The Nation Newspaper

Tag: French

  • French League: Quadri humiliates Assar to lift Jura Morez to seventh place

    French League: Quadri humiliates Assar to lift Jura Morez to seventh place

    This year, Aruna Quadri has played second fiddle to Omar Assar in continental tournaments but last week in the Premier division of French Table Tennis League, Quadri mesmerised Assar to take his team, Jura Morez to seventh place on the league table.

    Out of the four titles won by Assar this year, three of them were at the expense of Quadri with the last being the men’s singles laurel at the 2015 African Games in Congo Brazzaville.

    However, Quadri has put the losses behind him and as a professional who understood the dynamism of sport, the 2014  ITTF Star Player showed his class against Assar as both players led their teams – Jura Morez and Istres in the league encounter hosted by Jura Morez.

    The encounter provided another opportunity for  Africa’s two  best players to test might and showed supremacy against each other.

    But it was Quadri’s teammate, Zhen Wang that drew the first blood against French international, Benjamin Brossier with the Chinese-born star winning 11-4, 11-3, 11-8 to give Jura Morez a 1-0 lead.

    The onus of increasing the lead now rested on Quadri when he battled Assar in the second game and the two players threw caution to the wind to give the spectators something to cheer.

    As if Quadri wanted to revenge the defeats he has suffered in the hand of the Egyptian, the Nigerian wasted no time in humiliating Assar 11-7, 11-9, 11-7 for Jura Morez to take a 2-0 lead.

    Andre Sliva compounded the woe of Istres when he walloped Paul Gauzy 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 to keep the encounter beyond their opponent.

    As the star player of Istres, Assar returned to the table to restore his team’s hope but he met his waterloo against Zhen Wang who completed the rout at 11-8, 11-9, 11-5 to record the fastest win in the history of the French league.

    In an unsportsmanship attitude, Assar left the venue without the usual embrace of opponents synonymous with sports. Aside this, he also abandoned his team to the disappointment of everybody at the venue.

    However, Quadri described the victory as a boost to his team, while describing the win against Assar as a confirmation of his improvement since joining the French League.

    “I am happy not because I beat Assar but that my team was able to escape the relegation zone and move to seventh place in the league. This is a major victory for us even as we look forward to our next match on Monday December 21 against fourth place side – Boulogne Billancourt, which has England international, Paul Drinkhall in its fold. We hope we can maintain our stand to 2016,” Quadri said.

  • Tosyn Bucknor marries French lover

    Tosyn Bucknor marries French lover

    Four months after her engagement to French lover, Aurelien Boyer, the ovation got loudest for popular OAP, Tosyn Bucknor, who got married last Saturday amidst pomp and pageantry, befitting of a celebrity.

    Colleagues, friends, family members and well-wishers came out in great numbers to celebrate with the queen of radio who signed the dotted lines at the Landmark Events Center, Oniru, Lagos.

    Among the celebrities spotted at the lavish ceremony were Olu Jacobs, Joke Silva, Banky W, Toke Makinwa, Ubi Franklin, Yaw, Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi, Banky W and Hakeem Adeyinka Balogun.

    The ceremony was anchored by comedian Tee A, while Funke Bucknor-Obruthe led Zapphire events was said to have handled the entire planning of the wedding.

    Tosyn’s engagement to Aurelien on August 11, happened during their vacation in Corsica, South of France.

  • Roads project: French agency assures speedy work

    Roads project: French agency assures speedy work

    Residents of Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA) have been assured of speedy completion of  roads to be constructed in the council.

    At a stakeholders’ meeting with community leaders in the council hall, Bariga, representatives of the French Agency Development (AFD), the agency handling the project in conjunction with the Lagos State Government apologised for the delay.

    According to Bariga LCDA Executive Secretary Kolade Alabi, the meeting was meant to appraise the state of projects and chart a way forward.

    “Our meeting with the AFD representatives and the state government was to review the state of projects that has long been expected. That is why we invited leaders of the Community Development Associations (CDAs), traditional leaders and marketers to have firsthand information about the projects. We expect our people to go home and enlighten the residents that government is doing all it could to make life easier for them by reducing the stress the bad roads are espousing them to daily,” he said.

    He said the AFD representatives told the gathering that some logistic issues still need to be thrashed out before moving to site.

