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Agency Reporter

Lawal Oluwaseun, a 100-level student of the Department of Accounting, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), has won the 2021 Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) Annual Tax Quiz Competition.

The UNILORIN Bulletin released on Tuesday indicated that Oluwaseun beat four other contestants to win the contest, whose final round was held in Kaduna on May 21st.

Among those he beat were a 400-level Accounting student from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, a 400-level Taxation student from Nasarawa State University, a HND II student of Taxation from Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, and a HND II student of Accounting from Kano State.

“Oluwaseun defeated a total of 176 students across the country to win this year’s competition where he was presented with a trophy.

“He also received a cash prize of N300,000, 11 taxation textbooks, and two desktop computers, one of which is to be presented to the school,” the Bulletin said.

Presenting his trophy to Dr. Khadijat Yahya, Head of Department of Accounting in the institution, Oluwaseun described the competition as challenging.

According to him, he previously participated in 2020 against 200 contestants and reached the final shortlist of 12 participants.

He explained further that he, however, stepped down for a fellow UNILORIN student due to geographical zoning but had the zeal to excel this year and that made it easy for him.

In her reaction, Yahya described the student as a shining ambassador of the department and the institution, observing that another student of the department, Odusanya Gabriel, also won the competition in 2020.

The Head of Department advised other students to learn beyond the classroom, add value to themselves, work extra hard to conquer challenges and excel in all their endeavors. (NAN)

By Adekunle Yusuf, Moses Emorinken, Abuja, Rasaq Ibrahim, Ado-Ekiti and Kolade Adeyemi, Jos

The second dose of COVID-19 vaccine has kicked-off in no fewer than 17 states.

President Muhammadu Buhari and his deputy Prof Yemi Osinbajo received their second jabs of AstraZeneca vaccine at the State House over the weekend.

Vaccination of eligible Nigerians started in Lagos, Katsina, Benue, Nasarawa, Rivers, Bauchi, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kano, Ekiti, Adamawa, Cross River, Osun, Delta, Borno, Abia, Bayelsa and Ogun.

According to the COVID-19 vaccination update from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), as of Saturday, 44,220 Nigerians had received their second dose, representing 2.2 per cent of the proportion of eligible persons who took part in the first phase of vaccination exercise.

A total of 1,952,694 Nigerians got their first dose in the nationwide vaccination exercise, which started in March.

Lagos (313,433), FCT (131,146), Kano (94,925), and Kaduna (93,012) lead in terms of states that vaccinated the highest number of persons with the first dose across the country.

Four hundred and forty thousand of the 1,929,237 vaccinated are health workers, NPHCDA Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer Dr. Faisal Shuaib, said at a news briefing on COVID-19 vaccination last week. However, the Lagos State Government vowed to strengthen its response to the COVID-19 pandemic to mitigate the oncoming of a possible third wave, as seen in countries with similar experiences.

Its Health Commissioner Prof. Akin Abayomi said the Centre of Excellence needs more than ten times of the number of the 507,000 doses allocated to it by the Federal Government.

The commissioner said: “Given the requirement for achieving herd immunity (60% of total population vaccinated), Lagos State still needs to vaccinate about 14,000,000 (14 million) people to reach this target, as is actively happening in many parts of the world, to collectively eradicate this global pandemic. Therefore, the government is considering several channels, including discussions with the Federal Government and the private sector, to ramp up the vaccination numbers.

“For anyone to be fully vaccinated, two doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID vaccine are required with an interval of 6-12 weeks. The second dose will be administrated on working days (Monday to Friday) across our approved 88 health facilities till the 9th of July 2021.

“I, therefore, implore citizens who have received their first dose to proceed to the health facilities where they got their first dose on their scheduled appointment dates, which are clearly stated on the vaccination card that was issued.

“They are also advised to avoid overcrowding and overwhelming the health workers by staggering their arrival at the vaccination site from between 8a.m. to 1p.m. I would like to reiterate that every vaccinated person should visit the health facility where they got their first dose with their vaccination cards so that the process is seamless, and their data accurately captured,” Abayomi said.

In Ekiti State where the second dose will start today, the government said it will ensure a seamless administration of the exercise for people that had taken the first shots.

