The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Experts

  • How to give graduates jobs, by experts

    Experts have identified acquisition of technical and vocational education as the panacea to rising unemployment. They spoke at a conference organised by the School of Industrial Technical Education (SITE) of the Federal College of Education (Technical) in Umunze, Anambra State. EMEKA CHUKWUEMEKA reports.

    Many graduates will remain unemployed if they continue to prefer white-collar jobs. The best way to solve the unemployment riddle is to promote technical and vocational education that will produce employable and skilled manpower.

    This was the submission of participants at the maiden conference and exhibition of the School of Industrial Technical Education (SITE) at the Federal College of Education (Technical) in Umunze, Anambra State.

    Some professionals and students engaged in discussion on how best to promote Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to engender national development.

    Presenting the lead paper titled: Challenges of TVET in skill development management issues in Nigeria, Reko Okoye, a professor of Electrical, Electronics Technology and Vocational Education at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, identified lack of leadership, apathy non-adherence to indigenous provisions and lack of sponsorship as challenges facing TVET.

    He said: “The management of technical and vocational institutions must not be given to people with a general education background. It is one of the challenges facing the development of TVET in the country. It is assumed that if leadership positions are given to TVET-oriented professionals, there is likelihood for more emphasis on skills development among the students.”

    He said most machines and equipment used for skills training are obsolete and dysfunctional. The TVET instructors, he added, are in most cases not qualified. This, he said, leads to poor training that cannot address the socio-economic needs of the society. Okoye said TVET institutions needed to restructure their training and introduce curriculum that would make the trainees useful in the job market, especially in the industry where the services of TVET graduates are required.

    He added: “Poor funding has been a problem associated with TVET programmes in many countries, including Nigeria. Inadequate funding has resulted into dearth of equipment and human resources, which in turn led to a cut-down in the quantity and quality of training provided in most TVET institutions. These challenges pose as threat to the actualisation of the critical objectives of TVET in providing skills and raising competent and productive trainees suitable for modern work.”

    Earlier in his address, Provost of the college, Prof Josephat Ogbuagu, represented by his deputy, Mrs J.C. Madichie, described the theme of the conference as timely, saying it could not have come at a better time.

    According to Ogbuagu, vocational and technical education has encountered setbacks not because of lack of policy framework, but lack of good leadership.

    He said: “A conference of this nature will provide a veritable ground for discussion of critical issues affecting development and implementation of the lofty curriculum of TVET. Despite the general challenges facing the education, the college under my administration strives to provide conducive learning environment with well-thought out programmes aimed at improving the lots of graduates of the college.

    “But rather than paint a gloomy picture for prospective graduates, the reality of the job market should serve as a challenge and wake-up call to all stakeholders to imbibe good governance and leadership in discharging our duties to the students and the society.

    “Technical and vocational education, which has been an integral part of developmental strategies in many parts of the world, because of its impact on productivity, economic and national development, is a veritable tool to stem the tide of youth unemployment and widespread poverty. One sure way of achieving this aim is through good governance mechanism in running the TVET programme.”

    The Dean, School of Industrial Technical Education (SITE), Dr. H.O. Omeje, said the panacea for challenges facing TVET must be to teach of requisite skills for human capital development.

    While the prospects and challenges of developing human capital through education continue to undergo some review, he said reasonable progress would be made if people have the right mind, attitude and technical skills to achieve economic prosperity and social equity.

    The highpoint of the conference was the exhibition of equipment built by students to show their skills and competencies.

     

     

     

     

  • Experts advocate safe maritime environment

    Experts advocate safe maritime environment

    The need for enhanced maritime security across Africa was the thrust of the second Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) Conference held in Lagos.

    With about 20 countries and a total of 247 ýparticipants, including naval personnel, the two-day event highlighted the need for co-operation and teamwork among the sister navies.

