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…Resolves dispute with stakeholders
The La Casera Company, makers of La Casera Apple drink, has announced resumption of full scale operations with immediate effect.
The company which was previously enmeshed in a dispute with labour a few weeks ago disclosed that it had resolved all the lingering issues that led to the shutdown of its activities.
According to a statement signed by management, the company disclosed that a full scale production has re-commenced at its factory located in Apapa, Lagos.
The statement further indicated that all disputes with labour and other stakeholders of the company have been resolved amicably.
“The La Casera Company (TLCC) is delighted to announce the full resumption of all its activities with immediate effect.
"The dispute that had affected its operations over the last 2 weeks has now been resolved to the satisfaction of all parties. Consequently, full scale production has re-commenced at its large factory on the Apapa - Oshodi Expressway near Mile 2.
“We would like to thank all our stakeholders who have worked together with us through this difficult period and trust that, as a result, our relationship will grow yet stronger over the coming months and years,” the statement reads.
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Tag: David B. Lawal
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La Casera resumes operation
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United Nations mark peace day in style
The 2015 International Day of Peace has been marked in Lagos with fanfare as youths, government and NGO partners trooped to the street to ‘Walk for peace’.
The peace day observance, which started with a press briefing, was addressed by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode who was represented by the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Funlola Odunlami and the Director of the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Lagos, Mr Ronald Kayanja.
The conclusion of the press briefing marked the beginning of an exciting ‘Walk for Peace’ as organised by UNIC in Lagos and Citizens’ Mediation Centre (CMC).
Delivering his message on the theme for 2015 observance – ‘Partnerships for Peace – Dignity for All’, the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, called on all warring parties to lay down their weapons and observe a global ceasefire.
“To them I say: stop the killings and the destruction, and create space for lasting peace.” The Secretary-General who was represented by the Director of UNIC Lagos further said: “There is no group more poised to help realize this dream than today’s young people. They are part of the largest generation of youth in history, more aware and connected than any before.”
Speaking earlier, Governor Ambode thanked the UN Information Centre for the partnership and pledged that the CMC would adopt the International Day of Peace as an annual event to propagate the ethos of peaceful co-existence among residents in Lagos State.
Flagged off by Mrs Odunlami and led by Mr Kayanja and the CMC Director, Mrs Oluwatoyin Odusanya, the road show started from the Lagos State Secretariat Alausa, Ikeja through Obafemi Awolowo Way and terminated at Ikeja-under-bridge where a citizens’ mediace dayation session was held by the CMC, an agency of the Lagos State government under the supervision of the Ministry of Justice.
The CMC serves as a non-adversarial dispute resolution Centre using mediation mechanism in dispensing justice fairly and speedily to the satisfaction of both parties.
With participants numbering over 100 and clad in branded T-shirts, dancing to contemporary songs, to the admiration of members of the public, the ‘Walk for Peace’ road show stopped intermittently at intersections to give room for professional dancers to entertain while leaflets with peace building messages were shared with members of the public.
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Nigerian, others launch online grocery mall
[dropcap color="#1e73be"]I[/dropcap]n their quest to serve the taste buds of Nigerians in diaspora desirous of homemade cooking, the duo of Tosin Osibodu, a USA-based Nigerian and his American partner, Ian Cohan-Shapiro has launched NigerianFoods.com, an online portal that inspires and enables people to cook, eat, share and learn more about Nigerian cuisine.
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Civic engagement: Nigerian youth stands up against violence.
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“I want the light in the life of every YALI Network member to shine so bright that others might, through their light, find their way”. These were the words of Prosper Egeonu.By the time he was 30, Prosper Egeonu had witnessed too much violence in Jos, the capital city of Plateau state – central Nigeria. He didn’t want to see any more.
Thousands have died in conflict that has erupted in outbreaks of violence for more than a decade. Indigenous people and settlers from other ethnic groups clash over land, power and resources.
Having experienced the horrific acts of inter-community violence in his youth, Egeonu began to devote his business, civic and personal activities to ending violence.
Prosper Egeonu and other young leaders participate in a daylong National Youth Leadership Summit in October 2014.
In 2009 Egeonu, a YALI Network member, joined the Jos Crisis Appeal Fund (JCAF) as a volunteer, determined to get more people in the state capital to stand up to the horrific acts.
JCAF is a partnership between Christians, Muslims and civil society groups that raises funds to provide financial assistance, medical attention and education to local families affected by conflict.
This grass-roots civic group also helps displaced families find stable homes, and funds organizations that work for peace.
In 2010, Egeonu started Swagg News Africa, a media entertainment group, and Stanperz Conceptz, a roofing business. He combined the outreach efforts of both enterprises to start the “Stop the Violence” campaign.
The campaign aims to promote awareness of peace and to provide a talent showcase for youth from all religions. He partnered with a local radio station to provide youth with the entertainment program Friday Night Dance Party with Joey.
