The Nation Newspaper

Tag: MANAGEMENT

  • NSC, NFF, LMC officials pass management course

    NSC, NFF, LMC officials pass management course

    Seven officials of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and League Management Company (LMC) are among 29 African sports administrators who have successfully completed a five-month course in management development sponsored by Africa’s leading television outfit, Supersports.

    All seven officials were at the colourful graduation ceremony held at the Strathmore Business School, within the Strathmore University campus in Nairobi, Kenya on Saturday, which was attended by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary (Minister) for Sports, Arts and Culture, Dr. Hassan Wario.

    NFF’s Director of Marketing, Adama Idris, Assistant Director (Media), Ademola Olajire and special assistant to General Secretary, Dr. Christian Emeruwa were joined by the Secretary-General of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Olumide Bamiduro Stephen, Secretary-General of Rowing Federation, Ms Olubunmi Oluode and the LMC’s Mike Enahoro and Stanley Ikechukwu.

    The officials courageously completed a demanding schedule of one-week-a-month module of 8-hour per day intensive classes, assignments and examinations that spread over 202 notional study hours, and were issued with Certificate of Competence in management by the University of Witwaterstrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa.

    The programme was conducted between June and October 2013 at Strathmore Business School but driven by Supersports and Wits Business School, University of Witwaterstrand.

    At Saturday’s glamour event, Dr. Wario, the driving force of Kenya’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations, commended Supersports for the eight-year old initiative and challenged the graduates to return to their respective countries and change the face of sports administration for the better.

    Mike Enahoro emerged the second best graduating student while Stephen was leader of the team that won the syndicate assignment, and Emeruwa gave a glowing speech of appreciation on behalf of the graduates.

    Supersports Head of Africa, Andre Venter, Director of Enterprise, Graham Abrahams, Programme Director, Carl Wagner and the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Strathmore University, Professor da Silva were among dignitaries at the event.

    Students completed courses in Managing People, Understanding Organisational Dynamics, Financial Information, Business Communication, Marketing, Project Management, Managing Resources and several sport-related areas.

  • World Bank tasks Nigeria on resource management

    World Bank tasks Nigeria on resource management

    The World Bank Nigeria Country Director, Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly, has warned beneficiaries of the bank’s financial interventions that there would be zero-tolerance for poor use of the resources.
    Speaking in Enugu at the Country Performance Portfolio Review (CPPR) meeting for South-south and South-east states, she also said the country needed to attain faster growth rate in order to curb extreme poverty.
    It also emerged that the total monthly internally-generated revenue (IGR) of Enugu State now stands at about N14 billion. The state government said through a representation from the state planning commission that it intended to realise 50 per cent of its total revenue from IGR while working towards managing public debt in a way that does not create problem for the state.
    In a presentation to participants, the Cross River State Planning representative said its commitment to implementing various capital projects that could be of immense benefit to its people had further been hampered by a CBN directive to banks to refrain from extending credit to the state.
    It added that the situation had dealt “a big blow and killer punch” on the capacity of the state to undertake crucial empowerment initiatives.
    Notwithstanding, it said the development had encouraged the state to step up efforts to boost its IGR and strengthen public-private partnerships (PPP).
    Meanwhile, the World Bank Country Director also called for enhanced management of resources by the Nigerian government in order to further improve the living condition of its people.
    She noted that the Breton Woods institution’s contribution to Nigeria was only two per cent of annual federal government budget, implying that if resources were well-managed, much could still be achieved even without the bank’s aid.
    Marie-Nelly said although more states were currently seeking partnership with the bank, there is the need to emphasise good practices in project implementation and install mechanisms to ensure that projects are embedded in state strategies, implementation and monitoring arrangements.

  • Tenger blasts Akwa management •Says he won’t return until sack story is debunked

    Tenger blasts Akwa management •Says he won’t return until sack story is debunked

    Akwa United head coach, Justin Tenger has vowed ` not to return to the side except the management recant the purported sack report in one of the Nigerian tabloids.

    An unquoted source in the sports tabloid on Friday said the Akwa United management has sacked Tenger and the entire players.

    However, Akwa United chairman, Isong Isang has come out to deny the reported sack of the coach and the players insisting that no such decisions were taken by the Uyo-based side.

    Tenger said the publication is damaging to his reputation and insisted he will only return to the side’s coaching job except the management recant the report or cause a rejoinder in like manner to be published in same medium.

    “I spoke with the chairman, Isong Isang over my purported sack and the players as boldly reported by the said sports daily and he stoutly denied knowledge of any decision of the management to sack me and the players.

    “Isang pleaded with me to come back to the side on Monday as earlier agreed before I departed to my home town for the burial arrangement of my late elder brother but I told him promptly that I felt embarrassed and blackmailed by the report.

    “I told him that I don’t want their job any longer rather they should work out my entitlement and remit same to me in strict accordance with the contract terms.

    “I said I’ve declared myself vacant and will be available to any side that need my service as I’m not keen to struggle the position with anyone.

