The Nation Newspaper

Tag: address

  • Engineers innovate to address challenges

    Engineers innovate to address challenges

    Professionals under the aegis of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAEng), has begun a new engineering innovation competition towards promoting infrastructure and technological development in the country.

     The move according to the academy will scale up innovations by promoting them to investors and commercialising the products.

    While speaking to reporters in Lagos, the President of NAEng, Prof. Peter Onwualu, said many Nigerians in both the informal and formal sectors have concepts and idea that needed to be taken to the next level to be able to contribute to the nation’s economy, reduce reliance on foreign goods and foreign exchange as well as boost the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP).

    He said: “One of the things you will hear our politicians talk about now is how to move from consumption to production-oriented economy so that the nation can go to the global table with something to show. There is a lot of pressure on the Naira because we don’t produce or produce little. This is one of the contributions towards making Nigeria a production economy. “

        Onwualu explained that the competition is open to all Nigerian engineers, scientists, technologists, technicians and craftsmen, and other professionals involved with engineering creativity while prizes for the best concepts will include cash, public recognition, and promotion of winning concepts to investors, certificates and plaques.

        Chairman of the competition, Dr.Chukukeluo Chukwuogo, said the objective of the competition is to identify, encourage and reward innovative works in science, engineering and technology that address and solve societal problems in Nigeria as well as help in the development of the Nigerian economy.

          According to him, the initiative will promote innovative works by individuals or groups in any discipline or aspect of engineering, including but not limited to information communications technology /telecommunications, agriculture & food processing, energy and energy transition.

          Others, he said include renewables, infrastructure development, health & health management, waste management and environmental protection, transportation, mining and mineral processing, artificial intelligence  and robotics, climate change and related ecological challenges and manufacturing.

    Read Also: Tinubu, Kyari will stimulate economic prosperity – Hassan

          Technical Secretary of NAEng, Bayo Adeola, said it is the intention of the association to make the scheme a yearly event, adding that submissions will be in two stages, starting with the submission of concept note of innovations covering a period of six weeks that will expire on November, 27 this year.

          Mr. Adeola said: “The concept note is expected to contain brief description of the innovation and the particular problems that it addresses or solves, societal and economic benefits of the innovation, description of the engineering processes that it covers, the degree of development of the prototype and sketches, photographs, drawings and other illustrations that can aid the understanding of the innovation and profile of the individual or groups.

        “Only participants who are shortlisted from stage 1 will proceed to stage, which is the submission of full proposal. Participants who are shortlisted from Stage one will be given three months to further develop their innovations for stage two of the competition.

        Details for stage two submissions will be provided at the end of stage one. This stage will run from January to March 2024.

        The announcement of winners shall be made in the middle of 2024.

        On her part, honourary secretary of NAEng, Mrs. Christiana Adelowo, emphasised that the concept will be screened to assess the degree and level of innovation, engineering content, originality, and impact on our national development.

  • Lagos to address teachers’ shortfall

    Lagos to address teachers’ shortfall

    THE Lagos State government has assured the 5,436 volunteer teachers deployed in the state under the Federal Government’s N-Power job creation programme, that they would be well rewarded if they do well at the end of their two-year service.

    Deputy Governor, Idiat Oluranti Adebule, said the state had a way of monitoring and evaluating teachers’ performance, noting that they will also be entitled to awards and other perks like their counterparts, who are permanently on the government payroll.

    Adebule , who  spoke during a workshop organised by the state for the new teachers at the Blue Roof, Ikeja Lagos, recalled how some of them staged a protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly in January, because of the delay in their deployment.

    She said: “I recall that some of you protested because you thought we were not ready to deploy you. We were ready as government, but we must ensure proper things are put in place.

    “We know you are not going to deal with papers, but human beings. We also know that majority of you are not trained teachers. Therefore, you should know what is expected of you; how you relate with your new assignment as well as the dos and don’ts of this profession,” she said.

    According to her, the state has employed 2,300 teachers over the last two years to enhance teacher-pupil ratio. With the injection of additional 5,436 volunteer teachers, Adebule is optimistic that teachers’ shortfall would further be addressed.

    “You all stand a chance of being rewarded if you are exemplary. In the same vein, the state will not hesitate to deal decisively with those of you who choose to be unruly, disobedient and lawless,” she warned.

    For those who will find themselves in the rural areas of the state, Adebule urged them to put themselves in the shoes of pupils of such communities, adding that their services will be better appreciated there.

    Government, she said, would deploy some of them to primary and junior secondary schools for their primary assignment. Nonetheless, Adebule warned that the deployment does not confer on them authority; rather it is for them to contribute their quota to the development of education in the state.

