The Nation Newspaper

Tag: boosts

  • AfDB boosts jobs with $2m for youths

    The African Development Bank’s Fund for African Private Sector Assistance (FAPA), has provided funds totaling nearly  $2 million to its Jobs for Youth in Africa initiative.

    FAPA, of which the Government of Japan is a major donor, along with the Austrian Government and the African Development Bank, will contribute $923,570 and $988,202 to finance the Bank’s Fashionomics Africa Digital Marketplace and Entrepreneurship & Innovation Lab (eLab) programmes, respectively.

    Both programmes form key components of the Bank’s Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy, which invests in high-growth sectors with potential to promote youth and women’s empowerment, as well as create 25 million jobs over the next decade.

    “Africa hosts the world’s youngest population, which will double to almost one billion by 2050. The continent needs to create jobs much faster, particularly for women and youth,” said Director of Women, Gender and Civil Society Department at the Bank, Vanessa Moungar.

    “FAPA’s generous support will go a long way to accelerating the Jobs for Youth Entrepreneurship & Innovation Lab and Fashionomics Africa Digital Marketplace programmes that contribute to meeting these needs,” Moungar further remarked, during the funding announcement event, which was themed “Entrepreneurs 2.0 – When fashion meets technology”.

    Attended by Bank staff, dignitaries, public and private sector stakeholders, the event was also graced by fashion designer PatheO’, known for making the distinctive, colorful shirts worn by the late Nelson Mandela and Salimou Bamba, Managing Director of the Abidjan-based SME development firm, AGENCE CI PME.

  • Growing optimism as Lagos boosts artisans’ training

    Artisan training has been entrenched as Lagos State priority.This was confirmed as the government completed eight week’s intensive training and re-skilling programme for over 1,500 tradesmen and artisans in twenty-three different trades and vocations across the state.

    Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment,  Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf during a monitoring/familiarisation visit to one of the re-skilling centres in Ikeja, commended the beneficiaries of the training for their resilience throughout the training.

    She expressed optimism that the beneficiaries, having been exposed to  modern ways of trading and modern tools in their various vocations and trade, stood better chance above their peers who were not part of the training.

    The commissioner urged the beneficiaries to extend the exposure garnered through the training to their colleagues in other respective vocations, saying that the ultimate aim of the state government is to have competent artisans who can confidently handle various tasks that would be of reputable standard.

    “Having been trained by the state government, it is our expectation that you will use the knowledge and experience acquired to advance the state’s economy, improve its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and curb the practice of bringing artisans from neighboring countries for works that can be handled by  our indigenous artisans.” she said.

    The Head of Entrepreneurship Department in the Ministry, Mrs. Taiwo Abiose said the training is the eighth   up-skilling programme and it is one of the several ways of positioning artisans to compete globally with their contemporaries, especially in this era of different innovations and Information Communication Technology (ICT).

    She said the re-skilling training programme was designed for practitioners of different trades and vocations who are desirous of exploiting new frontiers and also acquainting themselves with modern technologies in their various fields.

    One of the beneficiaries and a member of Professional Carpenters & Furniture Makers Association, Akinola Akindele, appreciated the s government for the gesture.

    He pleaded with the state government to complement the training initiative with the provision of work tools for the artisans, saying this would make the training impactful, sustainable and profitable to them. The training was put together by the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment and Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board, LASTVEB to improve the competencies of artisans and tradesmen in the State so that their competencies can earn them more job opportunities. The training covered tie and dye, shoemaking, welding, barbing/ cosmetology, catering, vulcanizing among others.

  • NBCC boosts investment opportunities

    The Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) is promoting trade and investment opportunities between Nigeria and the United Kingdom (UK).

    The NBCC has therefore concluded plans to lead a trade mission to the UK where business concerns from both countries will be discussed.

    The group said it will provide platform for Nigerian and British businesses to  collaborate so as to encourage, promote and facilitate trade and investments between the two nations.

    Speaking at the pre-mission briefing in Lagos, NBCC President, Akin Olawore, said the five-day mission scheduled from June 11 will feature a series of business to business meetings with prospective partners from various British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), key policy influencers and Nigerians in Diaspora.

    Olawore said delegates will have the opportunity to participate at the international business festival in Liverpool and the London Technology Week with a working conference themed: “The Ease of doing business in Nigeria- A sound Check” included to hold at the Institute of Director, Pall mall, London.

    On volume of trade between the countries, he said the volume of trade is improving due to increase in business from both countries, adding that more will be achieved as trade relations improve and wrong narratives dealt with through accurate information dissemination.

