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Tag: promotion

  • NTDC boss backs promotion of Nigerian languages

    NTDC boss backs promotion of Nigerian languages

    The Director-General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation Dr Sally Mbanefo has urged parents and guardians to ensure that they speak Nigerian languages at every home, saying it is a strong tool for the promotion of culture.

    She observed that most languages, such as Igbo, are indeed, in danger of going extinct unless something drastic is done to preserve it.

    Mbanefo, who spoke at this year’s national New Yam Festival (Iri Ji Ndi Igbo) at Igbo-Uku, Anambra State, urged traditional rulers in the state to intensify efforts at creating enabling environment for domestic tourism to thrive in their communities. She identified tourism as a principal export for 83 per cent of developing countries and the most significant source of foreign exchange after petroleum. She pledged the Federal Government’s commitment to support and strengthen the festival in order to serve as a veritable channel to promote and market Nigeria’s rich culture.

    “The domestic tourism market has a very high revenue and job creation potentials. Tourism industry contribution to the nation’s GDP is valued at approximately 1.3trillion naira with a 2.6 per cent contribution to total employment of 1,636,500 jobs. My plans to further take tourism to greater heights are increase domestic tourism volume by at least 30 per cent and entrench a culture of tourism among Nigerians, continued collaborative and sustainable partnership with the private sector operators to harness tourism resources and make Nigeria destination hub of Africa, and growing the tourism value chain to enhance revenue generation through innovative products/projects like the Green City,”

    She described the Iriji Festival as a time of thanksgiving and praying for good yields, saying: “I passionately appeal to the Igbos to come together as one and give Igbo-Uku new yam festival a global out-look as other festivals such as Sango. It is an event that should be seen and celebrated by every Igbo son and daughter. It is an epitome of the beauty of Igbo culture. The Igbo nation is a people that are blessed with everything that make a great nation. The human and material resources that are found in Igbo land are enough to make Nigeria Africa’s destination hub.”

    Mbanefo was honoured by His Royal Highness Igwe Martins Nwafor Ezeh Idu II of Igbo-Uku with the title of Ona mma Ndi Igbo in appreciation of her contributions to the growth of culture and tourism in the country.

    Igwe Ezeh who lauded the strides of the NTDC boss at promoting domestic tourism and cultural festivals in the country, said:

    “Dr Sally Mbanefo is a blessing to Nigeria, and in particular the Nigerian tourism industry. If men and women of vision and passion for nation building like our daughter, Dr (Mrs) Sally Mbanefo are at the helms of affairs of every sector in Nigeria, the nation will not only express her appellation as the Giant of Africa, but also as the Giant of the whole world. This is because we have the resources, what we only need are men of vision and patriotism to manage the resources for the benefit of all.”

    Conferring the chieftaincy title on Dr Mbanefo, the traditional ruler said: “Mbanefo did not buy this chieftaincy title with money, rather we consider it apt for her, having considered her immense contributions to Nigeria and support for the promotion and development of Igbo culture and tradition. We pray that God almighty will continue to strengthen her and bless her with the wisdom to record a successful tenure in office, thereby propelling the movement of this nation and the Igbo communities to their respective promised land.”

    The Odogwu of Ibusa and Director, Centre for Igbo Studies of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Dr Tony Nwaezeigwe, who corroborated the submission of the Igbo-Ukwu monarch on the efforts Dr Mbanefo at promoting Nigeria’s tourism industry, culture and tradition enjoined the NTDC boss to make a policy that will make the Igbos understand and appreciate their culture and tradition. He lamented the increasing decline in the promotion and preservation of the Igbo culture, especially language, which he said, is in danger of going extinct.

    “Foreigners are coming to appreciate what we have, in terms of culture and heritage, hence we should never allow those inestimable virtues to go into extinction. Thus, I plead with our government to make Igbo language and history a must in the academic curricular, thereby protecting our language, culture and tradition,” Dr Nwaezeigwe submitted.

