CELEBS and designers flocked to the Landmark Center, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria, to kick-off the biggest fashion week of the season, the Ecowas fashion week.
The Week kicked off with a seminar, entitled the ‘Business of fashion’. And trust the designers, as they wowed the crowd with spectacular creations. Here are the best looks from the red carpet, ranging from the fabulous, the chic and the glamourous!
The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has called for the adoption of the naira as the currency for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member-states.
NACCIMA, however, said for this to happen, the naira should be revalued to be at par with the American Dollar as it was in the 80s.
Its Director-General, Dr John Isemede, said the much-talked-about economic integration had been elusive for years because the requirements for convergence could not be met by the participating countries.
He said: “Our import cultures have not allowed economic integration and taking orders from other people to run our own country. So, how can we achieve the economic bloc?
“We are talking of the Common External Tariff (CET), which will take off next year; we are a sub-region and not a customs union. For us to be a customs union, incentives, value added tax (VAT), import duties, tariff and non-tariff must be the same.
“Today, VAT in Nigeria is five per cent, Benin Republic 20 per cent; Ghana 17 per cent. So, if we now have all these, why will the borders not be porous and smuggling not be booming because there is a big advantage of routing your goods through Nigeria at five per cent. How can we achieve free movement of goods with the differences in VAT?”
Isemede said if the economy could be develop internally like it was in the 80s, the naira could be become ECOWAS’ single currency.
“If we can develop our economy internally as it happened in the 80s, the naira can become ECOWAS single currency. I can give you the exchange rates of the Nigerian currency for over 30 years. In 1980 , it was between 50 and 60 kobo to the U.S. Dollar. When SAP (Structural Adjustment Programme) was introduced, it was N42 to a dollar in 1986.
“So, all we have to do is to work on our own naira because in the past, people were traveling abroad with the naira because it was more or less the single currency in West Africa.
“If the value of the naira today is N50 to the US Dollar, a lot of experts in America would come back to Nigeria because the value of the currency. If you are mighty, other economies will run after you,” he said.
According to him, Ghana Cedis and the CFA may not qualify for single currency for the sub-region because they are overvalued and have been depreciating for almost 20 years.
He ruled out the possibility of achieving convergence.
He said: “In fact, we cannot wait for this people because there can never be a convergence. It can’t work. The CFA today is a member of the Euro because when France decided to surrender the French franc to Euro the CFA automatically became Euro; if you are doing business with francophone countries if you invoiced your goods in dollars and pounds, they may not pay you because their currency is not tied to dollar and pound.’’
THE United Nations Women (UN-Women) Representative to Nigeria and the Economic Commission for West African States (ECOWAS), Dr. Grace Ongile, has advocated for a wider political space for women.
Speaking at a program organised by the Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, she said it has become imperative that women should be allowed to play more significant roles in politics.
Stating that there was need for more women appointees in the Osun State House of Assembly and in the local government administration, Ongile lamented the small figure of women appointees in the nation’s polity.
Expressing regrets that there is no woman as member of the Osun State House of Assembly, the UN-Women congratulated Governor Rauf Aregbesola on his re-election, while advising him to take the issue of women seriously, considering the fact that over 50 percent of women electorate registered and voted for him.
She reminded him that women would expect more representatives at all levels of the government.
Earlier, the Executive Director of WARDC, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, said that the programme was initiated by the United Nations to ensure that women are empowered to occupy political posts at local, state and national level.
A member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has become the third person in Nigeria to die of Ebola fever, the body said on Wednesday.
Jatto Asihu Abdulqudir, 36, a protocol assistant, travelled to an ECOWAS function with Liberian Patrick Sawyer, the man who brought Ebola to Nigeria last month, Reuters reports.
Abdulqudir had been under quarantine. The country has reported eight cases of Ebola since Sawyer arrived on July 20.
“The Commission wishes to reassure staff of all Community institutions all over the entire region that it is taking all necessary steps to guarantee their health and safety,” Reuters quoted ECOWAS as saying in a statement.
