The Nation Newspaper

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  • Ilaro Poly counts gains of Step-B initiative

    Ilaro Poly counts gains of Step-B initiative

    Science and Technology, Education Post-Basic (Step-B) Project, a Federal Government-assisted World Bank initiative, has transformed teaching, learning and research in the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State.

    The second-generation institution was established by Decree No. 33 of 1979. Its laboratories and facilities, especially in Food Technology, Electrical/Electronics and other courses which are as old as the polytechnic, had become obsolete.

    This, according to the Rector, Dr Raheem Oloyo, explained the reason for the interventionist approach of the Federal Government-sponsored World Bank project in resuscitating moribund workshops and laboratories of some of polytechnics.

    The Ilaro Polytechnic, which keyed into the Step-B Project in 2008, The Nation learnt, has completed its sub-projects which cost N105.4 million.

    Speaking with our reporter, Oloyo identified the three sub-project as “Upgrading of infrastructure at the Information and Communication Technonolgy (ICT) centre and the computer studio for video conferencing and curriculum delivery; upgrading of facilities and equipment in the food processing and food engineering workshops in the Department of Food Technology, and upgrading of facilities in the Electrical/Electronics laboratories.

    “The school is set to update laboratory and workshop facilities and the structure of curriculum delivery to produce self-employed graduates who are more relevant to market needs as well as enhancing accreditation and improved quality of research activities.

    The project took off in May 2010 and came to completion last month with the training workshops organised in two departments of the Polytechnic,” Oloyo added.

    The Food Technology sub-project, The Nation learnt, involves the renovation of workshops, the supply and the installation of equipment in food processing and food engineering. Some of the equipment are: rotary drum dryer, electric steam-jacketed kettle and butter churn.

    According to the rector, two members of staff of the department travelled abroad to train on the use and maintenance of the equipment at the manufacturers’ yard. On their return, they held a workshop for other members of staff and selected students. More students in HND II had their projects done in Food Processing and Food Engineering using the equipment supplied. The number of students trying to gain admission into the programme is also increasing as the cut-off point is 217.

    Oloyo further spoke on the projects: “The facilities in the ICT sub-project are not only beneficial to the initiating department but to many more, especially in service courses where different programmes take similar options.

    “Two classes can now go on concurrently at the east and the west campuses. On the sustainability of the project, members of staff of the department were trained on the use, troubleshooting and maintenance of the video-conferencing equipment.”

    The Rector, according to the spokesman, Rev Olasunkanmi Bolaji, handled the workshops.

    Rev. Olasunkanmi said: “The resultant effect of the workshops was that more proposals on Step-B and other research activities are being initiated by the staff and students. The polytechnic also spent over N4 million acquiring more accessories to the equipment acquired in Electrical/Electronics sub-project to ensure the maximisation of the equipment.”

  • Akingbola denies theft of N47.1 billion

    Former Managing Director of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc, Dr. Erastus Akingbola yesterday denied stealing N47.1 billion from the bank.

    Akingbola, while testifying, debunked the allegations of theft of the bank’s money made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)against him before a Lagos High Court, Ikeja presided by Justice Habeeb Abiru.

    He said the allegations made by the EFCC against him “are not true; they are incorrect and false”.

    Dr. Akingbola is standing trial alongside his associate, Bayo Dada, the General Manager of Tropics Securities Limited, for allegedly stealing the money belonging to the bank.

    Led in evidence by his counsel, Chief Felix Fagbohungbe SAN),Akingbola said he never authorised or benefited from any of the transactions for which he is being prosecuted.

    Though he is the Chairman of Tropics Finance Limited, he insisted that he never authorised, sign or pay any money to Tropics Finance and that he was not aware of the transactions on purchase of shares as he was not involved in the day to day running of the company.

    He said he had an Executive Director in charge of shares in Intercontinental Bank and that all correspondences in that regard would go to the executive director and not to him. He said that there are more important things in the bank that engage his attention.

    “My Lord, Intercontinental Bank has 200 branches within Nigeria, 57 in Ghana and many subsidiaries. So, there are about 10 Executive Directors that have autonomy and are checked through countersigns by other Executive Directors.”

    He alleged that the transactions for which he is being tried were carried out by the Executive Director in charge of Investments and Subsidiaries, Mr Yinka Adebiyi who, he said, is still at large and has not been seen since he left the bank in August 14, 2009.

    Akingbola said: “I am not aware that Intercontinental Bank Plc instructed Tropics Securities to purchase shares in 2008. This was carried out by one of the 10 Executive Directors under me who process transactions in their directorate”

    The matter was adjourned till September 26 for his cross-examination by the EFCC counsel, Mr Emmanuel Ukala

  • Varsity promises upkeep of late colleague’s family

    Ekiti State University has promised to cater for the family of the late Abubakar Sani, a lawyer who, until his death by suspected terrorists while on a trip to Bornu State last week, taught in the Faculty of Law of the EKSU.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Patrick Oladipo Aina, made the disclosure while addressing law students who were mourning the late Sani.

    Aina said the university lost a brilliant, promising and dedicated staff in the person of Sani.

