Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has implored security operatives to be thorough and professional in the discharge of their duties.
This, he said, was the only way they could strengthen democratic institutions and guarantee security of lives and property.
He spoke at the weekend during the passing out ceremony of 487 cadet Officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) Academy, Basic Course 29/2016 held at the Parade Ground of the State Services Academy in Ojo.
Represented by his deputy, Dr Idiat Adebule, the governorsaid huge resources had been committed to the training and retraining of security personnel to bring them in tune with modern day technology.
He urged them to justify government’s investment by in security making the country safe.
‘’ Having been certified fit and worthy to be conferred with this responsibility, I urge you to be diligent, disciplined and dedicated, keeping in mind the need to exhibit the highest level of professional conduct . You must be guided by the rule of laws at all times and in all your actions,’’ Ambode said
The governor pledged continuous support for security agencies, stating: ‘’We will continue to support our security agencies with the equipment and other facilities that would enhance your performance in the field. I urge you to consider residents of your host community wherever you may be deployed as friends because they represent a primary source of intelligence gathering.”
DSS Director-General Lawal Daura said since training and retraining were essential for efficient manpower development, the government would continue to invest in capacity building to enhance security operative productivity.
Daura hailed security agencies for working together to tackle security challenges especially the Boko Haram menace.
Tag: professionalism
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Ambode tasks security operatives on professionalism
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Professionalism key to growth of maritime sector, says Peterside
The Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has said professionalism is key role to the growth of the maritime industry in Nigeria.
Peterside spoke when members of the Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors (AMES) visited him at the Head quarters of NIMASA in Lagos.
He described the body as indispensable and urged members to use their expertise to help the agency actualise its core mandate of regulating the industry.
The DG said NIMASA was working hard to make the maritime sector world class.
“We are building a maritime administration that will keep pace with modern maritime thinking and to do that we need everybody onboard, especially the highly skilled professionals like your association.
“ In the industry, it is good to have assets. You can have ships, have other assets, but the greatest asset we can have in the industry is manpower. So we need manpower to drive the industry and that is where the marine engineers and the surveyors come in,” Peterside said.
The President of the Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors (AMES), Charles Uwadia, commended the Peterside-led administration on its strides in getting the maritime sector to the right path. He assured the agency of the association’s unflinching support to its developmental initiatives.
He also expressed the willingness of the body to partner with the agency to raise the international profile of the country.
Uwadia said: “The Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors are Stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime and shipping industry and we are concerned about the success of the Nigerian maritime shipping industry and its fundamental contribution to the overall economy of Nigeria. We therefore assure you of our continuous support in your efforts to reposition the Nigerian maritime sector.”
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Professionalism key to growth of maritime sector, says Peterside
The Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has said professionalism is key role to the growth of the maritime industry in Nigeria.
Peterside spoke when members of the Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors (AMES) visited him at the Head quarters of NIMASA in Lagos.
He described the body as indispensable and urged members to use their expertise to help the agency actualise its core mandate of regulating the industry.
The DG said NIMASA was working hard to make the maritime sector world class.
“We are building a maritime administration that will keep pace with modern maritime thinking and to do that we need everybody onboard, especially the highly skilled professionals like your association.
“ In the industry, it is good to have assets. You can have ships, have other assets, but the greatest asset we can have in the industry is manpower. So we need manpower to drive the industry and that is where the marine engineers and the surveyors come in,” Peterside said.
The President of the Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors (AMES), Charles Uwadia, commended the Peterside-led administration on its strides in getting the maritime sector to the right path. He assured the agency of the association’s unflinching support to its developmental initiatives.
He also expressed the willingness of the body to partner with the agency to raise the international profile of the country.
Uwadia said: “The Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors are Stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime and shipping industry and we are concerned about the success of the Nigerian maritime shipping industry and its fundamental contribution to the overall economy of Nigeria. We therefore assure you of our continuous support in your efforts to reposition the Nigerian maritime sector.”
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Naval chief urges personnel to maintain professionalism
THE Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas yesterday urged Warrant Officers (WO) to always remain professional in the discharge of their duties.
