The Nation Newspaper

Tag: sends

  • Obaseki sends Edo primary school teachers to Canada

    Four outstanding teachers championing Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (Edo-BEST) Programme across the state have clinched an all-expense paid trip to Canada.

    They will attend and showcase public education reforms by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration at the 27th edition of the Edo National Association Worldwide (ENAW) convention.

    The teachers are Idehen Ejiye Isaiah, of Eguare Primary School, Ujiogba, in Esan West Local Government Area (LGA); Erhabor Osasumwen Priscillia of Aisologun-Akenzua Primary School, in Ikpoba-Okha LGA; Ogboko Edoghogho Yvonne of Okogbo Primary School, Okogbo, in Orhionmwon LGA and Noragbon Enogie Osaru, Headteacher, Emotan Primary School, Oredo LGA.

    The trip, according to the Special Adviser to the governor on Basic Education and Chairman-designate, Edo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, is a form of motivation for them to showcase reforms by the administration to Edo people in the diaspora.

    “SUBEB created an online portal two weeks ago, asking teachers in Edo State to apply or nominate someone for the all-expense paid trip to Toronto, Canada.

    “The criteria included that they should tell us about themselves and why they think they are the best for the trip. At the end, we got 89 entries. After screening we came up with the semi-final list. Those picked were made to face a panel.

    ‘’One Headmistress, Noragbon and three teachers finally got the slot to represent Edo State in Canada after the final selection. Their passports were processed on Wednesday,” Dr. Osa Oviawe said.

    In a message to the teachers, the SUBEB boss explained that the trip will be a mixture of educational and sightseeing experiences, as the teachers will meet Edo people, key government functionaries, and visit schools in Canada.

    She said: “You are going to Toronto on the governor’s entourage to attend the annual convention of Edo people in diaspora. By God’s grace, we will aim to leave by August 29. So, prepare yourself.

    ‘’After the convention, you will stay behind and visit schools in Toronto and surrounding areas. If there is time, we will visit Ottawa, which is the Canadian capital.

    ”We will do a tour of the Canadian parliament and visit the residence of the governor general of the country. The governor general is the symbolic head of state of Canada, representing the Queen of England. If there is time, we may also visit Montreal, the French speaking part of Canada. Part of the visit  to schools will be to observe their open day among other events.”

    She said the teachers would talk about Edo-BEST to the Edo in diaspora, and urged them to be honest about their experiences in the programme.

    Obaseki will lead the delegation, which will showcase a bouquet of programmes, projects and reforms, including the 1800-unit Emotan Gardens, Edo-BEST, the new security architecture, and aggressive industrialisation drive.

  • Late goal sends Falconets to quarter-finals

    •To meet Spain

    An own goal in stoppage time by China PR, gave Nigeria a highly-dramatic 1-1 draw in Dinan-Lehon, with the West Africans claiming a spot in the quarter-finals from Group D at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup France 2018.

    Needing a victory to leapfrog the Nigerians to the runners-up spot in the group, China was the more dangerous side in the first half at the Stade du Clos Gastel. Mengyu Shen had the first chance of the match on 25 minutes when she hit the Nigeria crossbar. A few minutes later, Captain Linlin Wang headed over the target from close range.

    China’s breakthrough came four minutes before half-time, as the diminutive Linyan Zhang turned her Nigerian marker in the box and stroked the ball past a diving Chiamaka Nnadozie to give the Asians the lead at the break.

    The Super Falconets pushed hard in search of an equaliser in the second half but found the China backline and goalkeeper Huan Xu in resilient form until the end of the contest.

    With seconds left to play, substitute Aishat Bello’s byline cross from the right saw captain Rasheedat Ajibade challenge for the ball with China right-back Jiaxing Dou. Bello’s cross struck the Chinese defender before nestling in the back of the net and sparking emotional celebrations from the West Africans at the full-time whistle.

  • Govt policy sends auto business booming in Cotonou

    The volume of vehicles being imported through the nation’s seaports has reduced drastically due to the implementation of the automotive policy by the Federal Government.

    Findings have also revealed that over 70 per cent of  fairly-used vehicles, popularly known as Tokunbo, being imported into the  market come through the neighbouring Port of Cotonou, Benin Republic.

    Also, the volume of imported vehicles into the country has reduced by half since the introduction of the auto policy.

    The Managing Director, Port and Terminal Multi-service Limited (PTML),  Asconio Russo, confirmed the  development when the President, National Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Prince Olayiwola Shittu, visited the terminal in Lagos, last week.

    He claimed that the policy is already affecting operators at the ports, urging stakeholders to address the issues to bring succour to the sector.

