The Nation Newspaper

Tag: group

  • Group unveils farmers’ data platform

    A GROUP of researchers, the OpenFarm Network, composed of Information Communication Technology (ICT), has created an online information services platform for smallholder farmers.

    It plans to integrate agricultural research data using ICT tools and techniques to produce platforms to analyse large quantities of open data on farming.

    Its Executive Director, Mr. Segun Ogunwale   said the  data platform will use data to improve farmers’ lot.

    He said the platform will promote  knowledge and information in developing farming practices, increasing output and as such, improve livelihoods.

    Ogunwale said the group will deploy complementary technological strengths  to  enhance productivity, promote agro trade and investment and tackle shared challenges.

    He said the network equips agribusiness owners and other players in the sector with data and insights to make well-informed decisions.

    The OpenFarm Team emerged the winner of synergos’ hackathon to develop a state-level dashboard for agriculture. The British Council also recognised OpenFarm as one of the  top 20 youth-led enterprises in 2016.

     

  • Group hails Kwara polls

    Group known as Coalition of Civil Society for Peaceful Election in Kwara State (CCSPEKS) has hailed people of the state for their peaceful conduct during the last Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The group also applauded Kwarans for massively turning out to exercise their civic rights.

    In a statement, CCSPEKS, Team Leader Musa Aliyu said, “This clearly indicates that democracy is really growing in the state. We want to implore people to guide against act that may lead to post-election tension.

    “We want political parties to warn their supporters against overzealous celebrations that may trigger acrimony in the state.

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    “Also, we want all contestants at the poll to see the outcome as people will and see it as their own sacrifice to ensure development of Kwara State.

    “At CCSPEKS, we shall continue to hold elected leaders accountable to the people so that their wills shall prevail.”

  • Group cautions youths against depression, suicide

    A Non-governmental organisation, Mind and Soul Helpers Initiative (MASHI), has cautioned youths against depression and suicide.

    The caution was made when the NGO held a lecture at CMS Boys Grammar School in Bariga, Lagos. The theme was, “Addressing depression and suicide among adolescents”.

    MASHI Founder and Convener Prof. Hope Eghagha, who is also an alumnus of the school, noted that the lecture was crucial due to the rate of suicide being committed in the country.

    According to him, suicide is not the solution to the many problems faced by youths. He urged them never to see committing suicide as an option for any problem they may be going through, be it in the school, home or other places. He also advised them never to let depression set in, and if already set in, they should end it.

    According to him, failing an exam or relationship breakups could lead to depression and suicide.

    He urged schools to enforce rules that are against bullying, adding that the youths should always talk to the school authorities’ other people in position of authority if they have any problem rather than keeping such problems to themselves.

    The Guest Lecturer, a Clinical Psychologist at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Ibiyokun Olawale,  described depression as a mental illness that affect the mind and thoughts, makes one feels loss of interest in activities and develops negative thinking which can lead to suicide.

    He identified the symptoms of adolescent depression to include chemical abuse, loss of interest in pleasurable activities and frequent complains.

    According to him, school symptoms of adolescent depression include withdrawal from school, problems with authority, restlessness and agitation.

    “Treatments to the problems listed above include, assessment, medication and psychotherapy among others,” he said.

  • Group empowers refugees and widows

    Determined to bring smiles to the faces of widows and refugees in Nigeria, the Belinda Babila Foundation (BBF) is wrapping up plans to make a difference this year.

    The organisation has therefore decided to touch the lives of targets identified as part of the activities slated for its 2018 Women’s Day celebration.

    According to Babila, the organisation has identified and done a needs assessment to make sure that the lives of the targets are impacted well. Plans are therefore in top gear for a health outreach and empowerment visitation to refugee camps in Nigeria next month.  “In line with the upcoming Women’s Day, we are wrapping up plans to celebrate with the women at refugee camps in Nigeria and provide basic food Items to them. We also want to buy about 500 chairs for the Children’s Church. The children currently attend church service and school on the floor.”

