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Tag: $100

  • Fed Govt plans100, 000 mass housing units’ scheme

    The Federal Government  said its plans to deliver 100, 000 affordable homes yearly as social housing scheme in the country is close to fruition.

    Minister of State for Power Works and Housing II, Surv Hassan Zarma, stated this during an inspection of Lafia, National Housing Programme (NHP).

    He said low income earners, such as artisans and commercial vehicle operators, among others, would have access to the affordable houses at the price of N2 million and N5 million for one-bedroom and three-bedroom flats respectively.

    He said the housing project initiated by the Office of the Vice President, will be supported by the Federal Ministry of Finance but entirely different from the current NHP being executed in the 34 states across the federation.

    According to the minister, who is the Chairman, Presidential Initiative on Family Home Fund, government is committed to end housing deficits in the country.

    He said: “The 100, 000 houses is family home fund that is purely social housing programme. The cost will not be as high as this, it will be much more lower.

  • 89 plays compete for $100,000 NLNG prize

    Eighty-nine entries will compete for the 2018 edition of the Nigeria LNG Limited-sponsored Nigeria Prize for Literature focused on Drama, the company revealed at  the hand-over of the entries to the Advisory Board of the Prize in Lagos.

    The hand-over, chaired by Professor Emeritus Ayo Banjo, signifies the beginning of the judging process, which will culminate in the announcement of the winner in October.

    NLNG’s Deputy Managing Director Sadeeq Mai-Bornu, represented by Acting Manager, Community Relations, Godson Dienye, said stakeholders needed to rally around the prize to ensure that it is sustainable and takes its rightful place in the rank of literary prizes in the world.

    “We have received 89 entries this year, lower than what we had in 2014, when drama was also in focus. We must change this trend. All stakeholders must begin to own the prize as theirs and push it to greater heights.We  also received two entries for the Literary Criticism Award competition, which unfortunately, appears not to attract many entries. I consider this as a huge gap in Nigeria’s Literacy space.

    “To the judges, I urge you to demonstrate your usual proficiency in administering and adjudicating the process, knowing that the world is earnestly waiting for your announcement of another legendary work,” he remarked.

    The entries, which came in response to a call published in national dailies last February, will be examined on excellence in language, creativity and book quality.

    The entries were immediately handed over to the panel of judges led by Matthew Umukoro, a professor of Theatre Arts at the University of Ibadan.

    Other members include  Mohammed Inuwa Umar-Buratai, a Professor of Theatre and Performing Arts and Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU), Zaria; and Dr.  Ngozi Udengwu, a Senior Lecturer Department of Theatre Arts and Film Studies,  University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

    This year’s award will run concurrently with NLNG’s Prize for Literary Criticism for which only two entries were received for this year’s competition.

    Members of the Advisory Board for the Literature Prize, besides Prof Banjo, two-time Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, are Prof. Jerry Agada, former Minister of State for Education, and former President Association of Nigerian Authors, and Professor Emeritus Ben Elugbe, former President  Nigerian Academy of Letters and President of the West-African Linguistic Society (2004-2013).

    The Nigeria Prize for Literature has since 2004 rewarded eminent writers, such as Ikeogu Oke (2017, Poetry) with The Heresiad; Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (2016, Prose) – Season of Crimson Blossoms; Sam Ukala (2014; Drama) with Iredi War; Tade Ipadeola (2013; Poetry) with his collection of poems, Sahara Testaments; Chika Unigwe (2012 – prose), with her novel, On Black Sister’s Street; as well as Adeleke Adeyemi (2011, children’s literature) with his book, The Missing Clock.

    The Nigeria Prize for Literature, one of Nigeria LNG Limited’s numerous contributions towards building a better Nigeria, is Africa’s most prestigious literary award with a cash reward of $100,000. It rotates yearly among four literary categories – Prose fiction, Poetry, Drama and Children’s Literature.

  • Group to empower 100,000 innovators

    Project Termite Action Chief Executive Officer Dr Noel Akpata has said  100,000 innovators with  solutions to the nation’s  socio-economic  problems  will be empowered  at the World Creativity and Innovation Day.

