The Nation Newspaper

Tag: canvasses

  • NCC canvasses local IT training for ex-militants

    THE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has got the greenlight to train some former militants for re-integration into the society.

    The training will be at NCC’s Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) in Oshodi, Lagos.

    Vice President of the Institute, Dr Okechukwu Ugweje told The Nation when the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications Technology, Dr Henry Akpan, visited the institute’s Oshodi, Lagos Campus. He said there was no further need to take people under the Amnesty Programme who desire training in any field of information communication technology (ICT) to other parts of the world when the facilities, competence and capability to do so are available at home.

    “The Federal Government is training a lot of people as part of the Amnesty Programme. Some people were even sent overseas for training. We believe that instead of going overseas, we can train here in Nigeria and we have facilities here at the DBI to train the amnesty people in ICT. Anything that is related to ICT, anything that is related to film, cinema and cinematography and anything related to computers. They can do the training in Nigeria instead of taking Nigerians to other countries. We have more than enough facilities here at DBI. We also have the capability. That is why I said we are prepared for such training,” Ugweje said.

    Though he said the number of ex-militants that would be trained was not known, an official of DBI said some thousands of the militants are expected in batches in Lagos. “So many of the ex-militants will be trained here, but for a start, some 300 will be trained in the first batch while the second batch will accommodate the same numbers. We hope the Federal Government will continue with the training,” he said on condition of anonymity.

    Akpan expressed satisfaction with the state of facilities in the campus, adding that they will help train the crop of ICT entrepreneurs that will move the country to the next level.

    “DBI has changed the aesthetics of the structure. DBI will provide opportunity for the youth to learn and reduce poverty and restiveness. We are interested in knowing how soon we will be converting the structure to use,” Apkan said.

    Ugweje said the institution has patnered both local and international universities to deliver internationally acceptable curriculum to the people that pass through it. “We already have partners. We have partnered with Nigerian universities, we have international partners in ICT. In fact, partnership is one of the strengths of the DBI vcos. We partner with a lot of institutions in the US, Europe, as well as universities in Nigeria. We have been doing that. We shall continue to do this. I don’t want to start naming the universities because they may not have direct relevance to the amnesty ptogramme. The amnesty programme is coming up anytime from now,” he added.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Visa canvasses more cash-less banking for travellers

    Visa canvasses more cash-less banking for travellers

    Visa, the global electronic payments company, has called for an improved use of e-payment products by business travelers both within and outside the country.

    Speaking at the BT Africa West Africa Expo and Conference in Lagos, Country Manager for Visa West Africa, Ade Ashaye, said the firm is committed to helping the country achieve its cash-less banking initiative.

    “Visa is committed to helping move Nigeria to a cashless economy and share some of the benefits of secure electronic payments within the industry.”

    The conference was hosted in association with Future Group’s Business Traveller Africa. He said Nigeria is growing as a destination for both leisure and business travel and rise in spending is a credit to the efforts of those promoting Nigeria as a tourist destination.

    According to VisaVue Travel data, Nigeria’s top three source markets of spend on Visa cards were the United Kingdom, United States and South Africa. Visa cardholders from these three markets account for 60.1 per cent of all total spending by international Visa cardholders in Nigeria.

    “What was great to see was the various players in West African business travel coming together under one roof, debating the issues, looking for solutions and engaging with existing and potential clients,” said Dylan Rogers, of Business Traveller Africa.

     

  • Mark canvasses death penalty for oil theft

    Senate President David Mark yesterday canvassed death penalty for those found guilty of stealing the nation’s oil.

    It was during the inauguration of the Joint Committee on Petrolum Industry Bill (PIB) in Abuja.

    Mark said the menace deserves capital punishment to reduce the unwholesome practice to it’s barest minimum.

    He said: “At the end of the day, the Bill must ensure that the current rate of oil theft in the country is minimised to the barest minimum.

    “It seems we are having a bad name internationally because of the rate of oil theft in the country.

    “Oil theft deserves capital punishment; the law must have a huge punishment for those that steal our oil to serve as a deterrent to other people who plan to steal our oil.

    “If it is the public wish, I will endorse a death penalty for oil thieves if it will stop oil theft and bunkering.

    “It is an unusual situation, so it deserves an unusual remedy and drastic punishment.

    “The PIB is a bill to unite the country and not divide it, it will open up the industry so that we can attract new investors.”

    He said that the Senate is taking the PIB “seriously”.

    He added: “We are taking this Bill seriously, the world is changing so fast and so is the petroleum industry. So, this is not a new bill but a review of the bill to meet with international best practices.

    “Nigerians are patriotic enough to know that what we are doing is in the best interest of all Nigerians, we have to update the Bill so that we can encourage investors.

    “The Bill is a win-win situation for all the parties involved. We are aware of the competition involved in the oil industry in the world.”

    Mark called for greater transparency in the operations of the oil industry so as to guarantee investors’ confidence.

    At the end of the day, this Bill must show transparency in the oil industry so that investors will come and get a return on their investment.

