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Tag: International

  • Technology and international collaboration

    Technology and international collaboration

    • Will Stevens

    Secretary of State Anthony Blinken was in Abuja and Lagos and the message he brought from President Biden is that the United States wants to work together with the nations of the African continent in equal partnership. That we need to join together to combat the challenges that face the entire world. That no nation can do it alone. 

    As Secretary Blinken said it so eloquently: Africa shaped our past, it’s shaping our present, and it will define our future. 

    And, I might add, no nation is having a bigger impact on the evolving digital transformation than Nigeria. 

    As Africa’s largest economy, largest democracy and number one destination for venture capital – Nigeria is driving innovation and creative solutions to the challenges that vex Nigerians, Africans and people across the world. 

    These innovative creators are reinforcing my deeply held belief that African solutions and African voices are critical and central to resolving the problems of the 21st century and beyond. 

    The world is changing at an unprecedented pace, fueled by the relentless innovation from an increasingly interconnected world. In the past decade, global internet traffic has grown by 700 per cent, and mobile phone users have surpassed 6.6 billion.

    This increased connectivity creates boundless potential for cross-border collaboration – creating a global village where ideas can spark across oceans, and innovations can blossom through collective efforts.

    Imagine a world where researchers from across continents collaborate on groundbreaking medical discoveries, where engineers work together to tackle climate change, and where entrepreneurs share ideas and resources to build a more sustainable future. 

    This is a present that we are already beginning to experience and a future that I am certain will mean a better world for our children and our children’s children. 

    Together, we are using the latest technological innovations to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges in the areas of climate change, education, healthcare, agriculture, and other vital areas of development and economic growth.

    However, building these bridges requires more than just technological prowess. We must overcome challenges like cultural and linguistic barriers, unequal access to resources, and cybersecurity concerns. These challenges are not insurmountable.

    By embracing inclusivity, bringing capital to markets that need infrastructure investment, and developing robust cybersecurity measures, we can pave the way for fruitful international partnerships. 

    Together, I see that some of these challenges are already being addressed.

    U.S. venture capital firms have invested heavily in African tech startups with over 60 and 40 percent of venture capital funding in Nigeria and Africa respectively coming from the United States.

    Up to 60 per cent of African startups are incorporated in the United States – this figure is 80 per cent when considering Nigeria alone.

    In 2021, African startups raised $4.8 billion. This translates to an average of over $1 million every two hours!

    Despite the global downturn in VC funding, the United States still accounted for about 40 per cent of the $3.4 billion raised by African startups last year.

    Four months ago, President Biden issued a landmark Executive Order on Safe, Secure and Trustworthy Development and Use of AI that emphasised collaboration with countries all over the world to develop and use artificial intelligence in a responsible manner.

    Before that, in 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration developed the Digital Transformation with Africa (DTA) initiative that aims to build partnerships with African countries to expand digital access, increase U.S.-Africa commercial relations, support increased digital literacy, and strengthen digital enabling environments across the continent.

    This initiative emphasises “with” – Digital Transformation “with” Africa, not “for” Africa; as we believe that Africa on its own brings tremendous value to the global table.

    Nigeria remains Africa’s largest economy and is the United States’ second-largest trading partner in Africa with two-way trade exceeding $10.6 billion in 2022. 

    The United States is proud to be one of the largest foreign investors in Nigeria with FDI totalling $5.6 billion in 2022.

    There are over 80 U.S. companies operating in Nigeria, in manufacturing, fast-moving consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, technology, etc.

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    These companies collectively pay billions of naira in taxes, create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, and directly support various socioeconomic programs that improve the lives of Nigerians. 

    We are committed to supporting Nigeria and Africa on its journey to prosperity as we believe that a strong and prosperous Africa is good for the United States and good for the world!

    To close, I implore every one of us to remember that collaboration is not a zero-sum game; it is a win-win proposition. 

    By working together, sharing knowledge, and pooling resources, we can overcome any obstacle and achieve the seemingly impossible.

    Let us, therefore, leverage this opportunity to forge lasting partnerships, break down barriers, and use technology not just to connect, but to create a future where innovation flourishes for the betterment of our interconnected world. 

    Let us continue to build bridges, not walls.

