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Tag: Breaking News

  • Lagos Govt. empowers HIV patients with trade skills

    The Lagos State Government says it is training 98 women living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) on various trade skills.

    Mr Peter Obialor, Coordinator of people living with HIV/AIDS, Community Department in Alimosho General Hospital, Igando Lagos, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday.

    Obialor said the empowerment is being conducted by the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) with the aim of reducing poverty in the state.

    “This training is organised for people living with HIV to empower them and make them feel among and not to be rejected and discriminated upon.

    “This training at least will help them build their self esteem instead of losing it; and they can equally be free to showcase themselves as people who can do a particular thing.

    “The people are being trained on how to make tie and dye, bead making, makeup, gele tying, cosmetology, hairdressing, event management and catering services.

    “ We give them starter packs which comprises of what their chosen venture required,’’ Obialor said.

    According to him, the participants are from various general hospitals in the state.

    He assured people living with the virus to believe that they had a future and urged them not to think that having “HIV is a death sentence”.

    He said: “HIV is not a sickness, it does not kill; malaria kills faster than HIV.

    “But HIV can live in the body for about three years without one knowing; it is the panic that kills.’’

    Read Also: 360,000 adolescents expected to die of AIDS by 2030 -UNICEF

    He commended the state government for its initiative on this disease, noting that “this is the second time the people of Alimosho local government is benefiting from the state government goodwill”.

    Miss Happiness Chidinma, one of the trainees on Cosmetology, told reporters that she was blessed to be part of the beneficiaries.

    “I feel great and blessed about the training I am currently receiving, I will use the skill to establish a big firm to enable me cater for my children,’’ she said.

    Miss Owolabi Olabisi, an apprentice on Makeup and Gele, expressed joy that she finally learnt the skill she had always had passion for.

    “I am very happy about the scheme because makeup and Gele tying have always been what I have been trying to learn on my own.

    Mrs Amarachi Okafor, a trainee on Catering, also thanked the state government for empowering people living with HIV and “I am determined to set up my business after graduation”.

    Similarly, Mrs Rosemary Chukwuma, the event and decoration instructor, urged the women to be creative to enhance their economic development.

    NAN reports that the training will last for one month.

  • 360,000 adolescents expected to die of AIDS by 2030 -UNICEF

    Some 360,000 adolescents are expected to die of AIDS by 2030 if investment in HIV prevention is not ramped up, according to a UNICEF report released on Thursday.

    The figures show the world is “off track’’ in its goal to end AIDS among children by 2030, UNICEF’s executive director, Henrietta Fore, said.

    Projections show there will be a decline in the number of children and young people infected with HIV and dying from AIDS-related causes.

    But the UN children’s fund warned progress is notably slower among adolescents – defined by the UN as those between ages 10 and 19.

    For example, AIDS-related deaths are projected to decrease by 57 per cent among children below the age of 14 by 2030, compared with 35 per cent among those aged 15 to 19 years.

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    “Programmes to prevent HIV transmission from mothers to babies are paying off but haven’t gone far enough.

    “Programmes to treat the virus and prevent it from spreading among older children are nowhere near where they should be,’’ Fore said.

    The report blames slow progress in preventing HIV among young children, along with a failure to address structural and behavioural drivers of the epidemic.

    For example, many young people do not know they have HIV, and those who do often fail to stick to their treatment plans.

    UNICEF is pushing for more family-centred testing and diagnostic technologies, as well as targeted outreach programmes and a greater use of digital platforms to improve knowledge of HIV among adolescents.

  • ASUU strike : Parents, students call for quick FG intervention

    Some parents and students in Abuja on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to speedily intervene and resolve the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU).

    The parents, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, expressed worry over the constant strikes embarked upon by the university lecturers’ union.

    NAN reports that on Monday, the Federal Government and ASUU had a meeting to resolve their agreement in order to suspend the lecturers’ strike.

    However, the meeting that reportedly started at about 5 p.m. at the Federal Ministry of Education ended in another deadlock.

    A parent, Mrs Eunice John, said: “it is a pity what our government and ASUU is doing to this to our children who have been forced once again out of school.
    ‎
    “‎We know that many of the leaders have their children either studying in private universities or in other schools overseas, that is why they can always keep our children out of school.

