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Tag: minister

  • How NIPOST Postmaster-General was picked, by minister

    How NIPOST Postmaster-General was picked, by minister

    •’49 applied for job’

    Minister of Communications Adebayo Shittu yesterday explained how the Postmaster-General of the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST), Bisi Adegbuyi, was chosen.

    Shittu denied allegation that a former Oyo State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Adedeji Zachh Adelabu, was prevented from becoming NIPOST Postmaster-General.

    The minister spoke with reporters at the weekend in Ibadan.

    He said: “NIPOST is under the supervisory authority of Ministry of Communications in which  I am the minister. We sought approval of Mr President to recruit a post master-general with business background, who could take NIPOST to the highest level. We felt we may not get the needed materials in relying on only the NIPOST staff. So, we advertised the position in three newspapers. Forty-nine people applied. They were shortlisted to 21.

    “Adelabu is my good brother. At no point did he react to our advertisement. He never applied for the job of the postmaster-general. He was never shortlisted; he never took part in the written test nor in the interviews. So, how could he have been a candidate? Although I was told he was promoted to becoming one, the funny thing was he never discussed the issue with me. The person, who was sponsoring him, eventually brought another person, who was finally approved by Mr President. It is only Mr President that has the power to appoint. Even the minister owes his office at the instance of the President. So, for anybody to think that I overturned the wish of Mr President, it is stupidity of the highest level, cheap blackmail.

    “Some people are saying I didn’t approve Adelabu because he is a Christian; the man now there is a Christian. They also said I didn’t approve him because he wanted to contest for governor. I am not aware he is contesting for governor and I know that he will never compete with me and am not intimidated by anybody. It was also said that it was because he was in another camp in our party. I don’t have any enemy in Oyo State; if people consider me as their enemy, then it is welcome. “

     

  • Health minister hails UNTH

    Health minister hails UNTH

    Impressed by the peaceful atmosphere at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku Ozalla, Enugu State, visiting Health Minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said administrators of other health facilities in the country should emulate the leadership style of Dr. Chris Amah, the chief medical director of the hospital.

    Adewole stated that no organisation could achieve progress without peace and unity, stressing that the crowd that welcomed him to UNTH was a practical demonstration that the management team is united, even as he noted that patients who receive treatment under a peaceful atmosphere would heal faster.

    He said, “This is my third time of visiting UNTH in the past 15 years as union leader, but this time, the warmth the current CMD is radiating since my arrival has not been seen anywhere in my visits to other hospitals in the country, and to reward him, funds to enable him to complete some critical projects would be captured in our 2017 budget.”

    He, however, told medical directors of National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu and Neuropsychiatric hospital Enugu, not to lose hope, as their hospitals would be captured in due course. He also disclosed that UNTH has been selected among seven hospitals in the country to be designated as specialist centers for the treatment of cancer, while government would continue to encourage its cardiothoracic centre of excellence for open heart surgery adding that 200 cancer machines would soon be delivered to hospitals.

    The minster continued, “why do we go to India and other countries for treatment, the best place one can receive treatment and recover fast, is within your country where the medical personnel can speak the same language with you, in fact, the present administration has vowed to improve the health sector so as to discourage medical tourism among our people.”

    Adewole called on state governments not to focus only on primary healthcare, but to address general health matters, especially as it concerns maternal mortality which was high at the moment.

    Earlier while receiving the minister, the chief medical director of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, Dr. Chris Amah, attributed the progress recorded since his appointment in 2011 to the combined efforts of his management team.

    Amah, said that although, UNTH pioneered open heart surgery in South Saharan Africa in 1974, under late renowned surgeon Prof. Febian Udekwu, and recorded Africa’s first separation of Siamese twins in 1976 under Prof. Nene Obianyo, he restored open heart surgery services in march 2013, after over ten years of inactivity.

    The pediatric surgeon stated that after reactivating the cardiothoracic centre of excellence with support from outside the country and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, it has performed over 175 open heart surgeries on adults and children since 2013, which according to him, was higher than the total number performed since the inception of UNTH more than 46 years ago.

    He praised the health minister for visiting the hospital despite his busy schedules, saying the gesture showed his commitment to duty and love for UNTH. The minister later visited some departments and wards, including the cardiothoracic centre, where he interacted with some patients and wished them quick recovery.

