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Tag: inaugurates

  • Mimiko inaugurates N1.6b Shoprite Mall’s construction

    Mimiko inaugurates N1.6b Shoprite Mall’s construction

    Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko has inaugurated the construction of a N1.651 billion Shoprite Shopping mall and car park under the Public Private Partnership (PPP).

    The projects scheduled to be completed in 15 months, are located within the state-owned Owena Motels, Akure and close to the state’s multibillion naira event centre popularly called ‘Dome’ project.

    Mimiko at the ceremony attended by top government officials, proprietors of the company, traditional rulers and other stakeholders, said the concept is to transform Akure into a Modern Retail Shopping City and an entertainment hub for the state and its environ.

    He said while in the process, the project would create job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths and graduates, and also for farmers and artisans which would therefore boost revenue generation for the state.

    “Having this shopping mall here will make it easier for retail businesses in our state to thrive, expand and discourage adulteration as well as excessive spending on transportation and storage. This project has the capacity to serve as a true beacon of hope for everyone in Ondo State and it deserves to succeed. I am confident that with Top Services Nigeria Limited on board, our collective responsibilities will be met and our collective aspirations achieved,” he said.

    The governor said the project when completed, would not only ensure the steady supply of genuine and affordable goods and services, but would also make Akure a commercial hub.

  • Presidency inaugurates committee on Jonathan support groups

    Presidency inaugurates committee on Jonathan support groups

    The Presidency inaugurated yesterday an 11-members committee to coordinate the various groups drumming support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 re-election bid.

    The President’s Political Adviser, Prof. Rufai Alkali, who inaugurated the committee, said the panel was to streamline the organisation and structures of the groups.

    Alkali said: “As 2015 approaches, we note that the circumstances and fundamentals facing us are somewhat different. The opposition is different: the political landscape is different, the players are different and the issues are different.

    “Therefore, to succeed in 2015, there is a great need to re-appraise our strategies and the structures of the umbrella organisation of the Goodluck Support Group (GSG), which helped us to victory in 2011.

    “To address these issues, the reorganisation of the GSG has become imperative. I have, therefore, decided to set up a special GSG re-organisation committee to study all issues concerning the organisation and propose a reorganisation structure that will allow us position for 2015.”

    The President’s aide urged the various Jonathan support groups  to register in the six zonal offices set up by his office.

    Alkali said: “The exercise will enable us to properly understand these organisations and their objectives so that we can prepare to partner, coordinate and work with them to achieve victory in 2015.

    “This screening and evaluation will be conducted by my workers, in collaboration with our state chairmen and other stakeholders and will be supervised by my Senior Special Assistant on campaign groups.”

    The committee is chaired by Gen. Ahmed Ibrahim.

    Other members are: Chief Olusola Oke, Nick Eze, William Makinde, Mohammed El-Amin and Senator Nimi Amnage.

    Others are: Alhaji Lamido Chikaire, Prof. Tony Edoh, Hajia Barakat Sani, Godson Nnaka and A. Y. Ahmed.

    The committee was given 10 days  to submit its report.

  • Oyo inaugurates 33 patrol vans

    Oyo inaugurates 33 patrol vans

    Oyo State has assured that all necessary precautionary measures has been put in place to ensure that the peace currently being enjoyed in the state is not truncated.

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi gave the assurance while speaking at the presentation of 33 patrol vehicles to security agencies in the state.

    The patrol vehicles were distributed among the state security outfit, Operation Burst, the Police, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and the Prison Service.

    Ajimobi said no stone would be left unturned to ensure peaceful and violent-free elections next year.

    “You know that when elections draw near like this, some people may tend to be violent. But in Oyo State, we have been able to keep peace and tranquility, and I want to assure the people of the state that this trend will continue.

    “We have bought these vehicles to augment the several vehicles we had earlier procured. We have also purchased other auxiliary items in order to maintain peace in Oyo State. We are fully prepared and the people of the state are also prepared,’’ he said.

  • AfDB inaugurates N5.6b public financial mgt project

    AfDB inaugurates N5.6b public financial mgt project

    The African Development Bank (AfDB) has launched a  $35 million (N5.66 billion) public financial and macroeconomic management capacity-building project approved by the bank’s board last December.