    National Chairman, Mbido Igbo Association, Mazi Okafouzu Ugochukwu appealed to Anambra State government to assist in providing infrastructures in the place, such as tarring of the road leading to the National Yam House; building of a modern pavilion at the arena; provision of a functional bus and security van to the organizers of the festival, among others.

    The corporation supported the five-day festival with a new deep freezer, a Motorcycle and a cow.

  • Ajimobi approves promotion of teachers

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has approved outstanding promotions of teachers in all the public primary and secondary schools in the state.

    The state chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Mr. Kolawole Kayode, disclosed this while briefing reporters after his meeting with the governor at the Governor’s Office, Ibadan the state capital.

    He said the promotion, which is for 2010 and 2011, will take effect from September 1, stressing that promotion letters for those affected will be issued immediately.

    He said the governor had given a directive to the state Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) and the Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to ensure a speedy implementation of the promotion exercise.

    The state government, he said,   has also approved carrier elongation for primary school teachers with additional qualifications alongside the National Certificate in Education (NCE) from Grade Level 14 to Grade Level 15.

    He said Governor Ajimobi expressed displeasure over the stagnation of the affected teachers, all of whom are university graduates, on GL 14 for years. He directed that they should be moved to GL 15 with immediate effect.

    The state NUT secretary, Mr. Waheed Olojede, said the governor has approved the payment of outstanding planning grants to secondary school principals and primary school headteachers, adding that grants for primary schools had increased from N20 to N40 per pupil.

    He also said the state government has approved the gazetting of the appointment of teachers.

    While presenting a copy of the gazette approved for teachers in Saki zone, the NUT scribe said the government made provision for the document which contains teachers’ records of service.

    This, he said, would alleviate the stress of retiring teachers travelling to their last places of assignment to collate their records of service at the point of retirement.

    Olojede pledged teachers’ loyalty and support for the Ajimobi administration, assuring the governor that teachers would reciprocate government’s gesture through dedication, hard work and commitment to their duties.

  • NEXIM Bank and task of export promotion

    NEXIM Bank and task of export promotion

    Nigeria, in accordance with President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation  agenda, has begun to gradually assume the portal ofAfrica’s economic base. Hitherto, this enviable position was held by South Africa and Egypt. Facts show that for two years now, 2011 and 2012, Nigeria was ahead of others African countries as the top destination for foreign direct investment. There has also been aremarkable improvement in local participation in the country’s oil and gas sector as well as the non-oil sector, no thanks to theremarkable improvement in the structural transformation of the economy.

    According to the managing director of Nigeria Export-Import Bank, Mr Roberts Orya, “The non-oil sectors are now the key drivers of the country’s GDP growth, which is expected to rise to 7.3 percent in 2014 Nigeria’s rise above South Africa and Egypt in attracting foreign direct investment boils down to her frontier opportunities in various sectors such as power, infrastructure, agriculture, solid minerals, retailing and services. The job opportunities created by this robust economic prospect  have been tremendous. No doubt a private-sector driven economy has globally shown to be the panacea for job creation. It is against this backdrop that the Nigeria.

    Export-Import Bank has not rested in its oars in ensuring that the nation’s private sector has the maximum support to thrive.

    In the services sector for instance, the bank has made total funding disbursement of N15.6 billion, which accounts for 16. 4 percent of total loan disbursement by the bank. In appraising the scorecard of NEXIM Bank recently, finance minister NgoziOkonjo-Iweala said, “”NEXIM bank was set up to support import and export trade within the country. We are happy to say that NEXIM has proven its worth. It has been performing its functions. That makes the bank a very important part of our finance complex. But there are a lot of expectations. The government of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has embarked on a path of transforming the economy; trying to work with our private sector to expand trade, particularly regional trade, incorporating the West African zone and even beyond. With Nigeria’s economy accounting for 55 per cent of the regional economy, that means our weight means a great deal in the sub-region. Therefore, what we do in terms of supporting our private sector to trade within the region and beyond is very important. As such, NEXIM is key and critical if Nigeria is going to play its role of being the powerhouse within the West Africa sub-region, and beyond that, within Africa.”

