The Nation Newspaper

Tag: group

  • Group trains artisans in plumbing

    The Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) Amuwo Odofin Cell, last week, held a one-day seminar to educate artisans on the role of qualitative plumbing works in structural integrity.

    It was themed: “Preventing building collapse through qualitative and sustainable plumbing”.

    In his paper, its President, Mr. Akinola George, noted that poor plumbing work can cause a building to collapse, describing plumbing as “an engineering work in a branch of mechanical engineering.’.

    He advised plumbers to be abreast of new technology and modern ways of doing plumbing work, urging them to go for more training to update their skills and knowledge regularly. “If you are doing plumbing the way it was done several years ago, then you have to learn new skills, otherwise, you will be outdated because computer has taken over,” George said.

    Also, Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Lagos State chapter, Mr. Segun Fadeyi, advised plumbers to always put a man-hole in strategic positions while working, and identify same so that when repairs will be carried out there will be no need to break the wall.

    The Lagos State Association of Professional Plumbers of Nigeria Chairman, Mr. Adesina Ogunkoya, praised the organisers for the knowledge impartation,adding that his members use quality materials and do not cut-corners while executing their jobs.

    Adesina revealed that the association has a task force team, which goes around to check the activities of plumbers, especially quacks,  in a bid to bring sanity to the profession. He further said his association relate with the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and any products that are not certified by SON are not used by its members.

    Similarly, the association deputy chairman, Mr. Lanre Adeleke, said the seminar will yield positive results and that government should find a way of curbing the activities of foreign artisans in the country, advising the stoppage of patronage of such artisans. He called on the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) to help check the influx of foreign artisans into the country.

    Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area Chairman, Mr. Valentine Buraimo, admonished all professional bodies and the organiser of the seminar to continue sensitising government on the menace of collapse building in our society. “We will always be prepared to prosecute all unscrupulous elements that are involved in these activities,” he assured.

  • Group takes artist training to correctional centre

    Group takes artist training to correctional centre

    As a young lad living on the street, I did all sorts of menial jobs to keep body and soul together. I sold bottles and other valuables picked from refuse dump. But as hard as I worked, all of my savings were squandered on gambling, I gambled with everything I could see, till I started working as a ‘wiper,’ it was while doing this that I was picked up and brought to this correctional centre 10 years ago as a homeless person.

    “But today, I am a painter of portraiture and that is what I do for a living, and I am proud to say that I am studying art and design at the Yaba College of Technology. An initiative as this one was what made it possible because a group of artists organised a training like this when I was here.”

    These were the words of a budding artist, Paul Ogunlesi, as he reflected on the events that brought him to The Special Correctional Centre for Boys, Oregun, Ikeja, 10 years ago, during a three-day art training by a group of artists under the guild of Beyond Borders Artists Association of Nigeria (BBAAN).

    Today, Ogunlesi is part of BBAAN and a facilitator at its art training for inhabitants of the centre.

    His words were a solemn recollection meant to challenge the young boys at the centre where he was a resident years ago.

    Tagged: My environment, other artists, who facilitated the workshop were BBAAN President, Clara Aden; Southwest Co-ordinator, Female Artists of Association of Nigeria (FEAAN), Omovo Ayoola; Akintunde John; Paul Ogunlesi; Sotonye Jumbo, Sunday Dimkpa; Arueya Ogheneruemu; Busayo Lawal and Sunday Akpedo.

    The training was divided into three parts where the artists painted in front of the students to intimate them on the essence and appreciation of artistic painting; they then tutored the classes, ranging from Nursery 1 and 2, and primary 1 to 6, on the arts. Each class was given an artist who taught and encouraged them to produce their own work of art as a class project. The pupils’ works were collected and the best were picked out of the class and exhibited on the last day with guests coming from outside to view their works.

    The participants – Sunday Adewale, Israel Mathew and Korede Ibigbami – were awarded prizes for their outstanding works.

    Director of  BBAAN, who is based in England, Lanre  Olagoke, said the training was organised out of the need to create an avenue for the boys to release tension, create entertainment and empowerment for them when they leave the centre.

    He said: “I can relate to the way of lives of these children because I was a drug addict and used to be homeless in London. I would have almost being in prison because at some point, I got into cocaine but I made a decision that changed my life and that was to become an artist. After painting for a while, I set up a charity in England which is called Art Alive Art Trust, I have worked with over 10,000 youths in the last two decades. I still work for the royal family and I have done a lot of work with BBC. So having done all that, I decided that charity begins at home: that is why I have decided to be a part of this project. I have an interest in those who are homeless, and that is why I have decided to support this cause.

