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  • Obis Ora’s ‘Wardrobe Merchant’ takes over Nigerian fashion

    Obis Ora’s ‘Wardrobe Merchant’ takes over Nigerian fashion

    Our Reporter 

     

    At this period in history, women have graciously expanded their horizons. And being industrious has become the call for being unapologetic. As a result, we have learned a lot about women becoming pioneers and showcasing their capabilities effortlessly.

    However, our reporter had the opportunity to meet Obiamaka Oragwu aka Obis Ora, who is a beauty and fashion influencer. She revealed her journey so far, as she spoke about her aspirations and goals.

    The fashion influencer also spearheads an award-winning fashion brand; Wardrobe Merchant. The services offered by the brand include the declutter and resale of trendy, yet stylish fashion items from fashionista wardrobes and fashion stores globally.

    These fashion items are mostly brand new, next to new, and barely used items. They can be found in various categories like; clothing, shoes, bags, jewellery, beauty products, etcetera.

    She further stated how a woman is a queen, who graciously acknowledges her slight shortcomings, while successfully enacting her prowess.

    However, Obiamaka also added that women should keep the flag flying because most women were sultry and curvaceous before they tied the knot. And marriage should be a yardstick to explore their beauties as motherhood and other associated responsibilities should not take the cape off.

    Additionally, Wardrobe Merchant has expanded rapidly since its inception in 2017, still, it has attracted customers from all over Africa and beyond. However, the brand remains a household name in the country.

    On the other hand, Wardrobe Merchant is a grant recipient of the Tony Elumelu Foundation and remains an Alumni of the Cherie Blair Foundation. And as such, Obiamaka Oragwu was nominated for series of awards but emerged as one of Nigeria’s top hundred most inspirational women in 2020 by YNaija and Leading Ladies Africa. She was also recognized as Fashion Entrepreneur of the Year 2019 by the ELOY Awards, as well as a Brand Influencer of the Year; 2019 by the LAMODE Awards.

    Conclusively, Obiamaka Oragwu encourages any woman reading this, to truly love herself and deliberately represent such love in her appearance, no matter what life throws at her.

     

     

  • Prof. Rebo emerges new Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Wukari

    Prof. Rebo emerges new Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Wukari

    Agency Reporter

    The Governing Council, Federal University Wukari, in Taraba has announced Prof. Jude Rabo as the new Vice-Chancellor of the institution.

    Mr Laurence Ngbale, the Chairman of the Governing Council, disclosed at a press conference on Thursday in Wukari that Rabo, a Professor of Veterinary Medicine, emerged as the new vice-chancellor after scoring the highest points ahead of two other eminent professors that keenly contested for the position.

    Ngbale said the 59-year-old professor had served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academics of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi for two terms.

    Ngbale, who handed the new vice-chancellor his appointment letter, urged him not only to sustain the development strides recorded by the outgoing vice-chancellor, Prof. Musa Kundiri, but also move the university to a world-class institution.

    Similarly, the council has also appointed Dr Isa Sidi from Kaduna State as the new University Librarian.

    In his remarks, the new vice-chancellor thanked the Selection Board and the University’s Governing Council for finding him worthy of the appointment.

    READ ALSO: BREAKING: Prof Elom appointed new Vice Chancellor of AE-FUNAI

    He assured that he would turn around the fortunes of the institution by setting standards that would move it forward.

    Rabo appealed to the council to give him all the support and encouragement required to succeed in his new assignment.

    Earlier, the outgoing vice-chancellor urged the university community to give his successor all the support he needed to succeed.

    Prof. Kundiri said his tenure would end on Feb.10.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the selection process which commenced on Wednesday came to a conclusion in the early hours of Thursday.

    The new vice-chancellor who is married with six children hails from Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

    (NAN)

  • Alaibe tasks NDU on self funding, radical leadership

    Alaibe tasks NDU on self funding, radical leadership

    A former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Timi Alaibe has tasked the leadership, alumni and other stakeholders of the Niger Delta University (NDU) Amassoma to ensure that the university achieves self-sufficiency in its funding status.

    Alaibe also demanded that the university adopts a leadership that is sufficiently radical in thoughts, ideas and uniquely equipped to shift the development paradigm of the university.

    Making the demands in his Goodwill Message to the Niger Delta University at 20, the businessman and politician bemoaned the university’s current dependence on state government for funding of infrastructure, academic programmes and research development, stressing that it is not sustainable and could be a source of frustration in the near future.

    He urged the University’s alumni to constitute a committee that will partner and collaborate with the private sector, foundations and philanthropists/public-spirited individuals to attract donations of funds, equipment and infrastructure.

    “I will advise you to be strategic in approach, constitute an Alumni committee, and vigorously work to support the University to surmount the tough challenges of raising the appropriate funds needed to deliver high-quality education and research capabilities,” he urged.

