The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerians

  • Nigerians urged to attach importance to training

    Nigerians have been urged to attach importance to training to enhance their skills and contribute to the nation’s development.

    The President/Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute of Training and Development (NITAD), Dr. Kayode Ogungbuyi (FITD), said this at the 11th induction ceremony of the institute held on Wednesday in Ikeja, Lagos.

    He said to become skilful employees, Nigerians need to go for training regularly.

    Dr. Ogungbuyi enjoined employers to organise regular training for their employees and sponsor them on training outside their organisations to improve their knowledge about their duties, adding that this would rub off on their productivity.

    He said NITAD is a professional body of learning and development practitioners registered in Nigeria to promote the science and practice of training, learning and development nationwide.

    Said he: “The professional development activities of NITAD are aimed at facilitating the exchange of knowledge, skills and experience for those engaged in training and development and at achieving a better utilisation of human ability and potential in business, industry and government.

    “The institute promotes international interaction and exposure of its members through affiliation and co-operation with the International Federation of Training and Development Organisations (IFTDO), American Society for Training and Development (ASTD), African Association for Training and Development (AATD) and Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) UK.

    “It currently has more than 10,000 individuals and 1,000 corporate members. The services rendered are recognised and supported actively by its patrons, namely the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Centre for Management Development (CMD), Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) and Office of Establishment and Management Services, Federal Secretariat, Abuja. The institute is also highly patronised by numerous corporate bodies in the private and public sectors of the Nigerian economy.”

    Dr. Ogungbuyi noted that the virility of both the art and science of HRD in a country determines the reliability of its Human Resources profit in the face of continuous challenges of advancement of practitioners.

    According to him, the institute was, therefore, established for the advancement of many noble objectives.

    The guest speaker at the induction ceremony was Mr. Olasunkade Azeez, a consummate human resources practitioner, who spoke on: HRD Challenge: Aligning Employee Learning and Development with Performance Management.

  • Mind your diet, Nigerians told

    Mind your diet, Nigerians told

    Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences (FBMS), College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar (UNICAL), has held its third lecture series with a call on Nigerians to be conscious of their diets.

    The lecture series, an initiative of the former Dean, Prof Atim Antai, was held at the conference hall of the college.

    In his address, the Dean, Prof Mbeh Ubana Eteng, said the faculty lecture series was in line with the university’s five years strategic plan to become a centre of excellence, using research and teaching to drive development internationally.

    “In the five years strategic plan of this university, it is our aim to emerge as centre of excellence using research and teaching to drive development internationally, nationally and individually,” he said.

    Speaking on the theme of the lecture Lipid consumption: Food aroma and our health ,Prof Essien Udoh, noted that lipid consumption varied between the rich and poor, saying rich man’s food comprised animal products that contained saturated fats while poor man’s diet composed of vegetables.

    Prof Essien explained that fat is a necessary nutrient for optimal health and wellbeing but excessive consumption of it is unhealthy.

    “The lesser the fats coming from animal sources the better since the new trend places emphasis on people consuming as much as possible vegetable sources of food while moderating the animal sources which excess predisposes one to heart diseases”.

    The don stressed that because of the appetising nature of lipid people are always enticed to consume more than required amount of lipid which he noted predisposes one to heart diseases.

    “Lipid is the source of flavour in food, if you prepare a food without any source of fats the food will have no flavour and will not be appetising. Food aroma entices people to eat. We should be aware that the more appetising, we maybe getting too much fats”

    In a chat with CAMPUSLIFE, Dr. Mfon Agbaso, secretary Faculty Lecture series committee noted that it cannot be overemphasized the need for Nigerians to be aware of their diet since the functionality of their body depends on what they eat.

    “it’s important one knows what he/she puts in his body because at the end of the day, the functionality our our body system depends on what we eat. The clothes we wear do not determine how our body works but what we eat because the body system depends on what we eat so what we eat determiner how our body functions. So if you take something that will have adverse effects on our system then you know that you are dipping your grave rather early. So it’s ok to be conscious about what we eat”

    The lecture held every semester with a view to encourage cross fertilization of knowledge between staff and students of faculty had the attendance of Prof. Osim, Prof. Anne Asuquo (Dean, faculty of allied medical science), heads of the constituting departments, staff and students.