    Babila added that that during her last visit in December of 2018, her NGO did a needs analysis of the refugees in order to empower them.  “The needs of the refugees are numerous.”

    She spoke extensively about her organisation’s long-term plan for the future. “We have decided to set up an ITC training centre, tailoring workshop, acquire sewing machines for them and hold a soap making workshop, among others. The objective is to empower them.”

     

  • Group to sue WAEC official for allegedly slapping pupil

    The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit, said yesterday that it would sue an official of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), for allegedly slapping a pupil for refusing to remove her hijab during registration.

    Its Amirah (Female President), Hajia Basheerah Majekodunmi, who spoke to reporters during a briefing in Lagos to mark the World Hijab Day, condemned the incessant harassment and molestation of pupils in hijab.

    This, she said, had subjected some of them to emotional trauma.

    Majekodunmi said: “In the hands of government officials, especially teachers in public schools, our members are regular victims of physical and verbal assaults. The recent one being the slapping of a pupil at Ikosi High School, Lagos by an official of West African Examination Council (WAEC) for refusing to remove her hijab during registration.

    “WAEC authority has said that hijab did not affect registration of pupils. Why would an official of the examination body do such a thing? He was sent to register pupils and not to assault them. He will surely meet us in court.

    “Other hijab assault cases abound in  Agbede Community Grammar School,  Yewa Grammar School in Ikorodu and Iba Estate Senior High School in Ojo. We met the authorities of these schools and they apologised.”

    She lamented that despite the circular issued by the Lagos State Government and the judgment of the Appeal Court favouring the use of hijab, female Muslim pupils are still facing tough times in and outside the school premises.

    “When the Lagos State Government issued the circular, we thought relief had come, but it is utterly unfortunate that some school authorities and deviant teachers are working against the circular.

     

  • Group unveils campaign strategy for Sanwo-Olu

    A group, Street Voices, has introduced a new campaign strategy for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos State candidate, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu (BOS).

    Tagged ‘BOS Your Street,’ the initiative is house-to-house street campaign.

    According to Street Voices, BOS Your Street is meant to take campaign messages to those that are scared of coming to campaign rallies.

    The group was at the Aguda, Bode Thomas and Bab Animashaun areas of Surulere on Sunday. Another set stormed Amuwo-Odofin, Egbeda, Festac, Abesan Estate in Iyana-Ipaja, Ajegunle, Lekki, Ikoyi, and Obalende.

    According to Rasaq Ivori, a Communications Strategist, Street Voices is a concept that has a reminiscent of a Voicebank, which collects voices of concerned individuals on several issues affecting their communities.

    The voices, he said, would be kept until Babajide Sanwo-Olu assumed office as the state governor.

    The voice owners will form the audience that would engage the governor in a Town Hall Meeting.

    At Aguda where The Nation monitored the group’s activities, residents gave them a warm reception.

    Campaign fliers and Sanwo-Olu’s branded gifts were distributed to the residents.

    Ivori said those who were undecided about who to vote for due to their inability to He said: “BOS Your Street means trying to attract those voters who never come out to campaign ground, who see campaign ground as a violent place where people fight, shoot gun. A lot of well-meaning people, working class, students, run away from campaign ground because of violence, they are always indoor until the final hours, So Sanwo-Olu decided through ‘BOS Your Streets’ to cater for such people.

    “BOS Your Street started with adverts on online platforms, Facebook, twitter where they said if you wish to campaign for Sanwo-Olu in your street, all you need to do is to retweet messages shared about Sanwo-Olu by individuals on their handles and walls with their pictures #BOSYOURSTREET and you will be provided with brand items you need to campaign with.

    “We reacted to over 7,000 retweets and request for brand items from the people.  We gave them the t-shirts and campaign posters. The requests are going on. The more these people pose pictures and their friends see them, the more others want their streets to be BOSed.”

