The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 200

  • 50 mechanics, 200 others graduate from auto school

    Fifty unemployed youths, sponsored by the Lagos State Government for intensive computerised automobile repair training, yesterday graduated as mechanics.

    The ceremony took place at Adeyemi Bero Hall, Alausa, Ikeja.

    They graduated six months after they started the training at Automedics Nigeria Ltd, Ilupeju, Lagos.

    They were trained in auto-diagnosis, auto-electrical, heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and heavy duty/diesel engine repair.

    Two hundred others graduated at the event, after acquiring employability skills, including critical thinking, problem solving and time management to secure good jobs and become outstanding entrepreneurs from a sponsored training at a Lagos-based Wave Academy.

    Wealth Creation and Employment Commissioner Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf urged the graduands to make good use of the skills acquired to better their lives.

    She said: ”The emphasis is to give the youth skills in such a way that they are employable and also encouraged to embrace entrepreneurship, leveraging on innovative technology. Innovations in the automobile industry have gradually transformed what it means to be an auto repair worker. As the cars on the streets become more computerised, so it becomes more imperative to be able to properly diagnose, maintain and repair these computers on wheels. A trade that was once largely done through trial and error is today highly technical and therefore requires workers to have well-informed InfoTech skills.”

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Dr. Olufemi Salaam, said some of the graduands would be employed in the Lagos State Computerised Vehicle Service Unit of the ministry.

    Automedics Nigeria Ltd’s Chief Operating Officer Mr. Gbola Oba hailed the government for investing in the development of youths, thereby curbing unemployment.

  • 200,000 candidates scrambling for 750 EFCC jobs

    200,000 candidates scrambling for 750 EFCC jobs

    •Agency says North not favoured in recruitment

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said over 200,000 candidates applied for the 750 vacancies in the agency.

    The EFCC, which made the clarifications in a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the Federal Character Principle was followed in carrying out the exercise.

    The statement said: “It is also pertinent to state that over 200,000 applications were received; as against the advertised vacancies. The 750 Cadets are meticulously being screened.

    “The exercise, which is still on-going for the Detective Inspectors (DI) and Detective Superintendents (DS) Cadres (the Detective Assistants, DI, Cadre has been concluded), is conducted transparently and every state is given equal representation.

    “We also reiterate that there was no inappropriate conduct by any official during the exercise as being alleged. The physical fitness and medical tests were conducted by officers from the Nigerian Air Force Hospital, who are well trained and adhere to the relevant code of medical practice.

    “The media must therefore be wary not to become instruments of blackmail by applicants who failed the fitness test.”

    The commission said the ongoing recruitment was in line with the Federal Character Principle.

    The statement added: “The  EFCC hereby reiterates that the on-going recruitment exercise into the commission is line with due process and in conformity with the Federal Character Principle.

    “This clarification became necessary in view of the several calls and complaints from candidates, who went to the Nigerian Air Force Base, Mando, Kaduna, venue of the recruitment exercise conducted by the EFCC, alleging that they were disqualified because they had no god-father and that the exercise was tilted in favour of Northern candidates.

    “This is far from the truth as criteria were set abinitio as qualification for enlistment into the EFCC.”

  • Actionaid empowers 200,000 women farmers

    Over 200,000 women farmers have been enrolled to benefit from credit facilities to boost food security and turn agriculture top foreign exchange earner for the country.

    The beneficiaries are from 500 cooperative unions under the Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria (SWOFON), a project being directly funded by a non-governmental organisation, Actionaid Nigeria.

    The International Project Manager (Public Finance for Agriculture) of Actionaid Nigeria, Ms. Constance Okeke, said this yesterday in Ado Ekiti at the opening of Southwest Regional Forum of SWOFON.

    According to her, SWOFON was formed as a coalition and network of women farmers’ associations and groups across Nigeria with the support of Actionaid Nigeria, with the primary goal of advocating for and supporting rural and urban women farmers.

    Okeke explained that the beneficiaries were drawn from 31 states within a spate of four years of forming SWOFON in 2012, saying those so far captured are operating under the umbrella of 500 cooperative groups.

    Actionaid Food and Agric Officer Ms. Blessing Akhile said women farmers in Nigeria, especially those in rural areas, contributed more than 60 per cent of the nation’s food supply, but are hampered by many challenges.

    Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman, Ekiti Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture Kola Akosile blamed the backward position of women in economy on their inability to organise themselves into formidable groups to access loans.

    The Permanent Secretary of Ekiti State Ministry of Agriculture, Dare Abegunde hailed Actionaid Nigeria for its initiative towards uplifting women farmers, calling on other NGOs and multi-national organisations to take a queue.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • 200 surgeries at Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu

    200 surgeries at Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu

    More than 200 hip and joint surgeries have been carried out at the National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu (NOHE) since 2008, Chief Medical Director Dr. Cajethan Nwadinigwe has said.

    Nwadinigwe, who was briefing journalists on the activities of the hospital, expressed delight that with the effort of the medical team, such surgeries have become a routine.

    He explained that arthritis is the failure of a joint, adding that any joint in the body could be affected, but more commonly the weight bearing joints like the knees and hips.

    He said there are different types of arthritis, namely: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout arthritis and septic arthritis, among others.

    He said, “Osteoarthritis is the more common type of arthritis which can be primary or secondary. Treatment options include drug therapy, physical therapy and load reduction. Surgery is indicated where conservative measures fail, or late presenters with badly damaged joints. Surgical options include realignment osteotomy, arthroplasty and arthrodesis”.

    He stated that Arthroplasty, otherwise known as total joint replacement is an operation in which a diseased joint is replaced with prosthesis to relieve pain and improve function and has been ongoing at the National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu (NOHE) since 2008.

    “The hospital has an arthroplasty team which carries out total hip replacement and total knee replacement surgeries on patients who have end stage arthritis unresponsive to conservative management; the native surfaces of hips and knees which are diseased are removed and replaced with prosthesis,” explained the surgeon.

    The benefits of hip joint and replacement include; pain relief, improvement in function, ýdecreased intake of drugs and so less complications from non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs, and improved quality of life, he remarked.

    He continued: “The peculiarity of the cases that present in our hospital is the complexity of the hips and knees; patients in our environment wait until they are almost bedridden before seeking help from the hospital. As such the cartilages and ligaments are badly degenerated with presence of bone defects and joint deformities. These make for a complex primary knee or hip. This becomes a challenge to the Surgeon and, the physiotherapist who rehabilitates the patients.

    “Total joint replacement is commonly performed on the elderly group of patients which is the group that presents more with Osteoarthritis. Increasingly though, the younger age groups are presenting for arthroplasty surgery particularly following mismanaged injury to these joints. Of note to the public is the importance of presenting early to the hospital following joint pains or joint trauma for early and proper management of the condition. Patients are however, advised to take the advantage of the availability of arthroplasty services in our environment and reduce the recent trends of medical tourism in our country.

  • Delta impounds over 200 Okada in Sapele

    The Delta State Ministry of Transport, has impounded more than 200 commercial motorcycles, also known as Okada, in Sapele.

    The exercise followed the state government’s decision to phase the use of Okada for commercial purposes in Ika North, South and Sapele council areas of the state.

    Commissioner of Transport Ben Igbakpa, who led the team that carried out the exercise to Ughelli, expressed displeasure at the refusal of Okada operators  in the area to respect government’s order, despite positive gesture from government, which had shifted earlier deadlines to accommodate the views of Okada operators.

    Igbakpa, who said government decided to impound motorcycles to demonstrate its level of seriousness about ending the operation of  commercial motorcycles in the designated places, also denied knowledge of the destruction of some motorcycles in Mosogar recently.

    Igbakpa urged the motorcycle operators to use  tricycles popularly referred to as Keke at a reduced rate from the State Transport secretariat, Asaba if they must remain in business.

    Meanwhile, controversy is trailing the burning of some confiscated motorcycles at the Mosogar end of the Gammon Bridge by yet-to-be-identified persons.

    Though an eyewitness disclosed that the burning of the motorcycles numbering over 100 was ordered by Igbapka,  the transport commissioner denied knowledge of the incident.

    “I am not aware of the burning of any Okada, the fact remains that, any confiscated Okada is not going back to the owner. How such Okadas are being disposed is not the issue, what matter is that all Okadas in these areas must be off the road,” he said.

  • 200,000 agent banking jobs likely

    200,000 agent banking jobs likely

    The prayers of the unemployed may be answered in the New Year, which begins tomorrow, as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduces agent banking. The initiative is expected to create 200,000 jobs as a way of boosting the economy. AKINOLA AJIBADE writes.

