The Nation Newspaper

Tag: benefit

  • Young lawyers benefit from NBA/IBA collaboration

    Five young lawyers attended the International Bar Association (IBA)  conference in  Rome, courtesy of a collaboration between the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the IBA. Bumnmi Musa from Kogi State Ministry of Justice, Chinedu Chikelu from a private law firm in Lagos State, Akinkumi Akinwunmi from a private law firm, Funke Bolodeoku from Lagos State as well Abdul Abdulateef from a law firm in Lagos all attended the conference free, with all expenses paid by the IBA.

    In a chat with The Nation, their co-ordinator, Ayodeji Oni said: “The IBA had the developing programme for young lawyers, and the NBA was one of the associations  considered from which they would sponsor young lawyers to attend the conference.

    “They gave out instructions for an essay to be written, and after the essay was written there was a process of selection in house in the NBA from where six lawyers were selected.

    “The six best were selected and their names were sent down to the IBA, then the IBA now re-selected the ones they needed to work with. Our slot was six young lawyers and we sent six names to them. However, they sent us a mail that had selected five out of the six to work with. So, all of them were sponsored to come and experience the programmes for the young ones.

    “They had a session on Saturday, an introductory class on Monday at the Supreme Court in Rome. I was not part of it any way. They said they were trained and they have been going for the Young Lawyers sessions throughout the conference period. They gave them  full membership of the IBA after this, so they just have to renew it,” Ayodeji  said.

    One of the beneficiaries, Funke Bolodeoku said: “I came across a broadcast message on WhatsApp calling on interested young lawyers to write an essay on the impact of technology on legal services to qualify for the Young Lawyers’ Development Programme scholarship. This Scholarship was to enable shortlisted young lawyers attend the IBA Annual Conference 2018 in Rome all-expense paid.

    “I wrote the essay and sent it to the email address of officials of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) included in the message calling for essays. After a series of back and forth with officials of the National Secretariat of the NBA, I got an email from the IBA informing me that I have been selected as one of the five recipients of the scholarship award from Nigeria and will be attending the Young Lawyers’ Training and the IBA Conference 2018 in Rome, Italy.

    “I was called to the Nigerian Bar on the 20th day of October, 2015. The experience at the IBA Conference was beyond phenomenal. The numerous sessions were highly educating. The depth of knowledge and experience of the speakers and other discussants was impressive. I also had the opportunity to meet and interact with lawyers from different climes and areas of practice.

    “If I were to describe the Conference in one word, I would say ‘Excellent’. It was obvious that quite a lot of planning had gone into the conference and that birthed the seamless experience that I had. I learnt quite a number of lessons from the Conference. One of such lessons is that continuous education is a must for lawyers. We, as lawyers will become obsolete in this fast- growing world if we were to rely on our University and Law School education only.

    “Another lesson I learnt is that relations and networking with other lawyers are highly important. I picked up on a wide range of information by just listening to other lawyers talk about their areas of practice and the peculiarities of the jurisdiction where they practice. My advice will be to stay abreast of information concerning the IBA’s Conferences and other programmes.

    “Explore the IBA website to get first hand information on what available scholarship programme is applicable to you and what the requirements are. Also decide to write the essay or whatever input is required to qualify for the scholarship and put in your best,” Bolodeoku said.

  • 6,000 youths benefit from $4.59m organic fertiliser project 

    No fewer than 6000 unemployed youths in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will benefit from an organic fertiliser and waste recycling project about to kick off there.

    The project initiated by the Agriculture Graduates Association of Nigeria (AGAN) is meant to create jobs, promote environmental sustainability in the territory while the processing plant will be located at the popular Gosa Dump site.

    National President of AGAN, Dr. Egbuta Michael, during a briefing in Abuja explained that a tripartite agreement have already been signed with the Federal Capital Territory Administration and Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

    Michael said the project will fully commence as soon as the funding is secured but other pre-activities is expected to start after the scheduled stakeholders meeting.

    He expressed concern on the huge tons of wastes being generated daily in the territory but poorly managed except for intervention of waste scavengers.

