The Nation Newspaper

Tag: recession

  • Education, imperative of free public education, recession or no recession (1)

     If educating a future generation is the only investment that the governments can make at this critical time, it is worth the pain. 

    Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children—International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
    By the combined effect of section 18(3)(a) of the 1999 Constitution and section 2 (1) of the Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act, 2004, the right to free and compulsory primary education and free junior secondary education for all qualified Nigerian citizens are enforceable rights in Nigeria.—Justice John Tsoho

    Despite the pains of recession, educational value seems at the instance of progressive thinkers to be on the rebound in the country.

    A recent conference of northern governors, emirs, and elders in Kaduna accepted the inevitability of education as catalyst for development in the 21st century. At the meeting, the importance of education for all – male and female – was emphasised. Before that, Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, had acted as agent of revolution in education when he made Basic Education free and compulsory in a state that was for decades synonymous with a laissez-faire approach to education for all. More recently, the Emir of Kano added his voice to calls for full commitment of northern governments to education, especially of the girl-child. He even pleaded that mosques should be made to perform its original function of mind building by adding the function of teaching secular subjects to the spiritual functions of the mosque.

    It is, therefore, salutary that John Tosho in the second epigraph above has, in a progressive jurisprudential stance, declared that it is the duty of governments in the country to provide public education up to the end of junior secondary, come rain or shine. Tosho’s judgment provides the most revolutionary view of public education in the country since the introduction of free primary education in Western Region of Nigeria in 1955. The three-day-old judgment not only confirms the justiciability of the education component of Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution; it also reaffirms the country’s obligation to fulfill expectations of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. In addition, it also asserts that there is no excuse for the country to fail to carry out this constitutional function, thus sending a clear message to the Buhari government, which had also pledged through the manifesto of his party to improve education, to resist any pundits that preach caution on funding education at a time of recession.

    Tosho’s judgment will have reverberations all over Nigeria. It is not just a judgment to warn the federal government to provide funds for free education for nine years of primary and junior secondary education. It is also a judgment to wake states and local governments up to their responsibilities to citizens. In addition, the judgment also implies that education for citizens for the first nine years of schooling should be free and that parents have to see first nine years of education as compulsory. This is taking the first revolutionary act in Western Region in 1955 under the Action Group and the second such act in 1979 under the Unity Party of Nigeria further into the social and economic demands of the 21st century.

    There are other implications for subnational governments. Even in regions that served as  pacesetters for free public education as citizen empowerment from the 1950s, primary education has not been made compulsory. The recent ruling should make it obvious to states with free but not compulsory basic education that time is ripe for states to proclaim and enforce compulsory and free education. In the last four decades, public education has taken a back seat as private primary and secondary schools grew in enrollment and ‘prestige’. Even citizens who became members of the nation’s middle class from benefiting from public education chose to look away when public education was neglected.  They  enrolled (and still do) their children in private schools that are hardly regulated by the state. The result has been poor public education and seemingly better private schools with trappings of good looks and underpaid and under-prepared teachers but with little regulation from governments.

    Parents’ seeming abandonment of the rights to public education by their children and wards as they gravitate towards private schools has diminished citizens’ consciousness of what the governments’ responsibilities are towards them. Years of profligacy made possible by revenue from petroleum have also encouraged subnational governments to be lukewarm about functions that government leaders at the regional and local levels in the past performed as an act of faith and with gusto.

    Taking advantage of the non-justiciability of provision of free education in the 1999 Constitution for years, many states that were on the list of educationally-disadvantaged states in the country in the 1980s remain so, even about two decades into the new century. For example, states characterised as educationally backward in the South-south, particularly what later became Rivers, Bayelsa, and the only one in the Southwest, Lagos, grew out of the list of educationally backward states, largely through efforts of progressive governments in those states. The Tosho Judgement leaves no hiding place for states that relish in denying their citizens of their social and cultural rights.

    This column heartily congratulates the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP), for its court action against the Federal Ministry of Education and the Attorney General of the Federation, in which it asked the court to determine whether by the combined effect of Section 18(3)(a) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 2 (1) of the Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act, (UBE) 2004, the right to free and compulsory primary education and free junior secondary education for all qualified Nigerian citizens are enforceable rights in Nigeria. Without doubt, LEDAP’s foresight and insight that spawned the suit and the pro-human rights disposition of the judge are bound to change the direction of basic and functional education in Africa’s most populous country.