    Earlier, the immediate past Director-General, Public Service Staff Development Centre, Mrs Olubunmi Fabanwo, described teaching as one of the oldest professions in the world.

    Speaking on the topic: “My teacher; My role model”, Fabanwo recalled that prominent individuals such as Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammed, were once great teachers, whose works are still read till date.

    She said teachers not only need to be knowledgeable, but must be able to impart same on learners.

    Fabanwo identified integrity, respect, care, ability, and experience among others, as virtues teachers must imbibe to be on top of their game.

    Going down memory lane, a Permanent Secretary in the state, Mrs Folashade Ogunnaike, said Lagos, which is celebrating her 50th anniversary, was established by the military government in 1967 and the word IBILE was coined to represent the five divisions (Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja Lagos Island, Epe) of the state.

    The reason for her address, she said, was to acquaint the new teachers, many of who are visiting Lagos, of the state’s geography.

    She implored them to show commitment, adding that those, who would be deployed in challenging terrains such as riverine communities, should not see it as suffering, but a determination to make such places better during their stay.

  • ‘Address multiple taxation in private schools’

    Director, Everest Heights Academy, Gwagwalada Abuja, Dr Olubukola Dosunmu, has called on the Federal Government to address multiple taxation against private schools operators in the country. Dosunmu also called for strict regulations and control of private schools, as well as access to funds from financial institutions.

    She spoke at the inauguration of its Junior Secondary School arm in Abuja.

    According to her, the plan of the school is to have a university in the next few years to address certain needs in the education sector.

    Dosunmu, a pathologist, attributed the success of the school to discipline, trust in God, dedication of staff and the unflinching support of her husband who stood by her when she started operating the school from their living room 12 years ago.

    She said: “At the beginning, we had a lot of challenges, in fact around 2011 and 2013, we almost went bankrupt because of the difficulties and problems associated with running a private school. There is the problem of multiple taxation, overhead costs, teachers’ salaries, water and electricity bills, high interest rates and inability to access funds from financial institutions.

    “Education is capital intensive and people going there need the support of government, institutions and individuals. But here the support is almost zero. A lot of times I was discouraged because of the harsh environment and the fact that some parents when they are angry, use harsh words against you. Most times I would tell myself if I had remained in my Consulting Room at the teaching hospital, maybe I would not be facing this challenge.

    “But I thank God who makes it possible for me to receive support from a lot of people especially the teachers.  I am very passionate about education.

    “It is my prayer that the government would address certain areas that have to do with multiple taxation, and the need for strict regulations and control, access to funds from financial institutions and reductions in levies and taxes imposed on private schools by so many government agencies.”

    He said the institution does not compromise standard to passing exams.

    The school which was established in 2004 with four pioneering pupils, now has over 500 pupils across its day care, nursery, primary and secondary arms.

     

  • How to address African human, institutional capacity deficits, by experts

    The Third Pan-African Capacity Development Forum (CDF3) ended in Harare, Zimbabwe, at the weekend with a call for a greater commitment and closer collaboration among partners and member states of African Union (AU) in addressing human and institutional capacity challenges facing the continent.

    Delegates at the forum, among them African ministers, heads of continental bodies, African Capacity Building Foundation’s (ACBF) strategic partners and board members, private and public sector officials, recognised that despite the economic and social progress achieved across the continent, the results have been differentiated and many countries continue to face human and institutional capacity deficits.

    According to them, the deficits were preventing African countries from achieving their full growth potential as well as implementation of growth priorities, especially Agenda 2063, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), regional development strategies and country development strategies.

    The participants, who spoke through a communiqué, which included far-reaching recommendations, noted that Africa still faces the task of addressing critical challenges associated with unsustainable and non-inclusive growth, youth unemployment, climate change, worsening security, gender inequality and excessive reliance on primary commodity exports.

    They declared that that capacity remains the missing link in dealing with the critical development challenges facing the continent

    The statement also reads: “Considering Africa’s transformation within the framework of Agenda 2063 and Agenda 2030, we recommend African governments and development partners to pay attention to the capacity imperatives for successful implementation of the continent’s development priorities.

    “More specifically, we reaffirm our conviction that continent needs to build (1) the operational capacity for holistic and effective results; (2) the change and transformative capacities; and (3) the critical, technical and sector-specific skills for implementing the flagship projects under the First Ten Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063.”

    The delegates added that capacity development is a long-term process and hence, “more efforts and special attention should be devoted to not only developing the capacities but also retaining, harmonising and utilising the capacity built on the continent”.

