The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

  • African designs excite London

    For two days (August 9 and 10), the rich colourful African designs took centre stage at the prestigious Freemasons Hall, 60 Great Queen Street, London, as this year’s African Fashion Week London show offered fashion lovers a rare collection of exotic designs.

    The atmosphere was enhanced by this year’s addition of the Bluxe Luxury Boutique by EPG Media, Afrocentric luxury designers from the United Kingdom, South Africa, Seychelles and West Africa, including The Perfumer’s story by Azzi Glasser, Vanessa Gounden, Ile Moremi, ESA (Enterprise Seychelles Agency) among others.

    With no fewer than 55 designers and 47 exhibitors from across the globe, AFWL show was also attended by leading African Market Souk designers such as Liz John Black Fashion, Muhire, East African designer Fatumahasha, Awa Kermel and emerging designer Cute Saint of West Africa.

    This year’s AFWLwas spectacular  with a number of progressive modifications to the existing platform. And if the overwhelming feedback is anything to go by, the show can be described as an unprecedented success and marking a monumental milestone for African fashion globally.

    Its opening grand ceremony was laced with African splendour with rhythmic dancers, drums and colourful, ethical designs worn to welcome the queues of excited fashion lovers.

    AFWL founder, Princess Ronke Ademiluyi added spice and panache to the panel of speakers in the Bluxe Business Forum hosted by EPG Media’s founder Joseph Farodoye. Other speakers were Simone Cipriani of the Ethical Fashion Initiative, Her Royal Highness Queen Diambi of Democratic Republic of Congo Congo ((DRC), Deputy Mayor of Social Integration and Community Engagement Debbie Weekes-Bernard of the London Mayor’s Office, V&A Museum, Azzi Glasser, Vanessa Gounden.

    From Nigeria were guest speakers such as Princess Adela Ogunwusi, who represented Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja (II)), the Ooni of Ife, First Lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi and her counterpart from  Kwara State, Olufolake Abdulrazaq, among others.

    Guests at the Bluxe Business Forum added that ‘it’s a refreshing, much needed addition’ to the already successful AFWL platform.

    The AFWL raised catwalk to set a new tone as designers raised the bar, showcasing collections across five catwalk shows. The first show on Friday had designers stealing the limelight. They included TIKZN Collective with more than 10 designers from South Africa, including Laaste by EDI, House of Tommie and Urban Zulu. Friday afternoon’s show included brands such as Ife Clothing by Kunle Afolayan, Sherah, Thabied, which had fashionistas in a frenzy, as they snapped to capture next seasons look.

    Second day was overwhelming and the show started with Sister by Eyoro and ended AFWL sponsor, Da Viva, presenting Arewa Fashion Creation and Queen Diambi of DRC  displaying remarkable collections. Before moving on to the evening catwalk shows, which were outstanding with designers such as Becca Apparel and Saraaya, who had impressive designs, Gary Pie and Diane Carlton continued in this vein. However, Mary Martin London stole the 5pm show with a colourful male and female collection titled: Blood, Sweat and Tears, inspired by the anniversary of 400 years of slavery.

    AFWL 2019’s catwalk shows were fully sold out and the Saturday finale evening concluded the celebrity catwalk with live performances by soem artistes including AFWL 2019 Ambassador Shingai wearing featured designer Vanessa Gounden.

    This session got a standing ovation from guests.

    As the curtain drew on Africa Fashion Week London 2019, organisers promised fashion lovers that Africa Fashion Week Nigeria would be as amazing as the London show. It will hold on December 14 and 15.

  • TAMPAN honours Alaafin of Oyo as Grand Patron

    The Theater Arts and Motion Picture Producers Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) have honoured the Alaafin of Oyo Kingdom, His Imperial Majesty Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111 as ‘Life Royal Grand Patron’ of TAMPAN.

    The association during a courtesy to the Oyo Empire bestowed the titled on the Yoruba monarch describing him as a dignified king who exalts the Art and Culture of the Yorubas.

    The president of TAMPAN, Otunba Bolaji Amusan popularly known as Mr. Latin stated.