    According to him, the idea is to convert the wastes such as plastics, aluminum cans, and other non-biodegradable items into raw materials for other products.

    “The produced organic fertiliser will be used for farming and sold to other farms while the non-biodegradable waste components such as metals, glass wares are to be processed into recycled materials and sold to local manufacturing industries.”

    He added that, “a cluster will work in a common facility utilization outfit, which will involve building of standard material recovery facility. It will be compartmentalized into a general waste dumping or sorting bay, metal baling section, plastic crushing and shredding, organic shredding section among others.”

    However, he noted that funding for the project will be sourced through crowd funding with donations from prominent Nigerians and private firms such as Julius Berger.

    He said stakeholders meeting to be chaired by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Babatunde Ogunwunsi will be organised ahead of the event kickoff.

    “Earnings by cooperatives will be by earn-as-you-work basis as records of each member contribution will be kept in a cooperative Bank account,” Egbuta said.

    Representative from the Department of Agriculture Extension Service, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Developement, Ime Umoh described the initiative as timely due to ongoing efforts of the current administration to tackle unemployment.

    Umoh pledged to support the project and drive it to success, stressing that it falls within mandate of the ministry.

  • Over 30,000 benefit from ‘araya’ scheme in Ogun

    The Ogun State government has said over 30,000 indigenes have benefitted from the Community-Based Health Insurance Scheme, tagged, Araya, as part of government’s efforts at providing efficient and free health care service delivery for residents.

    Wife of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Dr (Mrs.) Olufunso, through the Press Officer, Ministry of Health, Miss Omolola Awolana revealed this at Araya Scale Up, held at Totoro Comprehensive Health Centre, Abeokuta. She said the scheme was established in order to deliver free health care services for expectant mothers and children under the age of five. She urged members of the community to register so as to benefit from the programme.

    “I would like to reiterate that the health care services here would be free for expectant mothers and children less than five years of age. It is essential for you to have an Araya so as to be able to get free health care service. Yes, it is free and open to all members of the community, however you have to register under the Araya programme’’, Mrs. Amosun said.

    Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, stated that additional 500 families would be registered during the Scale Up, adding that the number of facilities providing Araya services across the state is 85.

    He added that government would make health care delivery possible for the people, so as to reduce the rate of maternal and child mortality, saying that nobody would have cause to say that there is no health facilities in his/her area.

    The Commissioner, therefore, encouraged members of Totoro community to patronise the Health Centre, noting that the facility was put in place for the generality of the people but not for a selected class, even as it is being managed by a private body to ensure effective and efficient health care delivery for the citizens.

    On behalf of other beneficiaries, Fifehan Ogunronbi and Soremekun Azeezat appreciated government’s effort in the free health services and the provision in their area.

  • 26,000 residents benefit from Oyetola’s medical mission

    No fewer than 26,000 residents of Osun State have benefitted from the free medical mission initiated by the campaign organisation of the Osun State All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Saturday’s governorship election, Gboyega Oyetola.

    The free health mission which started on September 8 has been taken to nine towns. It started from Ejigbo to be rounded off with a return to Osogbo the state capital, tomorrow.

    A team of about 250 medical officials made up of doctors, nurses, and specialists were deployed to treat people for various ailments.

    The other towns where people benefitted from the programme are: Ilesa, Ile Ife, Ila, Ikire, Ede and Iwo.

    Apart from general medicine for all complaints, there were eye and dental tests and treatment.

    Thousands of people received eye glasses, others got dental extraction, scaling and polishing of teeth.

    The highest number of beneficiaries was recorded in Ikirun where over 4,000 people were treated.

    According the statistics obtained from the medical team, nine other towns recorded a minimum of 2,000 beneficiaries among them those very poor.

