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Tag: group

  • Group endorses Paseda for governor

    Group endorses Paseda for governor

    A Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, the Yoruba Patriotic Movement (YPM) has adopted the Ogun State candidate of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in the 2015 general elections Otunba Rotimi Paseda to re contest in the coming 2019 gubernatorial race in the state.

    The chairman of the group Hon. Oladosu Oladipo, disclosed this recently during a courtesy visit to the candidate at his  Ijebu-Omu home, in Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State. He said a round peg should be put in a round hole.

    The YPM chairman, who described Paseda as a disciple of the Awolowo dynasty, said the the former UPN governorship candidate has imbibed  the spirit, intellect and political sagacity of the late sage.

    “Paseda has resuscitated the defunct UPN with his political ambition in Ogun State. He was the flag bearer of the party in Ogun State in 2015 and he is still going to be the governorship candidate of the party in the state in 2019.

    “If I am to go back to the memory lane, it was this same political party I rode to victory when I contested for the legislative assembly seat in the old Oyo State.” he said

    Oladipo explained that there is need for political  realignment in the State where people of like mind and same political ideology would flow together to form a universal political base that will be anchored on welfairism and service to humanity which can only be seen in UPN.

    “Therefore, everybody should give their support to the UPN, so that we can have somebody like Paseda with programmes and roadmap to lead and  turned things  around for good. There must be integrity in our state. Unless we go to the knitty-gritty and the platform, the UPN has the strategy and tactics to coast home victory.

    “I have no doubt that Paseda has the ability, character, foresight and he is active politically. He has a potent platform to make Ogun State great. Everybody will integrate with you in Ogun State. Thank you for resuscitating the legacies, policies and ideas of the Awolowo-led UPN in Yorubaland”, said Oladipo.

    Besides, the YPM leader, noted that  restructuring could only come to reality unless the country return to the 1963 constitution which allowed all the regions to develop, according to their own pace.

    “Awolowo started with free primary education throughout the old western region. He was very proactive because his programmes were all-inclusive. He was doing these alongside the establishment of farm settlement, industrial layout but with these laudable projects Western Region was ahead of other regions. Development doesn’t come overnight but it is a gradual process”, said the YPM Chairman.

    He, however, admonished Paseda not to be discouraged over his ambition and asked him to hold humility as the only key to get up.

    Paseda stated that it was a great opportunity to have the leadership of the YPM on a courtesy visit to his Ijebu-Omu home.

  • Why leadership crisis persists by group

    Why leadership crisis persists by group

    A GROUP, the New Nigeria Nationalists (NNN), has lamented the absence of good leadership in the country. It warned that the slide may continue, until Nigerians actively participate in the electoral process.

    The group said political parties have failed Nigeria, alleging that the over 100 billion dollars looted in Nigeria in the last 15 years could have been used for development.

    “It is time for a national reorientation that would enthrone a new Nigeria, and led by “super patriotic Nigerians committed to nation building devoid of bigotry and self interest,” NNN said.

    Unveiling the group, which hopes to transform into a political party, a member of its Board of Trustees (BoT), Mr Paul Erinne, said the two major political parties that have ruled Nigeria in the past 17 years have failed to engender the change that the average Nigerians earnestly yearn for.

    He said the political leadership has completely lost grip and understanding of what national progress is all about.

    He said: “From independence till date, Nigeria has constantly and constantly embarked on reverse motion that has deepened the national malady. The politics of Nigeria is begging for urgent and serious intervention that can at once rescue, revive, and reactivate the nation, and put her back on the noble and desirable path of safety, security and stability.”

    He said the group has put together a National Development Plan to address the national problems, tackle total lack of discipline, redress the culture of impunity, fix tha nation’s education system, and tame the soaring culure of graft and corruption wearing out the country’s moral fabric.

    Erinne said the group will partner with well meaning Nigerians on the onerous task of nation building, adding “rather than watch and talk, the NNN will encourage the people to walk the talk and together, be the change agent that would fix the country’s many malady.

