The Nation Newspaper

Tag: conference

  • Osun financial crisis: ‎Aregbesola, lawmakers hold conference

    Osun financial crisis: ‎Aregbesola, lawmakers hold conference

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the state and national assembly lawmakers are set to meet to proffer an enduring solution to the financial challenges facing the state.

    At a press briefing during the weekend in Osogbo, Osun state capital, a lawmaker, representing Ayedade/Isokan/Irewole federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Mrs. Ayo Omidiran, disclosed that meeting tagged Osun Stakeholders Conference‎ is scheduled to hold Monday.

    Omidiran in company of other lawmakers, including Hon. Ajibola Famurewa, representing Ile East/West and Atakumosa East/West federal constituency, Hon, Mojeed Alabi, repenting Iwo/Ola-Oluwa/Ejigbo federal constituency, and Hon. Bosun Oyintiloye, representing Obokun state, constituency, ‎disclosed that not less than 1000 stakeholders from the state will attend the conference.

    According to her, technocrats, former governors of the state and their deputies, formers speakers of both the national and state House of Assemblies, traditional rulers, labour unions, NGOs, religious leaders, elder statesmen, leaders of the opposition party (PDP), market women among others have been invited to the conference.

    She noted that the National Assembly members under the aegis of Osun Legislators Forum initiated the meeting.

    Omidiran said the conference was necessary following the financial crisis facing the stat over the months as result of incessant industrial actions over non-payment of salaries as well as abandonment of the gigantic projects that the governor has embarked upon to actualise the mega city vision in the state.

    She said: “We realised that the times are very hard for our people in the state. Whatever we are doing in Abuja, if our people are not happy, we too cannot be happy. It then means that the laws we are making won’t make sense. We want to let our people know that we are committed to their wellbeing.

    “The conference will present an opportunity for all stakeholders to hear from the horse’s mouth on how we got to this sorry pass. Governor Rauf Aregbesola will explain in clear terms during his submission the what, when, why and how. He will answer all our questions and lay all his cards on the table.

    “Stakeholders are expected to contribute intellectually through submissions based on facts and experiences so that at the end of the submit, we shall, together, and by the grace of God, proffer lasting solutions to the myriads of problems confronting our dear state.”

    Omidiran also disclosed that the recommendations from the summit would be submitted to the government which has the prerogative for implementation.

  • Don, Odegbami, others for conference

    The Dean, Faculty of Food Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Prof Lateef Sanni; Chairman, International Sports Academy Abeokuta, Segun Odegbami and other erudite scholars will speak at the first annual O’odua Youth Conference (OYC).

    The conference, organised by OYC, a registered apex Yoruba youth organisation, will hold on July 30 at the Western Hall, Secretariat Complex, Ibadan, with the theme: “Repositioning Yoruba Youth for Greater Prosperity: A new Agenda”.

    OYC President Moronkeji Oladapo said Director General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) Segun Oshinowo and Director General of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission Dipo Famakinwa are also guest speakers at the conference, which will draw over 1,000 select Yoruba youths from across the Southwest.

    He said the conference would provide the youth and leaders the platform to do a more critical appraisal of the challenges facing them and proffer solutions.

    He said the conference would also serve as a launchpad for various OYC’s empowerment programmes in agribusiness, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, creative arts, and sports.

  • LASACO chief, others for conference

    The Group Managing Director, Lasaco Assurance Plc, Olusola Ladipo-Ajayi has been slated as a guest speaker at the maiden conference of the Insurance Industry Consultative Council (IICC), which will hold between July 26-28, in Abuja.

    It will feature Frank O’neil, Managing Director, SWISS RE, ME & A; Bismark Rewane, Managing Director, Derivatives Ltd and Demola Aladekomo, Director, Chams Group, as paper presenters.

    Sessions’ chairmen include Mr. O.S. Thomas, the Director-General, Nigerian Insurers Association; Alhaji Mohammed Kari, Deputy Commissioner (Technical), National Insurance Commission; Sir M.O. Oyegunle, Managing Director, Lakeg Nigeria Ltd; Mr. Oye Hassan-Odukunle, Managing Director, Leadway Assurance Co. Ltd and Mr. E. K. Okunoren, Deputy President, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB).

