The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 60

  • Govt wants oil price at $60

    Govt wants oil price at $60

    The Federal Government would be happy to see that the price of petrol stays at  $60 per barrel, and not $70 per barrel, and not $70 per barrel, which the price of crude recorded at the international market earlier.

    The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, said the country is aiming to achieve oil production of 1.8 million barrels daily by March and will prefer oil prices to stay in the $60 range.

    He told an oil and gas newspaper that the government would be glad to see the price moderated at $60 per barrel, to grow oil production above 1.8million barrels per day(bpd)

    “Hopefully the price of oil will help us a bit to get some of the pressure off our back. If the infrastructure comes back, our potential to increase will be there. We have taken the OPEC position  of staying at 1.8 million barrels per day and not allow that sort of squeeze to loosen up. I would  wait till June [to see how] the numbers are looking,” said Kachikwu in Abu Dhabi.

    The production is still below 1.8 million barrels per day and condensates production is 300,000 barrels, he added. When asked whether $70 oil prices are helpful to Nigeria, he said the resolve was to have a reasonable figure.

    “Not $70, somewhere in the sixties. There is a collective resolve to do everything. The philosophy is not to protect the price but the business model,” he said.

     

  • 60 bag First Class at BIU

    SIXTY of the 721 graduating students bagged First Class at the Benson Idahosa University in the 2016/2017 academic session.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ernest Izevbigie, who announced this at a briefing for the 13th convocation holding on Saturday, also said 144 students got Second Class Upper, 364 Second Class Lower, while 38 made Third Class.

    He said the graduands had been adequately prepared for the labour market.

    “The graduating students, nicknamed the ‘Titans’, have been trained in line with the vision of the university to produce global leaders,” he said.

    Izevbigie said the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, would deliver the institution’s convocation lecture.

    He added that  an honorary degree would be conferred on the Olu of Warri, His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli.

    The Vice Chancellor, however, debunked reports that the institution had increased its tuition fees to about N1million.

    “Reports about increase of tuition fees in the institution is untrue. We have not raised any of our fees. We are here to serve the students. The economy is in recession. We do not think this is the time to raise tuition fees.”

  • Senator Gbenga Ashafa celebrates wife at 60

    English romantic poet, John Keats, once wrote that a thing of beauty is joy forever. Those who have been privileged to witness the evergreen romance between Senator Gbenga Ashafa and his wife, Folashade (nee Edun), will no doubt align with Keats’ position. Since their chance meeting several decades ago, the duo have played unending orchestra to enduring love.

    They had sipped the goblet of companionship first as friends and then as a couple, and have remained intoxicated by it ever since. Ashafa, the senator representing Lagos East senatorial district, is a man with an enviable political track record. But all his hard work could have amounted to little or nothing without the support and patience of Folashade whose love and understanding saw him through the tough times. Little surprise then that he did not miss the opportunity to show the world how much she means to him on the occasion of her 60th birthday.

    The festivities commenced with an Islamic prayer at Grandview Plaza, Magodo, attended by renowned clerics. This was followed by a Christian thanksgiving service on Lagos Island. It will interest many to know that Senator Ashafa is a Muslim, while Folashade is a Christian. The festivities concluded with the couple showing their humanitarian side by paying a visit to select charity homes.

  • Accolades for Aregbesola at 60

    Conventional wisdom dictates that becoming a governor in a political terrain like Nigeria’s is no mean feat. To become a governor who enjoys the backing of the masses is even more phenomenal; something political office holders covet like a golden fleece. Although it is something desired by many, only a few have been able to attain it. The few include the Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola.

    Aregbesola loves his people and his people love him with passion. Little wonder encomiums were rained on him from high and low quarters as he celebrated his 60th birthday on Thursday.

    The week-long activities commemorating the birthday of the people’s governor was bankrolled by his committee of friends. Kicking off on Thursday, there were prayers for the governor from the Muslim faithful yesterday while today is set aside for a 3-hour solidarity trek where thousands of appreciative Osun people would join the governor on fitness walk.

    The colourful birthday festivities will continue tomorrow with a novelty match between the executive and legislative arms of the state government. On Monday, the governor, popularly called Ogbeni by followers, will show his love for humanity by visiting several orphanages and lifting the mood of the children with loads of presents.

    On Thursday, there was a colloquium which had the movers and shakers of politics and society in attendance.

  • Friends, associates celebrate Betty Irabor at 60

    For Betty Irabor, lifestyle guru and publisher of Genevieve magazine, 60, is not just a number. It is the symbol for the conquests she has made and the dreams she has achieved. Even at three scores, she is trudging with the energy of someone half her age, her mind brimming with ideas that threaten to burst forth like a heavy rain.

    The popular columnist, philanthropist and writer turned 60 on March 25 and took to a luxury boat to celebrate the occasion. On the boat cruise was a cream of A-list celebrities who converged to felicitate with her like reverent planets paying homage to the sun. The celebratory train moved to Villa Medici on Victoria Island the next day.

