Author: The Nation

The Nigerian Copyrights Commission (NCC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Publishers’ Association (NPA) and Booksellers’ Association of Nigeria to curb piracy.

The MoU was signed by the Director General of NCC, Dr. John Asein; President of NPA, Dr. Cyril Anioke; and President of Booksellers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Dare Oluwatuyi, yesterday in Lagos.

Addressing the gathering, Asein said the MoU would help to strengthen the relationship between the commission and the associations.

He noted that the MoU would regulate the activities of the associations, foster collaborations among stakeholders and collectively fight piracy.

“The commission will also use this alliance to fight piracy of intellectual works.

“There is no hidden place for piracy any longer in the industry, the commission will ensure it gets rid of piracy in the society.

“The commission will continue to do its best to sanitise the industry and make it a profitable sector for relevant stakeholders,” he said.

Asein said the parties had agreed to work together to fight piracy in Lagos State and across the country.

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The NCC boss said the parties would work closely with other relevant stakeholders in providing relevant information about their books and the distribution of those books in an acceptable manner.

He said the NCC would not entertain factionalisation in the industry.

“All stakeholders must operate under one umbrella in order to collectively fight piracy and to weed out saboteurs in the industry,” he said.

Also, Anioke said the MoU would help to mitigate the activities of piracy across the country.

“We are investing our intellectual properties into the sector. We need to reap from our investment.

“The policy of the government should caption, protect and secure the interest of the publishers for the progress of the book industry, which the NCC is doing greatly in that aspect,” he said.

Anioke urged investors and relevant stakeholders in the creative industry to play by the rules.

“Do the right thing, play by the rules of the association and invest reasonably in order to reap significantly from your investment,” he said.

Also, Oluwatuyi said the MoU would help to sanitise the industry.

He applauded government for the development achieved in the industry.

Oluwatuyi noted that the present NCC had changed the narrative, compared with what was obtainable in the past.

According to him, the present administration is doing so much in the fight against piracy.

“NCC has been proactive in addressing stakeholders’ challenges in the industry.

“They have been assertive in enforcing the law and very active and effective in their operations,” he added.

The Group Managing Director of Havilah Group, Mr. Lanre Adesuyi, lauded the efforts of the NCC in the fight against piracy, advocacy and campaign across the country.

“I believe the books industry has a future now, where the relevant stakeholders can now enjoy the dividends of their hard work.

“With this giant feat of NCC in sanitising the industry, authors will be motivated to write more, dish out knowledge for public consumption and publishers and book sellers will have work to do.

“I am happy that government is taking the book industry seriously now. With that, the society will be more informed with necessary knowledge when authors are producing more books,” he said.

Functionaries for the 2023 National Population and Housing Census in Lagos State have taken their oath of office. These set of people have passed through the three stages of training and would in turn train others in the local government areas.

The three stages are Self-Learning, where participants were allowed to download all instructional materials and read for early assimilation; Virtual Class Simulation and Teaching, where participants were distributed into virtual classes with lecturers who monitor and control studies; and Contact Level Training where participants are invited into classrooms.

The oath taking ceremony held yesterday at the Gbaja Boys Senior High School, Surulere.

Federal Commissioner representing Lagos, Abimbola Salehu-Hundeyin, described the oath as a ‘confidentiality clause’ which ensures that ad hoc workers do not disclose people’s information carelessly. According to her, there will be about 50,000 ad hoc workers to cater for Lagos alone, and she was certain of a good outcome.

She added: “These people have been exposed to a lot of information during their training and they should not disclose it anyhow, this is why the confidentiality clause has to come in. They must keep everything they see here to themselves, unless they are permitted to say it out. It will also give the public confidence that whatever they tell us is safe. These set of people are the trainees who will train other people before the main census. They will also work with the local government and step down the training they have received here.

“We however appeal to Lagos residents to please cooperate with us so that we can get it right. Lagos has the population, so all we need is to ensure accurate data. If the people cooperate with us and remain in Lagos where they all live normally, instead of travelling, I am sure Lagos will have its rightful data captured.”

