The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Stakeholders

  • Council holds stakeholders forum

    Council holds stakeholders forum

    All it a political gathering, you won’t be wrong. The refurbished auditorium of the Mosan-Okunola Local Council Developmental Area was fill to the brim on Monday People from diffrent walks of life  thronged the council as early as possible, all the first Stakeholders’ Forum under the administration of Princess Opeyemi Adunni Akindele, the council’s Executive Secretary (ES).

    Being her first interactive session with the people, Princess Akindele was at her best as she received her guests in twos, threes and then in scores.

    They exchanged pleasantries, share jokes and banters.

    Many congratulated her on the new appointment while the elderly  prayed for her success.

    The traditional rulers were led by the Baale of Akinogun, Prince Martins Oladega; marketers by the Iyaloja-General of Mosan-Okunola LCDA, Alhaja Aminat Alabi and Mrs. Comfort Alabi from Abesan Primary School represented the teachers. Others in attendance included: representatives of Community Development Committee (CDC); artisans; farmers and the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN).

    In her opening remarks, the council chief said the meeting was germane for the socio-economic development of the council.

    “We realise government alone cannot fashion out the needs of the community, hence the necessity for this meeting to receive inputs from all stakeholders so that at the end of the day, we shall have a budget presentation that meet the aspiration of the people,” she said.

    According to her, any project that would be embarked upon would be a realistic one, promising to complete any project initiated during her tenure.

    She assured them that at the end of her three-month spell, the council will wear a new look.

    During the interactive session, Mrs. Alabi canvassed for the deployment of more security personnel in public schools within the council.

    “We have gotten school materials from the state’s Ministry of Education with a warning that they must be well kept. With the porous security in our various schools, all these streets urchins could break into our offices and destroy the materials,” she said.

    She also asked for provision of boreholes and other amenities  in the schools.

    Chairman of the Mosalasi Unit of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr. Folunrusho Fasuyi, described the event as “unique because the person at the helm of affairs is someone the people love and she is a mother with great heart.

    Fasuyi enjoined the ES to have a listening ear and take advice that would move the council forward.

    He urged her to develop the hinterland by opening up roads for  farmers to get their products to the market without stress.

     

  • NBBF announce date for Annual Stakeholders Forum

    NBBF announce date for Annual Stakeholders Forum

    Ahead of the jumpball of  the 2014/2015 basketball season in Nigeria, the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) has invited all basketball stakeholders for a five-day National Stakeholders Consultative Forum and Pre-Season Seminar which will hold at the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Package B, National Stadium, Abuja, holding from  February 1 to 5.

    According to a release signed by the Secretary General of the federation, Okeke Patrick, participants expected include State Basketball Association Chairmen and secretaries, DSTV and Zenith League teams officials and staff, National Division One and Two team officials and staff, referees, technical commissioners and table officials and the  Media.

    According to the release, “the meeting is aimed at charting the course for the new basketball season in Nigeria and the main agenda will be on:

    1. The Lessons from last season: Way Forward

    2. Gathering and adoption of new workable innovations for the 2014/2015 basketball season.

    “Participants are employed to come with their agitations and suggestions, as every individual will be given room to express their ideas and ways to move Nigerian basketball to the next level as it is customary of the NBBF before the commencement of every league season.

    “Participants should also be informed that each individual in attendance will be responsible for his/her attendance. i.e transportation, registration, accommodation and feeding during the period of the consultative forum,” the statement read.

  • Stakeholders hail TETFund on transparency

    Various stakeholders have applauded the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for judiciously disbursing the two per cent Education Tax Fund (ETF) paid by registered companies yearly.

    They spoke at the Taxpayers Forum organised by the agency at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos to reward companies that have paid their taxes over the years.

    Government officials, vice chancellors, rectors and provosts of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education testified of how TETFund grants have helped improve infrastructure in their institutions, enabled staff training, provided equipment, books and instructional materials, and aided research.

    Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Education, Aminu Suleiman, endorsed the agency’s activities, describing it as a good job well done.  He said the success of the fund in improving facilities of tertiary institution is making lawmakers to consider establishing a similar agency to fund basic and secondary education.