    It is as follows: Ejigbo Eye Unit: 618 _(Glasses: 440 given) Dental Unit: 220 (Dental Extraction, Scaling

    Polishing) General Medicine for all complaints: 1,675

    Total: 2,513

    Osogbo : Eye Unit: 842 (Glasses: 560 given) Dental Unit: 350 _(Dental Extraction:80, Scaling and  Polishing:100, Filling:49, Flouride Therapy:60)

    General Medicine for all complaints: 1,732 Total:2,867

    Iwo: Eye Unit: 741 _(Glasses: 321 given)_

    Dental Unit: 320 _(Dental Extraction:85, Scaling &

    Polishing:110, Filling:48, Flouride Therapy:56)

    General Medicine for all complaints: 2,743

    Total:3,804

    Oke Ila/Ila Orangun: Eye Unit: 425 _(Glasses: 238 given) Dental Unit: 310 (Dental Extraction:90, Scaling & Polishing 92, Flouride Therapy:52, Filling:51) General Medicine for all complaints: 1,842

    Total:2,577

    Ede: Eye Unit: 528 _(Glasses: 420 given)_

    Dental Unit: 280 _(Dental Extraction:75, Scaling &

    Polishing:90, Filling: 51, Flouride Therapy 53)

    General Medicine for all complaints: 1,613 Total:2,421

    Ikirun: Eye Unit: 749 _(Glasses: 560 given)_

    Dental Unit: 290 _(Dental Extraction:85, Scaling &

    Polishing:60, Filling: 40, Flouride Therapy:105)

    General Medicine for all complaints: 2,973

    Total:4,012

    Ilesa: Eye Unit: 562 _(Glasses: 409 given)_

    Dental Unit: 270 _(Dental Extraction:95, Scaling &

    Polishing:100, Filling:22, Flouride Therapy:22) General Medicine for all complaints: 1,921 Total:2,753

    Ife: Eye Unit: 482 _(Glasses: 363 given)_

    Dental Unit: 270 _(Dental Extraction:120, Scaling &

    Polishing:135, Filling:12, Flouride Therapy:14)

    General Medicine for all complaints: 1,834

    Total:2,586

    Ikire: Eye Unit: 436 _(Glasses: 286 given)_

    Dental Unit: 94 _(Dental Extraction: 20, Scaling &

    Polishing:35, Filling:3, Flouride Therapy: 4)

    General Medicine for all complaints: 2,292

    Total:2,822

    Treated are: Eye Care: 5,383,  Dental Care: 2,404 Medicine: 18,625 with a general total of 26,412 treated.

     

  • Nigeria to explore avenues to benefit from Green Climate Fund

    THE Federal Government has said it will explore avenues to ensure that the country benefited from the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

    Minister of State for Environment, Mallam Ibrahim Jibril, stated this at a Gala Dinner and Certificates Award Night organised by the African Union’s (AU) Scientific, Technical and Research Commission in Abuja, to mark the end of a three-day Capacity Building Consultative Workshop for AU member states.

    The workshop was an avenue to train representatives of African states on how to access the GCF.

    According to the minister, accessing the fund would go a long way towards addressing climate change-related issues in the country.

    He said towards that end, the environment ministry was working with the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to generate renewable energy as a way of mitigating the effect of climate change.

    He added that it was to address climate-related issues that Nigeria became the first African country to raise the Sovereign Green Bond in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement of 2015 to which it is a signatory.

    The minister stated that the government would encourage the 36 states to put proposals that would stand the test of time, to benefit from the GCF.

    He urged participants and other stakeholders to return to their various countries and apply the knowledge and lessons learned during the interactive sessions to help grow the various agencies, parastatals, organisations and academic institutions in their countries to grow.

    Highpoint of the evening was the award of certificates of participation to all the key stakeholders, participants and resource persons that were at the workshop. No fewer than 20 African countries were represented at the workshop.

  • 20,000 to benefit from Oyetola’s free medical mission

    About 20,000 people will benefit from the comprehensive free medical mission initiated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer in the September 22 governorship election in Osun State, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola.

    The event is slated for Sallah (Eid-el-Kabir) period so that people who travel for the Islamic festival could also benefit.

    Tagged: Ileri Oluwa Free Medical Mission for the people of Osun, Oyetola said it aims at giving people, especially rural dwellers, unrestricted access to free medical services and creating an opportunity for them to know their health status.