    Organised by the Nigerian Navy, in collaboration with the International Quality and Productivity Centre (IQPC), delegates reviewed the security challenges bedevilling African maritime environment with a view to proffering long-lasting solutions.

    Top among the challenges was lack of right platforms such as OPVs, to fight the activities of pirates, oil thieves, illegal bunkerers, illegal fishers and sea robbers, thereby boosting economic activities on the African Continent.

    With the theme “Facilitating Co-operation Across Africa and Focusing on Naval System and Coastal Surveillance to Enhance Maritime Security”, the conference also provided opportunity for associate sponsors to exhibit their security and defence equipment designed for the protection of oil and gas assets.

    Admiral Cunha
    Admiral Cunha

    In attendance were the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice-Admiral Ibo-Ete Ibas, Commander, Angolan Navy Admiral  Augusto Da Silva Cunha; Commander of Ghanaian Navy, Vice Admiral Biekro; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Idiat Adebule; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Aliyu Ismaila and Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Security and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Haruna Jauro.

    Others included Chief of Naval Transformation, Rear Admiral Sanmi Alade; Rear Admiral Goddy Ayankpele, Flag Officers Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command (WNC), Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) and Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Rear Admirals Jonathan Ango, Edmund Egbedina and Henry Babalola respectively, and chairman, conference planning committee, Rear Admiral Begroy Ibe-Enwo.

    Delegates highlighted the need for information sharing among neighbouring countries to effectively combat maritime crimes, just as they deliberated on enhancing regional policing with combined forces.

    The participants acknowledged the importance of collaborative partnership among the various stakeholders for integrated approach in tackling the challenge of maritime security in Africa, even as they noted the need for progressive change at all levels in maritime security issues since

    •From left: Vice Admiral Ette-Ibas, Ismaila, Dr. Adebule and Director Navy, Defence Ministry, Alkani Abduraman
    •From left: Vice Admiral Ette-Ibas, Ismaila, Dr. Adebule and Director Navy, Defence Ministry, Alkani Abduraman

    present methods were deemed to be unsatisfactory and ineffective.

    Maritime nations were advised to develop and optimise bilateral and multi-lateral agreements to mitigate maritime threats as well as establish Maritime Security Zones which should be implemented with commitment.

    In his opening and closing remarks, Ibas reminded participants of the strategic nature of African maritime domain with enormous potential that have been persistently challenged by a myriad of threats.

    The CNS noted that the threats constitute serious challenges with adverse consequences on collective maritime governance and economic well-being of member nations, even as he pointed out the need for the enthronement of constructive, proactive, sustainable and holistic maritime security architecture.

    “Regrettably, these threats constitute serious challenges with adverse consequences on collective maritime governance and economic well-being of nation states, particularly in Africa.  “As discomforting as these threats would appear, they are not insurmountable. Accordingly, Africa needs to be committed in embracing core attributes such as the elimination of sea blindness.

    “Deriving from this sub-regional agenda, Nigeria, acting through her Navy, has remained committed to the activation of the zone’s activities in terms of staff, equipment and operational assets.

    “In addition, the Nigerian Navy, along with its Zone E counterparts, has successfully obtained the permission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff to host regular meetings of Heads of Navies of Zone E states.

    In his remark, the special guest of honour, Ismaila noted the necessity to step up surveillance activities along the Gulf of Guinea to allow safe movement of goods, services and passengers in the entire region.

    He noted the general lack of enthusiasm to the development and facilitation of information sharing through naval systems and surveillance infrastructure.

    Ismaila said the second conference in Africa was significant as it symbolises a strategic collaborative initiative between the Nigerian Navy and other international maritime stakeholders.

    “It also presents a potent strategy required to mitigate the increasing vulnerabilities in African waters, especially the Gulf of Guinea.

    “The economic opportunities that abound in these waters have witnessed increasing interests across a broad spectrum of profitable commercial activities.

    “With such prospects amid immense resources, many observers believe that it presents incredible and exciting market potential for international businesses.

