of Twelve Thousand and Five Hundred Dollars as organisers confirmed prizes will be shared among first to fifth finishers.

    According to the Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Nilayo Sports Management Company, Chief Bukola Olopade, the champion of the 3rd edition will go home with a cash prize of five thousand dollars while the second place winner go home with $3000.The third place athlete will get $2,000 while the fourth and fifth finishers will get $1,500 and $1,000 respectively.

    Expressing delight over the partnership of the race with Lotus Bank Ltd who are the title sponsor of the Abeokuta 10km Race, Olopade declared that the 2023 edition of the Abeokuta 10km Race would be special in many ways.

    He explained that the race which has been scheduled to hold in the city of Abeokuta on September 9 would be part of the week-long activities celebrating the 80th birthday anniversary of HRH Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo.
    He disclosed that the frontage of the Alake of Egbaland would be the finish point of the race.

    “There will be fanfare at the finish point of the race on September 9 after the race, with top Nigerian artistes performing to the delight of the runners and guests at the race,” Olapde disclosed.

    The Group Head, South West Marketing of Lotus Bank, Oluwafolajinmi Brodie-Mends, stated at the World press conference held at the Abeokuta Centenary Hall, Ake, Abeokuta, that, it is important to use the Abeokuta 10km Road Race to help the youth in the state develop themselves and to also use the race to further expand the tentacles of the bank.

    The Project Manager of the event, Mr. Seyi Johnson of Nilayo Sports Management , disclosed that 42 foreign runners have already indicated interest to participate in the event.

    He stressed that the September 9 race will flag off at 7am subject to weather situation.
    For the Nigerian runners, the first position will go home with a cash prize of N2m, second place N1million and third N500,000.The fourth position will go home with a cash prize of N300,000, the fifth place will go home with N200, 000.

    The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Aremu Gbadebo, during a courtesy visit to his Palace led by Chief Bukola Olopade, after the media briefing at the iconic Ake Centenary Hall , commended the organisers, Nilayo Sports Management Limited and the title sponsor, Lotus Bank for maintaining high standards in the state.

  • LASU’s best student: I planned to be overall best

    LASU’s best student: I planned to be overall best

    Aminat Imoitsemeh Yusuf scored a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 5.0 to become Lagos State University’s best-ever student in it’s 40-year history. She noted that she set out to achieve the feat despite challenges she encountered. DAMOLA KOLA-DARE reports.

    When Aminat Imoitsemeh Yusuf, daughter of The Nation award-winning journalist Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf, gained admission to study Law at Lagos State University (LASU), her mind was made up to leave a mark: to be the best-ever student. Interestingly, Aminat achieved that in a spectacular fashion, with a perfect Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 5.0.

    Her feat has not gone unnoticed. The school announced a cash prize of N500,000 for her, a Lagos monarch, the Oniba of Iba Kingdom, Oba Sulaimon Adeshina Raji gave her N2 million and promised her full sponsorship through Law School.

    In an interview with The Nation, Yusuf, who clocked 23 today, noted that there were financial challenges on the way to achieving the feat, but she was able to weather the storm.

    My background

    I am Aminat Imoitsemeh Yusuf, the Lagos State University (LASU) record breaker and first-time Law graduate with a perfect CGPA of 5.0. I am 23 today, June 22. So it’s my birthday today!

    I am from Edo State, Etsako East Local Government Area to be precise.

    My parents are Mr. Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf and Mrs. Halimat Danesi Yusuf.  I’m their first child.

    Challenges encountered

    My major obstacle during the undergrad days was basically financial. Legal studies come at a considerable cost. As the first child of my parents and considering our financial situation, I called home only when it was absolutely necessary, after having exhausted all alternatives. Thus, I had for the most part fed on very cheap meals, slept and studied in not so conducive environment. But I wasn’t alone in this. I had friends with similar challenges. So, honestly, these experiences were mostly fun.

    Determined to make

    a difference

    I was determined to make a difference from the get-go and I had the passion to study law. I find legal studies really interesting and engaging. I remained dedicated and consistent with my hard work all through, and I’m grateful to God that all these paid off eventually.

    My study  routine

    The Faculty Library was my most conducive place of studies, I mostly read all day at the library till it’s closed down at 5pm. With respect to time bound, honestly, I never really kept track of time while studying. But on the average, I could study for two consecutive days, save for the basic hygiene, my prayers, feeding and some few hours of sleep.  I enjoy relying on several authoritative textbooks.

    Why I chose Law

    The drive to always uphold justice and defend the truth in any given circumstances motivated my decision  to become a lawyer. This came so natural for me, so much that I was always advised by teachers, even at the primary education level, to study law. Looking back, I must say that this is one of my best decisions.

