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Tag: Nigerian news

  • NCS to train one million students in IT usage

    NCS to train one million students in IT usage

    The Abuja Chapter of Computer Society of Nigeria ( NCS ) plans to train over one million students across the country in Information Technology ( IT )

    The Chairman of the chapter, Mr. Rex Abitogun disclosed this on Wednesday in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

    The Nigeria Computer Society ( NCS ) was formed in 1978.

    It changed its name from the Computer Association of Nigeria ( COAN ) to become the umbrella body of all IT professionals in Nigeria. ·

    The society was established having realised that most of the software applications used in most of the government establishments and industries were not those developed locally.

    It then, became expedient to come together and exhibit such software products and add commercial value to it for the purpose of patronage and also for export.

    Read also: NCS  collects N2.1bn in Niger

    This would also be a source of income earning for the country.

    He said that the society was putting in place programmes that would benefit people especially students.

    “For us at the Nigeria Computer Society, we have raised the bar in terms of advocacy on IT usage and also try as much as possible to come out with programmes that will benefit people.

    “One major programme that we are doing now is “Code One Million” that is an initiative of Nigeria Computer Society.

    “Whereby we plan to train over one million students across the country in IT usage and that is something we are working on.

    “And through some key people like Jim Ovia giving scholarship to PHD students as well as some students to pursue their master’s degree.

    Abitogun said that the NCS would continue to partner with key stakeholders in the industry to make sure that the usage and adoption of Information Technology is promoted.

    He said that the society was equally encouraging people to go out there to promote computer and information sustenance .

    NAN

  • Afreximbank, ICD sign $100m agreement for SMEs

    Afreximbank, ICD sign $100m agreement for SMEs

    The African Export-Import Bank ( Afreximbank ) says it has signed a $100 million financing agreement with the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private sector ( ICD ) to promote SMEs in Shariah-compliant countries.

    A statement by the bank on Wednesday in Lagos said that the facility  being provided by ICD  was for small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) in ICD-member countries.

    The statement quoted Mr Khaled Al Aboodi, Chief Executive Officer of ICD,  as saying that the financing facility was a token in support of  private sector businesses in ICD-member countries.

    According to Aboodi, the facility is for SMEs in the industrial, communication, technology, healthcare, construction and agricultural sectors.

    Mr. Amr Kamel, Executive Vice President at Afreximbank,  said, “this facility will give a boost to our effort to implement our current strategy which prioritises intra-African trade,  intra-African investments and export manufacturing of the labour intensive type.

    “It will also promote our knowledge in Islamic finance and provide us with additional manoeuvring capacity in terms of product offerings to our clients. 

    “We are delighted that ICD has chosen to partner with us in the pursuit of Africa’s trade development.

    “This collaboration will contribute to the objective of fostering sustainable economic growth in the member countries of our two institutions  leading to job creation, contribution to export and Islamic finance development, among others.”

    Read also: Afreximbank finances trade with 100m Euros loan

    ICD is a multilateral organisation and a member of the Islamic Development Bank ( IDB ) Group.

    The mandate of ICD is to support economic development and promote the development of the private sector in  member countries through providing financing facilities and/or investments which are in accordance with the principles of Shari’ah.

    ICD also provides advice to governments and private organisations to encourage the establishment, expansion and modernisation of private enterprises.

    ICD is rated AA/F1+ by Fitch and Aa3/P1 by Moody’s.

    Afreximbank, on the other hand,  is the foremost pan-African multilateral financial institution devoted to financing and promoting intra- and extra-African trade.

    The bank was established in October 1993 by African governments, African private and institutional investors  and non-African investors.

    Afreximbank has total assets of $11.7 billion as at Dec. 31, 2016 and is rated BBB+ (GCR), Baa1 ( Moody’s )  and BBB- ( Fitch ).

    The bank has it  headquarters in Cairo.

    NAN

  • Man docked for threatening wife’s life over son’s paternity

    Man docked for threatening wife’s life over son’s paternity

    A 47-year-old civil servant, Adeyemi Akande, on Wednesday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly threatening to kill his wife, Olanike over son’s paternity.

    Akande, a resident of Alagbado, Lagos, is being tried for threat to life and assault.