    “Many parents are struggling to pay school fees of their wards to keep them in school and out of the streets, yet these children are forced to come home and some now engage in various vices.

    “That is not the only problem, when their studies are disrupted, it affects them; imagine those who were in the middle of writing examinations having that flow disrupted.’’

    ‎John pleaded with the FG and ASUU to reach an agreement that would end the strike and ultimately help improve the education sector.

    Mr David Onilede, another parent said the strike was worrisome adding that it would affect the productivity of the students.

    “I am worried at the sustained strike by ASUU. As a parent, the capacity of our children for productive interaction with their studies is being jeopardised.

    “I do not trust the FG ‘ s negotiating team; it seems that it is fixated on commercialising education at the tertiary level; ASUU should resist this. ‎

    “ASUU too, should be more flexible in their obsession with earned allowances; it portrays their struggles as selfish,’’ he said.

    Mrs Jumoke Yusuf, a Public Servant, said that the constant and protracted lecturers’ strikes had marred the country’s university system, as continuous breaks in the learning process had negatively affected the students.

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    “This strike is affecting the students and even we the parents because unexpectedly these children are coming home which they did not plan for.

    “That is not the main issue because you cannot stop your children from coming home no matter what.

    “The issue is that these incessant strikes are actually causing a lot of problems for these children in the sense that they just stay too long in school.
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    Esther Ajayi, a student ‎at the Nasarawa State University, who a spoke to reporters, said the strike had reduced her morale.

    ‎”I paid my fees for admission for a master’s degree programme and was excited and ready to go to school, however, this strike has dampened my hope of finishing within the stipulated time.

    “We want the federal government to dialogue with ASUU to end this continuous strike.
    ‎
    “It is not only sad that children of the masses try to be beat all odds to be the best they can be, but more worrisome is that the government of the day plays politics with the education system.

    ‎”Nigeria prides herself as the giant of Africa, but finds it difficult to resolve issues that are beneficial to the populace, we want the strike called off soonest.”
    ‎
    Emmanuel Onuoha, another student who spoke to NAN, accused the FG of failing the Nigerian student. ‎

    He said that government needed to do everything within its power to address the challenges in the sector as he called for the strike to be called of soonest.

    “Our parents said in their time the education system was good, there was nothing like strike and education was basically free.

    “Now some of them are in government and they are allowing us to suffer what they never did, because they can afford to send their children to schools abroad to get the best. ‎

    “We are pleading with government to solve this problem so we can go back to school.

    “Our ‎mates in private universities are way ahead of us; we‎ are just sitting at home doing nothing. It is not fair,”‎ he said.

  • Beans can be produced naturally without sniper, says farmer

    Mrs Bose Idowu, an agriprenuer at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, has assured farmers and citizens that producing, preserving beans can be natural without application of sniper.

    She made this known to Reporters on Monday in Ibadan.

    Idowu, who is a producer of beans, yam flour, plantain flour and local rice, said that she produced clean beans without preservatives.

    “Beans with weevils is an indication that the beans was not preserved with any sniper or chemicals, so people should not be losing interest in buying beans with weevils, they are even the best.

    “I buy at the right time when the farmers freshly harvest at the farm, after that I seal it properly in a purse bag developed by some scientists.

    “The purse has thick nylon inside and the regular sacks cover outside, once one can properly seal it and store well, it can last for six months to even one year.

    “My beans by God’s grace are still one of the cheapest and best in market because I get them directly from the farmers immediately after harvest, they are clean and well stored, ” she said.

    Idowu, the Chief Executive Officer of Gracevine Agribusiness Ltd., Ibadan, noted she was trained and empowered through IITA Youth Agriprenuer (IYA) Programme.

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    “I joined agriprenuer programme in 2012 and was trained on soya bean, maize and cowpea productions, from the token received from IITA then I saved N500, 000 and started my own business.

    “Through the support of IITA and partners, the business scaled up, since 2016, I cultivated, produced and packaged no fewer than five hectares of cowpea monthly; now I have a factory to produce and sell cowpea.

    “My products are of high quality and the prizes are affordable,” she said.