  • Nigerian Navy at 60

    Nigerian Navy at 60

    The Nigerian Navy is celebrating its 60th anniversary. It is doing it in ways to make people remember that they are safe, protected and well taken care of especially those around the naval bases.

    The Nigerian Navy Finance and Logistics College (NNFLC) Owerrinta, otherwise known as NNS Kamanu in their own celebration decided to hold a free medical program for members of the host community, where patients numbering over 500 were treated and given free drugs for various ailments.

    Speaking with The Nation at St Ephraim’s secondary school Amaise Ahaba the venue of the free medical program, the doctor in charge of the base hospital, Lt Commander Adeniyi Aduwo said that the event is part of the way they want to say thank you to the host community.

    Aduwo a medical doctor said the program will help to let the members of the community who are their landlords to know that there is a hospital at the base, which they could access in time of any form of medical need.

    He said that the program is termed ‘Medical Rhapsody’ and that the logistics for the program was approved and provided by the commander of the college, Capt Godwin Obaje.

    Commander Aduwo said that they have handled about 500 cases ranging from High Blood Pressure, fever, malaria, ulcer, arthritis, including high sugar level, “These include old men, women, children and students as well, while those with severe cases are referred to the hospital at our base”.

    He noted that during his treatment and discussion with some of the patients, “I noticed that most of them are not even aware that they have health challenges, we have been able to tell them the type of ailments they have and given advises and drugs as well”.

    Earlier the chief nurse of the naval hospital, Sub Lt Ijeoma Nwachukwu had given the patients lecture on how to take care of themselves, stressing that what they were doing is part of social responsibility to their host community.

    Sub Lt Nwachukwu told them that they were going to run tests on them to determine their state of health, “We will also give those who have health challenges drugs free of charge, while the children from five years old down will be de-wormed”.

    She also told them about HIV/AIDS saying that it is not a deadly disease as such, “But you need to take care of yourselves to avoid contracting the disease, as it is not written on the faces of those who are carriers”.

    Nwachukwu said, “The worst aspect of the HIV/AIDS is the issue of stigmatization of the patients which kills faster than the ailment and you cannot contract it through touching but through blood contacts, but if you have HIV/AIDS and take your recommended drugs regularly,

    you will live long”.

    “There are other forms of diseases that kill faster than HIV/AIDS which includes hypertension, Hyperthertise B and other dangerous ailments, but these ailments could be controlled with the routine drugs meant for them”.

    She urged the men to allow their pregnant wives to come for ante natal check-ups and treatment at the base hospital, adding that they equally run free HIV/AIDS tests on such women, “Which is to avoid transmitting the disease from mother to child”.

    The navy college chief nurse, “During this free medical program, we are going to run tests, do Blood Pressure checks and give out drugs for those diagnosed with malaria, while pregnant women should come to the base for test and anti natal care with the paltry sum of N500 only

    for card registration”.

    Reacting one of the patients who was treated, Mrs Mabel Erondu a teacher said she is short of words to describe what the navy has done for them, “I am happy with the development, we cannot thank them enough, as I was tested and given drugs free”.

    “We pray for their success in all they do and pray that they should be holding this type of program more often with the rainy season when many types of ailments come up, and for giving us free drugs at this harsh economic period, they will never lack”.

    In his vote of thanks, the traditional prime minister of Amaise Ahaba community in Isiala Ngwa South local government area, Chief Friday Iheadindu expressed the appreciation of the people to the naval authorities for coming to their aide at this hard time and urged them to hold the program at lease twice in a year”.

     

  • High society celebrates Foluke Abdul- Rasaq at 60

    Virtue is not inherited. Neither is it bestowed on a man by chance. It is something that requires practice before it is mastered. If you ever wonder why Hajia Foluke Kafayat Abdul-Rasaq remains one of the most influential women in Nigeria, it is simply because she has mastered the act of being virtuous. Little wonder dignitaries turned up in their numbers to honour her on the occasion of her 60th birthday penultimate Saturday.

    The life of the prominent banker, education administrator and business woman has been characterised by lofty accomplishments, but attaining the age of 60 carries much more significance for her in the sense that at three scores, she has achieved so much by dint of hard-work, dedication, determination and belief in herself. Abdul-Rasaq strongly believes that it takes the grace of God to be a success.

    She holds a Master of Science degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Ibadan and is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School, Boston, USA. She is currently a non-executive director of the United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) where she is the Chairman of the Bank’s Board Credit Committee as well as a member of the Board’s Audit, Statutory Audit and Nominations and Governance Committees.

  • 60 blind students, others get Lagos scholarship

    The Lagos State Ministry of Education put smiles on the faces of 60 blind students and 366 others with the disbursement of special local scholarships worth N23,480,000.

    Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Education, Mr Obafela Bank-Olemoh presented the recipients with their cheques in his office with support from Mrs Omautan Jegede, the Director, Lagos State Scholarship Board (LSSB).