    “These economic prospects are, however, threatened by the common challenge of rising insecurity in our collective maritime domain. It, therefore, makes sense to posit that any initiative by the Nigerian Navy to build credible capacity that will guarantee our collective maritime defence and security must be encouraged and pursued with vigour.

    “This understanding is critical to maritime security. Regrettably, there is still a general lack of enthusiasm to the development and facilitation of information sharing through naval systems and surveillance infrastructure.

    “In my view, this lack of interest in maritime domain surveillance capitalisation has limited the capacity for collaboration and information sharing among maritime stakeholders in Africa.

    “This is more so as maritime criminals are highly mobile, thus making the crime itself very fluid and non-territorial; hence the need for co-operation among nation states.

    “Intelligence sharing within the maritime security community would guarantee meaningful and responsive objectives as a requirement for Maritime Domain Control (MDC). Therefore, putting in place a co-operation mechanism for maritime security stakeholders is a long way to go.

    “Let me also add that the collaborative initiative of the NN and IQPC is laudable and must be given the necessary support. We at the Ministry of Defence with the support of your government are doing what is necessary to enhance the asset capitalisation of the NN in order to improve its operational efficiency,” he said. For Jauro, such conferences were a necessity if the war against maritime criminals must be won.

    He reiterated NIMASA’s commitment to the safetyý and security of merchant shipping.

    Jauro said: “In NIMASA, our commitment to safety and security of merchant shipping is unwavering. This is why we have remained committed to the Memorandum of Understanding entered into with the Nigerian Navy which established the Maritime Guard Command (MGC) based in our head office with a navy captain as commander.

    “Indeed, we cannot claim any measure of success if it was not for the full backing of the Navy. Considering that we are not permitted to bear arms in enforcing our mandate, we have continued to strengthen our partnership with the navy towards eradicating these criminals which results are already positive.

    “The MGC has been able to arrest several vessels and persons engaged in one form of illegality or the other in our maritime environment.

    “These evils do not only negatively impact on the economies of littoral states but also hinder effective harnessing of the potential of the maritime sector while causing grave reputational damage to the sub-region. This trend must be reversed to ensure our collective prosperity.”

    While reiterating the importance of the West African sub-region to global economy, Babalola in his presentation stated that it is a pivotal international shipping route connecting the Far East to countries in the North and South of the Atlantic.

    He said: “It has also become a veritable sea route for international trade and commerce, especially now that the Arab Gulf passage is more costly and risky, due to conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa. Additionally, the sub-region is endowed with abundant deposit of hydrocarbon as well as home to a substantial bio-diversity of marine resources. In fact, four per cent of global oil extraction comes from this region.

    To the Director, Ocean Explorers, Lieutenant Festus Erubore (rtd) said his knowledge has been broadened on the specific equipment needed by African navies in tackling peculiar maritime challenges.

    ”As a company that provides unique opportunities in maritime security surveillance; pipeline surveillance protection and interdiction; port facility security; port and vessel hardening; safeguarding hazardous material in a maritime environment; early detection technology; diving and salvage operation as well as high sea communication device, we are grateful to the navy for its ingenuity in organising this year’s OPV Africa conference” he said.

  • Scenario planning will aid growth, say experts

    EXPERTS have recommended the concept of scenario planning as a viable tool for policy makers and business leaders.

    They spoke at the workshop on “Scenario Planning for National Change” held at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS) in Kuru, Jos Plateau State.

    The workshop, held for the first time in Nigeria, was organised by  NIPSS  in collaboration with the REOS Partners from South Africa.

    Speaking at the workshop, Mrs. Amina Oyagbola, Human Resources Executive, MTN Nigeria laid a foundation for a purposeful application of scenario planning as a model that has been adapted and worked in solving socio-economic problems in some other countries across the world.

    “We all know that we are most challenged when faced with novel and unusual situations. Our difficulties are greatest when our challenges are existential,” Oyagbola said.