    Akpata spoke during a visit to the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Hajia Aisha Abubakar, in Abuja.

    “The visit is geared towards the celebration of World Innovation and Creativity Day on April 21.

    “We are launching Project Termite Action and Ideas World Cup, a brainstorming series of activities to help Nigerians see the nation in a better light and come up with actionable solutions  to socio-economic development,’’ he said.

    The day was founded to encourage people to use new ideas, make new decisions, take new actions and achieve new outcomes that make the world a better place.

    According to him, the group will use its network to ensure funding will not hinder the innovators from achieving their objectives.

    Akpata said it would collaborate with the ministry to transform Nigeria through creativity and innovation.

    Abubakar pledged to support the group, saying that Nigeria was far behind and needed innovation to solve lot of problems.

    She said the idea, if properly executed, would put Nigeria on same page with other countries with innovations.

    “The country needs an environment where we can have a proper synergy because we have a huge gap in the area of innovation,” Abubakar said.

  • Nigeria eyes ‘100,000Mw by 2030’

    The Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) has predicted that Nigeria will be able to generate 100,000 megawatts (Mw) of electricity by 2030.

    Its Director-General, Eli Bala,yesterday said the projection would be possible with an annual economic growth rate of seven per cent and steady implementation of the National Energy Plan by the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.

    Bala saaid: “With the incremental power programme; every time, every year, we must have an increment in power generation.

    “We will also increase our capacity to transmit as well as the capacity to distribute. So I think we are on course, although it is not easy.

    “Very soon, we will get to a level where we will have a 100,000Mw or 100 gigawatts by 2030 and the economy growing at the rate of about seven per cent annually.”

    Noting that the mandate of the commission is to produce strategic plans and coordinate national policies, Bala said: “If you look at the strategic plans we have produced, we produced energy master plan and in particular with respect to electricity generation.”

    He said the commission was the first to articulate the various energy mix, including renewable and nuclear energy.

    “We made a plan in such a manner that we project by 2030, if the economy is to grow at seven percent, we need nothing less than 100 gigawatts of electricity capacity.

    “And you know our politicians want the economy to grow by double-digits. If the economy is to grow by double-digit, we need nothing less than 300 gigawatts by 2030.

    “I think knowing what you want is a very important thing. If you don’t know what you want, you are going nowhere,”  he told NAN.

  • Ayade…How far 100 days after?

    Ayade…How far 100 days after?

    When on May 29 Prof Benedict Benyaushuye Ayade was sworn-in as the governor of Cross River State at the prestigious Calabar International Convention Centre (CICC), he left  no one in doubt that he was coming to government with the sole purpose of  serving the people.

    His vision as encapsulated in the inaugural speech is clear, captivating and precise as to the direction/path he intend to chart, the drive and passion he possesses, not unmindful of the hurdles on the way to success, he expressed his un-quenching determination to surmount such limitations and pilot the state to its divine allotted sphere of honour. In his inaugural speech, Ayade was passionate that as a people we have come to a point in history of possibilities/prosperity because he has come with the right ingredients to bring about a perfect pollination whose petals will spread abroad sweet scent that will enlivened and awakened and drive the state away from backwardness to greatness and the people from poverty to economically viable icons among the people of Nigeria and the world.  To achieve the desired goal therefore, it require that the people must collectively “rise to…full height to envision and carve out a better future” for themselves and the coming generations.

    Ayade’s subsequent utterances and actions from the day of his inauguration to his 100 days in office lucidly indicate that he is on course, never deviated or drifted away from the path which he has charted for himself by the grace of God to move Cross River out of doldrums of social, economic and political irrelevance to prominence and Cross Riverians from backbenchers in all sphere of existence to trail blazers in the comity of Nigerian States and beyond. Ayade had maintained in his inaugural speech that “In the new Cross River of our DREAM, there is a place and hope for everyone. There will be jobs for the youth and prosperity for the working class. The resurgent middle class shall find anchor for their roots and everyone shall find independence and pride in their work. The wages of honest labour shall liberate families from the jaws of hardship and no child shall go to bed with an empty stomach. Neither shall any mother be depressed by lack of access to Medicare for her children and loved ones. Brothers and sisters, this is our DREAM!”

