The Nation Newspaper

Tag: initiative

  • Elumelu hosts Nigeria Leadership Initiative associates

    Elumelu hosts Nigeria Leadership Initiative associates

    The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) and the Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI) have hosted a discussions between select Associate Fellows of the NLI and Tony O. Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings and the United Bank for Africa (UBA) in Lagos.

    The talk, titled: ‘Leadership for high impact’ was designed to give the NLI’s Associate Fellows access to the billionaire investor and philanthropist, to ask questions and receive insights on leadership.

    “Over the course of my career, I have learned that when you achieve a certain amount of experience and a certain amount of success, it is important to reflect on what principles, practices and decisions led you to success.  When you find those key elements, it is important to pass that knowledge along, so that others may learn from your success, and also your mistakes. That is what today was about,” Elumelu said.

    Through its flagship initiative, the 10-year, $100 million Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme, The Foundation will empower the next generation of Africa’s entrepreneurs.

    The event was geared towards seeing TEF and NLI achieving this goal.

    NLI’s CEO, Dr. Yinka Oyinlola: “NLI believes that leadership is both transferable and trans-generational; the leadership dialogue with Mr. Elumelu provided an opportunity to transfer values, knowledge and experience from an accomplished leader to young, emerging and aspiring leaders.”

    Elumelu is a Senior Fellow of the NLI. Last May, he met with London-based NLI fellows at Oxford University on the sidelines of a speech he delivered there titled:  ‘Africapitalism as a catalyst for the development of Africa.

    Associate Fellow of NLI and SSA on Sustainable Development Goals to Abia State Governor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, Chime Asonye, speaking on the sideline of the event said: “We need to dialogue with important thought leaders and change makers who are helping to catalyse economic development and lead the way forward. Industry leaders like Tony Elumelu are helping to chart the way forward and set a development agenda for the 21st century.’’

  • Seven Energy Joins security, human rights initiative

    Seven Energy International Limited has joined the globally acclaimed ‘Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights’ initiative following its admission into the Corporate Pillar category and becomes the first indigenous firm in the Nigerian oil and gas industry to be accorded such recognition.

    The Voluntary Principles Initiative is a multi-stakeholder initiative involving governments, companies, and non-governmental organisations that promote implementation of a set of principles that guide oil, gas and mining companies on providing security for their operations in a manner that respects human rights. Specifically, the Voluntary Principles guide companies in conducting a comprehensive human rights risk assessment in their engagement with public and private security providers to ensure human rights are respected in the protection of company’s facilities and premises.

    Commenting on the achievement, Chief Executive Officer of the company, Phillip Ihenacho, said: “We are excited that the plenary has approved the application of Seven Energy to join the prestigious Voluntary Principles Initiative after a rigorous selection process. This recognition underscores how we have conducted our operations across our host communities in a manner that promotes public safety and respect for the rights of the people. We remain committed to the development of Nigeria’s gas resource and will continue to support local and national economic growth by operating in a way that recognises and respects the rights and safety of the people impacted by our business.”

    Ihenacho added that over the years, Seven Energy has implemented a number of initiatives such as the Green Team Initiative, which is a community engagement process where community leaders and youths are engaged to maintain and monitor pipeline rights of way, and community enlightenment programmes aimed at ensuring safety of the company’s facilities and those people living within the pipeline rights of way.  Regular interactive sessions are held with the host communities to ensure that their rights and privileges as contained in the various Memoranda of Understanding signed with them are respected.

    The Voluntary Principles are the only human rights guidelines designed specifically for extractive sector companies. The Principles give guidance on risk assessment, public safety and security, protecting human rights, and the interaction between companies and private security.

    The written principles represent a voluntary agreement between participating companies, governments and NGO’s on what steps companies should take in maintaining the safety and security of their operations within an operating framework that encourages respect for human rights.

  • Stakeholders hail Lalong’s peace initiative

    Stakeholders hail Lalong’s peace initiative

    Plateau State indigenes have hailed the peace initiatives mooted by Governor  Simon Lalong to end the protracted conflict rocking the state since 2001.