    “They should commence work on the roads by first quarter of next year,” he said. The agency projects in the council include the reconstruction of roads in  Awofodu/Onajimi/Ajiun streets, Kusa Street, Ilaje, Adewunmi Ayinke, Ososa Avenue/Ososa Crescent.

    “Also reconstruction of Ladilak Primary School, Ashogbon Primary Health Centre (PHC), construction of Ilaje PHC, construction of pedestrian bridge in Arobade, Streets lightening amongst others.

    On completion, Alabi said the facility would improve the living conditions of the residents.

  • More French companies may list on Stock Exchange

    More French companies may list on Stock Exchange

    Nigeria will soon have more leading French companies investing in its economy and actively involved in the stock market as French business group Mouvement des entreprises de France International (MEDEF) prospects for new investments in Nigeria.

    Chairman, MEDEF, Mr. Pierre Gattaz, who made his first visit to Africa to Nigeria last week, led a group of some 50 French businessmen for familiarisation with the economy and preliminary discussions on prospective business areas and partners.

    Gattaz, during a visit to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), said many French companies would soon toe the line of Total Nigeria and Lafarge Africa Plc, two French companies that are quoted on the NSE.

    “This is our first visit and we know all these 50 business personalities who are with me are very motivated. They are very happy with what they have seen in this country. So, I think there will be more Totals and Lafarges coming in,” Gattaz said.

    He noted that French companies would be interested in bringing their capital and expertise in helping Nigeria to solve its infrastructure and basic amenities challenges. The areas of investments would include infrastructure, water, agriculture, energy, jobs, knowledge and training.

    “All those things can be brought by most of the French companies. So, this visit is the first of a long-lasting partnership with your country. There are a lot of things to be done between the two countries. That is why we are and we are very much ready to see the development of Nigeria; to see the growth of the population, and the growth of Gross Domestic Products (GDP),” Gattaz said.

    While acknowledging that the completion of the investment process may take some time, he assured that French businessmen have positive impressions about the Nigerian people and the economy.

    Both Total Nigeria and Lafarge Africa Plc have been making additional investments to strengthen their Nigerian operations in recent years. Total Nigeria plans to step up its business diversification programme by investing further in solar power business while consolidating the safety and efficiency of the current business.

    Chairman, Total Nigeria Plc, Momar Nguer, said the company is  seeking new ways to expand its offerings and the company is implementing strategies to ensure that the company remains brand of reference and leading energy solutions provider.

    “We plan to increase the number of our solar powered stations this year by eight additional stations and will be introducing our offer of solar home system. The solar home system is a solar power driven energy solution for homes,” Nguer had told shareholders in June, this year.

    He said the company would be seeking to align its business and structures with the dictates of the environment in which it operates and through all these, create sustainable value for all the shareholders.

    Lafarge Africa this month completed the acquisition of 30 per cent equity stake in United Cement Company of Nigeria (Unicem) Limited from Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc. Nigerian Cement Holdings BV (NCH), a 50 per cent affiliate of Large Africa, completed the acquisition of the second tranche of 15 per cent in Unicem, making the company a wholly-owned subsidiary of NCH. NCH had in March, this year acquired the first tranche of 15 per cent stake in Unicem from Flour Mills of Nigeria.

    With this final acquisition, NCH now owns 100 per cent of Unicem and consequently Lafarge Africa now owns 50 per cent of the equity of Unicem.

    Lafarge Africa plans to use Unicem to further deepen its geographical strength in the Southsouth axis. Unicem’s operational office is located in Calabar and its manufacturing plant is in Mfamosing, Cross Rivers State. It has a cement production capacity of 2.5 million metric tonnes per annum (Mtpa) and it is developing a second production line of 2.5Mtpa. The second production line is targeted to be commissioned in 2016 to bring Unicem’s total production capacity to 5.0Mtpa.

     

    The board of Lafarge Africa had rationalized the acquisition as part of the cement group’s continued investment in Nigeria to accelerate the growth and development of its business, with a focus on serving its customers and delivering value through provision of innovative products and services with a strong geographical spread.