    In 100 days, Ayade has made good his promise to provide jobs for our people with the conclusion of recruitment interview to employ 1000 persons for the Green Police and the Garment factory (500 each for a start), lifted the hitherto agonizing 13 years embargo on employment, started and sustained prompt payment of workers salary as at when due, concluded arrangement with a Dublin based Irish company, Affordable Buildings Concept International Limited for the building of 5000 Houses for the low, middle and upper income earners that would be provided with water and electricity, and provided an appointment by executive fiat to Mr. Ashie Osor who has been writing as a linage reporter with the Cross River State Newspaper Corporation since 2009.

    As part of effort to actualise his vision of creating employment opportunities for our people, within his 100 days in office, Governor Ayade has also been able to ensure that work on the garment factory is ongoing Inspite of the heavy rains, concluded arrangement with Irish Dairy firm for the establishment of an Ice Cream making factory, a Spanish company, Cavenco to establish a Dairy Farm to revitalize the Obudu Ranch Resort Farms. It is based on this reality that in his inaugural speech he specifies what this period expects from the entire people of Cross River.”This is what this moment requires. The capacity to dream! That is what will give real meaning to our belief. We must all strive to dream, to lift our eyes beyond the horizons of the present difficulties and visualize a better day! And we must all do this…from the hills of Obanliku to the thick forests of Boki and from the Creeks of Bakassi to the Cocoa plantations of Ikom, we must join hands to plant the trees of HOPE and water the gardens of liberty!”

    To bring to fruition his promise supported by the cooperation of the people tape on new ideas as well as technology to bring about total empowerment to Cross Riverians, Senator Benedict Benyaushuye Ayade has equally within his 100 days in the saddle concluded a pact for the establishment of a tractor assembly plant in the state, as progress of work on the governor’s signature projects in 100 days is clearly obvious. China Harbor Engineering, a globally renowned company is already carrying out preliminary work at the proposed Calabar Deep Seaport that will help to evacuate the corridors that have always prevented bigger vessels from entering the Calabar seaport, as they had to stop at Lome and then use smaller vessels to transfer goods by installment to Calabar. The project will also help service land lock countries like Chad and Niger to move their goods easily from the Calabar port.

    Ayade has already attracted a 500 million Euros from the Broad Spectrum Industrial Services, based on purely Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement with the government require to provide 25 percent Bank guarantee; just as a reputable Nigerian bank has already given its approval to the novel arrangement. When completed, the seaport is expected to generate an average N30 Million on monthly basis. In 100 days, surveying, plotting and excavation work is seriously ongoing on the over 260 kilometers Super High Way from the seaport to the northern part of the state. Advanced plans for the actualisation of the proposed state owned refinery; to send talented Cross Riverians to be train as pilots and other associated aviation courses, professions in Dublin with feverish vision to establish an airport in a located between Ogoja and Yala Local Government Areas of the state, have been laid.

    In his historic inaugural speech, Ayade explained: “And by ensuring that every foot is on the pedal, we aim to harness new ideas and technology to reconstruct our state, reform our schools to guarantee first class education for our youth and empower our citizens with the skills they need to engage a brave new world! Let me use this opportunity, to announce our signature projects; we shall undertake the construction of a dual carriage super highway from Calabar through Ikom and Ogoja to the Ranch Resort in Obudu”.

