The Nation Newspaper

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  • Fed Govt inaugurates community service scheme

    •Says it ‘ll employ 320,000 unskilled, physically- challenged people

     

    The Federal Government has reassured that it was committed to delivering the dividends of the partial subsidy removal to Nigerians.

    Vice-President Namadi Sambo said this at the inauguration of a community service programme under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), which is designed to employ 320,000 unskilled youths, women and the physical-challenged annually.

    He said government has challenged members of the community service programme to take steps to meet the target set for 2012 deliverables for women and youth employment, as defined for the project.

    Sambo said the Goodluck Jonathan administration has evolved innovation to tackle employment.

    While noting that there is a global youth unemployment, he said the administration is not comfortable with a high number of unemployed youths, which he attributed to the failures of the past efforts to tackle the problem.

    He said: “Like every other nation, Nigeria, for decades, has been faced with a high unemployment rate among our youths. Since independence, several strategies and institutional mechanisms have been put in place to address unemployment and the attendant poverty among our youths. These efforts to solve unemployment and create wealth have not yielded the desired results given that we still face high rate of youth unemployment.

    “While unemployment, especially among the youth, is currently a global phenomenon, with about 50 per cent youth unemployment rate in several countries, it is not acceptable to this administration that a high percentage of our youths remain unemployed and underemployed. This is why our administration has evolved innovative methods of tackling unemployment.”

    Vice-President Sambo said the present effort under the SURE-P is to build partnership between the tiers of government on the one hand and across sectors on the other.

    He added: “It is imperative for us as a nation to appreciate that no one tier of government can address unemployment, hence the need to build stronger partnerships in this regard.

    “This administration remains committed to delivering the dividends of the partial oil subsidy removal to Nigerians. I urge you to take steps to meet the target set for 2012 deliverables for women and youth employment as defined for this project.”

    The Vice-President said: “Each sector in our national economy has a role to play in contributing to job creation. It is in this regard that an Inter-Ministerial Committee has been set up at the federal level to guide the implementation of the community services, women and youth employment component, and to strengthen linkages between sectors and among the relevant ministries, departments and agencies at the federal level.”

    He said: “State Implementation Committees (SICs) have been established in each state and the Federal Capital Territory, not only to guide the implementation at the state level, but to serve as a platform for strengthening partnerships with states and local governments on employment creation. In order to achieve this, SICs will have community participants, civil society organisations and federal MDAs as may be required from time to time.”

    Explaining further, he said the administration’s present efforts “is matching words with action.”

    Sambo explained that a major lesson emerging from the pilot scheme is the need to establish state-level structures to facilitate delivery while also ensuring that the guidelines are followed.

    “Consequently, having an institutional platform has become imperative, hence the constitution of these committees. We are here today for the inauguration of the SICs to be tasked with oversight and management of the programme across the country,” he added.

    He urged members of the SICs to help deliver on community expectations of the SURE-P programme.

    While noting that members of the committee were carefully selected to ensure that they were people of high integrity, Sambo tasked them to “live up to the expectations of government and justify the confidence reposed in them. I need not remind members that they have to be above board at all times. We are the examples Nigerians look up to and we cannot but reflect those expectations. Let me also stress that government will not tolerate any act of wrongdoing or corruption.”

     

  • Orientation for FEC members

    President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to organise a value orientation programme for the Federal Executive Council (FEC) as a component part of his Transformation Agenda.

    NOA’s Director-General Mike Omeri said this at the start of the second phase of the Agency’s Patriotism and Ethics First Training programme organised for journalists, security officers and public servants.

    Minister of Water Resources Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, who performed the formal kick-off, said although the media is a strategic part of the Transformation Agenda, it has done little to foster unity in a nation of diverse groups.

    This, she said, necessitated the reorientation programme for the media.

    Also, a national policy on procedure for solving orientation issues in the country is in the offing.

    A three-day national summit on the formulation of national policy on orientation by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Orientation to fine tune the draft of the policy is holding in Minna, Niger State.

    The summit will consider the policy draft copy prepared by the Directorate of Research, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru.

     

  • Free pumping machines for farmers

    The Interim Chairman, Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, Alhaji Isiyaku Faskari-Ahmad said the council had distributed 100 pumping machines to farmers for irrigation purposes.

    He told journalists in Faskari that the gesture was aimed at boosting food security and reducing extreme poverty among the people.

    Faskari-Ahmad further said that the machines were distributed free to the farmers to encourage their farming activities in the area, especially among the teeming unemployed.