    Inaugurating the Free Medical Team yesterday in Iragbiji, Osun State, Oyetola enjoined the beneficiaries to be diligent about it.

    The team, recruited from different parts of the country, comprised of senior doctors in different areas of medical practice: pharmacists, nurses and Science Laboratory Technologists (SLT).

    Addressing the beneficiaries, Oyetola said: “I am passionately committed to the social wellbeing and healthy living of our people, which is the essence of this free medical mission. This programme is aimed at giving our people unhindered access to free medical services that would help them to know their health status and treat them free of charge, including free drug administration.

    “I urge our people to take advantage of this initiative and feel free to disclose their health situation to the qualified and competent care givers who we have provided for proper diagnosis and free medical attendance.”

    The APC candidate, who got the support of some members of Osun State Council of Obas, including the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdul Rasheed Olabomi, the Elende of Eko Ende, Oba Abdul Rauf Adebayo Olaniyi and notable APC stalwarts, urged eligible voters to collect their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs).

    He said the card is their licence to vote for a credible government that would take democracy dividends to their door steps.

    According to him, Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration has redefined governance in the state.

    Oyetola noted that only people with great vision and uncommon zeal for development could match the governor’s achievements.

    The APC candidate assured the people that as a strong member of the Aregbesola administration, he would sustain the tempo of good governance in the state by ensuring that the urban renewal and infrastructure development started by the outgoing governor is scaled up.

    Oba Olabomi, who spoke on behalf of other monarchs, urged politicians to ensure peace and stability in the state before and after the September 22 elections.

    He hailed Oyetola for prioritising social well-being and healthy living of the people, adding that the traditional institution would do its best to mobilise the people to participate actively in the electoral process so as to foster unity and development in the state.

    Crest Hospital’s Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr. Waheed Abayomi, who head the medical mission, said his team was ready and equipped to carry out blood sugar test with drugs, free cervical test with drugs and Malaria test with treatment.

    Others, he said, are: hypertension, free Arthritis test, free Fibroid and Anaemia test and operation, breast cancer screening and counselling, free eye test with glasses, family planning counselling and other medical services.

  • 1, 717 people benefit from FG’s cash transfer in Kogi

    No fewer than 11, 717 people have benefited from the Federal Government’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme across the 21 local government areas of Kogi.

    Mrs Falilat Abdulrasak, the state’s Unit Head of CCT, disclosed this at a workshop organised for the Cash Transfer Facilitators (CTFs) on Friday in Lokoja.

    Abdulrasak said that 11,717 beneficiaries were presently receiving the monthly cash transfer of N5, 000 each in all the 21 LGAs compared to the initial  9, 000 beneficiaries in 12 LGAs in 2017 in the state.

    “The present data is 11, 717, but the data will keep increasing as the National Social Safety-net Coordinating Office (NACO) continue to send us additional data, we will go back to the field to re-enroll those ones.

    “To the glory of God there are testimonies from beneficiaries from all over the places who have started their own businesses, raise structure and improved well-being through the monthly stipend,” she said.

    Abdulrasak added that 199 facilitators across the state were being trained to update their knowledge for the re-enrollment of cash transfer beneficiaries across the state.

    Dr Temitope Sinkaye, the National Programme Coordinator, National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO), Abuja, said that they were in Kogi for re-enrollment exercise of CCT beneficiaries, saying, “It is also happening in other States.

    “So, what we are doing now is to re-enroll the beneficiaries because there are one or two challenges that we want to correct and introducing new features on the devices.”

    Sinkaye, who was represented by Mr Henry Ayede, the Communication Officer, noted that NCTO office had on Aug. 1 and Aug. 2 in Kogi, did a refresher training for CCT Management Information System (MIS) officers from Nassarawa, Plateau, Kogi, Niger, Imo and Bayelsa States

    “Today, we are stepping the training down to the facilitators who are the managers of the programme at the ward level, ensuring it is implemented at the grassroots.

    ‘We are correcting wrong targeting because the real target is for the poor of the poorest in Nigeria.

