The Nation Newspaper

Tag: develop

  • Cross River youths urged to develop businesses

    Cross River youths urged to develop businesses

    Cross River State has often been generally regarded as slow in terms of businesses.  But a group of young people, led by Mr Stanley Nsemo, believes the tide can be turned with the right attitude to business.

    •Mr Nsemo
    •Mr Nsemo

    At a programme tagged Aspire Calabar held at the Channel View Hotel in Calabar, Nsemo, who is the managing partner of White Chapel and Partners, said the aim was to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship among young people in the state

    Nsemo said: “What we are trying to do is a collaboration between a few young men that have grown up here in the state and looking for an opportunity to give back to the state by helping young people to inspire them to aspire to be more. We are trying to communicate to young people to come up, get entrepreneurs, become enterprising and do things differently and stop waiting for things to

    “We have committed ourselves to mentorship, to build a few young persons in business. So we would pick 10 of their proposals, and give them a hundred thousand for each of them and groom them into business ideas that are workable and profitable to add values to the state.  If we can successfully do town people every year, that would be a huge contribution. We intend to groom 10 young people every year.

    “We pray that the government would see what we have done. The government has done so much so far. We are working with the entrepreneurship development centre, EDC. They are providing training. They already have a subsidized training curriculum that we are assessing for this 10 people.”

    He continued: “Governor Ben Ayade is on the right track. The focus that he has on entrepreneurship is what we are looking for. We are luck to have a governor that understands that it is a business enterprise that drives the development of any state and as long as we have good ideas your state will grow.

    “There is problem in the country and it is because most young people feel the society owes them too much. Now that is not to say the society does not owe them. It owes them the enabling environment to grow and be good citizens, but your development and growth comes from within. You must push yourself. As young people, this is the opportunity they need to see others like themselves that have been able to break free of the shackle of thinking that people have to look after you. Start small think big. When you start like that opportunities would present themselves to help you scale up your business.”

    Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Mr Bassey Ewa Henshaw encouraged the youth to be bold and hardworking as nothing good comes easy.

    General Manager, Investment Funding and Credit, Cross River Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency, Mr Louis Ibok, said there was a need to inspire young people to start and run their own businesses as a way of pursuing their dreams and contributing to society.

    “If the youth gathered here because they need to start businesses, we need to also highlight what they need to do to leverage the opportunities available in the state so their businesses can start and grow as a means of solving unemployment and poverty issues within our society.

    “Generally speaking business can thrive in any climate. All you need to do is learn what the variables are and how you can adapt your business model to whatever is happening at a particular time.”

    Director Davandy Group of Companies, Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong, “The message is that when you want to start a business, go about the documentation, have business plan, do painful research, try to raise finance and then go into your business. Hire the right people and also have a sense of conviction about what you are going to do because there will be challenges.”

  • How to develop, by Perm Sec

    The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Local Government Service Commission, Mr Jamiu Adewale Ashimi, has recommended three key strategies for Nigeria to fight under development and achieve economic growth.

    Ashimi, in his keynote address during the Investiture of the 10th President of Rotary Club of Akute, Rotarian Musiliu Animashaun, held at Alausa, Ikeja, said that if the Federal Government could deregulate the energy sector, construct five trunk roads with rail facility in the medians and improve industrialisation, Nigeria within a short time, would become economic independent and a better place for all.

    The Permanent Secretary said if the energy sector is deregulated, interested investors could target initially, the industrial zones in specific parts of the country for initial investments and expand in a matter of few years to non-industrial customers.

    He explained that the provision of rail facility in the median on the following roads- Lagos – Sokoto, Port-Harcourt – Kano, Uyo – Maiduguri, West – East South and West – East North, would not only boost transportation system but ensure interconnectivity within the country to attract investors, improve trade and create employment opportunities.

    Ashimi added that the road network would have divided the country into 12 key zones for investors to tap the natural resources. This, he said, could only be achieved if relevant laws and regulations are relaxed to promote industrial friendly environment’.

  • WE MUST DEVELOP GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL – SALISU YUSUF

    WE MUST DEVELOP GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL – SALISU YUSUF

    •Eagles coach hails organisers of Diamond Cup, 2015

    Super Eagles’ coach, Salisu Yusuf has pointed out that emphasis on youth development and grassroots football would go a long way in guaranteeing the future of Nigerian football.

    Speaking during the just concluded Diamond Cup 2015 in Umuahia, Yusuf told SportingLife that the quality of matches on display in the competition and the personalities that graced the competition showed that the organisers , spearheaded by Prince Martin Apugo did a good job during the preparation leading to it.

