The Nation Newspaper

Tag: devt

  • Ogun earmarks N73.5 billion for rural infrastructural devt

    Ogun earmarks N73.5 billion for rural infrastructural devt

    Ogun State government has said 21.3 per cent or N73.5 billion of its N345.42 billion 2018 budget is for rural and infrastructural development/employment generation, and to facilitate new infrastructural projects and fast-track the completion of ongoing ones.

    The Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, disclosed this while presenting the 2018 Appropriation Bill entitled: ‘’Budget of Accelerated Development’’on the floor of the state House of Assembly recently.

    Amosun, who restated his administration’s readiness to construct more urban, semi-urban and rural roads to ensure, listed some would-be beneficiaries of the allocation to include the 26-kilometre Sagamu-Ogijo Road; 28-Km Ikangba-Ilese-Itele Road and 26-km Ilisan-Ago-Iwoye Road.

    Others are the 36-km Abeokuta – Sagamu interchange road; 24-km Atan-Agbara rRoad; 42-km Sango-Ojodu Road; 5.5-km Enugada-Adatan Road; 3.5-km Itoku-Ajitadun-Iberekodo Road and 10-km Adatan-Alabata-Camp Junction.

    Amosun, who was quoted in a statement by the head of media, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ayokunle Ewuoso, also noted that 171 rural roads and 25 semi-urban roads have been earmarked for construction while three bridges at Ilaro, Oju Ore in Ota and Lusada Junction, in Ado/Odo Ota Local Government Area, would be constructed.

    “The provision of adequate infrastructure will always be a critical part of this government’s drive for development of its people. As the Gateway state we will use all the resources at our disposal to ensure that our business, people and residents alike enjoy continuous improved mobility in and around our state,’’ he said.

    Amosun assured that government will not relent in its efforts at ensuring the development of the Olokola Deep Sea Port and the Olokola Free Trade Zone, urging well meaning investors to partner government in its bid to developing the state’s free trade zone in Tongeji Island, in Ogun West Senatorial district.

    The governor disclosed that with the commencement of work by the Federal Government on the Lagos -Ibadan rail line, the state is set to benefit as the project would create several stations in the state as well as a rolling stock yard in Kajola in Ifo  Local Government Areas.

    “In addition the Federal Government has located a new dry port in Papalanto, in Ifo local government area, aside from the main station in Abeokuta. This development will enhance our position as the Gateway state as it will enhance the trade opportunities, reduce cost of doing business and make Ogun State even more attractive destination for residents and businesses,” Amosun remarked.

  • CSR: We are committed to host community devt, says NIPCO

    CSR: We are committed to host community devt, says NIPCO

    NIPCO Plc has restated its commitment to host community development as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, especially in education development through facility upgrade and co -curricular activities in primary schools in Lagos State.

    NIPCO’s Chief Corporate Affairs Manager (CCAM), Mr Lawal Taofeek, stated this in an address at the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Sports Festival /Merit Award for primary school pupils and teachers in Apapa sponsored by NIPCO .

    He said NIPCO has over the years embarked on series of facility upgrade in primary schools in the state, especially in its host communities with Apapa Nursery & Primary School and Ijora Oloye Nursery & Primary schools, being some of the beneficiaries.

    “We see our interventions in education and sports as a social investment, which will pay off greatly in the standards of education and sports development in the local and state levels,”he said.

    According to Lawal, NIPCO has been a consistent sponsor of the event aside from facilitating the inter-house sports festival of its adopted school in the area – Apapa Nursery & Primary School, for years. He noted that the events provide a veritable platform for sourcing young talents that could raise the bar for the local and state governments in sports.

    Lawal, who represented the company’s Managing Director, Sanjay Teotia, at the twin event which attracted large turnout of pupils and teachers, said the sponsorship was  in line with the organisation’s long standing cordial relationship with the community

    “NIPCO places high premium on youth development through sports and good learning environment for pupils, especially at the foundation levels – nursery/primary stages,” Lawal said, adding that it was the zeal for youth development through sports and education that prompted the company to refurbish four classrooms in Apapa Nursery & Primary School and provided furniture and sporting materials to the nursery section of Ijora Oloye Nursery & Primary School.