    “I and Omooba Yemisi Shyllon came together to form an association of artists that will not just bring artists together but also make a difference and an impact in the society. That is what the BBAAN is all about. We want to leave a legacy for the youth. We believe that every youth in this centre has a gift and that is what we want to pull out through art. And the kids have been receptive. They may not all be artists but we’ve given them something unique that will become who they ought to be. We are helping them release what is inside: because a lot of them have been through pain. The canvas is to form of release of what is within. I hope to have a resource center and an academy where they can learn various skills to sustain themselves in the near future.”

    On his part, Founder of BBAAN, Prince Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon, encouraged the children to listen to the orders of their instructors and forget about the lifestyle that brought them to the centre. “You are here by virtue of some circumstance that has brought here but I want you determine within yourself that out of this place, you will make meaning out of your lives. You have to listen to your teachers and forget playing pranks as it does not lead you anywhere except perdition,” he advised.

    BBAAN President, Elizabeth Omolara Adenugba (known in the art circle as Clara Aden), added that the association is committed to adding values and imparting lives in the society, while using art as a supplement primary and secondary school curriculum within and outside Nigeria

    BBAAN was founded on April 29, 2017, at the Art for Peace Water Marbling Art for peace project organised by UFUK dialogue foundation and the Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Foundation (OYASAF).

     

  • Group demands justice over Bilyamin’s death

    Group demands justice over Bilyamin’s death

    A non-governmental organisation, Attitude and Character Change Initiative (ACCHI), Nigeria has insisted that the Federal Government must discharge justice in the case of Bilyamin Muhammed Bello, who was allegedly killed by his wife, Maryam Sanda.

    ACCHI founder Saada Baba Mohammed in a statement described Maryam’s action as un-islamic, noting that the idea of killing her spouse was not part of the Northern culture.

    She said it was absolutely wrong for Maryam to have taken laws into her own hands, urging the womenfolk to do everything to avoid such attitude.

    She added that one of the ways to address such matter was for Maryam to engage their parents or guardians as regard the development.

    She said: “There is no wrong whatsoever in briefing his (Bilyamin) parents and make your decision to either stay or opt out of the marriage.

    “Another thing she could have done was to sit her husband down and counsel him and probably  give him her terms and conditions to decide if he wants her to return to his home. That’s logical and rational enough for a woman.

    “There are sanctions in Islam. If he really wants you, he would come back for you then he would adjust if he so wants you to live with him. It is acceptable if there are tangible reasons for divorce. Don’t be shameful to seek divorce. Divorce is permitted and legal in Islam just as marriage is allowed.

    “Divorce has to be accompanied with substantial reasons before it will be pronounced legally in order not to spread crises in the society.”

  • Presidency: suicide bombing last act of a dying terror group

    Presidency: suicide bombing last act of a dying terror group

    President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that his administration is taking measures to end Boko Haram insurgency, saying the attacks are like the last kicks of a dying horse.

    President Buhari, who spoke yesterday at the launching of the Pulaaku Radio in Yola, Adamawa State, said Boko Haram had been massively degraded and its surviving members on the run.

    The President, represented by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the war against insurgency had moved to the next phase, which is intelligence-driven, with a view to ending bombings.

    His words: “Instead of being hunters, they are now the hunted. In their desperation to stay relevant, they have resorted to using innocent under-aged children to carry out attacks.

    “But what we are witnessing now are the last kicks of a dying horse. Yes, these kicks may be dangerous, but they don’t last long.

    Progressively, they become weaker and weaker until the horse finally dies.

    “I have approved the establishment of an intelligence fusion centre in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, to gather and share intelligence among security agencies in the country. This will go a long way in ending this campaign of suicide bombing.

    “We are building on the nationwide campaign we launched last year, with the payoff line: ‘If you see something, say something’. It simply means that we need everyone to be involved in getting the necessary information to tackle the terrorists. They are not ghosts, and some of them live among us. We must all support our gallant troops, many of who have paid the supreme sacrifice in this war, by providing information that can rid our communities of terrorists.

