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Tag: advised

  • Fed Govt advised to take action on suicide bombers

    The Country Director, Mercy Corps, Darius Radcliffe, has urged the Federal Government to take action on reported cases of children used as suicide bombers.

    He said yesterday in Abuja, during a briefing that the situation had become worrisome and needed intervention.

    Radcliffe said: “There is an increase in using children. We don’t have the statistics. Obviously, we condemn doing that. It is actually not something we will support. It is something we can look at further as we dig into the issue.

    “Any time children are used in conflicts, there are huge dangers. So, essentially that is something that needs to stop, we need to understand it better and at least action taken.”

    He advocated increased humanitarian support for about 8.5 million victims of insurgency living in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

    Radcliffe, who spoke on behalf of Nigeria International Non-Governmental Organisation Forum (INGO Forum), appealed for more commitment from international development partners and relevant organisations to address the situation.

    He stressed the need to protect civilians in the Northeast, especially children and humanitarian aid workers.

    According to him, “8.5 million people remain in need of humanitarian assistance this year in the worst-affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. Now in its eight year, the crisis shows no sign of abating. Women and children continue to suffer abuse and exploitation.

    “Women, men and children face grave human rights violations and sexual and gender-based violence, including rape. Since the start of the conflict in 2009, more than 20, 000 people have been killed, countless women, boys and girls abducted and children drafted as so-called suicide bombers.

    “So the INGO forum would like to focus on the protection of civilians in conflict, particularly from sexual abuse and exploitation arising from displacement, as well as the dangers faced by humanitarian aid workers,” Radcliffe added.

    The INGO National Coordinator, Drake Ssenyange, hailed efforts of the Federal Government towards rebuilding the Northeast and other support services offered to displaced persons through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    He said despite these, there was need to advocate further support for the group.

    Ssenyange said hospitals and humanitarian workers have witnessed attacks, adding that each time such occur, they prevent humanitarian support to the region.

    He urged the media to take role in reporting issues surrounding humanitarian crisis in the Northeast.

    Asked to comment on the allegation that parents ‘donated’ their children to insurgents for use as suicide bombers, Ssenyange said INGO was yet to carry out an independent research on the allegation, but is something they could consider.

  • Couples advised on child spacing

    Ekiti State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olurotimi Ojo has advised couples to embrace family planning and adopt child-spacing to guarantee healthy living.

    Speaking against the backdrop of what he described as an alarming spate of cases of abandoned babies in government hospitals in the country, Dr. Ojo stressed that proper family planning and child spacing would not only reduce the incessant cases of child abandonment but will also ensure a manageable and healthy family.

    The commissioner emphasised the need for families to have sizeable number of children they could cater for, saying that having too many children than could be reasonably managed may lead to poverty, hunger, hooliganism, prostitution, robbery and other social vices.

    Ojo said parents must care and protect their children, especially the girl-child, noting that failure to do so may lead to teenage pregnancy. He cautioned youths, particularly school age girls, against waywardness, warning that, apart from poverty, pleasure seeking and waywardness also lead to unwanted pregnancy with the attendant menace of child abandonment.

  • Govt advised to make education development-focused

    Govt advised to make education development-focused

    THE Federal Government has been called upon to make our education system development-focused in order to bring about solutions to our national problems.

    The Vice Chancellor of the Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Professor Charles Akorede Ayo, made the call on Thursday, while delivering a lecture at the 2015 Learners’ Forum organized by the Nigerian Institute of Training and Development at the NECA House, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

    The lecture, entitled “Education in the National Development Plan: The Challenges and the Way Forward”, highlighted problems militating against development-focused education as inadequate quantity and quality of teachers; inadequate funding; inadequate infrastructural facilities; old and obsolete curricular; poor curriculum delivery and poor reading culture.

    The don gave a redemption plan which consists of the curriculum redesign for relevance and national development; incorporation of entrepreneurial education, retraining of faculty; proper funding; improved research facilities; improved teaching facilities, phased development of public schools; provision of enabling environment for use of ICT; planned access for higher education; establishment of national quality assurance system and massive improvement of the reading culture.

    Professor Ayo mentioned the objectives which must be incorporated into our education system in order to make it development-focused.