    Guided by the uplifting and immortal words penned by a global icon, Late Nelson Mandela that it always seems impossible until it is done”, Ayade sets out to lay a solid foundation as he has done in 100 days to bring about the restoration of hope to a once despondent people, checkmate hitherto raising spite of insecurity in the state as well as ensure a proper management and utilisation of our rich forests resources for the good of the people. To this end Ayade has in a 100 days set up a Five-man Security Committee headed by Brig. Gen Mannix Nyiam (Rtd) and code-named “Operation Skolombo” which has successfully reduced crime rate in the state to a negligible percentage. Provided the security committee with operational vehicles, attended and inspected the carry out of reconnaissance (recce) by the Officers and Men of the Armed Forces at Bakassi where several illegal settlements by militants were destroyed, thereby boosting foreign and international investors confidence in the state.

    Propelled by the unquenchable desire to bring about an attitudinal change favouring the employment of machineries/technology to enhance our production capacity, boost our economy and open a new vista of hope and opportunity directed at increasing our value chain as unambiguously stated in his inaugural speech, the Obudu born governor has within 100 days  in  office sponsored and signed into law the Cross River State Infrastructure  Development Law for a solid foundation for the development of the state, becoming the first state in Nigeria to do so. In 100 days, Ayade has sponsored a bill for the establishment of  Cross River State Sustainable Development Agenda Agency’ a bill for Social Housing Infrastructure Development to ensure every Cross Riverian, no matter his/her social, economic and political status is entitled to a decent house.

    He has equally sent a bill for a law to protect of our water frontiers; a bill to preserve our forests resources in accordance with the sustainable development agenda of the global community; a tax exemption bill to exclude the poor and the low income earners from taxation to ameliorate the conditions of the ordinary man in the state.  Out of a total of 15 bills before the current CRSHA, 10 are sponsored by Senator Ayade in 100 days in the saddle.

    In 100 days, Governor Ayade has  equally concluded an arrangement to build a brand new city to be called “Calas Vergas” in Calabar and 16 other modern estates in the 16 Local Government Areas where the dual super high way will pass as part of deliberate effort to lift the state infrastructure wise, draw oil magnets and other investors to Calabar and the sate in general and then boost the overall economy of Cross River and lives of the people.

    Outside the above stated achievements, the amiable governor has equally laid a rock-solid foundation that will turn the state into an economic hub in West Africa sub region  by sealing a pact with Chinese experts to generate a total of 90 megawatts of electricity from the Agbokim and Kwa waterfalls and the canalisation and channelisation of either Ikom, Itigidi and Calabar rivers, with each generating 30megawatts and the conclusion of plans to construct the Calabar Haulage City. Other significant achievements recorded by the Ayade administration within the short span of a 100 days in office include presentation of operational vehicles to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), restores the regular media parley with the press, restored the monthly impress to the press, provided the press with a brand new bus, restored the Correspondent Chapel to the Governor’s Office,, held meetings with members of  forests communities, and operators of quarries in the state plan to lift the ban on logging in the state and restore the concessional logging system, evacuation of refuse from our streets and introduction new refuse collection method as well as severally intervened on the Federal Roads to bring about palliative relief to the suffering motorists and other road users at Odukpani Junction and the Akpabuyo road.

    All that have been achieved and those successes in the offing, Ayade had in his inaugural speech as governor stated confidently that they were achievable and the journey and action of this visionary leaders in the past 100 days has clearly shown that they are indeed achievable with the collective support from the people in the future as they have so far done.

    “With our backs against the wall, we must dig deeper into the wells of our creativity and hew out a new pathway to greatness. In doing this, we must be guided by the immortal words of Dr Nelson Mandela that “ It always seems impossible until it is done”. Fellow Cross Riverians, we shall overcome the present bleakness and wend our way into the sunshine of a brighter day! As we clime this imposing mountain of hope, we shall widen our scope, broaden the horizon and sharpen our instincts for fresh and big ideas that will galvanise this great state to achieve its full potential and usher in a prosperous Cross River, where our people will live in peace and harmony with one another and with nature. We count on your prayers and support to achieve this.”

    Actually,100 days is actually an insignificant number out of 1095  or 1096 days in four years of a tenure, but to a great mind like Ayade, it means a lot and he has gone ahead to prove that by the achievements on ground.

    Bravo Ayade, Bravo the people’s Field Marshall, leader and commander of the poor and the down trodden in our society! Carry on!