    Titled: ‘Developing Insurance business for national growth’, the conference will take critical look at various issues affecting insurance business in Nigeria and how it can support national growth.

    Papers will be presented on topics, such as developing insurance business for national growth, regulation and enforcement for insurance growth, information technology as a strategy for market penetration and expansion and growth options for insurance business in Nigeria.

  • The LearnedFriends holds first Digital – Legal conference

    Plans by Nigeria’s fastest growing Legal professional network, the Learnedfriends.com to host her maiden edition of the E-Legal Conference 2015 has been concluded.

    The conference is scheduled to hold at 10 a.m. on  July 9, at the Arbitration Center, Lagos High Court, Igbosere.

    The theme for the conference is:  Tomorrow’s Legal and the primary objective is to provide thought leadership for the Legal industry on ICT solutions. Key players in the ICT and Legal industry from around the world will enlighten delegates on the latest enabling tools and software developed for today’s Law Practice.

    Expert speakers include Mark Slade, British CEO Ringier Digital Marketing; Senibo Bara-Hart Legal Adviser, Samsung – West Africa and Azubuike Ezenwoke, Dean-Student Affairs, Covenant University. Barrister Alex Mouka, chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos branch will inaugurate the conference as the keynote speaker.

    Those expected to participate in the E-Legal conference include Policy and legal professionals, paralegal professionals and ICT professionals.

    TheLearnedFriends.com is an online news aggregator and social media platform focused on showcasing technological innovations in the legal sector. Her mission is to generate commercial value for Law people by leveraging on Information and Communications Technology

     

  • Odusile promises NUJ conference

    Odusile promises NUJ conference

    The Managing Editor of The Nation and a top candidate for the office of the president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Waheed Odusile, has promised to build on the achievements of the present  executives if elected.

    Speaking at the weekend during his campaign at the Kogi State council of the NUJ in Lokoja, he promised to render account of his stewardship yearly.

    Odusile said he would organise an annual national journalists’ conference to promote interaction among the practitioners.

    He said if elected, he would put in place a national housing scheme for journalists and a comprehensive health insurance package that would assist practitioners, some of who are left to their fate during health challenges.

  • ABUAD hosts conference

    ABUAD hosts conference

    The Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Ekiti State, will today host the 48th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT), making it the first private university in Nigeria to host the Conference.

    A statement by the university’s spokesman, Tunde Olofintila, said the  five-day conference has the theme: “Mainstreaming Interdisciplinary Approach to Legal Education: Imperative for Nigeria Development”.

    ABUAD founder Chief Afe Babalola, as the Chairman of the opening ceremony, will x-ray the evils be-devilling legal education and the judicial system in Nigeria.

    There will be a plenary session with three papers titled: “The Interdisciplinary Approach in Theory, Pedagogy and Practice” by Prof. Chukwuemeka Nnona of the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus;“Methodology, Theoretical Framework and Scholarly Significance: A Review of International Best Practices in Legal Research” and “Mainstreaming and Interdisciplinary Approach to Legal Education: Evaluating and Re-Engineering Postgraduate Law Education to meet the challenges of Nigeria” by the duo of Dr. Damilola Olawuyi and Dr. Rhuks Ako as International Contributors

    Another major highlight  is the public presentation of a book titled: “Food and Agricultural Law: Readings on Sustainable Agriculture and the Law in Nigeria” dedicated to Babalola.

    There will be the display of another book titled: “The Product Regulation and Liability- 2nd Edition” written by experts in 19 countries across five continents of America, Europe, Asia and Africa as well as Australia with Chief Babalola as the sole contributor for Nigeria.

    The conference will be signaled off with the Governor’s Banquet and NALT Award night.

  • Lawyers hail CLA conference

    Lawyers hail CLA conference

    Lawyers at the 19th edition of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) Conference, which held in the Glasgow, Scotland, have scored the conference high in spite of poor attendance.

    They said the resource persons and quality of delivery made a great impact on them.

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) First Vice-President, Mr. Francis Ekwere said: “It has been a worthwhile experience being here. It has opened our eyes to see how conferences are organised, the seamless transition from one session to another, etc. We will try and see what we will do to improve our own conferences.   We have a lot to take home from here.”

