The Nation Newspaper

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  • Finding solutions to address malnutrition

    Finding solutions to address malnutrition

    Our Reporter

    Making progress against and eventually eradicating malnutrition requires the skills and expertise of all sectors of society.

    This was part of the recent submission at a recent engagement by the SUN Business Network in Lagos.

    The event which took place at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos identified some of the progress made in improving nutrition through Private Sector Engagement, over the last 5 years.

    “In most countries, especially countries like Nigeria where the vast majority of people obtain their food from markets, there can’t be any lasting solutions without the active engagement of the private sector”, informed Ibiso Ivy King -Harry, the organizations National Coordinator.

    The private sector, she stressed must be enabled to play a full and active part in supporting measures to address malnutrition and the challenges with making safe and nutritious foods more available and affordable for Nigerians through their investments. All private actors in our food system from farmers and fishermen to those who process, those who sell the finished products, and all those who support these activities whether with financing or logistics and other services are important in achieving this aim.

    King-Harry adds that: “businesses that join the network are encouraged to make signed commitments which align with their value chain to achieve scalable results in improving demand for and access to nutritious food for Nigerians”. She also said that Public-Private Partnerships (or PPPs) are key to improving nutrition and SBN has established alliances and facilitated partnerships and collaborations to enhance the enabling environment for businesses in food and nutrition. GAIN’s Country Director, Dr. Michael Ojo, informed that SBN Nigeria

    has delivered increased participation for the private sector in nutrition, created space for meaningful dialogue across the sectors on policies that affect nutrition, built knowledge and capacity of private sector actors, helped to bring new products and services to market and supported scaling of existing nutritious and safe food products, facilitated increased investment in nutrition, supported innovation, and provided an emergency buffer to help MSMEs cope with and ride the storm of Covid-19.

    Dr. Ojo stated that “though the country has now seen significant successes in improving nutrition, the challenge of malnutrition still remains. Nigerians are still consuming a very narrow range of foods.

    They are not eating enough of the right types of foods and are now increasingly eating too much of the wrong types with key indices of malnutrition such as stunting in children and micronutrient deficiencies in women of reproductive age remaining stubbornly high in terms of prevalence”. Most Nigerians buy the food they eat but the available safe and nutritious foods are not being adequately demanded and consumed by the people who need them the most. Post-harvest loss is prevalent and characterised by annual losses valued at USD 9 Billion.

    READ ALSO: C’River’s fight against severe malnutrition in children

    In its bid to continue to seek solutions to end malnutrition, SBN convened the meeting with key stakeholders in the nutrition space to discuss what more can be done for and by the private sector to improve nutrition in Nigeria. The meeting hosted a panel discussion on the UN Food Systems Dialogue – Action Track 1 ‘Ensure Access to Safe and Nutritious Food for All’, highlighting how the private sector can be harnessed to contribute significantly to achieving this.

    The meeting had rich participation and discussions from the private sector, federal ministries, and development partners. The Scaling Up Nutrition Business Network (SBN) is one of the global networks within the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement which supports 61 Countries, including Nigeria, to develop multistakeholder approaches to end malnutrition in all its forms.

    The SBN is the private sector branch of this Movement and aims to support businesses in growing the role they play in nutrition. The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the UN in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition.

    “Working with both governments and businesses, we aim to transform food systems so that they deliver more nutritious food for all people. At GAIN, we believe that everyone in the world should have access to nutritious and safe food. We work to understand and deliver specific solutions to the daily challenge of food insecurity faced by poor people”.

  • Princess Adebowale: EKO Cares is golden opportunity for the poor

    Princess Adebowale: EKO Cares is golden opportunity for the poor

    Our Reporter

    The Special Adviser, Office of Civic Engagement, Princess Aderemi Adebowale has urged beneficiaries of the 3rd phase of EKO Cares to be self-sufficient and contribute to the economic growth of Lagos State.

    EKO Cares, a social intervention programme by the Lagos State Government aimed to create a platform for financial empowerment of the poorest of the poor in the State thus enhancing socio-economic inclusion and cohesion.