    Current or future recession cannot be a credible excuse for tampering with social rights of citizens. Even if all the revenue that accrues to the country is just whatever comes from petroleum, there still will be no reason not to provide free basic education in all states of the country. If educating a future generation is the only investment that the governments can make at this critical time, it is worth the pain. There is no sense to having 36 bureaucracies that cannot provide free basic education programme, not after the experience of free education before discovery of petroleum.  Making free education compulsory will also encourage cultural leaders, hitherto indifferent about education for all citizens, to pluck the political and cultural will needed for laying the foundation for a better future for citizens.

    For now, the Tosho Verdict signals the need for a new thinking about public education, especially at a time that the country is blessed with a government that says in its contract with citizens that education is crucial to the survival of the country in a global ethos that is universally acclaimed as the Knowledge Society. This judgment promises to be seminal to extending the nation’s education discourse to the importance of providing citizens with an education that can make them competitive in the modern world.

    • To be continued

     

     

  • Recession: NLC urges Fed Govt to shun IMF

    Recession: NLC urges Fed Govt to shun IMF

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the Federal Government not to seek solution to the recession from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    It warned against resorting to other external institutions for help, arguing that the solutions to the challenges could be found in this country.

    During the National Delegate Conference of the National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFFWW), its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said  for the country to be restored to growth path, the government should design policies that would bring back industries, create jobs, revive electricity and revalue the currency.

    He emphasised the need for the government to encourage the growth of the informal sector, resume local production of petroleum products, develop solid minerals and tourism, among others.

    “We do not need any lecturing from the IMF or any external institutions to do this. We have vibrant and experienced experts that can develop policies on these. Indeed, the government should, as a matter of urgency, convene a conference on the economy or assemble an all-inclusive team to develop an economic recovery framework that is people driven and people focused,” he said.

    He argued that the recession was not only a result of corruption but the continued adoption of policies imposed by neo-liberal institutions against the wishes of Nigerians.

    Wabba appealed to federal and state  governments to save the construction industry from collapse by paying the debts owed contractors.

    He said the construction industry was inactive because of the refusal or inability of governments to pay for jobs done and mobilise contractors for new jobs.

    “In view of the considerable harm and pain this has brought upon everybody in the chain, especially workers, I would want to use this opportunity to call on federal and state governments to without further delay, pay their debts to both local and international contractors. I have no doubt this will stimulate the economy in no small measure,” he said.

    Wabba called on members of the union to continue to support the  leadership of the union, saying that without their support, the leadership would not  be able to contribute effectively to the promotion and defence of workers’ rights as well as the advancement of good governance.

    “Do not allow yourselves to be distracted by those who seek to weaken us by attempting to divide our ranks. Be focused and remain committed to the struggle we know!  I urge you to continue to remain faithful to the historical tasks that your union is known for by way of actively participating  in action/activities that will ensure positive change; people driven governance and national progress,” Wabba added.

  • ‘Real estate can pull Nigeria out of recession’

    Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors & Valuers (NIESV), President, Dr. Bolarinde Patunola-Ajayi has called on the Federal Government to use the real estate sector  to exit recession.

    He regretted that the nation has not succeeded in unlocking the hidden wealth in the sector, noting that it is the only robust solution to grow the economy.

    “Real estate business is about management of all land resources which give the support for all activities of man. Every business is done on land, human life and basic needs are dependent on land; hence Nigeria must pay attention to real estate, except we are not prepared to come out of our economic woes. Real Estate investment is the pedestal for economic development and growth, and many developing nations that understand this,like Singapore, Dubai, and others have seen the positive impact on their economies,” he said.

    He wondered why the government thinks the economy can only be diversified through agriculture and film and fashion industry rather than the real estate sector.

    According to him, even government’s focus on agriculture has not been well handled to ensure stable development because government has failed to do sufficient work in surveying every parcel of land in the country.

    While calling on government to make and enforce laws on land administration, Patunola-Ajayi was emphatic that infrastructural development like roads, rails, water-ways, and even airways, goes along with real estate development because they are avenues through which products, services and people move easily to make the economy vibrant.

    Patunola-Ajayi said real estate investment resonates as an edge against inflation with its value increasing with time.  He appealed to government to put more attention into the real estate  sector, especially housing  projects, noting that government housing programmes must have a touch of socialism to touch the lives of people.