    As an impetus to resolving these challenges, particularly for policy makers and business leaders in Nigeria, Oyagbola remarked that “scenario planning helps us to escape such hopelessness or paralysis. In scenario planning, we are able to test out the potential consequences of our choices and decisions through social laboratories. The empirical data we gather from such social laboratories help us to modulate and temper the quality of our decisions. Thus scenario planning and collaboration is one of the best ways of solving problems”.

    Reviewing the components of globalisation as a major factor that must be deliberated and adequately situated to resolve socio-economic issues, Oyagbola revealed that “in Africa and particularly Nigeria, where rapid urbanisation has torn the heart out of our traditional social organisation, we need to rethink our approach to solving social and economic problems. As a people, we have to start thinking innovatively and purposefully. We need to start using the things we have to achieve the ends we desire. Although it has come under heavy attack over the past few decades, our spirit of community and brotherhood is still a huge strength.”

    Thus, “scenario planning is a tool for strategic thinking and planning. It guides the way we think and helps to construct solutions to our problems. It draws heavily on communal and stakeholder participation, and helps to ensure that solutions are universally accepted and therefore easier to implement,” Oyagbola concluded.

    The Scenario Planning for National Change workshop was declared open by the Vice President of the Federation, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo who was represented by the Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi.

    Participants at the workshop were drawn from the public sector, private sector and civil society groups.

  • Why NCAA should be restructured, by experts

    Why NCAA should be restructured, by experts

    EXPERTS have canvassed an overhaul of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) to boost  civil aviation regulations.

    They said unless a major restructuring was carried out at the regulatory authority, it might not effectively discharge its  oversight duties.

    According to a report obtained by The Nation, the experts recommended that steps should be taken by the government to address the challenges facing the authority .

    The report  put together by a team of experts who examined  the NCAA after the DANA Air crash a few years ago, recommended that a comprehensive review of the act establishing the authority should be urgently carried out.

    The report recommended that all appointments in the management cadre from the  positions  of assistant general managers  to directors should be the sole responsibility of the board of the authority, based on written examinations and assessment interviews.

    It also recommended that all levels of senior management in the authority should be by tenure.

    The report also recommended that 10 per cent of annual revenue of the NCAA be mandatorily devoted to training and manpower development.

    It reads: ” That besides the short term courses and programmes of the NCAA for various classes of airworthiness and safety oversight staff, the authority should evolve a well articulated programme of development for all grades of staff engaged in regulatory oversight from airworthiness to flight safety,  technical and cabin, medical economic and consumer protection.

    ‘’Others should include airspace, ground operations, handling, aerodromes, terminals and facilitation. That emphasis on training should shift away from ageing and contract staff as is currently the practice and rather focus on permanent and newly engaged staff for purposes of replacement and succession planning.

    “That attitude in the NCAA where very senior experienced staff and contract staff seek to perpetuate themselves , monopolise training and create a picture of indispensability does not augur well for the survival of the industry.

    The report continued: “That the NCAA board should subject all its present oversight staff to programmes on appropriate work culture,  attitudinal change and internal oversight on integrity.

    “That the NCAA should develop a clear code of conduct for all its staff , the details of which must be in public domain to check excesses of staff with undue motives.’’

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Capital market remains attractive, say experts

    An average investor has earned more than 50 per cent return in the stock market over the past six years while most above-average investors have earned more than 200 per cent return on investment since the 2009 recession.

    Investment and financial experts at the maiden investors’ forum of Capital Bancorp Plc allayed investors’ fear and provided factsheet that showed that the Nigerian capital market remained attractive in spite of the cycles of appreciation and depreciation.

    Managing Director, Capital Bancorp Plc, Mr Aigboje Higo, noted that while some investors were still apathetic to the stock market because of their losses during the 2008-2009 recession, investors that had invested in the post 2009 era had realized good returns.