    The chairman of the medical advisory committee, Dr. Obinna Onodugo, the director of finance, Mr. Chukwudi Onuchukwu Chocho, the director of the Post graduate studies, Dr. Linda Oge Okoye, the director of administration, Barr. Simon Nkume, head of Nursing services, Mrs. Chinwe Achukwu, the coordinator post Basic Peri-Operative, Nursing school, Dr. Nkiru Azike and head, Public Relations, Mr. Cyril Keleze were on law to receive the minister during the visit.

    Also present on the occasion were professors Basden Onwubere, Martin Aghaji and Benedict Anisiuba, all of the cardiothoracic centre, the medical directors of National Orthopaedic hospital Enugu, Dr. Cajetan Nwadinigwe and Dr. Jojo Onwukwe of the Nueropsychiatric hospital, Enugu as well as the Enugu State Commissioner for health, Dr. Sam Ngwu.

  • Minister lauds Fidson on new factory

    •Reaffirms support for indigneous manufacturing

    The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, has praised Fidson Healthcare Plc for its new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Sango, Ogun State.

    He reiterated the Federal Government’s support for indigenous pharmaceutical manufacturing, saying with the facility, the firm deserves the support and patronage of the government and  stakeholders.

    The Minister, who spoke to reporters during his familiarisation tour of the factory described the facility as a ‘wonder’, saying he is “impressed with its enormous production capacity” and pledged government’s support.

    “What Fidson has built here is extraordinary. We must encourage and support this project in terms of patronage and tax relief to ensure that the company is able to coordinate production in a sustainable manner,” Adewole said.

    The Minister said part of the support would be in raw materials’  import. “We will get the Sovereign Wealth Investment Authority to witness this so that there can be support in terms of getting on board more raw materials needed for drug manufacturing,” he said.

    He promised a review of the policy on importation tariff on raw materials, particularly in the indigeneous manufacturing of medicines in Nigeria.

    “We have discussed with the Minister of Trade and Investment asking for a reversal of the policy on the high tariff on imported raw materials. My visit to this new factory is another reminder in that regard,” he said.

    Adewole stressed that the Muhammadu Buhari administration is focused on creating the market for local manufacturers through patronage, protection and payment. “As far as patronage is concerned, the government will patronise local pharmaceutical manufacturers. We will also offer protection while ensuring that we clear outstanding payments and will only place orders when there are funds for immediate payment.’’

    The facility is one of the five  shortlisted for World Health Organisation (WHO) certification in Nigeria. The plant is equipped with six production lines – tablets, capsules, liquids, cream and ointments, dry powder and intravenous fluids to meet the needs of the Nigerian and West African markets.

    Fidson Healthcare Managing Director, Dr Fidelis Ayebae, expressed optimism that with the government’s support, the new plant would not only boost local pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity, it would transform industry.

    He said the pharmaceutical business requires huge investment to meet future healthcare demands of Nigerians. He noted that with the completion of the plant,  the  industry could launch into global reckoning and attract foreign investors.

    Ayebae highlighted the benefits of the factory to include high quality and affordable healthcare products, world-class pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity, employment generation, increased local content, generation of stronger partnerships, as well as strategic brand and market positioning.

    He said the plant would manufacture large scale pharmaceutical products for Nigerians, thereby strengthening its leadership position in the industry and  place the firm on the global map.

  • Minister harps on youth empowerment

    Minister harps on youth empowerment

    Minister of Youth and Sports Mr Solomon Dalung has said proper coordination of youth development activities is important for rapid job creation.

    He said the ministry has developed a strategy to harmonise youth activities in other ministries and agencies.

    Dalung stated these during a dinner and peace awards to commemorate the 18th  anniversary of the Peace Corps of Nigeria in Abuja.

    He said the Corps had remained relevant on youth empowerment, especially at the grassroots, and deserved encouragement from  Nigerians.

    The National Commandant, Dickson Akoh, said the organisation had operated on volunteerism and urged the  government to use the platform for meaningful youth engagement and empowerment.

    Thirty-two Nigerians received awards for their contributions to peace advocacy and conflict resolution in the country.

    The corps has over 100,000 members in the country.

  • Entrepreneurship key to ending unemployment, says Minister

    Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu said that entrepreneurship holds the key to solving the mounting unemployment challenges of the country.