    To this end, government, he advocated, should provide land, infrastructure, building plans and approval at subsidised rates to encourage developers, and investors. Besides he advised the federal government to have an effective management of land information, which will generate revenue to its coffers, while states as presently obtains, will continue to generate revenue from the subsequent transaction, with  local government’s generating revenue from rating  assessment and administration.

    Meanwhile, in a related development, NIESV,last Thursday inducted 28 members to the prestigious class of “Fellow.” The induction took place during the 23rd John Wood Ekpenyong Memorial Lecture and Fellow’s Induction held inside the auditorium of the Civic Center, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The theme of the lecture was: ‘Deployment of corporate governance systems and processes to the professions: The estate surveyor and valuer’s perspective.’

    The guest lecturer, Mr. Gersh Henshaw, who also doubled as the Chairman, Interim National Council on Induction of Fellows, charged surveyors to give consideration to business systems and processes on an on-going basis and not simply when problems start to occur.

    He remarked that if high standards of professionalism is to be sustained in estate surveying and valuation, and to earn public respect, NIESV and the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON) must educate her members on the importance of good corporate governance, especially at this time that the country is undergoing what he calls “technical and economic recession.”

    “Those planning to set up their own practice have been advised to think carefully about the quality of the system and processes from day one to avoid the possibility of future problems and un-expected expenditure later on in the business life,” he said.

    Patunola-Ajayi, urged professionals should go back to the drawing board as foreigners had taken over almost all professions in the country. However, he charged his colleagues to do things rightly if they are to remain relevant in the profession.

    The chairman of the Lecture, Mr. Nweke Umezuruike, eulogised the late  John Wood Ekpenyong, who was the first President of NIESV at its inception in 1969, for his qualities and efforts at making the profession noble. “It is right to give honour to whom honour is due. This annual lecture was instituted to celebrate Ekpenyong who was the first Fellow and president of the institution and a representative of the founders of the profession,” he explained. He served in that capacity until 1972.

  • Economy way out of recession, says Presidency

    Economy way out of recession, says Presidency

    • 2016 GDP figures show growth in agriculture

    There are indications that the economy is on its way out of recession, the   Presidency said yesterday.

    It hinged its optimism on the year 2016 economic overall performance and last quarter Gross Domestic Product reports.

    A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Adeyemi Dipeolu, said a review of the recent GDP figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), showed a contraction of -1.30 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2016, translating into an estimated economic growth rate of -1.51 per cent for the full year.

    He pointed out that the economy actually performed better overall last year as the growth rate was higher with a contraction at -1.5 per cent, than the -1.8 per cent predicted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The recession may have buttomed out with the improving trends in several key sectors of the economy, including agriculture and mining, Dipeolu said.

    He said with the ongoing engagement of the oil-producing communities of the Niger Delta, the Buhari administration is hopeful that increased oil production output would be sustained.

    He said the ongoing implementation of the Social Investment Programmes, and a possible early legislative passage of the 2017 budget, are expected to spur a positive multiplier effect on the Nigerian economy.

    The Buhari administration, he said, will not relent in its determined effort and it’s comprehensive approach to bring about the full recovery of the Nigerian economy and set it on a solid path of sustainable growth.

    He said: “The recently released data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contracted by -1.30% in the fourth quarter of 2016. This translated into an estimated growth rate of -1.51% for the full year 2016. These figures reflect the slow-down in the economy for most of 2016 but also show that the recession may have bottomed out because of an improving trend in several key sectors.

    “Although the oil sector declined by -12.38% on a year on year basis, this was a relative improvement compared to the third quarter when the decline amounted to -22.01%.  This outcome was due mainly to increases in production such that the quarter on quarter growth for the oil sector between the third and fourth quarters was 8.07%.

    “The non-oil sector however declined by 0.33% after showing some resilience in the third quarter when it grew by 0.03% at the height of the recession.