He went on to partner with the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria to further get the message of peace to music fans. He even recruited young U.S. hip-hop artist Akon and actor J.D. Williams to craft messages to “stop the violence.”
Continuing his pursuit of peace, in 2013 Egeonu joined the national nonprofit Dialogue, Reconciliation and Peace (DREP) as a volunteer trainer.
According to him, DREP brings together youth, women, and local leaders of various religious and ethnic groups to learn from each other about how they can “resolve issues that would otherwise result in violent confrontation” and create peace.
While Egeonu admits that his efforts to reach his goal can sometimes be frustrating — volunteers become disinterested, illiteracy among some in the target groups limits his ability to get messages through, and financial constraints limit DREP’s peace building efforts from reaching more rural communities – he remains determined.
“Responses I get from people I reach have been positive,” he said. He suggests more training in leadership and team-building for fellow volunteers in order to help them stay interested.
Egeonu is active in the YALI Network and especially likes the #YALICHAT discussion forum. He has earned YALI Network certificates for online courses in civic leadership, business and entrepreneurship, and public management.
“I have learned a lot from YALI resource information. It has built me to be a better leader,” he said, adding that the highest call of leadership is ‘unlocking the potential of other people.’
He therefore urges other youth to join YALI and to engage their communities to help solve problems.
“I want the light in the life of every YALI Network member to shine so bright that others might, through their light, find their way,” he summed.
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Dufil partners LEARN on Free Summer School initiative
In an effort to positively impact the nation’s education sector, Dufil Prima Foods Plc makers of Indomie Instant Noodles, has again partnered the Lagos Empowerment and Resource Network (LEARN) on its 2015 Summer School Programme.
With the partnership, Dufil supported the initiative with half a million naira as well as with educational materials for secondary school students, drawn from 3 centres across Lagos (Surulere, Agidingbi and Maryland).
Mr. Tope Ashiwaju, the Public Relations Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc explained that the company’s 7 years longstanding partnership with LEARN was hinged on the importance of education to the nation.
“The Objective of this initiative is to bring secondary school students together in between terms to continue to encourage them in some form of academic and non-academic exercise as time spent in school is virtually not enough to impact all required knowledge for the students.”
“Therefore this initiative serves as a platform for students to pursue further knowledge to aid their academic and non-academic endeavours.”
He added that Indomie as a brand believes in and had always been affiliated with the growth of the nation’s education sector at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels, which informed its education-oriented Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.
Also commenting on the partnership, the Coordinator, LEARN, New Era Centre Surulere, Mrs. Anu Adepoju, confirmed Dufil’s support to LEARN since its inception 7 years ago.
“The children always look forward to having a taste of their favourite noodles every afternoon, and this enables them pay attention in class and vocational activities without having to worry about where their lunch would come from,” she said.
“The Indomie experience has added a new dimension to the summer schools with the provision of T-shirts, caps, pens to exercise books and most importantly, lunch” said Adepoju.
The summer school, an initiative of the former First Lady of Lagos state, Mrs. Emmanuella Fashola, ignites passion for learning among the youths by equipping them with leadership & entrepreneurial skills, good character development, vocational and other skills.
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World Championship: Bolt wins gold in 200m
Usain Bolt on Thursday defeated Justin Gatlin to win the 200m World Championship gold in Beijing.
Bolt, often regarded as the world’s fastest person ever, is the first man to hold both the 100 metres and 200 metres world records since fully automatic time measurements became mandatory in 1977
“It means a lot to me,” said Bolt, who did not even let being knocked over by a cameraman on a segway ruin his celebrations. “This is a big deal. I am happy to be a 10-time gold medallist. Especially this season when a lot of people have been doubting me, saying that I would lose.The Jamaican sprinter won the rematch and 200m gold at 19.55 seconds as he maneuvered a wonderful bend to defeat his American rival, Gatlin, whose 19.74 was well outside his season’s best.
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500 Days: Campaigners hold rally for chibok girls
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Members of the 'Bring Back Our Girls' campaign on Thursday held a peaceful protest to mark the 500th days of the abduction of the over 200 school girls from Chibok community in Borno state by Boko Haram insurgents. The campaigners and well wishers across the country matched in large numbers with hope in the President Muhammadu Buhari led-administration of their rescue. It would be recalled that the schools girls were abducted in April 2014 when the Islamic fighters stormed the Government Secondary School in Chibok abducting 276 girls while preparing for exams. [news_box style="2" display="tag" link_target="_blank" tag="Chibok" count="8" show_more="on" show_more_type="link" header_background="#dd3333" header_text_color="#f2f2f2"] -
PDP has no respect for my generation – Siasia
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he chairman of Mosilo group, and governorship aspirant in Bayelsa state, Moses Siasia, has disclosed that the Peoples Democratic Party does not have respect for the younger generation.
Siasia, who said this recently in a statement signed personally, recounted his experience and support for successive governments in the country stating that he cannot continue being the PDP.