    He added: “When inaugurated, such a committee will be charged with the responsibility of establishing relationships and partnerships with various International foundations and devise structured ways of fundraising.

    “This Alumni committee will assist the University to formulate a five to ten-year strategic plan, which will form the basis for approaching private sector organisations, foundations and philanthropists/public-spirited individuals for support.

    “The golden rule is that you do not go asking for funds without indicating the potential areas of utilisation.”

    The former NDDC MD also emphasised the need for the university to adopt a leadership that will think out of the box without ethnic or tribal interests.

    According to him: “I am definitely not speaking in condemnation of the present or past leadership. I am speaking about the future—our turning point. We need to come to a point where we do things differently.

    “What the dreamers of this university had in mind prior to 20 years ago was an academic citadel compared only to the best private universities in Africa and competing in competencies, infrastructure and research with only the best in Europe and America.

    “The Niger Delta University needs a leadership that is sufficiently radical in thoughts and ideas and uniquely equipped to shift the development paradigm of the university.

  • Sujimoto: starting 2021 with an attitude of gratitude

    Sujimoto: starting 2021 with an attitude of gratitude

    “Giving for us in Sujimoto is beyond Corporate Social Responsibility, it is a Lifestyle! Nothing inspires me more than touching the lives of others, because if no one had given me a chance, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

    These were the golden words of the MD/CEO of Sujimoto, Mr. Sijibomi Ogundele, when he decided to reach out and touch the lives of ordinary and hardworking Nigerians, who have been the most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic that has crippled businesses and economies world over.

    2020 has been a very tough year! From the COVID-19 pandemic that ravaged the world, to the tension of #EndSARS agitation, where many lives were lost; and more recently the economic recession that we have finally plunged into as a nation, 2020 was indeed a very tough year. “If for anything, 2020 taught us about the importance of gratitude and the frailty of life. More importantly, it has taught us the significance of being our neighbours’ keeper – we need each other to survive,” Ogundele said.

    From Falomo to Agege, the Sujimoto Santa stormed the streets of Lagos, rewarding diligent Nigerians with large hampers and envelopes of cash meant to empower and put smiles on the faces of these vulnerable but hardworking Lagosians. Leading the Sujimoto team, Mr. Ogundele himself, took to the streets of Lagos to proliferate the good news of love to Lagosians who are striving at different levels to earn an honest living and fend for themselves and their families. People who despite the economic downturn, have decided to be resolute and resilient in their quest to provide for their families.

    According to Mr. Ogundele, “One of such lucky Lagosians was a pregnant hawker by the name Mercy, who we later learnt has been abandoned by husband. I was sad to see this lady, heavily pregnant but still trying to provide for herself and her unborn child. It is interesting to see how enterprising she is despite her condition. She reminded me of the resilience of most Nigerian women, in the face of hardship. Same resilience that took my trader mother from Ijebu Igbo to Lagos, to become one of the major distributors for Nestle Nigeria, just as the lady moved from one tray to multiple gifts. We have launched a campaign to find her and better her life.

    Another beneficiary of the Sujimoto Santa was a middle-aged traffic warden at Ogudu roundabout. A woman who is known in that community as a very committed and a dedicated traffic warden, never leaving her duty post, come rain or shine, always ensuring the traffic is smooth in that axis and she is known for always wearing a smile.

    According to Mr. Ogundele, ‘An incredible, selfless and patriotic Civil Servant like her deserves special recognition for her selfless service to her country people. While we appreciated her with cash gift and a bumper hamper, we believe that people like her should be specially rewarded by the government to serve as an inspiration for the younger generations.”

    Sujimoto also reached out to unsuspecting petty traders, group of highway managers and industrious disabled men from Ikorodu to Ogudu, who did not allow their condition affect their hustle and many others.

    READ ALSO: Testimonial from the life of Sijibomi Ogundele, CEO Sujimoto Group

    Despite all that 2020 came with, the MD still made all Sujimoto staff, do the Gratitude jump in recognition of what 2020 represents to many more. In his New Year Address to Nigerians, Mr. Ogundele reiterated his stance on the need to start 2021 with an attitude of gratitude.

    According to him; “Be a source of hope to the hopeless, because 2020 has shown us all that we are all interconnected. What happens to one, affects everyone else. Therefore, when our neighbour bleeds, we all bleed.”

     

    Sujimoto

  • Extend love to less privileged, Moziano tells celebrities

    Extend love to less privileged, Moziano tells celebrities

    Our Reporter

    Aikhuanyi Moses Osatufoh, popularly known as Moziano Movenchy, the founder of Fast Life Foundation charged Nigerian celebrities in all fields to join hands in extending love to the less privileged around their respective communities.

