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Tag: Nigerian Newspaper

  • UNILAG VC task students on 250million BOI grant

    The Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe has advised students within the institution to take advantage of the 250million grant given to the institution by the Bank of Industry to support creative and entrepreneurship ideas.

    Ogundipe said this at the Accounting and Entrepreneurship Summit for Students 2019 organised by Nigeria University Accounting Students Association held at the Main Auditorium, University of Lagos.

    The event tagged “Technological Advancement: The Nigerian Economy and the Future of the Accounting Profession” had in attendance students from different schools across the country.

    Ogundipe mentioned that #50million out of the #250m will be for training and renovations, while the #200million is meant to be given as loans to start-ups among the students, depending on their proposal and cost required.

    Read Also: UNILAG business school begins classes Saturday

    “We will be giving out loans between #1million to #2million to students that are able to come up with great innovative business ideas. We are also planning to register a limited liability company for our students while we will recommend experts to mentor them”, he said.

    He posited that the summit was in tandem with his vision as he concludes his maiden Professor Ogundipe Innovative Challenge (POIC) 2019.

    He stressed that the UNILAG is well equipped to mentor and provide all the needed support for students with creative business ideas.

    In his words, Head of Tax and Corporate Advisory Services of PwC Nigeria, Taiwo Oyedele challenged the students to open their minds, network and share opportunities and be ready to diversify.

    Oyedele, who spoke about tax sustainability of our economy, lamented the lopsidedness in the tax regime in Nigeria which he said that the poor pay more tax than the rich.

    Also speaking at the event, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria, Joseph Aborowa challenged the students to develop the art of integrity as they prepare themselves for the marketplace.

    In his words, the President of NUASA, Opeyemi Oderinde said that the programme is aimed at helping accounting students to keep them abreast of the latest trends and issues in the profession.

  • Abuja-Kaduna kingpin: I’ve kidnapped over 50, murdered 10

    An alleged kidnap kingpin, Bello Abdul, 40, alias Yellow, has confessed to murdering over ten persons and abducting more than 50 victims on the notorious Abuja-Kaduna highway.

    He spoke after he was arrested on Tuesday evening by operatives of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

    Yellow was arrested at his hideout in Niger State by detectives, who have been on his trail following allegations of operating an armed robbery, cattle rustling and kidnapping syndicate that spanned across Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

    It was gathered that his gangs, which had mainly young boys were responsible for over 150 kidnappings and several murders along the Abuja-Kaduna highways and Kajuru.

    Read Also: Police nab suspect for alleged armed robbery, kidnapping in Niger

    A source, who hinted on the arrest, told our Correspondent that seven AK47 rifles were recovered from Yellow, adding that the suspect had countless others yet to be retrieved.

    He said: “He confessed that he used to buy the AK47A rifles at N50,000 each and he has so many of them. So far, we have recovered seven from him. He used to buy ammunition in containers.

    “This man is a dangerous suspect. He has been on the wanted list for a long time and we have been trailing him. Each time he was located in an area, he would run to another location. He controls so many gangs and his network goes as far as Zamfara and Katsina. But finally he has been caught.”

    In a video where Yellow was being questioned by IRT operatives, the suspect confessed to have killed over 10 people and kidnapped more than 50.

    The suspect who spoke Hausa said: “Yes I am married with five children. I was in Niger State. I was in Kajuru before but I moved to Niger in Iyamadamakwa. I live in Kara.

    “Since I relocated to the village, I have been calm. I was into armed robbery and kidnapping. I have kidnapped about 50 times. I have collected N3m like six times. I have collected N10m, N17m, and N19m from different places.

    “I operate along Abuja-Kaduna road. I use small boys and those from my village in Maidaro. My boys are in Katsina and Zamfara. They are in nine places.

    “I used AK47 rifles and I bought them N50,000 each from one Yaro Alhaji at Kajori. I buy like a container of ammunition. A single ammunition is N1,000.

    “I have killed like 10 people. I killed one because the family insulted me on phone when I called them. Others were killed because their families did not pay ransom. I have rustled about 200 cows.