    Aigboje who provided statistical analysis from market data noted that many of the investors had realized an average of over 50 per cent returns while some realised above 200 per cent.

    He however noted the need to address some factors that had fuelled investors’ apathy including sharp practices by some operators, ineffective regulation, perception that the market is not fair, bottlenecks associated with the payment of dividend and bonus shares and lack of market liquidity.

    Chief executive officer, RTC Advisory, Mr  Opeyemi Agbaje , who spoke extensively on investment opportunities in Nigeria, said that the privatization policy of the federal government must be pursued vigorously to enhance economic activities.

    He reaffirmed the importance of the complete privatization of the power sector, investment in agriculture for enhanced export and institutional reforms to attract investment into solid minerals sector.

    According to him, policy failures in the management of external reserves, electricity distribution, budget structure, oil structure and cost of governance among others were some of the factors responsible for lack of investor confidence in Nigeria.

    Managing Director, NASD Plc, Mr Bola Ajomale, who spoke on Nigeria’s expanding over-the-counter (OTC) market, said the emergence of the NASD has expanded trading platform for investors in the Nigerian capital market.

    According to him, NASD ensures investor’s protection through its disclosure mechanism and constant notification of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) of any observable lapses on the part of the quoted companies.

    Ajomale pointed out that no fewer than 63 per cent of the companies quoted on the NASD were profitable, noting that many of the companies were doing well in their sectors.

    Other speakers explained that Nigeria had enormous investment opportunities that could attract both indigenous and foreign investors. But they maintained that appropriate structure must be put in place to reinforce investor confidence.

    Chairman, Capital Bancorp Plc, Mr Olutola Mobolurin had explained that the maiden investor’s forum was part of the company’s efforts aimed at attracting investors into the market through confidence building.

    The forum attracted a diverse sector of the financial market including market regulators, operators, indigenous and foreign investors, analysts, portfolio managers and financial press.

     

  • Experts raise the alarm on rising stroke cases

    Experts raise the alarm on rising stroke cases

    •Fed Govt urged to declare disease an emergency

    Specialists in cardiovascular medicine have raised the alarm on the rising cases of stroke, a disease that affects the brain.

    They met in Lagos on July 22 to fashion a way forward for better treatment of the disease.

    The event was the Cardiovascular Summit 8.0, organised by the pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer with the theme: ‘’Stroke.’’

    Consultant Physician and Professor of Medicine and Immunology at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Geoffrey Onyemelukwe, said the disease must be detected and treated early to prevent deaths.

    He attributed the high incidence of stroke to the lifestyle of people, adding that this contributed, in no small measure, to the disease burden.

    Onyemelukwe said many stroke’s risks factors are playing underground because people are unaware of them, adding: “Everybody must be awakened to know that something bad is happening. Awareness must be created. People are dying in the cities and villages, and are attributing it to nebulous causes. This is usually the thinking when they are being hit in the head. Many died from the disease thinking it was another thing.”

    Stroke, he said, is in the country, therefore, everybody should wake up to the reality.

    Moreover, the disease has been identified as the second largest cause of cardiovascular deaths across the world, particularly in the middle and low income countries, in which Nigeria belongs.

    People, he said, should know their blood pressure (BP) numbers because it is the leading risk factor.

    “Many young people are dying because of raised BP. This is cause by their running around and the stress of living.

    “The young and the old are having raised blood pressure. This situation is across board. People between 17 and 70 years are now developing blood pressure. Also, young people, nowadays, die of blood pressure,” he said.

    He continued: “This is why doctors, healthcare providers and nurses should measure BP of patients with mercury device as the electronic machines can sometimes be deceptive. BP should be measured while sitting and standing to know the actual level.”

    Onyemelukwe identified obesity, especially that of the abdomen, as another major risk factor of stroke, adding that most people now have protruded tummy, a precursor to several diseases.