     

     

     

     

     

  • 540 Nigerians in UK prisons, says High Commissioner

    The number of Nigerians serving various jail terms in the United Kingdom (UK) has significantly dropped from 900 to 540, Dr Dalhatu Tafida, the Nigerian High Commissioner to that country, has said.

    Tafida spoke yesterday against the backdrop of the Nigeria-UK Prisoners Transfer Agreement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in London.

    The high commissioner said the figure had reduced from 900 in 2008 to 540 currently, because some of the prisoners had completed their sentences and were released by the authorities.

    He said both countries were working on the modalities for prisoner’s transfer following the review of the 2005 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Migration Return Partnership.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that under the agreement, prisoners do not have an option of where they want to serve their terms because the transfer is mandatory by law.

    When the transfer begins, 200 Nigerian prisoners in the UK would be in the first batch of those to be sent home to complete their jail terms.

    Tafida also said a similar scheme, under the auspices of the Nigeria-Commonwealth Prisoners Transfer agreement, has seen the return of only one prisoner since it came into force.

    NAN reports that the Commonwealth scheme allows for voluntary transfer based on the prisoner’s wish.

    However, many prisoners prefer to serve out their terms in the UK, where the prison condition in their opinion is better.

    Nigerians repatriated from the UK on a monthly basis are between 40 to 50 persons.

     

  • Activist to Nigerians: demand security, good governance

    Nigerians have been urged to demand security of lives and property as well as good governance.

    The Chairman of the Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr Chidi Odinkalu, made the call during a two-day summit on security and governance challenges in the Southeast, held in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

    He attributed the growing security challenges across the country to inept leadership.

    Odinkalu asked Nigerians to rise and insist on qualitative leadership that will guarantee the protection of lives and property.

    The activist noted that the inability of the government to provide employment for the teeming youths has fuelled criminality in not only in the Southeast but across the country.

    He said: “In Nigeria, we are not only faced with the threats of terrorism but also serious issues of human right abuses in our homes and offices, which often spills over into the larger society.

    “The time has come for the people to rise and demand for good governance and improved security, which, of course, is their right”.

    Presenting a paper at the summit organised by a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), CLEEN Foundation in collaboration with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Ford Foundation, Dr. Ukoha Ukiwo of the University of Port Harcourt, blamed insecurity in the Southeast on the increasing number of Ndigbo who were displaced in the cities as a result of urban renewal and safety city programme.

    He said as a result of the demolition of homes and business places of most Igbo youths in major cities, the population of displaced persons who were forced to return to the Southeast increased with its attendant consequences.

    Also speaking, the regional representative of the Ford Foundation, Innocent Chukwumah, noted that the huge decline in the socio-economic development in the zone was largely responsible for the current security situation.

    Chukwuma said the traditional self-help development efforts of the Igbo should be complemented by the government for good governance to thrive.

    He urged the participants to come up with a declaration on how to rescue the zone from the claws of criminals.

  • President laments huge number of Nigerians in South African prisons

    •’Nigerians  still receive inhuman, disrespectful, degrading treatment’ 

    President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed shock over the large number of Nigerians in prisons in South Africa.

    Jonathan told the Nigerian community in South Africa on Monday in Cape Town that the high number of Nigerian prisoners did not speak well about the country.

    “I was told that more than 250,000 Nigerians are living in South Africa and that more than 400 are in prison serving various jail terms.

    “This is a bad example of what Nigerians in the Diaspora should be; there are some countries like Malawi and Uganda where no Nigerian is in prison. Most Nigerians are doing very well abroad in various professional callings. There are Nigerians living in South Africa making good name for us but a few of you are doing things in different ways.

    “There is need for these few Nigerians to be good ambassadors of Nigeria so that people will not see Nigeria and Nigerians as corrupt and criminal-minded people and nation,” Jonathan said.

    He said issues of corruption, security and crime were important to him and his administration.

    “From my experience as deputy governor up till the time I was elected as the vice president I know those who talk more about corruption are the most corrupt.

    “Peoples’ perception about corruption in Nigeria was over amplified than the corruption that happens in the country.

    “The perception index is very high, we are not saying there’s no corruption in the country, all of us must work hard to fight corruption,” Jonathan said.

