The Nation Newspaper

Tag: India

  • Japan, India sign civilian nuclear accord

    Japan and India on Friday signed a civilian nuclear accord to open the door for Tokyo to supply New Delhi with fuel, equipment and technology for nuclear power production.

    India looks to atomic energy to sustain its rapid economic growth.

    It was the first time Japan, the only country to have suffered a nuclear attack, concluded such a pact with a country that is not signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT).

    The accord stipulates that nuclear fuel and equipment provided can only be used for peaceful purposes.

    A separate document signed alongside the nuclear agreement has a clause allowing Japan to terminate the pact if India conducts a nuclear test.

    Friday’s accord was signed after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s meeting with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi.

    India says the NPT is discriminatory and it has concerns about nuclear-armed China as well as its long-time nuclear-armed rival, Pakistan.

    India is in advanced negotiations with U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric, owned by Japan’s Toshiba Corp, to build six nuclear reactors in southern India.

    This is part of New Delhi’s plan to ramp up nuclear capacity more than ten times by 2032.

    Japanese nuclear plant makers such as Toshiba and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd, it is crucial to expand their business overseas as the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster chilled domestic demand for nuclear plants.

    The nuclear agreement with Japan follows a similar one with the United States in 2008 which gave India access to nuclear technology after decades of isolation.

    That step was seen as the first big move to build India into a regional counterweight to China.

    Modi earlier on Friday praised the “growing convergence” of views between his nation and Japan, saying strong ties will enable them to play a role in Asia and the world.

  • Hospital staff arrested for stealing babies for illegal adoption

    Indian police on Sunday said six hospital staff arrested on Friday for stealing babies and young children had been charged for selling them to childless couples in illegal adoption racket.

    Investigating officer, Ravi Channannavar, said in Chennai that the three men and three women, arrested in southern India, were part of a bigger, organised gang involved in trafficking children.

    The suspects worked as nurses and laboratory technicians at five private hospitals and a government-run hospital in Mysuru city.

    Channannavar said that the gang targeted poor couples coming to the hospitals to deliver or get an abortion, in which case they convinced them to deliver the child.

    He said that they sell the children soon after stealing them.

    “In other cases, the gang would steal children from beggars on the streets and sell them for 200,000 rupees ($2,995) in cities like Bengaluru,’’ he said.

    Channannavar said investigations had revealed that the group had sold at least 15 children to different childless couples.

    “We have rescued three children so far and are looking for the others. There may be many more.

    “Statements by the arrested gang members indicate the involvement of a doctor as well,’’ he said.

    Channannavar said the six were arrested following a lengthy investigation triggered in April when police received a complaint from a woman who said her two-year-old son had been snatched off the street.

    The officer confirmed that crime data released by government in August showed more than 40 per cent of human trafficking cases in 2015 involved children bought, sold and exploited as modern day slaves.

    Paul Sundar, Singh of non-profit Karunalaya, which runs a centre for street children in Chennai, described the case as one of the few that had come to light.

    He stressed that there were many more unreported cases.

    Sundar described stealing children as a big organised crime that police were still struggling to clamp down on across the country.

    He pointed out that cases of young children stolen from the pavements of Chennai city earlier the year were still unsolved. (Reuters/NAN)

  • Nigerian girl breaks sports record in India University

    Nigerian girl breaks sports record in India University

    A Nigerian girl, Esther Ruby Daniel, has become the number one athlete in the Amity University, Haryana, India.

    The 17 years old 200 level student, who hails from Akwa Ibom State, has won various medals in different sporting events in the University.

    In her first month in the University, she won silver medal during All Indian Law Student University Game.

    For this year alone, she won Gold medal in singing in February, Gold medal in 200 meters on the 5th October, 2016, Silver medal in long jump on 6th October and Gold medal in 100 meters on the 14th of October, 2016.

    While she won golden cup in her final game on the 18th of October, 2016, she won bronze medal for the university on the 21st of October in 100 meters during a competition with other universities.

    The student’s father, Rev. Daniel Thomas, in a statement issued in Abuja, said: “Esther Ruby Daniel is now a pride to Amity University, pride to Nigeria and a pride to Africa.

    “Indian National newspapers published her performance on 28th October, 2016. She is now the best track haven won 1 bronze, 2 silvers, 2 golds and a golden cup and many sports certificates in one month.

    “She has promised to make Nigeria proud before her graduation.” He added

    He also appealed to state and Federal Government for scholarship that will make her achieve her dream in the law .

  • National Robot Olympiad, three winners for India global contest

    Two public and one private schools would be heading for the World Robots Olympiad in India having emerged winners of the National Robot Olympiad competition.

    Imperial Gate School Lekki, Lagos, emerged first in the elementary Category, Model College, Meiran Lagos dusted others in the junior category, while Surrogate Achievers clinched the crown to wrap up the junior category.