    Another participant, Mr. Rotimi Oguneso (SAN), said: “It is very stimulating because it afforded various practitioners from the commonwealth countries the opportunity to exchange ideas, network  and bring their individual experiences to this conference while they learn from each other.”

    To Mr. Aniedi Akpabio, the conference was a great success notwithstanding the low attendance.

    “The resource persons were carefully selected. Their delivery was fantastic and change of sessions seamless. I urge lawyers from Commonwealth countries to always strive to attend this conference because it is quite interesting and very rewarding,” he said.

    Another participant, Mr. P.C.N. Okorie,  described the conference  as rewarding.

    A commissioner in the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, Kefas Mogaji said: “The conference was indeed; a huge success. First of all, the resource persons are those that are experienced and vast in their various areas.”

    A former Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN) president Tajudeen Oladoja, said: “I will take home how to enhance access to justice for teeming Nigerian indigent clients because that is the focal point of one of the sessions I attended at the conference.”

     

     

  • Lawyers disagree on gay rights at Commonwealth conference

    Lawyers disagree on gay rights at Commonwealth conference

    To what extent should gay rights be protected? Speakers were divided on the issue at the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) Conference.

    A Kaduna-based lawyer, Oladipo Tolani, disagreed with the guest speaker Michael Kirby at the closing ceremonies.

    While Kirby believes gay rights should be respected everywhere, Tolani thinks it is wrong for anyone to impose their culture on others.

    The 19th edition of the conference was held at the Scottish Events and Conference Centre,  Glasgow, United Kingdom.

    In attendance were lawyers  from over 53 countries of the  Commonwealth countries.

    CLA is a pan-Commonwealth organisation, which upholds the rule of law in the Commonwealth by encouraging exchange of ideas between legal professionals, academics and students, through projects and by driving improvements in legal education.

    •From left: Afam Okeke, Bimbo Kayode, Justice Ibrahim Auta and NBA First Vice-President Francis Ekwere.
    •From left: Afam Okeke, Bimbo Kayode, Justice Ibrahim Auta and NBA First Vice-President Francis Ekwere.

    The conference started with a welcome address by the former  Chairman  of the Scottish Civil Courts Review, Lord Gill, who spoke on the Independence of the judiciary and the legal profession.

    Speaking on gay rights, Kirby, who was a member of the Commonwealth Eminent Group that reviewed the operations, efficiency and the essence of the Commonwealth, gave an account of the work of Emminent Persons Group and its recommendations to the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGOM).

    Among them is the need to set up the office of a Commissioner for Human Rights. He said the group’s recommendations did not receive the blessings of the Commonwealth Secretary-General, who felt that his office could handle such human rights matters.

    Kirby cited the  plight  of former human rights crusader, Mohammed Nasheed, as one of such critical  violations of human rights, which a commissioner for human rights could handle.

    He said he hoped that the next Secretary-General of the Commonwealth would defend the rights of all, including the vulnerable group, the minorities, and the gay rights.

    Kirby who told the audience that he and his partner had been together for the past 48 years, adding that it was a wonderful

    relationship.

    •From left: S. Akubor (SAN), former Chairman, NBA Jos Branch Caleb Dajan; Steve Adah and Edward Ekpokol.
    •From left: S. Akubor (SAN), former Chairman, NBA Jos Branch Caleb Dajan; Steve Adah and Edward Ekpokol.

    He canvassed the protection of gay rights as he propounded the advantages of the gay relationship.

    During the question and answer session, Tolani expressed displeasure at the speakers’ views on gay and rights.

    He frowned at the efforts of developed countries to foist their beliefs on developing countries.

    He said: “The idea and theory of gay relationship is alien to the Nigerian culture and belief system and that  is why Nigerian lawmakers refused to pass the bill seeking to legitimise gay relationship into law in Nigeria, so no body should force us to accept it.’’

    He called on the Commonwealth lawyers to live together and respect each others’ views and rights as efforts to coerce people to accept what they do not believe in could create divisions.

    Lord Gill, in his address, said judicial independence is one of the fundamental values that the institution of the Commonwealth represents.

    “Society’s standards and its expectations of our justice system are changing all around us. But we must adhere to our own constant values.

    “As Judge William Cranch put it, ‘in dangerous times, it becomes the duty of the judiciary calmly to poise the scales of justice, unmoved by the armed power, undisturbed by the clamour of the multitude.’ Only in this way can we truly defend the right of the citizen to call the executive to account.