    He spoke on the occasion of National Conference on Entrepreneurship Education at Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Uwanna  Afikpo, Ebonyi state.

    The programme was held by the institution in conjunction with the National Board for Technical Education. Adamu who said that entrepreneurship is key to  survival in the present knowledge based economy urged students, graduates and unemployed youths to embrace entrepreneurship as  a way out of  unemployment.

    According to the Minister who was represented by a Director in the Ministry Dr. Chimezie Aguiyi, in an effort to combat Youth Unemployment and Eradication of Poverty, the National Council on Education (NCE) approved the mainstreaming of entrepreneurial education into the Senior Secondary Schools Curriculum in 2012.

    He said: “The NCE also made it compulsory for students to offer at least one trade and entrepreneurial subject at the senior secondary education level”. “Some states have challenges with the implementation of the Trade and Entrepreneurship component of Senior Secondary Education Curriculum”.

    “The concept of education stems from the realisation that education is not only a tool of impacting knowledge, ability to read and write nor investment in human capital or an index towards economic development of the nation, but also an avenue for the acquisition of values, attitude, skill and knowledge needed in impacting positive change in the immediate and larger environment; as well as the development of an individual to appreciate the dignity of labour.

    Earlier, the Rector of Akanu Ibiam Federal Poly Unwanna Ven. Ogbonnia  Ibe-enwo urged graduates not to be job seekers but job creators by engaging in entrepreneurship, adding that white colar jobs which they have been relying on is no longer available.

  • Reps can’t invite U.S. envoy, says minister

    minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyema has explained why United States (US) Ambassador James Entwistle failed to honour the invitation of House of Representatives to appear before its panel probing the sex scandal allegations against three lawmakers.

    He said: “You can’t summon an ambassador to appear before a national institution because he is the head of state of his country where he’s serving, and he enjoys sovereign immunity.”

    The House summoned the ambassador to tender evidence against the three lawmakers accused of sexual misconduct during a visit to the U.S.

    The legislators accused of misconduct are Mohammed Garba Gololo (Bauchi), Samuel Ikon (Akwa Ibom) and Mark Gbillah (Benue).

    Speaking at the weekend, the minister explained that inviting the U.S. ambassador to appear before the House was not proper as it shows a lack of understanding of diplomatic agreement.

    He said the letter from the ambassador was not an allegation; it was only meant to bring to the notice of the leadership of the House the allegations against the three lawmakers by American citizens.

    He said the case became complex when those that raised the allegations against the lawmakers refused to testify.

    The minister blamed the “aggressive” behaviour of the lawmakers at the US Embassy in Abuja for the cancellation of their visas.

    He added that issuance or revocation of visas are the prerogative of the embassy and that there is nothing anybody can do about that.

     

  • No compromise on teacher quality, says minister

    Minister of State for Education, Prof Anthony Anwukah, has said the Federal Government would take time to recruit qualified teachers for Unity schools.

    He said this at the Annual Speech Day/Prize Giving ceremony of Queen’s College, Yaba, last Saturday.

    Anwukah said improving teacher quality was one of the plans by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to fulfil its change promise, and assured that the recruitment process would be done with care to select qualified teachers.

    In an interview, he further explained that the N-Power mass teacher recruitment was being reassessed to ensure that unqualified teachers are not posted to schools.

    He said: “The teaching profession will not suffer, particularly under my watch. I will not let it happen. I will shout to Nigerians if the right thing is not being done to give us the right type of teachers. I am not for this crash programme of bringing and placating people who need jobs into the teaching profession. It is not right.  If you have to be in the classroom, you must be qualified to be in the classroom. The disservice being done to our children by unqualified and untrained teachers cannot be taken for granted anymore. It is a danger if we continue with that kind of thing. This time around, we have to take it gently and ensure that those people we send into our classroom are teachers who are qualified. The danger of doing otherwise is enormous and we cannot afford to do that anymore.”

    Anwukah promised to support the Technical Vocational Education complex which the Principal of Queen’s College, Dr Lami Amodu, unveiled at the event, saying the Federal Government is currently investing in TVE.

    When completed, Dr Amodu said the proposed multi-storey skills acquisition complex would provide a platform for the girls to be well trained in vocational trade subjects.

    “Some of the skills taught will help address problems in the society; the economic base would be broadened,” she said.