    Bookworm

    Yes, I enjoy reading a lot. I am a bookworm.

    I don’t have a boyfriend

    No, I did not. The thing is in Islam, dating is not approved. Relationships are only permissible when intended towards marriage. So on that account, I don’t have a boyfriend.

    I love technology

    Outside the  academia, I also have interest in technology.

    My involvement in social

    activities

    Yes I was. However, these were selected based on the theme of such activities.

    Rating LASU lecturers

    Truth is, Faculty of Law, LASU has some of the most brilliant minds in academics. Interestingly, my lecturers did their best, no doubt, in grooming me. They were always willing to satisfy my intellectually curious mind. Of course, some of them showed more interest in me through it all.

    So, generally speaking, on a ratio of 1-10, I would rate them above average.

     Driving force  behind performance

    As I said earlier, my main motivation has always been to excel in my studies no matter what. It is my own way of showing gratitude to my parents and mentors for the time and resources they invested in me.

    I  planned to graduate with a perfect CGPA

    Yes, I did intend to graduate with a perfect CGPA upon my admission into LASU, having come in through direct entry. Having graduated from Diploma in Law with CGPA of 4.98/5.0, I was motivated to thrive towards achieving a perfect CGPA at the undergrad level.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu congratulates Yusuf, 5.0 CGPA LASU best graduating student

    Gratitude to my parents

    I’m immensely grateful to them for their dedication and determination towards my education. I believe that the foundation is what matters and my parents did sacrifice so much to ensure that I had a strong educational  foundation. I look forward to fulfilling my promise of setting them in a more conducive environment, in their own mansion, with the cars they desire. That’s the least they deserve for all their sacrifices. Above all, I am a proud daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Yusuf.

    My dad’s influence on my

    academics

    My dad has more influence on my academics. He guided me and taught me all through my childhood. He was also very much involved in strictly scrutinising my performance during my secondary school days. I attended boarding house at Alhikmat College and every time I came home, he reviewed all my notes and even exam scripts very strictly. He was also actively involved with school activities and always communicated his distaste to the school authorities when he wasn’t satisfied with my performance.

    Assessment of Nigerian students and tertiary education in the country

    Nigerian students have got indomitable spirit really. But, of course, given the parlous state of affairs in the country, in order to excel, they have to do a lot more work compared to their counterparts elsewhere. Tertiary education, generally speaking, is not where it should be right now. I think the government hasn’t done enough to encourage the students and the lecturers most especially. I was amongst the few lucky ones who didn’t have to suffer any stay-at-home as a result of strikes by federal universities. A situation where lecturers go on strikes, and you have a government not bothered about it at all doesn’t speak well.

    Ranking LASU among other state universities

    I would rank Lagos State University as the best state university in Nigeria. In fact, in a 2021 ranking, the u   university was ranked by Times Higher Education as the best young university in Nigeria.

    How new administration can  reposition education

    First and foremost, I will like to give kudos to President Bola Tinubu for the Students Loan policy he just put in place. However, there is a lot that still needs to be done to address the ugly situation in terms of funding, enhanced reward system to mention just a few. With a few exceptions, most of our public schools from early childhood education, primary, secondary and tertiary educational institutions are not models of development. Most of the public schools lack proper amenities and learning aids. What do you make of a situation where someone who studied Computer Science can’t operate a computer? Or a Lab Scientist who can’t carry out any experiment as the case may be. So, essentially, funding is key, dedication on the part of all stakeholders is also paramount too. But the government has to take the lead by setting the framework to drive the required development.

    Next thing after graduation

    I have been offered graduate internship opportunities by top tier law firms.The short term goal, prior to Law School is to garner as much experience as possible to further augment my academic excellence, in a bid to guarantee sterling legal practice after graduating from Law School.

    I want  to go into academics

    Yes, I do intend to go into academics after my Ph.D, God willing. However, currently, in a bid to aid legal education, I have created a YouTube channel, titled LLA (Learning Law with Aminat). The goal is to make available valuable lessons in all compulsory law courses, as a supplementary tool to Law students across the federation. I hope this tool would be effectively leveraged on.

    Advice to students

    I believe so much in living a purpose-driven life. Intentionality is key. So, to students who aim for excellence, developing an interest in the field of study is paramount. That is what instigates inquisitiveness and gives you a sense of purpose. With indomitable hard work, dedication and prayers, academic success is guaranteed.

  • Cooperative federation seeks synergy on growth

    The Cooperative Federation of Nigeria has emphasised the need for more collaboration with  the federal government in the quest to enhance the country’s economy.

     The cooperative organisations said they were willing to partner the administration in its stride to drive sustainable growth.

      President of the federation, Ayeola Oriyomi, while briefing reporters yesterday in Abuja ahead of the International Cooperative Day, said cooperative  remains a veritable tool for driving sustainable programmes globally.

