The Nation Newspaper

Tag: conference

  • Conference on Christopher Okigbo holds in UI

    To mark the golden anniversary of the passage of Christopher Ifekandu Okigbo (16 August 1932– September 1967), there will be a conference at the University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo State.

    The late Okigbo was a poet, teacher, and librarian, who died fighting for the independence of Biafra 50 years ago. He is today widely acknowledged as an outstanding postcolonial English-language African poet and one of the major modernist writers of the 20th century.

    As part of the activities to commemorate his passage, the two-day conference, which is billed to hold next month on September 20 and 21 at Trenchard Hall of his alma mater U I, has as theme: Legacy of Christopher Okigbo – 50 Years On.

    The event is organised jointly by the Christopher Okigbo Foundation (COF) and the University of Ibadan through her Departments of Classics and English.

    According to the organisers, the keynote address will be delivered by Nobel Laureate Prof Wole Soyinka under the Chairmanship of Eze Prof Chukwuemeka Ike; while HRH Obi of Onitsha Eze Achebe will be the Royal Father of the day.  “Other eminent personalities expected at the event include Ambassador Judith Sefi Attah (Okigbo’s widow); members of the Okigbo family; Christopher Okigbo’s friends; colleagues, mentees and writers within and abroad. There will also be paper presentations and a panel of discussions on the subthemes; cultural and poetry readings.

  • Speakers’ Conference chief lauds lawmakers

    The Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly has commended the National Assembly for the successful completion of the first step toward the amendment process of the 1999 Constitution.

    According to members of the conference, the depth of work done would deepen democracy and improve on the quality of governance at all levels in the country.

    In a statement by their Chairman, Ismaila Kamba, the speakers urged the National Assembly to quickly forward the items approved by both chambers to the states for expeditious deliberations and actions by the 36 states Houses of Assembly.

    Kamba, who doubles as the Kebbi State House of Assembly Speaker, said that since the National Assembly had at different stages of the debates and discussions on the amendment process involved the Conference of Speakers, it should not be difficult for the states’ legislature to vote on the issues and revert to the National Assembly.

    He praised the ingenuity and innovations introduced in the process by the National Assembly during the voting on the issues put forward by the Joint Committee on Constitution Amendment.

    Kamba said: “The Conference of Speakers is happy as the National Assembly separated the issues into different Bills, such that it is easy to vote on different issues in a clear manner.

    “We will enjoin all our colleagues to borrow a leaf from that in the voting on the amendment to the constitution. Same procedure can be used by speakers during voting on other thorny and sensitive issues that may come to our respective chambers in the future.

    “We are also happy that issues that can help improve governance at all levels, strengthen the judiciary, aid the anti-corruption war of the government, entrench separation of powers, develop the legislature at the state levels and improve on the performance of the local government authorities and many important issues have been taken care of in the constitution amendment.

    “With this constitution amendment, the National Assembly has prepared the ground for the emergence of a new Nigeria with a more solid democracy.

    “The Speakers are eager to lead other state legislatures to create a better country. The National Assembly should quickly send the amendment documents to us so that we can play our part.”

  • CGMA holds conference

    The second edition of CGMA Speaks Series will focus on the Future of Finance. The edition will hold tomorrow in Lagos.

    CGMA Speaks is the thought leadership platform of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). It brings senior business leaders and executives together for broad reaching conversations, about the context of today’s business environment in Nigeria and across the world.

    This event is for Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) and senior executives in finance related functions to deliberate on the emergence of a new operating model for modern finance.

    The Executive Chairman, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, Mr. Dotun Sulaiman, is the Chairman of the occasion. Mr. Kunle Elebute, National Senior Partner, KPMG Nigeria and Chairman, KPMG West Africa, will give the keynote address at the event.

    Panellists for the session, which will be moderated by Dr. Noel Tagoe, Executive Vice President, Academics, The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA), include Gbemisola Adelowore, Head of Finance, SAP West Africa; Ononuju Irukwu, Managing Director, Chapel Hill Denham Management; Bola Onadele, Managing Director, FMDQ OTC; and Lolomari George, Head of Treasury, Shell.

