The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Newspaper

  • ‘How I became a graduate through phone repair’

    ‘How I became a graduate through phone repair’

    Mr Tony Okeke, a graduate of Mechanical Engineering Technology, said he sponsored his education through phone repair.

    The 39-year-old graduate from Akpugo, Mkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, said he enrolled for phone repair training in 2002 at the then Abuja GSM Village as a school certificate holder.

    He spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria in an interview in Abuja.

    ‘’I am Engineer Tony Okeke. I started this job approximately when the use of mobile phones came into Nigeria in 2002.

    ‘’As an apprentice learning the work then, we opened phones and repaired them. That was the era of Nokia 3310, Triumph, Sagem, Motorola, including Thuraya, etc.

    “The GSM Village was around Wuse II in Abuja and I was just a secondary school certificate holder. But through this job, I was able to achieve many things.

    “I was able to fund my education and today, I am a graduate of Mechanical Engineering Technology from the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa State.”

    Okeke, who graduated in 2012 from the polytechnic, said he served the nation as a youth corps member in 2013 with Everton Nigeria Limited, an oil and gas company in Abuja.

    The young entrepreneur, who presently operates his business at the popular GSM Technology Village located at Wuse Zone 1, Abuja, said he has empowered no fewer than 12 young Nigerians since the inception of the business.

    Read Also: WHO donates motorcycles, phones to kano to speed up immunisation

    He said: ‘’I empower people through a skill acquisition programme on repair of mobile phones and all computer gadgets. My business name is T-Phonz Network.

    “So far, I have trained about 12 people. When they complete their training, some of them will go and establish themselves. I have trained both graduates and undergraduates in this job, even those who already had their Masters.

    ‘’For instance, when I was serving, one of my friends, who is a Masters’ holder came to me and said he wanted to learn the job.

    “And when I completed my service, I enrolled him and he has completed his training and he is now living comfortably with his family.”

    On the period it takes to learn the job, he said it depends on individual.

    ‘’You can take a year and six months or roughly two years to be able to learn the work, but it is a continuous process because new gadgets are still coming out.

    ‘’It might not be the one you learned with that you will meet tomorrow, but the most important thing is for you to know the fundamentals, the basic knowledge,” he said.

    Okeke, who advised young Nigerians not to despise little beginning, said he feels fulfilled in the work he does.

    NAN

  • Herdsmen/Farmers clashes: IGP advises against inflammatory statements

    Herdsmen/Farmers clashes: IGP advises against inflammatory statements

    The Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, has advised Nigerians to avoid making inflammatory statements and playing politics with the herdsmen/farmers clashes to achieve genuine reconciliation.

    Speaking during the launch of his book in Lagos on Thursday, Idris said that the security challenges needed to be properly managed so as not to drag the country into unending crisis.

    “This is the only way the country can secure genuine reconciliation among herders and farmers so that they can once again live in peace, harmony, love and avoid unnecessary loss of lives.” he said.

    The police IG said that even though President Muhammadu Buhari mandated the security agencies to arrest and prosecute offenders in the clashes, the nation needed serious conversation on the issue.

    “I have realized that the issue is beyond apprehension and prosecution of offenders: There has to be speedy dispensation of justice and the protection of the rights and interests of the suspects and victims of crime,” Idris said.

    According to the police IG, this is the only way people will have a sense of justice, peace and reconciliation.

    “It is my conviction that when there is security, justice, peace and reconciliation in any nation, civil strife can be avoided.

    “Inter-communal harmony and reconciliation is easier when the people are convinced that the police and other security architecture can guarantee them their individual rights, security and justice,” he said.

    Idris said that the public image of the police was not impressive and called on policemen to respect the rights of the people while performing their lawful duties.

    Read Also: Govt: herdsmen must be law-abiding in Ogun

    “While performing their constitutional duties of protection of lives and property, the police must do so within the confines of the law,” the IG said.

    He said that he dedicated the book titled “Security and Justice: The Pathway for Peace and Reconciliation in Nigeria” to officers and men of the force for their selfless service.

    Idris said that proceeds from the book would be used to fund “the Security and Justice Initiative,” a foundation being put in place for the promotion of security, peace and reconciliation in Nigeria.

    The IG said that traditional rulers should be accorded rightful place in the security architecture, peace justice and genuine reconciliation of the people.

    Speaking at the book launch, the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu attributed the herdsmen/farmers clashes to the nation’s porous borders.

    The book reviewer, Prof. A.B. Ahmed, said that the 293-page book answered salient questions on security and justice and focused on the author’s childhood and experiences as a policeman.

    “This book is original, excellent and very important for everyone that wants the success of the country as it demonstrates the link between security, justice and human life,” he said.

