The Nation Newspaper

Tag: bags

  • Kano to distribute 387,000 bags of food items

    Kano to distribute 387,000 bags of food items

    The Kano State Government said it plans to distribute 387,000 bags of food to vulnerable people in the second phase of palliative sharing to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.

    Governor Abba Yusuf said this at the launch of the second phase of palliatives distribution in Kano yesterday.

    Yusuf said the gesture was to reduce the prevailing hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy on the people.

    He said that the government also plans to distribute 2, 600 livestocks including goats, sheep and rams to women toward boosting the economy of the state.

    The governor said that each ward out of the 484 wards in the state would receive 400 of 10 kg bags of rice and maize cross the 44 Local Government Areas (LGAs).

    “The gesture will alleviate the sufferings of the people and also fight against hunger in the state. You may recall that 30 days ago, we started the distribution of palliative to vulnerable in the state and we distributed over 50,000 bags of rice and maize. I have already directed that all members of the distribution committee should not benefits from the gesture, adequate arrangement have been made for upward distribution of palliative to the junior civil servants, security and all relevant stakeholders,’’ he said.

    Meanwhile, the State House of Assembly yesterday at the Committee of the Whole

    passed the N58 billion supplementary budget submitted by Governor Yusuf.

    Read Also: FG looking into gas exploration, solid minerals

    Speaking after passing the budget, the Majority Leader, Alhaji Lawan Hussaini, said that the budget would enable the state government to execute developmental projects.

    Hussaini said the budget would help administration to achieve its development target and appreciated his colleagues for their contributions toward its speedy passage.

    He said  the passage of the supplementary budget had raised the 2023 budget of the state to N326 billion.

    He said that the House would monitor the implementation of the budget through effective oversight to ensure that funds allocated to project were judiciously used.

    Similarly, the House also presented a commendation letter and cash reward of N1.5 million to a tricycle rider Malam Auwalu Danbaba who returned about N10 million forgotten by a passenger in his tricycle.

    Receiving the money, Danbaba thanked the lawmakers for the gesture.

  • Delta confirms receipt of 13,800 bags of grains

    Delta confirms receipt of 13,800 bags of grains

    Delta State Government says it is in possession of 13,800 out of the 17,400 bags of grains expected from the Federal Government, as palliatives to cushion the impact of oil subsidy removal.

    Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu, made this known in Asaba, the capital, during a meeting with state Steering Committee for Palliative Programme.

    He said the state government was taking full responsibility for the palliatives, adding that the Federal Government only acted as the facilitator by extending loan to the state, which would be repaid in 20 months.

    He said the 16,500 bags of maize and fertilisers, which were expected, would be allocated to poultry and fish farmers, noting that the rice was in 50kg bags.

    Emu said: “The distribution of the palliatives will be through the DSIEC wards structure, i.e. 500 distribution points, as each of the 25 local governments has 20 wards.

    Read Also: Akintola Williams’ demise marks end of an era, Gov. Abiodun says

    “This is to ensure the vulnerable population in every nook and cranny of the state is reached. Distribution sub-committees have been set up for each ward and local government for effective distribution. In addition, all House of Assembly members and commissioners will monitor the activities in their domains.”

    He outlined the distribution mode, explaining that 40 per cent is for general distribution (ward level), 20 per cent for poor and vulnerable households, 25 per cent as direct intervention by the state to the highly impacted, including persons living with disabilities and widows, 10 per cent as reserve to shore up urban wards and five per cent as contingency to local governments.

    He said Delta State had begun distribution of palliatives by “embarking on the payment of N5.522billion promotion arrears, which started in August for four months.

    “N10,000 for over 50,000 public servants, which commenced in August for three months, recruitment of 2,000 primary school teachers and non-teaching workers across the state, commencement of three working days rotational scheme for civil servants on SGL 1-14, while workers on SGL 15 and above are to work out what is convenient for them in their MDAs. However, essential duty workers must man their duty posts uninterrupted. 

    “Guaranteed N40billion pensions payment for local government workers, which will start this September.

    “In advanced stage of discussion on the purchase of tricycles (keke) bi-fuel engine (petrol & gas), which will be distributed across the three senatorial districts; and in discussion with several organisations to provide inter and intra city commuter buses, exploring a Public Private Partnership (PPP) option.”

  • The growing love for reusable bags

    The growing love for reusable bags

    Call it a trend or a growing way of life, branded reusable shopping bags are trending fad; they are being used as strategy for growing business, writes TONIA ‘DIYAN.