    He said Sani was known to have intervened when there was a misunderstanding between the Hausa Community and some people in Ado – Ekiti recently.

    He praised the students for the peaceful candlelight procession, and urged all to pray for the repose of the soul of the deceased.

    The students’ leader, Mr Adeoye Aribasoye, who spoke at the occasion, urged the Federal Government to find urgent solution to the issue of terrorism and insecurity.

  • Ethnicity, lack of political will bane of constitution-making, says Ekweremadu

    Ethnicity and absence of political will have been identified as the major challenges facing constitution-making in pluralistic and developing Commonwealth societies.

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu said this while speaking on the topic “The Politics of Constitution-making: The Parliaments role in relation to the people” at the ongoing 58th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference in Colombo Sri-Lanka.

    A statement by his Special Adviser, Uche Anichukwu, said Ekweremadu noted that the tendency for each ethnic group to seek maximum guarantee against domination by others as well as maximum share of power often tend to downplay national interest.

    It said that Ekweremadu who was the Discussion Leader for the CPA Workshop on constitution-making at the conference observed that “when the political elites approach the process of constitution-making with sectional biases and short-sightedness rather than exhibit reasoned analysis and good faith in the examination of the issues, such ethnic sentiments and provocative rhetoric only manage to envenom the polity and significantly diminish the prospects of building a consensus even on most apparently worthwhile matters”.

    Ekweremadu, who is also Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, was quoted to have said that “the political will to balance personal, group, ethnic and institutional interests have often proven difficult in many Commonwealth states as persons in positions of authority as well as different levels and arms of government find it difficult to support provisions that will whittle down their extant powers or comparative advantages, even if such provisions would be in the overall interest of their country.”

    He added that matters that could be handled through consensus building and policy/administrative means are also subjected to the rigours of constitution amendments.

    It said that Ekweremadu also listed inexperience and lack of template of procedure, crises of expectation, temptation to do too much at a time, apathy, lack of democratic culture, and lack of autonomy of constitution-making bodies such as parliaments as major constraints to constitution-making in many Commonwealth States.

    He, however, said the challenges were surmountable, if Commonwealth lawmakers, political elites, and stakeholders put national interest above any other interests and ensured massive participation of the citizens in the constitution-making process.

  • Obi seeks prosecution of oil thieves

    Obi seeks prosecution of oil thieves

    Anambra State Governor Peter Obi yesterday said Nigeria cannot continue to lose nearly 50 per cent of its budget to crude oil theft in the Niger Delta.

    He called for the prosecution of illegal bunkerers of petroleum products, no matter how highly connected they may be.

    Obi spoke at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Rivers State, during the 4th Emmanuel Egbogah Legacy Lecture on Petroleum Economics Policy and Strategy.

    The lecture was organised by UNIPORT’s Emerald Energy Institute for Energy Economics, Policy and Strategic Studies in collaboration with the Institute of Petroleum Studies (IPS) of the university.

    The, which took place at the Ebitimi Banigo Auditorium, was to mark the 70th birthday of Emerald Energy Institute’s benefactor, Dr. Emmanuel Egbogah, a former presidential adviser.

    The keynote address was presented by Peter Behr of Signet Advisors Limited, Switzerland, with papers presented by eminent scholars across the globe, including Prof. Amos Nur of Stanford University, the United States (US).

    Obi, who was the Special Guest of Honour, said: “We cannot continue to have a situation where nearly 50 per cent of our national budget is stolen. We must address the issue aggressively.

    “I thank President Goodluck Jonathan for what he has done so far in terms of dealing with the fuel subsidy and oil theft.

    “Those stealing the crude oil are Nigerians and nobody is above the country. No matter how connected they are, we want to disconnect that connection.”

    The governor said it is unfortunate that corrupt persons are celebrated in Nigeria, adding that corruption has eaten deep into every sector of the economy.

    Urging Nigerians to celebrate responsible and honest individuals, he said Egbogah was well celebrated in Malaysia.

    Obi said leaders must he held responsible for the situation of things in the country and urged the followers to always tell the leaders the truth.

    UNIPORT Vice-Chancellor Prof. Joseph Ajienka said the university’s foray into petroleum policy matters would have been impossible without Egbogah’s philanthropic gesture.

    Ajienka said: “In Dr. Egbogah, we have far more than a friend of the university and committed philanthropist, who is ready to partner with UNIPORT at all times without counting the cost. His association with the IPS in particular has impacted positively on our activities.

    “I am pleased to announce that work on the Emerald Energy Institute building is nearing completion. It is my hope that the building will be commissioned early next year.”

  • ‘Remove Elechi’s name from honours’ list’

    ‘Remove Elechi’s name from honours’ list’

    A rights group, the Campaign for Democracy (CD), Southeast Zone, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to remove Ebonyi State Governor Martin Elechi’s name from the list of eminent Nigerians chosen for National honours.

    It urged the anti-graft agencies to probe the allegations of corruption levelled against the governor and his deputy, Chief Dave Umahi.

    Speaking with reporters yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra State, the group’s Chairman, Mr. Dede Uzor, said: “We are very disturbed by the monumental corrupt allegations levelled against Elechi, the oldest governor in Nigeria, who is supposed to be leading by example.