    Among dignitaries present at the book launch were former Ogun Governor, Chief Segun Osoba, Lagos Police Commissioner, Edgar Imohimi and a representative of retired Maj. Gen. T. Y. Danjuma.

    NAN

  • BBNaija: Big Brother punishes Lolu, Cee-C

    BBNaija: Big Brother punishes Lolu, Cee-C

    Lolu and Cee C have been hit with a double strike from Big Brother for breaking the rules, following their clash in the house on Wednesday. One more strike will disqualify both of them from show

    Big Brother assembled all the housemates on Thursday, and played a clip of what happened between the two housemates, when they were paired with rope the previous day.

    Afterwards, he gave his verdict, scolding them for not handling the situation maturedly before giving them double strikes each.

    Big Brother further announced that if they both survive eviction on Sunday, they will officially become pairs throughout their stay on the show.

    Read Also: Search Cee-C BBNaija: You are selfish, Tobi tells Cee-C

    Lolu is currently paired with Anto, while Cee C is paired with Tobi. If both pairs survive this weekend, viewers will probably have a Team Anto (as Anto and Tobi will become pairs) and Team Celo (with Cee-C and Tobi becoming pairs).

    The housemates have been informed by Big Brother that they were competing as pairs. This means that if a housemate gets evicted, his or her partner leaves too. If a housemate gets a reward or punishment, the partner will also be at the receiving end. Khloe got a strike two weeks ago, after her partner K.Brule jumped from a balcony and injured himself.

  • Court jails fake policeman in Abuja

    Court jails fake policeman in Abuja

    A Karmo Area Court, Abuja, on Friday sentenced a driver, Nura Mohammed to four months in prison for dishonestly parading himself as a policeman.

    Mohammed, who has no fixed address, was convicted on a charge of impersonation.

    The Judge, Abubakar Sadiq, handed down the punishment after Mohammed pleaded guilty to a count charge leveled against him and begged the court for leniency.

    Sadiq, however, gave Mohammed an option of N10, 000 as fine and warned him to desist from committing crime.

    Read Also:  Court adjourns Dasuki’s, others’ trial till March 22

    The prosecutor, Dalhatu Zannah, told the court that the Police Crime Prevention Unit led by Asp. David Daru attached to Life Camp Police, arrested and brought Mohammed to the Station on Feb. 1.

    Zannah said on the same date, at about 11: 30 p.m. when a team of police men raided a black spot, along Daki Biyu Village, Jabi, Mohammed was found conducting himself in a questionable manner.

    He said the convict had introduced himself as a police officer and showed a warrant card with his passport photograph bearing the name of Cpl. Abubakar Suleman with police number 507645.

    The prosecutor told the court that in the photograph, the convict was dressed in a full police uniform.

    He however said in the course of investigation, it was discovered that Mohammed had never enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force.

    The prosecutor said the convict refused to inform the police where he got the said uniform and warrant card he use for his criminal activities.

    NAN

  • NGO trains 23,000 women, girls in ICT

    NGO trains 23,000 women, girls in ICT

    An NGO, Women Technology Empowerment Centre (W-TEC) on Friday said that it had trained more than 23,000 women and girls in technology-related careers and businesses since inception in 2008.

    The Executive Director of W-TEC, Mrs Oreoluwa Lesi, said in Lagos that it empowered 4,000 women and girls in 2017.

    Lesi said that W-TEC also partnered with 36 libraries in the Southern Nigeria in 2017.

    “We are an NGO set up to advocate, empower and build capacity of women and girls in Nigeria.

    ”We do this by providing technology training, boot camps, workshops and seminars for women and girls.

    “We aim at inspiring and equipping more young women with skills to become technology creators.

    “Women and girls can have access to computers and participate in technology workshops on programming, web design and digital production in the space we are creating,’’ she said.

    The executive director said that W-TEC had started a partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Education on an initiative called Code Lagos.

    According to her, Code Lagos is aimed at making coding education accessible to about one million Lagos residents.

    “W-TEC is working as a delivery partner to implement the programme in schools and public libraries in Lagos State.’’

    The executive director said that W-TEC’s passion for empowering women and girls technologically made it to operate afterschool clubs in 10 schools in Yaba, Lagos.

    She said that the NGO had also organised five of such clubs on Lagos Island.

    Lesi said that the organisation held technology camps in Lagos and Ibadan in 2017.

    According to her, W-TEC will expand its technology camps to South-East in 2018.

    “We will be setting up afterschool clubs in Kwara State; we chose Kwara because, according to our assessment, the number of women in information technology in the state is low.

    “We will start by working with five schools but we promise to scale it up to 15 by the end of the year,’’ she said.

    Lesi told our reporter that involvement in women capacity building had been rewarding to the NGO.

    “We have had confidence from our trainees and mentees.