    He said: “For our education system to be development-focused, the following objectives must be incorporated into it. It must aim at developing individuals for better appreciation of our traditional and cultural values; developing individuals with the ability to appreciate, relate and interact with people of different cultural and religious beliefs; developing individuals with the creative ability to embrace socio-political, economic and technological change; developing individuals with a sense of nationalism and patriotism and developing individuals with a high sense of entrepreneurial spirit, among others.”

    Earlier, the 1st Vice-President of the institute, Rev. Tunde Salawu, made the opening remark. The 2nd Vice-President, Mrs J.I.K. Jolaoso, gave the closing remark.

  • Workers advised on service delivery

    The Lagos State Government has charged public servants to render qualitative services.

    The Head of Service, Mrs. Josephine Williams, gave the charge yesterday at the 2015 First Working Day Inter-religious Prayer held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, The Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Christian and Muslim clerics led prayers at the event.

    Mrs Williams urged public servants to reflect on what they did in the past in order to improve.

    She said many public servants lacked self-esteem, adding: “Self-esteem will make you do a lot of things right. It will make you to do the wrong thing; so, we need self-esteem to do things right. Self-esteem will make you have the right relationship with others. Don’t think others are better than you are. Enjoy whatever position you find yourself and don’t run yourself down.”

    Mrs Williams stressed the need for public servants to join hands with the government to build a virile and vibrant public service.

    She said the government remained committed to workers’ welfare and would continue to take steps to improve their lots, noting that Lagos is one of the few states in the federation that paid workers promptly.

    Mrs Williams urged the workers to  reciprocate the welfare gesture, pointing out the state‘s has the wherewithal to always deliver.

    “You have to resolve to give your best because the state government is paying your salaries despite all odds. Some states even owe up to six months salaries, but that is not our case; we were have paid your bonus. You need to have the ‘can do it’ spirit. I know we are all vibrant, but our best is yet to come. Let us work together in peace and harmony,” she said.

    Rev. Veras Alawale of the Chapel of the Christ the Light Church, Alausa, advised the workers to improve their attitude to work, adding:

    “You need to dedicate your lives to God more in the New Year. You need God to do better on your job. Always do the right things and seek God`s guidance in all you do through fervent prayers.”

    Imam Babatunde Kassim of the Lagos State Secretariat Mosque, Alausa, enjoined public servants to always thank the Almighty Allah and endeavour to seek His guidance and protection in all their endeavours.

    Prayers were also offered for Governor Babatunde Fashola and members of his executive council, the public service, the state and the nation.

    The event witnessed the addition of five new staff buses to the existing fleet.

    Mrs Williams said the buses were part of measures to solve workers’ transportation challenges, urging those in charge to ensure efficient use of the vehicles.

  • Muslims advised to be enterprising

    Intrepreneurship skill has been identified as a viable tool to build a virile nation, a senior lecturer at the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development at the Yaba College of Technology, Imam Luqman Abdul Raheem, has said.

    He stated this during the fourth annual Ramadan lecture of the Muslims Professional Accountants’ Association in Nigeria (MPAAN).

    Imam Abdul Raheem said only entrepreneurial success would help Muslims get recognition in the country

    “To emerge as a formidable Ummah in the Nigerian competitive environment, we must adopt entrepreneurship as a potent tool for managing our life, time, money, talent, energy, career, fame and several other God-given resources under our custody,” he said.

    He said Islam encourages entrepreneurship as a means of allaying poverty, saying the early Muslims were known for their entreprise.

    “Entrepreneurship is not new to Islam, the early Muslims were great adventurers and traders using caravans and ships for commerce across the globe,” he said.

    He, however, warned them of the probable failures in entrepreneurship, saying that precautions be taken to avoid liquidation.

    “At the individual level of analysis, business fail on account of poor idea development and business plan, lack of sustainable capital base; lack of outlook and image and limited international marketing experience, among others,” he said.

    The don said for business to develop and for one to become a good entrepreneur, sincerity and expertise are needed.

    “Competencies required to raise empire for the Ummah include sincerity, expertise, leadership, strategic thinking, team work and service focus, among others,” he said.

    Imam Abdul Raheem also urged them to avoid five forbidden things in business.

    “As Muslim professionals, we must be selective in our choice of businesses, enterprises and economic earnings, you must apply the principle of honesty in your choice of entrepreneurship; avoid Riba (interest), avoid Maisir (gambling), avoid Gharar (uncertainty), avoid haram (unlawfulness) and avoid dhulum (hypocrisy),” he said.