    “It is important for the media, especially radio and television, to continue to play their part in this war, by offering their platforms to communicate useful information to the populace. As part of our sensitisation campaign, which is still running on national radio and television, we put out those little signs that give up the terrorists, and which the people must watch out for. Help us communicate this information to the people.”

    The President described as most auspicious, the timing of the launching of the radio station. It implored it and others to donate airtime for the national sensitisation campaign.

     

     

  • Ooni, group plan to make Ife World Heritage City

    Ooni, group plan to make Ife World Heritage City

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi,  Ojaja II, and an international business conglomerate, Almajdal Limited, have concluded plans to transform Ile-Ife into the biggest tourist destination in Africa.

    ALMAJDAL is an international construction concern with branches in Africa, Europe and Asia.

    In a support statement, Oba Ogunwusi said the “project involves re-construction and beautification of ancient sites, city parks, new boulevards, greenery of the city centers, redesign of the city main boulevard, outskirts and other legacy projects in line with the idea to create the necessary impetus for Ile-Ife and Yoruba cultural renaissance.”

    “We are set for a legacy project that will uplift one of the oldest cities in the world and put it on the global tourist map.

    “It involves rebuilding the over 200 historical and archeological sites dating back to the 8th century.

    “Also construction of the Yoruba Museum of Natural History and the Yoruba Ancient War Museum, the rebuilding of the burial place of Oduduwa, the first Ooni of Ife who died around late 9thCentury, the Garden of Saints for late Oonis, the provision of gardens, botanical gardens and fountains across the city.

    “No fewer than 1 million trees of different species will be planted at Ife alone,” Executive Director of ALMAJDAL, Wali Kutrub said.

     

  • Anambra poll: Group rates security, INEC high

    Anambra poll: Group rates security, INEC high

    The Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group (ISDMG) has hailed the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the conduct of the Anambra State governorship election.

    The group said this while briefing reporters on its preliminary report released in Awka, the state capital. Its Executive Director, Dr Chima Amadi, said the group deployed 100 observers across the 21 local government areas to observe the election and the House of Assembly by-election in Idemili North.

    Amadi said personnel and materials were deployed early in most polling units, with the exception of few places. He said it is a sign that INEC prepared well for the contest and, as a result, voting started early in many polling units. He said Card Readers malfunctioned in a few areas, but were promptly rectified by INEC technical team.

    The Director said: “The practice of simultaneous accreditation and voting contributed immensely in activating voter participation and reduction of tension at voting points. There was improvement in the conduct of personnel — INEC and ad-hoc — which in our view can be attributed to the quality of training, ahead of the Election Day.’’

    He noted with dismay the incidence of “vote buying and selling” openly on election and concluded that such practice had cast a slur on the integrity of the votes. He, however, commended the Federal Government for improving on logistics and welfare of the policemen and other security agencies for the exercise.

    Amadi observed that most polling units in the cities close to Awka, the state capital, had at least four security officers, while in rural areas, they had one or two officers at polling units.

  • Group calls for NDDC’s dissolution

    Group calls for NDDC’s dissolution

    President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to dissolve the leadership of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), for alleged failure to carry out the its mandate. It admonished the Niger Delta Avengers who threatened to resume hostilities to have a change of focus and pursue peace.

    The group, ‘Pandleaf’, said the headship of the commission was rotatory, pointing out that the tenure of the board would end in December and any attempt to reappoint or renew their tenure would be resisted.

    In a statement by its National President, Richard Akinaka; Secretary, Ubok-Obong Umoh and Spokesman, Comrade Success Jack, the group decried the failure of political leaders in the Niger Delta to work cohesively for development and pressed for pursuit of common interest by all stakeholders.

    It reads: “We vehemently reject the recent tenure renewal for the current board of the NDDC since it constitutes a conventional aberration, highly insensitive, very inciting and capable of breaching the peace currently enjoyed in the region.  We hereby call on President Muhammadu Buhari to dissolve the current board and reconstitute a new one with respect to rotational consideration at the end of the current tenure in December 2017. It should be made clear that would stop at nothing to fiercely and firmly resist this anomaly, if not reversed.

    “We condemn in totality the unhealthy political rivalry between political leaders in our States; it has reached alarming and embarrassing levels which has adversely affected us as a region. We urge them to redirect this energy and focus to form synergies in advancing a common regional political, economic and social agenda. They should not forget in a hurry that their actions and inactions today, form the legacies for which posterity would remember them.