    NEXIM Bank in its efforts to create a robust economy where the private sector thrives has also adopted various measures. Under the foreign input facility, NEXIM grants short, medium and long term fixed rate loans in foreign currency to participating banks on behalf of their export clients. These facilities are available to Nigerian exporters engaged in the importation of raw materials for export production, packaging materials for export, spare parts for export promotion and capital equipment needed for production of goods for export.

    Accessing the facility is devoid of the usual bottlenecks. Exporters simply apply to participating banks for foreign input facility; the participating banks then appraise the application based on its existing lending rules; the participating banks then forward a formal request to NEXIM, supported by relevant documents, and then NEXIM disburses funds to the participating banks upon fulfillment of all conditions precedent to draw loan.

    Under its local input facility, NEXIM Bank also grants short, medium and long-term fixed rate loans in local currency to participating banks on behalf of their export clients. This facility is for setting up new export-oriented projects, revitalisation, acquisition of additional assets for modernisation, and/or expansion of existing production units for exports; acquisition, rehabilitation and/or expansion of plantations/farms for the production and processing of exportable products as well as acquisition of spare parts and packaging

    materials for the manufacturing of exportable products.

    In the area of export credit guarantee, NEXIM Bank provides an effective tool for the management of risks associated with export financing.

    The objectives of the facility are to protect banks in Nigeria and foreign supplies of credits and goods against the risks of non-payment for loans and advances granted to exporters to meet short-term contracts and to encourage banks and other financial institutions to finance export business without fear of default from the exporters.

    The guarantees available include pre-shipment guarantee which entails credits/advances granted by a bank for the purpose of manufacture, purchase, processing and/or packaging of goods to be exported under a confirmed export order. There is also post-shipment guarantee which guarantees credits/advances granted by a bank in Nigeria against an export bill or any other receivables. Besides, there is the advance payment guarantee designed to protect foreign buyers against payment risks in respect of money advanced to exporters in Nigeria to finance export order. The risks covered are insolvency of the buyer immediately before shipment is undertaking; cancellation of export licence, imposition of restriction on the export of goods, insolvency of the buyer and protracted default by the buyer

    NEXIM Bank has also devised the export credit insurance made to protect exporters against commercial and political risks associated with export business. The goals are to encourage exporters to diversify their export markets without fear of the risks inherent in dealing with new buyers; to attract new enterprises into the export business and to encourage exporters to extend credit terms to their buyers in order to enhance their competitiveness in the international market.

    NEXIM’s ECIF provides both pre and post shipment cover arising from commercial and country risks such as insolvency of the buyer immediately before shipment is undertaken or other events that make it inadvisable to export; cancellation of export licence which was valid at the time production commenced; position of restriction on the export of goods not subject to licence at the time production commenced; protracted default by the buyer; buyer’s refusal to accept the goods dispatched which conformed to contract specifications; war, revolution and civil disturbance in the country of the buyer, which prevents or delays the transfer of payment due under the contract and any other causes of loss arising outside Nigeria which is beyond the exporter’s and buyer’s control.

    This initiative is targeted at sustaining Nigeria’s economic progression which was recently adjudged the best in Africa. Quoting the MD of NEXIM Bank recently, “The bank’s funding intervention in support of exports has created and sustained 60, 000 jobs in the past few years: 2009 – 25000 jobs, 2011 – 35, 000 jobs. The bank support has attracted foreign generation of about 100 million dollars annually, making a total of 200 million in the past years.” NEXIM Bank has in the last few years supported the Nigerian non-oil export to the tune of N20 billion. According to the projection of the MD/CEO, “Our funding intervention in the next five years is to support the non-oil export sector to the following minimum level: 2011 N37billion, 2012 N41billion, 2013 N50billion, 2014 N63billino and 2015 N94billion.”

    With  these fundamental approaches in encouraging international trade in Nigeria, NEXIM Bank has once more shown that it has the wherewithal to move Nigeria’s economy to the promised land. The effects include improved standard of living, robust economy, job creation and absolute faith in Nigeria’s economy by investors.