    “Some of the women and girls who attended  our programmes said they  helped them to decide on future careers and businesses.

    “About 35 per cent of them are making money using the technology skills they got from our programmes

    “It puts a smile on our faces by when we see alumni of our programmes pursue technology-related careers or integrate technology into their businesses,’’ she said.

    Lesi said that W-TEC would soon organise a master-class to educate individuals and organisations on strategies to successfully raise funds for online courses.

    NAN

  • More than 1,084 refugees repatriated from Libya since November – UN

    More than 1,084 refugees repatriated from Libya since November – UN

    The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR ) on Thursday said 1,084 refugees were repatriated from Libya since beginning of the agency’s operation in November 2017 to date.

    The UNHCR Envoy for the Central Mediterranean, Vincent Cochetel, made this known in a statement in Washington.

    “On Tuesday, a flight departed from Tripoli bound for, Niamey, Niger, carrying 128 refugees.

    “Also on Wednesday, a second plane took 150 refugees from Tripoli to Rome, Italy, bringing to 1,084 the total number of refugees evacuated since the beginning of the operation, three months ago,’’ Cochetel said.

    Cochetel said the repatriation would give the refugees a “new chance at life” after they suffered tremendously following their detention in Libya.

    “By the end of 2018, we hope to evacuate thousands more,” Cochetel added.

    Libya is a primary route for African migrants seeking to cross the Mediterranean for southern Europe.

    Sputnik/NAN

  • South African stocks in demand after Zuma quits, rand soars

    South African stocks in demand after Zuma quits, rand soars

    South African stocks index rose as much as five per cent on Thursday, putting the main index on track for its biggest one-day gain in more than three years.

    The currency remained on the front foot, soaring to its firmest since early 2015, in the wake of Zuma’s exit.

    Analysts have, however, warned the rally faces serious obstacles ahead of a budget speech next Wednesday.

    Zuma quit late on Wednesday, reluctantly heeding orders by the ruling African National Congress ( ANC ) to bring an end to a nine-year tenure punctuated by scandals, stagnant economic growth and policy uncertainty.

    As at 1530 GMT, the blue chip Top-40 index surged four per cent to 52,665 points, pulling back from a high of 53,072 achieved earlier but still on course for its biggest one-day gain since Sept. 2015.

    The broader All-share index was up by 3.72 per cent at 59,533 points.

    “The big news is that Zuma has now resigned and that has created a lot of euphoria.

    “South African incorporated, banks, retailers and the like are all looking sharply better as a result,” said Independent Securities’ trader Ryan Woods.

    South African banks considered the barometer of both economic and political sentiment were a feature on the gainers’ list.

    The banking index surged 5.8 per cent with Nedbank rising 5.37 per cent and rival FirstRand up 6.4 per cent.

    Banks have largely borne the brunt of Zuma’s policy decisions that included the sacking of two respected finance ministers, Nhlanhla Nene and Pravin Gordhan.

    That, along with a weak economy, contributed to sovereign credit ratings downgrades to junk by S&P Global Ratings and Fitch.

    In reaction to Zuma’s resignation, ratings agency Moody’s said it was focused on the new leadership’s response to economic challenges. S&P Global Ratings said the leadership change would not immediately affect the credit status.

    Cyril Ramaphosa, former chairman of African biggest telecoms operator MTN Group, was sworn in as president on Thursday.

    Ramaphosa, who has vowed to fight corruption and revitalise the economy, is seen by business leaders and investors as well placed to turn around the economy.

    South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is estimated to grow by less than one percent this year.

    Another key issue facing the 65-year-old president is policy uncertainty in South Africa’s mining industry, an important economic engine, which has been fighting in court with Zuma’s mines minister, Mosebenzi Zwane, over an increase in black ownership targets.

    But some analysts said that the former union leader’s to-do list is way too long to make an immediate impact.

    In the foreign exchange market, the rand advanced to levels last seen in February 2015.

    “The good gains the rand has made could be extended toward 11.55/dollar, and move toward 11.00/dollar baring any further credit rating downgrades for S.A. and a credit positive budget,” said Investec’s Chief Analyst Annabel Bishop in a note.

    At 1515 GMT, the rand was at 11.6600 against the dollar, having reached a session-best of 11.6025 earlier per cent stronger than its New York overnight close and at levels last seen in Feb.  2015.

    “The economy is coming off an extremely low base so there is good chance the optimism will be around for some time, but Ramaphosa has to very soon move from the honeymoon phase to the doing phase,” said Chief Executive of Canon Assets Management Adrian Saville.

    Reuters/NAN

  • Osun governor’s office to spend N22bn in 2018

    Osun governor’s office to spend N22bn in 2018

    The Osun Government is to spend N22.2 billion for the running of  the office of Gov. Rauf Aregbesola in the 2018 fiscal year, Sen. Mudashiru Husain, the Commissioner for Cabinet Matters,  has said.