    He said insecurity in some parts of the country was being addressed by government.

    `”The issue of insecurity, threats to peace and stability in some parts of the country is being addressed; threat to peace and stability in the country must be stopped,” Jonathan said.

    The president said he was committed to what was right for the country at all times.

    “I promise Nigerians that issue of power will be solved as soon as the privatisation of the power sector is completed.

    “Power is key to the transformation agenda of this government; in no distant future the type of transformation in the telecommunication sector will be experienced in the power sector.

    “We as government are doing everything to build a Nigeria of our dreams. Our airports are being renovated and modernisation and expansion of our railway transport system ongoing.

    “All what we request from all Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora is support and understanding.”

    Jonathan said the insecurity and molestation of Nigerians by South African authorities would be discussed with President Jacob Zuma.

    The President of the Nigeria Union in South Africa (NUSA), Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, praised the president for conducting what was considered the most credible election in Nigeria’s history.

    He urged the president to continue to explore every avenue to achieve peace in Nigeria.

    Anyene said the president’s visit to South Africa would help to strengthen the relationship between both countries and their peoples.

    He said Nigeria and South Africa should find a better way of translating government-to-government talk into person-to-person relationship between the citizens of both countries and organs of state.

  • ‘40m Nigerians needs adult education to achieve MDGs goals’

    ‘40m Nigerians needs adult education to achieve MDGs goals’

    The Vice-Chancellor of the University Of Ibadan (UI), Prof Isaac Adewole, and the Executive Secretary of the National Mass Education Commission (NMEC), Alhaji Jubril Paiko, have said about 40 million Nigerians need to acquire adult education for the nation to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.

    The duo spoke yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, when they addressed participants at an event organised by the UI Department of Adult Education, in collaboration with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and NMEC. The event was held at Liguori House of Redemptorist, New Ife Road, Ibadan.

    Adewole noted that adult education provides Nigeria with capacities for people to function in an ever-changing society.

    The academic stressed that more Nigerians need to acquire various life skills that are essential for century living.

    He said: “This has brought the rationale to bring those who will help to learn together. Our Department of Adult Education has the reputation to conduct the training because there are tested professionals of international repute, who have the experience and capacity to deliver.

     

  • ‘Aged politicians have failed Nigerians’

    ‘Aged politicians have failed Nigerians’

    Nneka Nwaneri recently had an encounter with Hon. Uche Nwosu, the Imo State Commissioner for Lands, Survey, Housing and Urban Development and reports his views on Land Use Act, community government in Imo State, his land reforms in Imo State and youths in politics, among other issues.

    As one of the youngest cabinet members in Governor Rochas Okorocha government, Imo State Commissioner for Lands, Survey, Housing and Urban Development, Uche Nwosu believes the time has come for the youth to make their mark in public administration.

    As an undergraduate studying Urban and Regional Planning at Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, Nwosu had a vision, which he nurtured as a student union activist who believed in change.

    His brilliance and erudition caught the attention of the President of Rochas Foundation, who appointed him as his Personal Assistant. He was later to become the Deputy Chief of Staff to the foundation’s Founder, now Imo Governor.

    Prior to that, he was Director of Finance and later National Secretary of the Action Alliance, a political party. Nwosu, who has traveled extensively, has undergone further training in Town Planning, Estate Management, Human Resource Development, Corporate Governance, Intelligence and Security.

    In June 2011, Governor Okorocha appointed him his Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations). In April last year, he was also appointed Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Housing.

    To him, his experience has “been a big challenge as land is something almost everybody in the society – middle class, the rich and lower income earners has something to do with.”

    Explaining how he has been coping, he said: “One lapse I met in the ministry, which we are fast handling, is the issue of having Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) and land documents being kept in the files.

    “Like the Information Development Agency in Abuja, we have been able to adopt such in Imo state Imo State with the Geographical Development Agency, where you have our landed documents in a system or data.

    “It makes searches easier, rather than rummaging through thousands and millions of files which are not easily accessible. Finding a single file used to be cumbersome, but now, just keying in a man’s name and house number and every detail of that person will come out.”

    On how how his ministry has been tackling the usual rift between communities and government over land, he said, “In previous years, there are some lands that were acquired in the last 20-30 years. No compensation was paid the land owners and government could not work on the land. Now the compensations have been paid. Now, people can easily enter their land and build and government can freely enter and do its projects.”