    Idowu, a graduate of Animal Breeding and Genetics, added that her factory could produce 120 tonnes of yam flour in a month, but was limited due to lack of market.

    “From the N4 million that I received from IITA and donors, especially the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), I was able to buy all necessary equipment but the major challenge is that we lacked the market.

    “Also, the company is still waiting for NAFDAC accreditation having applied for a long time, if they accredit us and there is market, we will meet our capacity which will surely boost food production in Nigeria and Africa at large,” she said.

    She, however, maintained that beans could still be produced without preservatives while urging the farmers to follow due process of producing, preserving beans the natural way.

  • Fuel supply: NNPC seeks to increase retail outlets

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it is set to increase its 14 per cent market share in the nation’s downstream petroleum retail market.

    The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru, said this during NNPC Special Day at the ongoing Lagos International Trade Fair on Thursday in Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria, reports that the fair was organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

    Represented by Mr Ikem Obi, Chief Operating Officer, NNPC Downstream, Baru said the corporation aimed to go beyond its current 14 per cent market share of the downstream sector.

    “To aid in achieving this target, we have expanded our retail outlets, notable examples are, indeed, located here in the South-West.

    “For example, we have the newly constructed ultra-modern mega station along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    “The corporation is leaving no stone unturn to ensure that Nigerian Pipeline and Storage Company’s existing infrastructure are rehabilitated and new ones added as necessary steps to guaranteeing efficient storage and distribution of petroleum products across the nation, thereby ensuring supply reliability and energy security,” he said.

    Read Also: Minister clears air on suspension of National Carrier

    Baru said NNPC had recently completed the rehabilitation and restoration of the vandalized 36” and 42” QIT and 48” Forcados Oil Terminal (FOT) Export pipelines leading to resumption of production operations.

    “The corporation has also completed the repair of the vandalized 20” ELPS-A pipeline, thereby ensuring gas supply to gas-fired power plants and also supply into the West African Gas Pipeline.

    “We have also awarded the contract for the construction of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) line gas infrastructure projects,” he said.

    He said that NNPC was expanding and integrating its gas pipeline network system to meet the unprecedented domestic gas demand and have recorded significant progress in the execution of key on-going gas pipeline infrastructure projects.

    He said that all these activities would invariably impact positively on the economy in view of the role of the oil and gas industry as the number one foreign exchange earner for the country and NNPC’s position as managers of government interests in the sector.

    Earlier, Mr Babatunde Ruwase, President of LCCI, said that the role of NNPC could not be overemphasised in ensuring petroleum products supply.

    He urged the Federal Government to expedite the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and also create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

  • Man docked for alleged conspiracy, trespass

    A 33-year-old man, Bitrus Boyi, was on Thursday arraigned in a Gombe Chief Magistrates’ Court, for alleged conspiracy, trespass and theft.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Kabiru Shu’aibu told the court that the accused person on Oct. 29 at about 10.00 p.m. conspired with two others at large to commit the offences.

    He said the offences contravened Sections 96, 343 and 286 of the Penal Code.

    He said that they scaled into Lucy Kalai’s house, behind Evangel School Tumfure and charted away 2,000 litres of plastic water tank valued at N80, 000.

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    The prosecutor, who gave the names of the two other accused persons as Jerry and Abel, said the police was on the hunt for them.

    Boyi, however, denied committing the offences.

    Shu’aibu further told the court that investigation into the matter was still in progress.

    He applied for adjournment of the trial to enable the police complete investigation.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr Japhet Maida, ordered remand of the accused person and adjourned the case until November 15 for further mention .

  • Many Nigerians yet to understand insurance, says Ajimobi

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State says many Nigerians are yet to understand what insurance is and how it works.

    Ajimobi made the assertion on Thursday while playing host to the leadership of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) led by its President, Mr Eddie Efekoha, in Ibadan.

    The visit was to keep the state abreast of the institute’s forthcoming 46th Education Conference with the theme: “Increasing Insurance Penetration through Value Creation’’.

    The education conference is a-three day programme holding from Nov. 8 to Nov. 10 at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan.