     

    • Ulayi and Asha are media aides to Governor Ben Ayade

     

  • Buhari made no promise on 100 days, says Presidency

    Buhari made no promise on 100 days, says Presidency

    The Presidency on Tuesday denied reports that President Muhammadu Buhari promised to achieve specific things within his first 100 days in office.

    It also claimed that the document tagged ‘One Hundred Things Buhari Will Do in 100 Days’ and ‘My Covenant With Nigerians’ did not emanate from the authentic channel of the campaign’s media department.

    The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu made the clarification while responding to the criticisms that followed the denial that the President made such promises.

    He urged Nigerians to ignore the claims from certain quarters that the president specifically made promises of achievements within his 100 days in office.

    The Presidential aide said that he never authorized or signed any document in this regard in his capacity as the director, media and communications of the Buhari campaign organization.

    According to him, what the public should be talking about in respect to President Buhari’s 100 days in office are milestones reached within the period under review, rather than achievements.

    He said: “We prefer to talk about milestones instead of achievements. Whether the milestones represent achievements or not, that is left for the people to decide. Milestones have been achieved which is important for the country”.

    On what the president said during his lecture at Chatham House in London, he said, “The president never promised anything to anyone. It is on record in that lecture at Chatham House they asked him a question relating to expectations and what he specifically would do in relation to certain documents that were flying around committing him to this thing or that thing within 100 days.

    “In that lecture- the video is already now viral on the web- he (Buhari) said ‘it contained falsehood and I am not going to be engaged in deceit. I will go in there, I will see what is there and then get the intelligence – the knowledge of things that are going on- and I will fully commit myself to serving Nigeria’”.

    “My point is that as the director, media and communications of that campaign, I was responsible for internal and external communications and these so called documents that are been flown around didn’t have my signature.

    “I didn’t fund them and I didn’t authorize them. From what President Buhari himself had said at Chatham House, he had no iota or knowledge of those documents. So, people cannot hold him to account on something to which he did not commit himself, ” Shehu stated.

    Responding to the question regarding the claim that the APC had posted the documents on its website, he said, “APC had a campaign in which there were so many centres of public communication and unfortunately there were some among those centres that were more or less on the loose. Yes, it was possible that things were being done without the knowledge or the usage of the proper channel of communication.

  • Still agile at 100

    Still agile at 100

    Madam Lydia Babafunsho Adeyemi was 100 last Monday. Her children, grand-children, relations and guests gathered to celebrate with her at the Christ Apostolic Church in Mushin, Lagos, reports NNEKA NWANERI.

    Monday August 1, was a day of joy, praise and thanksgiving for the family of Madam Lydia Babafunsho Adeyemi as their matriarch turned 100.

    The event took place at the Christ Apostolic Church Mushin, Lagos.  Mama Lydia walked into the church with her children and some of her grandchildren.

    The choir rendered soul-lifting songs and other special church anthems to usher her in. All the societies in in Christ Apostolic Churches were proud to be involved in the celebration. Madam Lydia holds the title of the Distinguished Apostolic  Mother.

    Various groups made presentations. First were the TWC Women, one of the groups in the church, who sang in her honour before presenting a gift. During the songs rendition, the ‘birthday girl’ was seen wriggling her body to the rhythms of the songs.

    The Young Women Christian Association (YWCA), Olorunsogo, was not left out. The group honoured its patroness with songs and dances. The women wore blue uniformed head ties (gele) and ipele of matching colour. They also presented the celebrator a very large portrait of hers.

    During the testimony session, many took turns to speak about what they know about her. Encomiums poured in for her.

    Former chairman of Olorunsogo District of the church, Pastor John Olufemi Oyebamji (rtd) said her attainment of the centenary age was an unusual favour from God.

    Pastor Oyebanji, who is 101 years old, also recalled the early married days of Mama Lydia, when her husband was made Music Master of CAC Ile-Ife, Osun State, where they stayed.

    He spoke of her ability to still read without a pair of glasses, despite her age.