    Russo said: “I may not want to comment on government policy because it is not my prerogative, but I can give you the figures. The number of vehicles being discharged all over Nigeria – I am not talking about our terminal – but in Nigeria, has dropped by 50 per cent.

    “So, the calculation is if the whole of Lagos was discharging 20,000 or 25,000 vehicles every month, it is like we are now doing 10,000 vehicles and these are the ones coming into RORO. There are also some coming in containers which have also disappeared.

    “We have noticed that the number of vehicles coming into Cotonou has increased dramatically, so we are losing business while Cotonou is gaining business. Everyone can understand what this  means and we know that Cotonou’s population has not increased from the 10 million people they were.

    “This policy is dramatically affecting the port industry and this is affecting the overall population because the prices of vehicles are going up in the market and this is something we see every day,” Russo said.

    Responding, Shittu said ANLCA has always being critical of the auto policy because the implementation would affect the businesses of its members.

    “We have  always being critical of this automotive policy and we have not changed our position. By the time April comes and the 35 percent levy is added, it will be a problem because there will be no cargo through here, our people will lose jobs and we will lose the whole revenue,” Shittu said, wondering  how those who have made huge investments in the sector would be able to recover their inputs.

    He continued: “It is a very serious matter. How many Nigerians can afford to buy a brand new vehicle in this country?  So, when duty on fairly use vehicle is 70 per cent and by December, it will be 100 per cent according to what the Minister, Olusegun  Aganga, mentioned to me, should we shut down the whole port in protest? Will it receive popular acceptance? Will the government not see us as saboteurs because this is pre-election and post-election?”

  • 2nd leg African Under-17 qualifier: NFF sends Eaglets to Abeokuta

    2nd leg African Under-17 qualifier: NFF sends Eaglets to Abeokuta

    The Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) picked Abeokuta for the second leg of the African U-17 qualifier against Congo, due to the on-going renovation work at the U. J Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

    The team was whisked to the rock city in a seamless transition from Lagos upon their arrival from Kinshasa on Monday.

    After two sessions at the Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola Stadium, the Golden Eaglets have settled down in Abeokuta ahead of their Under-17 African Championship qualifier against Congo DR on Saturday.

    The Eaglets, who are staying at the Intercontinental Suites, had a brief session on Monday evening to shake off jet lag after about a 12-hour flight from Kinshasa via Nairobi to Lagos and resumed their routine training on Tuesday.

  • Uwak sends Aland United to the top

    Aland United replaced rivals PK-35 at the top of the Finland Naisten Liiga as Cynthia Uwak’s early goal gave them a 1-0 win over the Vantaa Giants.

    The result puts Aland United on top of the ladder with 31 points, one more than PK-35, who they defeated at the Wiklöf Holding Arena on Saturday.

    Adde Engman should have put Aland United ahead, but she wasted when put through with the goalkeeper at her mercy

    There was no rest for PK-35 defenders, and Uwak, who was close to scoring in the 14th minute nicked the only goal before the 20-minute mark.

    The Super Falcons star, scorer of the crucial goal in the first half, forced Paula Myllyoja into action with a fierce shot from a tight angle after Aland United had soaked up PK-35’s pressure in the early part of the second half.

    Ellen Ahlström was the busier of the two keepers in the final stages as Aland United claimed a memorable win.

  • AFCON Final: Jonathan sends high-powered delegation to boost Super Eagles

    AFCON Final: Jonathan sends high-powered delegation to boost Super Eagles

    Ahead of tomorrow’s African Nations Cup final match between Nigeria and Burkina Faso in South Africa, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday sent a high-powered delegation to boost the Super Eagles to victory.

    The delegation, according to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, is to be led by the Senate President, Senator David Mark.

    Mark is to represent President Jonathan and the Federal Government at the match because the President cannot be physically present in Johannesburg to lead the cheering for the Super Eagles due to his official commitments in London and Paris.

    The President charged the delegation to ensure that the members of the team are properly motivated and in the best possible spirits to win a resounding victory for the country tomorrow.

    He also tasked the delegation, which included Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State and the Minister of State I (Foreign Affairs) Prof. Viola Onwuliri, the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade and the Minister of State (Works), Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, to reassure the team of his full support and best wishes for victory.

    They are also to convey President Jonathan’s decision to host a dinner reception for them at the State House Banquet Hall at 7pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013 and personally thank and honour them for their positively transformed performance in South Africa.

    Their performance, he said has undoubtedly re-established Nigeria as a major power in international soccer.

    He urged the team to go out against Burkina Faso on Sunday with the greatest determination to win a final victory that will bring immense joy and happiness to the millions of Nigerians at home and abroad who have had their pride restored by the triumphs against Ethiopia, Cote D’Ivoire and Mali, and are praying for ultimate success at South Africa’s National Stadium.