Southwest zonal training coordinator (state level) Samson Olanipekun hailed the exercise, saying ‘it shows people are committed and prepared to put forth their best for the census 2023’. “I’ve gone around all the classes and centers in the Southwest, and I see that people understand our concept and are ready to apply them at the next level of training. “This particular training is a grooming for those who will facilitate at local government level for our functionaries. They will be training enumerators and supervisors for the work proper. Lagos is excellence, and leading in terms of getting the right people to teach this level of training for a well-organised census in Lagos State,” he added.

The 2023 Population and Housing Census will hold from March 29 to April 2.

Ado-Ekiti High Court has restrained Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, from taking action on its five suspended federal legislature  candidates in Ekiti State.

Justice E. B. Omotosho granted the order while ruling on an exparte motion filed by the five suspended PDP National Assembly candidates.

It ordered the party to “maintain status quo”, pending hearing of the substantive suit.

Justice Omotosho said copies of the motion on notice be served on the defendants.

“Upon the service of the aforesaid processes on the defendants, the parties, in this case, are ordered to maintain status quo pending hearing of the motion on notice,” the order said.

The national leadership on January 20 suspended five National Assembly candidates in Ekiti State for alleged misconduct and anti-party activities.

They are Lateef Oladimeji, Ekiti Central; Emiola Adenike Jennifer, Ekiti South II; Olayinka James Olalere, Ekiti Central; Akerele Oluyinka, Ekiti North I and Fayose Oluwajomiloju John, Ekiti Central I.

The candidates on January 27 filed a motion against PDP, Ayu and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Prior to their suspension, their names had been submitted to INEC as candidates.

The applicants had prayed the court for an order restraining PDP and Ayu from substituting their names.

The applicants in their application had sought “an order of interim injunction of this honourable court, restraining the 1st and 2nd defendants from substituting or changing the name of the claimants, whose name have already been submitted to the 3rd defendant as the defendant’s candidates for the National and State Assembly elections, when the claimants have not withdrawn their candidature having regard to Section 3 of the Electoral Act 2022, as well as the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP as amended 2017 and its guidelines pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction before the honourable court.”

NATIONAL Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has declared an  emergency on bleaching after it said Nigeria tops cases of bleaching.

Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the problem was a national emergency.

She spoke at a workshop on Dangers of Bleaching Creams and Regulatory Control, organised by Association of Nigerian Health Journalists in Kano.

Adeyeye said 77 per cent of those engaged in bleaching were women, warning this could be fatal.

“World Health Organisation study in 2018 showed that use of bleaching cream is prevalent among 77 per cent of women, the highest in Africa compared to 59 per cent in Togo, 35 per cent in South Africa and 27  in Senegal.

“These scary statistics show the menace of bleaching creams has become a national health emergency that requires a multifaceted regulatory approach,” she said.

She said in response to these statistics, Federal Government, through Office of Secretary to the Government, Boss Mustapha, wrote to NAFDAC seeking measures against the menace.

“This workshop is a training of trainers programme with the expectation that participants will assume roles of champions in the vanguard of the campaign against use of bleaching creams.

“I assure you NAFDAC will engage the media  to take to the grassroots the positive impact of our regulatory activities,” she said.

Former National President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Ahmad Yakasai, warned that bleaching among women and men, if not arrested, would create serious health cases.

LAGOS State has unveiled unified schemes of work, mobile learning devices, Boducate and E-books for teaching and learning in secondary schools..

The unveiling was held at NECA House in Alausa,  Ikeja.

Describing it as ground-breaking, to revolutionise teaching and learning, Governor  Babajide Sanwo-Olu said it will promote deep learning and reflect 21st century skills and international best practices.

The governor, represented by Secretary to State Government, Mrs Folashade Jaji, said “the schemes are rich reference materials and in alignment with the curriculum of Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council.”

Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Education, Mr. Aboyomi Abolaji, said the schemes were reviewed to make learning more engaging and pupil centred to fit into the technology world.

Director of Curriculum Services Department, Mrs. Esther Adegbamigbe, lauded the schemes, saying ‘’we have four intervention; hardcopy, students’ smart phones, teachers smart phones and E-version.

“Unlike the old schemes, the revised ones have many innovations,” she said.

Headteacher of Eva Adelaja Girls Senior Secondary School, Mrs. Soyoye  Oluyinka, while responding to a question, urged teachers to engage more in capacity learning.

By Fasasi Meimunat and Rhoda Olatunbosun

OLD Students of Egbado College from Ilaro, Ogun State (1995-set), has held a reunion.

