The Nation Newspaper

Tag: partner

  • UNICEF, firm partner to fight cholera

    UNICEF Country Representative, Nigeria, Mrs Jean Gough has said everybody should be involved in life saving interventions to prevent cholera disease.

    Gough, represented by Chief of UNICEF, Lagos Office Mrs Sara Beysolow-Nyati said the organisation had been involved in rural development to ensure purification of water, among others.

    Gough said UNICEF was happy to partner with Unilever PLC in areas of hand washing and other sanitation activities.

    She noted that the promotion of hand washing with soap has high impact in reduction of children deaths, andding that the availability of soap will make a difference in hand washing and proper hygiene.

    Beysolow-Nyati said with the donation of Lifebuoy soap to UNICEF by Uniliver, “we will reach out to households to make them understand hand washing and its practice. This is the first step of a bigger picture of behavioural change.

    “Our aim is to improve and promote handwashing, the soaps are not for UNICEF but for schools, offices, house to house campaign on handwashing. The soap will definitely get to those who need it. We are partners in progress,” she said.

    Unilever’s Corporate Relations Manager, Yemi Adeboye said the company donated some Lifebuoy soaps and participated in intervention programme to stop the spread of the disease.

    Adeboye said the company was aware of cholera outbreak in Lagos, Ogun and Zamhfara, and Gombe and Jigawa States, which claimed no fewer than 100 lives.

    He said more than 70 per cent of those who died were children below five years.

    Evidence, he said showed that hand washing with soap and water at critical times can reduce cholera risk by 70 per cent and acute respiratory infections (ARIs) by 50 per cent.

    “Hand washing with soap has been cited as one of the most cost-effective interventions to prevent cholera, he added.

    Adeboye said Nigerian didn’t wash hands regularly despite having access to soap and water.

    “Only 17 per cent of people according to a global review of 11 countries wash their hands after using the toilet. This is three per cent in rural areas in the country. The soap is promoting hand hygiene in the country. It aims to change the behaviour of 120 million across the world towards “its goal to reach one billion people by 2015.”

    He said about five million were reached by Lifebuoy since 2011, stressing that it aimed to influence government policy to make hygiene education and appropriate behavioural change part of every school curricula.

  • Stanbic IBTC, InfoTech partner on mobile money

    Stanbic IBTC Bank has reiterated its commitment to financial inclusion by empowering its mobile money customers.

    The bank said in a statement that it has partnered with Mobile Media InfoTech Limited (MMIT), a mobile software development company, to assist the youths and small business owners who do not have credit cards, to pay for goods through their mobile money wallets online.

    The bank said its mobile money wallets customers will be able to shop on foreign online sites like Amazon, Android store, Playstation and other gaming sites. “They will be given the option of making cardless payments through their mobile money wallets; and with this option, any customer with a smart phone will be able to make purchases on these online sites regardless of where they reside in Nigeria,” it said.

    Head of E-Business at Stanbic IBTC Bank, Thabo Makoko, described the partnership as another step towards financial inclusion for persons who are usually not able to shop online because they do not have credit cards.

    He said: “Mobile payments have taken a new turn in Nigeria and the days of being inconvenienced or excluded from participating in the digital economy as a result of one’s inability to produce credit or debit card details for online payments are over.

    “We want to provide more opportunities for the under-banked in every part of Nigeria, especially the small business owners; and we want to be known as the financial service partner that opens doors for our customers; empowering them to grow their businesses and lives.

    “Removing the barriers to participating in the digital economy, the online shopping process for small business owners, youths and the under banked will greatly reduce barriers to success in acquiring tools to improve lives.”

  • Lagos, group partner on SMEs’ cluster, infrastructure upgrade

    Lagos State Government and a group, Lagos State Gifts & Household Items Suppliers Association, are collaborating to set up small scale industries that would produce gifts and promotional items.

    It is to discourage importation of the items.

    The Commissioner for Commerce & Industry, Mrs  Olushola Oworu, who stated this at the launch of the association  in Lagos, said her ministry has registered over 30 associations to help the government plan for their infrastructural needs in a cluster.

    She said the government came up with the concept of Lekki Free Trade Zone on a 6,500 hectares of land to ensure and encourage local manufacturers meet demand .

    On the success of some of the clusters government has delivered, she listed industrial parks on Agro/Allied products at Imota, Isolo and Matori.

    The idea, she said, is to get the small manufacturers together and confront the problem of providing electricity, accommodation, machinery and other needed facilities that will aid them in their production processes, rather than having small-scale manufacturers bear the burden.

    Mrs. Oworu said the government was more interested in manufacturers coming to Lagos to set up their outfits or, at best, partner with a local than for Nigerians to continuously depend on buying from overseas which creates employment for those economies against ours.

    President of the association Mrs  Mojisola Solebo-Odusanya acknowledged that most of the impoould be manufactured locally if encouraged by the government. She said the association was set to have a platform where the challenges of suppliers of gifts, souvenirs and household items can be discussed and solutions proffered.

