The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Social Media Awards holds in Lagos Friday

    Social Media players across Africa will converge on Lagos between Friday and on Saturday for the annual Social Media Awards Africa initiative sponsored by Sterling Bank Plc.

    This between according to a statement, follows the closure of the voting window for the continent-wide initiative on social media development, #SMAA2015 across Africa last December. With a Summit scheduled for Friday, the Award presentation follows the next day.

    The event will bring together social media influencers; experts, enthusiasts and policy makers that would explore and forge new developmental paths for Africa. SMAA is a premier continental initiative, which seeks to recognise and reward creativity, excellence and impact in the usage of social media across Africa.

    The voting phase, which is part of the process led to the emergence of 45 Finalists for the four Categories. A total of 923 nominations were received. They are: Personality Based (468), Platform Specific (266), Institutional (115) and INDIGENOUS (74). Also, during the window period, over 5.5 Million Connections, at least 821,886 Retweets and 29 Million accounts were reached through all 22 social media platforms where the messages were promoted.

    Each winner will take home a cash prize of US$1,000 and a SMAA Plaque. Other benefits include: Social Media training, access to memberships and attendance of Social Media events, publications on Social Media and complimentary advertising on Social Media Africa portal.

  • Group demands apology from leaders

    Group demands apology from leaders

    Ahead of next month’s elections, a group, The Build A Nation Initiative, BAN, has demanded an apology from past and present leaders for what it described as their failure to provide effective leadership.

    BAN is an advocacy group and change agent comprising people who desire the birth of a new Nigeria of their dream. It also aims at promoting accountability in leadership, advancement of citizenship rights and creating awareness against corruption.

    Speaking during the group’s inaugural media parley at the City Hall in Lagos Island, last weekend, the Convener, Mr. Mr Emmanuel Ehiemma, said a nation without a visionary leadership was doomed.

    He said: “Most Nigerians are dissatisfied with the current state of the country. Nigerians are daily confronted with economic, social, political and security problems. The injury is mostly self-inflicted by a greedy and selfish leadership that is unable to mobilise the people to achieve their full potentialities and destinies. As a first step in the process of reconciliation, the people demand an unreserved apology from past and present leaders for their failure to provide effective leadership and stewardship to Nigeria. The apology will affirm the supremacy of the people over the leaders, restore confidence and trust of citizens in order to mobilise against the challenges ahead. This, I believe, is the essence of democracy.”

    Eizu Uwaoma, a strategist with the BAN, said: “In Nigeria, we need a solution because we all know the problem. We are concerned about the leadership rather than the election because our leaders are the same set of people. We need people who are affected by their everyday decision. People are upset and are trying to find solutions to the socio-economic problems plaguing the country, but their voices are not heard.”

    Jacob Somoye, a participant, said Nigerian leaders had yet to realise that ultimate power resides with the people.

    Another participant, Clement Nwankwo, said without a strong political activity, the system cannot work. “Leadership is a quality. True leadership is not being served, but it is in serving. If a leader is not committed, there can’t be satisfaction on the part of the citizens. We need to train one another and educate the people. We don’t know when our leaders are wrong because we don’t know our rights”, he said.

    The event featured a documentary, a lecture and an interactive session.

  • NIPR holds AGM

    NIPR holds AGM

    In line with its ongoing reform programmes, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, is set to engage its members in a number of activities in the coming weeks, beginning with a conference on February 4 and then the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on February 5, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

    According to a release by the Deputy Registrar, Mrs. DayoBuluro, the AGM will start at 9.00 a.m. with the theme: “Building a Sustainable Non- oil Economy for Nigeria: The stake of Public Relations.”

    Other programmes include: Re-certification of Members, February 1- May 31; Convocation, April 9; Window of Opportunity/ Master Class 2, April 13-17; Induction of New Members, April 17 and Unveiling of New NIPR Certificate, June 16.

  • Monarch counsels youths

    The Olu of Itori in Ogun State, Oba Fatai Akamo, has advised youths to shun politicians who will use them as hoodlums during the next elections.

    Oba Akamo observed the rate at which many youths die due to the task assigned to them during electoral processes. He lamented that it was high time youths stood on their feet to disregard such act.

    Speaking on the contributions of traditional rulers to promote good governance, he said: “We ensure our domains are peaceful and calm during elections because constitutionally we have no role to play in politics. So, Nigerians should vote freely without fear.”

  • Group hosts worship session

    A prayer group, Victorious Praying Women Ministry, will today start praise and worship session.

    The event will hold at Victory Place, 15, Nurudeen Olowopopo Road, Alausa, Ikeja in Lagos.

    The programme, themed: “Open the Flood Gates of Heaven”, will run till January 25.

    The seven-day worship will feature healing of “chronic ailment, outburst of blessings, promotion, breakthrough and solutions”.

  • Fire destroys 17 vehicles, three warehouses in Lagos

    Fire destroys 17 vehicles, three warehouses in Lagos

    The wind of fire blowing across Lagos yesterday hit three warehouses near the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons in Apapa. All the  tyres in the warehouses were destroyed.

    On Wednesday night, fire destroyed 17 vehicles and several lock-up shops at an auto mechanic workshop in Iwaya, Lagos Mainland.

    The Kirikiri incident brought to 23, the number of fires recorded in the state between Wednesday and yesterday.

    The fire, which razed a company known as Henry and Henry along the Obolor Crescent, was suspected to have been caused by excessive heat.

    The Nation gathered that the building, with three warehouses stocked with  tyres, had no ventilation. It was locked when the fire started about 3:30pm.

    Two trucks were deployed to the scene on the orders of the Director, state fire service Rasaq Fadipe.

     Fadipe said though 17 vehicles were razed in the Iwaya fire, his men saved many others.