    Expressing her joy on Saturday at  Oriental Hotel Lekki venue of the event , representative of Imperial Gate School Sandra Umeh who won at the open category scoring an astounding 200 over 300, expressed her excitement in victory.

    Sharing her experience, Umeh said robotics challenges an individual’s creativity, constant thinking and practice to achieve success.

    Meanwhile, Mr Bayo Biyeye, the Director of Science and Technology, Lagos State Ministry of Education praised the Lagos State government for showing enthusiasm in robotics.

    Biyeye, who described the exercise as laudable, noted that the competition has enjoyed government support over the last five years.

    He said: “The state government has also provided Leego kits for our schools. We want to make sure that the schools have the kits so that the children can practice.

    “It is a good programme and an application of Information Communication Technology,” he said.

    Head, Infant School Meadow Hall School, Lekki, LagosMrs Bisola Obasanya said robotics promotes science, technology, engineering and mathematics among children.

    Obasanya said about 22,000 particpants globally from across public and private primary, secondary and tertiary institutions feature in the completion before arriving at the qualifier.

    She said robotics had made children to be creative and think out of the box.

    “Kids like it (robotics) a lot, it is not like the normal regular boring school work.

    “Whenever they are on their own, it looks as if they were playing with toys but they are learning in actual sense.

    “Kids love Leego education, children learn through it; it is a different way of teaching,” she added.

    She, however, praised the Lagos state government for the support given to robotics or Leego education in the state.

    Prior to the grand finale, competitions were held across states and regional levels nationwide which eventually climaxed in the 48 finalists that competed for the crown at the sixth edition of National Robotics Olympiad qualifier.

     

  • Nigeria, India sign MoU on trade, investment

    Nigeria, India sign MoU on trade, investment

    The Federal Government and India on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen trade and investments and exchanged letters of intent on bilateral relations.

    The event, which took place at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during a bilateral meeting, was witnessed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and his Indian counterpart, Mr Mohammad Hamid Ansari.

    Osinbajo in a remark called for urgent establishment of a joint technical commission to facilitate the partnership between Nigeria and India.

    He recalled that ties between Nigeria and India over the years had been very stable and called for strengthening of the relationships in regional and international affairs.

    According to him, Nigeria looks up to India in various ways as it has shown leadership in technology, agriculture and information technology.

    He described the meeting with the Indian delegation as very useful and expressed the hope that both countries would derive mutual benefits from the MoU.

    Earlier, Ansari had said he was impressed by Nigeria’s vision for bilateral relationship, feeling for India and its expectations for the partnership.

    According to the Indian VP, the friendship and faith of both countries is a source of great pride and strength for the partnership.

    He said that “listening to you has strengthened my conviction that our partnership is natural because our destinies are so inter-linked and our aspirations and challenges are similar.

    “I am confident that our deliberation today will make our partnership more effective.”

    Ansari added that India and Nigeria were strategic partners.

    He said it was important that both countries continued to engage in new ideas and concrete proposals to elevate them to the next high level.

    Ansari, who would be visiting the commercial city of Lagos during his tour, said he looked forward to the visit, where he would have the opportunity to address the students of University of Lagos.

    The visiting vice president expressed appreciation to the Federal Government “for the excellent preparations made for the visit of the Indian delegation.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that discussions at the bilateral meeting focused on economic relations, peace and security, consular matters, as well as regional and international issues.

    The MoU was signed by Nigeria’s Minster of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Aisha Abubakar, and her Indian counterpart, Mr Gangaram Meghwal.

    The letter of intent was exchanged between the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria.

  • Lagos 2015 baby of the year survives another heart surgery

    The 2015 Baby of the Year in Lagos State, Miss Oluwajomiloju Goodness Ogundimu has returned from India after undergoing another successfully heart surgery.

    Ogundimu, who was diagnosed with a heart defect at birth, had lost her mother Sherifat, a chartered accountant to the cold hands of death four minutes after her delivery.

    Her grandmother, Alhaja Afolake Ogunnoiki, who has been caring for her, was with her on Tuesday in Alausa to thank the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode for also sponsoring the child to India for the second time to undergo the surgery.

    “We were in India, where we were referred to for an operation. Before we could not go for the second operation, the child (Oluwajomiloju) was not doing well like in the past. If she eats, she would vomit. I spent all I had on various medical tests.

    “I discovered that she was not growing and developing normally. After one year, I was praying fervently to God not to allow our father, Governor Ambode forget us. Then I got a call that we were going to India for an operation, it was like I won a lottery because I had nobody except God.

    “In India, we were supposed to spend only three (3) days, we discovered that the child had developed tissue again, which is another hole in the heart. I became so perplexed because I don’t know anybody in India, but I was assured by the doctors there.