    According to the prosecutor, Sgt. Godwin Awase, the accused committed the offences on October 10 at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

    He said that the accused beat and threatened to kill Olanike to reveal who the true father of her son was.

    The prosecutor said that the accused at first refused to release money for a Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid ( DNA ) test when Olanike asked.

    He said however that Olanike on her own released money for the DNA test.

    “When the result of the DNA finally came out, it showed that Àdeyemi was the biological father of the child but the accused threatened to kill her,’’ Awase said.

    Read also: Brad Pitt still troubled over paternity crisis

    Awase said the offences contravened Sections 56 and 172 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 ( Revised ).

    If found guilty he is liable to one year jail term.

    The accused pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    The Magistrate, Mr. J.A Adigun, ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed and must present two years tax certificate to the Lagos State Government.

    The case was adjourned until January 4 for mention.

    NAN

  • Maku urges restoration of Customary Court of Appeal

    Maku urges restoration of Customary Court of Appeal

    Former Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, has called on the Nasarawa State Government to restore the Customary Court of Appeal in the state.

    Maku, a 2015 gubernatorial candidate of All Progressive Grand Alliance ( APGA ) in Nasarawa state, made the appeal on Wednesday while speaking with newsmen in his ancestral home, Wakama, Akun Development Area of the state.

    According to him, re-establishing the abolished court would fast track resolution of traditional issues.

    It would be recalled that the state government scrapped the Customary Court of Appeal during the retirement and valedictory court session in honour of Justice Jibril Idrisu, the President of the state Customary Court of Appeal, on October 23.

    The state government said the decision to scrap the court was based on the advice of the National Judicial Council ( NJC ), citing continued less number of cases recorded in the court over the years in the state.

    Read also: Maku, others say peace, tolerance are panacea to Nigeria’s development

    But Maku asked: “Why will Nasarawa State Government abolish Customary Court of Appeal when the state is made of up of different ethnic cultures and religions?

    “We have Rindre, Afo, Alago, Migili, Agatu, among other tribes, in the state.

    “In Nasarawa state, the law provides for three courts; Sharia Court is for Muslims, Christians would go to the common law court and traditionalists will go to Customary Court of Appeal to solve their disputes.

    “For peace and unity in Nasarawa state, we want the court back, we want the state government to reinstate the Customary Court of Appeal and if the government refuse to return it, when APGA comes to power in 2019, it shall come back.”

    Maku, the National Secretary of APGA, also lamented the continued payment of local government workers in percentages despite the release of bailouts to the state by the Federal Government.

    On the 2019 general election, he urged Nigerians to vote leaders of proven integrity for good governance in order to end hardship, poverty and hunger in the country.

    He urged people of the state to shun politics of religion, ethnicity as well as to avoid divide and rule principle in their bid to elect credible leaders that would transform the state.

    The ex-information minister urged Nigerians to use the period of Christmas to offer special prayers for the peace of the country, adding that no nation can achieve meaningful progress without peace.

    He also urged Nigerians, especially youths, to be peaceful, law abiding, respect constituted authorities and hard working for a greater Nigeria.

    NAN

  • NFF moves games out of Abuja for lack of facilities

    NFF moves games out of Abuja for lack of facilities

    The Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF ), on Wednesday, said it had to play most national teams’ games outside the Abuja National Stadium, due to lack of facilities there.

    Mohammed Sanusi, the NFF Secretary-General, told newsmen in Abuja, that the national stadium currently lacked the necessary facilities for the teams to play conveniently.

    Sanusi, however, disclosed that the various states had indicated interest in hosting the national teams.

    The female national teams have taken refuge at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, while the Super Eagles moved from the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo to the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.

    Read also: NFF Includes Comedians Ali Baba, AY in Football Committees

    “Some of these states indicated interest in hosting the teams and that is why we went there. The Abuja National Stadium is under renovation and so there is no facility for us to play our matches here.

    “We have our technical centre here, but there are no dressing rooms. So we are making efforts to see if the dressing rooms can be provided,” he said.

    The Secretary- General added that the football house was planning to take the matches of the teams across the country, so that Nigerians can watch their national teams play live.

    NAN

  • Sagamu-Ijebu Ode Road accident claims four

    Sagamu-Ijebu Ode Road accident claims four

    Four persons were feared dead in an accident involving a Ford bus and a Mack trailer on Wednesday morning on the Sagamu-Ijebu Ode Expressway.

