The Nation Newspaper

Tag: partner

  • 2019 election: INEC to partner NURTW

    2019 election: INEC to partner NURTW

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to enter into strategic partnership with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) for an effective distribution of materials and personnel ahead of next year’s elections.

    The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ebonyi State, Prof Godswill Obioma,  at a meeting attended by representatives of   the 29 branches of the NURTW and INEC  officials   in Abakaliki yesterday described transportation as a critical component of election involving timely movement of INEC personnel and electoral materials.

    He lauded the union for the previous partnership with the commission in the area of transport arrangements.

    “It becomes pertinent that adequate transportation arrangements are made to ensure that INEC officials and materials are moved to designated election centres on time,” Obioma said.

    He said the meeting was in line with the directives  from the commission’s national headquarters that state offices of INEC should hold meetings with its  strategic partners on election planning.

    The REC told members of the NURTW that the meeting was to enable the commission embark on early transportation planning.

    He said that the initiative would also help the commission to overcome avoidable mobility challenges.

    Obioma said that the meeting was a follow up to an earlier meeting held between the commission and the union.

    “The main purpose of this meeting is to start planning early the transportation arrangements and it is also a follow up to the meeting held last month.

    “We made some far reaching resolutions during the last meeting and it becomes even more urgent to partner with your union in making transportation arrangement now that our headquarters has given us orders to do so.

    “We were told to go back and meet with our stakeholders in various aspects to begin arrangements in earnest for the elections.

    “We have just met with the committee in charge of security called the Inter Agency Consultative Committee in Electoral Security,” he said.

    Obioma explained that they had used the opportunity availed by the meeting to lay out strategic plans for security.

    He said, “The Commissioner of Police is the chairman and REC is the co-chair man.”

    The REC said that a nine-man joint sub-committee to work out the modalities for effective engagement of the transporters would be constituted at the end of the meeting.

    He commended the union for attending the meeting and reassured its members of the  commitment of the commission aimed at  sustaining  existing cordial relationship between it and NURTW.

    Obioma also restated the commitment of the electoral body to conduct credible, free and fair elections in Ebonyi in 2019.

    The state chairman of the NURTW, Chief Oko Ewa, said the union would support the commission to succeed in the areas of transportation.

    Ewa, represented by the state secretary, Mr Sunday Ebude, said that NURTW would respect the partnership arrangement.

  • Journalists urged to partner advocacy groups on human trafficking reporting

    Journalists urged to partner advocacy groups on human trafficking reporting

    Journalists in developing countries who encounter time and budget constraints in telling visually engaging human trafficking stories have been advised to work with advocacy groups for better results.

    Addressing a group of reporters in Houston, Texas, United States during a reporting tour organised by the Foreign Press Office of the US Department of State, Jeremy Campbell, an award-winning American investigative journalist, gave the admonition while discussing Selling Girls, an investigative documentary series which showed how sex traffickers targetschildren.

    Campbell, an executive producer with TEGNA, a media content company which distributes investigative pieces to reach large audience base was joined at the discussion by two other journalists – Erin Gutierrez and Jeremy Rogalski.

    “One ofthe things to do if you are on a time or budget restrain is to start talking to advocacy groups who have done research and studies in  human trafficking as they may have additional information and statistics,” he said.

    Selling Girls, an investigation into the U.S Child Sex Trafficking situation was a six-part digital episodic series which demonstrated the realities of child sex trafficking among children who are U.S citizens. The six episodes cover topics, including sex trafficking 101, how victims are coerced and lured and also revealed the business model that connects buyers with young girls.

    “We tried to look at how pimps are being punished and where they are being punished. Data showed that those charged with child trafficking were getting a slap on the wrist for these crimes,” Jeremy regretted.

    Another member of the team, Rogalski, who advocated a victim- centered approach to human trafficking stories, spoke on the efficiency of using explainer videos with animations in telling stories in a way to make children who could be victims better understand the concept of sex trafficking.

    “Sex trafficking is a heavy topic but by putting it in animation, it makes the topic less sensational and educative”, Rogalski stated.