    When Osamudiame Gloria goes grocery shopping, she goes with her list and bags (a pair of strong canvas bags) she bought a few months ago for N1, 801.39 at her local grocery store in Ebute Meta, Lagos. This has become a habit for her.

    Apart from using it as a ‘status’ symbol, there are other reasons like that of being eco-friendly, which shoppers now consider before opting for it.

    “Reuseable shopping bags are better for the environment” says Gloria, 30, a political science graduate from The Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

    A growing number of stores are catering to customers like Gloria, who see reusing shopping bags as an easy way to cut down on waste.

    Branded reusable shopping bags were invented in 1912 by Walter H. Deubner, in order to help sell more goods and add to store sales, when he discovered that shoppers would limit their purchases to what they could carry. Ironically the first shopping bag was sold for N1, 801.39, the very price many ‘wholesale outlets’ charge.

    Going back to the 1970’s, marketers discovered the power of printing their logo on a shopping bag, especially during the era of indoor shopping malls. Shoppers would walk from store to store, proudly displaying the logo of the retailer they just purchased from. During that time, the market accepted advertising on the bags and bags were free and convenient everywhere. During the 80’s, 90’s and early 2000’s, the bag was viewed as a symbol of class. If you paid less for your goods at a ‘wholesale outlet,’ you paid for a bag, but at a large multinational retailer, you paid more for goods, but your bags were free. At some more elite retailers, the quality of the bag, complete with string handle, took on a symbol all its own.

    It took many years, until the late 2000’s, that the market’s view on bags changed. Fast-forwarding to 2010, the view on bags is one of “environmental damage” and putting less plastic into our landfills. Now the corporate trend has reversed on bags. Once thought of as a marketing tool and a means to sell more goods, it’s now a tool to add to the bottom line and show you are environmentally conscious.

    Findings have it that in developed countries, retailers place a reminder sign on their entrance saying, ‘Did you remember your reusable bag?’

    Experts have advised retail outlet to have these bags available for shoppers free of charge and make sure the colour is classy but stand out. They advise that it is important to remember the signs at the front entrance, which shows the business cares for the environment, stating that a business with a social conscience can win the good will of a lot of people.

    Several large retailers, including Shoprite and SPAR, sell reusable shopping bags. While in developed countries like the United States and United Kingdom, some groceries, including independent stores and natural foods chain Whole Foods, go a step further, offering credits of a few cents for each bag that’s reused. Several companies give incentives for customers to cut down on disposable bags abroad.

    The fashion world has also taken note, with designers like Stella McCartney and Hermes selling reusable shopping bags for hundreds of dollars. Findings also have it that a store known as ‘Whole Foods’ created frenzy in New York when it offered a limited number of designer shopping bags for $15.

    ‘Little by Little ventures’, an independent grocer where Gloria shops in Ebute Meta, is promising to give customers a N300-per-bag credit when they reuse the store’s branded bags. Spokesperson at the store, Stella Medulla, said about seven to 10 percent of customers reuse their bags. “It is encouraging that our customers reuse our branded bags when they come here to shop. So, we produce limited bags and save money. And when they take our bags elsewhere to shop, they help us advertise our business to prospective buyers who reach us through phone calls and all our social media handles. That is the idea; she said, adding that she wouldn’t call it a trend anymore but a growing way of life.

  • Former Ekiti First Lady bags UK fellowship

    Former Ekiti First Lady bags UK fellowship

    Wife of the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, has been appointed Visiting Senior Research Fellow of the prestigious Kings College, London.

    Mrs. Fayemi, an activist, writer, social entrepreneur and policy advocate, is Principal Partner, Amandla Consulting, specialising in leadership development for women.

    She also runs an online community, Abovewhispers.com, in addition to her roles as a UN Women Nigeria Senior Consultant.

    A release by the university said the selection of a fellow is based on the relevance of the expert’s work to the programme of the institution’s African Leadership Centre (ALC).

    Mrs. Fayemi holds bachelor and Master Degrees in History from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.

    She has another master’s degree in Gender Development from the University of Middlesex, United Kingdom.

    She was named one of the 20 most influential African women in 2009 by New African Magazine.

  • Commissioner donates writing materials, bags to 4,270 pupils

    The Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Pharm (Mrs) Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, on Thursday donated exercise books, bags and mathematical sets to 4, 270 students of 12 selected primary and secondary schools in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.

    The initiative tagged Goodwill Project with the theme, ”The role of education in national development,” was held at Glorious Event Centre, Command, Ipaja, Lagos.

    Akinbile-Yussuf, revealed that the gesture was to complement the giant strides of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in transforming the education sector of the state.