    Mr. Clement Oladele, the Ogun Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ), confirmed the figure to newsmen in Abeokuta.

    Oladele said that the accident happened at 4:45 a.m., near the Ijebu Ode Toll Gate.

    The sector commander said that the accident was caused by loss of control by the driver of the black truck with registration number XB 111 LSD.

    According to him, the loss of control led to a collision of the truck with the white bus marked LSD 766 XS.

    “The accident occurred at about 4:45a.m. near Ijebu Ode Toll Gate, leading to the death of four people trapped in the bus conveying passengers and woods.

    “The crash is suspected to have been caused by loss of control, when a truck which had earlier parked, suddenly attempted to join the road corridor.

    “A Mack truck moving in the same direction, in an attempt to avoid colliding with the truck entering the road, swerved away from the slow lane to the fast lane.

    Read also: FRSC confirms one death recorded in Enugu NNPC mega station accident

    “The bus travelling behind on the fast lane was too fast and could not stop but run into the truck that swerved from slow to the fast lane.

    “The crash resulted in the death of the four passengers in the bus,’’ he said.

    Oladele said that the corpses of the victims had been taken to the Ijebu Ode General Hospital Mortuary, adding that obstructions at the accident scene had been cleared.

    He urged motorists to drive cautiously and obey all traffic rules and regulations.

    The sector commander also advised motorists to avoid joining a road corridor suddenly or interfering with moving traffic.

    NAN

  • “I smile to bank with N.3m monthly”, says cobbler

    “I smile to bank with N.3m monthly”, says cobbler

    Mr. Benjamin Daniel, a cobbler, says he smiles to the bank with about N300,000 monthly.

    Daniel, who makes foot wears in Manchok, Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State, made this known to newsmen on Wednesday at Manchok.

    The cobbler said that shoe making and repairs was a “gold mine for job creation’’.

    He called on governments at all levels to exploit the huge potential in foot wears to get the youth gainfully employed.

    Daniel said that with N10,000 daily, it was possible for a cobbler to earn about N260,000 monthly, if he or she was serious and committed to the work.

    “I make an average of N10,000 daily from selling all kinds of foot wears that I make ranging from N700 to N6,000, which takes me a day or two to finish, depending on the kind of foot wear.

    “This is in addition to an average of seven to 10 foot wears brought to my shop daily for repairs, which cost between N200 and N1,000.

    “All in all, I am smiling to the bank with about N300,000 monthly. This is more than what most civil servants get as monthly salary,’’ he said.

    Read also: Cobbler pleads guilty to rice fraud

    According to him, the trade, if well tapped, can take thousands of idle youths off the streets.

    “The country’s huge population is a ready market with enough space for millions of youths to tap from the lucrative trade,’’ he said.

    Daniel, who said he had been in the business for 12 years, said it took him four and a half years to learn the trade.

    He said: “I started making footwear in 2005, from just making a pair, sell and reinvest the money.

    “Gradually I raised money to rent a shop and slowly increase my production from a pair to two.

    “I kept growing slowly, and now I produced an average of 10 different foot wears daily and so far trained four youths who have set up their own businesses and are making huge money.

    “Five youths are currently undergoing training and would soon graduate.’’

    Daniel said that he needed government support with capital to expand production capacity as well employ and train more hands.
    Besides, the cobbler urged the Federal and State Governments to partner with the organised foot wear producers to train thousands of unemployed youths in the country.

    NAN

  • Police shoot suspected cultist on Christmas eve

    Police shoot suspected cultist on Christmas eve

    The Police Command in Bayelsa said its operatives had shot and wounded a suspected cultist who later died in hospital, in response to a distress call on Christmas eve

    The Spokesman of the command, DSP Asinim Butswat, told newsmen in Yenagoa on Wednesday that the incident took place at Obele Area of Ovom in Yenagoa.

    “On December 24 2017, at about 2100 hours, Policemen responded to distress call of cult activities at Arieta lane, Yenagoa.

    “The team of Policemen responded swiftly and on sighting the Police, the cultists opened fire on the team.