    Former President of the church Pastor John Dada Obafemi and members of the Gideon International Worldwide presented a Bible to the celebrator.

    She gave an account of her life fluently in Yoruba. She remembered vividly every detail as she sat on a chair opposite the congregation. There was a translator and the mini LCDs in the church screened documentaries of her early life. It was buttressed with several pictures of her early days.

    She spoke about the efficacy of prayers in her life; how she suffered for nine years after her marriage in 1938, experiencing several miscarriages and stillbirths before she embraced messages from the Bible and received the covenant of peace from God. She thereafter had four children in quick succession.

    She also shared her joyful and sorrowful moments with guests. She captured their attention as they stared continuously at her bemused.

    After her speech, she danced back to her seat as the choir sang praise songs.

    Reading out Psalm 90, which urges all to number their days and use it judiciously, Chairman of the Church Pastor Steven Folorunsho Obisesan noted that the purpose of the service was  to thank God for the life of the  celebrator.

    “She derived long life and the truth from the word of God and got the earthly profit-long life. She waited and composed herself to realise her gain. Now we can say she is an overcomer,” Obisesan said.

    First son of Mama, Pastor Isaac Adeyemi, in a tribute remembers the 6:00am and 9:00pm prayers at home which he dreaded because of the whips he and his siblings had to suffer if they dozed off. He said despite his rebellious spirit, his mother stuck to her guns and did not allow his behaviour deter her training and moulding of him.

    He described his mother as a tough disciplinarian and the best teacher who groomed him into his life-call: working in the vineyard of God.

    Mama’s daughter Mrs Susan Oremule wrote that her mother’s shoulder is big enough for as many children as possible to lean on.

  • Lawyers appraise 100 years of nationhood

    Lawyers appraise 100 years of nationhood

    On Friday, August 29, the curtain was drawn on the 54th annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) held at the International Convention Centre (IICC), Owerri, the Imo State capital. Its theme was “Nigeria: 100 Years After.” It was a weeklong event that tasked the ability of the Imo State Government to host a conference of that magnitude.

    Weeks preceding the conference, the state government worked hard to ensure that the conference would be hitch-free. Finishing touches were given to the world-class convention centre built by Rochas Okorocha’s administration. Unarguably, the IICC is one of the best convention centres in the country.

    Although the conference was adjudged one of the best by the conferees, it witnessed some challenges.

    First was the fear of managing over 10,000 lawyers and other visitors coming from all parts of the country and beyond, without risking an outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

    The opposition parties in the state, especially the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), had played up the Ebola sentiment to persuade the NBA to cancel the right of the state to hold the conference. But apparently prodded by the overwhelming assurance by the government, the lawyers defied the Ebola scare and converged on Owerri for the event that turned out as an historic one for the Heartland State.

    To allay the fears of the visitors and residents, the state government adopted adequate measures to ensure that all visitors were screened at all entry points, especially at the airport and the venue of the conference. This was to ensure that no visitor affected by the Ebola Virus gained access to the conference centre.

    To further ensure the safety of the visitors, sanitisers were provided at all the entry and exit points within the centre and the expansive premises.

    Security arrangement was also at its best during the programme as there was no reported case of crime at the venue or in any of the hotels where the visiting lawyers lodged.

    Two days before the beginning of the conference, economic and social activities in Owerri had been on the upbeat. All the available hotels had been fully booked with the state government re-opening the famous Concorde Hotel, shut down for the past four months to enable maintenance work to  be carried out.

    The prices of food items and cost of transportation also rose by over 50 per cent because of the influx of people into the state.

    On the first day of the conference, all roads leading to the convention centre, venue of the conference, were cordoned off by stern-looking security operatives. This resulted in heavy gridlock in the entire capital city which forced most people to walk long distances to their places of work.

    Commuters who had no inkling about the conference were trapped for hours in the gridlock, while street hawkers made brisk businesses as they sold their wares with maximum profits. It was indeed a boost to the state’s economy.