    Themed, ‘Go Forward, Grow Lagos, is intended to empower vulnerable entrepreneurs in the State. A total number of 4,000 indigent citizens have so far benefitted in the first and second phase of the initiative.

    To commemorate the 2nd year in office of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu as Governor of Lagos State, the 3rd phase hosts another 2,000 beneficiaries making 6,000 beneficiaries.

    Speaking at the event in Ikeja, Princess Adebowale said the initiative is in consonance with the 4 th pillar of the administration of Mr. Governor, Babajide Olusola SanwoOlu’s T.H.E.M.E.S developmental agenda – Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy.

    According to her, the beneficiaries of this 3rd phase of EKO Cares were selected across the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas of the State.

    “As we flag-off this phase today, I want you our dear beneficiaries to see this as a golden opportunity to lift yourselves out of the woods. The State will continue to support the vulnerable through various socio-economic intervention programs. Also, the Office of Civic Engagement will continue to monitor and engage you individually and collectively to ensure that you are growing in your business. I can assure that you will be exposed to more assistance if you do well in your business.

    READ ALSO: Adebowale Odutola: I‘m female version of my father

    “These beneficiaries, particularly as in the 2nd phase, would be enriched with a micro-business component wherein instead of direct cash payments as was in the first phase. In partnership with Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) Companies, the beneficiaries in the 2nd and 3rd phase would have received products directly from the companies at below factory prices to enable them to start trading in their neighborhoods with a competitive price advantage, thereby maximizing profits.

    “The participants would also have been drafted into a support and monitoring eco-system with the participating FMCG Companies and other resource persons who are versatile in small business training and mentorship. The essence of this is to guide the beneficiaries on how to manage and grow their small businesses thus enhancing their abilities to be self-sufficient and become contributors to the economic growth of the State through payment of taxes.”

    She, however, applauds the Lagos State Governor for his show of love to Lagosians.

    “As you would know, EKO Cares was launched in December 2019 by the Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to support indigent Lagosians, the poorest of the poor who can hardly sustain themselves. You would agree with me that apart from improving the sources of livelihoods of its beneficiaries, the initiative would enhance the State’s achievement of sustainable development goals of: No Poverty (Goal 1), Zero Hunger (Goal 2), Decent Work and Economic Growth (Goal 8) and Reduced Inequalities (Goal 9) to mention but a few.

    “I thank the Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his love for the vulnerable Lagosian. Likewise, I thank all members of the State Executive Council for standing for the upliftment of the vulnerable in the State through several laudable interventions such as EKO Cares. Together we shall make Lagos State a safe, secure, productive and functional 21st Century economy.”
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  • Peter Trailblazer is wowing the world with comedy skits

    Peter Trailblazer is wowing the world with comedy skits

    By Olaitan Ganiu

    Peter Adeleke Adekunle known by his stage name Peter Trailblazer is a well-versed actor in all aspects of contemporary Nigeria’s entertainment industry. He is a comedian, actor, on-air personality, and videographer.

    Since he set out as skit maker, the 28-year-old has been taking Nigerians through Peter Trailblazer’s style of comedy, reeling out various hilarious clips to educate his fans.

    The comic actor recently wowed the world with his comedy skits entitled, ‘Corporate Mad Man’. The series had gone viral on social media and racked up his followers -from a thousand to over 26,000 – on Instagram.

    “In my attempt to create visual reality from life’s perspective, I wear a suit to do crazy things and it always brings curiosity to the viewers. I earned the title ‘Corporate Mad Man’ due to the kind of content I create on social media, @petertrailblazer where I use my corporate outfit to create humor.

    “My new comedy skit series titled ‘Corporate Mad Man’ brings the reality of a typical hustling Nigerian graduate on-screen who believes in packaging to be who he is not. It represents the realities of an average youth who does crazy things to survive. By using humor to create satire and sarcasm, to creating a strong memory in the public eye, I gained a large fan base that refers to me as a Corporate Mad Man,” Peter Trailblazer who is a graduate of Microbiology at Obafemi Awolowo University explained.

    Living in a country with so much suffering and destitution, the versatile comedian said he’s poised to treat depression, pains, and social issues with his skits.