    “In the preservation and promotion of our heritage continue to enunciate and expose Yoruba Custom, Norm and Social behavior to the world, which in turn earn us great respect across the world” the veteran actor said.

    “In recognition of his consistent endeavors to secure our culture from peril and extinction, the teeming members of Theater Arts and Motion Pictures Producers’ Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) find him worthy of the honor as The Life Royal Grand Patron of the most populous association in Nigeria.”

    In his response, Alaafin who was highly elated by the honor commends the filmmakers for their good services to humanity. He also promises to continue to uphold the culture because our language and culture are indubitably the best among others.

    He cited Oyo town as the place where commercial theatre was started in 1853 during the reign of Alaafin Ogboluke and their movement from Oyo Oko to where Oyo is situated till today.

    The official decoration of the monarch is schedule to holds at the forthcoming annual conference of the association, on 11th to 14th December 2019. Themed, “Theatre & Filmmaking as Sociological tools for Development”.

  • Hyundai Kona, Santa Fe, others get safety rating

    The 2020 Hyundai Kona, Santa Fe and Tucson were all awarded 5-Star Overall Safety Ratings, the highest available overall safety rating issued by the government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as a facet of its New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

    Kona, Santa Fe and Tucson exemplified exceptional safety in crashworthiness and collision avoidance—due to the new Hyundai SmartSense safety technologies available in these 2020 models. Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), uses the car’s front-facing camera and radar to help detect an imminent collision and avoid impact or minimise damage by braking autonomously. Sensing road markings, Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) helps to prevent accidental lane departure and may automatically steer the car if required.

    Driver Attention Warning (DAW) monitors ones’ driving patterns—detecting drowsy or inattentive driving. Once detected, it alerts the driver with a sound cue and warning message on the instrument panel. Additional safety technologies in these vehicles include Blind Spot Collision Warning (BCW) and Rear Cross Traffic Warning (RCCW).

    NHTSA conducts vehicle testing and ratings each year to give consumers information about crashworthiness, collision avoidance and other areas that improve the safety of new vehicles.

    Hyundai praised NHTSA, IIHS, and the automotive industry for working together to make rear-seat reminder systems standard features on new vehicles in the future. Making these systems standard equipment will help prevent child deaths from heatstroke in vehicles. In August 2019, Hyundai announced that they will be making Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) door-logic system standard on most new vehicles by 2022.

  • Stakeholders advised on Yoruba leadership

    The Maye of Yoruba land and the Chancellor of the Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, Osun State, Dr. Ramon Adedoyin has advised Yoruba leaders and all stakeholders responsible for appointment of leadership in the Yoruba land to tread with caution on the issue of who leads the Yoruba race.

    Speaking to reporters in Ife, Osun State the Yoruba High Chief urged the Yoruba leaders to “sheath their swords and stop washing our dirty linens in the public”.

    Speaking about the controversy that trailed the announcement of Prof. Adebanji Akintoye as the fourth elected Yoruba leader after the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Pa Adekunle Ajasin and Senator Abraham Adesanya, Adedoyin said Prof Akintoye was adopted recently in Ibadan, Oyo State by a group known as O’odua Redemption Alliance led by Mr. Victor Taiwo, an activist, in the presence of notable Southwest Yoruba elders including, the 135-year-old Pa Olamilekan Akekaka.

    However, suing for peace, High Chief Adedoyin said all that the Yoruba people need currently is to think positively (Yoruba Ronu). They should come together and forget all sorts of bickerings. They should, together come against the common enemies physically and spiritually for the betterment of our present and future generations.

    Read Also: The Yoruba synthesis and its abdjurators

    He said: “Unless we come together and create a formidable front against the common enemies of the land, to protect the legacies our ancestors bequeathed to us may be taxing as the enemies can only be defeated only through divine intervention.

    “I, therefore, appeal to all Yoruba elders and stakeholders of various groups to rise up and come together, embrace one another in unity for protection of our great land and future of our posterity everywhere in the world. We should be the first in every good thing, as laid down by our forefathers such as Pa Awolowo”, the Maye said.