  • International Day of Girls: NGO advocates girls’ rights, partners NIS

    International Day of Girls: NGO advocates girls’ rights, partners NIS

    A Non-Governmental Organization, White Truck Empowerment Initiative, has joined forces with partners from the Lagos state command of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) in its effort to combat girl trafficking.

    The group’s project coordinator, Mrs Edah, a lawyer, said their collective voice echoed at the Didi Museum during an event themed: “Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being.”

    She said that the initiative’s collaboration with key stakeholders underscores the significance of the International Day of the Girl (IDG), observed annually on October 11.

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    According to her, this global platform serves as an advocate for the comprehensive spectrum of girls’ rights.

    She added: “During the event, the curator at Didi Museum passionately delved into the exhibition titled: “Once Upon a Time.”

    “The exhibition not only showcased captivating art but also encouraged the girl child to embrace art as a powerful means of expressing cultural identity.

    “As the call to action resonated through the venue, the collective efforts of the White Truck Empowerment Initiative and its partners aimed to create awareness, empower, and protect the rights of girls in our society.”

  • Minimum wage may not be ready by Sept, says Ngige

    The expectations of workers in the country getting a new national minimum wage by the end of September 2018 may not materialize after all as the government said on Tuesday that the September date was just a date to conclude negotiation on the issue of minimum wage.

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige told newsmen at his residence in Abuja that the committee on the new National Minimum wage is expecting to conclude its work by the end of September and present its report to the government for deliberation and approval before an executive bill is sent to the National Assembly on the issue.

    He said however that the issue of capacity to pay is also paramount in the deliberations on the minimum wage, pointing out that it was to get the input of all those concerned including state governments and the organised private sector that the committee embarked on zonal public hearing across the country.

    The Minister said further that in the course of the zonal public hearings, many state governments made different submissions ranging from N22, 000 monthly to N58, 000, adding that the governors were also of the believe that foe the new minimum wage to become effective, the current revenue allocation formula will have to be reviewed in favour of the states and local government.

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    He said further that some other states are also of the view that the minimum wage should be maintained at the current N18, 000 in view of the inability of some states to pay the current wages.

    Senator Ngige said when the minimum wage committee concludes its report, it will be submitted to the National Council of State and the Federal Executive Council for approval before a bill is sent to the National Assembly to legalize the work of the committee.

    He said even though it was not an easy task, the committee was making progress in its assigned responsibility, pointing out that it was in other to carry everybody, including the states and private sector along that six governors were elected to be members of the committee as well as representatives of the organised private sector.

    On the threat non-teaching staff of universities to resume their suspended strike as a result of government failure to honour the terms of their agreement, the Minister said government was sourcing the N6 billion needed to pay them their earned allowances as contained in the agreement.

    He said his experience as Minister of Labour said him that majority of about 95 percent of agreement currently being paraded by trade unions in the country were signed before the Buhari government came into office in 2015,adding that most of such agreements had no timeline for implementation.

    He also said many of the agreement signed by the last government were not implementable because of the amount involved, adding that the principles of the International, Labour Organisation allowed employers to renegotiate agreements which they feel they cannot implement.

    He said further that what is important in all collective bargaining agreement is the ability to pay what is being demanded and what is agreed upon.

    He appealed to striking health workers to return to work while negotiations continue on their demands, pointing out that the delay in the implementation of their signed agreement was as a result of failure of the National Salaries, Wages and Income Commission to defend the two different figure presented to a government high powered committee.

    He said the committee has directed the commission and the Federal Ministry of Health to go back and recompile the figures for onward submission to the committee for deliberation.

  • Tipple IT’s 4th International Conference

     “Seek knowledge even if it will take you to China.”              Hadith    

    Preamble

    It was a unique gathering of who is who intellectual at Fountain University, Osogbo, Osun State where intellectualism was heightened to a pinnacle last weekend. The participants were from various parts of Africa where Islamic Universities are vibrantly available. And their presentations vividly accentuated the fact that Islam is the foundation upon which human knowledge is built.