     

    THE New Year begins tomorrow, with a lot of hope for the unemployed. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is introducing tomorrowAgent Banking, a scheme which holds a lot of promise in job creation. About 200,000 jobs are expected to be created under the scheme. It is coming under the CBN’s Financial Inclusion Strategy (FIS).

    Launched in Abuja in October, the strategy comes with various concepts aimed at increasing banking penetration and growth.

    At the launch, CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi said concepts under the strategy include mobile money and agent banking. Mobile money has since been introduced under the cash-less policy. It is now the turn of agent banking.

    Agent banking is a system whereby a postal outlet is contracted by a financial institution, or a mobile network operator, to process clients’transactions. Rather than a branch outlet, it is the owner or an employee of the retail outlet that conducts the transactions. The agent banker performs banking function. Clients can deposit, withdraw, transfer funds, pay their bills, inquire about their balances, receive government benefits, or a direct deposit from their employers at an agent banking outlet.

    It can be operated in supermarkets, petrol stations, gas stations, stores, laundry shops, post offices, cybercafes and eateries, among others. As such, people are employed to provide an array of services.

    Agent banking has helped to improve access to financial services, as well as create jobs for people in places, such as Kenya.

    In its framework, the CBN described agent banking as a catalyst for growth because it has the potential to provide jobs.

    The CBN said outlets would be created nationwide for agent banking operations. It said rural areas, perceived by the conventional banks as unprofitable, would benefit through employment creation.

    Experts lauded the idea, saying it has potential of providing jobs for the people. They said about 200,000 jobs would be created in the first two years of the scheme’s implementation. More jobs, they said, would be created, if things work according to plans. Noting that Nigeria has an estimated 50,000 villages, they said each village would have at least two or three agent banks to provide financial services for people. They said no fewer than four people are required to work in each bank, adding that the figure would increase as the system becomes acceptable.

    According to them, agent banks are equipped with a combination of Point-of-Sale (PoS) card reader, mobile phone, barcode scanner to scan bills for bill payment transactions, Personal Identification Number (PIN) pads, and sometimes personal computers that connect with the bank’s server using a personal dial-up or other data connection that may be required.

    The scheme, they said, has provided opportunities for people to work as back-office operators, system programmers, credit application, verification officers and security.

    Speaking during the second retail banking series of Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFInA’s) in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer, Top Image, Ms Jennifer Barassa, said agent banking enables delivery of financial services at affordable costs across a wide range of income segments of the society, and provide opportunities for employment generation.

    Ms. Barassa, a mobile money transfer expert, said the idea would provide opportunities for middle-income earners.

    Citing Kenya, she said the system is a tool for jobs creation because it has helped in providing employment for people in other places.

    Chief Executive Officer, Mobile Money Africa,Mr Emmanuel Okwogale, said the strategy comprises concepts that can easily create jobs and further grow the economy.

    He said: “Be it mobile money banking, microfinance banking, or agent banking system, there is no limit to their employment generation capacity. Research has shown that each concept has the ability to improve banking penetration, and generate employment opportunities. Given the size of the Nigerian population, the system is going to provide a lot of jobs for people.”

    He said mobile and agent banking systems have different structures, adding that they achieve common goals of reducing the number of the unbanked population.

    Okwogale said last year CBN implemented mobile banking frameworks by licensing 16 firms to provide the service, adding that at the moment it is developing the guidelines for the implementation of the banking system. He said more job opportunities would be created, when agent banking starts in 2013.

    Okwogale said: “Agent banking operates through different outlets, such as supermarkets, cybercafes, petrol stations, laundry shops, among others. These outlets are going to be run by people. This implies that people would be employed to work in these outlets. When you look at Nigeria from the geographical point of view, you would observe that the country is large. This shows that agent banking has a lot of prospect for the unemployed.

    “Given the right policies and implementation procedures, agent banking, among other concepts, introduced to drive the financial inclusion strategy would create jobs for Nigerians.”

    When people are equipped with the right skills, they would work in any aspect of the industry, he added.

    A financial market analyst, Mr Dayo Adeosun, advised CBN to implement the guidelines on agent banking well, arguing that many policies have become a flash in the pan in Nigeria.

    He agreed that the idea has prospect to create jobs, urging the apex bank to implement it.