    He said the council embarked on free distribution of farm inputs to farmers because farming is the major occupation of the people.

    He expressed optimism that the gesture would encourage increased food production, stressing that agriculture provides jobs to millions of Nigerians while increased government support would facilitate development.

    The chairman said the council had sold fertilisers, seeds and other inputs at subsidised rates to both rainy season and irrigation farmers. He enjoined the beneficiaries to make proper use of the items.

    He said his administration had embarked on the construction of feeder roads and health facilities in the rural areas to ease the difficulties experienced by the people. This, he said, would enhance their living conditions.

    He said 10 health centres had been inaugurated while the construction of four feeder roads began in September.

    Alhaji Idin Alo, the chairman, Irrigation Farmers’ Association in Faskari, commended the local government for the gesture, saying that it would enhance economic activities in the area.

    He said farmers in the area were known for cultivating vegetables, tubers and other items in commercial quantities through irrigation which served as lucrative sources of livelihood to their families.

     

  • ESUT VC lists achievements

    •Shops for N10b infrastructural fund

    The Vice-Chancellor of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Prof. Cyprian Onyeji, yesterday listed his achievements.

    Onyeji, who spoke at the unveiling of the ESUT Trust Fund, identified corruption among the workers and students as the major problem he addressed.

    He said the university is shopping for N10 billion for infrastructural development.

    The VC also identified cultism, admission racketeering, examination malpractices and strikes as some of the ills that have been tackled.

    He said during his tenure, research and scholarship have increased, adding that the university now sponsors national and international conferences.

    Onyeji said: “The morale in the institution is high because we pay salaries promptly.

    “When I was appointed the vice-chancellor, we established an administrative machinery of committee systems capacitated to sanitise all sectors of our university system. This process has not been without problems. We have, however, managed these problems and achieved success.”

    The ESUT VC said the measures were not enough if the university was to be repositioned and re-engineered to become one of the best in Africa.

    “That was why the ESUT governing council established the trust fund and constituted a committee to drive it by appealing and attracting funds from individuals, alumni, governments, politicians, corporate organisations and donor agencies,” he said.

    The Pro-Chancellor, Dr. Chilo Offiah, said ESUT has witnessed a strategic renaissance of its administrative and academic systems and processes in the last two years.

    While lamenting that the task was still enormous, he said it was regrettable that the government could not fully respond to the university’s infrastructural needs.

    Offiah said: “The governing council established the ESUT Trust Fund to be managed by a board of trustees and serviced by a committee that will look into the alternative sources of funding and seek partnerships with individuals, public and private sectors, donor agencies and alumni.”

    The Chairman of the ESUT Trust Fund, Prof. Ike Ndolo, said ESUT would continue in its quest of becoming exceptional, both in the learning experience and quality of graduates.

    The unveiling ceremony was chaired by Senator Ayogu Eze, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Works.

     

  • Alaafin inaugurates projects at 74

    Alaafin inaugurates projects at 74

    As part of activities marking his 74th birthday celebration, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III has inaugurated various projects across the four local government areas in the ancient town.

    The celebration which lasted one week, was kick-started with the opening of projects by the Alaafin.

    Some thought inaugurating the projects himself was quite a herculean task, but the revered monarch coped appreciably well.

    The compere’s cry to allow the “imperial father easy passage” fell on deaf ears as guests settled down expectantly in anticipation. In Atiba council, chaired by Prince Akeem Adeyemi, son of the monarch, 10 boreholes projects were inaugurated.

    It took special vigilance of the guards, security aides and some of the Alaafin’s workers to ensure that the king had clear passage to the projects.

    The Akibio of Ilora, Oba Stephen Oluwafemi, the Oyo Meesi and the indigenes of the town trooped out in large numbers to honour their royal father.

    While speaking with reporters in his palace after the event, Oba Adeyemi explained that the celebration is quite different from the past ones because he has mandated the council bosses to embark on developmental programmes across the four council areas, which include Afijio, Atiba, Oyo East and Oyo West in order for them to fulfil their promises to their people.

    “I believe that the council is the nearest to the grassroots people and we have to do this if we want to satisfy their yearnings. The local government chairmen have gone round their council areas to see what the people want in order of their priorities, and I challenged them that if they want my 74th birthday to be worthwhile they should work towards the project that will meet the yearnings and aspirations of our people.”

    On the second day of the celebration in Oyo West Local Government, the monarch distributed human empowerment materials such as motorcycles, grinding and sewing machines, hair dryers, clippers, among other materials to assist the people in their vocational pursuits.