     

    • Nwoko is a public affairs analyst based in Lagos
  • Omeruo eyes promotion with Boro

    Omeruo eyes promotion with Boro

    Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo, has set a promotion target for himself with Championship side, Middlesbrough.

    The Chelsea defender, who along side Blues teammates and country men, John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses, represented Nigeria at the 2014 FIFA World Cup followed Nigeria’s performance at the just concluded Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as he took to Social Media to express his support for Team Nigeria and Blessing Okagbare who clinched two Gold Medal for Nigeria.

    Omeruo also talked about his target for next season where he’ll be playing on loan at Middlesbrough.

    The 20-year-old, who is on loan from Chelsea, took to Twitter as he wrote about his target for next season.

    Omeruo’s Tweet reads: “Thanks for the love guys hopefully we would get promotion this season. It would mean a lot to be part of it.”

    Omeruo played in fourteen games while on loan at Middlesbrough last season and had a good display at the World Cup in Brazil.

  • Promotion storm in Immigration

    THERE is disquiet in the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) over promotion. Some officers are not happy that they were bypassed in the exercise. They claimed that their subordinates were elevated above them. The officers are accusing the Internal Affairs Minister, Mr Abba Moro, of being the brain behind the promotion of junior officers above their superiors. The minister was said to have approved the promotion of those due for such in 2010, leaving a backlog of those who should have been elevated before them. There is anger in the Service, according to sources, who blame the minister for having ethnic agenda. The exercise  was carried out three weeks ago at the expense of those who  have been due for promotion since 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Moro was lucky to have escaped being axed over the Immigration recruitment disaster a few months ago. Now, he is swimming in another trouble water. Many of those who claimed to have been shortchanged are raring for a showdown until, according to them, ‘’justice is done’’.  How will the matter end? Time will tell.

  • ‘Govt committed to rights promotion’

    ‘Govt committed to rights promotion’

    Today is International Human Rights Day. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is leading the country to join the world in celebrating this day that is of great international importance to humanity. In this interview with Legal Editor JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU, NHRC’s Executive Secretary Prof. Bem Angwe, who  also  chairs the Network of Human Rights Institutions in West Africa, speaks of the commission’s programme for the day, investigations into the allegations against Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime by his wife Clara. 

    Today is International Human Rights Day, what is the significant of this day and what is the Commission doing to celebrate it?

    This year’s human rights day celebration is significant and symbolic. It symbolic in the sense that it is also going to commemorate the 20th year of the establishment of the office of the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights. It is also going to be the 20th year that the Paris Principles came into being. You will recall that in 1993, all the nations of the world, that form the international community converged in Paris, France to establish what we refer today as the Paris Principles which also evolved through a resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly. So, this year will mark the 20th year since the coming into place of the Paris Principles which in itself signifies the birth of national institutions that have the mandate for the promotion and protection of human rights around the world.

    Is that all that makes today symbolic?

    This year’s celebration is very symbolic and the National Human Rights of Nigeria will lead the country in celebrating this day and collaborate with the rest countries of international community to celebrate this wonderful, memorable and significant day.

    How do you do this?

    We have lined up a chain of activities in celebrating this day. Apart from the normal walk that we are going to walk around Abuja, the NHRC will, through its branches all over the country, do similar walks across the States of the Federation. In addition to that, we will hold a press conference and we are also going to have a national dialogue today. This year’s theme will be cantered around the need to have peace and stability. In this case, we will be seeking to balance security with human rights. If you balance security with human rights, the consequences will be that you are going to have peace and stability. Today, also, we will inaugurate Human Rights Ambassadors that will assist the commission to propagate and promote human rights in this country. So, this day is going to be a very significant day in the history of human rights protection in Nigeria and in the history of the Human Rights Commission.

    Recently, your Commission received commendations for excellent performance at the United Nations Universal Peer Review (UPR) session for Nigeria, what exactly happened at the review?