    During the five days that the conference lasted, Nigerians jettisoned the fear of the Ebola threat and brainstormed on the challenges confronting the country and the right way to go to obviate possibly impending catastrophe.

    Distinguished speakers such as former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, Governors Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) and former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, among other eminent Nigerians, identified corruption, insecurity, poverty, unemployment, among others, as part of the country’s problems.

    In his opening speech, the host, Governor Okorocha enjoined the NBA to support the struggle for a free and virile country. He urged the legal practitioners to proffer solutions and ideas that will ensure good governance.

    Governor Okorocha maintained that bad governance has, over the years, impeded the country’s growth and development, even as he insisted that “bad governance is worse than the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease.”

    He argued that while the Ebola Virus has the capacity to kill 100 people at a time,  bad governance has the capacity to kill generations yet unborn.

    Governor Okorocha, who described the judiciary as the last hope of the common man, urged members of the Bar to put the issue of electoral malpractice at the centre stage of their discussion in order to ensure free and fair election in 2015 general elections.

    He regretted that 100 years after, Nigeria is still battling with crisis and could not create employment opportunities for her teeming youths or boast of regular power supply. He challenged members of the NBA to address the critical issues bothering the country.

    He emphasised the need for the electorate to vote a credible candidate who has the vision, passion, intelligence and political will to deliver the benefits of democracy to the people in order to ensure good governance.

    Governor Okorocha, who regretted that democracy in Nigeria has failed, noted that Nigeria has come to a critical moment where power can no longer be taken for granted but must be given to those that have the capacity to deliver.

    In his speech, Tambuwal praised the Imo State Government for hosting the 2014 Bar Conference, stressing the need for Nigeria to shun self-deceit and institute good governance hinged on credible elections.

    The Speaker, who described the NBA as the vanguard of democracy, urged the members to use their position to rescue the country and preserve the Rule of Law and human rights.

    The outgoing President of the NBA, Wali Okey (SAN), said the conference offers the NBA the opportunity to discuss issues relating to legal profession and to proffer solutions.

    He praised the lawyers for their support for his administration, which he said, had restored dignity and discipline in the legal profession, adding that “during my tenure, 12 lawyers were sacked for several acts of misconduct and high level of discipline now prevail in the profession. We have tackled completely the issue of quackery and instilled high level of discipline in legal practice.”

    Further highlighting the achievements recorded by his administration, he noted that the completion and inauguration of the new seven-storey NBA House built by a prominent lawyer and businessman, Dr. Wale Babalakin through one of his companies in Lagos State, was one of the major achievements of the outgoing administration.

    The chairman on the occasion, Gen. Gowon praised the NBA for being faithful to its mission in administering justice, pointing out that it has a role to play in ensuring good governance.

    The conference ended with a call on the Federal Government to rescue the over 200 girls abducted from Government Girls’ Secondary School Chibok in Borno State on April 14 in order to restore the country’s dignity and save Nigerians further embarrassment from the international community.

    The new NBA President, Augustine Alegeh (SAN) and other senior lawyers such as Tajudeen Oladoja, a senior member of the Bar from Kaduna State, adjudged the Owerri conference as a huge success.

    “We have been having the NBA annual conferences in other parts of the country. But I must tell you with all sense of modesty that the Owerri Conference was a success,” he said.

    The 49-point communiqué, presented by Alegeh, highlighted the challenges of the last 100 years of Nigeria’s existence as a country, stating that it would need deliberate and articulate measures to surmount them.

    The communiqué also maintained that “with the benefit of the lessons of the last 100 years, all Nigerians have roles to play in nation-building, by ensuring that the existential values are re-established.

    “That all Nigerians must collaborate with the government and security agencies in order to address the seemingly intractable issue of security problems confronting the country, particularly the expanding escapades of the now dreaded terrorists called Boko Haram.”

    It further stressed the need for the Federal Government to “re-engineer and re-invigorate all anti-corruption agencies, as well as grant them more autonomy, with a view to ensuring their impartiality, to exercise their powers and perform their functions without fear, favour or prejudice and without interference from any person or organ of state.