    “Some fat cells are stored in the abdomen. When an animal is killed, you see a lot of fat. Those fat cells are affecting a lot of hormones. Some hormones are responsible for raising blood pressure, insulin resistance, and hypertension. This makes them useless fats,” he said.

    People, he said, should embrace balanced diet, stressing that food should be taken in moderation.

    “Too much intake of pounded yam, cow skin (ponmo), alcohol, soft drinks or kunu, will make the tummy potrude because it has stored too much of carbonhydrate,” he said.

    “Besides, protruded stomach is not a sign of affluence; rather it is a sign of ill health. The second big factor is excessive weight which people are grappling with,” he noted.

    He said people should rest because they need peace of mind, adding that many are presently under stress.

    This, he said, shows that high BP is a major risk factor, saying that conducive environment should be created for people to relax because ‘the country needs rest’.

    He identified blood lipid as the fourth factor that must be addressed.

    “Lipids are fat in the blood. These fats usually float in the blood. When they are high they get oxidised and blood vessels would pick and bury them in the blood vessel.

    The blood vessels always pick them all over the body, especially from the heart and brain, which result in heart attack and even attacks the brain, thereby starving it of oxygen.

    His recommendations are that exercise should be encouraged in schools, especially across primary and secondary schools and university.

    He said cardiovascular risk factors in Middle East and Africa are many and people are not aware of them.

    Moreover, some people have two risk factors while others present with three or four.

    “This is dangerous. People should know their BP status and lipid profile and activity level the way they identify their ages,” he said.

    Emeritus Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, United States, David Walters said people should know their numbers, that is, the high blood pressure (HBP) also known as hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol.

    He said Nigerians are stressed out, adding that this may be one reason people come down with stroke.

    He said 65 percent of people who have stroke have a hypertension, adding that they do not feel bad until they come down with a stroke, a disease that can be prevented.

    “It is a shame to have young people who are relatively projective suffering from stroke,” he said.

    Walters said sitting in traffic all day can trigger a stroke.

    A Professor of Medicine at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Adesola Ogunniyi, said no fewer than six million people die yearly from stroke.

    He said stroke was first reported in Nigeria in 1961, adding it responsible for 15 percent of neurological admission in hospital.

    “Hospital data, at University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, showed that stroke is the leading cause of admission,” he said.

    Smoking, diabetes, obesity and abdominal obesity are factors.

    He said stroke will increase as people age and population increases. “Stroke is a major diseases burden in Nigeria and it will continue as the population age,” he added.

    Prevention strategies, he said, are health education and awareness.

     

  • Experts lament rising non-communicable diseases

    Experts have raised the alarm on the rising cases of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Nigeria.

    A don at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos and Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof Femi Olufemi Fasanmade, said this was so because of the prevalence of unhealthy lifestyles.

    He said NCDs are non-contagious, which are rising daily. They include hypertension, asthma, diabetes mellitus, peptic ulcer and arthritis, he added.

    Fasanmade, a consultant endocrinologist at LUTH, said NCDs are mainly lifestyle-related.

    Others, he said, are foreign food, over-eating, sedentary lifestyle, increased consumption of soft drinks and alcohol, adding that they are also associated with advancing age and stress.

    He advised the Federal Government to promote healthy eating, regular exercises and screening and education.

    Others are regulation of sugary and alcoholic beverages, provision of playing grounds and parks, increased access to healthy food, reduction of pollution and environmental toxins.

    Fasanmade urged the people to eat moderately, exercise and stop smoking and taking of alcohol. Obesity should be discouraged and people should have regular check ups.

    A chest physician at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr Cyril Chukwu, said NCDs account for more deaths than communicable diseases (CDs).

    He said though there were no statistics, records showed more people visit hospitals for NCDs than CDs these days.  He said NCD is the largest cause of mortality in people of working age.

    The incidences in younger adults, he noted, are higher in poor countries, especially in Africa, than in the rich countries.

    He listed cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes as some NCDs.