    We are happy to state here that the NHRC triggered the chain of activities that led to the successful UPR review session for Nigeria, we drew the attention of the government, reminded government of the urgent and imperative need to prepare the country for the review and we also played an oversight role in overseeing all the processes and steps that were put in place by the Federal Government of Nigeria to prepare the country to come up and submit this report. The country followed all the processes required by the United Nations Human Rights Consul and we are happy to say that Nigeria did everything that was expected of the Federal Government to have a report that we can truly say, was a peoples-oriented report. The Federal Government involved all the requisite stakeholders in preparing this report and in validating the report. We are happy to report that Nigeria performed creditably well in terms of the commitment of the Federal Government towards the promotion and protection of human rights in this country.

    Why do you do say this?

    I say so because notably, we can say that there have not been any conscious government policy to violate human rights in this country. Sadly, the activities of unknown and unidentified individuals in this country have brought great challenges or serious violations of human rights in this country. However, we do commend the efforts of the Federal Government to bring this to an end despite the challenges, the country’s record in respect of human rights is very good, we are also very happy with the performance of the country during the UN UPR review session.

    The National Human Rights Commission has engaged in public hearings for some time, what are the results of this exercise?

    Specifically, the Council of the Commission, upon the recommendation of the Secretariat, resolved that this commission do carry out public inquiries on alleged demolitions and forced evictions taking place across the country. Following the resolution of the Council, the commission has embarked on the public inquiries which commenced with a public hearing in Lagos on November 18.

    Before the end of the week, the panel of the commission held public sittings, received, heard and considered petitions from aggrieved persons within the Southwest zone of the country which comprises about six states. A lot of petitions came before the commission against the government of Lagos State, the Federal Government and against the Ogun State Government where there were alleged violations relating to demolitions and violation of the right to shelter of the petitioners.

    So, what was the outcome?

    Well, I am glad to let you know that the petitioners appeared personally and through their counsel and the various states governments were equally represented. The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice sent a team of lawyers to represent the Federal Government and the agencies that were involved. The Attorney-General of Ogun State appeared before us personally, a team of lawyers also appeared to represent the government of Lagos State.

    What happened at the panel?

    After listening to the petitioners, their witnesses and received submissions from counsel representing the respondents, the panel, together with the parties inspected the sites where the alleged demolitions took place. We also observed that the hearings could not be concluded at that first sitting, so the commission now adjourned further hearings at the South West Zone to January 2014. In January, the panel will continue further hearings and then conclude its sittings and before March, full decisions will be taken by the council with a view to enforcing the rights of the aggrieved persons who came before the commission in line with the law establishing the commission and due processes provided by the Rules and Procedures of the commission.

    We recently read in the national dailies that you were in Enugu State to investigate allegations against Governor Sullivan Chime by his wife Clara. What actually happened and what is the result of your investigation?

    Well, the Commission received a petition from the petitioner, the Commission’s power was invoked and we led a team of investigators of the Commission, we went to Enugu State Government House, we met all the parties, the investigation is still continuing and by the time we finish with the investigations, the Commission will take appropriate decision and the decision will be made public for every interested party to know the outcome of the investigation but for now, the investigation continues.

    As the chairman of the Network for Human Rights Institutions in West Africa, what are you doing to improve the promotion and protection of human rights in the sub-region?

    What is happening is that the Network is carrying out a training and capacity building programmes for all the countries in West Africa. We carried out the training programmes in Cot D’ Ivoire, in Ghana, in Liberia, We are going to Mali on December 16 and after that, we are going to go to Togo. We will come to Nigeria and the rest of the countries in West Africa. What is happening is that the Network is determined to bring about a platform whereby all the human rights institutions in West Africa will have their capacities developed and should be able to carry out uniform processes with regards to the protection of rights of aggrieved persons within the sub-region.

    What is the essence of this?

