The Nation Newspaper

Tag: agents

  • Women as agents of the Art

    Women as agents of the Art

    Women’s images are always very exciting to behold when it comes to visual arts. Some of these artistic and remarkable pieces were brought to light at a celebration of women’s achievements, struggles and artistic perspective which took place recently at the Moor House hotel , Lagos.

    The event which was hosted by –’African Women Entrepreneurship Programme (AWEP) Southwest showed  Here the public was treated to a Concept–’Art exhibition depicting women as change agents.

    According to Ora Ataguba, the organizations Southwest Coordinator: “the theme for this year’s exhibition is “Be bold for Change. Here we have put together a collection of 50 Art  works which showcase womanhood in the purest natural form. We appreciate the God given endowment of purpose and resilience  in daily pursuit”.

    One of the interesting part of the outing is the fact that a percentage of the proceeds from the exhibition goes to a budding entrepreneur. “We are also pleased to say that a percentage of what we raise from this event will be donated towards encouraging young and budding women in the Arts”.

    The choice of the , Ataguba adds will emanate from a pitching contest which would set off the Awep mentoring program.

    The colorful event creative works three artiste,–’ Chike Onuora, Ademola Adeshina, Joseph Mathew Bidemi.

    Apart from the collection, issues affecting the womenfolk and how their lot can be improved upon were discused. Factors seeking to empower women through a hand holding holistic approach as well as the assessment of the business to funding were all x-rayed.

    GrowthCap, one of the stakeholders at the event took time to talk about how to enhance women needs. “We gives strategic, management and investment advice to social, responsible businesses in emerging markets with a focus on women and young entrepreneurs”, Charlotte Salford. With a team of global advisers GrowthCap diagnoses the needs for growth in businesses and advises entrepreneurs in confidence, using a tailor made, sector specific approach suitable for each, individual entrepreneur.

    Those who attended the exhibition included Ambassador Foluke Marcus Bello (Awep trustee),Charlotte Salford (CEO Growthcap UK) , Mr Oyewole, Chairman Export committee. NBBF (Nigerian British Business Council) and Vivian Ani of High net Resources), art connoisseurs and guests from different sectors of the economy.

  • Skye Bank lauds women as change agents

    Skye Bank lauds women as change agents

    Group Managing Director/CEO of Skye Bank Plc, Tokunbo Abiru, has extolled the role of women as change agents in the society. The bank joined the rest of the world to celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD).

    The IWD, marked every March 8, is a global day and an important opportunity to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women across the world as well as help  drive positive change for womenfolk.

    Abiru praised the resilience of women, who according to him, have over the years, shown what great pillar of support they can be; This, he explained, informed the decision of Skye Bank to evolve Skye Pearl; a women focused empowerment initiative.

    He affirmed that, “Skye Pearl Initiative supports the economic and financial growth of women through provision of platforms for gender empowerment; capacity development and networking opportunities  for women”.

    Members of the Skye Pearl community enjoy such benefits as; mentoring by key female industry leaders; partnerships with women organizations where women can meet with other peers to connect and share experiences; as well as access loans on concessionary terms.

    “Our partnership with Nigerian Employers Consultative Association (NECA’s) Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW) has brought about enhanced capacity building for women and their businesses. We have trained over 25 women entrepreneurs on book keeping and budgeting, and our intention is to continue to support women in several spheres of life”.

  • Agents of hunger

    Nigerians will know them by their deeds, those whose actions escalate food insecurity in the country. Among them are officers and men of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria Customs Service, who have been accused of acting against food security through actions that contradict their roles as agents of government.

    It is expected that agents of government should act in the public interest. So it is unexpected that members of the mentioned organisations would act against the public interest.

    When the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, told the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Agriculture that food prices were going up in the country because of negative activities by members of these identified organisations, it showed another face of corruption.

    Ogbeh on February 9 identified one of the factors responsible for rising food prices in the country: “the daily unbearable extortion by men of the Nigeria Police, their counterparts in the Army and Customs Service of truck drivers conveying farm produce from the hinterlands to urban centres under the guise of carrying out security checks.”