    “I see entertainment as a voice that can bring relaxation and comfort to people because we are in a time where there is a lot of mental depression, financial recession, and insecurity in the country. And my content has helped ease depression and suicidal thoughts and has made people merrier.”

    Continuing he says, “I have always seen myself as someone that inspires people while passing across messages to them via comic acting. I just love to create organic and spontaneous videos in shorter versions. My motivation is innate. It brings fulfillment to me when I inspire people through comic acting.

    “I am passionate about what I do. My patriotic responsibility to use entertainment to edutain people, to make Nigerian entertainment distinct, and also to use entertainment to erupt a change in Nigeria has kept me going. The desire to be on the big screens has also been my source of resilience and consistency. The key for me has been not to lose focus on my ultimate goal. A lot of the situations happen to me in real life, and I just figure out a way to turn it into an exciting story.”

    Unlike many parents who eschew their kids to venture into entertainment, Peter Trailblazer got the full support of his father.

    He says: “While I was young, my Dad will always take me to Ikeja Country Club where we had this Kids Entertainment Club. And at the age of fourteen, I won the Golden Penny Pasta Best Male Act Awards.

    “So, while at Obafemi Awolowo University, I met a lot of young creative minds. And we started a group on campus in 2015 called the Trailblazer Production. That year, we had a notable comic video that went viral. And that was how the journey began for me; from creating short comic videos to stand-up comedy.”

    On his relationship with fans especially females, he opened up that he doesn’t take advantage of them.

    “It’s always great when you have people admire you for the right reasons. I genuinely appreciate them for loving my brand, but it ends there. Cognitively, men and women are wired differently. Female fans will always come around for pictures; we’ll snap and we’ll smile. Some will come with gifts and I’ll appreciate them for their kind gestures. I don’t take advantage of them. I just keep it platonic. Though some female fans could be very desperate at a timeout with God’s grace, we’ve been able to hang in there. I value and respect them, but I will not allow them to be a distraction. I just ensure that they don’t cross the line. And I try as much as possible to be God-centric with core values.”

  • Identify the star in pupils, Commissioner tells teachers

    Identify the star in pupils, Commissioner tells teachers

    By Gbemisola Adesola

     

    The Lagos State Education Commissioner, Mrs.  Folasade Adefisayo, has called on educators to intentionally identify the star in each of their learners because they are all gifted.

    She said this while speaking on the topic: “Transforming Education” at the Africa Top school award held Tuesday at the Banquet hall of the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.

    “Every child has an A’star. I have not seen a child who does not have an A’star, That A’star can be anything.  It doesn’t have to be that he is the best Maths student. he can be the best dancer he can be the best organiser he can be the best public speaker he can be the best English student because there’s something close to perfection within every child when you look at every child like that then you know your job as an educationist is to find that sweet spot and enable the student discover the full potentials.” She said.

    She also urged the teachers to equip pupils with skills that would help them navigate through the ups and downs of life, solve problems and make right decisions which be relevant to them all their lives.

    Speaking on how parents can support schools, she underscored the need for attitudinal change towards education.

    She said some parents were not supportive because they do not see the long term benefits and also some parents also see school as “irrelevant” – somewhere their children can just go and learn a few things until they are ready to start life.

    Praising educators for their role, she said they were nurturing the nation’s treasure.

    The programme featured presentation of awards to outstanding schools across the country.

    The Executive Secretary, Africa Brands Review, Mr. Joseph Ayodele, said the awards was organised yearly to celebrate outsanding brands.

    He however lamented that the organisation had struggled to identify only 300 standard schools out of the 1,000 it set out to celebrate.

    “We have not gotten 1,000 schools, but struggling to find 399 standard schools in Nigeria,” he said at the event.

    Nevertheless, he said the organisation works to develop the capacity of principals in Africa to build great schools.

    Some of the recipients of the award in the school category included: Christ The King College, Gwagwalada; Aduvie International School;n Fouad Lababidi Islamic Academy; Handmaids Girls Secondary School; ECWA Heroic Academy; and Federal Government Girls College, Jos; Nigerian Tulip International Colleges, Ogun; Marists Brothers’ Juniorate, Uturu, Abia State; Dowen College, Lekki; and Albesta Academy in Ajah, among others.