    “CD urges the anti-graft agencies to investigate the alleged award of the N7 billion contract for the dualisation of a section of the Enugu/Abakaliki Expressway to a company allegedly owned by Umahi.

    “It is also worrisome that the present administration has extorted and dragged Ebonyi into perpetual indebtedness by borrowing N20 billion from the capital market and failing to execute the projects the money was meant for.

    “Most worrisome is the alleged award of the N2 billion contract for the reconstruction of the Ogbaga Road to M&J Ltd., a company allegedly owned by the governor.

    “The time has come when Nigeria should stop celebrating corruption. If Elechi, as old as he is, could be fingered in such corrupt practices, what hope is left for our democracy? We urge the President to remove his name from the national honours’ list”

    Commissioner for Works Chukwuma Nwandugo debunked the allegations against Elechi.

    He described CD’s call for the removal of Elechi’s name from the national honours’list as “uncalled for”.

     

  • Ogbebor seeks probe of Delta judge’s kidnap

    Renowned Itsekiri leader, Chief Rita Lori Ogbebor has expressed dismay over the reported kidnap of the judge handling a case between a community in Delta State and the state government.

    She called for an urgent probe of the circumstances surrounding the kidnap of Justice Marcel Okoh of Court 4 of the state’s High Court.

    Ogbebor said the judge was handling the case filed against the state government by members of the Okere community, who claimed that the governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan had forcefully confiscated their land, when he reportedly disappeared.

    It was however learnt yesterday that the judge had been released by his kidnappers, but without details about how his released was effected.

    In a petition, Ogbebor said the development constituted a threat to judicial independence and an attempt to cow the nation’s judiciary. She wondered how a judge could be so kidnapped “cheaply” when he was to determine a suit involving the state and its people.

    Ogbebor, in the petition, said: “With our youth becoming restive again, we told them to exercise restraint and protested to the Commissioner of Police, Delta State, who was visiting Warri at the time. He asked us to make statement, which we did.

     

  • Maize for sale soon

    Maize for sale soon

    The Ekiti State University Farm under the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences will soon open its gate to members of the public interested in purchasing maize.

    The dean of the faculty, Prof A S. Fasina, disclosed this during the Vice-Chancellor’s visit to the 10- hectare maize plantation. The Vice-Chancellor praised the faculty and advised that the issue of internal revenue generation was dear to his administration.

    The plantation located at Irasa village is one of the several areas the faculty has been exploring to raise the revenue base on the university.

  • Nigeria commissions Biometrics Machine in Australia

    A passport biometrics machine has been commissioned at the Nigerian High Commission, Australia.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Martin Uhomoibhi, who attended the commissioning, commended Ambassador Ayo Olukanni and staff of the High Commission for ensuring that the new biometric passport machine is available at Nigeria diplomatic outpost, which serves Australia and the Pacific Region.

    Previously, applicants had to book an appointment months before and wait for months to acquire a Nigerian passport and also had to go to Malaysia to renew expired passports.

    A statement by Media, Information and Cultural Assistant at the Nigerian High Commission, Canberra Australia, Oluyide Olufunsho, noted that: “With the installation of the new state-of-the-art biometrics machine, the process is made simpler and faster. Applicants can now wait and get their passports within a few hours and they no longer have to go to Malaysia process their passports.He averred that with this new biometrics machine, a whole lot of difficulties have been reduced for the Nigerian community living in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Region.

    “Members of the Nigerian community who were present at the commissioning were happy about the initiative and thanked the Ambassador for the improved of services he has spearheaded brought over the short period of time he has been here.”

     

     

     

  • Three die in underground water tank

    Three persons have died in a 14-feet underground water tank in Obinato, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    Augustine Dimude (33), a carpenter; Onyebuchi Ezemokwe (22) and Chidebere Ezendu (21) allegedly died of suffocation on Tuesday at about 9am.

    The tank is on the premises of an uncompleted one-storey building allegedly owned by Mr. Alex Muorah, a Lagos businessman.

    A man, simply identified as Chukwuebuka, said the late Ezemokwe and Ezendu were contracted to wash the tank with some chemicals bought by Muorah.

    He said: “I am frightened because we have never seen this type of death before in this town.”

    Chairman of the Umudim Kindred Mr. Gilbert Obidiegwu said: “Shortly after Ezemokwe went into the water tank, he shouted and that prompted Ezendu to enter the tank to rescue him.

    “Ezendu, who was also trapped, shouted for help and that attracted Dimude, a passer-by, but he too was caught up there. A fourth person, Ebere Oraekwe, collapsed on the ladder while trying to rescue them.

    “It was another person, who covered his nose before going into the tank, that brought out the victims. They were taken to a hospital, where three of them were pronounced dead.

    “Oraekwe is receiving treatment at the National Hospital, Mkporogwu, and the bodies have been deposited at the Visitation Mortuary in Umuchu.”

    It was learnt that Muorah left for Lagos on Tuesday morning. The caretaker of the uncompleted building, Mr. Ferdinand Ezendu, is being detained at the Umuchu Divisional Police Station.