    “Agriculture grew at 4.03% in the fourth quarter of 2016 which was a marginal decrease from the 4.54% growth in the third quarter.  This is mainly because agriculture (especially crop production, which accounts for the bulk of agricultural production) is highly seasonal, with growth in the third quarter of the year usually higher than the others.  Nevertheless, the overall outcome for the year was that the agricultural sector grew by 4.11% for the whole of 2016 which was higher than the figure of 3.72% for 2015.” he added

    He also said that the manufacturing sector actually grew on a quarter on quarter basis by 1.89% but declined over the year by 4.32% reflecting the problems that the sector faced in the course of the year due to a combination of factors including the depreciation in the exchange rate and higher energy costs.

    The metal ores sub-sector, he said, grew by 7.03% in Q4 of 2016 as compared to 6.93% in the last quarter of 2015, justifying the priority that the Federal Government continues to give to solid minerals.

  • Ogiemwonyi: Niger Delta key to getting Nigeria out of recession

    Ogiemwonyi: Niger Delta key to getting Nigeria out of recession

    Chris Ogiemwonyi, an engineer, ex-Minister of State for Works, former Group Executive Director at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Edo State, believes peace in the Niger Delta and other factors will help get Nigeria out of recession. He also shares his thoughts on the Niger Delta Avengers, 13 per cent derivation, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and others. WALE AJETUNMOBI was at the session.

    Getting out of recession

    ur economy is definitely not at its best. We are experiencing hard times, recession in other words. The naira is sliding downwards against the dollar and the British pounds. For us to proffer solutions we should identify the causes. Among the factors causing recessions today are:

    Epileptic power supply, poor leadership (inability of the previous administration to save),oil price drop, Nigeria’s over-dependence on foreign products, corruption, mono–economy ( over dependency on oil and gas), the activities of militants and pipeline vandals, unstable monetary policies, unemployment, etc.

    For us to get out of recession we must address and improve the power sector. I recall in an NNPC/NIPP/IOC meeting held in February 2009 the target was to achieve 5000 megawatts in Dec 2009, then we were producing about 3200 megawatts.

    Today, we have major gas pipelines, yet gas does not reach the various thermal plants due to pipeline vandalism. Most industries today are running on diesel which is expensive, so we must have a holistic approach in solving these problems.

    Another solution to solve the economic problem will be seeking for peace in the Niger Delta. There must be relative peace in Niger Delta. I recall in February 2006, they blew the gas pipeline coming from Escravos with 180 mmscf/d we resolved it through dialogue. Breaking of pipelines didn’t just start today, they did it some years ago, and they have been doing it, but we were able to use peace to solve them. So, the first solution to solving the problems of the Niger Delta Region is peace. What we are having today is double pains, low oil price and low oil production, with these two factors, there is no way we can meet the 2017 budget estimate.

     

    Peace in the Niger Delta and the Avengers

     

    The Federal Government is willing to meet their demands; I spoke on this issue recently during a lecture I delivered at the University of Benin on the 42nd Founders Day lecture. In looking for peace, the Federal Government must involve the governors of the oil producing areas. They should be the arrowheads. The Federal Government should review their demands and come up with a realistic budget for implementation. The Federal Government should involve them in its implementation; in order words project implementation teams should be constituted. This process will ensure openness, transparency and give the representatives of the Niger Delta Region a sense of belonging.

    13% derivation and lack of development in the region

    We must commend the Federal Government for setting up as well as funding the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and others relevant agencies in the Niger Delta, including the 13% derivation. We need proper synergy between the Niger delta Governments and NDDC. 13% derivation to the governors should not just be a stand-alone. The need has come for integration of the various monies coming into the Niger Delta as well as transparency in budget implementation. The NDDC will no longer be a conduit for easy money. What is lacking in Nigeria in general is M & E – Monitoring and Evaluation. A Project Monitoring Office should be set up for proper coordination of major projects of federal government.  Appointing a Special Adviser on Project Monitoring is therefore an imperative.

     

    The APC and its promises

     

    Where we are today is a combination of various factors. Yes, you can make promises but you have to back these promises with resources (money). Globally, all oil-producing nations are facing shortage of funds. You could have made your projections early in 2015 when the price of oil was N110/N118, and based on these costs barrel per day we expect huge revenue but unfortunately, by early 2016 oil price slumped to a little over $30 per barrel. So, we must admit that shortage of fund is a major factor to where we are today. Apart from funds, another factor is corruption. Corruption has equally not helped this current government. The previous government was corrupt and today the element of corruption is still in government.