    Educators that were recognised in Lagos were: Mr. Segun Oloketuyi (Ambassador of Africa Top Schools); Mrs. Margaret Titilayo Solarin, TG/PS Education District 1, Mrs. Anike Adekanye, TG/PS Education District 2 (African Outstanding Educational Administrators) and Dr. Ayandele Olufolayimika Abiose, TG/PS Education District 3 (African Top Most Outstanding Educational Administrator).

     

     

  • Lagos, PHCN to negotiate schools’ power bills

    Lagos, PHCN to negotiate schools’ power bills

    The era of public primary schools in Lagos State not having power supply may be coming to an end if the Lagos State Ministry of Education is able to sort out debts being owed by many of its schools.

    Education Commissioner, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo called on the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to cooperate with the Ministry to solve perennial power issues in many public schools in the state.

    An investigation by The Nation last December revealed that many of the state’s 1,016 primary schools have had their power cut off because of non-payment of outstanding bills. They were forced to rely on generators to pump water, a vital requirement for safeguarding against COVID-19.  Fueling the generators came from meagre running cost, which many head teachers complained was insufficient.

    Responding to a question on what the state was doing about the power issue in schools during the 2021 Ministerial Press Conference held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre last Friday, Mrs. Adefisayo said the ministry had directed the Lagos State Infrastructure Management Agency (LASIAMA) to retrieve the bills from the schools and manage them forthwith.

    Lamenting the outstanding bill burden, Mrs. Adefisayo appealed to the holding company to negotiate with the ministry to reduce the amount payable.

    She said:  “A lot of them (schools) do not have power; and that is why we are working with facilities management department (LASIAMA). One of the first things they have to do is to collect outstanding bills from PHCN. The outstanding bills are an incredible amount.  We hope we will be able to discuss with PHCN. I have never seen PHCN climb down but we just hope that they will look us with some compassion because the bills are indeed unprecedented.  We are negotiating. But going forward we are paying for bills wherever we have them, especially in our Government Technical Colleges.”

    She said that the Babajide Sanwo-Olu -led administration would continue to invest in inputs that would improve quality education, including new school buildings, improved infrastructure, recruitment and training of teachers.

    She said in the last two years, over 1,097projects had been inaugurated in 970 schools across the 20 Local Government Areas of the state. These include the rehabilitation of 322 dilapidated schools, provision of 87,000 units of dual-composite furniture for 775 primary and secondary schools; construction of 300 additional classrooms and seven new hostels blocks, among others.

    “We are building more schools and ensuring proper management of these structures because we believe that our children can only learn in a conducive environment,” she said.

     

  • Youths protest FUTO encroachment on ancestral land

    Youths protest FUTO encroachment on ancestral land

    By Chris Njoku, Owerri

     

    Youths from six communities hosting the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) on Tuesday blocked the Port Harcourt-Owerri road to protest against the institution’s encroachment on their ancestral land.

    The youth numbering over 1,500 armed with machetes, clubs, knives and other dangerous weapons, chanted war songs on their land along Port Harcourt Road, Owerri, where the university proposes to construct a teaching hospital.

    The six communities are: Ihiagwa, Obinze, Dindi Ihiagwa, Avu Mboke and Umuanunu.

    Speaking to journalists, the spokesman of the youth, Comrade Clarkson Ekeopara, said that since 1980 FUTO was established, that the university management had been encroaching into the ancestral land of the host communities.

    He lamented that the university since that time had not found it worthy to compensate the communities that host them.

    He said: “Federal Government established FUTO in 1980 as the first University of Technology in Nigeria with the land they agreed for, which they (Federal Government) compensated for. But it is very disheartening that upon the establishment of the university, the management (because there was no boundary or perimeter fence bordering the university land) had encroached into other adjoining land, which is not part of the initial land given to the Federal Government to establish the school.

    “The management of FUTO has continuously encroached into over 1,000 hectares of our land which is under excision. We are crying because that is where our future generation will settle as we don’t have any land again. The reason for this protest is for FUTO and her management to stop forthwith, further encroachment on our ancestral land”.