    The essence is for us to be able to comply with the Paris Principles and to take all such actions and processes that will ensure the protection and enforcement of the rights of all persons within the ECOWAS community, that is what the Network is doing now. By next year, the Network will embark on other activities that will ensure that the West African countries focus towards achieving the singular goal of ensuring the promotion and protection of human rights within the sub-region. But most importantly, we are trying to come up with an international conference within the sub-region to deal specifically with the strategies that can be adopted in bringing to an end this issue of terrorism that has become a cross border challenge in the region. It does not only happen here in Nigeria, but it is going round the whole of West African coast and there is a need for the West African countries to come together, to brainstorm and take appropriate steps would be taken to ensure that terrorism is brought to an end within the sub- region. It is not something that countries will need to take individual actions on alone, it requires international co-operation, it requires most African countries coming together to adopt appropriate strategies that will address this problem that is today challenging the enjoyment of human rights in the sub-region.

     

     

  • SSANU-LASU goes on strike over promotion

    SSANU-LASU goes on strike over promotion

    The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) Lagos State University (LASU) chapter has vowed to continue with the on-going strike by its national body, until the Governing Council reverses the new ‘no vacancy-no-promotion’ measure.

    The chairman SSANU-LASU Oseni Saheed Adewale said the union has resolved to battle the management, saying the latter’s action amounts to injustice against SSANU’s members and a breach on their condition of service.

    The 12-member Council, chaired by Mr Olabode Agusto, was inaugurated last year.

    In the LASU condition of service, a worker between level 6 and 11 is entitled to promotion every three years once the said worker scores 70 per cent and above in his/her Annual Performance Evaluation Report (APAR), except from Level 11 upward which is subject to internal or external advertisement or both.

    However, with the new Council regulation, even if workers make the APAR benchmark, they may not be promoted if there is no vacancy in the position they aspire to attain.

    Oseni said SSANU’s patience has been exhausted over the issue and is left with no choice that to down tools.

    He said the union had tread with caution in joining the national strike last week as the Governing Council had scheduled a meeting with it alongside other unions on Tuesday September 17 and Thursday September 19 to resolve some internal squabbles among the workers. He said at the meeting the council refuse to shift ground on the new measure thereby provoking SSANU’s strike.

    Oseni recalled how the previous Governing Council under Mr Akin Kekere Ekun, introduced written examination, with the subsisting APAR as part of promotional measure.

    “When the council did that, many of our members were initially opposed to it as it was not in the condition of service. But along the line, some members felt we should write the examination to justify the management of our competencies. Since then, written examination has become a part of our promotional procedures,” he said.

    Oseni lamented that many of his colleagues, who scaled the APAR and were due for promotion last year could not be considered based on the new measure, fearing that the number would also double this year.

    “The policy is stagnating our members and it is also a demoralising them. You can imagine as a worker, you have given your best to your organisation and when the time to be promoted comes, the management tells you that though, you scored 100 per cent yet you can’t move up to the next level simply because there is no vacancy.

    “We felt the best option open for us is this strike and until management does what we want, we are not returning to work,” Oseni said.

     

  • Army rules out promotion, decoration for al-Mustapha

    Army rules out promotion, decoration for al-Mustapha

    •Clark calls for review of criminal justice administration

    The authorities of the Nigerian Army have denied reports in some national dailies and online portals announcing plans by the Army to promote and decorate Major Hamzat al-Mustapha with the rank of a Brigadier General.

    A statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General Ibrahim Attahiru, yesterday said there was no truth in the report.

    Gen. Attahiru said all administrative procedures in respect of the Army are guided by extant administrative rules and guidelines covering the entire Nigerian Armed Forces.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to an erroneous publication being circulated on the Internet about the decoration of the former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza al- Mustapha with the rank of a Brigadier General following his recent acquittal by the court.

    “The Nigerian Army as a professional force wishes to state that all administrative procedures are guided by extant administrative rules and regulations, such as the Armed Forces of Nigeria Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service amongst others.

    “The Nigerian Army wishes to advise the media to always cross check facts before going to the press, to avoid misinformation, misrepresentation and sensationalism in its reportage.”

    Also yesterday, Southsouth leader Chief Edwin Clark hailed the discharge and acquittal of al-Mustapha just as he called for the review of the country’s criminal justice administration law and other enabling rules.

    This, he said, is to ensure that there is no delay in the dispensation of justice.