Ibas spoke at the maiden edition of the Warrant Officers’ Convention, held at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos.
According to him, the Nigerian Navy (NN) decided to hold the two-day convention for the WOs because of the vital role they play in ensuring a professional and effective workforce.
Tagged: “Warrant Officers as vital tools in Nigerian Navy human resource management and administration”, the convention addressed issues affecting work ethics, divisional system, personnel safety, security and welfare.
Ibas said the NN has imbibed the realities of national imperatives and applied only the most optimal policies and strategies to protect the nation’s territorial integrity since inception.
He said: “We all have strong reasons to be proud and I commend our collective efforts as officers and ratings in fulfilling the traditional and envisaged roles of the NN. I salute you for your inputs in the ongoing fight against illegalities such as crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, piracy, kidnapping, smuggling, militancy and pipeline vandalism in our maritime domain.
“These successes would not have been possible but for a proficient and professional human resource capacity, part of which the non-commissioned officers, mainly the WOs cadre, play a pivotal role.
“The need to continue to build on the successes achieved so far and by implication a credible NN that is capable of discharging its constitutional roles and assigned tasks in a sustainable, efficient and effective manner calls for a virile and professional human resource capacity.
“The WO cadre is an important link between the officer cadre and that of the junior ratings. Hence, it is important to emphasise that the operational and administrative goals of the NN cannot be attained without a well-disciplined, knowledgeable and highly resourceful class of WOs.”
Hailing the Federal Government for its continuous support to the NN, Ibas enjoined the personnel to remain loyal, patriotic, diligent and disciplined.
The Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral Joseph Ajani, stated that Warrant Officers were a repository for knowledge and experience, adding that they occupy a very important position in maintaining naval customs and traditions.
He urged the participants to key into the government’s “change begins with me” agenda to promote the public image of the NN.
At the event were the Chief of Naval Transformation, Real Admiral Ralph Osundu, Chief of Administration, Rear Admiral Henry Babalola,
Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command (WNC) Rear Admiral Fergusson Bobai, among others.
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Surveyors advocate professionalism
Prominent Women Surveyors have said prevalent building collapse and environmental disasters could be reduced if surveyors are involved in structural planning and environmental disaster control.
They made the disclosure at the Women-In-Surveying(WIS), Southwest regional meeting in Ibadan on Wednesday.
The meeting had in attendance WIS members from Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states.
The National Coordinator of WIS, Mrs Elizabeth Adekunle, stated that non-involvement of surveyors in several construction and environmental control projects has led to the several failures.
Mrs Omolara Ajidahun, the Western Coordinator, said the Nigeria Institute of Surveyor was giving its best at curbing quackery in the profession.
Ajidahun, who commended the Lagos State government on the Land grabbing Prohibition Law 2016, urged other state government’s to emulate this.
Mrs Adenike Durojaye, a former Western Coordinator, called on government to enforce the use of genuine survey plan in aporoving building plans.
Mr Ola Siyanbola, the Chairman, NIS, Oyo State chapter, said members have displayed ethical adherence than their male counterparts.
Mrs Toyin Fowotade, the Oyo State Coordinator, said the meeting was to harmonise ideas and discuss some challenges facing the women folk in the profession.
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Expert tasks estate agents on professionalism
An estate Surveyor and Valuer, Dr. Bolarinde Patunola-Ajayi has unveiled the plan of the Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors (NIESV), to curb quackery in agency transactions.
He spoke to The Nation in Lagos on the move by the professional body to safeguard the populace from charlatans who pose as estate agents to defraud prospective property owners of their monies.
He said one of ways the professional has devised to curb the activities of these intruders, is to educate the public on who a professional estate surveyor is and what they should expect from their business relationship.
Patunola-Ajayi who is also the coordinator of the Institution’s Board of Faculty that comprise of 10 faculties said the practice of estate surveying and valuation is strategic to the nation’s development , due to the insignificant number of practitioners compared to the population their impact is not felt much.
He said the institution came up with the idea of having faculties to ensure specialization in practiced besides affording members the opportunity to concentrate more on the areas of comparative advantage.