    The indigenes under the aegies of ‘Patriots for Peace and Change’ noted that the state has celebrated its 40 years of existence in an atmosphere of peace and security.

    The group’s leader, Pastor Huseini Gotan, told reporters in Jos, the state capital, that the governor has contributed largely to the peace accord.

    He said: “Ours is 40 years of good old memories and rough experience having gone through the good, the bad and the ugly occasioned by ethno-religious crisis and tribal sentiments.

    “The life of our dear state has been a very bumpy experience, but we have reasons to celebrate today because we have conquered peace that has eluded us over the last decades.

    He added:  “We deeply appreciate the role played by All Progressive Congress (APC) administration of Gov Simon Lalong whose peace initiative has been the solution the state has been lacking in all its search for peace over the years.

    “We have also witnessed bad leaders and good leaders in the last forty years, we  therefore feel that the best way to commence the celebration of 40 years of our dear state, we should commend the efforts of our governor, who is now our hero of peace.

  • Group’s initiative boosts education

    Group’s initiative boosts education

    Members of Class 88 of Central Nursery/Primary School and Local Authority Primary School in Kirikiri Town, Lagos State have donated school to pupils of their alma mater. The gesture was part of their “Back-to-School Initiative” programmes for public primary schools in Lagos.

    •Yusuf (second right) and other members of the Class 88 with pupils of Local Authority Primary School, Kirikiri Town during the distribution of education materials to the pupils.
    •Yusuf (second right) and other members of the Class 88 with pupils of Local Authority Primary School, Kirikiri Town during the distribution of education materials to the pupils.

    During the presentation of the educational materials to the schools, the leader of the group, Hon. Tajudeen Yusuf, said: “The gesture aims at supporting parents and guardians in terms of alleviating their financial burdens; more so as their children and wards return to school for a fresh academic session. We are committed to encouraging enrolment in public primary schools. We are also bothered about the rate at which our children drop out of school due to lack of incentives on the part of some parents in sending their children to school. Therefore, we work towards a reduction in the number of pupils that are out of school across the country.”

    Hon. Yusuf, who is Supervisor for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and Chieftaincy Affair, Oriade Local Council Development Area, Lagos State, commended the efforts of Class 88 in contributing to the intellectual development of the Nigerian child.

    He said: “The initiative is in line with efforts at delivering quality education to our children who are the future of our country. This informs government’s call for private sector involvement in developing key sectors of the economy, particularly education.”

    He added that the gesture will go a long way in supporting and motivating the pupils towards academic excellence.

    He also pledged that his group would sponsor the forthcoming inter-house sports competition in the affected schools.

    While receiving the educational materials donated to the pupils, Head Teacher of Local Authority Primary School, Mr Onaleye Sunday said: “I appreciate the gesture of Class 88 for the initiative. It has clearly demonstration that educational development cannot be left to the government alone; because of dwindling resources.”

    In the same manner, Mrs Opadere Gboinijubola, Head Teacher Central Nursery/Primary School said: “We are grateful to you for thinking about the next generation. Education is tool for development. Any reasonable individual and society cannot ignore this critical sector. What you just did shows that you have the future of our children in mind.

    “We solicit the support of other corporate entities and well-meaning individuals to emulate the Class 88 example.”

    Mr. Sunday also urged the children to make judicious use of the items received from the group, advising them to strive for academic excellence at all times.

    The first outing of Class 88 Back to School Initiative would focus more attention on pupils in public primary schools.

    The Initiative instils a sense of pride and confidence in the pupils as they have returned to school for another academic session.

    Other strategic educational investment by the Class 88 in primary education include provision and upgrade of infrastructure in public schools, capacity building for teachers and school support initiatives towards the development of the Nigerian child.

  • Sterling Bank’s ‘Get ready for work’ initiative to support SMEs

    Sterling Bank’s ‘Get ready for work’ initiative to support SMEs

    Sterling Bank has said its ‘Get Ready For Work’ initiative for this year will be extended to entrepreneurs and owners of small businesses to enable them add more value to  their enterprises.