    Today we are catching thieves without looking at the fundamentals. It is not just to catch the thieves; we must make sure we unearth it from its tap root. We cannot be repairing the house from the roof if the foundation is bad, we must go back to the foundation to find out what is causing corruption in Nigeria. Why are people so corrupt? This cuts across all cadres, from the drivers, cleaners etc. There is so much corruption. I think another factor to it is the issue of minimum wage. You cannot pay somebody today in Nigeria N18,000 and you expect that man not to steal; that cannot buy a bag of rice; that cannot buy garri and where you have a driver with four, five, six kids, they have to go to college. So, we must be realistic to the problem in Nigeria today. We must all sit down to think how to solve this problem. I am saying that the money they are paying some big men are too high. There is the need to pay people who are at the bottoms something realistic and reduce those of the big men so that there will be something tremendously significant for the poor man in terms of earning while the rich men should earn less; that is my type and I prefer it. In most cases, corruption is not because people want to be corrupt but because some cannot even feed, they can’t pay for the house where they live.

     

    Thinking out of the box

     

    The mono-economy we have is not sustainable, and that is the truth; we cannot live on just oil and gas. We are now talking of diversification to other areas – solid minerals, agriculture etc. On this note, we must commend government, they are looking into solid minerals, agriculture, tourist industries. Government should think outside the box. Government alone cannot use their budgets to finance mega projects. Therefore, I am thinking Government should create enabling environment and look for new models to do mega projects through PPP. That is what happening in many developed countries. For instance, the Ajaokuta Steel Company, that is a humongous project that is lying waste at Ajaokuta, and every nation that wants to grow in terms of development must look into iron and steel Industry. We must create the enabling environment, good fiscial regime that will attract investors to bring in their money and invest and let government participate, not ownership. I believe when we give the signals that we want to be an industrial hub as a nation, showcasing the different resources we have, all we will be asking for is to have good partners and guarantee them. We should let them know there will be sanctity of agreements. Let it be a win-win situation.

     

    Buhari’s security strides

     

    Our security forces have been best in their various jobs; I must commend Mr. President. I like to judge situations from where they were before. I don’t judge from where they are today, that is the truth. If we judge people by what is just on ground, we will be unfair to them. Fighting the insurgency, we must take it back to where it was at the beginning, when Mr. President came on board to where we are now after about 20 months. So, the fact that Mr. President came and the insurgency that was at its peak and they commence deploying resources; human, materials and money, hardware, drones, I think we must commend him for that, and then not just because he brought money, I must equally commend the security agencies, Armed Forces, especially General Buratai, we commend him and other generals going to the war front. I celebrate General Buratai for leading the same incapacitated armed forces that Boko Haram was chasing under the previous administration and now we are the chaser. We are chasing Boko Haram now, so we must commend the men of the armed force for job well done, and then Mr. President and urge him to use the same tactics in fighting insurgency to making peace in the Niger Delta.

     

    Oil pricing

     

    There are two issues here, importation of products and local production of products. First the issue of product importation .The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) did a template on this I remember as GED in NNPC, my position on this was we should look at the various components that constitute the landing price. I felt there were lots of redundancies between NNPC and NPA. It is when we remove these areas of redundancies, including high demurrage, before we can achieve actual landing cost.

    Generally, we should also look for ways to eliminate corruption in this sector. Secondly, why are we not able to refine locally. I think we should shift our emphasis to how we can start refining in Nigeria. It is a shame that we are still talking of product importation after several years of oil production in Nigeria. Why are we still importing products? I know somebody will tell me oh, it takes some minimum of two years, three years, four years to have a refinery; what prevents us from having modular refineries that at least can be operational under two years? This is the best time for NNPC to quickly think of supporting local refineries not just one, four, five, six local refineries in Nigeria. Is it not a shame to us that we are hearing now that Nigeria wants to start importing products from Niger Republic? It is a shame. Again, it’s policy somersault, we don’t have long term plans, we have been inconsistent; we were always planning for two years. The minister will plan for just two years and once that man leaves, the next man comes with a different plan. For example, Algerians plan for ten years. Whether there is a new minister or new chief executive or a new GMD, the rolling plan remains the rolling plan but it is only here in Nigeria that once we change the CEO, the next man coming will bring his own agenda, that is what they call the policy somersault; that is what is causing our woes. DPR gave approval to about sixteen refineries, only Dangote is on it now and we pray he succeeds.