    The initiative, he said, is becoming a street slang “where young people asking each other, ‘have you BOSed your street?’ The idea is that Sanwo-Olu is coming with a beneficial package once he gets in.”

  • Group seeks synergy among entertainers

    A group, Africa Entertainment Network (AEN), has called for unity, synergy and networking among entertainers and business professionals. The group,  a growing platform for entertainers, made the call during the unveiling of its social networking website, www. africaentertainmentnetwork.com at the Centre for International and Professional Studies, CIAPS, Ikeja, Lagos.

    According to its President, Mr Emdee David Makezela, the website will enable every artiste to have a unique profile page where they can promote their work for other entertainers and business people or investors to see. “The pages will also be promoted by AEN for global reach” he said.

    The event was an opportunity for AEN to explain to the world what the group has done and what it plans to do. Present at the event were Nollywood actors, producers and directors. They included Tony Akposheri (Zacky of the rested TV drama, The New Masquerade); Jude Chukwuka; Stella Idika; reggae icon, Righteousman; producers and hosts of GOGE AFICA, Isaac and Nneka Moses; and the Center Director of CIAPS Lagos, Prof. Anthony Kila, among others.

    “It is of utmost importance for African artistes to be united and network together, using the digital platform which ensures a profitable synergy. There is nothing like collective efforts: synergy would help artistes to accomplish great things together,” Makezela said.

    With a mind of building a network of all the elements of entertainment in Africa and other nations of the world, he said AEN was established to meet the need of  unorganised practitioners, which has deprived many talented artists of achieving their professional goals and the privileges they could get collectively from government and corporate organisations.

    Makezela said: “We want entertainers to be entrepreneurs through our AEN ventures. AEN now has business ventures, which include AEN Music, AEN Fashion line, and movie production outfit. It’s the entertainment platform, which comprises practitioners in all genre, e.g., actors, musicians, models, writers, OAPs, directors, producers, marketers, media practitioners, etc.

    “We will hope to discover, groom, promote and market creative talents and ideas, giving everyone an opportunity to be economically empowered and professionally progressive AEN has grown in the past eight years of its existence to have branches in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Edo/Delta and also in Ghana, Finland, South Africa, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States(US). We synergise among ourselves, promote ourselves and our businesses, careers, events, etc. It is a forum to also educate ourselves on different subjects, culture, health, entertainment, events, history, and entrepreneurship. “

    He said AEN also seeks to collaborate with health, financial, and international institutions to provide health and life insurance for projects, travel and tour privileges for practitioners, who choose to be part of the network. “Our mission is to build the biggest, vibrant, and profitable network of African entertainers and business professionals where all genres of arts and entertainment in Africa are brought under one umbrella and provided with care, privileges and opportunities to become professionals and successful in their chosen careers to connect talents with resources.”

    Prof  Kila, a professor of strategy and development and CIAPS Centre Director, who gave the opening remark at event, described AEN’s vision as “noble”. While warning that although such vision may witness lots of challenges, including funding and people’s attitudes, he advised the group to have proper planning and management of talents to surmount such huddles.

    The legendary reggae musician, Righteousman, said he would be part of the initiative to groom and promote young artistes.

    Isaac and Nneka Moses also agreed that such platform was long overdue as individual efforts have not led them far. They both agreed to provide opportunities for young and new talented presenters to co-present their Goge Africa show from any part of the world they are based.

    Akposhere, who has been a member of AEN for over five years, said he believed the platform will grow to become the largest single body for entertainers in the world where artistes will be treated with such care and respect and assisted to realise their dreams. He said up and coming musicians, actors, models and producers need to tap into the vision of this networking platform.

    The group’s president said AEN was also preaching peace and unity among African nations, adding that it was the reason it embarked on the Africa Unity Tour to Ghana in November last year. “We are planning another Unity Tour to South Africa this year. This is an effort to make artists talk against xenophobic tendencies witnessed in some African countries.  AEN is seeking for support from ECOWAS, African Union and other diplomatic bodies to enable it reach as many nations as possible so that Africa can truly be united. Entertainment is a good platform to realise this. Entertainers are influencers, once they get the message and spread it, it goes wider and faster,” Makezela said.