    He added: “These truck drivers, based on raw lamentations made to the ministry in recent times, alleged that at every checkpoint they are always forced to part with reasonable amount of money by any group of the security agencies, which they said, made farmers to have no option than to factor cost of extortion into prices of food items.”

    Ogbeh said the ministry responded to the complaints by the truck drivers by writing to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, and the heads of the other security agencies, asking them to do something to arrest the undesirable activities of their members which contributed to undesirable increase in food prices. “Daily reports available to the ministry still show that extortion continues unabated,” Ogbeh observed.

    What this means is that those at the helm of the named organisations have been unable to stop the bad activities of those who give their organisations a bad name by compounding the country’s food security challenge. Failure in this regard is inexcusable and unacceptable.

    When members of security agencies, by their actions, effectively encourage higher food prices, they discourage public appreciation of their official functions.

    Higher food prices mean lower purchasing power for many people across the country, meaning those responsible for the situation are agents of hunger whose activities should be checked.

  • ‘Agents to blame for delay in processing C of O in Oyo’

    ‘Agents to blame for delay in processing C of O in Oyo’

    Against the backdrop of complaints by land owners, surveyors, estate valuers and related professionals in the processing of Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) in Oyo State, the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Ajiboye Omodewu, in this interview with BISI OLADELE, revealed the applicants’ mistakes that cause delays in the process, among other issues. Excerpts

    There are complaints from land owners in Oyo State over an alleged cumbersome procedure in obtaining Certificate of Occupancy (C of O). Why is this so?

    That was then. Things have improved now. In 2011, during the first term of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, he held series of meetings to address the problem you just referred to. He set up a committee where it was agreed that issuance of the C of O to applicants should not exceed 60 days. We also discovered that most of the problems associated with the issue are caused by the applicants themselves. Many people think that once you put in your application, there shouldn’t be any follow-up, which is not right. There is also the issue of survey. Most people patronise unlicensed surveyors. So, when they bring the application with the survey, the Department of Survey would discover that there is no any record copy which people know as red copy. That means it is not authentic. So, once they put in the application, they don’t follow up and they don’t have the correct survey, which hinders the processing of the C of O.

    Why would they need to follow up? Do people have to be coming to ensure that their applications are given attention?

    You don’t need to be coming to the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development every day. But once you put in your application, at least you need to know what is going on and see if there is any problem concerning the application. For instance, our people may want to get in touch with you. If your phone number or address is not right, it won’t be possible. Also, most of our people present fake tax papers. You must have evidence of tax payment, at least, in the last three years. If you don’t have that, we won’t process your papers. Another issue is that of physical inspection. We have to go and inspect your land, your property. Without proper inspection, we can’t continue with the processing of the C of O.

    Oyo State is very large. Does this ministry have enough staff to carry out inspections on the high number of applications you receive for C of O? 

    Definitely, we do. We have the land officers that go to the sites to see the land and ensure that there is no mix-up in the issuance of the C of O. Our inspectors can go to three or four places in a day. So, they just go to the land, measure it to make sure that the one they are doing the processing for is the right land. We still have officers at the zones that can go there with them. For instance, the zone’s officers know every nook and cranny of their area. It is not only members of staff of the Ministry of Lands alone. We have Zonal Officers in different areas. Therefore, physical inspection is not a problem. So, once there is no any problem with physical inspection, no wrong coordinates from the survey, no problem of tax, no problem of agent, then, you can be sure your C of O will be ready in record time. You can cut off the problem of land agents by coming to the Ministry of Lands to get proper information. We have a dedicated office that is in charge of that. From there, the applicant will be provided with the requirements, what the applicant needs and where to start from. But instead of coming to the Ministry of Lands, people go through agents. The agents just take their money and they don’t do anything and they will say the paper is progressing or we are waiting for the governor’s approval or we are waiting for the commissioner’s approval or the permanent secretary did not sign, which is not true. You don’t need any agent to do the C of O. Just walk into the Ministry of Lands. Either one goes to the office of the Permanent Secretary, or goes to the office of the Commissioner or the office of the Director or the Department of C of O.  Tell them this is what I want to do and they will guide you. Most of the problems come from the applicants, not from the ministry. Once there is no problem, I promise you that you can get your C of O within 60 days.