    Lafarge had in July 2014 consolidated its cement businesses in Nigeria and South African to create a leading sub-Saharan building materials giant to be known as Lafarge Africa Plc. The consolidation was done by transferring Lafarge’s assets in South Africa and Nigeria to Lafarge Cement Wapco Nigeria Plc, which was subsequently rebranded as Lafarge Africa.

    Under the transaction, Lafarge Group transferred its direct and indirect shareholdings in Lafarge South Africa Holding Limited of 72.4 per cent and its equity stakes in three other cement companies in Nigeria-United Cement Company of Nigeria Limited, 35 per cent; Ashaka Cement Plc, 58.61 per cent and Atlas Cement Company Limited, 100 per cent to Lafarge Wapco for a cash consideration of $200 million and the issuance of some 1.4 billion Lafarge Africa shares to the Lafarge Group.

    The new group managing director, Lafarge Africa, Mr. Peter Hoddinott, who resumed in July 2015, wears two caps as group managing director of Lafarge Africa and area manager for the LafargeHolcim business in the West African region. His main mandate included acceleration of the global cement group’s expansion plan in Nigeria and the West African region.

    Hoddinott’s appointment was said to be in furtherance of Lafarge’s long-term agenda for Nigeria as the focal point of its business within the region and the continent. The new group managing director is expected to deepen the existing businesses of the Lafarge Africa, introduce new businesses and drive the group’s capital investments.

    After it successfully combined its operations in South Africa and Nigeria to create Lafarge Africa, Lafarge had revealed plan to double its production capacity in Nigeria as part of a new expansion programme that would see additional investments by the foreign majority shareholders in its Nigerian subsidiaries.

    Lafarge, which had increased its capacity from 3.0 million metric tonnes to 8.0 million metric tonnes, said it would be making new investments in the next few years to double its capacity and strengthen its position as a leader in the Nigerian cement industry.

  • Nigerian-born French athlete indicates interest in representing home country

    Nigerian-born French athlete indicates interest in representing home country

    Nigerian-born French athlete, Ayodele Ikuesan, on Friday indicated interest to feature in international competitions for the nation.

    Ikuesan, 30, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that she had competed for France in several major competitions such as the London Summer Olympics in 2012.

    The athlete, who won a gold medal for France in the 4×100 metres race in the Mediterranean Games in 2009, is also a specialist in the 60 metres dash.

    In the 100 metres dash, Ikuesan returned a time of 11.62 seconds at the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) Diamond League in Dessau, Germany

    She said she wanted to use her talent to win laurels for the country, if invited for international events.

    “I have competed for France at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and the London Summer Olympics in 2012, and several other European championships and I am now ready to feature for my home country.

    “My desire to compete for Nigeria is simply because of my growing passion to represent my fatherland at the international level.

    “I understand Nigerians are talented in the 100 metres and the 4×100 metres like Blessing Okagbare, who I really admire.

    “I am prepared to contribute my own quota. I understand that the rule is for me to wait for one year before being eligible to run. I am prepared to wait,’’ she said.

    Ikuesan said that she would focus on upcoming events in 2016, stressing that she had made efforts to meet with officials of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), on her resolve.

    “I have faith in my mission to compete for Nigeria and I believe the federation will consider my desire to compete and help me fulfil my childhood dream,’’ she added.

  • That French may not die

    That French may not die

    For four days, French teachers and students gathered at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) to discuss how the language can thrive in Nigeria, where English is the official language. EDDY UWOGHIREN (300-Level Medicine and Surgery) reports.

    The decreasing learning and communication in French is raising concern among  teachers, who believe the language  may die in Nigeria. They gathered at the Department of Foreign Languages of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) last Wednesday to discuss the challenges facing the teaching and learning of the language.

    The Biennial International French Conference with the theme: The challenges of French studies in Nigeria, was held ib tge Akin Deko Auditorium. It brought together French teachers and students in primary and secondary schools, tertiary institutions and French language centres across the nation.

    In his keynote address, the Director-General (DG), Nigerian French Village in Badagry, Lagos, Prof Raufu Adebisi, urged the government to introduce policies that would make teaching of French attractive to the young. He added that improved funding for French schools would help achieve the aim.