    The inauguration came at a workshop held in Khartoum, Sudan, presided over by the State Minister of Finance and National Economy, Magdi Yasin, and attended by high government officials from the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, Central Bank of Sudan, Taxation Chamber, Khartoum Stock Exchange, and Customs Authorities.

    The AfDB was represented by  the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Sudan Field Office,  Suwareh Darbo, who presented a speech at the opening ceremony on behalf of the Resident Representative.

    In a statement, the bank said that the workshop was also attended by its staff, including  the Project Task Manager, Camille Karamaga, Financial Analyst, Tadesse Melaku and the Head, Procurement, Asaye Adal Fasil.

    The project’s overarching objective is to build and enhance transparency, accountability and efficiency in the use of public resources, macroeconomic policy and debt management through institutional strengthening and capacity building.

    In his opening remarks at the workshop, the State Minister, commended the Bank’s continuous support for Sudan and promised to provide the utmost support to the project’s team to effectively implement, what he termed, “this important project.”

    The State Minister further underscored that this project is essential for better management of public resources in the overall context of the government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. For his side, the OIC of the Sudan Field Office, underscored the fact that the realisation of the project bears is a concrete testimony to both the bank’s and the Government’s commitment to financial governance, which is critical for the country to realise its development aspirations.

    The OIC also emphasized the project’s alignment with the pillars of the Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (I-PRSP) and the National Development Plan (2012 to 2016), both of which strengthen governance and institutional capacity in the public sector.

     

     

  • Fidelity Bank inaugurates Save-for-Scholarship promo

    Fidelity Bank inaugurates Save-for-Scholarship promo

    Fidelity Bank Plc inaugurated a save for scholarship promo targeted at seeing underprivileged Nigerians acquire education to enhance their lives.

    The Managing Director/CEO, Nnamdi Okonkwo, who made this known at a briefing in Lagos, said, the Save-for-Scholarship  promo will enable 200 winners emerge overall, while 33 persons will get scholarship on monthly basis till January 2015.

    He said 16 persons are expected to get scholarship of N2 million each, while 46 others will get N1 million each in a monthly draw to be held across the branches.

    The scholarship is payable over five years, but can be converted to cash as it is open to both new and existing customers of the bank.

    Okonkwo said the need to get more  Nigerians educated triggered the initiative adding that all facets of education is involved, from creche, primary, secondary, university and skills acquisition programmes are involved. He said the exercise also encourages savings culture among citizenry.

    Commenting on the promo, the executive director, shared services, Mrs Chijioke Ugochukwu, said the promo became necessary as more people become interested in acquiring quality education and skills that will enhance their status in the society.

    Ugochukwu said the bank has made necessary arrangements to ensure that the promo becomes a success adding that it will also help in addressing the notion that education is for the elite because of the high cost of acquiring quality education.

    On the eligibility to partake in the promo, the head, savings group and promo manager, Mrs Janet Nnabuko, said old customers should top up their accounts with N10,000 per month while new customers can participate by opening a savings account with N20,000 and maintaining that amount throughout the month.

  • Lagos inaugurates planning, budget committee

    Lagos inaugurates planning, budget committee

    The Lagos State Government yesterday inaugurated a Joint Planning and Budget Finance Management Committee to improve the synergy between the state and the local governments in the state.

    In a statement, the government said the action would help in the implementation of the Lagos State Development Plan (LSDP 2012 to 2025).

    At the inauguration, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Ben Akabueze, noted that going forward the development plans of the various Local Governments (LGs) / Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) would be designed in consonance with the State Development Plan as it affects them. This, it added, would remove the risk of working at cross – purposes or duplication of efforts on a project which often leads to waste of human and material resources  and sometimes conflict.

    He said that a development plan predicated on proper study of the genuine needs of the people will ensure value for money and make impact of government felt at the third tier of government that is closest to the masses.

    Akabueze said the terms of reference of the committee are to upscale planning reform process at the LGs/LGDAs;  ensure that development plans are in conformity with the State’s vision through the writing process that will be used by the LGs/LCDAs; formulate the structure and co-ordinate functions of the Local Government Planning Team (LGPTs) for each of the LGs/LGDAs;  ensure the Local Government Teams (LGPTs) are formed and functional in all the LGs/LGDAs and to provide technical support for the implementation and institutionalization of the planning reforms process.