    On her part, Gutierrez an executive producer with TEGNA, who used to work with CNN gave tips on fact checking, stating that tools like Lexis Nexis could be used to pull out public records of pimps while google advance search with keys words could add additional information when investigating pimps perpetuating sex trafficking by local journalists.

    “For us the stakes was high because this  was a national investigation so we had to have our facts tight for the piece. We were two groups with two different focus, so we came up with a bunch of stuff we could give to our local journalists to help them highlight what is going on locally so that they can delve into the records wherever they are,” she said.

  • VEEDA, EPOS Solutions partner to boost operations

    Two leading players in the Nigerian retail and hospitality industry, VEEDA Nigeria and EPOS Solutions, last weekend signed a partnership that would see both organisations working together to deliver superior inventory management solutions to large and small-sized companies in Nigeria.

    The VEEDA brand is famous for its range of smart POS, smart POS scale, Thermal Printers, Barcode Printers, Mobile Printers, Barcode Scanners, Cash drawers and consumables. Its sales network has matured to include growing outlets in Nigeria, Africa, Asia and Europe.

    EPOS Solutions is the exclusive partners to EPOS NOW, United Kingdom’s (UK) number one inventory management platform currently deployed in over 103 countries by over 30000 retail businesses. The company delivers market leading Point of Sale (POS) systems, designed specifically to reduce costs, improve efficiency and grow sale.

    At the agreement signing in Lagos, VEEDA Nigeria Managing Director, Mr. Bill expressed delight at the prospect of the partnership helping to revolutionise the conduct of businesses through cost reduction and improved efficiency.

    “The partnership would provide platform for customised complete solutions delivery to retail & hospitality businesses with exceptional customer service across the country,” Bill said.

    Chief Executive Officer, EPOS Solutions, Kayode Ayansola, said the partnership would guarantee smooth business operations and ensure healthy returns on investment by helping to improve corporate efficiency.

    “We are happy at this partnership as it ensures that core product software is running on an industry-leading hardware system in Nigeria. We are also confident that it would guarantee smooth business operations for our clients,” Ayansola said.

    Industry watchers, who witnessed the ceremonies, said they were hopeful that the new partnership is capable of assisting many troubled small businesses to overcome the challenge of internal breaches, which lead to revenue losses and collapse.

  • OGFZA, NPA partner on free zone operation

    The Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) has opened discussions with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to forge closer ties on issues ranging from use of land in the ports where oil and gas free zones are located to strategic cooperation.

    The strategic engagement  between the two agencies began at the weekend when theOGFZA Managing Director, Mr Umana Okon Umana, paid a courtesy call on the NPA Managing Director, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, at the NPA head office on the Marina, Lagos.

    Briefing Usman on the series of reforms and progress in the free zones since he took over as chief executive officer in September 2016, Umana said more would be achieved with greater support and cooperation of the NPA. He proposed a partnership agreement in which the NPA would cede lands to OGFZA in the nation’s seaports hosting oil and gas free zones to free up access to land for investors in the form of subleases. Suggesting that the proposal should be formalised with an MOU, Umana explained that OGFZA would administer such leaseholds in collaboration with the NPA.

    He emphasised that collaboration between OGFZA and the NPA on land use and other policy issues would have positive impact on the ease of doing business in the free zones in line with the policy thrust of the Federal Government.

    Usman commended the managing director of OGFZA on his efforts to sanitize the free zones by insisting that all licensees comply with extant laws and regulations and pledged unflinching support to OGFZA in the bid to realise the full objectives and potential of the oil and gas free zones.

    She expressed full support for Mr. Umana’s position that OGFZA and NPA needed to strengthen their collaboration to ensure that a level playing field is provided for all licencees and concessionaires.

  • Linkage, Niger Delta University partner on insurance talent

    LInkage Assurance Plc in collaboration with the Niger Delta University (NDU) has begun  moves to harness exceptional talents for the insurance industry.