    “I did all these things before but I have stopped them now. I have calmed down. If I call my brother Alhaji Abu, he will bring those weapons I used for kidnapping.”

  • Man accidentally beheads himself during Islamic celebration

    A religious celebration was marred by tragedy this week as a man participating in a traditional Islamic mourning ritual accidentally beheaded himself.

    Mohammed Sayum was displaying his prowess at swordsmanship in the Nalanda district of Bihar, in east India, as part of a ritual procession known as the Mourning of Muharram. According to reports, Sayum, 60, accidentally cut his own neck and was rushed to Sadar Hospital, but died from loss of blood before he arrived.

    The accident sparked chaos in the area, according to the news site Swarajya, where hundreds of others were also observing the ritual procession. Sayum’s son, Mohammad Feroz, told police he witnessed the incident.

    Police in Bihar are still investigating and sent Sayum’s body for an autopsy.

    Muharram is considered one of the most sacred months of the Islamic calendar. The Mourning of Muharram, or Muharram Observances, is a commemoration honoring the death of Imam Hussain Ali, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and third Imam of the Shiite community, who was killed by the Caliph Yazid’s army in 680 AD at the battle of Karbala. For Shiite Muslims, Imam Hussain’s death is symbolic of the struggle against tyranny and injustice.

    Observances of the Muharram procession vary, but traditionally involve a march from the Hussainia (congregation hall) into the streets, where participants light bonfires and partake in acts of self-flagellation, cutting, chest-beating and face-slapping. Some devotees visit the shrine to Imam Hussain in Karbala in modern-day Iraq.

    Read Also: Police harassing, intimidating Fatoyinbo, says group

    Fatal accidents and violence have long plagued Muharram commemorations: On Tuesday, at least 31 people were killed in a stampede in Karbala, with 100 more injured. According to the AP, the stampede started when a walkway collapsed.

    The same day, 20 people were injured watching a Muharram procession in Andhra Pradesh, in southeast India, when the roof they were standing on collapsed at about 2 a.m. Police report the victims were viewing the Pedda Saragathi ritual, where devotees walk on a hot bed of coals.

    Also on Tuesday, a man in Uttar Pradesh was electrocuted, and others wounded, when a tazia they were carrying came in contact with a live electrical wire. A tazia is a replica of Imam Hussain’s tomb, carried during Muharram processions.

    Days earlier, at least four people died in Karachi, Pakistan, when a tazia collided with overhead electrical cables. The incident happened on Saturday, in the Bhittaiabad neighbourhood of Gulistan-e-Jauhar.

    In 2004, bombings at shrines in Karbala and Baghdad during the Day of Ashura, the tenth day of Muharram and the focal day for mourning, killed 140 people.

    (www.newnow.co.uk)

  • I’m not wanted by Police- Lagos NURTW chieftain

    A chieftain of the National Union of Road and Transport Workers (NURTW) Lagos State branch, Mr Mustapha Adekunle a.k.a Sego, has reacted to a recent media publication, which described him as wanted by the police.

    He said it is all a tissue of lies and has instructed his lawyers to commence legal action against the newspaper that published the defamatory story on him.

    There had been speculations in some quarters recently that Adekunle was on the wanted list of the police over his alleged role in a violence which occurred early this year during a rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The violence resulted in varying degrees of injury for many including another chieftain of the union, Mr Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya. a.k.a MC Oluomo, who was stabbed in the neck and consequently rushed to Eko hospital before being flown abroad for proper medical care.

    However, Adekunle who spoke to our correspondent on phone, debunked the story, saying it was all lies orchestrated by his enemies in the union to blackmail him and drag his name in the mud with a view to working against his recent appointment by the national body of the union as a member of the caretaker committee of the union in Lagos.

    “The news that I am being wanted by the police is fallacious and misleading. First, let me clear here that, I am not on the wanted list of the police. The issue they were referring to was the violence which occurred in one of the APC rallies in which myself and Alhaji MC Oluomo were the targets of the aggressors.