    The communiqué equally observed that “a major portion of our socio-political and economic problems are caused largely by lack of exemplary and visionary leadership.”

    Apart from speeches and paper presentations, traders made great gains selling their products to the conferees that swamped on the goods like curious tourists. Photographers also had a field day taking photographs of the conferees with their friends and family members, especially those attending the NBA Conference for the first time.

    Okechukwu Uzoigwe, a fabric dealer said: “To be honest, I wish the conference continued. It has been long I made this kind of quick turnover. I was going to Onitsha Main Market to buy wares everyday because of the patronage.”

    Mrs. Charity Uzoaru, a food vendor said: “I am very happy for the event, even though we had to walk long distance to the venue because of the closure of the roads, I made enough sales these few days and I want the state government to host more of this type of conference to help the people.”

    Perhaps, hoteliers are the most fortunate. In most of the hotels visited by our correspondent, the entire rooms had been booked with the management craftily changing the usual rates overnight to make extra gains off the unsuspecting visitors.

    A manager of one of the famous hotels, Mr. Stanley Nwokocha, praised the state government for hosting the NBA Conference, adding that, “the most viable industry in Imo State today is the hospitality industry. Owerri, the state capital for instance, has over 50 world-class hotels and this kind of conference will help the industry.”

    As the dust settles, the people will not forget in a hurry, the gains, pains and glamour of the NBA Conference just as the visiting lawyers will relish the unique hospitality of the Eastern Heartland for a very long time.

  • Nigeria’s Top 100 Lawyers for presentation soon

    A compendium, “Nigeria’s Top 100 Lawyers”is set to be presented in Lagos.

    Published by City Lawyer Publishers Limited, it is the first attempt to rank Nigeria’s most accomplished lawyers.

    It is also a product of painstaking research and nation-wide Peer Review Rating and is designed solely to celebrate legal excellence in Nigeria.

    It is edited by Emeka Nwadioke, a former banker and award-winning journalist-turned-lawyer, the compendium which coincides with Nigeria’s 100 Years Anniversary is a culmination of over 12 months intensive research and survey.

    According to the publishing firm which also publishes City Lawyer Magazine, “Nigeria’s Top 100 Lawyers “  is designed to provide the most transparent, most respected, useful and definitive referral guide on legal excellence in Nigeria. The publishers do not accept payments of any kind from lawyers, law firms or third parties for listing in the Compendium.

    It said that “Because the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of its voting pool, nominations were obtained exclusively from the ranks of Senior Advocates of Nigeria and acclaimed Solicitors who also constituted the entire candidate pool.” The results of the online survey were then collated by the Board of Editors who double checked the ranking through independent research and discreet interviews with pre-eminent legal experts. The compendium is designed

    as a full colour, all-gloss publication in book format.

    With an Advisory Board made up of highly respected experts including renowned professor of Jurisprudence & International Law, Prof. Akin Oyebode; former UNILAG Dean of Law Prof. Chioma Agomo, and Prof. Akin Ibidapo-Obe, currently Dean of Law, University of Lagos, the publishers pride themselves on the fact that lawyers cannot buy entry into the publication.

  • Chivita Premium is Chivita 100%

    CHI Limited has changed its  name from Chivita Premium to Chivita 100 per cent. It has elegant packaging redesigned.

    The renaming of the product is to reflect the idea of the brand, which is the 100 per cent pure fruit juice that has no sugar, preservative and colours.

    Written on the pack is ‘100 per cent  Fruit Juice’ while ‘No Added Sugar’ is built into the design and written in clear language to give the information prominence.

    To get the consumer’s attraction to Chivita 100 per cent, the variant name appears as ‘Real Orange’ or ‘Real Apple’ on the pack instead of Orange or Apple. The interactive design features “shake well” symbol and “variant wheel”.

    The firm’s Managing Director Mr. Roy Deepanjan said the new packaging is the company’s way of injecting fresh energy into the brand so that it can take its pride of place on market shelves and in households.