“For many years now, I have been actively involved in supporting successive governments in my beloved country Nigeria.
“I have always believed that every citizen needs to support their government for such government to succeed which was why I supported the governments of late President Umaru Musa YarA’dua and that of Goodluck Jonathan.
“I had thought that by supporting these two governments, I would have fulfilled my patriotic duties as a citizen of my country. I have continuously done my best through my various contributions towards governance in Nigeria through my organization ‘Nigerian Young Professional Forum (NYPF)’.
“I joined the PDP when one of my overzealous cousins went to my ward to talk about registering me there. I later found the idea to be a very good one and was excited about the whole idea of party politics and making a difference.
“I continued to be actively involved in party politics since 2013 till date and the more I got involved in the politics of the party, the more discouraged I became,” he recounted.
Siasia, who is the founder of the Nigerian Young Professional Forum (NYPF), lamented the ways and manners of running the party.
He said: “I saw that so many things were not been done properly and always wanted to advice and make corrections but the more vocal I became, the more they isolated me, may be because they felt I was a threat to the business as usual way of doing things.
“I always wanted to see a PDP that will transform into modern day realities and a party that places high premium on the ‘Youth’ who are the engine room of any nation but the more I pushed for youth inclusion in all affairs of the party, the more I was isolated. There was always greater emphasis on money politics rather than ideological prospects.
“I have carefully watched over the years and have come to the painful conclusion that the PDP is not ready to change its old ways of imposition, godfatherism and gangsterism.
“After the elections, it became very obvious and clear that Nigerians had rejected the PDP because they were tired of seeing the same old faces doing the same thing for 16years.
“Faces that the people were convinced are corrupt and can’t bring the desired change to the people. The people wanted new faces and something new”.
The Mosilo group chief further stated that PDP had a clear chance of redeeming its image in the eyes of the Nigerian people by injecting fresh ideas and fresh faces which would have automatically rebranded the party and restore confidence in the party.
“I had presented myself to the party on many occasions urging them to use me as that face with a perfect case for Bayelsa State but the party has failed to take advantage of this great opportunity, he said.
Siasia noted that the PDP had every opportunity to rebrand and rediscover itself after its defeat at the just concluded general election but it is now clear they do not wish to change or evolve.
“I, have, therefore, today the 22nd of August decided to leave the party for ideological reasons. I can no longer stay in the party because they do not have respect for my generation or me.
“I have nothing personal with the party and will continue to respect her but I think young people have no future in the party,” Siasia summed.
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Religious leaders discuss world peace
The third World Alliance for Religions Peace (WARP) meeting was recently held in Lagos, Nigeria under the theme “Peace Reflected on the Concept of Good and Evil in the Scriptures.”
The alliance of religious leaders is working towards the cessation of wars and world peace as coordinated by the Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL).
The 1st WARP Office meeting held under the topic “Peace in the Scripture and this time, with more specific topic.
Discussants at the meeting were Most Rev Dr. Anthony Macfonse Osmond Akinnugba of the Byzantine Orthodox Church, Archbishop; Imam Abdullahi Shuaib, C.E.O/Imam of Zakat & Sadaqat Foundation; Jognson Akin Atere the Anglican Church bishop and Sheikh Abduraahman Sulaiman Adangba of Al-fatihul Quareeb Islamic society of Nigeria National.
The meeting, which also held in Lagos state, Nigeria had in attendance several religious leaders who converged to compare religious scriptures and the definitions for peace according to each religious scripture.
Nigeria is composed of 50 percent of Islam, 40 percent of Christianity and 10 percent of indigenous beliefs. Recently the damage of lives happened due to religious conflicts.
In the midst of this situation, it was stimulating that religious leaders gathered in one place to discuss peace together.
On July 30th, the HWPL WARP Office meeting began with the introduction of participants and watching a highlight video of the purpose and recent activities of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL).
And religious leaders presented on the topic of good and evil freely in the favorable atmosphere. They spent time understanding respective religion in one mind with o, x quiz.
Imam Abdullahi Shuaib (Zakat & Sadaqat Foundation, Imam / CEO) said “I attended the 3rd HWPL Lagos Meeting today. It was a successful outing. We also appreciate all the supports given by the HWPL Head Office.”
Mr. Man Hee Lee, the chairman of HWPL also said in his speech: “Let us all become the messengers of peace and leave it as an inheritance for the future generations.”
The International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) and the International women’s Peace Group (IWPG) with a mother’s heart to protect precious lives are two wings of HWPL that spreads peace and works towards the enactment of an international law.
He traveled around the world eighteen times stating that we should achieve the unity of religions for the cessation of wars because the cause of wars comes from the differences of religions.
Through his efforts, the 85 HWPL WARP offices meeting are being held in 51 countries while 70 former and current presidents of states and 200 judges Advisory Council members are working on the articles to enact the international law to realize the substantial peace.
In the future his going on foot is looked forward to.
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Anti-corruption war: APC Scandinavia supports Buhari
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