    The elderstateman said thefreedom granted Major al-Mustapha, is justified after about 15 years of standing trial.

    Chief Clark made his position known in a statement in Abuja.

    He said: “I recall that sometime in November 2011,I appealed to the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government to pardon Al-Mustapha on the ground that the trial is becoming punitive and has taken over 12 years at the time.

    “Now that he has been freed by the Court of Appeal, he should settle down, get integrated with other Nigerians and there should be spirit of forgiveness from both sides and no one should indulge in unnecessary politicking on the validity or otherwise of the judgement”.

    In Kano yesterday, al-Mustapha visited some Islamic scholars,. who expressed appreciation to God for his freedom and urged him to dedicate his life to Allah in this Ramadan period and always.

    His first point of call was the Al-furquan Mosque in Nassarawa GRA where the Chief Imam, Sheikh Bashir Umar prayed to Allah to continue to guide and protect al-Mustapha, while urging him to give all his heart to Allah who has made it possible for him to regain his freedom.

    Sheikh Umar said: “You have to see all these persecution and tribulation you suffered as the will of Allah; and what you should do now is to totally submit yourself to God. Prophet Yusuf had similar trials but at the end, he was compensated by Allah with greater position.”

  • Group seeks promotion of Igbo language

    Worried by the seeming disappearance of Igbo language among the youths, a non-governmental group, the Pinacle Organisation, led by Mrs. Charity Edochie Okoli, has initiated a two-day event to revitalise the dying culture. Tagged Igbo Asoka (Igbo is sweet), will hold on September 7 at Ekwueme Square, Awka, Anambra State capital.

    The organisers said the event will feature talk shops, traditional dances, masquerade displays, beauty pageants, and a gala nite with participants turning out in Igbo traditional attires.

    Okoli said: “Globalisation has dealt a heavy blow on our culture. Events around us show that our youth are imbibing western culture faster than our indigenous culture and traditional values. They are ashamed to speak our unique dialect. To stem this negative tide and to halt the decline in Igbo language especially amongst our youths, Pinnacle Organisation has come up with this programme,” she added.

    According to her, the aim of the event is among others to halt the decline of Igbo language amongst youth, revitalise cultural values and correct the impression that speaking the Igbo language reduces one’s status in the society. She stressed that instead, it reinforces one’s cultural identity. “We want to help restore the usual attributes of a typical Igbo man, such as wisdom, craftsmanship, integrity, zeal, determination, focus, boldness and industry. These should be etched in the minds of our youths,” she said.

    Continuing, she said:

    “We hope the event will facilitate the bonding of Igbo nation since all the Igbo states will be in attendance, and there will be a display of our rich cultural heritage; in other words, to express the ‘Igboness’ of our culture. The aim is to reawaken the traditional consciousness in our youth and getting them well informed. Igbo Asoka is a multi-million naira project that will see many corporate organisations working and pulling their resources together to make it a huge success.”

     

  • BPP to assess civil servants for promotion

    BPP to assess civil servants for promotion

    The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) will be involved in the assessment of civil servants in the next round of promotion examination and interview.

    Speaking at the International Law Institute (ILI) and BPP workshop for procurement officers in Abuja yesterday, the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, who was represented by Dr. Hamidu Mohammed, said it was set for the next round of promotion examination and interview for civil servants.

    He said there would be “no recruitment into the procurement cadre without input from the BPP.”

    The bureau, he said, would provide the resources needed to prepare civil servants for promotion examination, as many civil servants, particularly those in procurement, are expected to keep abreast of the modern requirements of procurement.

    Earlier, the Director-General of BPP, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, an engineer, had said that “public procurement reform is one sure way of triggering quality development. It is important to continuously develop our human capacity.”

    According to him, the BPP has been having interactive sessions with different categories of government officials on aspects of the reform.

    Ezeh said the bureau began with the permanent secretaries and moved to the chief executive officers in parastatals.

    He said the bureau has interacted with about 600 senior government officials, “because as decision makers in the implementation of the budget, it is important we compare notes on the rules of best procurement practices.”