The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria News

UNILAG to admit only 8,000 – outgoing VC

No fewer than 24,000 applicants to the University of Lagos ( UNILAG ) who scored 200 marks and above will still be unable to secure admission in the institution in the 2017/2018 academic session.

The outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rahamon Bello, gave the indication at a forum with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He said that although 32,000 applicants to the university scored 200 marks and above in this year’s Unified Tertiary matriculation examination ( UTME ), Unilag would not admit beyond 8,000.

Bello said that the university insisted that an applicant must also score at least 40 per cent in Unilag’s post-UTME before consideration for admission.

“We know what goes on in our public examinations. That is why we insist on candidates undertaking our post UTME and scoring at least 40 per cent,’’ he said.

According to Bello, who steps down as Unilag’s Vice-Chancellor on Nov. 11, the aim is to promote excellence.

“We admit the best so that we can produce the best,’’ he said.

He said that the university held 75 inaugural lectures during his five-year tenure in an effort to promote scholarship.

The professor of chemical engineering noted that the university had held a total of 374 inaugural lectures since its existence.

Bello said that the university produced 103 professors in the past five years, representing about 20 per cent of the 292 professors it had produced in its 55 years of existence.

“They just don’t come and get them; the process of becoming a professor in Unilag is very tedious.

“We have peer review from inside and outside and we have interview internally, so that at the end, you know why you are promoted or why you are not,’’ he said.

Bello said that Unilag had to change its curriculum in a bid to sustain academic excellence.

“We are neither a technology university nor a business university; we are comprehensive, except for agriculture.

“The only agriculture we do is marine.’’

He expressed satisfaction at the performance of the university in its new fields of study such as cell biology and genetics.

“When we started them, they were almost nothing.

“Cell biology and genetics, for instance, are the ones that drive the health sector when you talk about working in the sub-cell region, especially in the area of In-Vitro-Fertilisation ( IVF ).

He also expressed delight at the performance of the university’s creative arts department.

“When we started it, some saw it as laughable. Today, most of our graduates are the ones making money in Nollywood,’’ Bello said.

Bello, the 11th Vice-Chancellor of the university, came into office in 2012, following the death of the then Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adetokunbo Sofoluwe.

Bello will be succeeded by Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the university’s Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics).

NAN

November 9, 2017
Shell supports Bayelsa youths with N12m start-up capital

The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) on Thursday presented a business support grant of N12 million to 30 participants of its youth entrepreneurship scheme.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Yenagoa, Mr Igo Weli, General Manager, SPDC, said that the company had so far empowered 6, 580 youths from the Niger Delta under the ‘LIVEWIRE’ entrepreneurship programme for youths between age 18 and 35.

Weli, who was represented by Mr Kiri Obomanu, Head of GMoU Maturation Unit of SPDC, said that the beneficiaries had undergone training in essential business and entrepreneurship management.

He said that 150 young entrepreneurs participated in the 2017 edition of the Shell LiveWIRE programme in the Niger Delta region.

According to him, the scheme enables young people to start their own businesses and create employment, rather than seeking for elusive employment opportunities.

“It provides budding young entrepreneurs with access to the essential business knowledge and customised support they need to transform their enterprising ideas into a viable and sustainable business.

“LiveWIRE programme is targeted at young people between ages 18-35 to inspire, encourage and support them to start their own businesses or expand existing ones.

“We do this by providing them requisite training and start up finance.

“It is hoped that with legitimate alternative means of livelihood, our young men and women will turn their backs on vices,” he said.

Mr Collins Cocodia, the Bayelsa Commissioner for Youths Development, urged SPDC to strengthen its collaboration with the state government on youth empowerment.

Cocodia applauded the oil firm for the initiative and urged the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity by taking their peers off the employment market.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Miss Bertha Erekosima, whose specialty is on bags and shoe production, commended SPDC for the scheme and pledged to uphold the objectives of the programme and expand their businesses.

Mr Sapele Lawrence, who specialised in fish farming, said that he would deploy the grant to expand his existing farm.

“This grant is a welcome development, I have only one pond and have been yearning to expand my ponds, my dream is to have six ponds and this grant will go a long way and I will have to hire more hands.

“I am also looking at producing fingerlings because here in Bayelsa, we don’t have anyone involved in breeding and fish farmers travel to Delta to get fingerings, so I will further deploy the grant into these areas,” Lawrence said.

NAN

November 9, 2017
2018 Budget: LCCI lauds 30.8% capital allocation

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has commended the Federal Government for allocating 30.8 per cent of the 2018 Federal Budget to capital projects.

The Director-General of LCCI, Mr Muda Yusuf, gave the commendation in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.

President Muhammadu Buhari presented the N8.6 trillion 2018 Federal Budget to the National Assembly on Nov. 7.

The N8.6 trillion 2018 Budget represents a 16 per cent increase in nominal term over the 2017 Budget of N7.44 trillion.