    Those itmes were facilitated by the caretaker chairman of the council, Hon. Adesoji Ojuawo, whom Alaafin lauded for bringing succour to the masses.

    He said Ojuawo has made him proud for tarring the 1.2km Mariama Catholic Expressway with N6m, including the award of bursary to 700 student from the council area worth N1million.

    The Alaafin said: ”Ojuawo has done what the former administration could not do, especially with the renovation of this abandoned council hall”

    He urged the council residents to continue to support him to encourage him to perform better.

    While reacting to the recent killing of four students of University of Port Harcourt, Alaafin condemned the attack, noting that: ”It is a pity Nigeria is moving to a state of anarchy where students are being slaughtered. This country is not safe again for anybody again; imagine the students who are studying to become the future leaders of this country are killed and up till date they have not been able to find their killers. If government does not find a lasting solution to all these security challenges, Nigeria will not be safe again.”

    Speaking on the perceived marginalisation of the Yoruba race, Oba Adeyemi said it is disheartening to know that our race has been sidelined in the position of power in Nigeria, adding that the labour and sacrifices made by Yorubas to evolve modern Nigeria is immeasurable.

    He said: ”There is no way we can have a country that will be the pride of everyone when they have relegated an important part of Nigeria. Yoruba have gone a long way, and it will not augur well for the development of Nigeria. The federal government should correct these abnormalities in government.”

    Also in his remarks, the Transition Committee Chairman of Oyo West Local Government, Hon. Adesoji Ojuawo explained that all the project the monarch is commissioning was in fulfillment to the promises he made to his people during the election campaign.

    While extolling Alaafin’s fatherly virtues, Ojuawo described him as a great philanthropist, a kind ruler and a peacemaker in Oyo State.

  • Terrorist attacks, floods damage Airtel’s 193 BTS

    Airtel Nigeria has raised the alarm over the damage to its facilities in the North caused by terrorist acts and flood.

    These twin challenges have also led to loss of equipment and degeneration of service.

    The firm called on the Federal Government to declare Telecoms Equipment as critical national infrastructure.

    It appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to make the restoration of telecoms facilities in flooded areas a priority in its restoration plans.

    The Director, Regulatory Affairs, Osondu Nwokoro, who spoke in Lagos, said the bombing and flooding have affected locations with impact across Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano and Yobe states.

    Osondu said 32 BTS were flooded, 41 were affected. Lokoja Dagama, Lokoja-Okene, Asaba-Ughelli, Ughelli-Patani, Patani-Elele suffered submerged fibre optic cables.

    He said this development has affected service quality as the BTS affected were mostly routing and signalling links such that connectivity between local and distant calls were disrupted.

    Osondu said the telco’s remediation and restoration initiative has yielded dividends as 112 BTS have been resuscitated at a very great cost.

    “We are engaging more on facility-sharing. We are doing 250 with MTN while we are discussing another 100. “We are also doing fibre lease with other operators,” he said.

    He, however, assured subscribers that the company had taken steps to mitigate the damage done to its facilities by sealing facility-sharing agreements with other operators, engaging the services of private security companies as well as collaborating with security agencies to ensure maximum protection of telecoms facilities across the country.

     

  • Egwu, Nwali, others battle to lead Ohanaeze

    Egwu, Nwali, others battle to lead Ohanaeze

    •Uwechue’s tenure ends November

    Intense jostling has commenced for the leadership positions in the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

    The positions are due to be vacant next month when the tenure of the Amb. Ralph Uwechue-led executive will lapse.

    According to the schedule of succession in the organisation, Ebonyi State will produce the next President-General while an Imo indigene will become the Secretary General.

    Four names from Ebonyi state are prominently being touted for the top position

    These are: Former Governor Sam Egwu, Senator Offia Nwali, outgoing Deputy President Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey and Prof. Achara.

    Ohanaeze has inaugurated a 14 member committee to oversee the transition.

    The members of the committee were drawn two each from the seven Igbo speaking states. Dr. Chris Asoluka (Imo) is chairman. Prince Richard Ozobu (Enugu) will serve as secretary.

    An Ohanaeze chieftain said there is a dilemma over who to pick from among the four contestants since all of them have impressive credentials and are committed to the cause of Ndigbo.

    However, age is expected to be a key factor as the Ohanaeze strongly believes in the Igbo tradition of respect for elders.

    If applied, the pendulum would favour Senator Offia Nwali, who is the oldest among the contenders.