  • Executive Order boosts service delivery at airports

    The implementation of  the Executive Order on  the Ease of Doing Business has boosted service delivery at airports. The Order, which okays passengers screening through a single window by security personnel, has saved turnaround time for airlines and passengers, reports KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR.

    Passenger facilitation at airports has assumed new dimensions, thanks to the implementation of the Executive Order on  the  Ease of Doing Business signed last May 18 by Vice President  Yemi Osinbajo.

    In the last 10 months, passenger screening, check-in procedures and other processes have taken a new shape – no more lost hours for travellers.

    The Order has not only improved the architecture of security, but also prescribed the terms of engagement of uniformed personnel attached to critical units.

    It requires that staff members on duty should be properly identified by their uniforms and identity cards, while off-duty personnel are expected to stay away from the airport except with  the approval of the agency head.

    According to Osinbajo, aviation security personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) should address touting at airports.

    ”All non-official staff shall be removed from the secured areas of airports. No official of FAAN, Immigration, security agency or Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) or any other agency is to meet any non-designated dignitary at any secure areas of the airport,” The Vice President warned.

    He directed that the approved list of dignitaries to be received by protocol officers should be made available to AVSEC and other relevant agencies ahead of their arrival.

    ”Any  official caught soliciting or receiving bribes from passengers or other airport users shall be subject to immediate removal from post and will face  disciplinary as well as criminal proceedings in line with extant laws and regulations,’’ the Order said.

    Ten months on, passenger processing at airports and other screening procedures have been transformed.

    Investigations reveal that  it  takes less time for passengers and airlines to process check in procedures at the airports for the reworking of security architecture at the departure and arrival wings of the terminal building.

    Besides saving airlines and passengers time, there is a significant reduction in the procedure and processing of flights due to the elimination of multiple tables where passengers displayed either their luggage or travel documents.

    The controversial “Customs Table“ used by airlines have been removed at the Lagos International Airport to improve passengers’ profiling and check-in processes in line with globally accepted operational standards. The development, described as a win-win situation for passengers, airlines and security agencies, is a departure from the past.

    Before the implementation of the Executive Order, a long table was used by Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Quarantine Service, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and other agencies’ officials  to  allegedly extort money from passengers.

    This table before the implementation of Executive Order was responsible for the unnecessary delays in passengers’check-in, which sometimes ran into several hours.

    In an interview, FAAN Managing Director, Saleh Dunoma  said there was a paradigm shift at the airports since the order was signed.

    Dunoma confirmed that check in procedures and passenger processing had improved

    He said: “Desks that have been there for manual search are no longer there. The checks are being done at appropriate locations and this has created a tidy departure hall.

    “This has improved the ambience of the departure hall.’’

    An aviation security expert,  Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd) commended the government for the new regulations, noting, however, that there was still room for improvement.

    Ojikutu, who is the and Managing Director of Centurion Securities Limited, said the removal of check-in tables was in line with the agitation by industry experts, who have, for years, called on the government to redesign the security procedure for passengers check-in.

    Also, Dana Air Group Managing Director, Mr. Jacky Hathirami, praised aviation agencies for the commitment they had so far exhibited in implementing the directive.

    He said: “Apart from the fact that aviation industry is critical to the economy, I believe the executive order has removed unnecessary bureaucracies at the airports, provide solutions to a lot of anomalies in the system.’’

    On the impact of the Ease of Doing Business at airports, Akwaaba African Travel Market organiser, Mr Ikechi Uko, commended FAAN for removing the long tables.

    Uko admitted  that passenger facilitation at airports was not only faster, but now devoid of the hassles of multiple screening and checks.

    He said: “It is easier now to go through the airport, though visa on arrival is still not easy as the processes of getting approval for visa on arrival is still difficult.”

    He said there was room for improvement in some areas at the airport like the toilets which he observed are getting cleaner.

    FAAN’s Director of Operations, Captain Rabiu Yadudu told The Nation that the Ease of Doing Business has brought about a lot of efficiency in airport operations and synergy among security agencies.

    He added that the authority is now a subscriber to the Airport Service Quality Programme (ASP) put together by the global regulator, Airport Council International (ACI).

    The programme, he said, uses data gathering to help the agency measure its passengers’ reactions to  improve service delivery.

    He said the Executive Order has broadened the horizon for the airport authority in entrenching safety and seamless facilitation.

    Yadudu said:  “It  provided a template for us  to know how to react to customers and stakeholders and give  us better understanding to serve  better.”