    “But I am amazed and full of thanks because as the Governor was called, he gave his approval within 24hours for the operation to be undertaken. We were there for eight days.

    Ogunnoiki, was full of thanks to the Governor for picking interest in her granddaughter’s challenges.

    “I am just a child of an ordinary farmer. I am not a politician, I don’t know both Governor Ambode and his wife personally. I have never met them personally; I have only seen them in photographs on papers and television screens.”

    She said the child will be due for another surgery in August next year saying that the doctors have assured that it would be the last operation to finally correct the heart defect.

    “I am appealing to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode because that would be the third and final operation. I saw others who also came and had theirs.

    “The child was named Oluwajomiloju from when she was six months old in the womb by her late mother. She is Governor Ambode and Mrs. Ambode’s daughter, God only said I should be the one to nurse her for them.”

     

  • Nigeria can overtake India in digital technology – Osinbajo

    Nigeria can overtake India in digital technology – Osinbajo

    ….FG flags off digital training for youth

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday expressed optimistic that Nigeria can overtake India in the market for technology and innovation talent.

    He made the remark during flag-off ceremony of Google Digital Training for Youth Empowerment at the State House, Abuja.

    According to him, the administration will continue to explore creative ways at empowering Nigerian youth.

    He said: “We intend to create a reservoir of human capacity in technology that can be exported internationally.
    Nigeria can lead India as a market for technology and innovation talent.

    “This year, we are establishing technology hubs across the country, two super hubs in Lagos and Abuja and six regional hubs in the six geo-political zones. In partnership with several major technology companies, the hubs will be fully resourced with infrastructure and capacity building tools.

    “Each hub will be designed to produce relevant innovative technology, solutions to a wide range of business, commercial and government problems. For example, alternative energy solutions, creative technology, public services delivery in health, education and government processes, import substitution etc.

    “Several major technology companies are partnering with us in the provision of infrastructure and opportunity in the hubs. Also starting this year, we have budgeted for the training of 65,000 young Nigeria s in hardware and software services and more sophisticated software hardware such as animation.

    “This would mean that we would be building more local capacity to build, assemble hardware and to write innovative programmes. We will also be focusing on technology for media and entertainment,” he added.

    While the empowerment initiative flagged off on Tuesday is targeting 400,000 Nigerian youth at a start, Osinbajo said that the government is determined to give every opportunity to younger generation to ensure they excel with the use of modern technology.

    He said that a special initiative on innovative technology and start ups and presentation of prospective participants have already been done in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

    “This Friday, 30 of the best start up ideas will be exhibiting their inovations at the Presidential villa at the first Annual Aso Villa Demo Day.

    “The 30 winners will be arriving here in Abuja today and they will participate in an innovation growth camp for the next two day.

    “And this is why what Google has offered to do in collaboration with the Federal Government, the Google training for youth employment, the training of 400,000 young people is a monumental contribution to the national plan and in particular to economic development.

    “Everyone of the 400,000 young men and women to be trained is a potential creator of facebook, Uber, Jobberman, Iroko Tv or something that we haven’t even imagined yet. The exciting prospect of this training is that it unleashes the creativity and innovation and the boundless imaginative of the most productive segment of our society, the youth.

    “For any student today I think that we must appreciate that this is the age of multi-tasking.
    You cannot just be an economist, an accountant, a lawyer or a graduate of international relations, or mass communication or performing arts and just remain that way.
    Multi skilling is crucial today, multi-tasking is the order of the day.

    “You can’t just be one thing. You must learn to be a man of affairs, a versatile operator not a mono skill graduate,” he added.

    To achieve this, he said that there are many opportunities as practically anything can be learned online today.

    “All of these business reviews and business journals, many of them are free online.
    Everyone has a right to be rich. age is not a barrier to great wealth as we have seen from all these example of great men and women who have done so many incredible things.

    He said that there are also important opportunities for those in the performing and film arts, which goes beyond actual performing to effective management of talents, their programmes and projects.

    “Today every good concept needs well trained managers who understand how the industry works and how to leverage the entertainment value chain.

    “Isn’t it time for `uberification’ of Nollywood, to make actors and actresses especially new talents more visible to film makers?” he queried

    “The exciting thing is that anyone, including the microbiologist can be the next innovator in the entertainment industry. Such is the versatility of multi-tasking. a new market for the performing arts but also for any other taker is animation skills for movies, education, entertainment and advertising.

    “It is a new growth area and it is attracting talents from every discipline including the fine arts, architecture, software writing, screen play writing and others in film production generally.

    “One thing that I want to assure you today is that we are all together determined to make sure that we give every opportunity that is possible to the youth in technology and innovation. I can assure you that the next few years are going to be great indeed,” he said.