The Health and Human Services Commissioner, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, who stated this in Ado- Ekiti, reiterated the commitment of the Governor Kayode Fayemi-led administration to the healthcare of residents. Filani solicited for the support of all for the government’s efforts at protecting their health as well as ensuring a healthy environment in the state.

Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has received the second jab of the COVID-19 Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine with a call to the state residents to make themselves available for the exercise.

Lalong, who received the vaccine at the Government House, Rayfield, alongside his wife, Regina and other government officials, said the fears earlier expressed by some citizens on the safety of the vaccines have not been proved and no adverse effect has been recorded among those who took the first dose.

After receiving the vaccine administered by his personal physician, Dr. Benjamin Dashat, called on those who took the first installment to make themselves available for the second phase to complete the cycle.

For those who are yet to take the vaccine, the governor advised them to jettison conspiracy theories as the vaccines have been scrutinised by regulatory authorities and adjudged to be safe.

 

 

It was a day of accomplishment for pupils of Crestforth International School, Port Harcourt as it marked the beginning of a New Academic Year.

Head of School, Dr Laxmi Raymond Jabe, appealed to all parents to ensure their children are enrolled in schools with high quality educational standards, adding that it is obligatory for every parent to give their children foundational knowledge from qualified schools with co-curricular activities and skills.

Dr Jabe said: “Education in Crestforth International School is unique, precise, detailed and futuristic, putting into consideration that education is consistently evolving.

“We are a Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) accredited Associate School.
Our full accreditation with the CAIE gives us unrestricted access to various resource and research materials.

“The International Early Year Curriculum (IEYC), and the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) also play crucial roles in shaping, sharpening and challenging our pupils for academic excellence.

“The IPC, IEYC and Cambridge Primary Curriculum, are being executed using the Montessori method of presentation for the future by helping the child have a better knowledge of the subject and the world around us.

“We groom our pupils to total academic moral, social and international standards. We train them to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in the international community.

“We also help our pupils gain mastery not only in academics but also various other skills such as Public Speaking, Photography, Music, Dance Etiquette, Karate, Self-defense and STEM Club.

“We have provided the means to achieve all these skills with our fully equipped facilities such as the Science Laboratory, Creative Arts Studio, Library, ICT Laboratory, Health Bay, Mini Sports Complex, Multi Purpose Hall, Music Room and After-School Care.

“Our children are academically sound and doing exploits in sciences and technology; as well as other subjects.

“We have put together all that are required to ensure that the school meets the 21st century standard.

“Our curriculum is hybrid that learners’ friendly and encourages creative and critical thinking.
These prepare our pupils for the future as major providers of solution to global challenges.

“We assure parents that we will not compromise our competence; we will continue to maintain professionalism in line with international standards.

“We are appealing to parents on the needs to also assist their children at home with academic support.”

Jabe further disclosed that the aim and vision of Crestforth is give every child the right to quality education which will be to the advantage of the parents and the society at large – a good child is an asset to nation building.

“We appeal to parents to support their children at home and also support us on this cause of academic achievement for the pupils. The children should not be allowed to play so much at home. We cannot achieve all of these without their support.

“The children should be provided with all the learning gadgets they need. We encourage them to continue to provide and we as the school management, will ensure that their efforts will never be in vain.

“Our aim is to give every child of Crestforth a voice within, around and outside the classroom. Crestforth pupils are able to express themselves intellectually and intelligently on any topic or happenings within their local, national and international environment.

“Our vision is to posses credible results earned by strategic thinking founded on research, truth, and hard work.

Our mission in Crestforth is committed to building a total child inspired by an environment that is equipped with knowledge; challenged by tasks; known for integrity; safe with nature and empowered for global challenges.

“A Crestforth child is an internationally minded visionary. We are proud of our International and multicultural heritage, having collaboration with schools internationally.

“We are amongst one of the schools in Nigeria to practice IPC and IEYC Curriculum.
Crestforth International School seeks to educate not just the child but a total child,” Jabe stated.

https://instagram.com/crestforthschool?utm_medium=copy_link

 

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

 

French airplane maker  Airbus will continue to expect the commercial aircraft market to recover to pre-COVID levels between 2023 and 2025, led by the single-aisle segment.