    Contributing to the controversies surrounding Land Use Act, Nwosu said: “We have issues with the Land Use Act which gave the governor power to acquire and manage the state lands. Frankly, I feel if the Act is amended, it might have a negative effect or positive effect.

    “So, if the Act is changed, it will be difficult for government to acquire lands for public use.

    The commissioner is full of praises for the community government. Reaching illiterate rural dwellers with the needed information may be difficult in other places, but not in Imo, says Nwosu.

    “We reach out to the elderly and those in the rural areas through the Community Government. Before now, it used to end at the Local Government level, where every information goes to the Local Government headquarters.

    “But now, in every community, we have a youth leader, a women leader, executive secretary, community liaison officer (CLO), traditional rulers and the secretaries. The traditional ruler is the head of the Community Government. The youth leader is in charge of sports and security.

    Nwosu did not shy away from commenting on the recent impeachment of the former Deputy Governor of the state. Responding, he said, “It is unfortunate it happened as he is someone we have seen to have worked closely with the governor. This particular issue is a shock that has come to be.

    “In life, things come up and other things remain the way they are. The governor tried his best to make sure such a thing doesn’t come up, but the House of Assemble has its own statutory rules. It is a constitutional matter that even if the governor had tried hard to interfere, he might be made to face the House. So, he could not stop the investigation of the House

    Insecurity, especially kidnapping, has remained a problem in the South-East. Does the commissioner think the governors are doing enough to solve the problem? “Yes,” he said, adding, “Governors of the South-East have done well. But it is not a problem only governors should tackle. We as individuals have a stake in it. In Imo State, kidnapping has reduced drastically. Now, it is hardly heard of because government decided to put men on ground, apart from the Nigerian Police and military personnel. It formed the Imo Security Department which ensures that people who reside in a community knows the bad ones.

    How has Nwosu brought the benefits of youth to the office he occupies? He said: “I totally buy the idea of the young ones taking up public offices. Like in Imo State, the level of development here is superb.

    “The brain is just like a car. If it is used for 30 years, it becomes worn out. If one was a commissioner in 1979 and he is brought in to be a commissioner in 2013, those things he was used to in 1979 are gone. We are in a jet age and we must move in accordance with the speed.

    “Other countries have keyed into it. Even United States President Barrack Obama began as a young man. So, the young ones should be given a chance to lead this country.

    Does Nwosu think a Southeasterner can be President in 2015? “It is possible for an Igbo to become president,” he said with conviction. “Ideally, the president is not to suppose to be from a particular section or tribe,” he added.

    “But let the best candidate win because it is not a do or die affair. So, Nigerians should vote for the best candidate. Sentiments should be done away with. If Igbo are to be president, they will need the cooperation of other tribes.”

  • Nigerians eulogise Olayinka at Service of Songs

    •Ekiti opens website for Deputy Governor

    The week-long activities lined-up for the funeral of the late Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, began yesterday with a Service of Songs at the Haven Events Centre in Ikeja, Lagos.

    It was attended by the deceased’s family, friends, colleagues and associates, who described her as a mother, sister, wife, friend and Ekiti’s brain box.

    Others described her as an Amazon of Christ and a rare gem, who served God quietly.

    The Anglican Church of Ascension, Opebi, Lagos, where the late Mrs. Olayinka, her husband, Lanre and their children, Lolade, Yeside and Olamide, worshiped said the deceased served the church diligently.

    In its tribute, the church said: “She had an impeccable dress sense and was a fashion icon of sort. Mrs. Olayinka sacrificed her leisure for the love of God. She was a licensed lay-reader before her political appointment and never missed her schedule to serve. Her demise has left a vacuum in the church. She was very humble and accommodating.”

    For the people of Ekiti State, she supported the governor in poverty alleviation and to attain the state’s 16-point agenda. They described the late Mrs. Olayinka as “a bold and courageous woman, who death took at the prime of her life and when the state needed her most”.

    People wept as gospel artiste Lara George sang the Yoruba song titled Ijoba Orun.