    Ajimobi, represented by his Deputy, Chief Moses Adeyemo, said that insurance was not well accepted in the country compared to other developing and developed countries due to lack of knowledge.

    “Insurance is as good as any bank product, and if properly promoted, it will contribute better quota to the country’s Gross Domestic Products (GPD).

    “I urge the CIIN to intensify its insurance awareness and enlightenment programmes to ensure that insurance penetrates all households to attract more Nigerians.

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    “As insurance professionals, it is your duty to ensure that Nigerians understand insurance and the pivotal role it plays.

    “You must also adjust your strategies to attract Nigerians into insurance net, even if it involved returning some of the premiums collected,’’ he said.

    The governor also urged insurance practitioners to improve on the claims payments to change the citizens’ wrong perception toward insurance.

    According to him, Nigerians who buy insurance policies are discouraged to make further purchases due to inability of some underwriters to fulfill their claims obligations when the need arises.

    He said that the state was currently floating Special Health Insurance Scheme (SHIS) in which it subscribed N650 monthly per employee of the state.

    “At the beginning of this administration, we kicked-off a SHIS in which it played N650 monthly for each worker.

    “This contribution enables the workers and their families to access medical treatments up to any amount, once they are state employees,’’ Ajimobi said.

    He said the state government would support CIIN to ensure the knowledge and service of insurance spreads across the state.

    Earlier, Efekoha commended the governor on various impressive projects he had executed.

    According to him, the achievements attracted the institute to schedule the education conference in the state.

    “We commend the government for making insurance a household name in the state through its SHIS,’’ he said.

    Efekoha said that the institute would intensify its efforts to expand insurance enlightenment to all parts of the country.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Director-General of CIIN, Mr Richard Borokini and the institute’s Education Conference Chairman, Mr Mufutau Oyegunle, were among those who visited the governor.

    Also, Chief Yemi Soladoye, President-General, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes and the first insurance practitioner in Oyo State was among the delegates.

  • Court jails two restaurant bosses over girl’s allergy death

    A British court on Wednesday sentenced two restaurant bosses to prison after they were convicted of causing the death of a 15-year-old girl who suffered an extreme allergic reaction to traces of nuts in a takeaway meal.

    Manchester Crown Court convicted restaurant owner Mohammed Kuddus, 40, and takeaway manager Harun Rashid, 38, of “gross negligence manslaughter’’ in the death of Megan Lee.

    The court acknowledged that Megan suffered a fatal asthma attack caused by the allergic reaction in December 2016.

    It, therefore, sentenced Kuddus to two years and Rashid to three years in prison.

    Read Also: Why I killed, slept with my mother’s corpse

    Karen Tonge of the Crown Prosecution Service said ahead of the sentencing that Lee died because the men had “failed to protect her as their customer.’’

    “Their manifest failures and complete disregard for the safety of customers was astonishing.

    “No appropriate systems or conditions were in place to protect Megan or any customer with a known allergy,’’ Tonge said.

    Another restaurant owner was sentenced to six years in prison in 2016 after the death of a 38-year-old man in a similar case in North-Eastern England.

  • Buhari Mourns Sunny Odogwu

    President uhammadu Buhari has described the late Ide Ahaba of Asaba, Chief Sunny Odogwu as an accomplished business man and industrialist whose contribution to nation development serves as a source of inspiration to several Nigerians.

    In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina said the President is pained by the exit of Chief Odogwu and commiserated with the Odogwu family on the death of Chief Sunny Odogwu.

    The President also extended his heartfelt condolences to the good people of Asaba and the Government of Delta State on the passage of their illustrious son and respected elder statesman.

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    The Presidenr sais he also joined the and the people of Delta State in honouring the memory of the versatile businessman, who remarkably contributed to the socio-economic development of his immediate community, state and the nation, drawing from his extensive experience as an accomplished industrialist, entrepreneur, publisher and philanthropist.

    The President affirmed that through his vast business networks, range of skills and perspectives, the late Chief Odogwu demonstrated deep understanding and commitment in empowering indigenous businesses, encouraging entrepreneurship and creating thousands of employment opportunities for Nigerians.

    He prayed the almighty God to comfort the family, friends and business associates of the deceased, and grant his soul eternal rest.