The company said it was providing suppliers with an update of its production plans, giving visibility to schedule necessary investments and secure long term capacity and production rate readiness, in line with the expected recovery.

Chief Executive Officer, Airbus, Guillaume Faury, said the  sector has begun to recover from the COVID-19 crisis.

“The message to our supplier community provides visibility to the entire industrial ecosystem to secure the necessary capabilities and be ready when market conditions call for it. In parallel, we are transforming our industrial system by optimising our aero structures set-up and modernising our A320 Family production facilities. All these actions are set in motion to prepare our future,” Faury said.

Airbus confirms an average A320 Family production rate of 45 aircraft per month in fourth 2021 and calls on suppliers to prepare for the future by securing a firm rate of 64 by Q2 2023.

In anticipation of a continued recovering market, Airbus is also asking suppliers to enable a scenario of rate 70 by Q1 2024. Longer term, Airbus is investigating opportunities for rates as high as 75 by 2025.

Around rate five aircraft per month from Mirabel and Mobile, the rate is confirmed to rise to about six in early 2022. Airbus is also envisaging a monthly production rate of 14 by the middle of the decade.

At an average production rate of five monthly, this is expected to  increase to six by autumn 2022.

Production remains at an average monthly production rate of two per month.

On its part, Brazillian airplane maker Embraer  is presenting a semi-private configuration for ERJ 145 jets as an aftermarket solution, which includes premium seats for the utmost comfort to passengers.

The conversion will be possible through a supplemental type certificate (STC), currently under development by Embraer, and all ERJ 145 are eligible to be converted to a semi-private aircraft.

“Embraer constantly assesses customer needs to offer innovative solutions and support new market requirements, which is why we developed the new semi-private conversion,” said Marsha Woelber, Head of Worldwide Executive Jets Customer Support & Aftermarket Sales, Embraer Service & Support. “We have identified this opportunity given the growing number of aircraft with semi-private interiors, which have doubled in two years, from 21 in 2019 to more than 40 in 2021. With the pandemic, we believe this number will increase even more.”

The 50-seater ERJ 145 aircraft can now be configured from 16 to 28 premium seats with one seat configuration on each side of the aisle, increasing social distancing and comfort. Other features are a flat floor and the removal of the overhead bins, which widen passengers’ personal space. The full conversion process can be performed at Embraer Owned Service Centers.

Embraer is targeting passengers who usually travel first class and may require more suitable flight options.

The ERJ 145 semi-private jet allows these customers to avoid main crowded airports and save time, providing a premium experience to the passengers who will board from and disembark at a private terminal.

By Robert Egbe

 

The Onishasha of Shasha in Alimosho Local Government Area (LGA), Oba Babatunde Ogunrombi yesterday declared as illegal, the appointment of a Baale in Akowonjo without his consent.

Oba Ogunrombi said Akowonjo and its environs are part of Shasha Kingdom and, thus, no one can be lawfully appointed as baale in the community unless the Onishasha approves it.

He warned residents and political leaders to shun illegal appointment of leaders and land deals that could jeopardise the peace between Shasha and neighbouring kingdoms.

“The appointment of baale in Akowonjo without my consent is illegal and unacceptable, so leaders and residents should be warned that no appointment should be done without the consent of the throne of Shashaland.

“Shasha community shares a boundary with Idimu community, Egbeda Community and Ejigbo land, so everybody should note this and accord Shasha the regard it deserves if leaders are to be appointed on its lands,” the monarch said in a statement.

 

The General Manager (Strategy) of DPKay Homes & Property Ltd, Lagos, Mr. Olufemi Austine, has said decent accommodation for all Nigerians is feasible.

He spoke at a news conference organised by the company in Lekki-Ajah, Lagos.

Austine, flanked by the Director of Operations, Yomi Kuti, an engineer, and the Legal Director, Oluwaseun Alao, said the task of providing decent homes for Nigerians should not be left to the government alone.

He said the private sector should also be involved in providing decent accommodation for Nigerians.

“Our firm is expanding due to the way we treat our customers, especially in the area of money. Our properties are very cheap.

“Our vision is to achieve the highest possible standards in the real estate market, while establishing ourselves as the premier and preferred real estate company in Nigeria,” Austine added.