    He lamented the spate of fires across the state, appealing to Lagosians to apply extra caution.

    At the time of  this report, efforts were on to contain the fire. Fadipe said no life was lost.

  • Agency gets 450 petitions on noise pollution monthly

    The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) receives an average of 450 petitions on noise pollution monthly, its General Manager, Mr Adebola Shabi, said yesterday.

    Shabi, said the petitions were usually given urgent attention to stem the menace.

    The noise level, he said, had started coming down because of the government’s sensitisation efforts.

    “Averagely in a day we receive about 15 petitions on noise and air pollutions from generators and religious houses. When the agency gets such petitions, it arranges meetings with those involved to first educate them on noise pollution. We also enlightened them on the need to reduce number of speakers on the premises of religious worship places. After the meeting, many of them do comply but the recalcitrant ones get sanction by having their premises shut. The agency also makes them to sign agreement to comply fully before their premises are reopened,’’ he said.

    Shabi explained that the agency also sanctioned some club houses, adding the agency has been trying to reduce noise pollution in a state of over 20 million people. Noise pollution, he said, is linked to population, urging Lagosians  to always report such distractions for quick action.

  • Council chief to residents: Let’s cooperate

    The new Executive Secretary of Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government in Lagos State, Mr Olurotimi Adeleye, has urged residents of the council area to team up with his administration for rapid development.

    Adeleye, who spoke at the inauguration of the four-man transition committee of the council, urged all party chieftains in the area to bury their differences and work together for the cause of the party.

    He enjoined all eligible voters to ensure that they collect their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC), which according to him, is the only instrument through which they can exercise their electoral franchise.

    Adeleye said: “My tenure in this local government may be short, but let us all team

    up to ensure its success. One of the ways to do that is to mobilize all residents to get their voter’s card so that we all can have a voting right in the election coming up next month.”

    He assured all of his determination to run an open-door administration adding that he is open to advice and criticisms geared towards promoting the good cause of the people of the council.

    The council chief congratulated the committee members for being found worthy of the onerous assignment ahead by the leaders of the party and charged them to guard their loins for the task ahead.

    The council’s immediate past chairman, Apostle Oloruntoba Oke, said: “The Executive Secretary lives in this council and he is a development-focused man. Several times in the past, he used to call my attention to areas where the people are going through development challenges. So, I have no doubt about his competence. I can equally vouch for those on his team. They are people who merited being chosen for the assignment on hand.”

    The committee members are: Mr Samuel Asa, Mr Lukman Adeleye, Mrs Bisi Adepetun and Wahab Kareem. were administered their oath of office by the council’s Legal Officer Mrs Olayinka Gbosanya administered their oath of office.

  • Wife seeks marriage dissolution over ‘battery’

    A housewife, Mrs Rashidat Moses, yesterday in Lagos asked a Yaba Customary Court to dissolve her 10-year-old marriage to her husband, Mr Shola Moses, over alleged constant battery.

    Rashidat (32), is also seeking the dissolution of the marriage over alleged threat to her life and lack of proper care for her and her three children.

    She told the court that her husband could not afford to rent an apartment for his family, adding that he also accused her of adultery.

    Rashidat claimed that Moses was always frustrating her at home by making uncomplimentary remarks and complaints about her.

    She also alleged that he once embarrassed her publicly, while she was hawking soft drinks, the proceeds of which she said were used to feed her children.

    The petitioner also alleged that she could not save from her daily earnings as they were living in his family house, where she had to feed all the family members.

    She also alleged that her husband would not care for the welfare of their children, saying she had been responsible for the payment of their school fees.

    Rashidat, therefore, prayed the court to dissolve the marriage as she was no longer comfortable with feeding her children alongside her husband’s family.

    The court’s president, Mr Rahim Daudu, adjourned the case till January 27 to allow the respondent time to appear in court.

  • Three prisoners graduate at NOUN

    The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) will award degrees and diplomas to 7,000 graduates, including three prisoners,  at its fourth convocation  tomorrow, its Vice- Chancellor (VC) Prof Vincent Tenebe said yesterday.

    At a media briefing in Lagos, he said two of the graduating prisoners were from Kirikiri Maximum Prisons in Lagos; the other is from Enugu Prisons.

    He explained that the institution,he said, extended education to the prisons because it was a critical tool in the reformation process.

    Tenebe said the prisoners were Nigerians, adding that it is proper to extend  education to them to enable them lead better lives.

    “We are happy that we are playing our role as an institution in the area of giving quality education to Nigerians, no matter the barriers. It is a way of empowering them and making them to realise that good things can really come out from them, and that they can contribute their quota to national development.

    “Before certifying them fit to hold our certificates, we found out that they are now found worthy not only in learning but also in character, and that given necessary support, they too can contribute to national development and growth,’’ he said.

    The VC said the institution would continue to urge the Federal Government to grant amnesty to prisoners, who had successfully completed their programmes.

    “The only thing we can do for now is to continue to appeal to the government to grant amnesty to this category of people, because we feel they must have realised the benefits of freedom. Be that as it may, with the education they have acquired so far, any time they regain their freedom, they will be able to contribute meaningfully to the development of Nigeria,’’ he said.

    The university, Tenebe said, would continue to work hard to ensure that  its programmes were sustained.

    He lauded the government for ensuring that the institution got the  support needed to operate efficiently.

    Tenebe appealed for increased funding of the institution, noting that its Law graduates were disallowed from attending the Law School because the school is run as part-time.

    He rated the school as one of the best in the country, saying its programmes were not run on part-time basis.

    Tenebe said the immediate past Inspector- General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, and Dr Stella Adadevoh, who died while tackling the Ebola Virus Disease, would be honoured at thye convocation.