There is fear in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, as the Federal Government recalled to Lagos for screening six Liberians who were in the Southeast city.
The action, it was learnt, followed the death of their countryman, Patrick Sawyer, from the dreaded Ebola virus.
The Liberians were in Calabar for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) meeting at the Tinapa Resort.
Sawyer was billed to attend the meeting but could not, following the detection of Ebola virus symptoms in him. He took ill on Tuesday, July 22 and died on Friday, July 25.
Following the development, most Calabar residents have been apprehensive because of the high contagiousness of the disease.
A resident, who declined to reveal his name, said: “We pray that none of them who came to Calabar had it because it would be very sad news if such were to be in this part of the country and even the nation.
“I hope the health authorities take appropriate measures to tackle any problem the situation may bring. We pray that this issue would be tackled before it even develops.”
The BringBackOurGirls campaigners will today mark the 100 days of the Chibok girls’ abduction with programmes in Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan and New York.
A statement by the group endorsed by Hadiza Bala Usman, Oby Ezekwesili, Aisha Oyebode, Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, Betty Anyanwy-Akeredolu, Amina Hanga, and Eleanor Ann Nwadinobi reads: “Wednesday, July 23rd will mark 100 days since 276 girls were savagely abducted from their school in Chibok, Borno State. 57 escaped and 219 remain in captivity. The families and community have suffered deep anguish seeking effective rescue to end the peril that befell their daughters who had gone to school in search of knowledge.
“In those 100 days, the Bring Back Our Girls Campaign has focused on creating awareness of the abduction to ensure that it is a priority issue requiring action and compelling the right sets of action for a positive outcome. We have engaged various stakeholders – the Presidency, the National Assembly, the office of the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Defense Staff, the Borno State Government & other State Governments, ECOWAS member countries and UN agencies to name a few.
“Through our various meetings, our singular message has been to demand that the Federal Government perform its fundamental duty of ensuring the security and the welfare of its citizens. As we denounce the wave of terror and insecurity across the country, we continue to demand that the Federal Government deploy its resources to ensure that the missing girls are brought home, and the errors leading from three-weeks of delayed action are remedied.
“To amplify our voices in demanding that these girls be brought home now and alive, on the 100th day, there will be a variety of activities around the world. These include:
o Ibadan: Press Conference at the BRECAN Centre at 10 am;
o Abuja: Special sit-out ceremony at the Unity Fountain at 3 pm;
o Lagos: Remembrance service at the Wall of Missing Girls at Falomo Roundabout at 4pm;
o New York: Candlelight vigil at the Nigerian Consulate at 5.30pm.
“There will also be events in India, Pakistan, the UK and most world capitals where there are teachers’ organisations in partnership with the UN Special Envoy’s Office of Gordon Brown. Organisations participating are World at School, Girls not Brides, Global March Against Child Labour, Walk Free, Educational International and ITa.”
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State have approved the abolition of residence permit and the introduction of biometric identity card.
They also adopted the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET), which begins on January 1, 2015, to promote trade exchange and investments within the region.
The move is expected to form the pillars of the sub-region’s single currency.
The commission will work with other stakeholders to realise its vision for the people rather than an ECOWAS of states and a single economic space by 2020.
This was contained in a statement yesterday in Abuja by the President, ECOWAS Commission, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, at the 34th meeting of the convergence Council of Ministers and Governors of Central Banks of the West African Monetary Zone.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State have approved the abolition of the residence permit and the introduction of biometric identity card for community citizens.
It also adopted the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET), which comes into force on 1st January 2015; this is in order to promote trade exchange and investments within the region, which will constitute the pillars of the Single currency.
The commission will work diligently with other stakeholders to ensure its vision of an ECOWAS of people rather than an ECOWAS of States and a single economic space by year 2020.
This was revealed Thursday in Abuja, in a statement by the President, ECOWAS Commission, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, at the 34th meeting of the convergence Council of Ministers and Governors of Central Banks of the West African Monetary Zone.
Ouedraogo who was represented at the occasion by the ECOWAS Commissioner of Macro Economic policy and economic research, Dr Ibrahim Bocar BA, stated that the revision of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s economic Account (GDP), placing the country ahead of South Africa is, also for the West African region another source of pride.