     Oriyomi appealed to the Federal Government to overhaul the co-operative societies Act to enable it operate with current realities in the sector.

     He noted that the event with the theme: “Cooperatives for Sustainable Development ‘, would highlight the contributions of cooperatives to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) around the world.

    Read Also: ‘Illiteracy, lack of regulatory synergy impeding financial inclusion’

     He however called on the government to pay adequate attention to the cooperative sector by using the existing platforms for the implementation of their socio-economic programmes for sustainable and better welfare of the Nigerian people.

    He said: “With over 20 million co-operative members across the country, we are willing to partner with the current administration in its stride to drive sustainable growth for our dear country particularly in the wake of the government’s plan to roll out palliatives to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.

     “In Nigeria, cooperatives are in practically all spheres of human endeavour and all nooks and crannies of our rural and urban areas. Cooperative operations cover agriculture, health, transportation, manufacturing, production, housing and the most widely known, provision of affordable credit facilities for members.”

     “Through their inclusive and participatory approach, cooperatives empower individuals, promote economic resilience, and contribute to the achievements of the SDGs. Together, we can forge stronger partnerships to address the world’s most pressing challenges and create a better world for generations to come.”

  • Insurance, Queens clinch NFF-TINGO Federation Cup 2023

    Insurance, Queens clinch NFF-TINGO Federation Cup 2023

    Imade Osarenkhoe’s strike from six yards on the dot of half time, after handball in the box by Rangers’ defender Chinemerem Ugwueze, handed Bendel Insurance this year’s NFF-TINGO Federation Cup title and a ticket to represent Nigeria in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup competition.

    The ‘Flying Antelopes’ threw in all they could muster in an interesting encounter at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba on Wednesday, but the ‘Benin Arsenal’ were determined to hew something out of a see-saw season in which they remained unbeaten in the Nigeria Premier Football League regular season only to end up empty-handed in the Playoff Championship.
    Insurance had come close in the 16th minute when Deputy Echeta hit the ball hard and goalkeeper Detan Ogundare spilled the shot, only for the rebound to be diverted.

    Read Also: Diri compensates late Bayelsa Queens supporters

    A minute into the restart, Rangers’ Shedrack Asiegbu let fly from the left side, but the effort went over the bar. In the 55th minute, Insurance goalkeeper Amos Obasogie spilled a shot from Rangers’ Godwin Obaje but there was no follow-up, and in the 70th minute, Osarenkhoe’s intelligent chip from a free-kick was tipped over the sticks by Ogundare.
    In the women’s final played earlier in the afternoon, Cup holders Bayelsa Queens retained the trophy with a 4-3 penalty shoot-out defeat of Rivers Angels after regulation time ended 0-0.

    Former junior international goalkeeper Onyinye Okeke saved from Angels’ substitute Sofia Agyaakwa before Zainab Olapade scored to give joy to the Bayelsa fans.

    Women’s champions Bayelsa Queens pocketed the sum of 10 million Naira (Ten Million Naira Only) while Rivers Angels were five million Naira (N5 Million Naira Only) richer.

    Men’s winners Bendel Insurance went home with the sum of 15 million naira (Fifteen Million Naira Only) while Rangers International got the sum of Seven Million and Five Hundred Thousand Naira Only.
    Rivers Angels’ forward Adaobi Okah won the top scorer award in the women’s category with her five goals, while Lobi Stars’ Joseph Atule and Kwara United’s Kamal Samad tied for the same award in the men’s category with four goals each.

  • Internet firm pushes for collaboration

    Internet firm pushes for collaboration

    The Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) has highlighted the benefits that come with collaboration among operators, peering in carrier and cloud-neutral data centres and the hosting of content locally in Nigeria, where it is believed does more downloads of content than uploads.

     Chief Executive Officer, IXPN, Mr. Muhammed Rudman highlighted these benefits to stakeholders at an exclusive peering workshop, which was organized by IXPN and Africa Data Centres (ADC) in collaboration with Workonline Communications.

    According to Rudman, there is a lack of collaboration between the various operators in the ecosystem, which has led to duplication of infrastructure and ultimately, high cost of services for the end-users.

    “There is a lot of fragmentation in the industry. Despite the Nigerian Communications Commission’s framework for infrastructure sharing, industry players do not collaborate that is why we have duplication of infrastructure which are supposed to be shared,” he told reporters on the sideline of the forum.

    He noted that if industry players collaborate, it will bring down operational costs and capital expenditure.

    Speaking on what peering in a carrier and cloud-neutral data centres will bring to the industry and the Nigerian economy in general, Rudman who is the immediate past president of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), said peering between Internet Exchange Point and a carrier/cloud-neutral data centres will enhance connections for citizens and organisations alike, and help the economy to thrive.