    Speaking on the importance of the summit, Associate Director, Nigeria, Ijeoma Anadozie, said the event, propelled by a new CGMA research, will focus on major trends affecting business and the need for the finance function and professionals to prepare for future risks and opportunities, leveraging technology.

     

     

     

  • FUOYE’s young scholars’ conference ends tomorrow

    A three-day conference aimed at  teaching young scholars on how to write proposals that attract research grants from the best universities  ends tomorrow at the FederalUniversity, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE).

    According to the university management, the conference was being held  in conjunction with the Social Science Research Council, New York, United States for young scholars in the sub-region

    Addressing a briefing in Oye-Ekiti,Chairman of the Local Organising Committee Prof Sola Omotola, explained that 30 young scholars drawn from West Africa would also undergo training on how to conduct quality research that addresses peace and security threat in Africa as well as suggesting paths to peace building.

    “The objective is to advance knowledge and understanding about issues of peace and security in Africa and to promote peace building in the continent,” said Omotola, who is also FOUYE’s Head of Political Science Department.

    He continued: “There are vital issues of peace and security in Africa. There are rising cases of terrorism, herdsmen-farmers conflict and renewed agitation for secession, especially in Nigeria.

    “The Igbo people are clamouring for secession while the militants in

    Niger Delta are crying for resource control.

    “We are in an era of increasing security threat. There is need to develop capacity for original and systemic research into issues of peace and security, and peace building in Africa.

    “By training people, we are building capacity to be able to conduct a

    ‘’Quality-oriented research and suggest sustainable path to peace building in Africa.”

  • Fed Govt urged to adopt national conference report

    The Anglican Church has said adopting the report of the Sovereign National Conference is panacea to the nation’s myriad of socio-economic and political upheavals.

    The church said the Federal Government is free to convoke another conference if it is not comfortable with the recommendations made by the National Conference under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The church also said true federalism is ideal for the ‘growth and development’ of the country, adding that states should be allowed to develop at their own pace.

    This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 5th Synod of the Diocese of Badagry held at the Cathedral Church of St Thomas, Badagry Lagos State.

    Anglican Communion also lamented the perennial lack of power supply under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. To address this national challenge, the Synod advised the Federal Government to decentralise Power, Housing and Works ministries under Babatunde Fashola with the aim of splitting them for optimal performance.

    “The comatose position of the power sector after two years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration negates the promised change,” the communique said.

    The document signed by the Diocesan Bishop and Secretary Rt Rev Babatunde Adeyemi and Olubunmi Ajimo Akindiba respectively, urged the Federal Government to also look into alternative sources of power such as solar, coal and wind so as to reduce the total dependence on the national grid for electricity supply.

    While commending government in its fight against corruption, Synod advises government to set up special courts to try corrupt officials.

    “Innovative measures should be taken in the fight against corruption such as the establishment of special courts to try corrupt persons. A blueprint for students should equally be developed to sensitise them to dangers inherent in corrupt practices.

    “The Synod is also saddened at the increasing state of crime such as kidnapping, cultism, terrorism, and herdsmen’s attacks which still remain recurring menace. The Synod therefore urges government to provide adequate structures to arrest this trend,” the statement added.

    Adeyemi, who sought special status for Badagry in Lagos State, explained that though Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration is trying, more of government’s presence is still needed in Badagry.

    While acknowledging various efforts of the government in sustaining the economy, it also recommended that further efforts be made in pursuing other sources of revenue such as agriculture, solids minerals and tourism and others.

  • Obasanjo to youths: Don’t wish us dead, you still need our mentoring

    Obasanjo to youths: Don’t wish us dead, you still need our mentoring

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday pleaded with the nation’s youth not to wish elders in the country “dead”, saying they need them as “mentors” and “advisers” in their journey of life.

    Obasanjo who stated that his “greatest fear about Nigeria” today remained the “anger and frustration of the youths,” said if not managed, it could lead to “youth explosion.”