    “Isang insisted I should disregard the publication as 100% false and come back to Uyo to commence preparations for the new season but I told him the only condition that will make me return is if the management went ahead to officially clarify the report, refute and give a rejoinder else I’m out of the job completely.

    “I’m not begging for the job, I’ve done my own part keeping the side in the Premier League and if for any reason my service is no more needed we shouldn’t go to the media to embarrass ourselves,” the former Niger Tornadoes coach said to supersport.com.

    Tenger guided Akwa United to berth safely and avoid relegation in the out gone 2012/13 Glo Premier League season as they finished on the 16th spot on 51 points.

  • RISK MANAGEMENT

    RISK MANAGEMENT

    Risk management could entail avoiding the risk completely, reducing the negative impact of the risk through risk mitigation actions, transfering or sharing the risks with other parties and retaining the risk; ie, accepting some or all the consequences of the risk and budgeting for it.

  • ‘Boundary management critical to peace’

    Ekiti State Deputy Governor Prof. Modupe Adelabu yesterday hailed members of the State Boundary Commission for preventing communal clashes through prompt resolution of intra-state land disputes.

    She spoke in her office in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, while hosting officials of the commission.

    Mrs. Adelabu said the commission has helped the government sustain security and peaceful co-existence.

    Noting that territorial disputes were not only sensitive but require diplomacy and historical facts to resolve, she urged members of the commission to be meticulous in their investigations.

    Mrs. Adelabu assured them of the government’s continued support.

    The Commission’s Chairman, Benjamin Onyeabo, said they had resolved many boundary disputes.

    Onyeabo said the National Boundary Commission (NBC) would be in Ekiti State on September 16 to address inter-state boundary disputes between Ekiti, Kwara, Ondo and Osun states.

    Also yesterday, the deputy governor received officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), led by the Ekiti Sector Commander, Rindom Kumven, in her office.

    She urged them to be incorruptible and diligent, adding that their intervention has reduced accidents.

    The deputy governor said the government was ready to partner the FRSC to form Road Safety Clubs in primary and secondary schools to teach children road signs and safety rules.

    Mrs. Adelabu urged the FRSC to organise sensitisation programmes for drivers on traffic rules.

    Kumven hailed the government for repairing and building roads, saying it had reduced accidents and made traffic control easier.

    He urged the government to assist the command with vehicles for its new unit at Itawure.

  • AfDB, others advocate coordination on global devt

    THE African Development Bank (AfDB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Inter-American Development Bank, International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank Group, have pledged collaboration for growth in the sector.

    In a statement, the institutions said there is need for efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, aimed at ending poverty and hunger, increase access to education and health care, improve gender equality, and ensure environmental sustainability.

    They said nothing could be more important than ensuring that young people got the right start in life.

    The lenders pledged support for and collaboration with the United Nations-led process of defining the Post-2015 Development Framework. They supported an approach that integrates concepts of economic, social and environmental sustainability.

    Noting that gains in social indicators are at risk in the absence of a long term financing plan, leaders pledged to work together to develop options for long term investment to strengthen the foundations of growth.

    They called for a renewed focus on financing for development – with greater leveraging of official development assistance and private sector investment and better domestic resource mobilisation and management and stronger institutions.

    They pledged cooperation to build the capacity of governments, to enable its policies, to be deployed in monitoring poverty and inequality, and factoring natural wealth accounting into decision making.

    “We are at a critical time where working together, we can bend the arc of history – eliminating absolute poverty, boosting shared prosperity, and defining a pattern of growth that demonstrates that we care for our planet and all its people,” Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group said.

    “In these tough economic times, we’ll only reach our goals by pulling together. We will work with a wide variety of partners to reach our goals, thoughtfully and creatively. Civil society, business, and government need to think and work together. Our institutions aim to create an atmosphere for open dialogue and imaginative solutions to emerge” Luis Alberto Moreno, President of the Inter-American Development Bank added.

     

  • LMC charged on effective league management

    THE Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has decried the promotion of foreign football leagues among others at the expense of local leagues and therefore enjoins the League Management Committee to see to the effective organisation and management of the Nigeria football League, while collaborating with the association for their projection.

    This was contained in a communique issued at the end of an expanded National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the association, held at Bovina Hotel, Ilorin, Kwara State last weekend.

    SWAN equally condemns the way its members are being disallowed from covering league matches in some stadia, saying sports writers should be seen as partners-in-progress.

    The association praised the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Coach Stephen Keshi-led technical crew, for the team’s victory at the 2013 edition of the African Cup of Nations and their recent Mandela Challenge in South Africa. The association, however, calls for adequate preparation for the World Cup qualifier against the Flames of Malawi on September 7.

    The house also praised Blessing Okagbare for her heroic performance in the on-going IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia, and charged the nation’s sports Ministry/ National Sports Commission to evolve a viable youth development programme towards discovering more hidden talents for future international meets.