  • Agents of disruption

    It is a cause for concern that members of the Newspapers Distributors Association of Nigeria (NDAN) are using their platform to cause disruption.  A March 30 report said: “For the second day running, members of the Newspapers Distributors Association of Nigeria (NDAN) yesterday prevented the distribution of The Nation, The Sun and Vanguard newspapers at major points in Lagos and Abuja…the distributors vow to frustrate the three newspapers.”

    They are reportedly fighting for increased commission following cover price increment by some national dailies. Their method is unacceptable and condemnable. The report said: “At Kakawa, a major distribution point on Lagos Island, agents threatened to pour acid on employees of The Nation who were distributing the newspaper. They were also threatened in Ikeja and Maryland distribution points.”  Does this mean that a newspaper company has no right to review its distribution method and employ direct distribution in the face of an unresolved disagreement with the NDAN members?

    The report further said: “An agent at the Kakawa distribution point was quoted as saying: “You people don’t want to negotiate. You think you can do it yourselves. An agent from Kakawa was yesterday monitoring vendors in Maryland to ensure they were not selling the three newspapers. In Abuja, distributors seized newspapers from vendors who were ready to sell the products. The agents vowed to continue to disturb the media houses until they agree to part with more commission from the N200 cover price.”

    By trying to force the affected newspaper companies to make a concession in their favour, the NDAN members violated a basic principle of mutual convenience, which should be the basis of a business relationship. Their wild action is not only uncivilised but also uncultured. It is the height of self-centredness that they displayed an unwillingness to show consideration for the other party in the business relationship.

    Perhaps more importantly, this aggression by the newspaper agents must not be encouraged by the law enforcement agents. It is good news that The Punch has reportedly “taken some agents before a court in Garki, Abuja for seizing their copies from direct salesmen”.  Also, the report said: “The newspaper houses have written to the Police Commissioner, seeking protection for their business and workers.” This is an appropriate move on the part of the newspaper companies.

    It is pertinent to ask whether the NDAN has a proper leadership.  Why have the association’s leaders failed to demonstrate responsible leadership?

  • Agents disrupt circulation of The Nation, others in Lagos, Abuja

    Agents disrupt circulation of The Nation, others in Lagos, Abuja

    For the second day running, members of the Newspapers Distributors Associatiaon of Nigeria (NDAN) yesterday prevented the distribution of The Nation, The Sun and Vanguard newspapers at major points in Lagos and Abuja.

    The association and the newspapers have a dispute over commission – a development which made the distributors vow to frustrate the three newspapers.

    Following the disagreement, the newspaper resorted to direct distribution of their products but the agents have been frustrating them. At Kakawa, a major distribution point on Lagos Island, agents threatened to pour acid on employees of The Nation who were distributing the newspaper. They were also threatened in Ikeja and Maryland distribution points.

    An agent at the Kakawa distribution point was quoted as saying: “You people don’t want to negotiate. You think you can do it yourselves.”

    An agent from Kakawa was yesterday monitoring vendors in Maryland to ensure they were not selling the three newspapers.

    In Abuja, distributors seized newspapers from vendors who were ready to sell the products.

    The agents vowed to continue to disturb the media houses until they agree to part with more commission from the N200 cover price.

    The Punch has taken some agents before a court in Garki, Abuja for seizing their copies from direct salesmen.

    In Kakawa on Lagos Island, the agents prevented vendors from selling the newspapers.

    Their hired thugs threatened to “pour acid” on the vendors and the direct salesmen selling the newspapers.

    In Maryland, Lagos Mainland, the agents from Kakawa sent their thugs to stop vans carrying the newspapers from distributing them.