    He also said the bill must ensure that exploration activities are extended to other parts of the country.

    “We also want to explore oil in some other parts of the country and not only in the Niger Delta as we are doing now, there is no reason why we cannot find oil in the northern part of the country.”

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Upstream and lead chairman of the Joint committee, Senator Emmanuel Paulker, said the entire oil industry is waiting patiently for the passage of the PIB.

    “So, many financial investment decisions are awaiting this Bill and the leadership has done the right thing by fast-tracking the process for the passage of the Bill in setting up and inaugurating this joint committee so quickly,” Paulker said.

  • NTTF canvasses sponsorship for international championships

    NTTF canvasses sponsorship for international championships

    Nasiru Bello, the Head Coach, Nigeria Table-Tennis Federation (NTTF), on Wednesday charged corporate organisations in the country to assist the federation’s players to meet up with their international commitments.

    Bello told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the federation’s recent trip to Cote d’Ivoire by road, for a competition, caused the players to arrive late for the event.

    “It was quite a distance and very stressful. Due to this development, we could not meet up with all team events like U-18 boys’, U-15 girls’ and the U -15 boys. If we had arrived earlier, we could have made an appreciable impact in all the team events that we registered for,” he said.

    Bello, however, heaped praises on the U-13 duo of Ahmed Osibanjo and Tosin Oribamise, for winning the ITTF Future Hopes Scholarship Awards, adding that the country was awash with talents.

    “I am appealing to corporate organisations to assist these players, especially to fully actualise their potentials in the sport. If we had arrived in Cote d’Ivoire on time, I am sure we would have excelled in all the team events, but I am happy that the young players proved their mettle,” he added.

    NAN reports that due to their brilliant performance, Ahmed Osibanjo and Tosin Oribamise won the ITTF U-13 male and female scholarship awards.

    The Zone 3 West Africa Open Age Group Table Tennis Championships held between Feb.21 and Feb.24 in Abdijan, Cote d’Ivoire.

     

  • Akume canvasses free council poll in Benue

    Akume canvasses free council poll in Benue

    Senate Minority Leader George Akume at the weekend called for a free and transparent local government election in Benue State.

    Addressing reporters in Makurdi, the state capital, Akume noted that the outcome of the last governorship election indicated that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has enough support to win majority of the council seats in the November 24 poll.

    The former Benue State governor urged security agencies and the State Independent Electoral Commission (BESIEC) to be non-partisan but allow the parties to win where they are strong and popular.

    He accused the police of allegedly being unfair to the opposition.

    Akume said the ACN was prepared for the election, despite constant provocation by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said: “ACN is a very strong party in this state. You recall the performance of ACN in the last general elections. We believe strongly and rightly that we won that election. But the Nigerian factor robbed the ACN of major victories.

    “But don’t forget that in the House of Assembly, if some of the cases had gone through the court, we would have been controlling. But again, the Nigerian factor militated against it.

    “So, we (ACN) have 10 lawmakers in the state. That is a strong showing. The party has a senator at the National Assembly and three members in the House of Representatives.

    “This is not something you take for granted. For the forthcoming election, our worry is that some people will be sponsored and carry guns, threaten to destroy the poll. That is dangerous to democracy.

    “Remember my comment that the threat to democracy is not even the military but the action of the electoral bodies. If they play by the rule, democracy will grow.

    “We in Benue State, on the platform of ACN, believe totally in democracy. We are fully prepared and continue to campaign in spite of massive provocation from the other party.

    “We have been beaten and charged by some of these gun-trotting youths; our vehicles have been broken and people have also been arrested in a most unserious manner for doing nothing.

    “We were attacked a few days ago in Makurdi. We reported the case to the police but they ended up arresting our people.

    “It is a reminiscence of what used to happen in the apartheid South Africa. A white man would slap a black man, he would go and report to the police, but the police would turn back and arrest the black man. But it was just a matter of time.

    “What happened? The African National Congress (ANC) took over. So, God is always on the side of the just.

    “My appeal to ACN members is to continue to work very hard. Whosoever comes to Benue knows that we are very strong on ground; the people of Benue know that we are very strong.

    “I am sure, given the massive support from the people, we are going to win. My appeal is that security forces should rise to their responsibilities…”

  • Plane crash: Atiku canvasses prayers for Suntai

    FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for fervent prayers for the speedy recovery of Taraba State governor, Danbaba Suntai, who is currently receiving treatment as a result of injuries he sustained in a plane crash last Thursday.

    In a statement by his media office in Abuja yesterday, the former Vice President described Governor Suntai as a man actively committed to creating harmony, unity, tolerance and peaceful co-existence among the diverse groups in Taraba State.

    He said as an indefatigable advocate of peaceful co-existence, Suntai is one of the youngest politicians for whom he has high regard.

    According to Atiku, such a politician with a passion for unity deserves the prayers of all Nigerians at this difficult moment in his life.

    The former presidential aspirant said Suntai is always close to his heart because they shared a common passion for ethnic and religious tolerance in the country.