    Mindful of the continued relevance of effective capacity development interventions, the forum reaffirmed the importance of strong and sustainable institutions such as African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) – organisers of the parley – to coordinate the development of institutional and human capacity necessary to bring about transformational change on the continent.

    The delegates at the event, where ACBF also celebrated its 25 years anniversary, recognised the importance of paying attention to the capacity dimensions of Agenda 2063 and Agenda 2030, especially the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation aspects.

    The statement added: “We hence applaud the ACBF for its leadership in addressing these capacity challenges. We unanimously note with deep concern that capacity is clearly the missing link in the continent meeting its development agendas. More specifically, some critical technical skills are needed to implement the flagship programmes and projects under the Agenda 2063 First 10-Years Plan.

    “Concerted efforts by all stakeholders, especially governments, development partners, private sector and training institutions are needed in building the required capacities.

    “We recognise that Africa faces the serious challenge of developing the required capacity in key sectors that are fundamental for the continent’s economic and social transformation. There is need to develop the necessary capacities in strategic areas such as health, education, infrastructure, agriculture, industry, resource mobilization, trade, and regional integration.

    “Mindful that strengthening human and institutional capacity as well as the need for mind-set change and coherence in economic policy-making is important in order to successfully implement Africa’s economic and social transformation process, we advise African countries to maintain sound macroeconomic policies that support sustained and inclusive economic growth for real structural transformation.

    “We affirm our conviction that the development of Africa is ultimately the responsibility of Africans themselves, suggesting putting more efforts on building-capacity for effective domestic resources mobilisation and utilisation.”

  • ‘Revive MSMEs, address unemployment, others’

    The National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) has urged the President-elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) to revive small scale businesses.

    Its Executive Secretary, Mr Eke Ubiji, said  in Lagos, that sustained  policies on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) would enhance the economic development.

    He said Buhari’s experience in governance was an added advantage to have a better understanding of the needs of the real sector and its strategic place in sustaining national development.

    According to him, for Nigeria to attain its goal of becoming one of the top economies, special attention should be given to MSMEs, a critical sector that would drive the economy effectively.

    He said:“The president-elect should give cognisance to MSMEs by addressing the various challenges facing it because that sector will help generate employment for its teeming unemployed youths.

    “The challenges of infrastructure, transportation and power are critical to the survival and growth of viable MSMEs. The issue of multiple taxes should also be addressed. If you listen to entrepreneurs in different parts of the country, they are saying the same thing. Federal Government is charging tax, states and local governments are also charging, all on a sector that is not moving forward.”

    Ubiji also urged Buhari to improve on President Goodluck Jonathan’s efforts in rail transportation and access to finance for MSMEs in the country.

    He said: “Most critically, the issue of access to finance is grinding MSMEs to a halt. President Goodluck Jonathan did something very spectacular on March 23, this year. He launched a new development finance institution for the country, called Development Bank of Nigeria.

    “It is a good initiative and I expect the President-elect to pay attention to it because it is a bank that is set up to address the issue of access to finance as it affects MSMEs in the country. You don’t throw away the baby with the bath water.”

    While pointing out that although Jonathan may have tried and failed in some areas and that there were some things he did that were good and commendable. He advised Buhari to constitute a strong and knowledgeable economic management team that would steer the economic affairs of the country to the desired change.

    He urged Buhari to appoint people who know their onions with regard to economic issues to advise him properly so that they would be able to come up with good economic blue print for the next four years.

  • Address politics, leadership solve problems in schools

    The influence of politics on the administration of schools may be doing more harm than good, says, chairman of Executive Trainers Ltd (ETL), Dr Ayo Ogunsan.

    Ogunsan said in an interview with journalists that governments at various levels should limit their role to that of financial investment and leave the running of tertiary institutions to their governing councils.

    “The day we remove politics from the administration of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in Nigeria is the day we will have an endurable system that every one of us will be proud of. Politics is the problem. I don’t know the business of a governor, president in administering our education. You invest and remove your hands; let the governing council you put there administer; provide them with funds that they need and allow them to generate funds. Education and politics should be separated,” he said.

    Ogunsan also said for Nigerian tertiary institutions to be better run, their leadership must be well trained.

    He explained that exposure to international best practices from renowned facilitators in world-class institutions would help equip managers of Nigerian tertiary institutions with knowledge and skills to move their institutions forward.

    Ogunsan, whose firm has spent the past five years organising international training programmes for Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, Provosts and other principal officers in renowned ivory towers around the globe, said through the platform, university administrators and others have learnt how to forge international linkages; manage resources; check crisis, insecurity, enhance productivity among others.

    He added that participants in such training over the years have testified of the effect and have sought training for other cadre of workers in their institutions.