    The bank’s Executive Director, Finance & Strategy, Abubakar Suleiman who disclosed this yesterday in Lagos, said apart from getting the youths ready to pursue their career choices and helping them acquire the required skills, the lender will also through the programme, reduce the unemployment rate in the country.

    Suleiman, who spoke ahead of this year’s edition of the event coming up on the September 11, said that Get Ready For Work’, now in its third year, is the bank’s way of giving back to the society and equipping the youths with the right skills to succeed in their jobs.

    He also said the lender is considering extending its ‘Get Ready For Work’ initiative to more states of the Federation and encouraged other banks to join in the project.

    He said that the lender was committed to helping to reduce the high level of youth unemployment in the country, pointing out that there would be serious consequences for the society if the problem is not addressed.

    According to him, “There is no country in the world that would not be affected by a high level of youth unemployment. Once youth employment stands above 25 per cent in any country, that country is heading for chaos.”

    He noted that the problem of youth unemployment in the country had been  made worse by the fact that  what students  are taught in schools  these days  often  leaves  them ill-equipped to handle simple tasks  when they eventually secure employment.

    Speaking at the event,  Executive Director, Field of Skills and Dreams VTE Academy (FSD)  Omowale Ogunrinde,   commended Sterling Bank for investing in the future of youths in country through the initiative.

    According to her, the bank was responsible for organizations like hers agreeing to take part in the programme without charging participants professional fees. Last year the bank held the ‘Get Ready for Work’ concert in Ibadan which was designed to change the mindset of graduates towards entrepreneurship and equip them with skills to bridge the gap between employee expectations and employer requirements.

  • Fresh initiative in public school management

    Fresh initiative in public school management

    The difficulties experienced in accessing and authenticating principals, teachers, students, school records and activities in online admissions may  soon be over as the Federal Capital Territory Universal Basic Education Board (FCT-UBEB) has begun integrating junior secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory into its newly-developed Central Portal System called the Electronic School System (ESS).

    The initial data collection of students has been completed in the first phase of the initiative in the public school system.

    To kick-start this project, FCT-UBEB is running the admission process for the 2014/2015 academic year on its newly developed portal on http://www.fctubeb.gov.ng

    The ESS by the board will engender effective and efficient management and supervision of about 150 junior secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory with a student population of over 100,000.

    The ESS is a revolutionary, web-based school management platform that was developed by Plovtech Solutions, a major player in electronic school management system, with offices in Nigeria, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

    According to the Managing Director of Plovtech Solution, Mr. Jones Ajayi, ESS will assist the school board to “securely” manage, query, report, archive all student records and all general schools’ activities for effective and efficient operations and service provision.

    ESS will enable schools to, among other benefits, electronically store and manage records and documents, including students’ admission records, all internal examination results and grades, teachers’ remarks and any other relevant information at present and in the future. In the process, it will provide secure access for document owners and management team.

    The system comes with an international standard web platform for each school on the project with their own personalised domain name which enables the school to publish all its information online, such as its history, school activities, sporting achievements, students’ projects, videos and photographs.

    It also provides the school with an online document authentication system that allows for storage of examination records, certificates, testimonials and other security documents online, verification on the school website or FCT-UBEB. The portal will enable the school authorities to efficiently administer the school as well as teach and stimulate interests of students in computer and information technology.

    A critical value of ESS is the leverage it gives the school to regularly interface with old students who will be able to register on the school portal and thus have a platform to interact and provide direct assistance when the school is in need of such assistance.

    The FCT-UBEB considers the ESS a very important tool to manage schools in the Federal Capital Territory in the current globalised environment of the 21st Africa, if the schools are not to be left behind. The FCT-UBEB, which controls about 150 junior secondary schools with over 100,000 students, is fully committed to the project.

    Plovtech Solutions, as the service provider, is well equipped with manpower and technical resources to provide training and technical support for the systems. After the conclusion of the project, FCT-UBEB will have under its control, a central Web Portal Platform and 150 unique web domains for each public school.

    The solution and the platform were presented to all the principals of junior secondary schools on September 23, this year at Abuja.

    The principals praised the effort of the school board which aimed at reducing the work load and burden involved in manually managing schools’ records.