  • ‘How to save Nigeria from recession’

    The Chief of Party, Health Financing Governance Projects, Dr. Garfa Alawode, has described the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as an approach through which the country’s economy can be revived.

    He spoke in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at a seminar by the Health Financial Governance on UHC.

    Alawode said if Nigeria adopted the UCH, it would save the nation from recession.

    Said he: “Many people do not access health care, because they do not have money. But if you do an additional investment, it will make health care accessible.

     ”Twenty-five per cent of women deliveries take place out of the health facilities. Those people unable to access health care like a commercial motorcyclist (okada rider), who is ill and cannot access health care, will be at home without treatment. His absence from work affects the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

     ”GDP is the contribution of the input of everyone. If people are ill and cannot access health care and cannot go to work, they no longer contribute to the economic growth. If you make health accessible, it will improve people’s input into the GDP.”

  • Creative photography as panacea for recession

    Creative photography as panacea for recession

    How does a professional and film photographer survive in these hard times? Experts at the Indigo Customer Meet (ICM) in Lagos say proactive creativeness may be  the answer. EVELYN OSAGIE reports.

    With the advent of the smart phones and other technological inventions coupled with the biting recession, the innovativeness of photography business and its allied industries are under test. How does a professional photographer make ends meet?
    Experts say the way out lies in proactive creativeness, noting that the hard times are not just a test of innovativeness of photographers and allied industries, but business opportunities in disguise.
    These submissions were made in Lagos at the customers’ week of a photo printing company, Indigo Digital, reputed for being the first company to produce the synthetic album.
    The experts urged professional/film photographers and photo-journalists to wake up to the realities of the times and reinvent themselves. They were charged to come up with fresh and creative ways to practise their trade.
    The event, tagged 2017 Indigo Customer Meet (ICM), which is in its second edition, drew lensmen, photo-journalists, photo artists and enthusiasts, cameramen and companies and journalists together. They included the President of LASPPAN, Mr Oluwatayo Folly Brown, George; Managing Director, Fuji Foto/Fuji Africa/Nigeria, Mr George Salem; Director, Renu Kana Nigeria Limited, Mr Kumar K. Datta; the Managing Director of Body Lawson Studios, Seyi Body Lawson; Leke “Coach LA” Ade, and EOM Communications General Manager, Mr Michael E. G. Agugo, was compère.
    In his address, Creative photography in the midst of recession, Lawson urged his colleagues to go beyond the regular practice of the profession by honing their craft and inventing fresh creative ways of practice. While encouraging them to make use of the social media, he observed that such moves would prevent the dearth of their trade in the advent of smart gargets and economic meltdown. He added that there was the need to “mix business with the art of photography”.
    “Creativity is what will take you from poverty to wealth. You complain there is recession, I say, this is the best opportunity for photographers to make their marks. Go back into the archives to the art of photography.
    “Do an upgrade, go back and study and retrain yourselves. Look at what you are good at, find out your deficiencies; value your time and self. Relationship is going to count this year. Creativity is what will take you to your place from poverty to wealth,” he said.
    “Coach LA” Ade talked about Maximising your industry relationship.
    He called for partnerships, advising that, to maximise relationships in the industry, photographers must pay attention to those in the allied industries within which they operate; in addition to offering quality services to clients. Citing the roles Don Barber and Lawson played in his career, he observed that mentorship would play a huge role in their development. He said: “In maximising your Industry relationship, you must first understand who you are; then, find people to sharpen your weakness. Identify your colleagues (younger, contemporary and senior) and those in the extended industry (printing companies and the media). Review your relationships regularly, but don’t stay with the same network. Hone your craft to prevent dearth of profession and career. Doing photography is different from doing the business of photography.”
    The digital photography company established in 2014 by Mr Isaac Antony also held a raffle draw to reward customers, which had been on since last October and lasted till last month. Winners went home with various prizes, including plasma TV, fans, cameras and other gadgets.
    Brown, who established his first studio in 1981, praised the company’s efforts, saying the new technological innovations have opened the industry to new frontiers. “I started with analogue but digital created more room for people to come in. We have dealt with many colour laboratories but Indigo is different, they were the first to begin the synthetic photo book.”

  • Recession: Cleric urges Christians to embrace prayers

    Christians have been advised to turn to God as the only solution to the recession and other challenges facing the country.