    In Ikorodu on the outskirts of Lagos, the agents initially prevented distribution of newspapers but later allowed it.

    The newspaper houses have written to the Police Commissioner, seeking protection for their business and workers.

     

  • Families of missing DSS agents seek probe

    Four months after seven Department of State Service (DSS) agents went missing in Ikorodu, Lagos State, their families have called for a presidential investigation into the matter.

    They also decried the agency’s silence on the plight of its agents.

    The distraught families urged President Muhammadu Buhari to unravel the whereabouts of the agents, who were said to have been abducted by suspected vandals.

    They appealed to the President to compel the DSS to pay the salaries and other entitlements of the missing operatives to their jobless wives, hungry children and take full financial responsibility of their families.

    The sister to one of the abducted DSS agents, Ms Mercy Obiorah, said: “Let Nigerians ask why the DSS should keep silent on the sudden disappearance of their gallant officers who were on a national assignment and refuse to even ask their families how they have been faring!

    “Reason and responsibility demand that the DSS should cater for the temporary financial needs of the families until they are back.”

    Those copied in the letter, titled: “A plea for thorough investigation into the case of seven missing DSS operatives with Lagos Command,” are: the Senate, the Inspector-General of the Police (IGP) Solomon Arase and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

    Ms Obiorah condemned the silence of the DSS since the incident happened, despite efforts by her family to ascertain the whereabouts of her brother.

    The woman, who wrote from Texas, the United States of America (U.S.A), described the silence of the DSS as a show of aggressive impunity and corrosive erosion of professionalism, which must be rejected by well-meaning Nigerians.

    She urged President to compel the DSS to tell Nigerians whether the missing operatives were dead or alive; investigate their disappearance and explain their mission at Arepo or Ishawo.

    Ms Obiorah said: “Rumours must be debunked for the sake of public good. A public pronouncement by the DSS on this matter is long overdue.

    “I strongly reject this aggressive and inhuman tendency from the DSS. These missing guys are human beings with wives and children; yet, they are being treated like animals. This is a show of aggressive impunity and corrosive erosion of professionalism that must be rejected by well-meaning Nigerians.

    “I need not dramatise my unimaginable mental burden, nor that of my family, that after four months, the DSS Office cannot inform us on the whereabouts of my brother who, along with his six colleagues, were sent to work from their Lagos command on September 15, 2015.

    “Incessant visits by my family back in Nigeria to the Office of the DSS in Lagos since September 15 have consistently left everyone with a most traumatic and painful experience. The Lagos Director, Mr Ajanaku, kept telling them that …my brother and his colleagues were alive and hidden somewhere in the creeks.

    “This information, quite unprofessional as it has been, is becoming tellingly unsavoury, objectionable and most devastating to the entire family members, especially with the passing days.

    “The DSS cannot permanently keep silent on a serious matter of national concern as this. In the U.S, when such incidents happen, it takes the Sheriff a few hours to go on air and inform the citizens. It is the right of citizens to get informed.

    “My missing brother’s wife confirmed that her husband told her that they were going for the rescue of a kidnapped woman in Ikorodu, contrary to ubiquitous reports that they were going to hunt down pipeline vandals or going for the funeral of their fallen colleague. This matter needs to be investigated.

    “My family back home in Nigeria went to the DSS Office in Lagos many times where my brother’s director assured them that they went to work and were kidnapped and that the DSS was negotiating for their release. At other times, the director said the military and the Navy had taken over the matter.

    “The question is: How could the military and Navy take over the investigation of a kidnap case of highly placed senior officers of DSS when they (the DSS) are adept at cracking high profile kidnap cases? We, and other Nigerians, smell a rat somewhere.”

  • Adeboye to Nigerians: help law enforcement agents to defeat terrorists

    Adeboye to Nigerians: help law enforcement agents to defeat terrorists

    The General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has urged Nigerians to support  and cooperate with law enforcement agents to ensure lasting peace.

    Pastor Adeboye spoke yesterday at the ‘Let’s Go a fishing’ programme organised by the RCCG, Region One held at the CMD field, Magodo, Lagos mainland.