“We welcome the priority accorded to infrastructure in the budget proposal focusing on roads, railways, power projects, water projects and second Niger bridge.

“Reference was made to the embarrassing state of the access to the ports and the public private initiative to fix it.

“We welcome the decision to connect the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge to the Apapa and the Tin-Can Island port.

“But time is of the essence.

“There is an urgent need to save the private sector and investors from the agony of persistent gridlock at the Apapa and Tin-Can ports which accounts for over 70 per cent of import and export cargo in the country,” he said.

Yusuf said that it was imperative to formulate policies to mobilise private sector capital into the infrastructure space.

He said that consideration should be given to further reduction in cost of governance and scaling up remittances of surplus from MDAs to the coffers of government.

The LCCI boss also said there was the need to refocus government’s tax drive from direct to indirect taxes in line with the National Tax Policy.

“A disproportionate focus on direct taxation is detrimental to investment and hard work.

“There is also need to curb the growing incidence of multiplicity of taxes and levies on businesses at all levels of government,” he said.

According to him, as the budget appropriation process progresses, there is need for clarifications on the status of budgetary appropriation for petroleum subsidy both for the current fiscal year and 2018.

“It is also necessary to throw some light on the status of the estimated N800 billion debt to oil marketers.

“Investors in this sector would like to see a sustainable framework for the management of petrol subsidy,” Yusuf said.

He also called for clarification on the status of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) debts estimated at about N5 trillion within the debt management framework of the government.

Yusuf said that clarification on the framework for payment of contractors’ arrears which cuts across various MDAs should be provided.

“The non-payment of contractor’s arrears has taken a huge toll on many contractors.

“The amount involved has been estimated at over N1 trillion,” he said.

The LCCI boss appealed to the National Assembly to ensure speedy consideration of the appropriation bill toward normalising the budgetary cycle and bringing greater predictability to the economic management process.

NAN

November 9, 2017
Melania Trump visits elementary school in Beijing

U.S. First Lady Melania Trump on Thursday visited Banchang Elementary School in Beijing, accompanied by Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Trump and Peng joined the students in their English, astronomy and Peking Opera classes, and watched their singing and dancing performances.

Peng told Trump that Banchang is a public school.

Teaching facilities have been improving in recent years, and the standard of education rising.

The students showed their self-designed Qipao, a kind of traditional Chinese dress, and invited the guests to help finish their wash painting of a little panda.

In a cookery class, Peng and Trump joined the pupils in making a famous Beijing snack and apple pie.

The students also presented their calligraphy and handicraft to the ladies, and gave performances at the school auditorium.

Peng and Trump agreed that Chinese and American children could and should know more about each other and make friends.

Melania Trump is in Beijing with U.S. President Donald Trump for a three-day visit.

Read Also: UK’s Daily Mail to pay Melania Trump damages over modeling claims

November 9, 2017
Court remands man over alleged armed robbery

A Sango- Ota Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ogun, on Thursday ordered the remand of 22-year-old Isamaila Jimoh, in prison over alleged armed robbery.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs B. B. Adebowale, ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison, pending legal advice from the State Director of Public Prosecutions.

Adebowale adjourned the case until Dec. 21 for hearing.

The defendant, whose address was not given, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and army robbery.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Abdulkareem Mustapha, said that the defendant and others still at large, committed the offences on Sept. 8 at about 10.30 p.m. at Arise and Shine Bus-Stop, Itele, Ota.

Mustapha said that the defendant and his accomplices used a local gun to rob one Musa Ali of his Bajaj Motorcycle valued at N205, 000.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections (1) (2) (a) of the Robbery and Fire Arms Act Cap R11, Laws of theFederation, 2004.

Read Also: Court remands man caught with Indian hemp

November 9, 2017
Senate approves $350m World Bank loan for Ogun Development Policy Operation

The Senate at plenary on Thursday approved 350 million dollars World Bank loan for Ogun State Development Policy Operation ( DPO ) as contained in the 2016-2018 Rolling Plan.

The approval followed the presentation of a report on the loan by Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Sen. Shehu Sani.

Presenting the report, Sani said that the committee observed that the Ogun State DPO budget for the loan had been approved by World Bank in 2016.

He added that the loan was further captured in the 2016-2018 borrowing plan as approved by the National Assembly.

Sani noted that the committee also observed that the credit facility had an attractive low financing rate of 125 per cent interest, moratorium of five years and a five-year maturity term.

He said “the facility has already been captured in the 2016-2018 Medium Term Expenditure Framework.

“It also has low and acceptable loan sustainability level, therefore it is eligible to borrow.

“The DPO loan will further help to enhance the capacity of the state government.

“The state has met the various conditions laid by World Bank and as such qualified for the loan.

“It has also put in place institutional framework for transparent and accountable budgetary and financial purpose.”

He explained that the projects to be funded by the facility would engender economic growth, increase revenue generation and create employment opportunities.

