The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Australia

  • Australia swears in first black African senator

    Australia swears in first black African senator

    Australia’s first black African member of federal parliament was sworn in on Tuesday in Canberra.

    Lucy Gichuhi filled the South Australian seat in the Senate which was left vacant for over six months after the resignation of Bob Day from the Family First party.

    Gichuhi, 54, who has spoken openly about her faith, was warmly welcomed by senators from all parties, with hugs and handshakes, after she took the oath.

    “I am honoured and humbled to be sworn in today as the first-ever person of black African descent in the Australian Parliament.

    “I thank God, my husband and daughters, my father and all other friends, family and supporters for your encouragement, and sharing the vision we hold to unite Australia as one,’’ Gichuhi said in a brief message on her Facebook page.

    The Kenyan-born lawyer arrived in Australia with her husband and children in 1999 and became an Australian citizen in 2001.

    Gichuhi was the second-ranked candidate on the Family First ticket, but will sit in the Senate as an independent after it merged with another party.

    Day quit the Senate in 2016 after the collapse of his building empire.

    Since then, the Australian High Court ruled him ineligible to stand for office because he had benefited personally from a government lease for his electorate office in Adelaide.

  • IAAF World Relays: U.S., Jamaica, Australia top table, Nigeria 16th

    To consolidate on their position as the strongest relay nation in the world, the U.S. collected their third successive Golden Baton honour at the IAAF/BTC World Relays, “Bahamas 2017’’.

    The U.S. won five of the nine events over the two-day programme, took silver in a pair and third in another to tally 60 points, 21 ahead of Jamaica which had 39 in total.

    The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) said on its website on Monday that the Golden Baton was awarded to the team who accrues the most points.

    It said the points were based on the simple scoring system of eight points for first place down to one point for finishing eighth.

    Australia was third with 24, edging Poland by just one point.

    The U.S. won the men’s 4x800m and men’s and women’s 4x400m on the final day but for the vociferous crowd that gathered in Nassau’s Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

    It said that the highlight was the resounding victory by a Bahamian quartet in the mixed 4x400m relay that capped the thoroughly entertaining evening.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kenya placed sixth with 16 points, Botswana placed 11th with 10 points and Nigeria placed 16th on the table with six points.

    The competition held from April 22 to April 23 at Nassau, Bahamas and Nigeria featured only the women’s team in the 4x100m, 4x200m and 4x400m.

    Nigeria’s 4x200m women’s squad, the winner of the 2015 edition failed to retain its title by clinching a distant fifth position. (NAN)
    MJO/PDE

  • Agro-business: College trains 7,500 entrepreneurs

    The Federal College of Agriculture, Akure (FECA) has trained and empowered at least 7,500 entrepreneurs on profitable agro-business ventures from September 2008 till date.

    Thee provost of the institution, Dr. Samson Odedina, stated this  on Wednesday in Akure.

    Odedina said the college was able to achieve this feat based on the quality and  experience of its staff in practical agriculture.

    He said the college’s facilities and manpower were ranked among the best in Africa.

    The provost said that the college played a leading and pioneering role in the actualisation of the new value-chain curriculum in schools of agriculture across the country.

    The provost said, “Based on what we do in FECA, we got a support from the Government of Australia and some institutions and we introduced value- chain into the curricula of schools of agriculture in Nigeria.

    “By the end of last month, we got an approval from the Federal Government through the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) that the curriculum should be used in all schools teaching agriculture.

    “This value-chain curriculum is the first of its kind in Nigeria; none had existed prior to this time.

    “This is as a result of value-chain activities of production processing, value-addition marketing and consumption at the college.”

    He said that the college’s case study was adapted for the development of the curriculum based on its past experience.

    “The joy of it is that FECA is playing a leading role and also practicalising it for everyone to see,” he said.

    He added that everything FECA had was a case study confirming that value-chain approach would be a success.

    According to him, the new curriculum will enable students teach farmers on how to maximise profits at every stage of production.

    He applauded Harvest Plus Nigeria for being a most rewarding and sustainable partner in track record of producing quality and self-employed graduates for the agricultural sector.

    “It is commendable that Harvest Plus Nigeria built, equipped and donated agro shops, bio-fortification restaurants and cassava processing and value addition centres for stakeholders in the sector.

    “The Harvest Plus Nigeria also sponsored the establishment and maintenance of 100 hectares of Vitamin A cassava varieties for farmers and entrepreneurs in Ondo State,” he said.