    He said the presence of Manchester City scout, Joe Shields from the beginning to the end of the competition showed that some of the players spotted during the Diamond Cup 2015 would be well guarded towards actualising their dreams of becoming professional footballers.

    Abia Warriors Feeders won the three day competition after they pipped Diamond U-17 christened Manchester City in the final 4-3 on penalties after regulation time ended 1-1.

    Andra Ibelezim of Diamond U17 emerged as the Most Valuable Player(MVP) of the competition while Ugo Osuagwu of Abia Warriors Feeders was the highest goal scorer with four goals.

    Diamond Academy Goalkeeper, Bright Lucky was adjudged the Best Goalkeeper.

    Ibelezim, who doubles as the captain of Diamond Academy team, was awarded a home theatre while Lucky also of Diamond went home with a phone.

    The President of the Diamond Football Academy, Prince Martin Apugo told SportingLife that he would ensure that the competition is sustained.

  • Ugwuanyi promises to develop Nsukka

    Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has promised the people that he would ensure sustenance of peace in the state.

    He added that his administration would modernise Nsukka, the university town founded over half a century ago.

    The governor spoke yesterday at the Nsukka Government Field.

    The governor explained that Nsukka was overdue for upgrade being the second largest urban town in the state.

    Ugwuanyi said development projects would start on the streets of Nsukka in one month.

  • How to develop capital market, by Okumagba

    President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr. Albert Okumagba, has called for a mix of amenable policies and incentives to woo investors to the Nigerian capital market and encourage listing by Nigerian and foreign companies.

    Okumagba, who spoke against the background of recent initiatives by the CIS to boost market confidence, said all stakeholders, including the government and regulators, have roles to play in the development of the capital market and they must all work together to drive the process of growth.

    According to him, there is overriding need to continue to create an enabling environment to make the investors, both local and foreign, regain confidence in the market.

    “We need to encourage rules that will deepen the market especially in areas of capturing major sectors of the economy that are not currently well-represented in the capital market, for instance telecommunication, power, entertainment and oil and gas sectors.  We need to also deploy the existing huge savings in pension funds to develop the economy and the capital market through investment in infrastructure,” Okumagba said.

    He noted that there is still pervasive crisis of confidence in the market especially, among the local investors pointing out that the negative impact of the margin loan has not been forgotten.

    “This is why you have more speculators than long-term investors, accounting for high volatility and instability.  Currently, the macro economy, with dwindling oil prices, devaluation of the Naira, exchange rate instability is not helping matters. Lastly, the socio-political situation with insurgency in the North East and the upcoming 2015 elections in Nigeria constitute additional uncertainties; thereby accentuating the risk of investing in our market,” Okumagba said.

    According to him, the devaluation of the Naira could lead to both negative and positive development for the Nigerian economy depending on how government handles the fallouts of the depreciation.

    He explained that devaluation on one hand, could encourage local industries which can now earn more Naira on their exports with positive impact on the country’s trade balances while on the other hand, it will bring about closure of many companies that depend mainly on imported raw materials as the cost of their inputs will increase significantly upon conversion to their Naira equivalent.

    “For Nigeria which is largely import dependent, the overall impact will likely be negative in the short run. This could result in negative macroeconomic indices such as higher rate of unemployment, lower GDP and lower industry capacity utilisation. These could immediately lead to a reduction in the profits of some listed companies thereby reducing the potential for capital appreciation and dividend return, hence hurting the capital market,” Okumagba said.

    He however noted that in the long run, devaluation could be a positive development for the economy as manufacturers opts for local substitutes to imported raw materials and the country’s exports become competitive. Corporate earnings will also become more stable as they are no longer significantly exposed to foreign exchange volatility. This will benefit the capital market.

    He emphasized the roles of government in the development of the capital market pointing out that the importance of the government in the economy of a developing nation like Nigeria cannot be overemphasised in the area of directing the economy, formulating, implementing and enforcing policies.

    According to him, as an institute, the CIS has reinforced and reinvigorated its various advocacy platforms available to engage government in various areas for the good of the country and the capital market.

    “We believe there is need for collaboration and exchange of ideas among professionals on subjects of common interest, in addition, to making and supporting representation to government and other appropriate agencies of government on matters affecting the parties and the Nigerian economy. We are collaborating to become a stronger force to further the mutual interests of the parties, and the development of the Nigerian socio-economic life,” Okumagba said.

    He urged investors to seek advice from professional fund managers to avoid high risks that currently characterise the market.

    According to him, in a situation of uncertainty such as the market is now, the level of risk is higher; hence investors should be cautious. In every crisis, there are both chaos and opportunities. To tap these opportunities, investors with little or no experience should always engage the services of experts to manage their wealth. This should provide them with the benefit of professional advice.