    In attendance were Fayemi; his wife, Bisi; wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola; Senator Femi Ojodu; Lagos State Deputy Governor Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; her predecessor, Mrs. Sarah Sosan; wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi; former Ekiti State Governor Niyi Adebayo and his wife, Angela; Senator Oluremi Tinubu; former Secretary of Health Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi; activist lawyer Femi Falana; Chief Jimi Agbaje; former Defence Minister Demola Seriki and Ekiti State House of Assembly Speaker Adewale Omirin, among others.

    There will be a commendation service for the late Mrs. Olayinka at the Anglican Church of Ascension, Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos, today before her remains would be taken to Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

    A website dedicated to the late deputy governor has been created.

    The website, www.funmiolayinka.com, contains speeches, photographs, biography and activities of the late Mrs. Olayinka between October 15, 2010, and April 6, 2013.

    It also contains tributes written by the deceased’s friends, colleagues and well wishers.

    Nigerians are encouraged to visit the website and upload their tributes before the lying–in-state and special tributes session tomorrow.

    The State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said it has mapped out strategies to ensure free-flow of traffic during Mrs. Olayinka’s funeral on Friday.

    The Sector Commander, Rindim Kumven, said the commission will partner other agencies to ensure a hitch-free funeral.

    He said: “We have met with security agencies, the Secretary to the State Government, the State Traffic Management Agency and other agencies and mapped out the routes through which traffic will flow.

    “We have dedicated some routes for VIPs and will close some. We will also divert traffic in some areas to prevent gridlocks.”

    Kumven urged motorists to cooperate with security agents, who would be stationed at strategic locations, and obey traffic rules.

    The police are also ready to ensure that the funeral is crime-free.

    Police spokesman Victor Olu-Babayemi said his men had “been ordered to search people and vehicles on major roads”.

    Babayemi said: “The command is aware that there would be an influx of people into the state on Friday and we are taking precautionary measures to ensure a hitch-free funeral for Mrs. Olayinka.”

     

  • Shun violence, group tells Nigerians

    NIGERIANS have been urged to shun all forms of violent and consider themselves as agents of changes through positive attitudes.

    The National Coordinator of Do It Right Foundation, Mr. Dixon Jubri, stated this during a briefing to unveil the Do It Right

    Jubril lamented that Nigeria is gradually sliding into a state of chaos and the citizens are becoming resentful of the government because of unmet expectations.

    He warned: “We may not have a nation in future if nothing is done to salvage the nation from the path of destruction”.

    Jubril argued: “As bad as it seems, there are still certain things that binds the nation together.

    “If we stand as a people who love Nigeria we would harness all the negative acts and turn it into good for the benefit of the generation yet unborn.”

    The Deputy National Coordinator of the Foundation and a human rights activist, Joe Barggie, opined that criticism cannot help any nation.

    “We have lost out for a very long time and the best time to start talking to ourselves is now,” he said.

  • 73m Nigerians to get INEC’s permanent voter cards

    73m Nigerians to get INEC’s permanent voter cards

    •Cards valid for 10 years

    CHAIRMAN of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega, has reiterated the commission’s preparedness to issue 73 million permanent voter cards before the end of this year.

    Prof Jega spoke at the quarterly meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, yesterday.

    He said the commission has gone far with the process.

    The voter cards are to replace the temporary ones issued at the end of the voters’ registration in 2011. The cards are valid for 10 years.

    Last year, the Federal Government approved N2.6 billion for the printing of 40 million out of the 75 million permanent voter cards in the first phase of the project.

    The government has approved additional N33.5 million for the project’s second phase.

    The INEC chair confirmed that the issues dominated talks at the meeting.

    “By the time the contract is executed, all the registered voters will have their permanent voter cards produced. It is our hope that all the cards will be distributed before the end of the year,” he said.

    He listed the security features of the electronic cards as embedded chips with printed voters’ details, photograph barcode, micro-text, hologram and fingerprints.

    Jega said: “The cards will be electronic in nature and will be used for identification, authentication and for voting to prevent multiple voting and frauds.”

    Beside the production of the cards this year, the INEC chief also identified the delimitation of constituencies across the country as the commission’s major project.

    He said: “And most importantly, this year, we plan to carry out the process of delimitation of constituencies, perhaps, most of the important undertakings that we are going to do this year together with the permanent voters cards, and we have gone very far in the preparation for the delimitation.”