    The programme brought together thousands of Christian faithful from across Lagos. It featured thanksgiving, bible teaching and prophetic ministration.

    According to him, the success achieved by the military in tackling insurgency in part of the country is commendable and can be sustained through intelligence gathering mechanism put in place by security operatives .

    Pastor Adeboye said  Boko Haram insurgency was an internal insecurity problem that can be curtailed through a transparent partnership arrangement between the local people and the security operative.

    He said: “Let us do our best to cooperate with law enforcement agencies  by volunteering vital information that would be investigated upon and crime and any form of criminality will be reduce in our society”.

    He urged Nigerians to “harmonise our cultural, tribal and religious differences and ensure adequate security of lives and properties is very germane for our wellbeing”.

    Pastor Adeboye, who spoke through the Provincial Pastor of Lagos Province 12, Pastor Ola Adejubee, asserted that peace is the desire of any good citizens in any nation, but can be sustained through the channel of the holy ghost, repentance from evil and pleasing God at all times.

    He lamented that many people are religious but they live their lives at variance with God’s words and expect to have peace, said “we must play our part by repenting of our sines and live a life that pleases God”.

    He cited King Solomon who throughout his kingship never fought a battle, “Jesus is the prince of peace and he has the ability to reinforce peace when we do his will,” he said.

    The wife of the Regional Pastor of Lagos Province 1 of RCCG, Pastor Rachel Odesola, appealed to individuals being persecuted for their faith to take solace in Christ “who is our rock, defender buckler and shield”.

  • Bet9ja rewards agents, staff

    Bet9ja rewards agents, staff

    In recognition  of their partronage and dedication  to making  Bet9ja   Nigeria’s number one sports betting company, the company honoured  some outstanding  staff and agents during its  2015 End-of-the-year party and awards night in Lagos .

    In what was a highly thrilling and well organised event,  staff, agents and customers of KC Gaming Network, operators of Bet9ja, went home with various gifts and also received awards in various categories.

    In his address, the  Chief Executive Officer(CEO), Ayo Ojuroye praised the company’s customers and agents for their loyalty and commitment in 2015.

    “We are very happy with your performance in 2015, hence the need to appreciate your efforts. Without your hardwork and dedication, we won’t be here today. You, agents, customers and staff have done absolutely well and we really thank you for this. We are  excited  that through your efforts, Bet9ja has grown in leaps and bounds.

    The Executive Chairman, Kunle Soname presented the employee of the year award to Ernest Abanum while Akin Akerele won the award for the Manager of the year.

    Ace comedian, Seyi Law  thrilled guests with rib-cracking jokes to the delight of the guests, while music fan’s favourite, Sean Tizzle held the crowd spell bound with the rendition of various tracks from his top of the hit album, ‘Loke Loke’

    Then Oritsefemi’s performance had everyone on their feet with his Double Wahala track and Igbeyawo as the guests asked for more from him.

    Bet9ja has achieved  tremendous success in Nigeria’s betting industry in less than four years of operation, with offices in more than 19 states and with the highest winning bonus.  .

  • MFM does not have agents, says Enakhena

    MFM does not have agents, says Enakhena

    Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football club of Lagos has not engaged the services of football agents to scout for players anywhere in the world.

    This clarification was made by the club chairman, Godwin Enakhena at the weekend when reacting to reports making the rounds that some agents are exhorting money from players with a promise to get them into MFM FC.

    “It has come to the notice of the management of MFM FC that some unscrupulous football agents are promising players a place in the club if they pay an undisclosed amount to them.

    “Fact is we at MFM FC have not engaged the services of any football agent anywhere in the world to look for players for us. We know how to get players. Please, don’t pay money to anybody”, warned the sports journalist.

    Meanwhile, MFM FC has intensified training for its debut in the Nigeria Football Professional League (NPFL), which is expected to kick off in February, 2016 at the Dr D. K Olukoya Sports Centre situated at the MFM Prayer City situated along the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.