    •From left: Ime Obot, P. Okorie, Kauna Penzin, former Chairman NBA Ikom Branch Emmanuel Okang and Gloria Nweze.
    •From left: Ime Obot, P. Okorie, Kauna Penzin, former Chairman NBA Ikom Branch Emmanuel Okang and Gloria Nweze.

    “That the independence of the judiciary cannot survive without the independence of the profession; and I ask the question: What kind of judges do we wish to have?

    “In 48 years in the business of the law, I have known judges of outstanding academic brilliance who found it difficult to make a decision for fear of being wrong; or who pursued relentless logic without due regard to common sense.

    “I have known lawyers who were not forceful pleaders at the Bar yet flourished in the judicial life when they had time for reflection.

    “So, when a judicial appointment is made and the profession – as always – passes its confident verdict, remember this: you never can tell.”

    He added: “I suggest that to answer the question: What kind of judges do we wish to have?, our starting point should be that we wish to have judges who have come to judicial office by a process of appointment that is open, transparent and fair.

    “ Only in that way can the judiciary deserve and enjoy public confidence. I think that it is fair to say that until 20 years ago, in the United Kingdom jurisdictions the appointment process – if such it could be called – remained hidden from public view and had aspects of mystery.”

    Other keynote speakers includeed Ms. Hina Jilani and Dame Silvia Cartwright.

  • NBA holds conference

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Business Law (SBL) will hold its Ninth conference from June 7-9 at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos

    In a statement, its Chairman, Conference Planning Committee Mr. Ayuli Jemide said the theme of the conference is Regulators as catalysts for economic growth. He said the event will enable regulators, lawyers and business executives to engage in a dialogue on how policies and regulations will shape economic growth

    He said: “With key note presentations and panel discussions led by top industry experts nationally and internationally, the conference sessions will prove to be an impactful forum for information sharing.”

    He said session topics will include Long term global economic trends and implications for Nigeria; Improving Nigeria’s ease of doing Business Index; Raising money for projects; Latest trends in Nigerian financing; Nigeria’s power privatisation process: Learning curves and next steps; Young lawyers visit to law firms; and Value-based pricing for legal services

     

  • ECA-AU ministers’ conference holds tomorrow

    THE Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Union Commission (AUC) will hold its conference of ministers from tomorrow.

    It is coming against the backdrop of negotiations leading up to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and within the context of the continent’s Agenda 2063.

    Over 1,000 participants are expected, including no fewer than 50 ministers of Finance, Planning and Development, 30 Central Bank governors and key leaders as well as thinkers from business and academia.

    The conference will tackle the theme: “Implementing Agenda 2063 – Planning, Mobilising and Financing for Development”.

    At the event, the ECA will also launch its Annual Economic Report on Africa, with the main theme: “Industrialisation through trade”.

    The last two meetings, which held in Abidjan and Abuja, focused on industrialisation and transformative growth. At the meetings, calls were made to African countries to adopt dynamic industrial policies with innovative institutions, effective processes and flexible mechanisms to transform their economies to bring about inclusive and sustainable economic as well as social development.

    But, this year’s theme will highlight the importance of securing finance to implement the continent’s development agenda.

    The financing needs of Agenda 2063, the organisers said, “are considerable, in particular with regard to regional integration; intra-Africa trade, infrastructure among others”.

    The ministers will also focus on the role of finance as well as discuss ways to put together better frameworks so that the banks and financial services will play a more active role in driving the transformation agenda.

    The conference will focus on domestic resource mobilisation since Africa needs funds and more effective and inclusive means of channelling funds to where they can be most effective and where the markets failing to reach. The meetings will also include a week of expert talks, seminars and discussions focusing on a wide variety of themes.

    Climate change will feature strongly and the ECA will showcase the work they have been doing on the data front to unleash a data revolution, which will, ultimately, drive policy.

    This is part of the ECA’s wider mandate to provide data driven policy advice. The conference will also feature the inaugural lecture for the Annual Adebayo Adedeji Lecture Series, launched in Abuja last year.

    Later in the year, the much-anticipated regional integration ranking will be released by the ECA. This ranking, using a wide range of metrics, will list countries in terms of how integration friendly they are.