  • Kwara: Group lauds Gobir’s appointment into presidential campaign team

    A sociopolitical group, Gobir Organisation, has congratulated an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Kwara State, Waziri Yakubu Gobir, on his appointment as the patron of Presidential Support Committee of the party. Gobir was a gubernatorial aspirant of the APC in last year’s primary election of the party. The group in a press statement released by its media office and made available to newsmen in Ilorin, the state capital, yesterday described the appointment as well deserved.

    The group commended the committee members for deeming Gobir fit to serve as the patron. It noted that Gobir’s appointment was in recognition of his passion, patriotism and contribution to President Buhari’s re-election bid. “The appointment of our principal will help in no mean way to galvanise more support for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari. Waziri Gobir has over the years displayed uncommon commitment to the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “We deemed it necessary to identify with Gobir on his appointment because he is a true loyal party man and he believes so much in the cause of President Muhammadu Buhari. We believe this will be a catalyst to encourage him to do more. He has committed himself to donating utility vehicles to the re-election campaign of President Muhammadu Buhari. He will be doing something novel in the coming weeks in our state,” the statement reads.

  • Group joins campaign for Buhari’s re-election

    Build The Future (BTF), an independent advocacy group, is queuing behind President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office.

    The decision, according to BTF chairman, Mr. Ade Thomas, is based on its passion to make things happen in Nigeria as it “believes in progress and development of the nation by the youth, supporting them through empowerment and making them catalysts of change in a participatory democracy.”

    It added: “The greatest asset of our nation is her young people and the power in their hands, Build the Future also knows that empowering the youth is one of the greatest tools in building the future of the nation.”

    It said its vision is to “Be the voice that advocates for the progress, empowerment and development of Nigeria through her most priced asset which is her young people, Build the Future also has the mission to contribute towards Nigeria’s sustainable and incremental growth through responsible citizenship and a participatory democracy.”

  • Oyo poll: Group urges voters to vote wisely

    Two months to the governorship election in Oyo State, a socio-political group the Oyo K’ajola Group (OKG), has urged voters to vote wisely.

    The group said Oyo State will be better, if men of vision are elected.

    The group, in a statement in Ibadan, the state capital, said in the  19 years of civilian rule, the state has not witnessed monumental progress, in terms of physical development. It said: “its people have been left behind in terms of economic prosperity and well-being,” noting that that trend must be reversed.

    The group said people must look beyond sloganeering to elect a candidate “with no selfish interest or an incorporated political company within or outside the state.

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    It added: “More than ever before in the 42 years history of Oyo State, the processes that will produce the next governor of the state cannot be left to the whims and caprices of politicians, so that they will not hijack the processes like they always do and keep our collective poverty in perpetuity.

    “It is time for all well-meaning people of the state to get involved by electing an individual with no selfish interest or an incorporated political company; it is high time Oyo voters say: K’ajola, k’a jolowo (together, we prosper).”

    Flaying the self-centeredness of some governors, which saw their families and few cronies amassing wealth, the group urged the electorate to take action by looking in the direction of a governorship candidate with concrete plans for wealth creation, equitable distribution, an all-inclusive programme for shared economic prosperity and creation of enabling environment for residents’ prosperity.

    The group maintained that though the high numbers of governorship candidates had made the political situation of the state complex, the voters must rise above primordial tendencies and distill the campaign promises of the candidates with a view to making a decision that would be in their interest and that of the state.

    It stressed: “The 2019 election provides the Oyo voters with an opportunity to end the personal and crinies enrichment policies of the last eight years and vote in a governor who possesses a track record of doing good and empowering the less-privileged. It is time to hand over the keys to Agodi Government House to a governor whose focus is the collective prosperity of Oyo State people. It is time to say “K’a jola , ka jo lowo !” (shared prosperity),” the statement added.