    He warned some of their subjects to desist from standing in between the university and the communities, adding that it was only Chief Sam Anokam that the communities have as their attorney.

    “The three “money bags” have been finding a way to remove Sam Anokam, our attorney in order to come and mediate for the university and our communities, with the intent of selling off the land and diverting the proceeds. We hereby warn them to desist from such illicit act. It is only Chief Sam Anokam we have as our attorney”.

    He added that the Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma was not aware of this ugly development and pleaded for his urgent interference.

    “I know Senator Hope Uzodimma. He is a quiet but intelligent man. We are calling on him through this medium to intervene into this matter for us to have our ancestral land for our upcoming generation”.

    The Vice Chancellor of FUTO, Prof. Francis Eze said that the issue is receiving attention.

    Prof Eze told The Nation that the issue was already being  handled by the state government. “It is a matter the state government is already handling and we are almost at the end of the matter. We have a committee which had worked on it(excision), we are going to implementation stage. And if they are fair to themselves and to management, this is the first management since inception that has come to this level of the resolution of this dispute.”

     

  • ‘Nigeria doomed without support for education’

    ‘Nigeria doomed without support for education’

    The Chairman Air Peace Airline, Chief Allen Onyema, has asked Nigerians to support young people to achieve their dreams by supporting their education.

    Chief Onyema who said this while delivering his speech as Chairman at the Dominican University Ibadan Virtual Fund rasing evernt last Saturday, warned that the country was doomed if education lacked support.

    “You can only be remembered for the lives you touch or the legacy you leave behind,” he said, as he appealed to Nigerians to contribute to education at all levels by donating structures for future leaders to learn in a conducive environment.

    Onyema attributed the high rate of kidnapping and other vices to persistent neglect of education.  He called for support for Dominican University which was seeking funds for its Faculty of Social Science building

    “Not focusing on education, we have a high number of people who take to kidnapping for ransom and other vices that cause insecurity in Nigeria. There is need for all Nigerians to support the Dominican University because the university is providing education with learning and good character formation,”  he said, adding that he was supporting the university’s style of education, which he said was most suitable for Nigeria.

    The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Dominican University, Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Ibadan, the Most Reverend Felix Alaba Job, urged all Nigerians to help educational institutions seeing that government is cannot do it alone.

    In his Keynote Address entitled, “Building posterity for posterity”, Vice Chancellor of the university, Reverend Father Professor Anthony Akinwale appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to support the construction of the university’s Faculty of Social Sciences by building a block that would be named after the donor or partner

    “To educate is to build persons, and to build persons is to build a new society,” he said.

    The Dominican University in Ibadan is a place “where we educate future technocrats with ethical competence, building posterity for prosperity by enabling our students to prepare for a future when they will be able to work for their own good by working for the common good.”

     

  • Why i ventured into real estate – says BLord Real Estate CEO

    Why i ventured into real estate – says BLord Real Estate CEO

    Our Reporter

    Linus Williams Ifejika, the young, creative mind behind BLord Group of companies has emphasized on the reasons he is venturing into real estate.

    According to him: “The Blord Group will be expanding into various business areas. Presently, we are one of the biggest bitcoin trading companies in Nigeria and Africa. We have a gadget store, B-lord Luxury Store and we have added B-Lord Real Estate.”

    Speaking further, the Awka, Anambra-based entrepreneur avowed that he is focused on building his business and is less concerned with impressing anyone or competing with anyone. “I promised my mother that I will work hard and be successful. She is the only one I am out to impress.”

    Blord also pointed out that he doesn’t dabble in businesses simply because everyone is doing such business. “It is not coincident that Blord bitcoin is the most sought-after cryptocurrency trader now. It is a business I took time to build up, built upon strong integrity. So, I choose the business I invest in.

    He added: “Many people have complained about being scammed by some unscrupulous bitcoin traders, but there has never been any complaint against us. We make our address known and I have my Whatsapp number open, so it is difficult for anyone to accuse Blord of bitcoin scam.”