    Read Also: EFCC arrests 56 suspected internet fraudsters

    “Peering through internet exchanges addresses the challenges of traffic by ensuring the shortest possible route is used to reach a given destination. It keeps traffic as local as possible, which improves performance and enables faster connections between networks, facilitating high-speed data transfer, lower latency, increased bandwidth and improved fault tolerance,” he said.

    According to him, local hosting of content is a driver for economic growth, stressing that money paid to foreign hosting companies constitutes capital flight, puts more strain on Nigeria’s foreign earnings and slows the growth of local data centers and delays the development of new ones.

    He also explained that hosting locally provides additional revenue opportunities to local ISPs and data centers which in turn create more job and technical competencies.  “Local content hosted abroad has higher latency than if hosted locally – over 1000per cent. But hosting it locally in any of the data centres has a direct and indirect impact on the economy – Job Creation, Tax, a platform for other IT professionals,” he argued.

    The implications for businesses who hosted their content abroad are numerous; it affects business continuity, it comes with lower support level and poor update cycles because of conflicting working hours/ this is even as a study shows that a second-long delay causes a seven per cent drop in conversions, an 11% drop in page views and a 16per cent drop in customer satisfaction.

    Meanwhile, as a way of addressing some of the challenges in the ecosystem, IXPN, a non-for-profit and membership-based organisation, which provides a platform where networks interconnect directly within Nigeria, had organized a free Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) training for network engineers across Nigeria as part of her planned capacity building programme for its increasing members and commitment towards improving the internet ecosystem in the country.

    The training was held at the organisation’s corporate headquarter in Lagos, where Rudamn explained that Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is a gateway protocol that enables the internet to exchange routing information between autonomous systems (AS).

     “We want to empower empower members of the Internet eXchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) with the rudiments and workings of Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), which is important to us as a one-stop peering point for service and content providers,” Rudman said.

  • Ripples over Kefas’ 750 tractors supply deal with Czech Republic

    Ripples over Kefas’ 750 tractors supply deal with Czech Republic

    The latest agreement between the Taraba State government and Czech Republic for the supply of 750 tractors has left tongues wagging.

    In a statement dated June 20, 2023, the Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, said he had “taken a giant step towards kick-starting the revitalisation of the agricultural sector in the state by signing an agreement with the Czech Republic for the supply of 750 tractors to the state”.

    The statement, which was signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Yusuf Sanda, stated that the deal was reached with an “international company, Knight A. S from the Czech Republic”.

    “The governor said the agreement is for the supply of 750 new global multi-purpose mini tractors and 100 sets of Cabrio compact tractors, accessories, tools, and spare parts for small and medium scale farmers in Taraba state.

    “Dr Kefas reiterated the commitment of his administration to collaborate with foreign investors to modernise farming practices in the state so that local farmers can compete globally.

    “The agricultural machinery and accessories are to be delivered within the first 100 days of his administration,” the statement added.

    But while tongues have begun to wag on the way similar equipment were managed in the past, The Nation’s findings showed that a similar agreement was reached by the immediate past administration with the Czech Republic. There are also fears that tractors procured by the immediate past administration cannot be accounted for. 

    Investigation by The Nation showed that in 2018, as part of Democracy Day celebration, the Taraba State Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, launched 30 tractors.

    Ishaku, who addressed a large crowd of supporters, stated that the provision of 30 tractors was due to the fact that the Tractor Hiring Unit (THU) in the state had failed to produce results hence the need to ‘change strategies’.

    Read Also: State of emergency on education in Taraba: rhetoric or reality?

    Also, towards the 2019 cropping season, the Taraba State government had flagged off the distribution of 100 Nos mini-tractors for sale to farmers at subsidized rate across the State to boost agriculture.

    Then towards the 2021 cropping season, the then governor disclosed that the state had signed a MoU with the Czech Republic for the supply of mini tractors but that clearance had not yet been given by the federal government. 

    It cannot however be ascertained if the 2021 agreement had been implemented and what has become of the tractors that were purchased by the previous administration. But the latest pronouncement may have opened a fresh can of worms.

    A small team of reporters was at the Tractor Hiring Unit (THU) of the Ministry of Agriculture over the issue. But some officials of the Unit said they were not permitted to speak on the issues. They however directed the team to meet the mother Ministry in order to get clearance for the Unit to speak.

    When the team eventually met with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, he told the team that a report had been submitted to the Office of the Secretary of Government of the State and that the team must seek permission from the SGS or apply for any information on the matter.

    But the Secretary to the Government of the State, Barr. Gebon Timothy Kataps, told the team that the report on the matter had been submitted to his office and that he would need to study it before making any comment.