The even was held at Alimosho in Lagos.

Its President, Prince Babatunde Olugbewesa, represented by General Secretary, Niyi Idasaolu, described the college as one of the best in Africa today”.

Idasaolu said the association has embarked on projects in the college.

He described members  as “wonderful” people who always ready to develop the school.

A member of the set and President of Computer and Allied Products Dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN), Mr. Ahmed Ojikutu, said: “This is a meeting of old friends, old colleagues, , the old times and ability to give back to our alma mater.

“There are lots of activities but we can see that everybody is around putting in their best to make sure there is cooperation and to make sure that is collective interaction, there is collegiate interest-driven project and there is friendship rebuilt.”

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SFG), Boss Mustapha, has said the Hajj Institute of Nigeria (HIN) is relevant to President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision.

Speaking at the matriculation of pioneer students of the institute, Mustapha pledged government’s commitment to the institute.

He said the institute, established by National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), would inject professionalism into the Hajj and Umrah sector.

“This is a critical step toward ensuring our Hajj operations are at par with international best practices, and our pilgrims receive the highest quality of services during their journey,” Mustapha, represented by Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed, said.

Federal Capital Territory Minister, Muhammad Bello, the pioneer chairman of NAHCON, said Hajj could never be done without knowledge.

Bello said key players in the industry must be trained and educated to work effectively.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, said the objective of establishing the institute was to professionalise Hajj activities.

Hassan said: “Over a decade ago, there was concern among Muslims that Hajj has become an all-comer affair where anyone ventures into.

‘’Therefore, the leadership of NAHCON initiated a process at professionalising the industry…”

Executive Secretary of National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, said the the institute was timely and would improve Hajj operations.

Bugaje said that the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, granted the Hajj Institute of Nigeria approval, on March 9.

He said NBTE would partner the institute to develop curricula relevant to Hajj as well as National Occupational Standards for skill training on Hajj management.

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has partnered Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) to end multidimensional poverty among children, regarding  deprivations in accessing quality healthcare, education, nutrition, others.

The partnership, leading to signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between them, will ensure that dimensions of child rights, including nutrition, healthcare, education, water, sanitation, housing, and information, are prioritised.

Speaking at the signing in Abuja, UNICEF’s Country Representative, Ms. Cristian Munduate, saying multidimensional poverty in children is more prevalent in the rural (65.7  per cent) than urban areas (28.4  per cent), noted that if nothing is done, poverty will persist from generations, creating intergenerational cycle of poverty.

She said: “Parents, families, communities must take care of children and the state must provide the environment for them to thrive. We must place children at the centre of social, political and economic agend.

“Five of every 10 children still face multidimensional poverty – lack of water, education, nutrition, others. As long as they are missing any of these, they are poor.

“We need to break the tide of multidimensional poverty, work for children’s rights, and give them opportunity to live, grow, learn, and play. We cannot keep saying there are still about 10 million children out of school. This is a cycle that can grow. We need to break the cycle.”

Chairman of NESG, Mr. Niyi Yusuf, said his organisation will mobilise the private sector, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and engage government – judiciary, legislative and executive arms to ensure that no child is left behind.

He said: “NESG is a connector, intervener, watch dog and dialogue partner. By 2050, we would like to see a break in the cycle…

“We want to ensure that this country can achieve its potential. As the government invests in roads, rail lines, and others, it also needs to invest in children. Once we make it a priority, we can mobilise resources for it.”

Dubai-based Nigerian academia, Dr. Layo Adeniyi, has lamented that some Yoruba politicians, who win election with the name of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, have deviated from his ideology.

He said they use Awolowo’s name to market themselves, adding they do not exhibit his policies.

Speaking in Ibadan yesterday during his book launch: Awoism, Exemplary Integrity and Welfarism, Adeniyi said the politicians used Awolowo’s name, but deviated from what he did in Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

“The governors increased the fees of universities established by Awolowo, meant to give free education to Yoruba children.

“Some state universities charge over N300,000. The governors, who increased fees, were those who benefited from Awolowo’s free education policy,” he  said.

Speaking for Awolowo family, Dr. Tokunbo Dosunmu said her father’s 78 years on earth touched lives and impacted Nigerians,  urging Nigerians to vote right in the election.