    She said their target was to work on starting their own small-scale manufacturing outfits to produce the items.

    On their challenges, Mrs Odusanya regretted the influx of low and substandard products into the markets which has led to unfavourable competition for genuine importers of high grade goods.

    She revealed that many of her members have attended machinery exhibitions all over the world in addition to trainings on how to manufacture some of the things they are importing

    Mrs Odusanya urged the government to support their association in all material ways necessary as SMEs are known all over the world to be vehicles of employment and wealth creation for a greater percentage of the population.

  • Heritage Bank, EDC partner on MSMEs’ devt

    Heritage Bank, EDC partner on MSMEs’ devt

    Heritage Bank Limited is partnering the Entrepreneurship Development Center (EDC) of the Pan Atlantic University on developing and growing the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) subsector.

    The Heritage Bank MSME Clinic, according to a statement from the bank, offers free financial advisory services to address perceived capacity needs of SMEs.

    The financial advisory services include ICT solutions (e-banking) and entrepreneur training, which is done in collaboration with EDC, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

    Deputy Director, EDC, Mrs Nneka Okekearu, disclosed this at the unveiling of the Heritage Bank SME Clinic in Lagos.

    She said the lender has shown its commitment to the MSME subsector by exhibiting extra care identifying its needs, especially as it concerns designing appropriate financial solutions to address such issues.

    She said it was the determination of the bank to support small businesses that prompted the EDC to partner with it in achieving such objective.

    “When Heritage Bank invited us to partner, especially on MSMEs development, we almost said no. But after listening to the bank, we realised they came from a different perspective and are committed to seeing the subsector grow,” she said.

    Okekearu said most banks are more concerned about getting deposits from MSMEs than supporting their businesses but Heritage Bank wants to see the business grow by providing financial support to operators in the subsector.

    “Being an MSME operator myself, deputy director at the EDC, and a trainer, I understand MSMEs,” she said.

    According to her, the MSME sector in Nigeria is untapped, and unstructured. She said out of a population of 160 million people, there are 17.2 million small growing businesses, which provide employment to 30 million Nigerians.

    “However, beyond, the small growing businesses, is the issue of the banks. We need a total shift, in providing funding support to this subsector,” she said.

    Okekearu said the small growing businesses are not always able to attract the best employees in the industry, a situation that also affects their businesses.

     

  • Firm partners police on security

    A LAGOS-BASED security expert, Alhaji Ibrahim Odofin, has said effective policing has reduced incidences of kidnapping around the Lekki axis.

    He attributed this to the combined effort of private security operators and the police in the area.

    “We have not had many incidences of kidnapping, and this because the security agencies and the police are on top of the situation,” he said.

    Odifin, who is the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Eleshin Security Services Limited (ESSL), which secures estates around Lekki managed by the AIRCOM Estate Managers, spoke while handing over new high-tech security gadgets to men and officers of the firm.

    The estates include Friends Colony Estate, Milverton Estate, Bourdillion Court Estate and NAPRER Estate. ESSL also provides security for Balcary Estate, among others.

    The gadgets include bomb detectors, bullet-proof vests, Clarret metal scanners, walkie-talkies, handcuffs, tear-gasses and boots, among others.

    “Our responsibility as security professionals is to protect those who engage our services. No security officer can perform efficiently if he is not well-equipped and well-trained.”

    Addressing the security officers after an early morning drill and hand-over of the gadgets, Odofin said they must be alert to suspicious activities in their surroundings, and must be quick to alert the firm’s head of office through their walkie-talkies, or the police.

    “You are not to confront armed robbers by yourself, but be smart enough to alert the police without endangering your lives,” he said.

    He further reminded them of steps to take in case of fire, such as calling the emergency numbers and making efficient of use of the fire extinguishing system available.

    “We are there to protect lives and property. Don’t invite your friends to where you are working. Don’t fight in the estate. Don’t speak to anybody anyhow. Be polite. Don’t ask for money from residents.

    “The bomb detectors are meant to search every vehicle coming into the estate. If you suspect anything, quickly alert the police. Dress properly. Respect the supervisors who work at AIRCOM, but they have no right to control you.

    “Anything you want, report to the office. The management will deal with it. You don’t work under them. You don’t have to panic. Only ESSL can sack you. Be security conscious.

    “We need to be very, very smart and wise. Don’t leave your beat and go to another place,” Odofin said.

    A security supervisor at AIRCOM, Mr Moses Isaiah, said the police always respond swiftly when alerted of any security threats in the estates.

    “As regards relationship with the police – so far, so good. Honestly speaking, the police are doing their best. They are trying.

    “When we call them, they respond quickly. They are very good in that. We have a cordial working relationship with the police,” Isaiah added.

     

  • YABATECH partners Irish institute

    YABATECH partners Irish institute

    The Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) is to partner Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT), Ireland, on research and development.