    This was the crux of a media event organised to herald the Annual Kingdom Life Summit of the New Estate Baptist Church, Surulere, Lagos.

    Chairman /convener of the programme Samson Aderinto Adedokun said the 2017 edition of the programme was intended to bring the people to realise that only God has the solution to numerous problems facing the country.

    He said: ”The summit is designed to bring us to the reality that except we prioritise Jesus over and above all else, our numerous concerns will not give way.”

    He stated that there was nothing a Christian can achieve on earth without Christ.

    “It is needless for us to recount the issues that are ongoing in the life of our nation as we are all conversant with these happening,” the cleric.

    Adedokun lamented that despite the increasing number of churches and mosques, which supposed to draw the people and country nearer to God, the country continues to face myriads of problems.

    He added that the leadership “is bedeviled by selfishness and corruption, a situation which has helped in increasing neglect and poverty”.

    “We are challenged with the ongoing economic pains, financial recklessness, corrupt and selfish expenditure, monstrous inflation, dwindling disposable income and rising poverty.”

    The clergy man urged the Federal Government to remain focus on its promise to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.

    On the faceoff between Apostle Johnson Suleiman and Directorate of State Services (DSS) officials, Adedokun stated that there was nothing wrong with the call for self-defence by Suleiman, adding that it was within the provision of the constitution.

    He stressed that there would not be “any need for self-defence if the country embrace Christ because he is able to handle any situation”.

    Rev. Achi Kunat, pastor of the church, urged the government to demonstrate more commitment in tackling epileptic power supply, provision of health facilities and tackling the monstrous inflation that has succeeded in rendering the currency useless.

    The summit with the theme: “Wonder-Working Worship” would attract clergy men within and outside Lagos, including the host, Rev. Kunat.

  • Recession causes low enrollment in NABTEB, says Registrar 

    Recession causes low enrollment in NABTEB, says Registrar 

    Registrar and Chief Executive of National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), Prof. (Mrs.) Ifeoma Isiugo-Abanihe, has blamed the current economic recession as being responsible for the low enrollment recorded in the November/December 2016 National Business Certificate/National Technical Certificate examination.

     

    A total of 49,950 candidates enrolled for the examination this year against 84,268 candidates that sat for the examination in 2015.

     

    Prof. Isuigo-Abanihe spoke Tuesday while announcing the release of the November/December 2016 NBC/NTC and ANBC/ANTC examination results.

     

    The NABTEB boss said several persons called from different states complaining about non-payment of salaries as being responsible for their inability to enroll their children for the examination.

     

    She said 21,476 candidates scored five credits and above including English Language and Mathematics representing 47.48% while 33,365 candidates scored five credits and above with or without English Language and Mathematics representing 73.77%.

     

    Prof. Isiugo-Abanihe called for legislation for establishment of more modern and well equipped technical colleges in more local government areas across the country.

     

    She noted that NABTEB activities were central to the actualization of the change agenda of the federal government as well as helping to stem the tide of youth restiveness and unemployment in the country.

     

    Prof. Ishiguro-Abanihe said 1, 394 candidates representing 3. % was involved in examination malpractice.

  • Atiku: recession surmountable

    Atiku: recession surmountable

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has explained that with unanimity of purpose, recession and other negative indexes confronting the country are surmountable.
    He added that with good leadership, Nigeria would survive its economic hardship.
    The All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart spoke in Lagos at the weekend during the Silverbird Man of the Year Award, where he received the prestigious Extraordinary Achievement award.
    Speaking after he was presented with the diadem by Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu, the former vice president said:   ”I have listened to the speeches of most of the awardees. Most of them expressed pessimism about the future of this country. I want to offer the opposite because I am an optimist.
    “Recession and depression are economics situations that go through every nation on earth, and I believe Nigerians of all works of life have the capacity to turn around our current economic challenges into prosperity.
    “All what is required is the unity of Nigeria and right leadership to turn around this economic situation into prosperity for most of our people.
    “I know that the youth of this country are our greatest assets. What we need to do, as many people have said, is to make sure that our empowerment – substantially is directed to human development, and particularly our youth who are 70 per cent of our population.

    We all at one time or the other were youths who have benefitted immensely from the generosity of this country and its resources.
    “I believe that every responsible government should emphasis on youth development and empowerment so that our prosperity can return to us.”