    According to him, unearthing the budding talents in the pupils through sports is of utmost value to the company as sports play very significant role in the development of the child. He assured the teeming crowd at the event that NIPCO, as a responsible corporate citizen, will continue to associate with sports and education development through appropriate support as occasion demands.

    The Secretary of the State Universal Basic Education Authority (SUBEB), Apapa Local Government Area (LGA), Mrs. Olawepo Fausat, paid  glowing tributes to NIPCO for its consistency in supporting education and sports in the LGA, stressing that its noble gesture is worthy of commendation

    She said the event was organised to further motivate members of staff in primary schools in the area as well as provide avenue for sports development.

  • VDT recognised for learning, devt

    VDT Communications Limited, a broadband communications and 4G LTE Advanced services provider, has been recognised among learning and development firms in Nigeria.

    In a Learning and Development Benchmark Survey, VDT is among the five best companies in Learning and Development in Nigeria.

    The survey, which involved over 100 corporate organisations of different sizes, was conducted for 14 months by Digital Jewels, an information value chain consultant. The survey focused on workplace learning and development activities in corporate organisations and government establishments. It took a holistic approach at exploring all levels of learning and development functions, namely:  Training circle, knowledge management and talent management.

    Its Corporate Affairs Manager, Mr. David Ese, said: “Owing to our passion for Learning and Development, VDT also engages in offering free training to graduates in her Modular Trainee Engineers Programme to increase the employability of our engineering graduates as part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities.’’

  • ‘Local capacity devt vital for industry growth’

    ‘Local capacity devt vital for industry growth’

    Etisalat has said the development of indigenous capacity in the telecoms sector is important if the gains made so far would be sustained.

    The telco said it realised this early enough and had since taken steps in that direction, promisng that it will continue do more to help train the requisite man power to grow the sector.

    Its Public Relations Manager, Chineze Amanfo, who spoke in Lagos during the quarterly seminar organised by the Nigeria Information and Communications Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA) which the telco supported, said no nation develops without first developing its manpower requirements.

    She said it was in the realisation of this that the telco in May 16, 2013, introduced the Masters in Telecommunications Engineering Programme at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

    According to her, the Etisalat Telecoms Engineering Programme, a Master’s Degree course in Telecommunications Engineering run at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, provides training and exposure to about 20 students annually.

    To provide the  needed local expertise to sustain the initiative, Etisalat also sponsors four lecturers to study for a PhD in Telecommunications Engineering at Plymouth University, United Kingdom (UK).

    As a demonstration of its commitment to celebrate excellence, she said the telco  also takes the top three students of the programme on an all-expense paid trip to Dubai for training at the Etisalat Academy to allow the students to have practical experience of what they have learned in the classroom.

    According to her, other initiatives directed at developing local man power through education include the Adopt-a-School programme in collaboration with the Lagos State government. Under the initiative, Etisalat adopted three schools namely, Akande Dahunsi Memorial Secondary School Ikoyi, Edward Blyden Primary School Okesuna and Rabiatu Thompson Primary School, Surulere in Lagos State.

    According to Amanfo, Etisalat has also been at the forefront of promoting local innovation in the telecoms industry, and promised that the company would do more in engendering participation in local innovation, especially now that the subscriber number across all networks is increasing daily, with its current figure put at 142 million active subscribers. She emphasised the need to further grow the telecoms sector through capacity building and local innovation solutions.

    Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Eugene Juwah, who was represented at the seminar by NCC Commissioner, Dr. Mike Onyia, said: “From a regulatory point of view, innovation is key to the telecom industry. After the initial discoveries and development in the telecom sector, it is innovation that has catapulted growth in the sector to the height that it is achieved today. Innovation in the industry is also an attribute that is not exclusive to nations or states. The ready examples of uncountable number of apps developed in different parts of the world, riding on all available networks or platforms, shows that innovation is driving the industry.”

    According to Juwah, the Commission has adopted technology neutrality in its licensing process. The reason for this is to provide opportunity for creativity and innovation in the provision of services. Restriction of service to specific technologies may not allow for innovation.

    Provision of choice with the entry of multiple providers, and encouraging competition using regulatory tools is also designed to encourage