“The committee recommends that the Senate should go ahead and approve the loan as contained in the 2016-2018 external borrowing rolling plan of President Muhammadu Buhari,’’ Sani added.

The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary, put the report to voice vote and was adopted by the lawmakers.

NAN

November 9, 2017
NGO distributes condoms, empowers 200 people in Port Harcourt

A Non-Governmental Organisation ( NGO ),Minds Development Initiative, on Thursday, said it trained and empowered more than 200 people in different fields.

Its Director-General, Dr Constance Amad said this in Port Harcourt on Thursday that the organisation focused on assisting underprivileged persons.

The members the eight-year-old organisation, in a roadshow on major roads and streets in Port Harcourt, distributed condoms to residents.

Amadi said that the condoms were worth N1.6 million, adding that the organisation also
bought and distributed wheel chairs to physically challenged persons.

According to her, the distribution of condoms is to save the live of residents who cannot abstain from having sex.

She said the organisation had branches in all states of the federation except Gombe State, where the head was allegedly murdered by Boko Haram terrorists.

The director-general said that the roadshow was to create awareness about the existence of the group and to mark its eighth anniversary.

She added that the organisation had carried out free medical services in local communities in the country.

Read Also: NGO provides shelter to 99 indigent children in Plateau

NAN

November 9, 2017
Pope Francis recognises “heroic virtues” of predecessor, John Paul I

Pope Francis has agreed to recognise the “heroic virtues’’ of his predecessor, John Paul I, bringing the Italian-born pope closer to Catholic sainthood, the Vatican said on Thursday.

A candidate with heroic virtues earns the title of “Venerable’’ and is two steps away from sainthood.

Beatification, which gives a person the right to the “Blessed’’ title, is next in line for John Paul I.

Born Albino Luciani in northern Italy, the late pope led the Catholic Church for only 33 days, died on Sept. 28, 1978, at relatively young age of 65.

The official cause of death was heart attack, but conspiracy theorists suggested that John Paul I was murdered by people afraid of his plans to clean up the Vatican’s murky finances.

Earlier this week, a journalist also involved in John Paul I’s canonisation process published a book, claiming to have found evidence that there was no foul play.

John Paul I suffered chest pains hours before his death but turned down medical assistance, neglecting symptoms of fatal heart trouble, Stefania Falasca wrote, quoting confidential medical report.

Normally, miracles would have to be attributed to John Paul I to justify his beatification and, later, sainthood, but Francis could waive such requirements.

Many popes made it to sainthood, most recently John Paul II and John XXIII in 2014.

NAN

November 9, 2017
Ado Odo/Ota LGA generates N78m in 8 months

Ado Odo/Ota Local Government Area in Ogun, said on Thursday that it generated about N78 million as Internally Generated Revenue ( IGR ) between January and August.

Mr Basiru Adeniji, the Executive Chairman of the council, disclosed this while receiving members of Ogun State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs on an oversight visit to the council.

Adeniji said that the revenue was generated from license fees, fines, rent on land among others.

“The council raked in the sum of N5.4million from license fees, over N3million from fines, while we got N1.5 million from rent on land.

“We also generated revenue from extra ordinary items, repayments, rent on government buildings among others,” he said.

Adeniji lamented that the council was confronted with the problem of refuse management, saying that its finances can’t adequately take care of the problem.

He pleaded with the committee to prevail on the State Government to assist the council by providing refuse trucks to solve the problem.

“The issue of harmonisation of revenue collection by the State Government should be seriously looked into as the local councils are not benefiting from the venture,” he said.

Responding, Mr Olusola Sonuga, the Committee Chairman, reassured that the assembly would continue to support the need for total autonomy for Local Governments in the state.

Sonuga said that the autonomy would engender more development at the grassroots.

The lawmaker advised council to concentrate on executing capital projects, saying that it was the surest way to ensure solid grassroots development.

NAN

November 9, 2017
Take Algeria match very serious, Onigbinde tells Super Eagles

Akinade Onigbinde, the coach of FRSC Football Club of Abuja, on Thursday called on the Super Eagles to see Friday’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Algeria as an all-important match.

Onigbinde said this in Abuja that this would help them get a good result which would then elevate the team in the FIFA ranking.

He said the match was capable of either improving or negatively affecting the country’s position in the global football ranking.

“The match should be taken very serious in order not to drop on the FIFA ranking.

“Also, the way we play against Algeria will impact positively or negatively on our friendly with Argentina,” Onigbinde warned.

The coach described the Nigeria/Algeria match as a determinant for Nigeria’s preparations for the World Cup, and urged the players to shun laxity and complacency.

“The Eagles must go all out to crush Algeria with all it has as a formidable team.

“I also believe that the match against Algeria is more important than the one against Argentina, because it is the warm-up against Argentina,’’ he said.

The coach said the team should not succumb to pride or over-confidence, adding that this could result in concession of defeat.

The Super Eagles will face Algeria in Constantine on Friday in their final match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

NAN

November 9, 2017