    Whether in primordial or contemporary time, no historian  of note has succeeded in documenting the history of intellectualism  without a fundamental reference to Islam and Muslims. As a matter of fact, what is called intellectualism today is the principal invention of the early Muslims based on their access to the template of the Qur’an and Sunnah. It is an axiomatic fact that the first citadel of learning called university was established by Muslims in the tenth century. That citadel is called the University of Cordoba which was established in Spain by the second Umayyad Dynasty. It was from that citadel that the Europeans first had the idea of University which they copied and spread to some other parts of the world including America. And today, the three oldest Universities in the world which are offshoots of the University of Cordova were established by Muslims. They are Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, Qairawiyyi University in Fez, Morocco and Zaytuniyyah University in Tunis, Tunisia. Each of these Universities is by far older than 1000 years. No other university in the entire world today can claim that age. It was through those Universities that Muslim scholars were able to introduce scientific subjects like Biology (‘Ilmul Ihyau), Chemistry (Kaymiyau), Physics (Fisiyau), Astronomy (‘Ilmul Ifalaq), Astrology (‘Ilmul Tanjeem), Mathematics (Riyadiyat), Algebra (‘Ilmul Jabr) and others.

    It was those Scholars who also invented zero, a meaningless numeral that gave meaning to decimals and technological development of the contemporary world. Without the invention of zero, the world would have continued to crawl behind Roman numerals of the yore. Today, the world is advancing in Technology at the instance of Islamic intellectualism.

     

    The tripple I&T conference.

    At Fountain University, Osogbo last weekend the 4th conference of the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) was held. At the conference the welcome Address was delivered by Prof. Abdullateef Usman, the Vice Chancellor, Fountain University, who was the Chief Host while the Keynote Address was delivered by Prof. Ishaq Olanrewaju Oloyede, OFR, FNAL the Registrar of Joint Admissions & Matriculation Board (JAMB), Pro-Chancellor & Chairman, Governing Council, Fountain University & Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA). The Goodwill Messages were delivered by the President General of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaj Muh. Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni; Dr. Ahmad Totonji of IIIT Headquarters and Engr. Yomi Bolarinwa, President of Nasrullahi Alfatih Organisation (NASFAT). And Inaugural Address was delivered by the Governor of the state of Osun Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola who was a special guest of Honour.

     

    Profile of Tripple I&T

    The International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) is a private, non-profit, academic, cultural and educational institution, concerned with general issues of Islamic thought and education. The Institute was established in the United States of America in 1981. It is independent of local politics, party orientations and ideological bias.

    The headquarters of the Institute are situated in Herndon, Virginia, in the suburbs of Washington DC. IIIT has established cooperation with a number of institutions and organizations in a number of capitals world-wide in order to carry out the Institute’s activities and programs. The Institute is governed by a Board of Trustees that meets regularly and periodically to elects one of its members to serve as President.

    The Institute is an intellectual forum working on educational, academic and societal issues from an Islamic perspective to promote and support research projects, organize intellectual and cultural meetings, publish scholarly works, and engage in teaching and training. It has established a distinct intellectual trend in Islamic thought which relates to the vivid legacy of the Ummah (Muslim nation) and its continuous efforts of intellectual and methodological reform, principally in the field of education, classical knowledge and social science. This involves a large number of researchers and scholars from various parts of the world.

    The Institute conducts its educational and training activities and courses through its institutional division, The Fairfax Institute.

     

    Mission of IIIT

    According to the contents of its website, The International Institute of Islamic Thought is dedicated to the revival and reform of Islamic thought and its methodology in order to enable the Ummah to deal effectively with present challenges, and contribute to the progress of human civilization in ways that will give it a meaning and a direction derived from divine guidance. The realization of such a position will help the Ummah regain its intellectual and cultural identity and re-affirm its presence as a dynamic civilisation.

    The Institute promotes academic research on the methodology and philosophy of various disciplines, and gives special emphasis to the development of Islamic scholarship in contemporary social sciences. The program endeavors to elucidate Islamic concepts that integrate Islamic revealed knowledge with human knowledge and revives Islamic ethical and moral knowledge, through education, teaching and support of scholarly research.

     

    Objectives of IIIT

    As its Objectives, IIIT aspires to conduct courses in order to promote its objectives to reform Islamic thought, to bridge the intellectual divide between the Islamic tradition and Western civilization. In its teaching and selection of teachers and courses, IIIT endeavors to promote moderation, inter-faith dialog and good citizenship.