    “The facilitators will be moving to the field as from tomorrow across the 21 LGAs in Kogi to recapture and re-enroll beneficiaries,” he said.

    One of the participants, Sule Yakubu from Idah LGA, told NAN that the training had further enhanced his knowledge on using technological base for enrollment.

  • Physically challenged persons to benefit from N217m housing project, says FG

    Physically challenged persons to benefit from N217m housing project, says FG

    Physically challenged persons interested in the 2016 National Housing Programme (NHP) will benefit from the scheme as soon as it is completed in six months, the federal government has assured.

    Zonal Director North Central, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing Julius Olurinola, disclosed this during an inspection of 72 units housing project at the weekend in Abuja.

    He said every Nigerian is eligible to purchase the flats at a cost to be unveiled by the ministry.

    Speaking at the phase one of the project site in Gwagwalada, Abuja, Olurinola who is the ministry’s Director of Engineering, said the project implementation, which already commenced in 33 states including the Federal Capital Territory have created direct and indirect jobs across the chain.

    He said the three apartment houses have 72 units of flats for interested individuals at an affordable cost, adding that the project is a reality of campaign promises of the present administration.

    The FCT Condominium Type A Project is a block building consisting of 4 units of 1 bedroom, 16 units of 2 bedroom and 4 units of 3 bedroom with a parking space available to occupy 50 cars.

     

  • Economy to benefit from hospitality industry

    The Nigerian hospitality industry is expected to contribute massively to Nigeria’s economic growth within the year, a report has said.

    According to research conducted by Lagos-based W Hospitality Group, operators within the sector are also confronted by multiple taxes and other levies charged by state governments.

    The report said the upbeat in the sector comes after more than three years of depressed performance.

    The W Hospitality Group interviewed hotel general managers working across Nigeria, and found that no fewer than 83 per cent are optimistic about their hotel’s performance in 2018, a strong bounce-back from 2017, due to renewed confidence in the Nigerian business environment.  Although the survey revealed that the business environment is still challenging, yet the expectations are high.

    Managing Director of the W Hospitality Group, Trevor Ward, said the feedback from hotel managers is encouraging.  “The hospitality industry is a good indication of the performance of the economy as a whole.  Stronger demand for hotel services is a good marker of increased investment and of economic growth.

    The problems we experienced of security issues, the oil price crash, and the recent recession are, we hope, behind us”.

    A negative finding from the survey is that fully 50 per cent of hotel executives complain about multiple taxes and other levies charged by State governments, on an industry which is seen as a cash cow to fill governments’ coffers.  “This is an increasing issue for the hoteliers,” Ward said.

    “Hotels already incur high operating costs, exacerbated by the depreciation of the Naira, and these ever-increasing government charges are an unfair and threatening burden, especially when we provide so many job opportunities, especially for young people”.

     

  • 262 benefit from Emerhor’s N13.1m empowerment

    Two hundred and sixty-two persons, including women and youths, yesterday partook in an empowerment programme sponsored by leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor.

    The event marked the end of a four-day 60th birthday celebration in his Evwreni home in Ughelli North.

    Another party stalwart and former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Victor Ochei, gave N1 million to 20 widows.

    Emerhor said he considered it meaningful to identify with Nigerians under stress, saying the people have not been empowered since the PDP took over power in 1999.

    He urged beneficiaries to invest the seed-fund, saying they will be monitored on how they use it.

    Emerhor promised there will be future endowment for those who prove to be resourceful with the fund.

    “The government has a responsibility to provide for the citizens so that there is a minimum standard of living for the people. But unfortunately, since 1999 when the PDP came to power, we have not been able to attain that level of empowerment.

    “This is one of the primary reasons we are fighting to take over the government because we are people-oriented. The APC must stand to ensure that good governance is enthroned in Delta State.”

    Ochei, who lauded Emerhor’s benevolence, said: “We cannot describe what the state government is doing as empowerment because that is our commonwealth. But we must laud Emerhor’s efforts because what he is doing today is from his personal pocket for the benefit of his people.”