    This is targeted at giving opportunities to students of insurance, actuarial and financial management as well as those in mathematics and engineering sciences to make career in insurance and actuarial.

    Linkage Assurance Plc Managing Director, Dr Pius Apere, who led management of the company on a career talk to the university community, said the industry is in serious need of actuarial professionals, more so that the sector is getting bigger with a lot of growth potentials.

    Apere, who was received by the Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Samuel Edoumiekumo and the council members of the university at its main campus in Bayelsa State, underscored the commitment of Linkage Assurance to help exceptional students of the institution make career in the industry.

    Dr Pius Apere, who presented a paper  titled: Are You Fit To Be An Actuary,  said Linkage was instituting an award of N200,000 to the  best graduating student in insurance beginning from this academic session.

    Besides that, the company is also offering internship opportunity to 300 – 400 level students of insurance, and opportunity for absorption after graduation.

    According to him, Linkage plans to set up an Actuarial Unit in 2018, and best three candidates with Maths, Physics, Engineering or other strong quantitative degrees will be considered for immediate employment.

    Edoumiekumo thanked the company for the partnership, adding that his administration is committed to enhancing the relationship between the university and industries, in the different sectors of the economy, so that products of the university will have practical experience before they move into the labour market.

    Edoumiekumo expressed the determination of the university to provide the needed platforms that  will give students the opportunity to advance their career while still undergraduates, pointing that what Linkage has done was a long dream that has come true.

    Imo O. Imo, Head of Strategy of the company, explained the career opportunities in the industry to the university community, while urging the students to take advantage of this eye-opener to plan their career.

    He challenged them to start taking professional examinations while still in school, as that is the only way to make them competitive and candidates of choice in the labour market after graduation.

  • Benue, Taraba to partner on security

    Benue, Taraba to partner on security

    BENUE and Taraba States have agreed to resist reported plots by Fulani pastoralists to takeover people’s lands.

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State and Darius Ishaku spoke yesterday in Takum, at the burial of a member of Taraba House of Assembly, Hosea Ibi, who was killed by kidnappers.

    According to Ortom, the land which the herdsmen are claiming was passed to the Benue people by their forefathers.

    He maintained that God brought him and Ishaku to strengthen the bond between their states, promising that they will fight and defeat crime.

    Ortom hailed the people and government of Taraba for standing firm in the implementation of Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, which he said could end farmers/herdsmen crises.

    Ishaku said the law was enacted to ensure peaceful co-existence in the state.

    He lamented the level of insecurity, and called on security agencies to reverse the trend.

    The governors reaffirmed their rejection of the proposed cattle colony, urging other states to embrace ranching as the global best practice for animal husbandry.

  • NAFDAC, NDLEA partner to fight drug abuse

    The leaderships of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have resolved to join forces to combat the rising cases of drug abuse across the country.

    The two agencies, whose primary mandates revolve around control of abuse, adulteration and mismanagement of regulated pharmaceutical products and other consumables, have decided not to leave anything to chance by resolving to take urgent measures to curtail the rising incidence of drug abuse among Nigerians.

    NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Moji Christiana Adeyeye, while speaking during a working visit to the NDLEA Chairman in Abuja  stressed the need for the two agencies to close ranks for better efficiency.

    Prof. Adeyeye said: “Our visit to NDLEA is coming after the stakeholders round table held in Kano. It is intended to foster familiarity among the leadership of the twin agencies so that we can work with better results to the benefit of Nigerians.

    “It will also afford us the opportunity to work in synergy without issues with regards to the specific and general mandates of the two agencies.”

    Responding, NDLEA Chairman, Colonel Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd), reemphasised the need for closer relationship between the two agencies.

    According to Abdallah, drug abuse has attained an all time high level in Nigeria, hence should be regarded as an emergency at red alert level.

    “Drug in Nigeria should be declared as emergency in Nigeria, even ahead of terrorism. This is because terrorism is hugely fueled by drug abuse. A typical evidence of this is that huge amount of drugs like tramadol and the likes are usually found in all the Boko Haram camps that have been dislodged so far, which is an indication that most of them perpetrate the act of terrorism under influence of drugs.”