    The Senior Special Assistant to President on Sustainable Development Goals, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefilure said that the program is part of government’s sustainable development goals’ commitment which would be replicated in every state to lift the Nigeria youths from poverty.

    Ministers of Communication, Adebayo Shittu; Sports, Solomon Dalung and Labour, Chris Ngige harped on the importance of the training to youth development.

    They promised to key into the move for positive development of the youths.

    Shittu said that his ministry will work with the Ministry of Education towards including the digital training into the educational curriculum at all levels.

    The theme of the event was “Diversifying the Nigerian economy: enabling youth through digital skills training”

  • FESTIVAL OF INDIA EXCITES LAGOS

    THE maiden edition of the Festival of India-Lagos, has come and gone leaving behind, memories of a far eastern culture.

    Made possible by Mr. Bolaji Rosiji-inspired Gaurapad Charities and other supporting brands that have Indian imprint, the festival showcased the large gathering of Indian community in the country in one colourful banner.

    Earlier in the day, a procession of three Carnival of Chariots had walked all the way from CMS to TBS, venue of the show; it had thousands of people in tow. And when the festival started late in the afternoon, Indian performers, mostly children and women, took to the stage and entertained the audience with the various musical and performance styles of the different regions of the largest democracy in the world. The festival also featured music and performances from Bengali, Gujurati and a host of others. The dances ranged from traditional to classical and were typical of Indian dances.

    The main dance motifs were the hand gestures in their various manipulations that ended with the fingers seeming to weave invisible threads in the air; there were also the waist twists, the hand-clapping, the back and forth circular dances, the back and forth leg thrusts and heads nodding in particular directions that the Indian compere swooned over as ‘very charming and exciting,’ which they were in their own fashion.

    Other acts that performed included gospel musician, Sammie Okposo.

  • Festival of India excites Lagos

    Festival of India excites Lagos

    The maiden edition of the Festival of India-Lagos, has come and gone leaving behind, memories of a far eastern culture.

    Made possible by Mr. Bolaji Rosiji-inspired Gaurapad Charities and other supporting brands that have Indian imprint, the festival showcased the large gathering of Indian community in the country in one colourful banner.

    A procession of three Carnival of Chariots walked all the way from CMS to TBS, venue of the show; it had thousands of people in tow. And when the festival started late in the afternoon, Indian performers, mostly children and women, took to the stage and entertained the audience with the various musical and performance styles of the different regions of the largest democracy in the world.

    The festival also featured music and performances from Bengali, Gujurati and a host of others. The dances ranged from traditional to classical and were typical of Indian dances.

    The main dance motifs were the hand gestures in their various manipulations that ended with the fingers seeming to weave invisible threads in the air; there were also the waist twists, the hand-clapping, the back and forth circular dances, the back and forth leg thrusts and heads nodding in particular directions that the Indian compere swooned over as ‘very charming and exciting,’ which they were in their own fashion.

    Other acts that performed included gospel musician, Sammie Okposo.

     

  • Vendor needs N3.4million for surgery in India

    Vendor needs N3.4million for surgery in India

    A newspaper vendor, Patrick Utomi is in dire need of $9,000 for a surgery on complex urethral stricture at Saket City Hospital, New Delhi, India.

    Utomi had gone from one hospital to the other, seeking solution to the urethral dysfunction he sustained from an accident in 2002.

    Since then, excretion through natural channels became impossible as his urinary system were damaged.

    He was initially salvaged by the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) where a makeshift passage was made by his abdomen, but it stopped working.

    He proceeded to India through a financial assistance by former Akwa-Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio.

    After visiting India thrice, his system normalised until recently, when he began to experience complications from implant in his body following a Ray-surgery conducted on him.

    According to him, the complications have become terrible that he can no longer pass urine naturally.

    His doctor, Shalabh Agarwat, has invited him to come for removal of the implant.

    The doctor’s statement reads: “This patient has complex urethral stricture with stent related complications. In case the symptoms of frequency and bleeding are very bothersome then I would advice for Cystoscopy and removal of Mammocath. After removal, we will have to give about six months’ time for healing and then revise Urethroplasty.”

    Pleading for assistance, Patrick said: “My present state of health is the history of a failed multiple urethroplasty surgeries. The 15-year of medical predicament has cost over N30 million. Please help me not to die this time. What they are demanding now is bigger. Please, I beseech good Nigerians in the name of God to help me. My health is in jeopardy and I am homeless after five surgeries in Nigeria and four surgeries in India. I really need kind hearted Nigerians to come to my aid. I don’t want to be a mendicant of parasite to people. I want to live a normal life again.”

    His account details are: Patrick Tommy Utomi, 0224572760, Guarantee Trust Bank. He can be reached on 08125443866 and 08038178199.