    ”The Goodwill Project is conceived to uplift humanity and our society. Currently in its fourth year, the project among others, has contributed to community development, job provision and accessible healthcare for the people of the council area. The project was initiated to curb poverty and generate employment to the good people of Alimosho Local Government Area in my own capacity.

    ”The first set of beneficiaries of this novel project  were artisans, market men and women, entrepreneurs and host of others in 2013, while serving as Supervisory for Agriculture and Social Development in Agbado/Oke -Odo Local Council Development Area. This year, the project is focusing on children with a strong bias for their educational development through the provision of basic educational materials for pupils in 12 selected public primary and secondary schools in Alimosho council area.”

    The Chairman of the occasion, Prof Olumide Longe of Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, advocated the promotion of good traditional values inherent in our society in the times past.

    He said: ”Proactive approach must be developed to offer our children holistic education, when that happens, the focus on religious and ethnic considerations to develop our country would be less. Values are disappearing and parents are not giving enough of their time to their children. We must not disappoint our ancestors by lack of proper education and mentoring of our young ones. The only way to go in this regard is to pass the values of hardwork, discipline and integrity to our young generation.

  • Tanzania’s Dewji bags Africa CEO award

    Group Chief Executive Officer of Mohammed Entreprise Tanzania Limited (MeTL), Mohammed Dewji, has bagged the prestigious Africa CEO of the Year award.

    He beat other heavyweights across the continent to take home one of the biggest awards in Africa’s private sector at a gala dinner organised by the Africa CEO Forum.

    Dewji thanked the organisers, saying for the honour. He also thanked John Magufuli, Tanzania’s President for his fight against corruption.

    Anta Babacar Ngom Bathily was crowned ‘Young CEO of the Year’ for her leadership skills as Executive Director of Sedima, Senegal’s leading agribusiness group.

    Created at last year’s Forum, the award recognises a promising young African business leader under 45. Ms. Ngom Bathily dedicated her award to “all women and young women” as well as to her father, who was at the ceremony.

    Egypt-based Elsewedy Electric received the African Company of the Year award, presented to a representative of the Group CEO Ahmed Elsewedy, who said as an African company, Elsewedy “has an obligation to take part in the development and in bringing the right technology to solve Africa’s challenges”.

    The award for African Bank of the year went to Morocco’s leading Attijariwafa Bank, ranked Africa’s fourth largest bank with over seven million clients and more than 16,000 employees in 24 countries. The bank’s CEO Mohamed El Kettani received the prize from Amir Ben Yahmed, Founder and President of the Africa CEO Forum.

    The Private Equity Investor of the Year award was given to AfricInvest, a Tunisia-based firm dedicated to the international expansion of French SMEs in Africa. The award presentation was done by EmnaKharouf, Managing Partner at Deloitte ConseilTunisie.

    German insurer Allianz and Portuguese company Mota-Engil, who together have been operating in Africa for over two decades, were the joint winners of this year’s International Corporation of the year award. The award was presented by Michael Rheinnegger, Managing Partner of Rainbow Limited to representatives from both corporations.

  • Navy intercepts boat with 80 bags of smuggled rice

    The Nigerian Navy said it had intercepted a boat carrying 80 bags of rice allegedly smuggled into the country from Benin Republic through water ways.

    A statement by the spokesman of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, Lt. Elizabeth Ibrahim, said the operatives attached to its Forward Operation Base (FOB), Badagry, intercepted the rice.

    The statement reads: “A wooden boat being used to ferry the bags of rice was also intercepted by naval operatives while on a patrol at the Iyana-Ipaahi water ways around the Badagry creeks.

    “The Commanding Officer, FOB Badagry, Capt. Abdulhakeem Ojebode, who handed over the seized bags of rice to the personnel of the Nigerian Customs, said the suspects jumped into the river on sighting the naval operatives. The operation also goes in line in supporting the Nigerian Customs in its duty of ensuring that smugglers don’t use our waterways to bring items adjudged contraband into Nigeria.”

    The statement also quoted the Deputy Comptroller Enforcement, Western Marine Command, Nigerian Customs, Mr Usman Abubakar, as commending the effectiveness of the navy’s intelligence gathering.

    “I appeal for continuous assistance from the navy to reduce smuggling to the barest minimum,” Abubakar said.

    He warned smugglers to desist from sabotaging the efforts of the government in revamping the economy.

    “The command will not relent in dealing with persons who decide to test the will of the customs and other security agencies,” he said.

  • Rotary provides water, bags for Lagos schools

    Rotary provides water, bags for Lagos schools

    The District Governor of the Rotary International District 9110, Rotarian Patrick Ikheloa has praised the Rotary Club of Omole Golden for presenting school bags and providing access to potable water for four public schools in Ifako Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos State.