    In his speech titled: “Agenda for All-Round Girl-Child Education for Global Impact”, the guest speaker, Prof Peter Okebukola, said while no education system can provide the all-round education the girl child needs, Nigeria must strive to meet the educational needs of pupils to prepare them to contribute to societal development.

    “All-round education therefore means providing learning experiences that will make the learner develop society-relevant knowledge, skills, values and attitudes.  It means sound physical, emotional and spiritual development.  It means developing good citizens who cherish such values as honesty, good neighbourliness, diligence, respect for elders and who detest the tendency to steal,” he said.

    Prior to the programme, the Minister inaugurated several projects including an e-library funded by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), School of Knowledge Centre equipped by the Nigerian Communications Commission, two 10-units VIP toilets constructed by the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), and the 500KVA generator donated by the Queen’s College Old Girls’ Association and the Zenith Bank.

    Pupils who excelled in academics, sports and other areas of college life were rewarded with prizes.

     

  • Minister intervenes in Abia erosion

    The minister of Niger Delta Affairs Usani Uguru Usani has decried the erosions ravaging Nkwoagu Isuochi community in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.

    Usani blamed the erosion on the inability of the agency that awarded the contract to follow up the contract after awarding it, to know the extent and quality of work done.

    Speaking at the erosion site in Nkwoagu Isuochi, Usani regretted that the contract which was awarded six years ago has nothing to show for the work that should have impacted positively on the lives of the people of the area.

    Usani said that he is saddened with the devastation done by erosion which has taken part of the road linking Abia state to Umueze in Anambra state, saying that his ministry through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will find a solution to the problem.

    He regretted that the current bombings of the oil installations in the Niger Delta by some militants has caused economic hardship on the finances of the country, “The situation we have found ourselves now has made it hard for us to work at the speed we would have worked”.

    The Niger Delta minister said that he will liaise with the management of the NDDC to ensure that palliative measures are done urgently to enable the people use the road and also stop any hazard that may occur on the road.

    Earlier the member representing Umunneochi state constituency at the state house of assembly, Ikedi Ezekwesiri called for urgent attention on the road which is being eroded to save the council headquarters and other federal agencies.

    Ezekwesiri blamed the erosion on poor supervision by schedule officers and improper termination of drainage, “Which has put the entire community in dire straits, we need urgent attention to save our people and their properties”.

    He pleaded with the minister to mobilise resources to save lives and property “that are in danger occasioned by the marauding devastation of the erosion menace and achieving results will mean by-passing bureaucratic processes”.

    The Abia State House member said that if the erosion is not checked on time that it will consume the main road, village secondary school built over five decades ago, the police station among other places.

    In her speech the member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency, Hon Nkeiruka Onyejiocha said that in the 2008 fiscal year that the place was not in the budget, which she did added for the contract to be awarded.

    Onyejioch regretted the attitude of the contractor whom she alleged is not qualified to handle the magnitude of job they met on site and pleaded with the minister to come to their aid urgently to save them from further damage of their environment.

  • Minister hails $15m Korea model school

    The FCT Minister Malam Muhammad Bello has praised the 15 million USD Korea Model School being built along Airport Road, Abuja via bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and the Korean government.

    The Minister who spoke in his office while receiving a delegation from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) led by the Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Noh Kyu-duk, said it is the largest bilateral project between the two countries.

    Malam Bello noted that the school when completed would serve as a landmark and would strengthen existing a cordial relationship between Nigeria and Korea.

    While assuring that his administration would strive to provide the counterpart fund as at and when due, the Minister said that the FCT Administration would give all the necessary support to make the project successful.

    Malam Bello also praised KOICA for the intended capacity building programme planned for the would-be teachers in that school; saying that would surely create quality managers whose by-products would positively impact on the development of the country in the future by the time the school comes on stream in 2018.

    The Minister disclosed that the FCT Administration was working at creating a special unit in his office that would communicate directly with all the multilateral agencies and countries that are doing projects on joint venture with the FCT Administration to smoothen their operations.

    While noting that the geometric rise in Abuja’s population was posing serious challenges in the areas of managing the city’s traffic movements, waste disposal and electricity generation, the Minister said the Korean government could consider the possibility of investing in these areas to deepen its relationship with Nigeria.