    NNN’s National Coordinator Mrs Foluso Makanjuola-Oyenuga  said it is sad that, 57 years after independence, Nigeria has “remained a poor country with her people remaining living in perpetual poverty.”

    She said NNN is out to liberate Nigeria and free her from her mental shackle.

    She said: “The bad leadership that has brought the country to her knees and every independence anniversary is but a sad reminder of how we have continuously failed to progressively manage to meet the basic and fundamental expectations and aspirations of our people who were elated that self rule would give them automatic access to better lives”

    BoT Chairman Revd Solomon Adegbolagun said NNN is determined to walk its talk on birthing a new consciousness of Nigerians who are willing to do all it takes to develop their common heritage.

    He said NNN’s vision is to liberate the future of the country and give birth to a national redemptive movement that can salvage the nation.

    Adebolagun said as part of the introductory plan, younger members of the group plan to embark on a new  walk, designed to kickoff in Lagos and terminate in Abuja, covering a distance of about 761 kilometres and spread over 45 days.

    He said the Nigeria walk project, which aims at hanging the pervasive narratives that all Nigerians are self serving, would be embarked upon.

    The Convener of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) Prof Ishaq Lakin Akintola, in his goodwill message charged Nigerians to shorn all tribal and ethnic sentiments that have reversed the fortunes of the nation.

    He said that youths should go back to the nationalists fervours of the  founding fathers, adding that only love, selflessness and dedication to the cause of the nation are the only way the nation can get out of the woods.

  • Group to partner govts on housing

    The Society of Real Estate Developers of Nigeria (SOREDON) is ready to partner the federal and state governments to address the 17 million housing deficit in the country.

    According to its Chairman, Mr. Michael Adedeji, to solve the problem, experts and financial competence, the forte of SOREDON, because of its ability to raise offshore funding to tackle housing deficit, are needed.

    “We can’t just blame the governments for the housing deficit in Nigeria because there are people who should tackle this challenge. If we are providing one million housing every year, maybe it should have been addressed all these years. Together with our foreign partners, we have earmarked $5million for take-off.  We are capable of providing 500, 000 housing units annually and we also guarantee high quality houses,” Adedeji said.

  • Group hails govt’s bid to increase tax on tobacco

    The Youth Action on Tobacco Control and Health (YATCH) has lauded the Federal Government’s plan to increase tobacco tax.

    Its Executive Director, Seye Omiyefa, made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    According to him, the increase will go a long way to save Nigerians from direct and second hand smoking which have harmful health effects.

    NAN reports that Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, on Wednesday said the government might increase tax on tobacco to check abuse and prevent smuggling of tobacco products into the country.

    Omiyefa advocated quick implementation of the plan.

    “I will like to commend the efforts of the minister of health toward reducing the rate of people dying due to tobacco-related diseases. One of the ways to achieve this is by increasing tax on tobacco products.

    “It is no longer news that every year Nigeria loses all cadres of manpower and all categories of statesmen and leaders to tobacco-related deaths,’’ he said.

     

  • Group seeks supportive care bill for vulnerable girl child, others

    Group seeks supportive care bill for vulnerable girl child, others

    A group, the International Charitable Initiative for Girl Child and Women Development Foundation (ICI-GWODEF), has asked the Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA) for a bill for the establishment of supportive care for the vulnerable girl child and young adults.

    The group also sent a similar letter of request to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    In an October 10, letter to Governor Ambode and Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, it requested that such service be made part of the Lagos State Child Rights Law.

    According to ICI-GWODEF President, Mrs Helen Ibeji, “supportive care, also known as supportive housing, in developed countries is a place where young people between the ages of 18 and 25 needing care institutions and cannot return home, and are further accommodated to ensure that they acquire educational and entrepreneurial skills they would require to enable them function in the future.

    “It takes the form of a residential building in the community, in which housing care givers, staff and other workers provide service for 24 hours a day. Such residents are evaluated and signposted to relevant services for work, skills training, education, health issues, counselling among others,”she stated.