    “I will specifically advise small investors to invest in well-managed funds at this time. The fund managers have the experience to manage portfolios of well-diversified assets for reasonable returns at relatively lower levels of risk. Finally, this time also presents investors opportunities to generate abnormal returns because Nigerian equities are significantly undervalued,” Okumagba advised.

  • How nations develop, by don

    HOw can the creative sector to achieve sustainable development? It is by cultural awareness and creative thinking in the education system, says Prof Aderemi Raji-Oyelade. He spoke at the 3rd public lecture of the Faculty of Arts, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba (AAUA), which held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Hall of the institution last week.

    Delivering a lecture titled: “Creativity and the dimensions of literacy for nation building”, Prof Oyelade said the problem of dysfunctional system witnessed in the country was caused by mis-education of the mind, saying no society can develop in intellect and industry with poor literacy policies.

    “The knowledge of abstract sciences, the interventionist grind of the clinical sciences, the enterprise of technology, the developmental engagement of the social sciences and the inventive creativism of the arts and other disciplines, must be fully harnessed for the achievement of national development,” he said.

    He decried the poor knowledge of information technology prevalent in the academia, calling on members of the academic community to embrace the power of new technologies.

     

  • Tips on how to develop our economy, by CMD chair

    Only a purposeful and knowledge-based leadership will transform the nation’s economy, Chairman, Governing Council of the Centre for Management Development and former Minister of education Prof. Tunde Adeniran has said.

    Adeniran said the country is one of the most blessed with enough human and material resources, but added that a review of the recruitment pattern should be undertaken to allow the best and right persons take charge of management decisions.

    The one-time Nigeria Ambassador to Germany, who spoke at the closing ceremony of the training on “International Workshop and Study Tour on Best Practice in Documentation and Records Management” at the CMD centre in Lagos said Nigeria has the human resources to manage all its affairs.

    He said: “We have enormous human resources. The only problem is that we have not been utilizing the resources that we have, particularly the human capital. There is hardly any sphere of human endeavor that we are not endowed.

    But one thing we need to do is to take a look at our recruitment pattern, in terms of leadership, resource and management recruitment. If we are able to put the right peg in the right hole, this country will go places. There is no area where we will say we need expatriates because all the resources are right here with us at home.

    Adeniran explained that “we have not invested enough in human resource, getting the right people in the right places. We seem to think of ourselves first, by thinking of ourselves first, when there is job to be done, we look for friends, relations, and that we never help this country. We have to look for the right people to do the right job. If we continue to apply the wrong method and hope to get the right result, we are deceiving ourselves. We have to develop the culture of looking for the right people to do the right thing for the country.”

  • How I’ll develop Akwa Ibom, by aspirant

    A governorship aspirant in Akwa Ibom, Michael Onofiok, has said he will bring development to the state by developing its inland and territorial waters.

    He said the state is endowed with maritime potentials which, if properly harnessed, would bring “overwhelming and eternal” benefits and end unemployment.

    Onofiok, a maritime expert, said countries such as Great Britain, USA, China and Russia derive a high proportion of their annual earnings from maritime activities.

    The mariner spoke in Lagos at an interactive session with Akwa Ibom indigenes, organised by a political group, the Ibom Big Deal Movement, Lagos Branch.

    He said if elected governor, he would ensure an effective implementation of the regime, which will change Akwa from a predominantly civil service state to an industrialised one.

    His administration, he said, would establish a State Inland Waters Management and Planning Agency and a Security and Coastguard Agency to monitor and secure the state’s territorial waters.

    Onofiok said his administration would also set up a State Marine University to train inland seafarers, oceanographers, coastguard security personnel, port and terminal management, territorial water management, maritime law, among others.

    The aspirant said his focus on developing the state’s maritime sector would lead to ship building and seafarer capacity production; acquiring technical know-how in ship management and maintenance; promoting investment in the local maritime infrastructure and trade; generating foreign exchange and increased freight earning, thereby boosting job creation and career opportunities in the maritime sector.

    “Today, the avenues for providing jobs for millions of jobless youths, particularly in the maritime industry, have remained largely untapped,” he said.

    National Coordinator of the Ibom Big Deal Movement, Comrade Kendy Aduak, said the group was founded solely to mobilise, promote and project Onofiok’s governorship ambition.

    “Governor Godwill Akpabio has done well, but we need a tested, trusted, dynamic and charismatic leader to succeed him.

    “Onofiok is that man. His development plan for the state is unrivalled,” he said.

    Guests at the event include President, Oron Union, Lagos Branch, Maurice Ukpon and President, Association of Akwa Cross Indigenes, Etubom Unyime Samson.