    To drive their resolution, the two agencies have agreed that there is an urgent need to form a joint task on drug abuse.

    They also agreed to make joint recommendations to the government on the need to empower them to perform optimally on the new threat that drug abuse overly poses to the country’s overall security.

    The latest move by the two agencies is coming on the heels of a recent visit by NAFDAC to the leadership of the Nigerian senate, and a follow up visit by the House of Representatives where the Senate President and members of the House stressed the need for improved funding for NAFDAC.

  • ASSBIFI to partner NSITF on scheme

    ASSBIFI to partner NSITF on scheme

    The Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) has pledged to partner with Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) to guarantee compliance with the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS). This was made known by the National President of the Association, Oyinkan Olasanoye, in a chat with The Nation at the weekend.

    He said the partnership is needed to ensure maximum compliance by all the stakeholders. He expressed with  the Federal Government’s initiative to establish a fund designed to rehabilitate and compensate injured employees.

    She said the  association would ensure that employers in the banking, financial and insurance sectors comply fully with the provisions of the ECS.

    The ASSBIFI National President said it was in the interest of the association to make the scheme a success. According to her, the scheme played a major role in the passage of the Employees Compensation Bill at the National Assembly, which culminated in the Employees Compensation Act 2010.

    She reiterated that ASSBIFI also has a good relationship with state governors and government parastatals and would therefore like to explore areas of mutual benefit with the NSITF to advance the scheme.

    On the recent plan by the NSITF to recruit new workers, she said that will be a difficult thing to do now because the body is yet to take care of its current staff as much as it would have loved to. She said: “We have been informed by our NSITF Unit on recent plans by management of the NSITF to employ another 370 officers from the rank of managers and above into the service of the organisation.

    As a responsible union representing Nigerian workers, we are not opposing generation of employment for Nigerians, but we are concerned about the present situation of NSITF, which necessitates us calling for caution.”

  • We’ll continue to partner security agencies, says Rivers govt

    Rivers State Government said yesterday t will continue to partner with security agencies in the effort to rid the state of cultists and criminals.

    Reacting to the killing of Don Wani, Commissioner for Information and Communications Emma Okah said the success recorded in the operation that ended the lives of Don Wani and his men is “a victory for the law abiding people in the state.

    “It underscores the desirability of honest partnership and synergy between the government and security agencies as well as the public in tackling security problems in the state.

    “This victory gladdens our heart and we remain more committed in the fight against crimes and will continue to support the police and all security agencies in the onerous task of securing our dear Rivers State and her people”, Mr Okah said,  noting that no cost will be spared to make our people sleep with two eyes closed.

    “We thank President Muhammadu Buhari for not playing politics with the Omoku massacre but gave a matching order which galvanised the efforts of the 6 Div of Nigeria Army, the DSS, police and everybody or agency who played a role to avenge the death of the innocent people killed in Omoku on 1st January, 2018.

    “The success of our collective effort has shown that there is no hiding place for the wicked”

  • Armed robber kills partner

    Armed robber kills partner

    A robber killed his partner during a foiled robbery attack on Francis Chibueze, on Bakery road, Azikoro, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.

    State Police Command spokesman Asinim Butswat told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the robber mistakenly shot and killed his partner.

    “On December 22, at about 8 p.m, a gang of two armed robbers attacked Francis Chibueze of Bakery Road, Azikoro Village, Yenagoa.

    “As they were trying to attack their victim, one the robbers mistakenly shot and killed his partner, while the victim, Chibueze, escaped unhurt.

    “The deceased armed robber was identified as Thankgod Smith, 25, and the partner who shot him is Peter Napoleon, 23,’’ Butswat told NAN.

    He said the suspect came to the Azikoro Police Station on December 23, and turned himself in.

    The spokesman said the suspect confessed to the robbery and killing of his partner.

    “The suspected armed robber led Police detectives to an uncompleted building on Bakery Road, Azikoro Village, where the gun was recovered,” he said.