    He said: “Because of what these top executives in Nigerian institutions like the provosts, vice-chancellors, and the rectors have seen, they now said they have other officials, academics and administrators that need similar training; that we should try to amend our rules that we are only for top executives; that we should extend our reach to all the people on the ladder, the rank and file.

    “In 2010 we started taking the other workers along. We took all heads of security for the crisis management programme in Dubai; we have taken Bursars to look at problems on accounting, financial matters in tertiary institution, sourcing for funds, funding of tertiary institutions which has become a big problem because most of them want to know how to generate revenue internally without relying on their federal allocations so that they can be competitive with all other institutions around the globe, so we designed a programme for bursars from Nigerian tertiary institutions and we held the first one this year in Dubai and the anchor man for that programme is the bursar of Oxford University.”

    To mark its fifth anniversary on September 5, Dr Ogunsan said ETL will be hosting its past participants to a lecture titled: “Advancing Higher Education in Nigeria through training and retraining of Manpower”, scheduled to hold at the Chelsea Hotel, Abuja.

    He said the firm will also be signing training agreements with renowned institutions like Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard and the like.

    “To mark our fifth anniversary we decided to sign some agreement with some notable institution around the globe because our clients indicated that they would want to relate with institutions that matter in the world. So we decided to sign contracts with Cambridge University, Oxford University in United Kingdom; Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston, United State, and by September we will have our first programme in Harvard, taking Nigeria Vice chancellors, provosts, and registrars, for a training titled: ‘Leadership, vision and change’,” he said.

     

  • Tinubu to address British House of Commons Monday

    Tinubu to address British House of Commons Monday

    Former Lagos State Governor and a national leader of the just formed opposition mega-party, All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, will on Monday deliver the keynote address at a conference at the British House of Commons.

    The conference, with the theme: National Development and the People, will be hosted by a senior member of the British Parliament, Mr David Lammy MP. He will be joined by Mr Ivan Lewis MP, Shadow Secretary for International Development; Mr Julius Maada Bio, Sierra Leonean former Head of State, as well as other top politicians from various parties in British political circle.

    They will share thoughts and deliberate on salient issues of national development as they concern Nigeria, Africa and the United Kingdom (UK).

    A statement yesterday by Mr Sunday Dare of Tinubu Media Office, Lagos, said African Partnership Development, the UK body behind the convocation of the conference, has said Asiwaju Tinubu was chosen as the keynote speaker, with other African leaders and top Members of British Parliament (MPs), “to stimulate proactive actions and deepen the understanding of the international community and the Diaspora public on the challenges of national development against progressive leadership in Africa from the perspective of Nigeria, the most populous black nation”.

    The statement added: “The organisers have been the facilitator of several high-powered deliberations focusing on the socio-economic and political progress of Africa, which have played host to a number of notable economic players and political figures in Africa and the UK, offering their views on solving some of the issues undermining progress in their respective countries.”

    Quoting a statement from the organisers, Dare said: “The surge in the number of people with impressive credentials, from different diplomatic circles in the UK, British and African entrepreneurs, investors and Nigerian Professionals in Europe, who have signified interest to participate at the event since the confirmation of the former Lagos State governor as the lead discussant for the conference is a clear indication that there will be quality debates and viable outcomes for the future of Africa, and Nigeria in particular.”

    The conference organiser, Tunde Alabi, said: “We are very happy at the support we have received from everybody both from the UK and Africa since the announcement of the conference. We are committed to ensuring that every Nigerian in or outside the country, has access to quality life, education, quality and available healthcare delivery service and social equality. We are focused on continuously creating series of engagements that will promote good government and sustainable growth without any political affiliation and or statements.”

    The conference is expected to produce reports that will be part of the discourse for future Diaspora engagement, African/Nigeria-UK Economic and business partnership and growth.

  • Boko Haram: NBA gives President seven days to address the nation

    Boko Haram: NBA gives President seven days to address the nation

    President Goodluck Jonathan has seen given seven days within which to address the nation  and explain to Nigerians what his administration is doing to curtail the  Boko Haram insurgency and killing of innocent people.

    Chairman NBA Ikeja Branch, Mr Monday Ubani made this known in Lagos, in reaction to the bombing of some Lagos bound luxury buses in Kano last Monday “These killing cannot be allowed to continue daily in Nigeria”.

    “If he fails or refuses to do as demanded, Nigerians are being advised to prepare to hold the Peoples National Conference outside the government and decide their destinies independently”, he said.

    Addressing a press conference on the state of the nation at the Bar Centre, Ikeja, Ubani asked the Federal Government to explain why there is no apparent positive result towards stemming the menace of the dreaded islamist group.