    “We also call on State Governments and Federal intervention agencies to take all necessary measures aimed at improving the lives of our people in regards to projects especially on matters incidental to road infrastructures. State governments and federal intervention agencies should embark on road construction irrespective of and without prejudice to whether it is a State or Federal road.

  • Anambra poll: Group urges massive youths’ votes

    Anambra poll: Group urges massive youths’ votes

    Ahead of the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State, a youth-focused non-governmental organisation (NGO), the League of Progressives Ambassadors of Nigeria (LEPAN), has urged young voters to vote massively for their preferred candidates.

    LEPAN leaders spoke at a seminar with the topic, titled: Overcoming the Challenges of Voter Apathy Among the Youths, at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam Campus, Anambra State, with the theme: #1Vote.

    The group urged youths to turn out massively and vote peacefully during the governorship election.

    LEPAN’s President, Chuckwudi Anyawuocha, who delivered the lecture, said youths cannot continue to complain when they refuse to come out to vote.

    He urged them to go out and vote because it is the only way they can make a genuine demand from the political system.

    Also, LEPAN Programme Officer Olalekan Adigun said the timing of the event was deliberate because of the governorship election.

    He said COOU was chosen because the institution boasts the largest population of young Anambra indigenes, the target of the programme.

    The seminar also had series of engaging political enlightenment activities, including a debate, dance competition and awards to exceptionally brilliant students.

  • Group trains 300 science teachers

    Science Ambassadors and Home Edutainment Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), yesterday said it had trained over 300 Science teachers in Lagos State on practical usage of scientific methodologies.

    Its Coordinator, Mrs Peace Nnabugwu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the five-day training would empower the teachers on how to teach students in simple scientific terms to make science more interesting.

    She said the training captured science teachers in basic science, basic technology, chemistry, physics, computer science, biology and mathematics.

    “We are contributing our quota in the education sector to ensure that our science teachers are abreast of modern scientific teaching techniques .

    She said: “Science is not abstract or history, so its teaching process has to be fun and interesting for absorption by the learners , who are the students in our case.

    “An enthusiast teacher will influence a happy learning environment and with such a training, the number of students excelling in science will increase.”

    According to her, the teachers were taught on how to use household items and materials such as paper, syringe, cup of water, straw, among others, to improvise on practical science.

  • Group calls for NDDC’s dissolution

    Group calls for NDDC’s dissolution

    President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to dissolve the leadership of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), for alleged failure to carry out the its mandate. It admonished the Niger Delta Avengers who threatened to resume hostilities to have a change of focus and pursue peace.

    The group, ‘Pandleaf’, said the headship of the commission was rotatory, pointing out that the tenure of the board would end in December and any attempt to reappoint or renew their tenure would be resisted.

    In a statement by its National President, Richard Akinaka; Secretary, Ubok-Obong Umoh and Spokesman, Comrade Success Jack, the group decried the failure of political leaders in the Niger Delta to work cohesively for development and pressed for pursuit of common interest by all stakeholders.

    It reads: “We vehemently reject the recent tenure renewal for the current board of the NDDC since it constitutes a conventional aberration, highly insensitive, very inciting and capable of breaching the peace currently enjoyed in the region.  We hereby call on President Muhammadu Buhari to dissolve the current board and reconstitute a new one with respect to rotational consideration at the end of the current tenure in December 2017. It should be made clear that would stop at nothing to fiercely and firmly resist this anomaly, if not reversed.

    “We condemn in totality the unhealthy political rivalry between political leaders in our States; it has reached alarming and embarrassing levels which has adversely affected us as a region. We urge them to redirect this energy and focus to form synergies in advancing a common regional political, economic and social agenda. They should not forget in a hurry that their actions and inactions today, form the legacies for which posterity would remember them.

    “We also call on State Governments and Federal intervention agencies to take all necessary measures aimed at improving the lives of our people in regards to projects especially on matters incidental to road infrastructures. State governments and federal intervention agencies should embark on road construction irrespective of and without prejudice to whether it is a State or Federal road.

    This is because Federal Government is not a person but the roads, so classed, are still to be used by people in the State.  We urge them to borrow a leaf from the glowing examples of H.E Godswill Akpabio who during his time as Governor, undertook the construction of all roads, many of which were on the exclusive list but till today are still been enjoyed by the people of the State,” they said.