    But if connection and reach is allowed, former Governor Egwu will carry the day.

    A chieftain of Ohanaeze, Chief O. A. U. Onyema, who is the chairman of Enugu chapter said the members of the transition committee picked from the seven states are all men of integrity.

    He declined to comment on the criteria for choosing the new executive, saying only the transition committee members or members of the Ime Obi can state the criteria. He said no matter the criteria employed, the Igbo tradition will take precedence.

     

  • Art feast in coal city

    Art feast in coal city

    For the sixth consecutive year, the organisers of the annual Life In My City Art Festival, last Saturday, held another memorable art feast to restore the glory of Enugu as home of arts and culture, reports Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME.

    From her body language, Miss Mariagoretti Chinenye Eze, 22, was the least enthusiastic among the five finalists. She was dwarfed by the others as she walked up reluctantly in her simple silky white gown. After the last call of winners in other categories, there was a pindrop silence as the audience awaited for the winner of the grand prize.

    Seconds later, the head of the jurors, Prof Jerry Buhari of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, broke the silence: ‘the grand prize winner is Miss Eze…, who will walk home with N500,000’.

    Tears flowed down her cheeks as she received the dummy cheque and a royal handshake from the Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Achebe. Her mixed media piece, Rejuvenation which shows a mirror image of herself won the overall prize.

    “I am short of words, but I must thank my God for His mercy. I never expected this award because I simply participated to get some form of exposure. Last year, I participated and did not win anything. I will use the money to buy a new camera to improve my skill because I borrowed the camera I used in taking the photograph that won this award,” the Higher National Diploma (HND) final year (graphic) student of Institute of Technology, Enugu, said. Impressed by the quality of the artwork, the Obi of Onitsha declared his interest to acquire the piece.

    Winners in other categories who got N250,000 each were Stanley Ortisejolomi (painting), Adewumi Oluwatobi (photography), Uzowane Igbenabor (graphic) and Odo Sunday (sculpture). Others were George Agbo (Vin Marin Ilo special prize of N50,000), Wasiu Arowolo (Art is everywhere prize of N50,000), Justice Anthony Aniagolu N100,000 prize for originality went to Ezebi Chinedu.

    The Photo Africa award of one thousand dollars went to Miss Eremina Jumbo, a Lagos-based photographer and Mass Communication student at the Lagos State University, Ojo.

    The shortlisted works were exhibited at the lobby of the banquet hall while the 30 photographs in the Photo Africa competition were exhibited at the National Gallery of Art, Temple Avenue, Enugu.

    For the audience at the banquet hall of the Nike Lake Hotel and Resorts, Enugu, it was a memorable occasion. The night, which featured chorale songs and dance drama presentations by the Enugu Chamber choir and a solo song rendition by Maji Sharon was the grand finale and award night of this year’s Life In My City Art Festival (LIMCAF), held last Saturday. Other dignitaries at the event included Senator Ayogu Eze, Elder Kalu Uke Kalu, Enugu State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ozo Joe Mamel, Executive director, Regional Business, Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Victor Ezenwoko, the former Nigerian ambassador to Zambia and Assistant Secretary-General of the then Organisation of African Unity, Ambassador Lawrence Agubuzu, Chief Loretta Aniagolu and the Director, Alliance Francaise, Mr. Dominique Francelli.

    Senator Ayogu Eze, who chaired the night said, very soon the festival would be one of the biggest cultural events that would bring fame and honour to Enugu. He noted that it is a shame that “we will wait for a foreign cultural agency such as Alliance Franciase to tell us what we should promote in our culture.”

    He said his commitment and promises to the festival would continue until the festival moves to a bigger venue such as the Okpara Square or Enugu Stadium. “I will bring in more sponsors for next year’s edition. I will bring four sponsors next year. The festival should accommodate other aspects of our culture especially books that we write and read. In fact, this dream should not die because this is a type of dream for a better society,” Eze said.

    The Onitsha monarch said there was need to restore Enugu as centre of art and culture. He urged the government to continue to grow the space for art and culture to thrive. “Art is very close to my heart and also my interest in the youth is very fundamental,” he said, promising that he would continue to support the promotion of LIMCAF and the growth of the project. Enugu Commissioner for Culture and Tourism Ozo Joe Mamel said the state would continue to provide an enabling environment for art to blossom.