    Members of the group embarked on an advocacy walk from Shoprite, Ikeja to the state House of Assembly at Alausa Secretariat where they  presented the letter. They were received by the lawmaker representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency II,  Jude Idimogu.

    The advocacy walk, which attracted girls from some schools in the state, was part of the activities marking the International Day of the girl child.

    It demanded for, therefore, a bill to empower vulnerable girl child in order to ensure that Vision 2030 becomes a reality for adolescent girls.

    Mrs.  Ibeji remarked: “It is inconceivable that a girl child, having been subjected to physical and sexual abuse in the family environment, can be expected to return there after leaving a children’s home.

    “Invariably, they become homeless young adults even more susceptible to abuse in various forms, with the distinct possibility of becoming engaged in criminality,”she said.

    She believed that this development has further exposed the need for a further step in the care for the vulnerable group. “Supportive care for vulnerable children who have left children’s homes but cannot return to the family environment for various reasons is now a growing need. Such children having left statutory care at 18, have not in many cases either finished their education or learnt the necessary skills and confidence to enable them cope on their own as viable citizens within the community, “she noted.

    Mrs Ibeji urged the Lagos State government, being the flag bearer on issues that have to do with child rights and development, to consider the development of children villages where full facilities such as education, skills training, medical and therapeutic attention can be given to children and young people in this group.

    “We would also like to see the development of more correctional facilities for children engaged in crime,” adding that the situation where young children are placed in adult prisons is intolerable and can only lead to unwanted outcomes for the children and the larger society.

    The group also advocated the inclusion of Independent Human Rights desk for children in every police station to ensure training given to police officers are geared towards protection of their human rights.

    She said the state, which is noted for blazing the trail and piloting  new initiatives and ideas, would offer the best opportunities for them to attain a fulfilled life.

     

     

  • Group cautions against food wastage

    Ahead of the World Food Day, a group, Foodclique Support Initiative, has canvassed against open wastage of foods across at parties.

    Its Media Director, Adeola Adetola, said it saddens the heart to see some Nigerians wasting food when millions of people have nothing to eat.

    He said the commitment of FoodClique Support Initiative to ending hunger will be reinforced by support for families and populace battling with one form of hunger or the other.

    Also, the founder of FoodClique Support Initiative, Bolajoko Fadipe, said they would be providing 4,000 meals to people that are socially disadvantaged in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area.

    He urged the government and corporate organisations to help in reducing hunger through deliberate policies and corporate social responsibilities that trickle down to the lower pyramid of social class.

  • Group, Babcock varsity sign MoU on manpower

    The President, Church Administrators Society of Nigeria (CASON), Pastor Seyi Oladimeji, has said the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) the society signed with Babcock University, Ilishan, Ogun State, will bridge the managerial skills gap in church administration in Nigeria.

    Speaking with The Nation on the sideline of CASON’s fourth Annual Conference in Lagos, Oladimeji said with the deal, CASON and Babcock University will commence registration for 2017/2018 Executive Diploma in Church Administration, which could be used to study Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in church administration.

    He said CASON believes that those saddled with administering church resources, both human and material, needed the requisite knowledge that will help them do it better. “Because most of the people administering the churches in Nigeria are not trained, especially those in the Pentecostals,” he said.

  • Minister, group make case for girl-child

    Minister, group make case for girl-child

    The Minister of Education Adamu Adamu yesterday joined other proponents of the girl-child rights to advocate for rights and opportunities for girls world-wide.

    It was at the event organised by Plan International- an independent global rights organisation committed to supporting vulnerable and marginalised children and their communities to be free from poverty.

    Represented by Ariba Opeyemi in Abuja at the International Day of the Girl Child, the minister said  the United Nations has set October 11 for promoting the rights of girls and addressing the unique challenges they face.

    The theme was : “Unlock the Power of Girls Now.”