    The new arrangement, he said, had  provided  passengers  satisfaction at airports.

    “This programme is all about gathering data from the incoming and outgoing passengers on all aspects of our operations to help us improve our services through analysis of this data. The ASP is all about efficiency and how we response to passengers stimuli,” he added.

  • CBN boosts forex market with $210m intervention

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday injected $210 million into the inter-bank Foreign Exchange Market.  The intervention is in line with the apex bank’s quest to guarantee the availability of forex for customers’ needs in various segments of the market.

    Figures obtained from the CBN showed that that the regulator offered $100 million to authorised dealers in the wholesale segment of the market, while the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) segment received the sum of $55 million.

    Customers requiring foreign exchange for invisibles such as tuition fees, medical payments and Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), among others, were also allocated the sum of $55 million.

    The bank’s Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department (CCD), Isaac Okorafor, confirmed the figures and reassured the public that the Bank would continue to intervene in the interbank foreign exchange market in line with its desire to sustain liquidity in the market and maintain stability.

  • Wema Bank boosts CSR initiatives

    Wema Bank Plc has assured stakeholders that it would continue to promote Corporate Scial Responsibility (CSR) to create lasting impression in the lives of the people. The bank in a statement, said it will continue to celebrate people in its communities every-day, doing the little things that Make A Difference (M.A.D).

    “As a bank that prides itself in creating wealth for its people, we are determined to shape the minds of those around us that wealth is beyond financial fortunes; beyond riches. It is an overall wellness of the entire being. This means wealth is reserved for a few but can be found and experienced in the little things that make meaningful impact,” it said.

    Over the years, the bank has championed this narrative by pursuing meaningful, life-changing initiatives that has transformed lives, empowered people and provided a brighter future for several others.

    In recent times, Staff members of the bank have come together as a family to donate a day’s salary towards a noteworthy cause including paying in full the medical bills of patients in public hospitals, providing a brighter future for several children by taking up their school fees, and renewing the hope of families by providing financial aid to support their businesses.

    In 2016, a physically-challenged hairdresser bought herself a wheelchair and set up a beauty shop from the funds received from the such donations. She is doing well and has started production of her beauty care line.

    Last year, donations were channeled into paying the hospital bills of patients at the Children’s emergency ward at LUTH, Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, Old GRA Port Harcourt and Wuse General Hospital, Abuja, ensuring that these kids have another chance at chasing their dreams.

    This year, the bank is keen to showcase wealth in all spheres of life by celebrating people and showcasing the wealth of opportunities abound in our communities. For the first 14 days in February, we have lined up simple, everyday activities that will impact every segment of society; from our kids to the elderly, the less privileged to the working professional and business person.

  • Oando JV boosts agric in Niger Delta

    Oando and its Joint Venture (JV) partners – the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), have given a boost to agriculture through training and giving assistance to farmers leading to greater awareness on what farmers should do to increase yield.

    As a result of the increased awareness on the agric sector’s growth potential, oragnisations such as USAID and Oando and its JV partners, have invested in improving agricultural practices in the country.

    According to the Mission Director of USAID Nigeria, Michael T. Harvey, “Public-Private Partnerships are a proven way of expanding investment in agriculture, improving both efficiency and productivity.”

    In 2015, Oando joined its JV partners for the first time, to support the Green Rivers Project (GRP) / Farmers Day celebration. Since then, the company has been an active participant of the initiatives.

    The GRP aims to increase agricultural productivity and prevent further deterioration of the soil through the use of better farming techniques; enhance farmer’s income, improve the quality of life of farmers through the adoption of improved and sustainable farming systems and therefore contributing to the improvement of the livelihood of the households in NAOC operational communities of Rivers, Bayelsa, Imo and Delta states.

    In commemoration of the 2017 GRP, Oando JV held the annual Framers Day celebration in Igbogene, Bayelsa State.

    Speaking at the event, the CEO, Oando Energy Resources, Olapade Durotoye, said: “We have taken it upon ourselves to re-orientate members of our host communities, particularly the unemployed youths to embrace agriculture as a viable future for the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.

    “The hard truth is that beyond the oil and gas sector, greater opportunities abound in other sectors of the economy and we must take advantage of this.”

    Oando acknowledged the untiring efforts shown by farmers in providing sustenance for the country’s ever-growing population, providing raw materials to the nation’s industries, and contributing substantially to the nation’s foreign exchange earnings through its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

    “Today, through our GRP programme the joint venture partners – NAPIMS/NAOC/OANDO have set the pace for our peers to follow. We have successfully sensitized our community based farmers on the importance of agriculture through the introduction of high yielding planting materials, fisheries activities, and formation of Cooperative Societies to access our Micro-Credit scheme,” Durotoye said.