    MPAAN Amir (President) AbdulMumin Muhibudeen said the essence of the seminar was to enlighten Muslims to be entrepreneur independent and salvage the economy from collapse.

    “The only panacea to the economic problem in Nigeria is entrepreneurship. Consequently our association deemed it fit to enlighten its members and public about entrepreneurship towards a healthy and sustainable economy,” he said.

    Another guest speaker AbdulWasi Amoo, a lawyer, spoke on the topic: Immorality, Corruption and Terrorism: the Islamic View.

    He said immorality in the society included indecent dressing, fornication, and disobedience.

    Amoo, the National Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Muslim Lawyers Association (MULAN), said Islam abhors corruption and terrorism and it should not be associated to it.

  • Parents advised on child upbringing

    Parents advised on child upbringing

    THE proprietor of High Grade Schools, Akowonjo Lagos, Daebi Oki has urged parents to bring up their children in a manner that pleases God rather than clinging to cultural beliefs that displease Him.

    He said this at the Yoruba Cultural Day celebration held at the institution.

    He said: “Over the years, there were certain things that our forefathers did that were not pleasing to God. Today, we’ve known God. We have to do away with those things that are not right in His sight.

    “There are certain aspects of our culture that should not, in any way, be passed on to our children. For example, things like idolatry and consumption of alcohol should not be encouraged among them.  Also speaking at the event, the coordinator of the Yoruba Day celebration, Bukola Afuye advised parents to converse with their children in their native languages.

    She said: “Some of our children don’t even know how to speak their dialect. With the experience gathered here today, I believe they will go home and start practising how to speak with their parents in their native languages. My advice to parents is that they should try as much as possible to speak their language to their children.”

    In a similar manner, Oluwasesan Babatope, who commended parents who attended the event, said children should be encouraged to speak the Yoruba language more.

    “I thank God that some of them witnessed the event. Parents should encourage their children to speak the Yoruba language,” he said.

    Highlights of the event included the exhibition of different Yoruba dishes and activities such as debate, news casting, and songs that were carried out in Yoruba.

  • Women advised against immorality

    Participants at a seminar on womanhood have urged women to shun immorality to avoid tarnishing their dignity and self respect.

    Those who spoke at the seminar, with the theme: “Woman recognise your strength and how to use it to uplift yourself and the society,” included a former Special Assistant in former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, Princess Gloria Iweka, a public commentator and business mogul, Prince Jacob Akindele and President, Sunshine Foundation, Mrs Rose Odiete.

    The seminar, organised by the Committee of Concerned Women in collaboration with the Sunshine Foundation for the Elderly, was held as part of activities marking the United Nations International Day of the older persons.

    In her paper on Womanhood, Princess Iweka, advised women not to allow societal pressure to push them into acts capable of debasing womanhood.

    She said the only way they can retain their dignity is by being virtuous and true custodians of values.

    The former Special Assistant argued that immorality would do a lot of damage than good to womanhood.

    She said immorality would separate women from the essence of womanhood, adding: “When we do anything that is against womanhood, it would push away spirituality.”

    Princess Iweka admitted that there were times women, especially widows and divorcees, are faced with adversities, deprivations and poverty among others, insisting that sanctity, faithfulness to womanhood, nevertheless, remain the greatest strength of a woman.

    “There is a law that everything that is similar comes together. Savannah forest is in one place, ocean and rain are in one place, but white birds fly together. So women should actually remain together under that law,” she urged.

    In his paper, Prince Akindele described the recent rejection of Nigerian women from performing the Hajj by the Saudi Arabian authority as a constraint on womanhood based on culture, religion and other factors.

    He advised to honour themselves on issues that tend to undermine them, adding, that it is the first step in finding their ability and the strength to uplift themselves in the society.

    “Self liberation must start with you; women must honour and love themselves. If you don’t do this, you will find yourselves being passed about like ping-pong ball and end up being moulded by men to satisfy personal needs.”

    Mrs. Odiete said studies have shown that more women fall into indigent roles upon attaining old age, adding: “We all know our various cultural practices that relegate women to the background and remove all material gains they were meant to have.”

    Odiete decried negative cultural values and other societal practices undermining women. She lamented that the society has not been fair to elderly people as issues relating to them are pushed to the background.

    She said it was in realisation of the need to draw attention to their plights that made the United Nations to designate a day for the commemoration of the older persons in December 14, 1990, and which was later enshrined in Regulation 40/141 of December 21, 1995.