    The Edo State-born CEO made his passionate plea during a recent encounter with The Nation.

    According to Movenchy, “Together we can actually make this nation great, if only we agree to at least touch one life every day, especially the orphans. That’s why I am pleading to all celebrities to always have this at the back of their minds.”

    Moziano Movenchy who is a graduate of Auchi Polytechnic also distinguishes himself as a humanitarian by his numerous altruistic activities and especially through his Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that caters to the needs of orphans and other vulnerable children in the country.

    He shed light on his altruism and motivation for founding a charity organisation.

    “This foundation is aimed at providing care to orphans in Nigeria. Its main objective is to contribute to the provision of a nurturing environment where such kids can be raised with ample opportunities to obtain proper education, learn trade skills, and receive healthcare services,” he said.

    On what inspired him to get involved in charities, Moziano Movenchy said: “I was touched by the situation of some children in orphanages and kid beggars on the street. But generally, I am emotional about the less privileged who do not have sustainable means of survival. And you find them mostly in orphanages and on the street.”

    READ ALSO: Foundation, firm lift less privileged

    Although Fast Life foundation came into existence in 2020, Movenchy had started his humanitarian activities in 2017.

    His goal of reaching out to vulnerable children is, according to him, to “ensure that the children we serve are in an environment that empowers them, where they will be able to fully grow their god-given potential.”

    Declaring his commitment to this charitable cause, he said: “I feel really good and happy anytime I reach out to them. It gives me joy seeing them happy when they receive items I brought to them.”

    Moziano Movenchy is not just known for Charity, his name resonates in the music industry, as he is easily identified as the boss of Fast Life Record Label, the company he founded in 2018.

  • FITC gets global awards

    FITC gets global awards

    Collins Nweze

     

    FINANCIAL Institutions Training Centre (FITC) has emerged winner of the 2020 Business Excellence Award (The BIZZ Awards) and the Strategy, Change, and Transformation Award (The IBX Awards).

    FITC was announced winner of the two global awards at a virtual ceremony in Doha, Qatar and Houston, Texas, United States.

    FITC won in the Gold category at The BIZZ awards and in the Silver category in Strategy, Change and Transformation  at the International Business Excellence, IBX Awards in recognition of its phenomenal initiatives that have led to innovative and exceptional transformation within the organisation.

    Also presented with an award was the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO), FITC, Chizor Malize, who won the IBX 2020 Award for “Inspirational Leader”. The award was in recognition of the innovative, dynamic and game changing work at FITC last year at the height of the global pandemic resulting in the extraordinary organisation wide transformation at FITC and positive impact on the Nigerian financial services sector, FITC’s primary focus area.

    Other IBX 2020 Award winners include Microsoft and Virgin Mobile.

    The International Business Excellence (IBX) Awards is part of a global business movement, giving organisations the chance to meet and compete with others from all over the world.

    Over the last 12 years, IBX Awards have been leading the way in recognising inspirational business practices, holding over 100 events and hosting more than 2000 firms.

    Organized by Awards International, the IBX Awards recognises long-term sustainable profitability achieved through the practice of excellence, which occurs across a broad range of disciplines and defines the modern business agenda.

  • GISA trains over 400 practitioners on drug abuse

    GISA trains over 400 practitioners on drug abuse

    Our Reporter

    The Global Initiative on Substance Abuse (GISA) has trained over 400 practitioners on evidence-based drug and substance abuse prevention in Nigeria.

    Among the trainees were school-based prevention specialists, workplace prevention experts as well as management and policy specialists drawn from different professions and organisations.

    Founder/Executive Director of GISA, Dr. Martin Agwogie, said this in a statement to mark the 2nd year anniversary of the commencement of the Universal Prevention Curriculum (UPC) for substance use disorders in Nigeria.

    He said: “Participants in our trainings cut across different professions and organisations such as government drug laws and regulatory agencies, ministries, private, faith based, youth and non-governmental organisations”.

    Read Also: Lagos trains procurement officers

    The GISA boss noted that despite the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic, the organisation has continued to deliver evidence-based substance abuse prevention training using the virtual platform.

    He said GISA is in collaboration with local and international organisations in delivering evidence-base substance abuse prevention interventions such as the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), United States, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Programme of Sri Lanka among others.

    According to him: “We recently received a UNODC grant to deliver evidence-based substance abuse prevention interventions in selected secondary schools in Lagos state.

    “It will be the first of its kind with over sixteen thousand students, their parents and teachers in the schools as direct beneficiaries from the project. This is a mark of recognition of our expertise in delivering evidence-based interventions”.

    Agwogie noted that GISA’s training in 2021 will include evidence-based substance abuse prevention in the family and community which will also be extended to other African countries.