    The Chairman of the Board, Alhaji Umaru Barau Ningi, was represented by Mr Benjamin S. Ogbara, Board Member 1 of FCT-UBEB, who urged all the principals to join the IT revolution, even as he urged them to make good use of the tool in order to run their schools effectively. He also advised them to use the internal integrated messaging system in the solution for direct communication with the board.

  • Group unveils initiative at LASPOTECH

    A non-governmental organisation, Hope for Youth Development Initiative (HYDI), has been launched at the Students’ Union Mansion of Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH).

    Its founder, Ajibike Taofeek, said the organisation was formed to provide a platform for sustainable empowerment for under-privileged youths.

    “When the youths are empowered with skills, education and jobs, the rate of poverty will be reduced as well as that of crime,” he said.

    The institution’s former Rector, Ayodeji Babatunde, advised youths to have balanced development of the mind.

    “The economic situation in Nigeria resulting in youth unemployment and defective infrastructure has generated a lot of stress and hypertension in the youth. The truth remains that only youths with sound mental health can sustain the environment,” he said.

    Speaking on “Youths, social media and online preference: what the 21st Century should know”, The Nation newspaper, Online Editor, Mr Lekan Otufodunrin, said youths should deploy the social media as a learning tool. He urged them to spend quality time the internet and develop themselves.

    “Every youth should know that he or she can be googled. What you do online should not contradict your personality. Be careful of what you do on your social media platform,” he cautioned.

    Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Education, Fatai Olukoga, charged the youth to explore opportunities around them for self-development. He urged them to be self-reliant and work hard to achieve their dreams despite the present situation of the country.

    “A lot of youths have derailed because they do not have the opportunity to listen to the voice of their elders. Many of them have lost sight of the ball by indulging in illicit behaviours,” he said.

    The event was attended by the school’s Rector, Dr Abdul Azeez Abioye, representatives of Ikorodu Local Government and students.

  • Group mobilises for Omo Agege

    The Urhobo Political Initiative (UPI) has endorsed Ovie Omo Agege for the governorship in Delta State next year.

    It urged the indigenes to support him.

    A statement by the Secretary-General of the group, Comrade Aghogho Igho, said Omo Agege is a tested hand, who has served in positions in the government, “so, he has all it takes to improve the lives of Delta people.”

    The group said: “It is time the Urhobo should come together, form a platform of unity and avoid bickering.”

    It said the Urhobo have all it takes to rule Delta and Omo Agege is the best choice.

    UPI enjoined other Urhobo aspirants to step down for him.

    “He is a man who has served eight years in the Delta State government in capacities. Thus, he knows where the shoe pinches the people,” the body said.

  • Lawmaker hails tree-planting initiative

    The lawmaker representing Eti-Osa Constituency 2 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Gbolahan Yishawu, has said praised Lagosians for embracing the tree-planting initiative.

    He spoke at the 7th edition of Tree Planning Campaign themed “Life is Better with Trees” at Eti Osa Local Government Area.

    Yishawu said: “Environment is everything that is why the regeneration of the environment is a crucial component of our government. For the past 7 years, we have come together once a year for the tree planting exercise because it has proven that the quality of our health largely depends on the number of trees around us.

    “It is, therefore, expedient that we put in our best efforts to rehabilitate the environment, trees are known to make a huge impact in the fight against environmental problems including global warming”

    “This exercise has generated over 75,168 employment opportunities for horticulturists, pruners, gardeners, welders etc all of who help to keep the trees alive. Our target was to plant one million tree in ten years, and have planted over 5 million across Lagos.”

     

  • The Lagos residents registration initiative

    Society has become more mobile and the information held electronically about persons and services by government agencies and other bodies have substantially increased. There is a growing need to integrate the residents of Lagos State into e-government initiatives to enable the services provided by government to be fully utilized and also provide an accurate picture for government policy and planning.

    The Lagos State Residents Registration initiative has the potential to address key challenges facing e-government and other initiatives. Various e-government initiatives have been enabled to collect electronic data and each operates autonomous of each other. To provide a more accurate picture for government policies and planning, a link must be established between these various stores of data.