According to him, “The present content and culture of our practice requires change to meet realities that can make our profession compete favourably with her international counterpart such as the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and International Valuation Standards Council (IVS). This we believe will set disparity between the professional estate surveyor and valuers and the quacks in the country.”
Expatiating, he said: “People just use the rule of thumb or assumption to take decisions which estate surveyors and valuation experts should take. To curb this we have made membership of the institution open to those especially graduates from the social sciences. It’s open for students to attend the qualifying exams, the chances and opportunities are open and there are a lot of opportunities in the profession. It is better to join fully than to start to operate as quack.”
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CDS tasks defence advisers, attaches on professionalism
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, has charged the nation’s defence Advisers and Attaches to key into the present administration’s change agenda and the realities of Nigeria’s security challenges.
Olonisakin gave the charge in Abuja on Friday at the closing of the 2015 Defence Advisers/Attaches Conference.
He said critical stakeholders in the defence intelligence community must strive to align their expertise and experiences with the programmes and policies of the Federal Government.
Olonisakin said that stakeholders and particularly defence practitioners must brainstorm on contemporary issues and challenges of national security.
He said that the theme of the conference reflected conventional wisdom in this period of change to optimise one of the critical factors of our security as a nation.
“However, this conference provides me the opportunity to charge the defence intelligence community to shift the fundamental paradigm of its engagement in line with the change agenda of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“I charge you to always apply yourself to your working environment and deliberately identify and project the comparative advantages therein for the progress of Nigeria, therefore, you must strive to be an agent of progressive change for Nigeria,’’ he said.
He urged them to apply knowledge gained at the conference to their professional and personal development as well as in their respective working environment.
The defence chief said the conference would also help to shape the operational procedures and methodologies of the defence intelligence community.
He said the Federal Government through the Defence Headquarters would support the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) to optimise its strength in national defence intelligence.
“The conference also considered the operational conditions of our various defence sections and took particular notes of the operational and administrative constraints you face.
“The discharge of these strategic duties requires a defence intelligence community that is undoubtedly imbued with impeccable professionalism.
“ I wish to use this occasion to restate my commitment and that of the Defence Headquarters to work closely with the DIA in providing an enabling environment for you to excel in your duties.’’
Earlier, the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), AVM Monday Morgan, expressed confidence that the challenge of insurgency and other violent crimes affecting some communities in the country would be surmounted.
Morgan said Nigeria was on course in its fight against insurgency as the intelligence community was better positioned to support combat operations in parts of the country.
He said the conference was a huge success as participants were better equipped to deal with the increasing demand on them.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria’s defence advisers/attaches from across the world attended the conference.
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Journalists tasked on professionalism
Imo State Deputy Governor Prince Eze Madumere has urged journalists to adhere to the ethics of the profession in the discharge of their duties.
He said the role of the media in building a virile and sustainable democracy cannot be overlooked, adding that journalists, through objective criticisms, can guarantee good governance.
Madumere, who spoke at an interactive session with members of the Correspondents’ Chapel, regretted that most journalists had jettisoned professional ethics in their bid to settle personal scores.
“When journalists do their jobs professionally, it helps to build a better and informed society. When they criticise government objectively, it helps the government to review its policies and programme to address the people’s needs.
“I challenge media practitioners in the state to revive the practice of investigative journalism. This practice is missing today but it is the best form of journalism because it ensures that the truth about a matter is reported instead of emotions,” Madumere said.
Chapel chairman Attan Agbakuru appealed to government to provide an enabling atmosphere for journalists to carry out their legitimate duties.
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Cleric tasks media practitioners on professionalism
Catholic ArchBishop of Ibadan , Rev Gabriel ‘Leke Abegunrin has said media practitioners must be professional and ethical in issuing information to the public.
Abegunrin who spoke at the 2015 World Communications Day Reception at St. Mary’s Cathedral Hall, Oke Padi, Ibadan said in real reportage, the standard expected of journalists does not allow for the slightest degree of sloppiness or carelessness.