  • Renzi pledges funds for higher pensions, earlier retirement

    Italy will set aside six billion euros ($6.73 billion) over the next three years to increase pensions and allow people to retire earlier, the welfare minister has said, rowing back on a pension reform passed in 2012.

    The announcement comes as Prime Minister Matteo Renzi struggles to boost his popularity ahead of a December referendum on constitutional reform on which he has staked his career.

    Former prime minister Mario Monti sharply hiked the retirement age when Italy was in the front line of the euro zone debt crisis in 2012, a move that helped calm markets but was deeply unpopular with Italians.

    Welfare Minister Giuliano Poletti said after meeting trade unions that the 6 billion euros would boost the pensions of retired people currently receiving less than 1,000 euros per month and allow certain types of workers to retire earlier.

    Poletti said details of the operation, which will cost less than 2 billion euros in 2017, would be provided in the 2017 budget to be presented by October  20.

    Italy spends more public money on pensions than any other EU country, around 16 percent of its gross domestic product.

    Earlier this year Renzi announced a scheme allowing workers to retire at 63 instead of 67, but the plan got an icy reception because the pensions taken earlier would have to be funded by bank loans to be paid back with interest.

    However, on Wednesday Poletti said people with particularly tiring jobs, as well as the unemployed and those on low incomes would be allowed to retire at 63 without having to pay back any money.

  • Making a living from fish processing

    A graduate of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, is practising what he studied in school: Fish processing, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    After Uloko Caleb received his degree from the University of Agriculture, Makurdi. Benue  State, where he studied Fisheries and Aquaculture, he made up his mind that he was not going to work for anybody.

    He said: “I always knew from the start that I wanted my own business. I started seeing reasons that complaining never yield positive results; therefore, with my experiences and the knowledge I obtained from the university, I conceived the idea of going into fish processing and packaging.”

    His training exposed him to value addition to fish and fishery products. He knew what an entrepreneur needs to prepare various fish products to increase consumer appeal, enhance income and improve livelihood.

    He set out to establish a small fish processing business. He saw a market for it with increasing business opportunities.

    He said: “I chose fish processing to fish production because of inadequate fund to build ponds, install and sink borehole in order to have sufficient water. Therefore, I decided to start small, by going into fish processing with the little capital at my disposal.”

    One thing he learnt was that fish is a highly perishable commodity, which requires proper handling, processing and distribution if it is to be utilised in a cost-effective and efficient way. The other thing is various value added products can be prepared out of fish without much investment. Although the demand for such kind of products is huge, he realised a lot of entrepreneurs don’t venture much into entrepreneurship of value added fishery products, due to lack of skills and marketing opportunities.

    Last year, Caleb  started with the construction of the shade and working area cost; bought a smoking kiln with gas cylinder. He bought some table-size catfish from fish farmers for processing and drying.

    The business he started small is worth over a N1 million. From the profits he made, Caleb installed  fish ponds.Today, he  does fish production alongside fish processing.

    Earlier, he encountered some challenges. He  explained: “The first was my target market. I intend to sell my product at wholesale price for quick returns, but due to competition from other suppliers, who sold at lower rates as a result of their lower standard of processing, I found it difficult to break even. What I decided was to sell at shopping malls, hotels and restaurants.

    Also, raising my own fish before drying was only the best alternative.  Secondly, sizes of fish has various drying periods. Larger fish take longer period to dry than small ones. Mixing them during smoking and drying will not get them done uniformly. With this experience and observations, I have been grading them to size whenever I want to process fish.”

    His  success, in part, is tied to tireless networking. He keeps  learning.

    He derives satifaction from customers’. He is happy with what he has  accomplished so far.

    Caleb is happy he has been able to earn double of what he invested within a short time.

    He added: “Satisfying customer demands will make most business owners proud. I am so proud because I am a beneficiary of double earnings from my business. Meeting up my customers’needs is always achieved. My greatest desire is to be greater than who I am.

    “In 10 years, my business will be making at least N350,000 monthly. Exporting my products, too, to countries where they are needed will also be achieved. In 20 years, my business will have a life of its own; with that, I don’t have to keep monitoring all the time. It will have a standard organisational structure where everything will work in system.”

