The Nation Newspaper

Tag: create

  • How tomatoes can create 6.9 million jobs yearly, by CEO

    How tomatoes can create 6.9 million jobs yearly, by CEO

    THE tomato industry has the capacity to create 6.9 million jobs per annum if its potentials are harnessed through government’s support and favourable policies, the Chief Executive Officer of Vegefresh Company Ltd, Mr. Samuel Samuel, said yesterday.

    The massive unemployment can be tackled if government offers necessary support for the tomato industry in Nigeria, he added.

    Samuel explained that the per capital consumption of tomatoes in the country is 0.012 metric tonnes.

    With the nation’s estimated 160 million population, this translates to 1.92 million metric tonnes per annum, Samuel said.

    This, he said, is based on the assumption that an average family consumes 5kg tomatoes per month.

    With the 1.92 million metric tonnes of fresh tomatoes produced in the country and the 72, 000 metric tonnes of processed tomatoes imported, he said the current consumption rate of tomatoes in the country stands at 2.3million metric tonnes per annum.

    With a metric tonne of tomatoes capable of creating at least three jobs through the value chain, Samuel said the consumption rate will conveniently generate 6.9 million jobs for the nation’s army of unemployed youths per annum.

    He said: “These are direct and indirect jobs that can be created every year without fail. As long as people consume tomatoes, these jobs will always be there.”

    He, however, said this would only be possible if government supports the industry with incentives and policies that will encourage local production.

    Criticizing the current importation of 72,000 metric tonnes to augument local production as damaging, Samuel said the nation loses N11.5 billion to the practice every year.

    “This is something we have no business doing at all because we “have local sufficiency and can even become local net exporter if we address the issue of waste in the commodity production and processing,” he explained.

    The export, Samuel added, will generate another N30billion for the nation.

    He appealed to government to fast track businesses processes and engage local investors in the sector.

    He claimed that this is cheaper than sourcing for new foreign investors who will require not less than two to three years to build plants before commencement of production.

    “What government should do is to identify and support local investors already in the sector. They know the terrains and environment.

    “If they have invested in the industry for five years with track records, they should be supported,” Samuel added.

    He said such support should focus on increasing local capacity and easing excess charges placed on tomato growers and processors.

    In specific terms, Samuel said government should place zero import duty on raw materials such as tin paste, powders and chemicals to boost local production and packaging of processed tomatoes.

    He also called for immediate ban on importation of tin tomatoes “because we have the capacity to produce it ourselves.”

  • Entertainers to create shows for 100 years of Nigeria

    Entertainers to create shows for 100 years of Nigeria

    CONSIDERED as a uniting force outside of football, the entertainment industry has been co-opted into plans by the federal government for the centenary celebrations of the existence of the Nigerian nation

    At a forum with stakeholders in the music and movie sector in Lagos on Wednesday, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, intimated the entertainers on the proposed activities and the need for them to be a part of the project.

    The event, which held at the Yellow Chili Restaurant, Joel Ogunnaike, GRA, Lagos had the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke in attendance.

    Anchored by veteran actor, Kanayo O Kanayo, the meeting witnessed a flurry of stars from the Yoruba, Hausa and the English language film production wings of the industry.

    Duke, in his opening remark, said the federal government deemed it necessary to involve the entertainment industry because the entertainers are the bedrock of the Nigerian brand and the creative power house of African continent.

    He described Nollywood as a great contributor to the culture and tourism status of Nigeria as well as a huge foreign exchange earner outside of oil. Duke, urged the filmmakers not to falter due to the challenges being faced by their members, but take a frontal seat in the centenary project as creative people.

    “I enjoin you to seize this opportunity as a sacred duty to contribute in several ways and strengthen the Nigerian brand,” he said.

    Senator Anyim, who presented a 24-page paper titled “The Centenary Project: Concept Document”, asked the entertainers to develop a position programme that will be fuse into the larger centenary celebrations calendar.