    According to the Minister, “electricity supply is a huge challenge and we need it for basic security issues like the street lights in the night, traffic lights for interchanges as well as the hospitals and so many other areas.”

    “I can assure you that any project that any of the Korean companies is interested to do in Abuja to provide power, we are equally interested because power is needed now more than ever in the city for all the public facilities, we get the power from the national grid and it’s not enough.”

    Speaking on public transportation in FCT, the Minister said running the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system has been quite a challenge as substantial numbers of the huge fleet of buses in the system were down and non-functional.

    “We are thinking that if we can get the company that is very experienced in managing urban mass transit system that uses buses, they may want to come in and we can go into partnership,” he stressed.

    His words: “We own the bus company but if we get serious investors, we can reduce the percentage of ownership because what we are interested is not to make money out of the business, but to improve the movement of the people within the city.”

    Speaking earlier, the Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Noh Kyu-duk said the Korean Government would build certain parts of the Model School, while the FCT Administration will handle other parts.

    Mr. Kyu-duk said the programme is so unique in a way that it would serve as landmark in educational sector between Nigeria and the Korean Republic.

    The Ambassador recalled that the electricity situation in the FCT was much better some 20 years ago when KOICA first came to Abuja, but regretted that the agency is now running on generators at present to sustain its activities.

    “Some of the Korean companies have good experience and technology to build this kind of power plant if the opportunity could be given to us,” he added.

    The FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye and other top officials of the FCT Administration also joined the Minister to receive the Korean delegation.

     

  • Minister launches “Tablet Technology” in schools

    There was exciteme-nt when the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu launched “Tablet Technology in the Classrooms” at the Regent Primary School in Abuja.

    Many were quick to agree it was the beginning of a new phase of learning not only in the Federal Capital Territory, but the whole country.

    The Minister lauded the board of the Regent Primary School, saying it has taken a visionary financial step forward to ensure that young people are prepared for the technology of tomorrow.

    According to the Minister, the children will be able to play a leading role in the development of Nigeria as a leading global economy.

    “There is a need to remember that if we teach today as we taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow,” he said.

    Onu said the government has always been in support of growing a culture of developing science in Nigeria from a young age.

    According to the Minister, letting the children into science based training and the access to computers early in life will aid economic diversification especially into science related services.

    “Now we want to move to a knowledge-based economy that is innovation-based so that we can start talking of services, products. We can’t continue to have woods in our forests and we continue to bring in toothpicks. You know that is not right.

    “We can’t continue to be the sixth largest producer of crude oil in the world and yet we import petroleum products that again are not right. We can’t continue to produce cocoa and import chocolate that is not right.

    “So we require technology to add value to these natural resources. And who are the people that will do this for us, they are the children. And it is the determination of President Muhammadu Buhari to make sure that we diversify the economy.”

    The Minister ‘cut the ribbons’, went into the classrooms to speak to the children, watched what the pupils were doing and addressed them personally.

    Chiamaka Kalu – Uche, Public Relations Manager of Regent said the School has recently maximised the potential of tablet technology to facilitate pupil learning.

    “This was in line with the school’s strategy to incorporate new teaching styles which utilise information and communication technology (ICT) to enhance learning in a new and dynamic way.

    “The Regent Primary School has always aimed at furthering its acknowledged academic excellence by being the leader in the implementation of cutting edge technology for teaching and learning, whilst ensuring that the learning process remains enjoyable and fulfilling for every child.”

    Kalu-Uche said Research indicates that children who use computing technology have greater gains in structural knowledge, problem solving and language skills compared with those who do not use technology in their learning.

    She said Tablets will allow the pupils to access the school curriculum and educational content designed by teachers.

    “The introduction of tablets is the start of the school’s ICT strategic objective of having a 1:1 ratio of pupils to computing devices in the very near future. Through the use of approved apps, teachers can provide notes, display steps and processes to problems, initiate the display of media, and allow pupils to participate from their own seats in a variety of interactive activities.

    “It will also allow pupils to play video or audio lessons and take notes that are synchronized with the lessons. They can read books, view presentations and check homework off as it is completed,” she said.

    The principal of the school, Mr, Michael Dickson said the tablets have excited the students, the staff, but that it would not replace the human side of teaching in the school.

    “What are we planning to achieve with our tablets is to impact quality education in the students,” he said.