  • Global electronic banking fraud hits $31b

    Global electronic banking fraud has hit $31 billion, the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), has said.

    Its Chairman, Lagos Branch, Mr. Peter Ashade, who spoke ahead of a forum the group is planning for Lagos, lamented that this robust electronic service platform has come with a number of concerns and challenges, particularly the perpetration of fraud.

    He said global electronic fraud last year stood in excess of $31 billion.

    He said digital banking, was growing fast, throwing up major challenges in the system with increasing vulnerability.

    This he said has put industry stakeholders, including financial experts on their toes.

    He said CIBN is spearheading a crusade to sensitise the public on emerging trends, challenges and benefits of digital banking.

    He said robust intellectual discourse tagged: Rethinking Banking Models in the Digital Age for Economic Development of Nigeria  scheduled for August 29,  will provide a platform for industry stakeholders to rub minds on the way forward.

    Ahsade said the topic was instructive for the general banking public, banking practitioners and regulators, as digital banking has become strategic in the heart of the economy.

    According to him, this was particularly so now that the country is seeking greater financial inclusion and more efficient banking services.

    “Digital banking service is one of the most significant developments in the banking industry in its long history. Two of the most important features are speed and convenience.

    “Bank customers can access their accounts view their statements, make transfers, pay bills and more, all from the comfort of their homes, offices or on the go.

    “Traditional banking habits, security, technical issues and transaction difficulties, all pose major challenges facing the banking industry in the country today,” he said.

    He added that despite these challenges, the demand for electronic banking services continues to be very strong.

  • ‘PenOp, PenCom fine tuning minimum pension law’

    The umbrella body of pension fund operators, Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp), is working closely with the regulator, National Pension Commission (PenCom) on modalities for establishing Minimum Pension Guarantee for contributors of pension fund, PenOp Head, Branding Committee, Wale Odutola has said.

    The Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014 amended the PRA 2004 law to provide for Minimum Pension Guarantee to Retirement Savings Account RSA) holders.

    Section 82(1) of the Pension Reform Act 2014 provided for the establishment of Pension Protection Fund for the establishment of Minimum Pension Guarantee for contributors. The Minimum Pension Guarantee shall be determined from time to time by PenCom and paid by PFAs to qualified retirees.

    Odutola, who is also the Managing Director of ARM Pensions, spoke during the association’s media quarterly briefing held in Lagos.

    He said PenCom has initiated the process of establishing the pension protection fund for minimum pension guarantee.

    He said: “The process was only just initiated for the pension industry and we expect that it will take time for all the modalities of the initiative agreed upon at the industry level, and then it will be implemented.

    “We feel that this development has far reaching implication for the industry and for that reason, PenCom is also being mindful of how it will develop. The commission is working with the operators to ensure that the establishment of the Pension Protection Fund as well as the Minimum Pension Guarantee is one that is run in an orderly manner and not detrimental to both contributors and operators in the industry”, he noted.

  • After retreat, what next?

    Governors Ministers Commissioners: After RETREAT – ADVANCE TOGETHER. Media- Weapon of Mass Development.

    This fine of $9,000,000,000 is $60/Nigerian. It is not a joke but a new yoke around Nigeria’s neck. Of course the Nigerian government will hire expensive experts in ‘technicality’, ‘adjournments’, ‘my client Nigeria is sick and must be admitted to hospital abroad’, all Queen’s Counsels and SANs, to explain away this monumental failure commonplace for 50 years -no power, no water and still no Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. There is a real financial cost every time government fails to behave competently. Every ‘come today-come tomorrow’, ‘not on seat’, has a cost. Heads must roll. Are we cursed or not, or do we have a Nigerian death wish through financial suicide?

    Governors, Politicians, Ministers, Commissioners: After RETREAT a call to arms! ADVANCE TOGETHER RAPIDLY. Do you know how many coffins make a country? Bad politics always causes death. To quickly get to the ‘Next Level’ The president and governors call [MM1] for ‘Cooperation’ between ministers, ministries, agencies and departments as we Nigerian citizens have been clamoring for. In keeping with the increasing the ’Ease of Doing Business’ we must reward inter-ministry cooperation.