    It is with a view to institutionalizing this process that the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency, LASRRA, was established in 2011 by an enactment of state law, by which it was fully empowered to implement a residents database and identification card program for Lagos State.

    The goals of the agency include, establishing a reliable and updateable database of all residents of Lagos State, providing useful information for social, political, business and financial activities, creating and documenting a unique means of identification of Lagos State residents, providing a highly secured identification card for all residents of the State and removing the veil of anonymity from every citizen of the state

    The Residents Register is an electronic database, currently being developed by LASRRA which contains demographic information of all residents of the state. It is a governmental, centralized, trustworthy and comprehensive source of information that would assist the state government with decision-making process and allocation of resources as it contains important and vital information about residents of the state.

    On the other hand, the residency card is an electronic means of identification and authentication that LASRRA undertakes to issue to all residents of the state. Using sophisticated technological features, the residency card is a safe means of identification of persons and verification of their identities. It contains a unique reference number (residency number) that links every individual to his/her own personal and biological data. The residency number serves as a reference for the respective individual in his/her identity-proved transactions with government bodies.

    It is instructive to stress that the card is produced and issued at no cost to all residents while registration is equally done free of charge to all residents.

    The residency card is a safe and precise means of personal authentication and identification. Its primary aim is to make it easier for the card holder to obtain all governmental and non-governmental services in the future. Among the most important benefits and features of the card are enhanced sense of belonging, protection of identity, ease and convenience and providing an integral database. The residency card is primarily designed for the administration of the services that the Lagos State government provides for the people that reside in the state. Its objective is to enable efficiency in the allocation of resources to meet the needs of the people. Using the contact details provided at the time of registration, all those that have registered and their cards are ready for collection, will be notified by SMS to collect their cards at the LASRRA LG/LCDA office nearest to their place of residents.

    It should be emphasized that biometrics simplifies identity verification as the 10 fingerprints, signature and face image of residents are captured as part of the registration process. A challenge for residents, mostly the needy, is the lack of documentation to establish their identity. Once these residents enroll for an identity number linked to their biometrics, they can afterward confirm their identity multiple times, anywhere in the state and to any agency, by providing their demographic details or biometric scan.

    It is important to accentuate that every one that is currently residing in the state is required to register. Once you have been residing in the state for six months or more, you are eligible to register. This registration would, henceforth, be a prerequisite to accessing the services provided by Lagos State government for its residents. In cases of people relocating from one place in Lagos to another, it must be stressed that people must be responsible for their own data and it is their responsibility to ensure that their data is up to date. If not, when accessing government services and there are discrepancies they will be sent back to update their data.After registration, quality checks are done followed by correction processes (where required). The data is then sent to the database, where the data undergoes various stages of screening and validations. This ensures that the source of data is authenticated ensuring that no duplicate exists. After which, the resident unique identification number is generated.In case of any errors, the record goes on hold for further enquiry. Corrective actions are taken on such as contacting the applicant via the contact information given. This may take over five weeks to resolve.If a card needs to be replaced due to loss, theft or change of information, the resident should contact any of the registration stations across the state and make a request.

    However, as earlier stated, the first residency card is provided free of charge, subsequent cards may be at a charge. For clarification purpose, the registration exercise does not confer any status other than that the card holder at the time of registration resides in the state and it is not an attempt to discriminate against non-Lagos indigenes as it is open to everyone that lives in Lagos State, irrespective of ethnic origin, nationality, religious affiliation, age etc. Till date, the initiative has been able to create over 1,000 jobs for the pilot scheme. In preparation for the commencement of its statutory responsibility of registering the residents of Lagos State, LASRRA organized a one day open forum for public and civil servants in the state. The purpose of the forum was to further enlighten the citizens about the project as well as share views with them.

    Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, who was represented at the event by the State Head of Service, Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe, said that his administration will continue to make itself accessible to the general public through regular such public engagements.

    On a final note, let me stress, once again, that the main purpose of the resident registration initiative is to ensure proper planning as well as efficient allocation of the state’s scarce resources. It should not be misconstrued as census.