    In its endeavour to teach and prepare teachers for the modern world and produce intellectuals who can relate their Islam to modern day challenges the Institute aims to:

    • Serve as a think tank in the field of Islamic education, culture and knowledge.
    • Formulate a comprehensive Islamic vision and methodology that will help Muslim scholars in their critical analysis of contemporary knowledge.
    • Develop an appropriate methodology for understanding the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet.
    • Develop an appropriate methodology for dealing with Islamic legacy and contemporary knowledge, in order to draw on the experiences of both past and present, to build a better future for the Ummah and humanity at large.
    • Develop an appropriate methodology for understanding and dealing with the present situation of both the Ummah and the world in general, and the field of education in particular, in view of contemporary challenges and opportunities.

    The Institute seeks to achieve its objectives by: Teaching, training of teachers, publication of text books.

    Supporting researchers and scholars in universities and research centers, and publishing selected scholarly, cultural and intellectual works, in English, Arabic and several other languages.

    Directing research and studies to develop Islamic thought.

    Holding specialized scholarly, intellectual and cultural conferences, seminars and study circles.

    The lead papers delivered at the conference.

    The Muslim Universities and the Challenges of Integration Model: A Case study of Nigeria by Professor M.A. Bidmos of the University of Lagos.

    Rooting in Higher Education: Reality and Challenges by Dr Rehab Abdul Rahman Al Shareef of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Sudan.

    The Concept of Epistemological Integration: It’s Relevance to Reform of Higher Education by Prof. Fathi Hasan Malkawi International Institute of Islamic Thought, Jordan.

    Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences in IIUM: A Successful Story of Integration of Islamic and Human Sciences by Prof. Rahman Ahmad H. Osman, Deputy Rector (Research and Innovation), International Islamic University, Malaysia.

     

    Closing program

    At the end of the conference, the Coordinator, IIIT Southwest Nigeria Dr Abdullah Jibril Oyekan gave a vote of thanks with appreciation and this was followed by the issuance of a Communiqué which contents may be published in this column very soon.

     

  • Independence: Ogbeh calls for scrutiny of international policies

    Independence: Ogbeh calls for scrutiny of international policies

    Mr Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, has advised policy makers to be mindful of adopting international policies and ideas in the country.

    Ogbeh gave the advise while speaking on the 57th Independence Anniversary of the country in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

    The minister said the economy the country’S economy which was previously driven by agriculture and solid minerals in the 60s, was `simple and efficient’.

    He said although the discovery of oil contributed to the abandoning of agriculture, some ideas given by some international organisations and adopted by previous governments were major causes of economic challenges in the country.

    The minister said that the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), adopted in 1986 was a mistake which facilitated the devaluing of the country’s currency, deregulated interests’ rate and encouraged engagement in free trade.

    “We should thank God that we are still together after 57 years, we should thank God that he has blessed this country with a whole lot of things.
    “We should also look back and realise that we made very serious mistakes.

    “We should also recognise that when people from outside give us advise whether on political, economic or religious issues, we need to take what they give us and digest them to meet our local conditions and circumstances.

    “Sometimes, I think that there is far too much photocopy in intellectualism; IMF said this, World Bank said that.

    “It is not everything they say that works. We are different people, we are Africans, and we will never be Europeans no matter how hard we try.

    “They may have done certain things and succeeded with them, we don’t have to do it their way.

    “The Indians and Chinese have proved very well, they remain themselves; they remain very indigenous, they copy the best and also adapted it for the best conditions of their people.

    “The SAP was a terrible mistake; I will never stop saying so. The disaster is that our youths can’t find jobs. Those are the consequences of accepting advice without digesting them properly,’’ he said.

    He, however, emphasised the need for financial institutions across the country to reduce their lending interest rates to one digit to enable the youths go into agriculture.

    NAN recalls that SAP was introduced in June 1986 by the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida led administration. (NAN)

  • 500,000 expected at Lagos International Trade Fair

    500,000 expected at Lagos International Trade Fair

    The 2017 edition of Lagos International Trade Fair is expected to attract foreign investment, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Vice President and Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, Mr. Sola Oyetayo, has said.

    The fair, with the theme: “Promoting industriali-sation from economic recovery and sustainable growth”, Oyetayo said, is expected to attract over 200,000 exhibitors from 200 countries, including about 500,000 visitors.