    NAN

     

  • President Buhari assures on Nigeria’s participation in 2018 Commonwealth Games

    President Buhari assures on Nigeria’s participation in 2018 Commonwealth Games

    President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that the country would participate with an adequately prepared contingent in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

    Buhari gave the assurance as he received the Queens Baton Relay in Lagos on Monday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II, flagged off the Queen’s Baton Relay on March 13 in London which coincided with the Commonwealth Day.

    “It’s a great pleasure to receive the Queen’s Baton Relay in Nigeria. The Baton is expected to move round all the Commonwealth nations.

    “Next year’s edition, which is the 21st Commonwealth Games, will mark Nigeria’s fifth participation in the Queen’s Relay. The Queen’s Baton Relay is a challenge for us to prepare for the Games.

    “We plan to send a ready team of athletes to the Games with the hope of surpassing our past records in terms of medal haul,’’ said Buhari, represented by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung.

    “We will not relent in our role of ensuring that athletes are equipped with adequate resources for training and participation in the competition.

    “Government must invest and transform training facilities and uplift the technical men. We will continue to pursue this as a noble policy that will take Nigeria forward.’’

    He said that Buhari couldn’t come to receive the Queen’s Baton Relay personally and asked him to do that on his behalf and that of the entire sport-loving Nigerians.

    Habu Gumel, the President, Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), welcoming the Queen’s Baton Relay and the five delegates that accompanied it, said that Nigeria had been a strong force in the Commonwealth sports community.

    “Since our debut in the 1950 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand, our nation’s profile at the quadrennial Games has been on the rise.

    “Nigerian athletes have never failed to prove their mettle in placing our nation on the scoreboard of this global sporting fiesta.

    “For our nation to sustain the winning momentum at the Commonwealth level, we will require all the support of both the public and private sector, especially in the area of funding.

    “ This will ensure adequate preparation for the participation of our contingent. We therefore, solicit the continuous support of everyone.

    “At our level, the Nigerian Commonwealth and the Olympic family through our collaborations with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has continually offered athletes and coaches opportunities for training and personal development through international scholarships and technical courses,’’ he said.

    The Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Lehmann, said the Queen’s Baton Relay came with a message of peace and goodwill to all Nigerians.

    Lehmann said that Australia was proud to be hosting the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast.

    “It is my pleasure to celebrate the stories and successes of Nigerians athletes as the Baton makes its way through the beautiful city Lagos.

    “Australia and Nigeria are nations of sport lovers. I believe sports can support the ambitions of all people regardless of age, background, gender or ability.

    “The people to people link between Australia and Nigeria grow stronger each year and we look forward to welcoming Nigerian athletes to Australia in 2018,’’ he said.

    Lehmann said it’s believed that Australia is far but it’s the distance that makes us closer.

    “There are so many tourists sites that Nigerians can visit while in Australia. Our level of hospitality can’t be compared,’’ he said.

    He noted that for the first time, the physically challenged will be participating in the Communication Games.

    “The physically challenged and the able-bodied athletes will all have the same number if events to participate in,’’ he said.

    Among the dignitaries at the event are Hauwa Kulu-Akinyemi, the Chairman Local Organising Committee for Queen’s Baton Relay, the Athletics federation of Nigeria (AFN) President, Solomon Ogba and former NOC President, Sanni Ndanusa.

    NAN reports that Olympians and Paralympians were also present and among them were renowned former athletes Yusuf Alli, Falilat Ogunkoya, Chioma Ajunwa and Henry Amike.

    Students from the Pacelli School for the Blind, Surulere, Atunda-Olu School for the Physically and Mentally challenged, Surulere, Wesley School for the Hearing Impaired, Surulere and Children Development Center, Surulere attended.

  • Australia mourns loss of its last African elephant

    Australia mourns loss of its last African elephant

    Australia is mourning the loss of its last African elephant in captivity on Wednesday, with the death of “Cuddles”, a 46-year old elephant at Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

    Cuddles arrived in Australia from Britain in 1977 and was present when the zoo was opened, passing away on Wednesday morning, much to the dismay of everyone who met her.

    “We are all mourning the loss of this beautiful animal, who was much loved by staff, volunteers, and visitors alike.” the zoo said.

    The almost ancient elephant had been suffering from a number of health conditions, with the “heartbreaking” call made to euthanise her.

    “She will be greatly missed and her passing represents the end of an era for African elephants in Australia” the zoo management said.

    “She loved being the centre of attention and interacting with zoo keepers and had even perfected the art of getting extra treats like banana and lucerne.”