    “This issue was reported to the police by those who actually masterminded the attack with a view to implicate me. The police instead of carrying out due investigation on the matter decided to take side with the mastermind of the crisis.

    “They went over board to declare me wanted for an offence I never committed. Because of this, I confronted the police to clear my name. Alhaji MC Oluomo who was the prime victim of the organised attack also testified to exonerate me of any wrong doing.

    “The police sensing that they had goofed on the matter tactically withdrew their statement against me. And since then, I have been going about my legitimate activities as a law abiding citizen,” he stressed.

    READ ALSO: Clashes: Indicted NURTW members to be expelled

    He said it was funny to hear that he was wanted by the police. “The question to ask those who are sponsoring the malicious story and the newspaper which published the story is that, why is such story coming up now that I am being made a member of the caretaker committee of Lagos NURTW ?

    “If I am wanted, how come the Nigeria police have not arrested me all this while that I have been moving freely about and carrying out my business activities ?

    “At least, it is in the public knowledge that I don’t live a fugitive life as I go out to attend social functions, business engagements, religious activities without any fear.

    “Recently, I have been going to Abuja for Union activities and each time i go, i go through the airport, to and fro. So, if i am wanted, why has police not arrested me? These are the questions to ask.

    “Anyway, I know this is the handiwork of my enemies within Lagos NURTW who are not happy about my appointment as a caretaker member of the union. They were the ones who sponsored the malicious media story,” he said.

  • Prince Jide Fadairo’s last respect for late mother

    If there is one thing still shocking to Prince Jide Fadairo, it was when his mother, Madam Grace Oladunni Otusemowo Fadairo, took her last breath on earth.

    Prince Jide and his siblings are yet to recover from the shocking demise of their beloved mother but they have taken it in good faith.

    The Chief Executive, House of Oduduwa Foundation, is throwing a wondrous befitting burial for his late mum amidst pomp at the ancient Abeokuta town, Ogun State.

    Read Also: Siasia’s mother’s 59 days in captivity

    Mama Grace Fadairo began her final journey with a well-attended Service of Songs on Tuesday 10th of September in Ogba, Lagos.

    Iya Ijebu, as she was fondly called, hailed from the popular Ayorinde family of Onipako compound in Odo Egbon Ijebu Ode.

    She was a devoted Christian and well respected community leader during her lifetime.

    In the obsequies of her burial, Iya Ijebu will be laid to final rest at her husband’s town in Abeokuta, as the Fadairo’s are of the Owu, Abeokuta descant. Mama’s funeral service will hold at Freeman Methodist Cathedral Church, Ogbe Owu, Abeokuta today, Friday 13th September and will be subsequently interred at the church’s cemetery.

    Interesting, Jide Fadairo, is married to Princess Folashade Ogunwusi, the elder sister of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

  • Police recruitment: ‘candidates don’t know names of Nigeria President, CJN’

    Mr Sola Okediji, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), FCT, has said that some constable aspiring to join Nigeria Police could not give the name of Nigeria President and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

    Okediji disclosed this at the investigation and sensitisation on rule of law training for FCT police officers, organised by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC), on Friday in Abuja.

    RoLAC programme is funded by the European Union and managed by the British Council.

    Okediji, who said he was posted to Rivers in Port Harcourt as part of those to interview prospective constables to be enlisted into the Nigeria police, said he was stunned when a constable could not answer the question put to him.

    He said that he had asked the prospective constable “what is the name of the President of Nigeria”, to which he could not proffer an answer.

    Read Also: Kano Police recover 1000 cattle, arrest three notorious rustlers

    Okediji also said that he posed another question to the intending constable as to “who is the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN),” to which he could not also answer the question.

    The DCP said he had no choice than to fire the constable immediately, adding that the Nigeria police would not condole such ignorance, adding that such ignorance was unacceptable to the Nigeria Police.

    Okediji said that some of the constables were parading five credits in their Senior Secondary School (SSCE) certificate without being able to defend it.