His words, “I am delighted to report that the ECOWAS Heads of States and Government have approved the abolition of the residence permit and introduction of the biometric Identity Card for the Community citizens.
“The authority subsequently requested the Ministers in charge of security to review all the security implications of the measure prior to the signing of the Supplementary Acts on the issues. Member states are urged to continue to ensure that the non-tariff barriers (NTBs) are reduced to the barest minimum by reducing the checkpoints along the international transit corridors.
“ECOWAS Commission, as a key stakeholder, will work diligently with all other stakeholders to ensure that the vision of an ECOWAS of people rather than an ECOWAS of States and a single economic space is realized by year 2020.
“In this regard, the Commission endeavours that all other integration programmes under its watch are effectively implemented. The other road maps adopted by the Heads of States relating to the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET), which comes into force on 1st January 2015, free movement of persons and ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) are being followed carefully to ensure that the community is fully integrated.”
He also stated, “It is clear that the intended aim is not to rush to create a currency without a solid economic foundation.
“The aim is not only to draw lessons from successive postponements of missed deadlines in 2003, 2005, 2009 and probably 2015 for the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) but also to take into consideration the factors behind the Euro crisis, that is to say, the fiscal and budgetary problems.
“At the 42th session of the Conference of Heads of States and Government in July 2013, the ECOWAS Commission’s President was mandated to accelerate the macroeconomic convergence process for the deadline of 2015 for the WAMZ and 2020 for both monetary zones be met.
“The extraordinary Summit of 25 October 2013 gave a new impetus to the programme of Common Currency whose supervision was entrusted to the President of Ghana and Niger.”
The United Nations has adopted a new strategy that would assist the Federal Government in the fight against terrorism.
This was disclosed by the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for West Africa, Mr. Said Djinnit, while speaking at the opening of the 45th ordinary session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
He expressed satisfaction with ECOWAS support for the counter-terrorism efforts of the Federal Government in tackling the Boko Haram scourge.
According to him, the new strategy, known as integrated support package, aims to complement the ongoing efforts of government.
He maintained that the current support from ECOWAS was also a reflection of the solidarity of countries in the region and their legitimate concern about the spread of violent extremism.
He said: “The United Nations has adopted an integrated support package to complement Nigeria’s efforts, since we are convinced that only a multi-dimensional approach can bring lasting solution to the crisis.
“Our primary and immediate concern is the plight of children including in particular those that are being held in captivity by the terrorists as well as the fate of the civilian population in the North East, where human rights and humanitarian conditions are distressing.”
John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana and current Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Governments in his welcome remarks, commended the establishment of peace operations in Cameroon and Chad to defeat the Boko Haram sect.
The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has nullified the death sentence passed on Maimuna Abdulmumini by a Katsina State High Court.
Abdulmumini was tried for the alleged murder of her husband when she was 13 and sentenced to death in 2012.
In February, this year, a group, Avocats Sans Frontières France (ASFF) (Lawyers Without Borders), got an order restraining the government from executing her, pending the hearing of her case.
Justice Hansine Donli of the ECOWAS Court declared that sentencing Abdulmumini to death for an offence she committed as a minor was illegal.
The judge said the sentence breached Article 6 (5) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
It awarded her N5 million as damages and N500,000 as the cost of the trial.
The court also ordered the Nigerian government to remove Thankgod Ebhos’ name from death row.
It said any attempt to execute him while his appeal was pending would be a gross violation of his right to appeal.
Ebhos has been on death row since 1995 after being sentenced by a military tribunal.
ASFF, earlier in the year, obtained an injunction at the ECOWAS Court restraining the Edo State Government from carrying out the death sentence on him.
The group, in a statement by its Communication Officer Akpa Eleojo Esther, hailed the judgments. It described them as ground-breaking.
“By its judgments, the ECOWAS Court has shown commitment to ensuring strict adherence to due process and the right to defence as it relates to detainees on death row,” ASFF said.