The Nation Newspaper

Tag: expert

  • Expert proffers solutions to domestic violence

    A  call has gone to the federal and state governments to enact stiffer  penalty measures against any form of domestic violence, especially rape, wife/husband battery  and child abuse to stem the growing trend across the country.

    This advice was given in a statement issued on Thursday in Lagos  by a rights activist and Executive Director of the Campaign Against Impunity and Domestic Violence  (CAIDOV ) , Comrade Gbenga Soloki. The statement said only such legislations would stem the growing tide of domestic violence, especially child abuse and rape in the country.

    The activist said the reported cases of domestic violence across the country are frightening and disturbing.

    According  to Comrade Soloki “ the issue of domestic violence is giving some of us sleepless nights, as it occurs virtually everyday and assuming dangerous dimension. It’s a signal that all is not well with our people. Government at all levels must be alive to its responsibilities by enacting stiffer penalties for the offences of domestic violence, especially cases of rape, battery and child abuse.”

    Continuing, he said: “Police brutality is on the increase, but not as prominent as rape and violence against wife or husband.”

    Comrade Soloki further stated that stigmatisation had been responsible for the low rate of the reports of domestic violence.

    The CAIDOV boss commended the Lagos State government for the various agencies and departments  created with the mandate to deal with domestic and other issues.

  • Expert lauds Amosun for compensating landowners

    Aleader in Wasinmi, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, Bolaji Akinola, has commended the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun for compensating land owners in the areas earmarked for the proposed Ogun Cargo Airport.

    Speaking yesterday in Wasinmi, Akinola said the proposed airport will make significant contribution to the economic development of the state and Nigeria as several businesses will spring up from it.

    Akinola, who is a maritime expert, said: “There are different modes of transport, and each mode has its own benefits and drawbacks. Airfreight is often used for high value and low volume shipments.

    “Cargo airports provide fast and highly reliable means of moving high value cargoes quickly and reliably across the world. It is also a highly reliable means of transportation.

    “The proximity of Ogun State to Lagos and the rapid transformation of Ogun into an industrial hub makes the proposed cargo airport imperative, desirable and worthwhile,” Akinola said.

     

     

  • Expert seeks social health scheme for informal sector

    The Chairperson, Programme Committee of the Young Women Christian Association (YWCA), Lagos branch, Dr Olatokunbo Oseni, has called for a social health insurance scheme that will provide affordable care to people in the informal sector.

    Oseni said this at the cancer awareness and prevention campaign organised by YWCA, Lagos branch, in conjunction with Tejuosho Market Traders Association, Union Diagnostics Limited and Afriglobal Medicare Limited for market men and women in Tejuosho Market, Yaba, Lagos.

    The event brought together over 120 people, including traders in Tejusho market and its environs and featured health talks on the risk factors, symptoms, signs and basic management of prostate, breast and cervical cancer and free medical checkups by Afriglobal Medicare  and Union Diagnostic.

    According to her, there is an urgent need for the government and other relevant stakeholders to unveil a workable insurance health care scheme for men and women in the informal sector.

    She noted that there are many taxable adults in the informal sector who are not captured in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

    Oseni said there were increasing cases of life-threatening diseases that were rooted in small ailments not attended to in good time and which later developed into unmanageable cases.

    She praised the Federal Government for the NHIS  and tertiary institutions’ Social Health Insurance Scheme which has kicked off in all the states, adding that the scheme only captures people in the formal sector whose funds can be deducted from their salaries.

    She stressed the need to strengthen the health insurance schemes to include the poor and the people in the informal sector as imperative.

    She added that the informal sector has the capacity to generate a lot of income and improve the Gross Domestic Product, if proper heath care service that is affordable is put in place across the country.

    “Health is wealth and the only way for anyone to be more productive and make wealth is when they are healthy and strong,” she said.

    Oseni said many of the  diseases, which include high blood pressure, stroke, cancer, are results of little ailment not well controlled.

    She noted that the organisation was willing to partner the  government to establish the social insurance scheme for rural dwellers.

    Chairman of YWCA, Lagos Branch, Mrs. Olapeju Sofowora, said  the awareness was concentrated on women on the need to be more concerned about their health.

    She noted that the well-being of women, especially within the informal sector, was a source of concern to the group and was willing to provide all the support for them to live healthy and productive.

    She added that promoting literacy among women was key to their empowerment.

  • Expert warns against excessive intake of processed food

    A medical expert, Dr Femi Babatunde of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) warns that excessive consumption of processed food is detrimental to the people’s health.

    Babatunde gave the warning in Ilorin on Tuesday while speaking with our reporter in Lokoja on Tuesday.

    The expert, who said that processed food was dangerous to health, expressed concern that most Nigerians were ignorant of what they ate, adding they only cared for fast food to satisfy their appetite.

    According to him, most of the processed food contains ingredients that can endanger human health.

    “Many Nigerians are ignorantly over addicted to eating processed food which is the cause of increase in damage to their internal system.

    ”Only what people care for now is processed food, which is doing more harm than good to their body. People consuming processed food are killing themselves gradually.