    He said the theme was germane, given the economic realities that require the support of stakeholders for the recovery and sustainability of the economy.

    He asked the Federal Government to ensure an enabling environment for industries and commerce to thrive.

    Oyetayo said a new feature of this year’s fair was the provision of a platform for the industrial and service sectors to interact with players in the economy.

    Others are the planned business-to-business meeting, secondary school essay competition and the Lagos creative industry. Oyetayo said the organisers targeted  creative industry sector because of its capacity to impact positively on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    On the business clinics, he said,  banks and investment houses have been encouraged to take advantage of the business clinic to create an interactive session with Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

    He said this would enlighten operators on the growing trend in technology in the delivery of quality service to customers.

    He said they went far to ensure that locally-manufactured products were given the pride of place and not to be subsumed by international exhibitors.

    On security, he said, they were working with the anti-bomb, riot and kidnap squad in addition to providing 24-hour security with CCTVs.

    He said his office had accepted offers from the European Union, Japan, China, South Korea, North America and Turkey.

    Others are South Africa, Ghana, and the Republic of Benin.

    This year’s fair is billed to hold in November.

     

  • Taleveras complied with International Trading Standards, says legal team

    The Taleveras Group yesterday said all its business transactions and investments in the oil sector  have been in compliance with International Trading Standards.

    It also said that in the last 17 years, it has been trading and engaging in third party contracts, inclusive of oil and gas upstream operations.

    On the case made by the US Department of Justice, Taleveras said neither it nor its associated companies lifted any oil from the Atlantic Drilling Fluids.

    In a statement signed by its Legal Counsel, Alex School Esq,  the company which just won oil blocks in Equatorial Guinea, said the legal case against Atlantic Drilling Fluids has nothing to do with Taleveras or its chairman, Mr. Igho Sanomi.

    The company said the reports of some online online publications were not only misleading but grossly inaccurate.

    The statement said: “The attention of Taleveras legal team has been drawn to online publications related with a case against Atlantic Drilling Fluids. This legal case is not against Taleveras or Igho Sanomi.

    Some of these publications are misleading and grossly inaccurate. It is thus proper to set the records straight.

    “One of Taleveras core activities since 2000, is sourcing, trading and engaging in third party contracts, inclusive of oil and gas upstream operations.

    “Taleveras due to its capacity, trading expertise and financial strength, continues to source and engage in procuring third party oil contracts.

    “Taleveras performs on these contracts handling the physical delivery, risk management and logistics from start point to its numerous first class end users and major refiners.

    “This process involves verification of the contracts with the issuing authority to authenticate and further compliance with our lending banks internal due diligence processes. This is no different from International Trading Standards performed by the numerous international and major oil and gas companies operating in Nigeria.

    “As it relates to the US department case against Atlantic Drilling, please note that Taleveras and the other two major oil trading houses (Glencore and Arcadia) were not faulted for embarking on a legitimate transaction, as all payments were made based on legitimate third party contracts with private companies and not NNPC.

    “This is indeed compared to a buyer of a property who embarks on verification of property title documents with the issuing authority and upon verification, goes into a sales contract and then makes contractual payment to the seller. The Buyer certainly has no control in whatever the seller does with his proceeds from the sale.

    “In concluding, the ultimate aim of contracting is to off-take crude oil from asset productions.

    “ It is worthy to note that neither Taleveras nor its associated companies lifted any oil from this production through Atlantic. Terms of the agreement were breached and hence a legal dispute and appropriate filings made in respected court of jurisdiction.

    “We will thus refrain from making further comments.”

  • Lagos, record keeping and International Archives Day

    Records are documentary evidence of a transaction kept for reference, maintenance of history and continuity of activities of an individual, organization or country. They come in different forms.

    Some records are kept longer than others while some are destroyed because they have outlived their usefulness. Others are deliberately or consciously selected for preservation because the information contained therein has “enduring value” which could be administrative, financial, legal or historical. Records kept for this purpose are referred to as archives. The term archives can also refer to a place (building/ room/ storage area) where archival materials are kept or an agency responsible for the selection, preservation, documentation and making available archival materials for use.