    Too much money has been stolen retarding and destroying too many lives leaving Nigeria’s development 40 years behind the real world, measured by SDGs and mortality rates. Mediocre ministers will ruin us. Urgently introduce ‘Punctuality, Precise Practical Policies And The 1000 Little Things’. 2023 is just three real years away. Do no harm by omission or commission, by deed or denial of SDGs through developmental strategies. Urgency is the watchword. Going slow is corruption and a guarantee of failure. 2019-2023 can only be great if we have great collective leadership at state and federal and LGA level all complementary. You swore an oath! Read that oath every day as you calculate your pay! List and correct the wrongs you despised when you were a citizen in school, university, NYSC, on potholed roads, at police-less roundabouts and junctions at 9pm and were asked for bribes! Daily read the media, listen to debates and especially opposition media for ideas. Do not delegate this to your PA. Keep your old trusted friends and family and ask them questions.

    Your actions and inactions, decisions and indecisions, and delays will save or kill people depriving the suffering citizens of books and medicines and filled potholes, but you never see the gory blood or the corpses. I do. My colleagues in medicine do. The citizens on the un-sirened, potholed road do! Dead babies, children, youth, mothers, fathers, old people are political casualties – the unnecessary dead. Dead from a negligent, greedy, avaricious politics.

    Do you know how many coffins make a country? Count Nigeria’s coffins, stack them high! Their corpses had no right to die. How much blood shed makes a birth right? How much suffering creates a new society? Politicians pontificate that ‘citizens must suffer for development’ forgetting that the suffering is exactly because politicians themselves stole their past. Place the politician in the frontline and the war will end. Take the generator from politicians and the grid will work. To die in war is painful. A soldier joins up knows he could die and will not cry, but hopes that he will live is dependent on the GOC of his Division. Certainly the dead soldiers, police and civilian victims better deserve the appellation. Distinguished and Honourable and a month’s NASS Salary and Perks more than the NASS members. But to die in peace is a disgraceful democracy disaster, be it in an unfilled pothole, from cholera and typhoid in unclean water or in a market fire or unprotected in our undeclared Boko Haram war or be repeatedly robbed and raped in an IDP camp. To die in peace an unforgivable political failure warranting resignations and prosecutions!

    Now Hear This!!!  Governors, Politicians, Ministers, Commissioners need to know that this day in August 2019 Fellow Nigerians expecting to live will die today. They will die from past political incompetence, at the hands of Boko Haram, kidnappers, okada murderers, undetected ‘one chance’ danfos and taxies, road traffic monsters, cultists, thugs, armed robbers and myriad mothers and children and adults will die medical structures from malaria, malignancy, maternal mortality and water-borne cholera and enteritis. Do something.

    Ministers and Governors: Use the Media as THE 2019-2023 Weapon of Mass Development, WMD, better or as well as DSTV educates citizens on trafficking and plastic waste. Our local channels must take ignorance as a threat and dangerous challenge to development and educate the citizenry by offering airtime to ministries. Each ministry should submit 10 most important messages/month for dissemination daily on NTA or/and State TV and radio. This will correct the political mistake that Nigerians get little health and life skill information from the media preoccupied with making IGR and sensationalism. Life skill messages should be free to air. Nigeria disgracefully even charges Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Rotary International to advertise about polio and AIDS to save Nigerians, not Americans. Shame. The ministers and commissioners can collectively agree to properly fund and use the media to ‘Allocate 30 minutes, 60 separate 30secs life skill messages covering the Public service announcements of all Ministries. NTA and state media’s reason for existence is SDG education or CSR.  For example a media drive on the benefits of ‘Monthly Total Body Examination’ cuts across every citizen and all ministries and saves lives!

  • Pension complaints and solutions

    SUNDAY: I retired in June 2003 from National Clearing and Forwarding Agency. I received my pension from March 2008 to April 2018. The     pension was stopped after April and I don’t know why. Please help me.