    He lamented that Nigerian youths are not getting help either from the government or anybody.

    The Ebora Owu who spoke during the Youth Governance Dialogue organized by the Youth Development Centre arm of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library(OOPL), Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said while his generation had “limitless opportunities but no facilities” in their time, the youth of today have facilities but little or no opportunities.

    He cited the insurgency in the North East, the separatist agitators in the South East and militancy in the Niger Delta region as manifestations of anger and frustrations from disillusioned youths, warning that should youth explosion erupts, there may be no limit to the extent it can spread.

    He appealed to them to work hard to help themselves and be ready to pay the price for the right cause they believe, saying in spite of all odds, the youth still remained his greatest hope for Nigeria.

    Obasanjo noted that when he left secondary school, he received letters of appointments from five establishments and wondered whether any Nigerian university graduate could have such opportunities today.

    “Don’t wish us dead, don’t wish us to disappear because you will need us. You need us mentors and advisers to mentor and prepare you for the future. You need our experience and assistance of some of us to guide you through life.

    “You should not lose hope, you should not feel frustrated. Whenever I go, they always ask me what is my fear about Nigeria and Africa. And I said my greatest fear is youth anger, frustrations and youth explosion which have no bound.

    “We have the Boko haram in the north, the MASSOB and IPOB in the South East, the militants in the Niger Delta and the Oodua Peoples Congress in the Southwest. All of these are expression of anger and frustrations.

    “We have what it takes to be great as a nation and we can’t transform this country without the youths. My greatest hope in this country is also the youth. You the youth should work to help yourselves. You must be ready to pay the price for what you stand for,” Obasanjo said.

    The lead speaker at the occasion and former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka while speaking on the theme “Towards a Guiding Political Philosophy for a Democratic Nigeria,” advised that the nation’s leaders should build a society that harness human and material resources effectively, provide equal opportunities and develop capacity for innovation.

    Chidoka also proposed a new Charter for the country, saying the Charter should contain reasons for the country’s unity, and which guarantees the basic rights, privileges and obligations of citizens.

    “Our national aspirations should inspire the next generation and provide them with the existential meaning of Nigeria. A meaning that transcends geography, natural resources and ethnicity.

    “Our political parties can then build their ideologies around the strategies for the achieving our national goals,” he said.

    Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal also attended the conference.

  • Conference holds tomorrow

    Landmark Africa Magazine will hold its Second Leadership Development Conference and Awards on Thursday in Lagos.
    According to Aderemi Ayoola, its Managing Editor, the aim of the event is to promote excellence in leadership and to recognise individuals who have made landmark achievements in their professions.
    Ayoola said at the event, Kebbi State Governor, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar Bagudu, and his Rivers counterpart Nyesom Wike will be honoured. While Ahmed is being honoured for his agricultural revolution in rice planting, Ayoola said Wike is getting the award for his strides in infrastructural development, adding that former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has also been tipped for an award for his achievements in office.
    Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunnusi Ojaja (II) is expected to be the Royal Father of the day while First Lady, Kwara State Mrs Omolawe Yetunde Ahmed, is billed to preside as the Mother of the day.
    The theme of the lecture is Building capacity for potential industrial investors in Africa; it will be delivered by Prof. Bello Shehu Malami, Vice Chancellor, Kebbi State University of Science & Technology.

  • London Conference on Somalia

    SIR: An international conference on Somalia opened last week in London under the auspices of the UK government and the United Nations as part of efforts to restore peace and put the fragile government back on track.

    The conference’s major theme focused on the security architecture that the federal government must agree with the federal member states including what the future of Somalia National Army should look like and how to counter terrorism while protecting human rights.

    I believe this conference is coming at the right time with the focus on the above mentioned themes but, I think the international community and donor agencies should focus attention on food crisis and peace negotiations with the al-Shabab group more than any other items.

    The Horn of Africa is in dire need of urgent help, there is currently humanitarian crisis that is affecting the lives of thousands.