    ”Laziness is promoting passion for processed food as many prefers to buy already made food than prepare it for personally,” he said.

    He enjoined Nigerians to eat more of vegetables, in order to be healthy and effectively carry out their day to day activities.

    Babatunde also said that food rich in fat should be avoided so as not to develop heart related diseases.

    He also urged the government and health experts to make it a duty to organise programmes that would promote sound and create awareness among the public on the imperative of ensuring healthy living.

  • Expert seeks Nigerians’ involvement in plumbing business

    A member of the World Plumbing Council, Adeyemi Oresanya hasurged the government to support more involvement of Nigerians in the sector for  job creation and economic growth. The  building  industry  is facing its biggest skills shortage for a generation.

    According to him,  there are talent gaps across a range of professions, especially certified plumbers  that threaten to derail attempts to  re-energise the economy.

    In a statement issued on the occasion of the World Plumbing day, Oresanya noted that the  scarcity of skills in key sectors has big repercussions – from projects having to be put on hold to soaring pay for some of those most in demand – such as plumbers.

    The  international expert said  there are huge opportunities  for young Nigerians to get in international jobs through plumbing but emphasised, however, the need for government and the private sector  to  work together to promote and educate the local  industry about public health and sustainability in plumbing system designs, regulations and certifications.

    This training, he  explained, provides the plumbing industry with local access to certification, improving the quality of plumbing products.

    On the World Plumbing Day, held every  March  11,the expert said every person on the  planet is affected by the availability of clean drinking  water and basic  sanitation.

     

  • Expert advises ICAN graduates on entrepreneurship

    Expert advises ICAN graduates on entrepreneurship

    The General Manager of Midwestern Oil and Gas Company Limited, Blessing Ayemhere, has advised graduates of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) on the need to embrace entrepreneurship.

    The Oil and Gas chief spoke in Lagos at the 47th induction ceremony of ICAN Accounting Technicians, West Africa (AATWA).

    He said the graduates could only escape being trapped in the unemployment net through entrepreneurial activities.

    The guest speaker at the two-day event, chaired by ICAN President Isma’ila Zakari, urged the 650 young graduates of  accounting technicians, among whom were prize winners, on the essence of chasing their dreams as young accountants.

    He said they must understand clearly what they really want in life.

    He said: “What are your dreams? Though the nation may be plagued by numerous challenges, there is hope, if only we can dream of a preferred future and commit to do what will make actualisation of such dreams possible. The rate of unemployment in Nigeria and indeed the Africa continent is alarmingly high and the only way we can combat it is to take to entrepreneurship.

    “This can be achieved if the inductees will free their potentials and think beyond doing accounting jobs to creating opportunities, especially in this era of technological innovations.

    “Your potential is ‘the you’ that can achieve uncommon heights. We must be creative and innovative; that is the only way we can be relevant in the scheme of things.

    “We must set clear goals about success. Without goals, we only drift and flow in the currents of life.”

     

  • How to avoid cancer, by expert

    How to avoid cancer, by expert

    The Chief Medical Director, Ondo State Specialist Hospital, Okitipupa, Dr Olumide Akadiri, has called on Nigerians to ensure healthy living as a way of life to prevent cancer.

    Akadiri told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Okitipupa yesterday that Nigerians should also engage in early morning exercise.

    He said that the exercise would strengthen their health.

    The World Cancer Day is marked globally on February 4 each year.

    Akadiri said cancer was a deadly disease which should not be treated with levity as its early detection saved lives.

    The medical expert identified unhealthy living, imbalanced diet, high consumption of alcohol, cigarette, tobacco and junks as possible causes of cancer.

    According to him, thickening or lump in the testicles and breasts, indigestion or difficulty in swallowing, unusual bleeding or discharge, change in bowel or bladder habits and sore that does not heal are symptoms of cancer.

    “Healthy living, balanced diet and early morning exercise like jogging, trekking or walking some distance will increase body metabolism and help fight against cancer.

    “People should guard against high consumption of alcohol, tobacco, cigarette and junks, which are some of the causes of cancer,’’ Akadiri said.

     

     

     

  • How to reduce road accidents in Nigeria, by expert

    How to reduce road accidents in Nigeria, by expert

    The Chief Consultant at Menet Engineering Consultancy Services, Dr Terry Mene, has urged government at all levels to ensure that drivers get proper training before getting onto the highways.

    He said this would reduce accidents on the nation’s highways.

    The chief consultants noted that accidents are serious issues that government at all levels must also take serious.

    Mene spoke in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State, after a three-day intensive defensive driving training course at the headquarters of Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA).

    The chief consultant noted that loss of lives and property to roads accidents could be reduced if drivers get effective training about their job.

    Mene, who supervised the training of the 14 drivers enrolled by NDBDA management, lauded the vision and passion of the Managing Director, Tonye David-West.

    The expert described him as a rare public servant.

    The chief consultant said government should take road signing and markings serious because “they are the primary guide for drivers on the roads’.

    According to him, authorities must ensure that driving schools, where drivers are trained, are properly supervised to ensure that they do the right things.