    The festival, which is the brain child of Mr. Robert Orji was supported by Diamond Bank, Alliance Francaise, Access Bank, First Bank, Rocana Nigeria Limited, Pan African Circle of Artists, Culture France and Tachi Studio. It featured among others art workshops for primary and secondary schools’ art teachers, exhibitions, sponsors’ dinner and tours.

  • Photo Africa for Ethiopia

    Photo Africa for Ethiopia

    The Photo Africa segment of the annual sixth Life In My City Art Festival will feature in Addis Photo Festival holding in December in Ethiopia, according to the festival’s artistic director, Mr Ayo Adewumi.

    He said organisers of the Addis Photo Festival have sent a proposal to Photo Africa indicating their interest in featuring 30 of its shortlisted works at the festival.

    The Photo Africa competition, muted three years ago, was approved by the festival board and over 70 entries were received from across the continent. Out of these, 30 were shortlisted for the exhibition that opened on Thursday at the National Gallery of Art, Enugu.

    Chairman, board of the festival and former chairman, Union Bank Plc, Elder Kalu Uke Kalu said the success recorded this year in spite of the limited time for preparation is an indication that the organisers would do better in future given enough time. “I am delighted that we were able to pull this show through within the short time of preparation. It means that next year, we will do better with time on our side,” he said.

    Head of the jurors, renowned photographer and journalist, Mr. Tam Fiofori observed that for a long time, photography has not been given its rightful place among the genres of visual art, saying it has always been seen as a poor cousin to visual art. He however said that it is gladdening that with this competition modern Nigerian artists would begin to appreciate photography more as one of the oldest genres of visual art. He recalled that recently, the late Bonny Island-born Jonathan Adagogo Green, who photographed the late Oba Ovonmramwen of Benin City during the 1897 British punitive expedition, was discovered to be among the pioneer visual artists of modern Nigeria.

    On the entries for the competition, Fiofori said: “I am impressed by the quality of entries for the competition. Again, I am also delighted to find female photographers in the competition, because like painting and sculpting, female artists are less represented.

    Curator of National Gallery, Enugu, Mr. James Irabor said the gallery is proud to partner with the festival organsers in bringing back the lost glory of Enugu. He described the Photo Africa and the festival as a whole as a wake-up call on the artists and the city of Enugu.

    Director, Alliance Francaise, Enugu, Mr. Dominique Fancelli said the success of Photo Africa despite the short time of preparation is as a result of the effective network platform provided by the social media as well as the various stations of Alliance Francaise in Nigeria and across the continent.

    Chairman, Enugu Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. Obiora Anidi said the festival is coming at an auspicious time when the art must be repositioned in the state. According to him, most secondary schools in the state do not offer fine art and consequently affects intake of students into tertiary institutions to study fine art.

    “This is why the festival held series of workshops for art teachers in primary and secondary schools to chart a new road map for the repositioning of the arts for social engineering,” he said.

    Anidi lamented that there has never been an enabling environment for the art to blossom, adding that every artist does almost everything to promote his art from conception to production and marketing. “Unlike other societies, in Nigeria, there are no grants for the artists, no residencies, no steady connoisseurs, no gallery with defined goal, no professional art marketers among others,” he noted.

  • Kaduna to revive four water schemes

    The Kaduna State government has awarded contract for the rehabilitation of four water works in the state to boost potable water supply for residents.

    The Assistant General Manager, State Water Board, Yusuf Kobo, told newsmen in Kaduna that N33 million would be spent on the projects.

    He said the rehabilitation, which covers water plants in Kaduna, would be completed within a year.

    Kobo added that the project involves the replacement and rehabilitation of pumps and water treatment facilities in Kaduna North Old and New Water Works, to be executed at N7.4m.

    According to him, the government will also spend N2.2m on similar project at the Kaduna South water works and booster station.

    “Other aspects of the contract are the general civil works in Kaduna North Old, Kaduna North New and Kaduna South Water Works at the cost of N3m.

    “This is in addition to the replacement of some existing AC pipes which was laid in 1939 which will cost N6.3m.’’

    The manager said N5.2m would be spent on the recticulation of water in some areas of the city.

    He further said that government would spend N2.7m on the completion of a 33KVA sub-station and another N6.6m to rehabilitate and install generators at the water plants to boost supply.

    “These generators will improve the quality of water supplied to the metropolis.”

    On Zaria water supply project, Kobo assured that work was in progress, adding that the installation of electrical components would soon be completed.

    According to him, the state government has so far spent N13.8b out of the N24b earmarked for the project.

    “The work has reached 74 per cent completion statge; all the electro-mechanical equipment have been imported and installation would soon be completed.”