     

     

     

     

  • Forex: CBN boosts forex supply with $195m

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has intervened in the inter-bank  Foreign Exchange Market with the injection of another $195 million.

    Figures released by the bank yesterday, showed that it offered the total sum of $100 million to the Wholesale segment, while the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) segment received the sum of $50 million. The invisibles segment comprising tuition, medical payments and Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) received $45 million.

    The bank’s Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, Isaac Okorafor confirmed the figures, noting that the intervention was in line with the CBN’s commitment to continue to ensure forex liquidity and meet legitimate demand.

    Okorafor maintained that the CBN will continue to intervene in the nation’s forex market in order to sustain the liquidity in the market and guarantee the international value of the naira.

    Meanwhile, the Naira is still exchanging at an average of N360/$1 in the BDC segment of the market on Tuesday, November 7, 2017, maintaining its stability in the forex market.

  • Forex: CBN boosts liquidity with $195m

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday injected $195 million into the Inter-bank Foreign Exchange Market.

    Figures obtained from the bank indicate that the CBN offered $100 million to authorized dealers in the wholesale segment of the market, while the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) segment received the sum of $50 million.

    Those requiring foreign exchange for invisibles such as tuition fees, medical payments and Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), among others, were allocated the sum of $45 million.

    CBN’s Acting Director in charge of Corporate Communications, Isaac Okorafor, confirmed the figures. He said the bank was confident that the level of transparency it had entrenched in the market would help the naira sustain its steady run against the dollar and other major currencies around the world.

  • Danvic centre boosts industry manpower

    To boost skilled manpower in the  industry, Danvic Petroleum Training Centre has traied the first set of geosciences manpower.

    The centre designs a six-month intensive programme for graduates and young professionals of geosciences to acquaint them with practical aspects of the oil and gas industry.

    The six-month course is divided into four modules, comprising general lectures and theory as well as practical sessions taught by practicing geoscientists and engineers from the oil and gas industry. The final module is the industrial attachment, where each trainee joins a group and carries out group project, using industry based software in seismic interpretation, petrophysics, and reservoir modeling, among others.

    After the attachment, the trainees are further deployed to oil and gas firms for one year internship to enable them participate in the execution of practical exploration and production projects.

    Danvic Petroleum International Corporation, Managing Director/Chief Executive,  Dr Mayowa Afe, said it was a step towards the realisation of the dream and vision of establishing a full-fledged private oil and gas university that would complement government efforts. The centre would also help to provide the necessary manpower for the oil and gas industry not only in Nigeria, but across the Africa and thereby increase indigenous participation in the oil and gas industry, he added.

    Afe observed that recent geosciences graduates from some of the universities were lacking in the necessary skills and exposure that could guarantee their employability in today’s multi-task world class geosciences environment.

    According to him, this development has over the years and before the advent of the local content policy, led to many international oil and gas companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria go abroad to recruit personnel for jobs in Nigeria, or at best go to foreign universities in United States (US), United Kingdom (UK) and Europe to recruit privileged Nigerian students studying abroad at the detriment of their colleagues in Nigerian universities.

    Afe told The Nation in Lagos that the Centre was set up with the aim of bridging the gap between the university theory and the oil and gas practical knowledge requirements. This, he said, would ensure the employability of the Nigerian graduates from the geosciences disciplines and advance the local content policy objectives in the oil and gas sector. He stated that all the graduating trainees had already been fixed and accepted to carry out a year internship programme with various oil companies to execute the practical exploration and production project.

    He said: “The plan is that at the completion of this one year internship programme, all these trainess would be industry ready, and will be gainfully employed thereafter,” adding that before their acceptance in the various oil and gas companies they were rigorously interviewed and found worthy of employment.

    Afe, who is also the president, Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN), noted that global demand for hydrocarbons was constantly growing yet the oil and gas industry was facing challenges such as discovery of new reservoirs and better understanding of the architecture of existing reservoirs in order to optimise their development.

    “In view of these challenges, Danvic Petroleum School in the nearest future would go beyond the petroleum geosciences programme and expand to include petroleum engineering,” Afe said, adding that the Centre would continue to train students in new concepts, new technologies such as industrial software, entrepreneurship and leadership skills as well as organising appropriate field trips to fully equip them for the future.