    He said: “TETFund has not given me the opportunity to criticise.  Since I sought for and could not find, I therefore, resolved to support the fund to continue the good job it does.  If there is one good thing that the country has got right, it is TETFund.  Some of us have been tempted to say that we should create a similar fund to cater for primary and secondary education as well,’’ he said.

    Rector of the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr Magaret Ladipo, affirmed that the taxes have been well utilised to improve quality of education in tertiary institutions.

    “TETFund is working; taxpayers’ money is well utilised.  If you come to YABATECH, apart from infrastructure, we are now bridging the gap between industry and the classroom.  Without TETFund, it would have been impossible,” she said.

    On his part, the Provost, College of Education, Katsina-Ala in Benue State, Dr Hans Senwua, said almost all infrastructure in public institutions can be credited to TETFund, while the representative of Prof Godwin Onu of Oko Polytechnic, said if the tax is increased by even one per cent, more development would be recorded.

    However, despite doing so well over the years, the vice chancellor, Bayero University Kano, Prof Adamu Rasheed Abubakar, in his paper, urged the agency to review how it funds research to strengthen the research capabilities of institutions.

    He said the institutions were not churning out relevant researches because they lacked the enabling environment.

    He said: “There is lack of enabling environment in tertiary institutions to embrace enterprise. This makes research from tertiary institutions unattractive to industry. But for TETFund, the universities did not have the capacity to do serious research.TETFund may need to slightly fine-tune its role to support high impact research and development.”

    In his presentation, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Prof Suleiman Bogoro, said all categories of tertiary institutions in Nigeria benefited immensely from TETFund grants in the past three months.  He said the method for disbursement is fair and devoid of politics.

    He said: “In the past three months, we disbursed N912 million to every Federal and state university in this country; N681 million for polytechnics; N561 million for colleges of education. For the High-Impact fund, which is a special intervention fund to address particular identified needs, universities get N3 billion; polytechnics get N1 billion. Gradually, we are covering many institutions.”

    At the event, 100 companies were presented with plaques for faithfully paying the Education Tax Fund, which is collected by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and remitted to TETFund.

    One of the recipients, Mhammed Hijo, who collected on behalf of A. S. Yadin, a road construction company in Yola, said he was glad that the tax he paid was well utilised.

     

  • Stakeholders’ solutions for educational woes

    An educationist and career counsellor, Dr. Depo Fakunle, has said no country can develop sound education without serious commitment by stakeholders.

    Fakunle spoke in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as the Chairman of this year’s prize-giving ceremony of the annual Olagoke Education Competition, to mark the 58th birthday ceremony of Prof Sabit Ariyo Olagoke, the Founder and Spiritual Head of Shafaudeen Islam Worldwide.

    Fakunle, who lamented that the attitude of governments to education is            below expectation, praised Olagoke for his investment in education and the annual contest, which he said, has discovered talents.

    In a paper titled: “Functional education: A fundamental need for sustainable development, the celebrator who is also the Dean, School of Engineering, Federal Polytechnic Ilaro in Ogun State, called for the adoption of approach made by former Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, which catapulted the state from the lowest rung of the ladder to the top in West African Examination Council (WAEC) performances. Olagoke stressed that Obi’s initiatives should be a model for other states to adopt as guide and build upon since it is effective and result-oriented.

    “Peter Obi’s administration is reputed for returning schools to their owners as well as massive infrastructural development including introducing Information Communication Technology (ICT) in public schools in the state.

    “Obi, therefore, started with returning of schools to the missionaries. He renovated all schools, paid teachers’ salaries despite the fact that he allowed missionaries to recruit them. He went into massive ICT revolution in schools by deploying computers to virtually all secondary schools,” Olagoke said.

  • Thermocool fetes stakeholders, partners

    After 40 years in the market, Thermocool has rewarded its trade partners and employees.

    At the event tagged Internal Launch, at the Eko Hotel and Suites,  musicians such as Sound Sultan, Immaculate, Timi Dakolo, and Kanwulia, entertained guests.

    The Managing Director, Mr. Panos Katsis, expressed delight over the support the company has been enjoying from stakeholders and Nigerians in the last 40 years.

    “We are very honoured to be here to celebrate, recognise and reward our esteemed partners who have consistently demonstrated great loyalty to our company with their unflinching support to our growth and aspirations over the past 40 years. Your immense efforts have contributed to the phenomenal growth of the company, and we are indeed proud and thankful to be associated with you,” he said.