    He said that those who were not fast in current affairs and do not know issues happening in the country would not be allowed into the police force.

    He called on the police investigators and detective on RoLAC training to apply wisdom in the course of their job, adding that they should always duplicate their case files to forestall trouble.

    He, however, charged investigation officers and detective on training to have confidence in themselves while carrying out their duties, adding that when they were sound and loaded no one would push them aside.

    According to him, during cross examination, let them know you are there and rooted in the case, that is what excellent on the job means, do not collect bribe and do not encourage it.

    He called on the officers not to be a part in the rot in the police but endeavour to be a solution, adding that only God could reward those who worked with the fear of God.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that when approached to comment further on the constable who failed to give the name of Nigeria President and the CJN, he said that DSP Frank Mba, the Force Public Relations Officer would speak further.

    NAN also reports that RoLAC training was aimed at acquainting officers with modern practice of investigation and prosecution of suspects.

  • Fishes worth millions lost in Delta flood

    Fish farmers in Ekpan, Uvwie council area of Delta State are counting their losses, which run into millions following recent flood in the area.

    President General of Uvwie Kingdom, Chief Austin Ukuwrere told newsmen that fishes in over 3,000 ponds were carried away by the flood.

    Ukuwere explained that the waters overflowed the ponds and thousands of fishes stocked by farmers escaped.

    He revealed that most of the farmers have become indebted, as they took huge loans to raise the fishes, with hopes to pay back upon harvest.

    Read Also: Flooding: Edo cautions residents over heavy rainfall

    Among the affected ponds is Royal Fish Farm, one of the biggest, located in New Layout area of Ekpan.

    The fish farm, which has different pond clusters, grows different size of fishes, drawing buyers from far and near.

    On their parts, the Royal fish farmers blamed the flood on the lack of drainage systems in the area.

    Conducting newsmen around the farm, the fish farmers lamented they were constrained to reconstruct the damaged ponds as well as re-stock the ponds.

    They urged the state government to help clear the water channel, construct drainage in the area to help avert future flooding, as well as fix the road leading to the farm.

    The flood incident, the farmers posited, has caused a setback in the efforts of the state government to encourage fish farming as a major boost to the agricultural sector.

  • Hoodlums slaughter woman, two daughters in Edo

    Hoodlums have killed three persons at Iguadolor community in Ovia South-West local government area of Edo state.

    The three victims are a mother and two daughters including a six months old baby.

    It was gathered that the victims were children and grandchildren of the Odionwere (head) of the village, Pa. Omorogbe Avanrenren.

    Some of the community members who spoke said the killings could be related to lingering crisis between the community elders and Okaighele (Youth head) of the community, Perrick Egbon.

    Pa Avanreren said he was shocked that his children were killed.

    Chairman of Ovia South-West local government, Scot Ogbemudia, who visited the community appealed for calm and promised to unravel the killers.

    Read Also: Nigerian dies in UK’s detention centre

    According to him, “We will make sure we investigate this incident. We will work with security agencies and ensure the law takes its course.”

    Perrick Egbon in a phone chat denied being involved in the killings.

    He described it as unsubstantiated allegations.

    Spokesman for the Edo Police Command, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the killings but said no arrest has been made.

    He said, “It actually happened. Three persons were killed. Two female adults and a baby. The police is currently investigating the incident.”

     

  • Dino Melaye declines to lead Kogi PDP guber campaign

    The senator representing Kogi West senatorial district, Dino Melaye has declined to lead the Kogi State governorship campaign for the November 16 poll.

    Stakeholders in the state’s chapter had, during a visit to the Abuja secretariat on Friday, touted Melaye as the Director General of the party’s campaign council.

    But in a swift reaction, the senator, who did not accompany the stakeholders on the visit, said in a tweet and on his Facebook page, “Let me state categorically that I have turned down the position of Director General of the PDP Kogi State governorship campaign council. I wish PDP all the best. When truth is a casualty, there is chaos”.

    Melaye had contested and lost the party’s September 3 primary election and had subsequently filed an appeal to the leadership of the party complaining that most of the ballot boxes containing his delegates’ vote were snatched when armed thugs invaded the venue of the exercise.