He appealed to journalists to adhere strictly to the ethics of news reporting in the reportage of any event.
The ArchBishop said it is necessary that information passed to the public must go through the most thorough search in order to ensure factuality, saying information must be presented in a manner that would not cause undue anxiety in the society.
Abegunrin said journalists are expected to undertake self-regulation, adding that the commission, as a media consumer and source of information for public consumption, is concerned about what is taken into account in what is published or broadcasted.
“A piece of information has to be analysed critically in terms of source and veracity, among others. Journalist need training and retraining, you will see some journalists that speak bad English and even broadcasters that pronounce words poorly on television” he said.
The Archshop also called on political gladiators to use the sacredness of the season to bring sanity to the on-going democratic activities in the country.
He, however, charged Nigerians irrespective of their religions, to engage in fervent prayers,especially at this period, to salvage the country from social evils for the success of the proposed general election.
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‘We ‘re driven by strong passion, professionalism’
The management of Arthouse Contemporary, an auction house, has identified passion and strict adherence to professionalism as the main impetus behind the success story of the outfit established in 2007.
Its Manager, Nana Sonoiki said aside being driven by a strong passion and professionalism, the auction house does not compromise on standard and that the experts work as a team. “Every auction is an improvement of the previous edition and we try to work with the professionals in the sector who are not bias. In fact, we have turned down an art work by Prof Ben Enwonwu at a time because we were not satisfied with the state of the work,” she said during an interactive session with Arts Editors in Lagos last week.
Founder of the auction house, Kavita Chellaram, said the thirteenth edition of the auction of modern and contemporary art will open on Monday, November 3, by 6 pm at the Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos. It is sponsored by Citibank Nigeria.
The auction, which will be led by notable auctioneer, John Dabney, will from Saturday, November 1, through Monday November 3 afternoon display works at the Wheatbaker Hotel for viewing in anticipation of the auction. The previous auction in May made a sale of N85,334,000 with 75 lots sold.
This edition will include 115 lots of artworks from 1955-2014, spanning the mediums of painting, sculpture, mixed media, and photography. Notable artworks from the modern period to be auctioned include El Antasui’s The Mask (1978), Ben Enwonwu’s Elongated Female Fiture (1978) and Ututu, Morning Meeting of Chiefs at Old Asaba (1970), Yusuf Grillo’s Hawker in Blue (1964), and Bruce Onobrakpeya’s Totems of the Delta (2003). Contemporary artists featured for the first time include Muri Adejimi, Cyril Omamogho, Tchif, Mohammed Abba-Gana, Samuel Ajobiewe, Abiola Idowu, Sam Maduike, Nengi Omuku, Julien Sinzogan(Beninese) and Silas Adeoye.
“The auction house has created the Arthouse Foundation, a non-profit organisation that aims to encourage the creative development of contemporary art in Nigeria. Through a residency-based programme, the Arthouse Foundation provides a platform for artists to expand their practice and experiment with new art forms and ideas. By establishing a network that supports cross-cultural exchange between Nigerian and international artists, the Arthouse Foundation embraces contemporary art as an educational model to engage communities, promote social dialogue, and advance the critical discourse of artistic practices,” she added.
According to Chellaram, the Arthouse Foundation has inaugurated its first year by supporting Nigerian artists in their participation in art programs abroad, including Victoria Udondian’s graduate study at Columbia University in New York, residencies for Uchay Joel Chima and Tayo Olayode at the Vermont Studio Center, and Chibuike Uzoma in Vienna, Austria. This auction will include a selection of artworks that have been generously donated to support the Arthouse Foundation from artists including Yetunde Ayeni-Babaeko, Uchay Joel Chima, Tayo Olayode, and Arthouse Contemporary Limited.
Recalled that Arthouse Contemporary also expanded its scope to include Arthouse-The Space, which organises exhibitions of contemporary art outside of the auction. Arthouse-The Space recently opened an exhibition of Nigerian photographer George Osodi entitled TRANSGREXION, which took place at the Renault Showroom in Victoria Island, September 28 – October 17, 2014. The exhibition was sponsored by Renault Nigeria.