    CNN reports that fears of famine grow as hundreds have died; and the Somalia President Muhammad Abdullah Farmajo has declared a national disaster for a prolong drought that has forced about half of the county’s population to urgent food assistance and sparked fears of a potential famine.

    According to WHO, more than $4.4bn is needed to the famine catastrophe, and more than 6.2 million people – half of Somalia population needed urgent humanitarian aid, including almost three million who are going hungry.

    This figure is staggering; therefore the international donor agencies most do something now to save the lives of children and other people in need of urgent help!

    While there are reports that the ongoing conflict with the al-Shabab group is further blocking access to food, the conference should find a way of ending the crisis and the UN should call for a ceasefire so that food and medicines as well as other relief materials can be provided.

    It is our hope a lasting peace will be achieved in Somalia and other regions in Africa and the world over.

     

    • Abdullateef Tanko A.

    nayashit@yahoo.com

  • Foundation holds conference

    Meadow Hall Foundation (MHF), the corporate social responsibility arm of Meadow Hall Group, will hold a two-day education convention next week Thursday.

    The event themed: ‘Transforming our society through education’, aims at bringing stakeholders together to discuss and learn new ways to advance the society through education. Aside, the two-day event would involve sub themes one of which would feature a mentor-mentee for educators at  Meadow Hall, Lekki, Lagos on the following day.

    “The education convention will provide networking opportunities for all participants to interact with educational experts, professional development for educators and personal development,” quoted a statement made available to The Nation.

    ” It is meant for parents to learn how to complement teachers’ efforts towards inspiring creativity in their children, as well as, discussions and direct feedback on educational issues. Stakeholders will learn how to help children achieve their highest potential towards societal development,” the statement added.

    The event, which holds at City Hall, Lagos Island, will have Former Minister of Education and former Vice President of the World Bank, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, as the keynote speaker. Other speakers include: CEO, Gemstone Group Mr. Fela Durotoye; Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Education) Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh; as well as CEO, Meadow Hall Group Mrs. Kehinde Nwani.

    In a similar development, three million naira is till up for grabs at the forthcoming Inspirational Teacher of the Year and The Inspirational Head Teacher of the Year awards respectively.

    According to the Foundation which organises the event, participation is completely free and interested individuals still have an opportunity to log on the organiser’s website-www.inseawards.org. to nominate the best teacher and head teacher of their choice.

    The organiser stated that the award ‘recognises, rewards, and promotes excellence in the teaching profession.’

    The best inspirational teacher nationwide gets one million naira, while the inspirational head teacher which may also include headmaster, headmistress or principal, clinches two million naira at a grand event scheduled to hold later this month.

    Meadow Hall Foundation is a non-profit body borne out of a need to improve the educational outcomes of the Nigerian child.

  • Graduating Muslim students hold conference

    Muslim students’ community at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) has held a conference at the college’s mosque.

    The event with the theme: Surviving beyond the horizon, was organised by graduating Muslim in 48 departments in preparation for their graduation from the school. The event was graced by notable Islamic scholars outside the campus. The organisers said it was aimed at enhancing networking and entrepreneurship education among the graduating students in order to give them a glimpse of what to expect after graduation.

    Dr Luqman Balogun, who spoke on The key tools for business development, advised the students to imbibe the virtue of strategic planning, telling them to design feasible and challenging goals. He charged them to be creative and pursue their goals in line with the ethos of Islam.

    Dr Shakirrullah Ajani, who spoke Doing business in the 21st century, advised the students to explore opportunities brought by technology to improve their professional experience. He emphasised the need to follow the technological trend, noting that such would help them  to be relevant in their chosen career.

    He said: “You must not be deficient in technological knowledge, because this is the foundation for doing business in this century. You must be informed about modern techniques and position yourselves to be technologically-oriented.”

    Ajani advised the graduating students not to involve in trades opposed by Islam teachings, urging them to always leave their comfort zones to search for knowledge. He told them to build networking group that would benefit their physical and spiritual aspiration.