    The DG, who frowned at what he called the government’s apathetic attitude toward the learning of French, said the language is facing enormous challenges, which have made it to be relegated in linguistics. He listed poor remuneration for teachers, lack of employment  for French graduates, inadequate materials for learning and poor representation of French in place of authority, among others

    Adebisi said the need for easy communication had made language acquisition a necessity for man, stressing that acquisition of a first language usually posed no challenge. He gave examples of drugs prescriptions for a francophone patient, which was wrongly translated to French.

    The DG said it was high time the language got its pride of place in the nation.  He called for effective legislations to promote learning of the language, investment in French-teaching institutions and and recruitment of more teachers.

    Earlier, Dr Ngozi Iloh, Head of the UNIBEN’s Department of Foreign Language, said the conference provided an avenue for scholars and students to rub minds and form a synergy to push forward advocacy for the language

    On the second day, the participants assembled at the Seminar Room for Faculty of Arts for another session, where policy papers were presented. Some of the papers presented included Challenges of teaching translation to Nigerian undergraduates of French, by Mufuta Tijani of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, Kaduna State, Tips for effective teaching of feminist francophone African narrative, by Dr Iloh and Temidayo Onojobi of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) in Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State and The status of French at Covenant University, by Euginia Abiodun-Eniayekan, amongst others

    Highlight of the event included poem recitation, dance by pupils of UNIBEN Staff School and the UNIBEN Demonstration Secondary School (UDSS).

    The participants also went on excursion to the National Museum at the Oba Ovoranmen Square in Benin City. They were conducted round by instructor, who enlightened them on the history of the artifacts on display in museum. The event ended with a cocktail party at the school’s Banquet Hall.

    In a communiqué by the organisers, the French teachers urged the government to give scholarship to First Class graduates of French to further their studies in francophone countries. They also urged the government to make French as the second official language in Nigeria.

    First Class graduates of French, they said, should also benefit from the Federal Government policy of automatic scholarship for post-graduate studies in selected disciplines. They called on the government to immediately set up a special programme for massive training of French teachers to be deployed to the secondary schools, with a view to making the language well established at elementary levels.

    The organisers asked the government to implement United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recommendation of allocating at 26 per cent of yearly budget to education.

    The Nigerian Ambassador to Cote de Ivore, Mrs Ifeoma Akabogu-Chinwuba, said French should be made compulsory for all students in higher institutions to create opportunities for graduates of various discipline. She also urged managements of polytechnics to include the language in the curricula for students to see the pride in the language.

  • French firms set to industrialise agriculture in Nigeria

    French firms set to industrialise agriculture in Nigeria

    French companies engaged in the agribusiness sector have expressed commitment to rapidly industrialise agriculture to boost food production in Nigeria.

    The move is in furtherance   of a trade treaty signed by the  federal government and the French government last year to expand its trade volume from N1 trillion to N2 trillion in the next four years and as  well as boost  agricultural  production.

    The   companies  on a four-day Business Development Trade Mission under the auspices of Association pour le Developpement des Echnages Internationationaux de Produits et Techniques Agroalimentaires (ADEPTA). During  the forum,  the  French Trade Mission,consisting  experts in the areas of equipment development and manufacturing, supply of inputs, engineering and design expertise in the met with over 60 local  agro industries, farm owners and manufacturers  in the   agric-sector.

    They include Anadariya Industries Limited; L&G Integrated Diaries, Fruits & Veggies Global Ltd; Dantata Foods; Nasrun Nigeria Ltd and Kebram Agritrade.  Others are Dansa Foods; Promasidor; Crown Flour Mill; BUA Group; SBA Group; Pig Farmers Association, Oyo State. Potato Farmers Association of Nigeria, Best Food Group, Free Range Farms, Abeokuta, Cocoa Revolution Project, Ondo Stat), Ondo State Wealth Creation Agency; Fed Agro Nigeria Ltd, Osun and All Farmers Association, Osun State.

    A consultant to the group, Foluke Michael said the group held a number of talks that focus on promoting, encouraging and fostering   relationship with local agric businesses.

    One of the trade mission companies, she noted shown its readiness to work with potato out-growers and smallholders’ farmers to increase productivity and efficiency.

  • Group laments decline in French Studies

    The Northern French Conference (NORFCON) has lamented the decline in the teaching and learning of French Language in some parts of the north.

    The group is also worried that the percentage of French language teachers in the north that attend conferences is poor.