    He noted there had been unfavourable reactions regarding why the celebration is not necessary-one of which is the criticism that the Nigerian nation was forced by the colonial masters through the amalgamation, but that it is important to leverage on the strength of oneness and celebrate the country’s achievements together.

    The SGF who noted that: never in history had justice been totally achieved, by a people, said there is the need to develop certain legacy projects, including a city that will serve as a hallmark of the centenary celebrations.

    “The essence of the project is to strengthen the unity of Nigeria. Let us emphasise the need for us to remain as a country and to become what the world wants us to become,” he said.

    He said as a way of involving the private sector on patriotic projects, the federal government has said it will not put its money into the project.

    “It is important to note that government has decided not to put money into the project. It is going to be funded by the organized private sector. This is what we must continue to do to ensure that private expenditure in issues of national importance is a culture that we all should start getting familiar with,” he stressed, adding that whatever programmes the filmmakers will be doing, they should understand that government will only come in by canvassing for private sector support for the project.

    Anyim who disclosed that a theme song has already been recorded by music icon, Onyeka Onwenu, said President Goodluck Jonathan will flag off activities leading to the celebrations on February 4, 2013 in Abuja.

    He noted that the programme is not to promote anybody or any administration, saying that It is only by coincidence that it is during the tenure of president Jonathan that the country clocked 100 years.

    Kanayo, who spoke on behalf of the entertainers, assured that the industry will evolve with a position paper as soon as possible. He said the letterhead to be used will not carry any particular guild but that it will come as a project of the entire Nollywood industry. He noted that this will be to forestall any form of controversy among the various guilds and associations.

    Among the celebrities at the forum were: Mahmood, Ali-Balogun, Zeb Ejiro, Chico Ejiro, Bukky Wright, Stephanie Okereke, Alex Lopez, Fidelis Duker, Francis Onwoche, Joke Silva and husband, Olu Jacobs, Segun Arinze, Charles Novia, Greg Odutayo, Jide Kosovo, Sanni Danga, Sani Muazu, Sunny MacDon, Lillian Amah and Chinedu Ikedieze, of the ‘Aki

  • Scientists create cancer-killing cells

    Scientists create cancer-killing cells

    Scientists have created cells capable of killing cancer for the first time.

    The dramatic breakthrough was made by researchers in Japan who created cancer-specific killer T cells.

    They say the development paves the way for the cells being directly injected into cancer patients for therapy.

    Researchers at the RIKEN Research Centre for Allergy and Immunology revealed they have succeeded for the first time in creating cancer-specific, immune system cells called killer T lymphocytes.

    To create these, the team first had to reprogramme T lymphocytes specialised in killing a certain type of cancer into another type of cell called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells).

    These iPS cells then generated fully active, cancer-specific T lymphocytes.

    These lymphocytes regenerated from iPS cells could potentially serve as cancer therapy in the future.

    Previous research has shown that killer T lymphocytes produced in the lab using conventional methods are inefficient in killing cancer cells mainly because they have a very short life-span, which limits their use as treatment for cancer.

    To overcome the problems, the Japanese researchers, led by Hiroshi Kawamoto, reprogrammed mature human killer T lymphocytes into iPS cells and investigated how these cells differentiate.

    The team induced killer T lymphocytes specific for a certain type of skin cancer to reprogramme into iPS cells by exposing the lymphocytes to the “Yamanaka factors” – a group of compounds that induce cells to revert back to a non-specialised, pluripotent stage.

    They maintained the genetic reorganisation, enabling them to express the cancer-specific receptor on their surface. The new T lymphocytes were also shown to be active and to produce an anti-tumour compound.

    Doctor Kawamoto said: “We have succeeded in the expansion of antigen-specific T cells by making iPS cells and differentiating them back into functional T cells.

    “The next step will be to test whether these T cells can selectively kill tumour cells but not other cells in the body. If they do, these cells might be directly injected into patients for therapy. This could be realised in the not-so-distant future.’

    The findings were published in the journal Cell Stem Cell.