    Ikheloa spoke when he led other district leaders to inaugurate the water project at the African Church Primary School, Idi-Agbon area of the local government. Other schools that benefited from the water scheme were Karaole Primary School, Coker Primary School and Ayanleye

    Primary School.

    He said for the club to embark on the water project shows that it remained committed to promoting healthy environment that is conducive to teaching and learning.

    He also distributed 1,000 school bags to primary four and five pupils of the four schools on behalf of the club.

    Ikheloa also praised the club for deeming it fit to not only provide safe water for the pupils, but also in giving them befitting school bags in which to carry their books to school.

    He said more of such projects would be extended to many other schools and communities within the district before the end of the year.

    Reeling off some of the achievements of the club in recent time, the President of the Club, Rotarian Titilayo Sunmonu said the club resolved to unveil the water project and distribution of school bags to coincide with the new session which opened on September 19, even as she revealed that the gesture was to commemorate the World Humanitarian Day, which was celebrated on August 19.

    In his remark, the Education Secretary, Ifako-Ijaiye, Mr Adeyemi Jongbo expressed his satisfaction with the club’s gesture. He called on other well-meaning groups and individuals to render life-changing services to people, especially the downtrodden.

    Earlier at a breakfast fellowship, the club inducted new members, just as it honoured, among others, Rotarian Michael Oshinibosi as a Paul Harris Fellow, and a major donor in recognition of his contributions to the club.

  • Rotary provides water, bags for Lagos schools

    Rotary provides water, bags for Lagos schools

    The District Governor of the Rotary International District 9110, Rotarian Patrick Ikheloa has praised the Rotary Club of Omole Golden for presenting school bags and providing access to potable water for four public schools in Ifako Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos State.

    Ikheloa spoke when he led other district leaders to inaugurate the water project at the African Church Primary School, Idi-Agbon area of the local government. Other schools that benefited from the water scheme were Karaole Primary School, Coker Primary School and Ayanleye

    Primary School.

    He said for the club to embark on the water project shows that it remained committed to promoting healthy environment that is conducive to teaching and learning.

    He also distributed 1,000 school bags to primary four and five pupils of the four schools on behalf of the club.

    Ikheloa also praised the club for deeming it fit to not only provide safe water for the pupils, but also in giving them befitting school bags in which to carry their books to school.

    He said more of such projects would be extended to many other schools and communities within the district before the end of the year.

    Reeling off some of the achievements of the club in recent time, the President of the Club, Rotarian Titilayo Sunmonu said the club resolved to unveil the water project and distribution of school bags to coincide with the new session which opened on September 19, even as she revealed that the gesture was to commemorate the World Humanitarian Day, which was celebrated on August 19.

    In his remark, the Education Secretary, Ifako-Ijaiye, Mr Adeyemi Jongbo expressed his satisfaction with the club’s gesture. He called on other well-meaning groups and individuals to render life-changing services to people, especially the downtrodden.

    Earlier at a breakfast fellowship, the club inducted new members, just as it honoured, among others, Rotarian Michael Oshinibosi as a Paul Harris Fellow, and a major donor in recognition of his contributions to the club.

  • Rotary distributes bags, de-worms pupils

    The Rotary Club of Omole-Golden under District 9110, Nigeria, on Wednesday last week, distributed school bags to about 200 pupils of Iju Station Primary School 2.

    The initiative, according to the President of the Club, Mr. Idowu Adelogun, is a continuation of the Club’s investment on eradication of illiteracy and support of public school pupils in their quest for quality education.

    He informed the guests at the event that the club also handed over a block of classrooms rehabilitated through contributions by members of the club to Ajuwon High School on Friday, April 8, 2016.

    The club also carried out de-worming of over 400 pupils of Iju Primary School 1 and 2, as part of the interventions to ensure good health and well-being of the pupils.

    The President also mentioned other interventions carried out by the club within the community to include provision of micro-credit facilities for 20 entrepreneurs and support for Polio eradication.

    Members of the club also educated the pupils on the negative effect of sexual and drug abuses. The pupils were counselled on the need to report any cases of abuse and stay away from drugs.

    The Headmistress of the School, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olabunmi Odedeyi expressed delight over the club’s gesture for the pupils of the school.

    She stated that the pupils were also happy for receiving school bags which most of them lack.

    The event was attended by members of the club, social mobilisation officials; the zone’s education officers from Ifako Ijaiye Local Government Area, teachers and community leaders.