    The alliance will also cover advanced articulation arrangement for undergraduate and post graduate students, staff exchange programmes and joint conferences.

    A statement by the YABATECH Public Relations Officer, Mr Adekunle Adams, noted that the Rector, Dr. Margaret Kudirat Ladipo, received representatives of the institute, last week.

    She told the visitors that YABATECH had maintained a very high standard in the past 60 years.

    Dr. Ladipo praised the management of the institute for partnering with the college. She assured them that YABATECH will work towards the success of the collaboration.

    The Head of the WIT delegation, Dr. Paul Barry, said plans to visit YABATECH had been on for two years.

    He said the 42-year-old institute awards diploma, degree as well as postgraduate and doctoral certificates, assuring the YABATECH management of its commitment to ensuring that the collaboration achieves its desired goals.

    Barry commended the efforts of the Nigerian community in Waterford for facilitating their visit to Nigeria.

    Mr Omotesho, President of the Nigerian community in Waterford, said the institute’s visit to Nigeria is as a result of efforts made to be good ambassadors of Nigeria in Ireland and invest in the country’s development.

     

  • Fed Govt, states partner on food security

    Fed Govt, states partner on food security

    The Federal Government has said it is commited to food security through partnership with state governments and the private sector.

    The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, spoke yesterday at the beginning of the meeting of the 40th National Council on Agriculture (NCA) in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

    She noted that realising the value-chain programme of the Agriculture Transformation Agenda (ATA) would pave the way for increased productivity and enhance easier management of farm input.

    The permanent secretary said the meeting would review past policies on agriculture as well as develop a new framework to enable the nation realise its agricultural programme.

    The NCA is the highest policy-making body on agriculture and rural development. It is an avenue for the Federal Government, states, the private sector and other stakeholders to review and direct agricultural policies to ensure food and nutritional security.

    Mrs Odusote said: “This meeting is coming at a time when the Federal Government is pursuing a robust transformation agenda in the agricultural sector.

    “Accordingly, the task before us at this meeting is enormous, as we gather in the next five days to share experiences arising from the policy implementation and chart a new course for the sector.”

    The permanent secretary noted that the challenge before the sector is more daunting but exciting because the Federal Government has taken some far-reaching policy decisions through its stakeholders to ensure the success of food security in the country.

    Mrs Odusote added: “The meeting is, therefore, expected to develop an implementation action plan towards actualising the agenda and realising the government’s short, medium and long-term food security goals…”

  • Elizade, Alabama varsities partner

    Elizade, Alabama varsities partner

    Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State is set to partner Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, United States on course development and content infusion, amomg others.

    Speaking during a presentation to prepare the ground for the partnership, Stephen Babalola, a research Professor in College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Alabama A&M University, said the collaboration will also include joint proposal development workshops and training for professionals and career development for students.

    Babalola, who is also the Manager, Centre of Irradiation of Materials, described Elizade University as a good representative of the American University given the quality of its facilities.

    He said the students would gain the technical know-how of the operation of radiation detection for national security application which enables a compliant country to prevent terror attacks by detecting unauthorised weapons.

    He added that his university would also provide mentorship for the students.

    Responding, the Vice-Chancellor of Elizade University, Prof. Valentine Aletor, expressed delight at the collaboration, saying the university was ready to partner top-rated institutions that would help achieve its vision of producing globally competitive graduates.

    He said the university’s entrepreneurial and start-up centre was designed to make its graduates employers of labour and not job seekers.

    He promised the visitors that Elizade University will keep to its own side of the partnership and work harder to attract more beneficial collaborations.

     

  • CIBN partners Moody’s Investor

    The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) is partnering with Moody’s Investor, Institute of Financial Services (IFS) and Centre of Study of Financial Innovation (CSFI). The deal, it said, in a statement, will increase its global recognition.

    CIBN Chairman, Segun Aina, said the institute is considering working with CSFI in syndication of articles and joint authorship with Nigerian-based authors, among others.

    He said the institute was willing and ready to collaborate with Moody’s Investor on some critical areas of mutual interest to both organisations.

    Aina maintained that the institute would follow up on the UK-based organisations until the collaboration was consummated.

     

  • Rivers’ll partner EU, says Amaechi

    Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has said his administration would continue to partner the European Union (EU) to transform the living standard of the people.

    Amaechi spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt during the inauguration of the Micro- Projects Programme in the nine Niger Delta states (MPP9)

    He said the programme would fast-track development at the grassroots.

    The governor, who was represented by Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru, described the projects as “community-based,” and assured the EU of his administration’s support.

    Amaechi called on the chairmen of the 13 local governments, where EU projects are sited, and the community leaders to cooperate with the Union and not allow their actions to hinder development in their communities.

    “The Rivers State Government will render its total commitment to the MPP9 and the partnership between the EU and Niger Delta states is enjoyable because we know that whatever projects that are executed in the region is like helping the whole world,” Amaechi explained.