    While the blind students from the School of the Blind, Oshodi, got N3,000,000; 34 sportsmen who have won for Lagos in sporting events, got N6, 880,000, after providing evidence of admission into tertiary institutions; and 332 students of the Lagos State College of Health Technology, Yaba, were given N13,600,000.

    One of the blind students, simple called Kolapo, expressed her gratitude to the government in an emotion-laden voice.

    “We students are very grateful for this.  When this (blindness) happened to me, I thought it was the end.  But you have put a smile on our faces,” she said.

    Thanking the government, Principal of the school, Mr Shola Ogunsiji, said the scholarship would go a long way to help the school educate and rehabilitate the students, some of whom became blind as a result of accidents or illnesses.

    Bank-Olemoh said the government is still giving scholarships despite the harsh economy because it prioritises education.  He said the three categories of recipients that got the scholarship were proof that the government cares for all students.

    “We have demonstrated as a state that we are true trustees of the society.  You don’t have to know anybody to access our scholarship scheme. You have never heard that Lagos State scholars have not being paid.  Lagos has students on foreign scholarship and it has not happened that they were not paid,” he said.

    Bank-Olemoh also spoke of government’s plans to improve public library as well as provide an e-knowledge bank accessible to various categories of learners.

    “We are going to open a knowledge bank and it is going to be digital, so any Lagosian or Nigerian will go there and access knowledge.  Imagine you are primary two pupil and you are doing your home work and you are having problem with your fractions you go that website click on fractions and you can see a video and learn,” he said.

    Bank-Olemoh said the government is partnering with some private sector organisations to rehabilitate libraries.

  • 60,000 Nigerians in Cameroon refugees’ camp

    60,000 Nigerians in Cameroon refugees’ camp

    There are over 60,000 Nigerian refugees in the Minawao camp, Maruoa in far North Region of Cameroon.

    Minister of Interior Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau visited the camp during his three days official visit to the neigbbouring countries.

    He assured the Nigerian Refugees that Government committed to relocating them back to their communities at home.

    He assured them that since peace has returned to the areas hitherto controlled by the Boo Haram, they can easily be integrated into the system back home.

    Gen. Dambazau also donated food and other essential items to the displaced Nigerians in Cameroon on behalf of the Federal Government.

    He was accompanied on the trip by the Inspector General of Police Mr. Solomon Arase, the CG Immigration Service Mr. Martins Abeshi, DG National Emergency Management Agency Sani Sidi, the Solicitor General of the Federation, Representative of National Refugee Commission and other government officials.

    The Interior Minister, in a communiqué at the end of a bilateral meeting with officials of Cameroon Interior Ministry on issues related to exchange of information on the organization and duties of Interior Ministry of both Countries, arrangement towards gradual return of Nigerian Refugees back home which would involve a tripartite agreement between Nigeria, Cameroon and United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Maritime Piracy, as well Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of regular consultation mechanisms between authorities of the Cameroonian Regions, and States in Nigeria located along the common border.

     

  • Corona at 60

    Corona at 60

    All old pupils of Corona Schools will on Saturday converge at the Corona School Trust Council (CSTC) Lagos office in Ikoyi to inaugurate the Corona Alumni Association.

    This would kick off a series of events that would end in December in celebration of the school’s 60th anniversary.

    CSTC Director Mrs. Olufunto Igun, who announced the programme in Ikoyi on Monday, said the milestone event would not only celebrate the school’s success story, but provide a platform to peep into the future.

    “At Corona, we have a stable and supportive structure across board. This has been able to drive our vision and mission statement. Over the last 60 years, we have stood for excellence, integrity, balance, quality and professionalism. We continue to scan the environment and aspire to reach the future generations. These qualities would help us grow continually.”

    Sequel to the alumni inauguration, there will be a charity walk on Saturday, October 3, from Corona School Ikoyi to its arm on Victoria Island.

    Mrs Igun said the proceeds from the exercise would fund the nine schools adopted by Corona.

    Other activities include: anniversary exhibition (October 8-10); public lecture at the MUSON Centre (November 5); anniversary dinner (November 27) and a music and drama concert in December.

    Strategy Development Manager, CSTC, Ms. Ngozi Ebo, said a number of reputable individuals across the academia have been shortlisted for the lecture, with the theme: “Next generation-Teaching and learning”.

    “It promises to be an exciting experience. The lecture will form our modest contribution into re3awakening consciousness into education in Nigeria,” she said.

    CSTC Director of Education Mrs. Moreni Ihonor said Corona was committed to grooming the Nigerian child with global focus through its curriculum and co-curricula activities.

    “At Corona, we do not only groom children with global orientation, but also focus on training and retraining of staff. We are proud of ourselves and we believe in the dignity of labour. Some of us holding key position in Corona today are either former students or have our children in the school; so, our commitment is high.”