    Dr Dusko Ilic, Senior Lecturer in Stem Cell Science, King’s College London, said: ‘The study tackled a novel, quite interesting approach to cell based therapy, something that we do not usually hear about.

    “Although this approach requires further verification and a lot of work needs to be done before we can think about clinical trials, the initial data are promising.

    “This pioneering work definitely provides a strong foundation to build and expand our knowledge about new opportunities in cell based therapy and personalised medicine.”

  • ACN promises to create new council in Ose

    ACN promises to create new council in Ose

    An Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain, Alhaji Lateef Raji, has asked the electorate to reject Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko on Saturday because he has not lived up to expectation. He said the state deserves to have a better captain to steer its ship and fulfill the wish of the people.

    Raji, who is the Lagos State Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, is currently leading a door-to-door campaign on the Ire-Akari axis in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State. The politician, who hails from Ido-Ani, lamented the dearth of infrastructural facilities in the town, Idogun, Imeri and Afo, saying their labour has been in vain under the Labour Party (LP) government.

    He assured that ACN would create a new local government out of Ose council to be called Ire-Akari Local Government in fulfillment of the grassroots yearning of the people, for easy administration and development.

  • We’ll create jobs, says Fayemi

    We’ll create jobs, says Fayemi

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday spoke of plans to create jobs for the teeming youths.

    In his speech to commemorate the nation’s 52nd Independence anniversary and the state’s 16th anniversary, Fayemi said efforts were on to industrialise the state.

    He said many job opportunities lay untapped outside the public service, adding that the core mission of his administration is to tackle poverty and empower the people.

    Describing poverty as the people’s major adversary, Fayemi said the task of building the state is a collective responsibility.

    He urged stakeholders to support his administration in building the state.

    The governor assured residents that the peace in the state would be sustained.

    He said the double celebration called for sober reflection.

    Fayemi said his administration has provided the “virile leadership” needed to win the war against poverty.

    He said his administration would expand the Social Security Scheme for the Aged–the first in the country-to cover more people.

    Fayemi said: “To savour the joy of our celebration, our efforts at rescuing Ekiti from the claws of poverty must be sustained, irrespective of religious, economic and political inclination.

    “Fellow compatriots, the task of having the Ekiti of our dream is a collective one. I urge you all to join hands with the government to sustain the tempo of development across the state.

    “I assure the good people and residents of Ekiti that this government will work harder to encourage economic growth through sustainable investment. “We will also ensure that the prevailing peace in the state is not ruffled in whatever form.”

    The governor urged stakeholders in the Nigerian project to urgently address ethnic loyalty and identity, which often affect our unity.

     

  • Aregbesola: I’ll create more local govts

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday said his administration would create more local governments because of the desire of the people for self government .

    He spoke while receiving the Osun State Local Government Areas Creation Committee from its chairman, Prof. Mojeed Alabi, at the EXCO chamber of the Governor’s Office in Abere, Osogbo. Aregbesola said the political structure in the country could not be said to be representative of the people.

    He said: “We are simply not ready to confront anybody or the Federal Government, but we are working on the constitution to grant the wishes of our people. Osun will be the first to constitutionally create local governments. We will create councils that will meet all constitutional requirements.

    “The difference between what we are seeking to do from others is that, we have not in, any way influenced this. It is the genuine desire of the people for self-government or expression of having control of their own affairs.”

    The governor said the creation of local governments, according to the 1999 Constitution, is in the hands of the states through the House of Assembly.

    According to Aregbesola, “The only mention of LG in our constitution is the nature of the government and not a tier of government. Local governments can never be a unit of the federation outside the state. It is a contradiction that LG is a tier of government in our own federalism.”

    Prof. Alabi said the committee has recommended 27 new local governments and two Area Offices.

    According to Alabi, “The state government of Osun should create Local Government Areas and not Local Government Development Areas in line with the decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria that such Local Government Areas have come into legal existence once a bill to such effect is passed by the state House of Assembly and assented to by the governor.”