    Chukwu said the rising cases were due to some behavioural risk factors, such as poor diet, inactivity,  smoking and excessive alcohol intake.

    He said NCDs are more prevalent in urban areas, adding that the increasing globalisation of food, tobacco and alcohol industries are also responsible for thedisease.

    “NCDs have a major impact on men and women of working age and their elderly dependents. They result in lost income, lost opportunities for investment, and overall lower levels of economic development,” he said.

    He urged the Federal Government to raise awareness on prevention rather than cure.

  • Experts seek inclusion of security studies in curriculum

    How  to tackle insecurity in the country topped discussions among proprietors, rectors, and chief security officers of various tertiary institutions and other stakeholders who gathered in Abuja for a two-day workshop on security and leadership capacity building.

    The event had as theme: ‘Repositioning learning institutions for effective management and secured learning environment.’

    Experts suggested that schools should introduce Security Studies in their school curriculum.

    This, according to them, will reduce incessant bombings and insecurity in some parts of the country.

    They also recommended that schools employ capable security personnel instead of old men who merely open and close gate for whoever goes in or out of the school without proper security checks.

    Speaking on behalf of the attendees, the Managing Director, Skylight Ventures, Mrs. Folake Yobah, suggested that crime prevention and the inclusion of security studies in the curriculum of Nigeria’s education system, starting from the elementary level would help address the security challenge.

    Yobah explained that Security Studies at the basic level would enable a child know it means to be security conscious.

    She said: “From vulnerability assessment and audit we have been carrying out in Skyhigh Ventures Limited, we discovered that measures must be put in place to avert future calamities. Proactive steps must be taken by stakeholders to curb vices and vulnerabilities in our learning environment.

    “Life is precious and has no duplicate. Our children are gifts from God and we have the duty to take care of them. But with the recent threats on their lives, we are left with no choice but to do our best as humanly possible putting physical security solutions in place and we believe God will bless our efforts,” Yobah said.

    She lamented that Nigerians have neglected the importance of security while paying more attention to cars, houses, and other luxury.

    Also speaking, the former director of Basic and Secondary Education in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Mabel Ozumba, said the issue of security is very appropriate and its impact cannot be underestimated.

    Mrs. Ozumba said: “Talking of security, we are not looking at the Northeast alone; there are different levels of insecurity like kidnapping, raping and others. If we must address the issue of insecurity, we must know who are involved and how well are we going to do it.

    “In learning environment, it is important to get all hands on deck, not the old men we have all over the gates. As far as I am concerned, they are gatemen, they are best at opening and closing the gates. We need to get people who are competent and very alert because security needs an all time attention and dedication.

    “We want to know who is coming in, for what and why? When did he come in? We need to have a checklist, empower people including the students. Nigerians are used to walking past people and probably because the person came with big car, because of the status, we just let them pass.’’

  • What the presidential relief will do, by experts

    What the presidential relief will do, by experts

    There were reactions yesterday to the approval of a comprehensive relief package by President Muhammadu Buhari to bailout some financially distressed states.

    They said the intervention will bring relief to embattled governors and calm the workers, who have been warming up for showdown with the states’ helmsmen.

    Bailout will reflate economy

    The former Executive Director, Keystone Bank Limited, Richard Obire said the system will be reflated after the cash hits the accounts of the affected states.

    On the implications of the bailout, Obire predicted that demand for goods and services will rise, thereby helping the economy back on its feet when the workers get paid the arrears of their salaries.

    He, however, advised the Federal Government to spell out the repayment terms for the soft loans, describing President Buhari’s decision to bailout the states as good news for the economy.

    Obire called on different state governments to boost their Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) to forestall sliding back into further debts.

    On what the affected states can do, the banker said the governments can also re-negotiate worker’s salaries with unions based on the elasticity of the IGR, even as he pushed for more investment in capital projects.

    Besides, Obire advised states to find ways of attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) and boosting local production of goods and services.