    These concerns were expressed at the 6th International Conference of NORFCON hosted by the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) last week.

    The group noted the trend was particularly worrying especially as the northern states are surrounded by French-speaking countries and in light of the huge government investment in French studies.

    In a communiqué signed by Dr Umar Dogon-Daji, Head, French Unit, UDUS, and Secretary of the Local Organising Committee, at the end of the two-day conference, NORFCON recommended that government embarked on a sensitization programme to encourage more students to study French.

    ‘’Today, only a few people are studying the language, despite the enormous resources the various state governments are expending to promote its teaching and learning. Hence, the need for parents and the society at large to be sensitized and encouraged to send their wards for French courses since we are surrounded by French-speaking countries,’’ the communique reads.

    To address the low attendance of northern French Teachers at local and international conferences, the group urged institutions to sponsor their teachers.

    “The conference therefore advise vice chancellors in particular, to sponsor staff members to the forthcoming University French Teachers Association of Nigeria ( UFTAN)) 2014 conference at the Nigeria French Language Village, Badagry-Lagos, from Nov. 9 to Nov.13, 2014.”

    Also, the group commended the efforts of the northern governors, particularly the Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Wamakko for encouraging the teaching and learning of French at various levels of education.

    The Sokoto State government gave scholarships to 17 indigenes of the state to study French at UDUS, Abdulmumini University, Niamey, Niger Republic and the University of Ougadouguo, Burkina Faso.

    “We commend Wamakko’s government for sponsoring indigenes of the state to study various programmes within and outside Nigeria,” they said.

    NORFCON also praised the management of UDUS for sponsoring the conference and implementing the new National Universities Commission ( NUC) minimum standard for General Studies (GST) courses that specifically include the teaching of French at the first level of University education.

  • Cleric charges on good hygiene

    The District Superintendent of The Apostolic Faith Church, West/Central Africa, Rev Bayo Adeniran, has called on Christians to clean their environment and maintain good hygiene while trusting God for safe protection against Ebola Virus.

    Adeniran said this at the 2014 Apostolic Faith Church Camp Choir Concert recently at the faith city, Igbesa, Ogun State.

    The programme tagged The Power of holy worship attracted participants from West and Central Africa.

    It featured classical gospel songs sung in French, Egun, Hausa, and Yoruba languages.

    Church leaders, traditional rulers, captains of industries, academia, among graced the occasion.

    According to him, the environment is a gift given that God expects Christians to clean regularly.

    He said that the virus will have around us today can be contained “if we are very serious about good hygiene.”

    According to him: “We are not afraid of Ebola because God has delivered us from the spirit of Ebola. The fear of Ebola cannot come to us because we fear God first. We are not just to serve God but we must clean our environment.”

    Adeniran described diseases as an act of God to bring the people back to Him.

    He stated: “Any virus by the grace of God can be healed but the plagues that afflict a people are many times results of their sins and carelessness.

    “We don’t have to be careless about our hygiene but the correct hygiene starts from the inside of us when we have the right values that please the Lord.”

    Noting that governments are working hard on infrastructural and educational development, he said: “until the people have a change of heart and are committed to God and his principles, human effort to make life meaningful will fail.”

    The Emeritus Music Director of the church, who led the choir to sing Holy Jerusalem, Rev John Aina, said the essence of the concert was to win more souls to Christ.

    “Our music is an act of holy worship and our worship is patterned toward heavenly worship and when you worship God in the beauty of holiness, there is a power that is release into the life as well as the environment.”

  • New head for French Village

    The Federal Government has appointed Prof. Raufu Adebisi as the Director/Chief Executive Officer for the Nigeria French Language Village, the inter-university centre for French Studies in Ajara, Badagry, Lagos State.

    Adebisi, who assumed office on June 18, was until his appointment, a Professor of French at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State.

    He had his early education in Ghana before returning to Nigeria for his secondary and tertiary education. He studied French at ABU and was employed by the university as an Assistant Lecturer on graduation.

    His masters and PhD were also earned at the university, where he became a professor in 2004.

    He was sponsored to undergo a basic certificate course in Chinese language in 2008 by the Chinese Government.

    He held various positions in the university, including the Head of Department and Acting Dean, Coordinator.

    Adebisi will serve for a term of five years.