    “It is the minimum requirement if we must exist as a nation, else let it be known by all and sundry that if the country disintegrates on our faces, we all cannot escape the judgement of history and that of our children” he said.

    The NBA  condemned  the level of extra judicial killing across the country, and charged security agencies  to live up to their responsibilities in ensuring security of lives and properties.

    “Therefore, it is clearly barbaric and a breach of national interest and international laws, treaties and protocols for lives of citizens to be taken away on mere suspicion of having committed a crime,” Ubani added.

    The chairman also called on the government to issue a directive to all security agencies to respect lives and follow due process in carrying out executions.

    He condemned  the recent state pardon granted former Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, saying, “As lawyers, the Prerogative of Mercy provision is in Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution.

    “That section is not meant to be used for parochial and selfish interest, it must always be used in the national interest.”

    “The president exercises this power in consultation with the Council of State in a properly conveyed meeting.

    “But we must be made to understand why that provision was inserted in our Constitution.

    “The mischief that, that section tends to cure is to enable any sitting president to use the state pardon to redress an injustice.

     

  • Fed Govt must urgently address looming food crisis

    Fed Govt must urgently address looming food crisis

    In response to President Goodluck Jonathan’s national broadcast on the flood ravaging the country, Hardball on October 10 decried the failure of the federal government to address the looming problem of food scarcity and provision of seedlings for the next planting season. The column said among other things that, “In the 20-paragraph broadcast, the president said virtually nothing about the even more frightening cataclysm of impending food shortages, nor of how it would be mitigated both immediately and in the next planting season. It is bad enough that weeks after the flood, he is still proposing a visit to affected communities. But his refusal to say something concrete about what he intends to do both to tackle a possible food crisis and to ensure the availability and distribution of seedlings for the next farming season, and his inability to acknowledge the threat food shortages could pose to national security at a time of sundry and ubiquitous terrorist threats, is truly befuddling.”

    In the October 9 broadcast, the president merely sympathised with the affected communities experiencing flood and announced the provision of N17.6 billion to be shared among the 36 states of the federation. In addition, he set up a fund raising committee headed by businessman Aliko Dangote to raise approximately N100 billion to help flooded communities. But Hardball had criticised the fact that the monetary relief was planned before the president had the opportunity to visit affected communities or correctly estimate the extent of the floods and the crises they were likely to engender. A few days later, the president began his visits only to discover that the problem was far worse than estimated. He has belatedly started to appeal to the international community.

    Now, in the face of fresh warnings of flood in some 19 states, it is time the federal government began to look at the issue of food crisis and national security much more closely. Not only are many farming communities and towns still under water, the threat of additional flood is an even huger burden for the affected states to bear. Already, food prices have shot through the roof, and scarcity looms. For certain food crops, prices have risen by as much as 300 percent. At a time of grave terrorist threats and breakdown of law and order, rising food prices can only stoke the fire lit by years of social and economic inequalities. With poverty spreading, highways are likely to be more unsafe, while homes in towns and cities will come under intolerable siege.

    In addition to the money already voted to ameliorate the flooding problem in the 36 states, and the funds yet to be raised by the Dangote committee, President Jonathan must urgently set up a committee to look at impending food crisis, the threats they are likely to constitute to democracy and stability, and the options available to tackle them. These threats are not an exaggeration; they are real, and they must be addressed now. The three tiers of government must also manage the flood relief camps much better than they have done so far and plan for the aftermath of the floods. Nothing must be left to chance.

  • 2013 budget will address water supply, says Fayemi

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday said next year’s budget will address water problems in the state.

    He spoke during Town Hall meetings at Ekiti East, Ilejemeje, Moba and Gboyin local government areas.

    Fayemi said several millions of naira would be expended on Ero Dam, which serves about nine local governments.

    He said representatives of the state at the National Assembly have pooled resources together for the dam’s rehabilitation.

    The governor said the Ekiti Water Corporation would be re-organised, adding that five water treatment plants in Ido Ile, Okemesi, Ipole Iloro and others would be inaugurated this week.

    He said the Egbe and Itapaji dams would be repaired and pipes that got damaged during roads’ repair would be replaced.

    Fayemi said the government would dig solar-powered bore holes in some areas, pending the laying and replacement of ductile pipes.

    He said the contract for the building of a five-kilometre road in Ilejemeje local government was terminated because of the contractor’s poor performance.

    Fayemi said the contract has been re-awarded and the contractor would move to site early next month.

    The road is expected to be completed in December.

    Fayemi said his administration aims to build 80 kilometres of roads in councils annually.