    He noted that the day promotes girls’ human rights, highlights gender inequalities that remain between girls and boys and addresses the various forms of discrimination and abuses suffered by girls around the world.

    According to Adamu, the ministry, has in its effort to boost girl-child education developed the National Policy in Gender Education to ensure that gender is systematically mainstreamed into all components of the education sector.

    He said the policy goal is to ensure equal access to basic education and promote retention, competition and high performance for all pupils which require attention and provisions for particularly the disadvantaged children especially girls at the basic education level.

    The minister that the ministry has put in place some strategies to encourage girl-child education in schools which includes advocacy and sensitization.

    He added that there are also incentives for girls including scholarship schemes funded by Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).

    Adamu was thankful to the organizer, Plan International Nigeria for its quest for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

    His words: “Your contributions to the lives of our young children especially the girls will go a long way to help in living fulfilled lives and ensuring that the girl-child is educated.”

    Country Director, Plan International Nigeria, Hussaini Abdu said  Nigeria’s commitment and capacity to meet the SDG vision 2030 target will substantially depend on the level of investment in adolescent girls.

  • Group declares loyalty to Obiano, unveils book

    Group declares loyalty to Obiano, unveils book

    A group, the Independent Media Support Organisation (IMSO), has expressed support for the Governor Willie Obiano administration in Anambra State. The group made the declaration during a press conference in Awka, the Anambra State capital, to unveil a book on Obiano’s achievements.

    Portrait of Performance: Understanding the Vision Behind Obiano’s Performance was written by Ngozi Emedolibe.

    Unveiling the book, its Executive Director Mr. Harris Chuma said Obiano’s achievements within three years has surpassed the claimed achievements of previous administrations.

    He said: “It is hard to overstate Governor Obiano’s popularity in Anambra; the state under his watch has witnessed true rebirth.”

    Chuma said Obiano’s stock of achievements had remained undimmed through the course of his administration.

    Chuma added: “`His second term bid will highlight the changing dynamics of the relationship between the state and rest of the country. Anambra has been saddled with the task of improving the economic fortunes of the state; certainly Anambra is set for prominence in Nigeria.”

    Chuma described Anambra as a state of investment, adding: “Anambra under Willie Obiano is globally progressive; it has 21st-century connectivity and an impressive pool of human capital.

    “This is a view echoed by millions of discernible people of the state. As we march toward the ongoing election campaigns, let’s be cautious of our choices. Let’s be mindful of the choices we make. We should elect to stand on the side of truth. We should not endorse the choices made by questionable characters, who claim that Anambra is their personal estate.”

    He, however, urged Anambra people to ensure their maximum support to the governor to solidify his (governor’s) blueprint for the state.

    The author, Emedolibe, said ‘Portrait of Performance’, highlighted the reality that the administration had deployed its energy toward some enabling projects, with an ultimate aim of improving the economy of the state for the general well-being of the people.

    He said: “The issue of paying salaries promptly, this has a direct effect of keeping afloat the local economy, considering the fact that the workers at all levels will still spend the money in Anambra to reflate the system.”

  • Universal Music Group comes to Nigeria

    Global music-based entertainment company, Universal Music Group (UMG), is set to officially launch its operations in Nigeria.

    According to sources, the Nigeria operations will be headed by local music industry professionals; Ezegozie Eze, a seasoned music business expert, a manager and A&R professional, Lanre Elbama Onipede formerly of MTV base, Betty Anthony, Bayo Fatoba, as well as Kimani Moore who will lead the A&R efforts of the group.

    The team recently visited South Africa for meetings. They are the first team to be assigned and sources revealed that more will also be recruited in the coming months.

    UMG is rated as the world largest recording company, boasting about 20 record labels, including capitol records, interscope Geffen A&M Records, Island Def Jam, Motown Records, UMG Nashville, and Verve Music Group. It parades popular artists like Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Sting, and Kanye West, among others.

    UMG owns the largest catalog of recorded music in the world. Its universal music publishing group is the world’s largest music publishing house with more than a million copyrights under control.