    He said: “My advice, first and foremost, is to ensure that the driving schools are properly supervised to ensure that they teach road signs and road markings. I also advice the federal, states and local governments to ensure that their areas are properly signed and marked because it is the road signs that guide drivers in driving. It will tell the driver when to give way and when to go on. These are not there for now, not even the centre lines are properly marked.

    “I know this is an area in this country which people don’t take seriously. Of course, most of our roads are also naked. They have no road signs, neither road markings. These are among the things I wish to take on with government at all levels so that they would ensure that our roads are properly signed and marked.”

    On the recent safety training at NDBDA, Mene said: “It was a great thing to have the managing director of a government agency getting so concerned about the rate Nigerians die on the roads, that he decided to train his drivers.

    “What does he get in return? The rate of accidents will go back to almost zero, which will then help insurance premiums because the more accidents you get, the higher your insurance. The benefit is that it saves lives, it saves the authority’s property, which are cars, and it will also save money, because the insurance premium will begin to go down.”

     

  • Expert advises on effective regulation, derivatives market

    As the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) concludes arrangements to introduce Exchange Traded Derivatives (ETDs)with the aim of  widening the domestic derivatives market, former Chairman of the United States Commodities Futures Trading Commission (US CFTC) Mr. James Stone has insisted on the need to institutionalise effective regulation and adopt a gradual approach to the introduction and development of the derivatives.

    Stone said that while derivatives did not cause the 2008 global financial crisis, they contributed to exacerbating the situation as a result of synthetic derivatives; corruption; interconnectedness of financial institutions; flawed models that didn’t flag certain risks opaqueness of the market and sometimes lack of understanding with credit rating agencies.

    According to him, for the derivatives market to be efficient, regulation is key, while everything else will have to be taken slow and learnt through manageable experiments.

    He added that in order to manage apprehension and anxiety about participating in derivatives products, market participants should begin with Exchange Traded Derivatives (ETDs) which offer a reliable platform for price discovery.

    Stone, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Boston-based Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation and Chief Executive of The Plymouth Rock Company spoke at a special lecture organised by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in collaboration with Coronation Merchant Bank Group in Lagos.

    Speaking on: ‘Pluses and Pitfalls of Derivatives Trading,’ Stone advised that market participants should start small on all trading experiments and arm themselves by working for a sophisticated trader as well as spend time with experts.

    Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema said that the Exchange has been planning to launch ETDs to widen the variety of instruments in the Nigerian market adding that the experience shared by Stone will assist in that direction.

    He noted that the NSE was committed to building capacity and enhancing the expertise of operators and other associated parties towards collective efficiency.

    “The lecture on ‘Pluses and Pitfalls of Derivatives’ provided enriching perspectives and strengthen the capacity of capital market operators, who create value for investors through their operations on the floor of the NSE,” Onyema said.

    He commended Coronation Merchant Bank for sponsoring the forum, describing the partnership as one that fits into the quest to introduce ETDs into the Nigerian capital market.

    “The Exchange is committed to building capacity and enhancing the expertise of operators and investors towards a more efficient market. Therefore, the lecture on ‘Pluses and Pitfalls of Derivatives Trading’ to be delivered by Mr. James Stone will provide enriching perspectives and strengthen the capacity of capital market operators, who create value for investors through their operations on the Nigeria Stock Exchange,” Onyema said.

    He pointed out that the Exchange had in 2017 leveraged its X-Academy platform to conduct two tranches of training on the legal and risk aspects of derivatives and central counterparty clearing, adding that the special lecture will add to the knowledge base that currently exists in preparation for the launch of the ETD later this year.

    In his remarks, Managing Director, Coronation Merchant Bank, Mr. Abubakar Jimoh said that a collaborative approach to capacity building will unlock inherent value on the Exchange.

    According to him, as a wholesale financial institution focused on transforming the face of merchant banking in Africa, Coronation Merchant Bank is not only open to innovative collaborations that will bring development to the African financial landscape, but will serve as a catalyst for revitalizing capital market operations across the continent.

    “We are excited about our collaboration with the NSE on this noteworthy initiative, which will have positive effects on capital market operations in Nigeria,” Jimoh said.

     

  • Expert advises govt on early passage of 2018 budget

    The Federal Government has been advised to push for early passage of 2018 budget to facilitate rapid infrastructure development.

    The former President, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Dr. Samuel Nzekwe, gave this advice in Ota, Ogun State.

    He urged the National Assembly to pass the budget on time to allow the government undertake massive infrastructure development in power, roads and rail sector in 2018.

    Nzekwe said: “There is the need for the Federal Government to work according to the budget so that it could achieve most of its goals in 2018.”

    He noted that the late passage of the 2017 budget led to the non payment of local contractors and imposition of hardship on the people.

    Infrastructure deficit, the former ANAN president said,  was the major problem facing the nation. “Stable power supply and other amenities are the backbone of any nation because no economy can thrive and move forward positively without infrastructure development,” he said.

    Nzekwe also said power supply was imperative for the nation’s industries to thrive and provide employment opportunities for youths in order to eradicate poverty in the country.

    He, however, implored the government to formulate people’s-oriented policies that would benefit all in 2018.