     

  • Vietnam sentences 73-year-old to death over drugs

    Vietnam sentences 73-year-old to death over drugs

    A Vietnamese court has sentenced an elderly Australian woman to death for heroin trafficking, local media reported on Thursday.

    The officials said that Nguyen Thi Huong, 73, left Ho Chi Minh City airport in December 2014 for Australia.

    They also found 1.6 kilogrammes of heroin in her luggage disguised as 36 bars of soap.

    Huong said at her trial that she accepted the bars in good faith from a woman named Helen while holidaying at the beachside city of Vung Tau in southern Vietnam.

    The court did not find any evidence of Helen or the incident described, meanwhile Huong was sentenced to death.

  • 40 Nigerians deported from UK, Australia

    40 Nigerians deported from UK, Australia

    United Kingdom and Australia on Wednesday jointly deported 40 Nigerians for various immigration offences.

    The deportees comprising male and female arrived at the hajj camp area of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 7:25am on chartered aircraft.

    Our correspondent gathered that a chartered aircraft with the registration number ZTA -4741 brought 36 Nigerians  -29 males and seven females to the country/

    Also, Air Seychelles with the registration number SND-1 brought four males into the country for similar offences.

     

  • Mining: Fed Govt seeks Australia’s help to upgrade lab

    The Federal Government is seeking help from the Australian government to upgrade the mining laboratory in Kaduna to world class standard and realise the desire of the present administration to diversify the economy.

    Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi made the request during in Abuja when he met with the Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Paul Lehmann who paid him a courtesy visit.

    A press statement endorsed by Sade Fatoke, on behalf of the Deputy Director (Press) Ambrose Momoh, Fayemi said rather than send raw minerals to Europe and South Africa, the quality of such minerals can be enhanced if certified in the country before export.

    While appreciating the role played by the High Commissioner’s predecessor in the promotion of Nigerian-Australian relations in the mining sector and the support of almost $1million in the area of research,  Fayemi confirmed that a number of ministry officials benefitted from exchange programmes, study tours as well as graduate programmes up to the doctorate level. He also acknowledged the support of the Geological Surveys, Artisanal and Small Mining Department and the Mining Cadastre Office.

  • Boko Haram: Australia donates $3m to support IDPs

    Boko Haram: Australia donates $3m to support IDPs

    The Australian High Commission says the Australian Government has allocated three million U.S. dollar (about N600 million) for the year 2015 to 2016 to assist Nigeria Internally Displaced Persons in the North East due to Boko Haram insurgency.

    A statement from Hope Ayabina, Public Affairs Officer of the Australian High Commission in Abuja, said the money would go towards assisting people affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

    The statement said that the government had continued to contribute substantially towards the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to help fight world hunger.

    “To address a number of large-scale humanitarian crises facing the international community, the government had continued to contribute substantially towards the UN World Food Programme to help fight world hunger.

    “The WFP allocated US $3 million of Australian contributions to its Nigeria Regional appeal in 2015-16.

    “This money will go towards assisting people in Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

    “Australia’s contribution to the WFP is being used in all four countries to assist up to 400,000 of the region’s refugees, Internally Displaced Persons and the communities hosting them to gain access to life-saving food assistance,” the statement said.

    According to the statement, special attention is being paid to children under five, pregnant women and nursing mothers faced with malnutrition.

    It said the High Commission in Abuja also supported larger multilateral efforts through its Direct Aid Programme (DAP).

    “Over the past two years, the High Commission has provided special assistance to persons affected by the Boko Haram insurgency through a number of DAP projects.

    “This is aimed at improving the standard of living in camps and host communities across the region,” the statement added.

    It stated that an additional 2.4 million U.S. dollar was dedicated to existing projects to combat malnutrition in Niger during the same period.

    It explained that Australia’s total global contribution to UN agency for food assistance in emergencies for 2015-2016 was 43.3 million U.S. dollar.

    It said WFP worked to help prevent hunger and build resilience through programmes that used food as a means to build assets and promote economic growth in communities, helping them to become more food secure.

  • FIFA Women’s World CUP: Australia shocks Nigeria

    FIFA Women’s World CUP: Australia shocks Nigeria

    The Super Falcons of Nigeria have been defeated by Australia at the second match of the Group B game in Canada.

    The Falcons were defeated by two goals to nil at the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup.

    The Australian team first saw the back of the Falcons’ net at about 37 minutes into the first half of the game and added another one during the second half caused by defensive error.

    The Super Falcons will be playing against the United States of America in the next Group B match.