    “When we started out in Nigeria in 1974, we were aware of the potential in the  market. We recognised the need, the desire of Nigerians to enjoy life; run their businesses and personal chores with relative ease and as an innovative company, we sought to fulfill these needs by providing world class products that were technology relevant in that era and even surpassing it.

    “As we celebrate these past four decades, we are glad to make a bold re-commitment to an enduring partnership and relationship, and also a renewed pledge to our customers that we will not waver in our resolve to constantly ensure that through all of family best moments, “we will always be there” providing support through our world class innovative range of household appliances for an enhanced lifestyle.’’

    Also, the Marketing Director; Mr. Vikramjeet Singh, said: “At Thermocool, our age-long tradition of bringing peace of mind to Nigerian households remains our resolve; today that tradition is resplendent in our extensive  product range including; refrigerators, freezers, air-conditioners, washing machines, microwaves, television sets, generator and sound systems. The journey of the last four decades has resulted in great successes with the expansion of our product categories, our distributions channels, our clientele and overall our esteemed brand– Thermocool. We have continuously sought for ways to keep to this promise of quality, which has significantly impacted on the dynamic changes made to our products and channels of distribution.”

    On the products on display at the event, Singh said it was a demonstration of Thermocool’s innovative drive and new designs which have been specially designed for consumers. For example, a new range of generators with one touch start button and fuel efficiency technology, new innovative ranges of air conditioner with low voltage, fast cooling, health and energy efficient features, freezers and refrigerators with pentecool technology   for fast cooling and longer retention, washing machine with soaking and drying function, new cooking range with highly efficient burners and Italian designs were on parade.

    “Thermocool has a rich history of trusted innovation that accords us real insights into the demands of today’s family life. Although we have earned our customer’s trust in this past 40 years, we are constantly committed to making everyday life easier and rewarding through constant product innovation and novelty.

    ‘’Our promise is to always make things better, be part of your life and always be there for the Nigerian family,” he added.

  • Stakeholders urge support for ISO 260

    TO ensure that Nigeria is not left out in the march for global standardisation, there is an urgent need for operators to embrace the International Standards Organisation (ISO) 260 being promoted by the Standards Organsation of Nigeria (SON). This, they argued would not only grow business but place the country on global business scene.

    Director, Research and Curriculum, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Mrs. Folusho Samuel, believes that the war against fake goods would receive a boost if Federal Government leverages the recent re-appointment of Director General, SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, for another four years, to support the implementations of International Standards Organisation (ISO) 260 requirements in the country.

    Samuel stated this at a forum organised by National Mirror Committee ISO 260 on Human Resources Management held at the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), Lagos.

    She urged the government to urgently support SON in the war against fake goods.

    Samuel who chaired the five-day roundtable  noted that fake and counterfeit products did not only pose danger to the economy and President Goodluck Jonathan’s economic Transformation Agenda but also to human lives.

    According to him, the products could cause problem to human lives.

     

  • Stakeholders accuse ex-governor of pushing for administrators in Borno, others

    Stakeholders accuse ex-governor of pushing for administrators in Borno, others

    Stakeholders in Borno and Yobe states have fingered a former governor as the brain behind the pressure for the appointment of military administrators for Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

    They have rejected the imposition of military regime on the three states and asked President Goodluck Jonathan to be careful.

    Stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Northeast met at the weekend to review the Emergency Rule in three states in the zone.

    It was gathered that the stakeholders considered some reports on the insurgency in the zone and counter-measures put in place.

    A highly-placed source said: “Some stake holders of the APC from Borno and Yobe States held a meeting at the weekend to review recent reports about calls for military takeover of the States.

    “It was during the meeting that the stakeholders were briefed that a former governor was responsible for the latest push following his failure to spearhead the impeachment of Governors Kashim Shettima of Borno and Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe States some months back despite his promise of achieving that.

    Another source said: “A former governor of Borno State is behind powerful interest groups pushing for the imposition of military administrators in Borno and Yobe States ahead of the expiration of extended emergency rule ?in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.

    But as it turned out, the governors turned out to be in absolute control of their State Assemblies with leaderships of both assemblies expressing firm support for the Governors at various times.