    The association also enjoined sports federations to always ensure that the association is adequately informed about their programmes within and outside the country to ensure effective publicity.

    SWAN praised the Kwara State government for facilitating the hosting of the Expanded NEC meeting of the association and for its continued support for Kwara State SWAN’s activities and programmes, describing the chapter as a model for others.

    Finally, it congratulated the new Pillar of Sports in Nigeria, Chief Donatus Agu Ejidike on his appointment, and tasked him to brace up for the challenges ahead.

  • AMCON extends tenure of Bridged Banks CEOs, management

    The tenure of the chief executives and management of the three bridged banks has been extended by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

    The banks are Keystone Bank Nigeria Limited, Enterprise Bank Nigeria Limited and Mainstreet Bank Nigeria Limited.

    The Nation learnt that the extension became necessary to allow for more time to enable AMCON to divest its ownership from the banks. The chief executive officers (CEOs) and management of the bridged banks were appointed on August 7, 2011 for two years.

    The affected CEOs are Ahmed Kuru, Enterprise Bank; Philip Ikeazor, Keystone Bank and

    However, the time the extension would cover could not be ascertained. A source in one of the banks who asked that the identity of the institution and his name be veiled, said disclosing the time would be inappropriate, arguing that it could result in uncertain reaction by customers, if at its expiration, there arises a need to make further adjustments.

    The Managing Director of AMCON, Mustafa Chike-Obi, offered “no comment” on whether the tenure of the management will be extended, but The Nation gathered that the extension had been communicated to the management of the affected banks.

    The banks were acquired by AMCON following the revocation by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) of the licences of Afribank, Spring Bank and Bank PHB, because it said they did not show the necessary capacity to recapitalise, following a N620 billion bailout of nine lenders in 2009.

    The CBN set up the “bridged banks” to acquire the assets and liabilities of the failed lenders, which were then sold to AMCON. Then AMCON said it would run the banks for two-three years before finding suitable investors.

     

  • ‘Water bill will eliminate conflict in water management’

    ‘Water bill will eliminate conflict in water management’

    There is need for a water bill for the effective management of water sector in the country, The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Baba Umar Faruk, has stated.

    He said the Water Bill when passed by the National Assembly would provide the legal framework for the entire sector.

    It will also eliminate all areas of conflict in the management of water resources at all levels of government, he added.

    This was contained in a statement in Abuja by the office of the Deputy Director, Press Mrs. Oyeboade Akinola.

    Faruk further explained that the bill is expected to address the issue of proper coordination in the use of water as well as the problems of indiscriminate sinking of boreholes by unqualified/uncertified drillers.

    Faruk noted that the ministry has made the issue of water legislation a priority.

    He said: “On passage of the bill by the National Assembly, the water sector would attain greater heights through the realisation of its vision and mission.”

    He commended the patriotism and commitment demonstrated by the Sub-Committee in the production of the document for the development and management of water resources in Nigeria.

    Chairman of the Legal/Technical Sub-Committee, Professor Joe Goldface-Irokalibe, explained that the water bill would enable stakeholders’ participation at the hydrological catchment areas, key political highlights in proper administration of water.

     

  • Communities ‘reject’ steel firm management’s comeback

    Two communities hosting the Delta Steel Company, Ovwian and Aladja, have warned against the return of its former management team, led by Indian Steel magnate, Pramod Mittal.

    They threatened to take over the land, equipment and facilities of the plant should the government encourage the return of the “Mittal Brothers”.

    The brothers, trading under Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (GINL), were said to have lost the plant, following the cancellation of its sale in 2008 by former President Umaru Yar’Adua for alleged assets stripping.

    The community said they learned of a bid by the brothers to re-take the plant.

    Chairman of Udu Council of Chiefs, the Otota of Udu Kingdom, Sam Odibo, in a statement on behalf of 32 communities that make up Udu, said while the people were not against privatisation, they would not guarantee peace if the same characters that allegedly reduced the company to its current status show up again.

    “If for any reason the management team led by Pramod Mittal is allowed to takeover Delta Steel again, the host communities of Ovwian and Aladja will take over the entire land, including places occupied by the company’s staff quarters.

    “In short, the host communities are determined not to allow any access to the defaulting promoters of Delta Steel under any circumstances in the future,” Odibo said.

    The communities frowned at the management’s alleged lack of concern for their children and their education.

    “DSC Technical High School was regarded as the one of the best schools in the country, servicing children of the company workers as well as non workers.

    “Before Pramod Mittal took over, children of workers were paying N1,000 per term while those of non-staff paid N5,000.

    “In a shocking move, GINL increased the school fees to N25,000 and N30,000 for staff’s and non-staff’s children respectively.

    “The fees of staff’s children in the primary schools were also moved from N300 to N12,000 and from N3000 to N20,000 in the case of non-staff.”

    The communities said rather than allow GINL to return, a credible foreign or local investor with considerable experience operating in Nigeria, strong commitment and robust financial strength, should be engaged to manage Delta Steel.