  • How to develop Ekiti, by Afe Babalola

    Founder of the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) has said unless Ekiti people invest in their state, it will continue to lag behind.

    The lawyer spoke in Ado-Ekiti at the weekend during a visit to the multi-million naira Prosperous Royal Hotel and Resort.

    He said the private sector must take the lead in developing the state.

    Praising the owner of the hotel, Mr. Abiodun Isinkaye, for investing in the state, Babalola said the government could not do everything.

    He said: “I am impressed with the facilities here and the foresight of Isinkaye. The place is an El Dorado. He has demonstrated the spirit of a patriotic Ekiti man.

    “He could have taken this project to Lagos, Ibadan or Port Harcourt, since he is based in Calabar, but he came home to Ekiti to do this. I am happy that people like him are learning from us. I could have set up ABUAD elsewhere, but if I did that, I would not be contributing to the economic growth of our state.

    “I implore other wealthy people to learn from Isinkaye and help the state to grow.”

    Isinkaye said he built the hotel in Ekiti to boost the economy, adding that more subsidiaries of his group of companies would be established in the state.

    He said the hotel has over 200 workers, adding that more people would be engaged when the second phase takes off.

    The hotel will be inaugurated soon.

  • Ehinlanwo: APC ‘ll develop Ilaje Ese-Odo

    Ehinlanwo: APC ‘ll develop Ilaje Ese-Odo

    Soji Ehinlanwo was a governorship candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Ondo State. He is now a House of Representatives aspirant in Ilaje/Ese-Odo Constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He spoke with DAMISI OJO on the party’s preparations for the proposed by-election.

    What are the chances of the APC in the House of Representatives by-election in your constituency?

    Our party’s chances are extremely bright in respect of this election. It enjoys tremendous goodwill at the level of our federal constituency and our state. This is partly on account of the lack lustre performance of the Labour government, particularly in its second term, as well as the progressive change agenda that our party espouses.

    The Labour Party (LP) has performed so woefully in this federal constituency, that one can confidently say that there is no serious impact of government in terms of infrastructural development in the area. To make matters worse, LP representation at the federal and Ondo State House of Assembly has been poor and totally uninspiring.

    We have had unprecedented financial recklessness in respect of revenue accruing to our state on the basis of the oil derivable from the Federal Constituency, which should have been used to massively transform the area. Our people clearly need a credible change and I have no doubt that if I am picked as the standard bearer of the party, we will win the election

    What exactly do you intend to achieve, if you become your party’s flag bearer and win the election?

    I intend to bring real focus on the challenges and problems confronting our people and take the lead in addressing them. My voice will be a strong and visible one in challenging the contradictions and palpable failure of policy thrust and direction in the Nigerian state. Through strong legislative advocacy we will mitigate and indeed resolve many of the thorny issues and problems. In particular, I will make deliberate effort at addressing the infrastructure problems bedevilling our communities in the Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency by initiating and galvanising strong collaborative effort as well as challenging governmental agencies to respond effectively to their responsibilities to our people. I will specifically focus on the areas of youth and women capacity building, improving access to qualitative health care services, facilitating social welfare for the aged and vulnerable as well as promoting initiatives aimed at poverty alleviation.

    Will time not be a hinderance, in terms of achieving your goals, in view of the fact that you will spend one year in the House?

    Yes, there is the time issue but unlike some who are aspiring, I see it more in terms of the opportunity dimension than in relation to its limitation dimension. With my experience and skills, many know I can hit the ground running and so can use this to prove that even in spite of the short time frame, remarkable achievements that can inspire confidence and set a new tone in terms of representation for our federal constituency is possible.

    You have a family name that is rooted in the politics of your area and Ondo State. Do you see this as an advantage?

    Most certainly! However, that is not what I hope to use as my biggest selling point. Without being immodest, my personal achievements, skills and character are what I prefer to be judged by and I am quite confident that many in our constituency find these quite impressive. I have travelled far and wide and have gained such knowledge and experience that are invaluable for the task of advocacy and building on behalf of our people. I also have deep insight in respect of the peculiar problems assailing our land on account of the close interest in and contact with our people and the issues that have affected them over the years. I believe that I am an excellent bridge builder, one that will be very accessible and of course, without any baggage. All of these I believe should count in my favour, apart from a credible and deeply rooted family political name

    What is your view on the zoning arrangement in your constituency?

    Even though I have a clear personal view about the issue at stake, I have avoided being dragged into it because I realise that a few people are overblowing this issue simply because they seek to accentuate the divisive tendencies amongst us rather than under playing them for no other reason than selfish political gains. I believe we need quality representation at the House of Representative and that is what I will rather mainly set my mind on at this crucial moment.