    Since 1960, governments, organizations and the media have established various archives. However, The National Archives of Nigeria remains the oldest government archives in Nigeria. It started as Nigerian Records Office in 1951 before metamorphosing   vide the Public Archives Ordinance No. 43 to the National Archives of Nigeria. It has three main branches in Kaduna, Enugu and Ibadan with local branches at Abeokuta, Benin, Calabar, Ilorin, Jos, Lagos, Maiduguri, Owerri, Port Harcourt and Sokoto.

    The creation of The National Archives of Nigeria was a fall out of the efforts to decolonize colonial historiography and engage nationalist historiography in the then University College Ibadan. It is not surprising that the brain behind the first effort leading to the creation of the National Archives Ibadan was a historian, the first with PhD in African history from the University of London, Dr. Kenneth Onwuka Dike. He became the first indigenous professor of African history, and the first Nigerian principal, later vice chancellor, of the University College Ibadan (later University of Ibadan after independence).

    In contemporary time, the need by countries and their peoples  to establish archives and put in place a robust policy that is credible on records and archives management, especially in public administration has been expanded to include documenting policies and decisions of government, identifying the rights of people, providing continuity in case of disaster and serving as societal memory. In same vein, the users or archives have moved beyond historians to include scholars, students, researchers, biographers, genealogists, demographers, writers and film makers.

    It has been realized that adequate records and archives management provide data for planning and policy options. An effective record management ensures that the right information is available to the right person at the right time and at the least possible cost, by the right person or agency. Thus, the whole essence of record management in public administration is to serve as credible repository of accumulated experiences, values, innovation and initiatives of people, entities or polity in which it operates in their quest to achieve growth and development as reported or recorded at a given time.

    The Lagos State government in recognition of the importance of record keeping, established the Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau (LASRAB) pursuant to Law No 22 of May 2007 for the permanent custody, regulation and control of records and archives of the government of Lagos State, the local governments and other archives or historical records of entities operating within the state or outside as may be acquired by the state.  LASRAB serves as a – one- stop – shop for information on Lagos State.

    The bureau which is headed by a Director General  ensures that public offices follow standard record keeping practices; establishes standards and advise on best practices on records and archives management in the state; establishes and implements  procedures for the control and management of records of enduring value; establishes and implements procedures for the transfer of public records of enduring value for preservation and management  in the state archives or such archival repository as may be established under the law.

    The bureau has been working relentlessly across the state, and indeed beyond, to acquire and preserve records with key historical values on the state. It has in its custody, security reports especially during the colonial time, policy files, administrative files, maps from colonial time, government publications, international and private bodies publications, pictures of old Lagos and important personalities old and present, audio and video tape, As – Built Drawings, newspapers dating back as the early 1960s among others. LASRAB is on the verge of coming up with a policy on archive and record management, the first of its kind in the country.

    It is important to stress that data generated from the birth and death rate, marriage and population distribution of the state, land information/ urban memory services, budget information and statistical records, public organization records, if properly managed, would enable government to determine health and quality of life of the citizens, the literacy and educational level, welfare and the well-being of the people and thereby provide appropriate policies.

    Though we live in highly urbanized and information –rich society, yet Lagos State is a state that has from time immemorial remained hooked to value system, culture tradition and family histories, hence the outstanding performance in their chosen field. Records and archive of Lagos State are part of its cultural heritage and development resources. They are thus essential element in helping the present and future generations to understand, improve, manage and preserve their patrimony, less the physical and cultural discontinuity of urban change obliterate the historical milestones of development, for there can be little or no sustainable  development without preserving cultural continuity. Hence, the bureau is currently encouraging traditional rulers in the state to document the history of their respective domains and forward such with it for preservation and public consultation.

    It is in order to properly stress the importance of record keeping that the International Council on Archives [ICA] in Vienna, Austria, in 2004 declared June 9 every year as the International Archives Day (IAD).  The day is geared towards spreading the word about the Universal Declaration on Archives, which recognizes the essential role of archives in supporting administrative accountability and transparency, protecting the rights of individuals and organizations, and forming part of the cultural heritage of society. This year’s International Archives Day celebration comes under the theme “Archives, Citizenship and Inter-culturalism”. The theme relates to the connection between archives, culture and the people. In a world where hitherto revered cultural values are being daily eroded, placing high premium on the essentiality of archives and record keeping will, no doubt, help in preserving the culture and tradition of various societies.