    “In the ensuing gun battle, one Thankgod James Indoni, aged 23, a suspected cultist, was shot, he was subsequently arrested and taken to Federal Medical Centre for treatment where he later died.

    Read also: Police to arrest, prosecute vendors of police uniforms – FPRO

    “Efforts have been intensified to arrest his cohorts and bring them to book,” Butswat said.

    He said that earlier reports that a policeman was shot and killed in error by a fellow policeman was false and misleading.

    “Contrary to media reports that a Policeman mistakenly shot a colleague, the command wants to categorically state that the report was false and misleading.

    Butswat said the command had worked tirelessly to ensure crime-free Christmas festivities across the state.

    He also said that the command had intensified patrol and surveillance to provide a peaceful atmosphere for residents to enjoy the holidays.

    The police spokesman urged the residents to continue with their lawful endeavours and support the police by providing timely and credible information on criminal activities.

    “I also urge them to continue to enjoy the Christmas celebration and steer clear of every criminal activity,” he said.

    NAN

  • WAEC pledges collaboration on prisoners’ access to education

    WAEC pledges collaboration on prisoners’ access to education

    The West African Examinations Council ( WAEC ) says it will always partner relevant organisations to assist prison inmates to have easy access to education.

    The council’s Head of National Office ( HNO ), Mr. Olutise Adenipekun, said on Wednesday that such collaboration would enhance the inmates’ transformation and development.

    Adenipekun was speaking against the backdrop of the need to encourage educational pursuit in prisons nationwide.

    He said such pursuit would  assist the inmates to achieve life-long learning irrespective of where they found themselves.

    Read also: WAEC  official dies in hotel bathroom

    According to the WAEC boss, there is life after prison and, therefore, the need to encourage the inmates to acquire education.

    “Education in the prisons is an area I am passionate about as a key stakeholder in the education sector.

    “If anyone should find himself or herself behind the bars, that does not mean the end of the world for such.

    “So, WAEC as an organisation, has brought into the vision that behind the bars life must continue.

    “Because after getting out of prison, they still come back to the society to carry on with normal life.

    “That is why we should partner those organisations that may want to assist the inmates to access education and other external examinations such as the West African Senior School Certificate Examination ( WASSCE ) for private candidates,’’ he said.

    Adenipekun added that the council would continue to partner the various prison commands on the need for them to establish examination centres located within prison facilities with education officers attached to them.

    He noted that the education officers had been working in collaboration with the council across the country.

    “So, we are prepared to continue to inspect and give approval to more examination centres in prison facilities to train and teach inmates to be able to write our examinations as private candidates,’’ Adenipekun said.

    NAN

  • Fire guts N183m TETFund project

    Fire guts N183m TETFund project

    Zamfara Government has described the fire that gutted the N183 million Tertiary Education Trust Fund ( TETFund ) intervention project at the State College of Education, Maru, as unfortunate.

    The acting State Governor, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala who visited the College on Tuesday to assess the damage, noted that the inferno caused a great loss to the institution and government.

    Wakkala said government had directed the state’s Ministry of Education to set up a committee to ascertain the level of damage and cause of the fire and present its findings.

    “Government will support the College to continue with its activities. I also urge communities in the state to always be conscious of fire, especially in the current harmattan season to avoid future incident.

    Earlier, Provost of the College, Alhaji Nasiru Sarkin-Fawa, told the deputy governor that seven departments, multimedia languages laboratory, School of Languages Dean’s office and Languages Office were lost to the disaster.

    Read also: TETfund : Open letter to President Buhari

    Sarkin-Fawa said that the college had lost its 16 years valuable records to the disaster, and needed urgent support from the state government and TETFund so that their academic activities would not stop.

    “About 2,083 students, 42 academic and 18 non-academic staff will no longer have classes and offices as a result of the disaster,’’ he said.

    He appealed to the government to assist the college with additional structures like staff accommodation.

    “We have about 400 staff, including academic and non-academic.

    ” Only 20 per cent out of the total number of staff are residing in the College while the remaining staff are living outside due to lack of accommodation.

    “We have about 8,000 students in this College, but we are facing serious challenge of lack of infrastructure, including water,’’ he added.

    The fire occurred on Dec. 23 and razed the 2013 intervention complex project of the College.

    It comprises four departments, one dean’s office and other offices.

    NAN