    Regarding his new business interest, he said: “The same way we have made Blord bitcoin a household name, we are going to build B-Lord Real Estate on a solid foundation.”

    BLord Chairman also penned advice to emerging entrepreneurs, urging them to disabuse their mind about the idea of becoming successful overnight. “You shouldn’t expect to make it overnight when you didn’t even start in the morning; start first brothers and I can assure you that over time, your hard work will pay off,” he stated.

  • Firm posts N25.08 billion growth in Gross Written Premium

    Firm posts N25.08 billion growth in Gross Written Premium

    Our Reporter 

    AXA Mansard Insurance Plc has recorded N25.08 billion Gross Written Premiums, in the first quarter ended March 31, 2021, up 19 percent from N21.09 billion in March 2020.

    According to the company, Net Premium Income of N8.34bn, up 2 per cent from N8.21billion in the same year.

    Investment and Other Income of N1.64 billion, down 32 per cent from2.39 billion; Operating Expenses of N2.52bn, up 23% N2.05bn in March 2020, while profit before Tax of N2.92bn, up36% from N2.14bn recorded in March 2020 and profit after tax of N2.63 billion, up34 percent from N1.96bn in March 2020
    Commenting on the results, the Chief Financial Officer, Mrs. Ngozi Ola-Israel, said. “Our start to the year demonstrates the continued drive to deliver strong and sustainable results.

    We delivered 34 per cent growth in PAT and 90 per cent improvement in underwriting performance despite the uncertainties in the current business environment. We remain optimistic that the continued support from shareholders, customers, and the member of staff will continue to spur excellent underwriting, investment, and operating performance as we continue to give utmost priority to providing value to our esteemed customers.

    Speaking also on the financials at the end of the first quarter of 2021, the Chief Executive Officer, AXA Mansard Insurance, Kunle Ahmed, said“Although the world is still battling with the pandemic and its effects on various economies, many businesses are cautiously optimistic for a more stable environment. Despite the challenging economic terrain, we have was able to grow our premium incomes and recorded strong profitability growth in the first quarter of the year.

    “This profitability cuts across P & C, Life, and Health portfolios. We remain committed to supporting our customers with the right risk management solutions to ensure that their businesses are well protected during and beyond this unstable period.”

  • Firm bolsters Ogun security with two patrol vehicles

    Firm bolsters Ogun security with two patrol vehicles

    Our Reporter

    Axxela Limited, a sub-Saharan Africa’s preferred fast-growing gas and power portfolio company, has donated two new 2021 Mikano ZNA security patrol vehicles to the Ogun State Security Trust Fund as part of its efforts to help strengthen the security and wellbeing of the residents of the state.

    The gesture by this leading gas and power company aligns with its corporate social responsibility commitment to its communities and an affirmation of the warm relationship between the Ogun State Government and Axxela Limited.

    Commenting on the donation, Axxela’s CEO, Bolaji Osunsanya, said: “We understand that security is critical to any commercial pursuit. Our gesture, therefore, is driven by the recognition of today’s security realities across the country and the priority that the Ogun State Government has assigned to securing lives and investments in the state.”

    The CEO added, “We are fully supportive of the State Government’s invitation of like-minded private sector players to contribute to its security architecture with the establishment of the State Security Trust Fund. With the donation of these two patrol vehicles, we believe we have demonstrated in our little way our willingness and ability to work in consonance with the Ogun State Security Trust Fund to better improve what they are already doing.”

    READ ALSO: GNI partners Ogun Security Trust Fund

    The Executive Secretary and the Chief Executive Officer, Ogun State Security Trust Fund, Otunba Opeyemi Agbaje, while taking delivery of the donated vehicles, lauded the exemplary contribution of Axxela to the Fund stated, “We thank Axxela for the generosity and goodwill that has led to this donation. We want to assure Axxela that we would judiciously use the vehicles and maintain them regularly to strengthen security operations in the state”.

    Otunba Agbaje added that security remains crucial to the economic growth of the Ogun State Government and that Axxela’s support is a testament to the benefits accruing from the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) drive of the state government to advance economic and social growth in Ogun State.