    But the leadership of the party had insisted that the number of votes in the said missing ballot boxes was not enough to invalidate the victory of the winner of the primaries, Mr Musa Wada who scored over 700 votes against Melaye’s 70 votes.

    Majority of the 12 aspirants that contested the primaries with Wada however pledged to work for the unity and success of the PDP in the election.

    Speaking on behalf of other aspirants, Muhammed Shuaibu Tettes, said the aspirants accepted the outcome of the primary election in good faith.

    Tettes said, “As members of the Kogi PDP 2019 G- 12, the urgent need for intra- party cohesion and unity of purpose at this moment is recognised. It is for this reason that the candidacy of Engr. Musa Wada in considered worthy of undivided support as the task to rebuild Kogi starts in earnest.

    Read Also: Tribunal sacks Dino Melaye as senator

    “Considering the reconciliation efforts of Engr. Musa Wada and his preparedness to actively partner with other aspirants that lost the ticket, we have accepted him as a partner in progress in the liberation struggle and also accept to work with him in the overall interest of the PDP and Kogi state”

    Some of the party chieftains that were at the secretariat in solidarity with the candidate were a former governor of the state, Capt. Idris Wada who lost the ticket to his younger brother.

    Also at the party secretariat were Emmanuel Omebije, Princess Grace Iyeh Adejoh, Dr. Joseph Ameh Erico, Alhaji Kabiru Haruna, Adebayo Averehi and Aminu Abubakar Sulaiman.

  • QuickCheck boosts financial inclusion with new App

    QuickCheck, an online banking and micro-lending platform that provides collateral-free loans, has launched a new app to improve financial inclusion among Nigerians, while also educating borrowers about financial instruments and managing risky debts.

    About 60 per cent of the country’s adult population remains financially excluded, lacks credit history and cannot access financial services such as quick and easy loans.

    In a research conducted by the Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFInA), while only four per cent of the adult population has access to credit through formal financial institutions, a larger number have their loan requests rejected due to bank policies and requirements.

    Chief Technology Officer, QuickCheck, Luis Rodrigues, said this was addressed in 2017 as the company developed a solution to give Nigerians access to such loans anywhere and anytime, with no collateral necessary. The startup already helps individuals with access to loans up to N200,000 in minutes, thereby supporting entrepreneurs start and sustain micro-businesses.

    Read Also: Pupils develop app on traffic gridlock

    “With the new app, we want Nigerians to access loans quickly and conveniently. So if you live in Nigeria, own an Android phone, and you need quick cash to settle emergencies, go on Google Play Store, search for “quickcheck” and spot our bright orange icon to download the QuickCheck loan app for free, sign up to create an account and apply for a loan instantly without collateral.

    “QuickCheck will simply run a credit scoring, and if you’re eligible, the cash loan will be disbursed to your account within minutes. All the necessary information to access loans is also available on our website,” he said.

    Having built its own credit scoring algorithm based on artificial intelligence applied to non-traditional data, the internal data science team actively works on the improvement of the assessment technology to make the procedure of getting a loan even faster, more streamlined, and tailored to the needs of different groups.

    “Currently, we are experiencing exponential organic growth and are closing a couple of strategic partnerships to get even closer to our customers, by integrating our technology and credit offering where they need it, within those channels they are already accustomed to.

    “We strongly believe in the product innovation, and therefore, we invest a lot in the exploration of complementary products,” Fabiano di Tomaso, CEO of QuickCheck.

    With its tech solution, QuickCheck not only bridges the financial inclusion gap, but improves customer interaction with the new app and a revamped brand identity.

    Every day, hundreds of people from Nigeria can benefit from the speed and hassle-free access to credit — no papers, no queues, no collateral, no guarantors, just a smartphone and QuickCheck app available on Google Play Store.

    In just two years, QuickCheck, processes nearly N2,500 transactions daily, and has already disbursed around N2 billion in microloans ranging between N5,000 and N200,000