  • FG pledges support for traditional medical practitioners

    FG pledges support for traditional medical practitioners

    By Nwanosike Onu, Awka

    The Federal Government has assured the National Association of Nigeria Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP) of its.

    The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, told the traditional medicine practitioners the government was ready to support them so far they indulge in every genuine thing

    The Director, Traditional, Complementary Medicine and Alternative Medicine in the Federal Ministry of Health, Hajia Zainab Sheriff, urged them to continue working as one body without rancor.

    Following the assurance, the group elected its new leaders from all the six geo-political zones with Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Nakowa as president

    Other leaders elected were: Chief Dr. Eugene Nwachukwu (Deputy President); Chief Dr. Bamidele Fatayo (Secretary-General); Alhaji Dr. Musediku Adeola (Treasurer) and Mallam. Mohammed Shaibu (Asst. Secretary).

    READ ALSO: Indian doctors strike against allowing traditional medicine practitioners into surgery room

    Others were: Dr. Chinedu Otugo (Financial Secretary); Chief Dr. JohnMary Ibeka (National Task Force Chairman); Chief Dr. Mrs. (Iyom) Felicia Okonkwo (National Women Leader) and Dr. Ogieva Isibro Leo (Publicity Secretary) among others.

    Dada urged members of NANTMP to be united for the uplift of the association.

    He said the association would do everything to enhance traditional medicine practice in Nigeria.

    Meanwhile, the group said it would start the election of officers in Anambra on January 21 to early February.

    Chairman National Task Force of NANTMP, Dr John Ibeka, stated this to reporters at the weekend in Anambra.

    He said the election would last for so long to enable the group to get it right because, according to him, “Anambra State is the gateway of Igbo”.

  • Insecurity delays Katsina resumption

    Insecurity delays Katsina resumption

    From Augustine Okezie, Katsina

     

    Katsina State government has not announced the resumption of schools at the Basic Education level, despite the directive of the Federal Government that schools in the states could resume.

    An official of the state Ministry of Education, who spoke in confidence with The Nation yesterday, said the state government’s primary concern was to address the security challenges occasioned by the recent abduction and subsequent release of 344 Kankara schoolboys by bandits.

    He said: “The state government is working hard to provide tight security in schools, particularly those having boarding houses, address also the issue of COVID-19 protocols before announcing their resumption.”

  • Ekiti demolishes dilapidated public school buildings

    Ekiti demolishes dilapidated public school buildings

    By Rasaq Ibrahim, Ado Ekiti

    The Ekiti State Government has begun the demolition of dilapidated and sub-standard buildings in the 532 primary schools across the 16 local government areas of the state.

    The measure, according to government, was necessary because some of the dilapidated structures in the schools had become death traps for the students and hideouts for criminals.

    The Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof Femi Akinwumi, spoke in Ado Ekiti, on Monday, while flagging off the demolition exercise at Mount Mary Nursery/Primary School, Oke Ila, Ado Ekiti.

    Akinwumi said the demolition exercise was specifically conceptualised by the Governor Kayode Fayemi-led government to give way for the construction of new buildings across the primary schools in the state.

    The SUBEB boss added that some of the structures were constructed during the pre-colonial days dated back to 1920, making them outdated for the new age era.

    “Under this programme, all mud and substandard blocks must go down. We have to checkmate all the miscreants that are using those dilapidated buildings in all our primary schools as hideouts, because we are aware some people used these places as abode.

    “Presently, we are training about 761 new teachers, which was a follow up to over 2,700 teachers that had been trained in 2020. We are giving conducive environment and really enhancing the capacities of our personnel.

    “As professionals, we knew the importance and role good environments play in performances. It is a good variable in the performances of students in any examination.

    Read Also: Kidnapped Ekiti petrol dealer freed

    “With this demolition and construction of new buildings, pupils can move around and enjoy the aesthetic environment we are going to provide without fear of attacks by hoodlums. They will also enjoy the beauty”.

    The government also warned the newly recruited 1,000 primary school teachers against presenting fake certificate in the ongoing induction course, saying anyone apprehended for such crime would be dismissed and sanction accordingly.

    Addressing the new teachers undergoing induction course at Christ Girls Hall in Ado-Ekiti, Akinwumi urged the teachers to exhibit professionalism and be guided by principles of teaching to give the pupils deserving education.

    Akinwumi said whoever betrays the civil service rules and engages in unethical Conduct antithetical to their rule of engagement would be dismissed from the service.

    “You must display your responsibilities to the state. Your employments are still provisional. If we later discover that you don’t have the mental capacities, claim certificates you didn’t possess or falsify any of your documents, we will disqualify you.

    “Don’t present fake certificates to us, if you do that, you will be apprehended and face the consequences.”