    As it has become customary, especially in the past five years, LASRAB will also be joining other stakeholders across the globe to mark this year’s edition of International Archives Day by drawing the attention of stakeholders to the need to chart the way forward for the sector in the country. Hopefully, aside the usual fanfare and intellectual discourses that typically characterize the day’s commemoration, it is expected that this year’s edition would impact greatly on record keeping in the country and, indeed, the world at large. Considering the importance of record keeping as previously illustrated above, the imperative for a vibrant and active record keeping tradition should not be lost on both the public and private sectors.

     

    • Onayele is Director General, Lagos State Records & Archives Bureau.

  • World Health Day: Saraki raises concern over withdrawal of international funding for HIV/AIDS

    The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on Thursday called for increased global attention for HIV/AIDS funding in Nigeria.

    In a statement by Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Saraki said that the fate of over 3.4 million Nigerians living with the infection would be uncertain with poor funding.

    “Information at our disposal reveal that significant global support for HIV/AIDs in Nigeria has been withdrawn.

    “In order not to jeopardise the treatment of millions of Nigerians that are living with HIV and AIDS, government at all levels must continue to work with our international partners to identify alternative sources of funding.

    “The fire brigade approach will not work on this issue. Foresight, preparation and strategies must be put in place to tackle the potential threat to life.

    “Additionally, we must assemble a team of prominent medical professionals and eminent Nigerians at home and abroad to create a campaign.

    “This is to persuade the donor community to reconsider their decision,’’ he said.

    The senate president also stated that the Upper Chamber would work to ensure that there were no gaps in the HIV/AIDS funding regime.
    He expressed optimism that government’s external funding request would be granted.

    He said that the 2017 Budget contained provisions to fund initiatives aimed at rolling back the spread of polio and cholera, which had experienced gradual resurgence in the northern part of the country.

    “With the various challenges facing Nigerian’s health sector, now is not the time to retreat on HIV/AIDS.

    “The loss of funding will create immediate stress on an already overburdened system,’’ Saraki said, adding that Nigeria would overcome the challenge.

  • NLC backs Amnesty International to defend the weak

    NLC backs Amnesty International to defend the weak

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has pledged to support Amnesty International Nigeria in defending the rights of the vulnerable in the society.

    Its President, Ayuba Wabba, stated this during a solidarity visit to Amnesty International (AI) in Abuja.

    The NLC also condemned the protest against AI by a group, Global Peace and Rescue Initiative (GOPRI), asking the AI to leave the country.

    The group claimed that an Amnesty report that accused the Nigerian Army of extra-judicial killings was false. Several civil society groups have since condemned GOPRI and pledged support for AI.

    Wabba said this had become imperative as rights of Nigerians, especially vulnerable groups such as women, children and the less privileged, were being trampled upon.

    “I want to assure you of the support of the NLC and the working class because as workers, our rights have been trampled upon several times. You are aware of the fact that across the states, salaries, pension and gratuity are not being paid as at when due. This is a violation of the rights of workers,” Wabba said.

    He, therefore, said the NLC needed to stand side by side with organisations like AI to continue to protect the most vulnerable groups against the powerful and the rich in the society.

    “We have documented some of these challenges that our people have gone through,” Wabba said, adding that the NLC would continue to partner AI in the fight for social justice, anti-corruption, good governance, accountability and in the dignity of the human beings.

    The NLC President condemned GOPRI’s protest at AI’s Abuja office on March 21, saying that the AI was an organisation known globally and had worked extensively on human rights in many countries.

    “For such issues to arise, especially the hiring of people to come and protest in this office is something that we condemn as organised labour. I really sympathise with you on what has happened.

    “Nigerians are already aware that this was a sponsored protest. It is something that is condemnable. We should not allow those business persons that have actually privatised protest as means of getting money to continue in the business,” Achese added.

    He assured that the NLC would not stop the struggle to ensure better life for the workforce, adding that it would continue to collaborate with the organised labour to carry out humanitarian services.

    Chairman Trustee, Amnesty International Nigeria, Auwal Rafasanjani, commended the NLC for the solidarity visit.

    Rafasanjani said the AI was a reputable organisation that works on accountability.