    PTAD: If Mr Eshiet has been verified, we advise that he sends a clearly scanned copy of his verification slip to complaints@ptad.gov.ng. If he has not been verified, he can visit our Abuja or Lagos office with his employment documents, BVN and original stamped bank statement from April 2018 till date to be verified and monthly pension payment resumed, if eligible.

    MRS ONIYE: I retired from  the Federal Government College, Idoani in April,1999, as Grade 2 Typist, G.L 5 Step 10. My gratuity was paid on June 7, 2007. I have not been paid any monthly pension. Please help  contact the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) on non-payment of my monthly pension since 1999.

    PTAD: The pensioner is advised to send her complaint, name and account details to complaints@ptad.gov.ng. Her telephone number as provided is not reachable.

    BENJAMIN: I retired in 2006 under the old NEPA/PHCN and by transition from NELMCO to PTAD. My monthly pension of January and March 2015 were omitted.I visited PTAD five times and did all what I was told to do but each time I went there, they would tell me ‘no fund’ Please intervene for me.

    PTAD: The pensioner is required to submit his bank statement from July 2014 to date to PTAD Office Abuja including his complaint to enable us investigate and resolve his complaint.

    ISA: I am  one of the pre-1996 Railway pensioners in Nasarawa State. Our 18 months arrears (part of 52 months) since the time of former President Goodluck Jonathan are yet to be cleared. Also, railway pensioners are the least paid nationwide. Kindly use your good office to solve our problems.

    PTAD: It is an assumed liability by some group of pensioners in the NRC. The group is yet to forward any supporting documents.

    STEVEN: I am a retired teacher from Ifako International School. I was receiving N24,684.76 as pension but since 2003, nothing has been given to me. My NPF No is ANONYMOUS. I will be happy if you can help and see that the money is paid. I also worked at Barachel Model College.

    PTAD: The pensioner was called several times with no response. He is advised to send his complaint, name and account details to complaints@ptad.gov.ng.

    ALICE: My pension number is Anonymous. I did verification since August 2017 but PTAD has not paid me till date. Kindly assist, several pensioners have gotten theirs . I am a state pensioner with federal share. I retired on 30 April 30, 2008 without payment till date.

    PTAD: The pensioner’s complaint has been investigated. She will receive payment as funds are allocated and released by the Federal Government.

    JOSHUA: I retired as a Seargent on grade level 05 step 4. My date of first appointment is  January 20, 1986 and date of retirement is March 1, 1997. I have done verification in Abuja. Please, help tell pension boss that she should pay my pension. I am helplessly living a tortuous life.

    PTAD: The pensioner’s complaint has been reviewed by the operations department. He will be paid as funds are allocated and released by the Federal Government.

    SANMI: I retired as an Assistant Director of Education (GL 15) in December 1996, after serving the government for 35 years. My gratuities were paid in 1998 when the value of the money had fallen more than 100 per cent. I started drawing my pensions in 2000. I am a  federal pensioner, with no state share at all. Till date, I have not been allowed to enjoy any of the pension increases approved since 2000. In April 2009, my pensions were harmonised to enable me enjoy the 142 per cent increment approved in 2000. The voucher was prepared. This included the arrears accruing from 2000. That month, I was paid only the harmonised monthly amount. The arrears were not paid and have still not been paid. Later, the harmonised amount was reduced by 50 per cent. Despite series of verification and complaints forms, no action has been taken on my case. However, the pension authorities keep on telling the public that they have been paying pension arrears and returning savings from discovery of ghost pensioners to government coffers. I submitted a letter of complaint to the Akure Office of the Public Complaints Office in April 2014, but I am not sure the letter left the office although they charged me for courier fees. I retired from the Federal Civil Service at the age of 56 years. I am now 76 years old and I am still being denied my entitlements by since 2000. This complaint and relevant documents including my bank statement of accounts are in my records with PTAD as were with those who handed over to them. Why is it that nobody is doing or saying anything about my case since 16 years?

    PTAD: We require additional information to enable us investigate and resolve the pensioner’s complaint. Mr Owoeye should please send the pensioner’s name and telephone number to complaints@ptad.gov.ng to enable us speak to him.