    Intervention timely

    Managing Consultant, Nesbet Consulting, a Lagos-based finance and management, a consultancy firm, Mr. Alaba Olusemore, described the $2.1 billion bailout to fiscally distressed states “as a right step in the right direction.”

    According to him, the intervention was timely as the Federal Government can ill-afford an industrial crisis by workers in the affected states at the beginning of a new administration.

    Olusemore believes the bailout will have multiplier effects on the economy of the benefitting states.

    He said: “It will reactivate economic activities in those states. However, there must be conditionality attached to the bailout fund and the states that are the beficiaries must involve labour unions and other stakeholders to ensure judicious use of the funds.”

    Olusemore urged the states to plug all leakages in the system and avoid over-invoicing by contractors handling ongoing projects.

    “The state governments must carry out staff audit, not just the usual head count, but to ensure that jobs are clearly defined to avoid duplication of responsibilities,” he said.

    He also canvassed a temporary embargo on employment until the fiscal situation in those distressed states witnessed improvement.

    “There is urgent need for aggressive diversification of the states’ revenue base through the exploitation of abundant mineral resources in their domains”, he urged.

    It’s time to boost SWF

    Also reacting, a teacher at the Pan Atlantic University, Dr. Austin Nweze said more attention should be given to boosting the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) by encouraging states to put more money into the Fund.

    He said such step will enable states to rely on such funds at difficult times.

    He also agreed with Obire on the need to build more industries to widen the IGR base.

    Nweze urged states to reduce bureaucracies and tackle institutional corruption.

     

     

  • Training experts urged to maintain professional integrity

    Training experts urged to maintain professional integrity

    Training and development practitioners in the country have been called upon to maintain professional integrity in their conduct and for continuity and hitch-free succession, they should coach and mentor their subordinates.

    The Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), Lagos branch, Mr. Senbore Samuel Oluwatoyin, made the call, while delivering a lecture at the     special induction ceremony of the Nigerian Institute of Training and Development (NITAD) in Abuja.

    In the lecture, entitled ‘Coaching and Mentoring as a Tool for Organizational Training and Development ‘, Mr. Senbore defined coaching as facilitating another’s learning, performance development and ability to change.

    Coaching, according to him, is aimed at developing skill competence and improving performance in specific areas, adding that the goal of coaching is to increase awareness and the responsibility of the person being coached.

    He said: “Mentoring is advising, counselling and interacting with a person on how to behave and conduct himself daily to grow into becoming a leader in work place. A mentor is an experienced person who advises and helps someone with less experience to grow over a period of time.”

    Mr.  Senbore said: “ A good mentoring relationship is identified by willingness and capacity of both parties to ask questions and face challenges. It also stimulates employees at all levels within the organization.

    “It has more a wider-angled lens than coaching. Overall, the two give the employee the benefit of his or her years of experience and education. This experience is impacted in a way that the mentor helps to develop a mentee and the organization.”

    In his own contribution, Mallam Abdu Ganger said: ‘‘It is our conduct as trainers that would make our organizations regard us as  being serious.  The way we relate says a lot on how we value our profession. Trainers are no beggars and we should not beg,rather you impact knowledge, even if it entails giving the service without a fee’’.

    The First Vice President of the NITAD, Rev Tunde Salawu, said “the attitude to training is the war which the NITAD has been fighting.”

    Earlier, the President and Chairman of the Council of the NITAD, Dr. Kayode Ogungbuyi, represented by the First Vice President, Rev. Tunde Salawu, in his opening remark, enjoined the inductees to be good ambassadors of the institute and contribute their quota to its  growth and development

    The Second Vice President and Chairperson, Branch Development Committee of the NITAD, Mrs J.I.K. Jolaoso, represented  by the institute’s National Publicity Secretary /PRO, Mr. Soji Akinyemi, while receiving the new members into the fold, reminded them that “trainers have a pivotal role to play in the country, especially at this glooming time of the nation’s economy”.