    A Technical Working Group (TWG) that will work on detailed strategies that will ensure a successful transformation of the planning process at the LGs/LGDAs level was also inaugurated. It is to be technically responsible for the implementation of writing the Local Government Development Plan (LGDP), The Medium Term Plans and develop the annual budget for each LGA/LCDA across the state.

  • Oyo APC inaugurates exco tomorrow

    The newly elected State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State will be inaugurated tomorrow.

    According to a statement by APC Publicity Secretary Mr. Dauda Kolawole, the ceremony will hold at the party’s Southwest Zonal Secretariat in Alakia, Ibadan.

  • GTBank inaugurates SME Market Hub

    GTBank inaugurates SME Market Hub

    Guaranty Trust Bank has launched the SME Market Hub, an e-commerce portal that enables business owners buy, sell, list and connect to themselves.

    The product, which also serves as e-commerce and business directory panel, is part of the bank’s strategy to support Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMSE’s) and contribute to the growth and development of the economy.

    The bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Segun Agbaje, said the platform is open to all businesses operated by SME’s in the country and can be operated anywhere in the world.

    “Economic conditions remain challenging for SME operators and it is vital that this sector gets all the support it needs to drive growth and development,” he said.

    He said the speed, efficiency and convenience with which transactions can be completed are distinct advantages that e-commerce has over traditional means of doing business.

    “With the introduction of the SME MarketHub, the bank has provided SME’s an e-commerce platform that allows operators create and maintain an online presence and expand their business frontiers to new markets and millions of buyers that are online”, he added.

    Explaining the need of the platform, the bank’s Group Head, Corporate Communications, Mrs Lola Odedina, said the platform will be sustained as e-commerce for business, adding that the platform has attracted over 5,200 operators.

  • Oshiomhole inaugurates 300 cabs

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole inaugurated yesterday 300 “Comrade Cabs” purchased by the government for use by former motorcyclists.

    This is to cushion the effect of last year’s ban on commercial motorcyclists.

    He thereafter drove one of the cabs, round Benin City, the state capital, picking passengers and dropping them at their destinations.

    Speaking at the commissioning, Oshiomhole said it was tough banning the use of commercial motorcycles in the state capital.

    His words: “I found myself taking a tough decision after repeatedly assuring motorcyclists that there will be no  ban  and when I said that, I meant it.

    “It was a choice between what was politically convenient and what was in the best interest of the public.”

    Oshiomhole said in providing the taxis, “government gave 15 per cent subsidy and the subsidy is a  grant that we are giving to each of the beneficiary. We are not expecting you to pay back to the government of Edo State”.

     

  • Rotary inaugurates polio house, mobile billboards

    A former Rotary International’s President and Chairman of The Rotary Foundation Trustee, Mr Dung Kun Lee, has said Nigeria is among the polio endemic countries in the world though with few recorded cases.

    He said following the concerted efforts to rid the country of the disease, the nation might not be too far from becoming polio-free.

    Lee spoke at the weekend when he inaugurated the Polio House in Ikeja, the Lagos Rotary Club head office, and some mobile billboards on the disease.

    This was to spread the campaign for the eradication of the disease across the globe, beginning from Nigeria, to other West African countries.

    The chairman of the Nigerian National Poplioplus Commission (NNPPC), Dr Tunji Funsho, who led the inauguration of 15 of the billboard trucks, told reporters that the materials were part of Rotary’s tools to fight polio.

    The buildings were refurbished to provide space for workers and volunteers of Rotary to enable them coordinate the eradication of the disease.

    The building, which cost N10 million, was completed in eight months.

    The building would serve as a legacy structure which would be preserved after the eradication of polio as a memoir and archive on the disease.

    Dr Funsho said: “The trucks will go the North, South and all the nooks and crannies of the country and other West African countries to spread the message.

    “There was a time we were having over 2,000 cases in the country. As of last year, the number reduced to 63 cases. One case of polio is one case too much. So, until we get that last child immunised and protect them against polio, our job is not done.

    “So far this year, we have had only one case of polio in Kano State. We are hopeful that this year, we will see the last case of polio.”

    The agency chief noted that the advocacy would encourage parents to immunise their children against the polio virus.