    Hussain disclosed this while speaking at the 2018 budget defence session at the State House of Assembly on Thursday in Osogbo.

    He said the Office of the Governor was made up of 30 bureaus and agencies, all of which were funded from the state’s  budget.

    Husain, said N13.9 billion of the amount would be spent on recurrent expenditure, while the balance of  N8.3 billion would be devoted to  capital expenditure.

    The commissioner said the proposed spending represented 0.9 percent reduction in the 2017 figure of N22.4 billion.

    He said revenue projection and capital receipts for the agencies in 2018 stood at N4.3 billion as against the 2017 figure of N18.4 billion.

    According to the commissioner, the reduction in the proposed revenue was due to restructuring of agencies of government as well as the prevailing economic hardship in the country.

    Husain  said that Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the state was below expectation, saying there was need for government agencies to be more aggressive in increasing revenue generation for government to finance its projects.

    Aregbesola had on Dec. 28, presented the 2018 budget proposal of N173 billion to the House for approval.

    Meanwhile, the Head of Service, Mr Gboyega Oyebade, has said that government  released N1 billion for the payment of gratuity to retirees in the state.

    The Head of Service, who appeared at the budget defence alongside the Commissioner for Budget, said  retirees who had  completed their documentation would be paid within a week.

    He said retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme would also be issued bond certificates.

    In his remarks, Mr Kamil Oyedele, Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, said all revenue generating agencies must live up  to their responsibility of improving IGR in the state.

    NAN

  • Reps to FG: Prioritise procurement of Made-In-Nigeria cars

    Reps to FG: Prioritise procurement of Made-In-Nigeria cars

    The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to make it compulsory for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to procure only cars manufactured or assembled in Nigeria.

    This was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion by Rep. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama (Edo-PDP) at plenary on Thursday.

    In the motion, Ogbeide-Ihama said that the automobile market was a multi-billion naira venture in Nigeria, given its large population and huge reliance on road transport.

    He said that government at all levels, being the highest spender in Nigeria, was a major buyer of automobiles in the country.

    According to him, over 95 per cent of the automobiles procured by MDAs are neither manufactured nor assembled in the country.

    Ogbeide-Ihama recalled that some years ago, automobile manufacturing companies like Volkswagen, Mercedes Benz and Peugeot, had functional assembling plants in Nigeria.

    He said that automobile companies outside Nigeria whose vehicles are sold in the country did not pay direct taxes to the Federal Government in spite of the revenue being generated from the country.

    He listed the benefits of having either manufacturing or assembling plants in Nigeria to include technology transfer, employment for Nigerians, revenue through taxes, reduction in balance of trade deficit, increased GDP and safety specification.

    The lawmaker said that Nigeria had been relegated to the role of a ready market for automobiles manufactured in more developed economies of the world.

    According to him, the only way Nigeria can break off the shackles of being a perpetual market for other economies is by pursuing a deliberate policy on automobiles.

    In his contribution, Rep. Johnson Agbonanyinma (Edo-APC) said that local manufacturing or assembly of automobiles would revitalise the rubber, iron and steel sectors.

    He said that the sectors would produce raw materials for making tyres and steel needed by the automobile companies, hence, creating jobs and boosting the economy.

    Agbonanyinma said that the motion came at a very important time and urged other members to support it for the growth of the economy.

    After the contributions, Speaker of the House, Mr Yakubu Dogara, mandated the Committee on Industry to ensure compliance and also investigate why the once-booming automobile industry in the country collapsed.

    NAN

  • NiMet predicts cloudy skies for Friday

    NiMet predicts cloudy skies for Friday

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency ( NiMet ) has predicted dust haze weather conditions over the central States of the country on Thursday.

    NiMet’s Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office in Abuja on Thursday also predicted day and night temperatures in the range of 30 to 40 and 13 to 26 degrees Celsius respectively.

    The agency predicted that the southern states would experience partly cloudy to cloudy morning with localised rain over Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Abeokuta, Eket, Akure, and environs during the afternoon and evening period.

    It also predicted day and night temperatures of 32 to 38 and 18 to 25 degrees Celsius respectively over the region during the forecast period.

    According to NiMet, Northern states will experience dust haze throughout the forecast period with visibility within the range of two to five kilometres and localised visibility of less than or equal to 1000 metres.

    “Northern states are expected to have day and night temperatures in the range of 31 to 34 and 16 to 20 degrees Celsius respectively.

    “Dust haze is expected over the Northern cities down to Central states Sunny and hazy conditions are anticipated.

    “There are indications of increased cloudiness with chances of localised rainfall activities over the southern region within the next 24 hours,” NiMet predicted.

    NAN