    “While 22 out of 28 members of the assembly stayed put in APC and loyal to Governor Kashim Shettima. In Yobe, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has the entire assembly members fully in APC with none moving to PDP.

    “The ex-governor has failed all attempts in the past and now wants to have military in place. His major targets are Borno and Yobe States. He wants military administrators to supervise the 2015 elections in both States.

    “They are considering keeping out Adamawa State on the excuse that the Boko Haram occupies more territories in Borno and Yobe States. In the event Adamawa is included, the governor could be made a Minister or appointed Ambassador.

    “The ex-governor is very desperate to help PDP takeover Borno and Yobe because he made promises that turned out to ridicule him. ?

    “He is responsible for financing pressures on the Presidency to bring in the military. We all know that our governors have been responsible for the relative success of the military through civilian support. In Borno State, the civilian JTF are doing so much. The Governor gives them everything they need from salaries to vehicles, uniforms, intelligence sharing, just everything and the military in Borno State know this since they worked with the Governor to mobilize the civilian JTF.

    “We must resist the latest effort to bring the military administrators, we won’t allow it. The President himself has said it times and again that the constitution doesn’t provide for military imposition but they are putting pressures for the sake 2015″.

  • Peace retreat for stakeholders in Niger Delta

    Partners for Peace in Niger Delta (P4P), a network of civil society groups that are in the forefront of peace-building activities, in conjunction with Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in Niger Delta (PIND), has evolved a new strategy aimed at mainstreaming peace and conflict resolution as core values during the forthcoming general elections.

    To this effect, a five-day peace retreat has been organised in Akure, the Ondo State capital, for stakeholders in the nine states of the Niger Delta ahead of next year’s general elections.

    Participants were drawn from Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers states where resource persons, including the Partners for Peace Technical Advisors from the Fund For Peace, United States of America (USA), Nate Haken and Patricia Taft, Team Leader of Partners for Peace, Mr. Michael Gonzalez, Network Coordinator, Peace Ambassador (Chief) Africas Lawal and Dr Austin Onuorah who spoke on issues of peace-building, conflict management and resolution.

    Declaring the peace retreat open, the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Princess Jumoke Akindele said the choice of Ondo State as the host state for the peace retreat is commendable as the state is reputed as most peaceful in the Niger Delta region.

    The Speaker further said the state government has placed priority on peace, security and development by promoting means of livelihoods to all categories of people and working with security agencies to secure lives and property in cities, towns and villages.

    Princess Akindele said the forthcoming general elections will be peaceful, even as she described the people in the Niger Delta as law-abiding, lovers of democracy and supporters of good governance which is openly demonstrated by their active participations in the political process and activities.

    She, however, warned against political violence, hooliganism and intimidation of law-abiding citizens during the coming elections.

    The Team Leader of Partners for Peace, Mr. Michael Gonzalez of the Fund for Peace, Washington D.C., said the aim of the peace retreat was to share experiences and capture the success stories and challenges on peace-building activities, as well as mapping election conflict assessment scenario and make the youth shun violence during election processes.

    He noted that the peace retreat is also aimed at examining the achievements of Partners for Peace and ratify the Charter of Partners for Peace in Niger Delta. While highlighting the background of the project, Mr. Gonzalez said Partners for Peace began its activities with engagement of some people already involved in peace-building across the states in the Niger Delta region last year, during the Peace Camp in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    The Partner for Peace Network Coordinator, Peace Ambassador (Chief) Africas Lawal revealed that state chapters of P4P are now working on peace initiatives based on the lessons from conflict assessment training. He said the P4P has constituted a central working committee (CWC) to drive the initiative.

    The Field Project Manager of the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), Mr. Sylvester Okoh said the initiative’s goal is for the Niger Delta area in Nigeria to continue to prosper as a peaceful place for economic growth.

    He said the strategy is to identify and strengthen conflict resolution initiatives within the Niger Delta region and to enhance a more en

  • Stakeholders seek stiffer punishment for environmental crimes

    Stakeholders have called for stiffer punishment for environmental crimes.

    The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the  United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) said stricter enforcement of environmental laws is needed.

    This, they said, would enhance the quality of life and protect the country from disastrous effects of environmental degradation.

    They spoke during a workshop on the enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and standards for the judiciary and law enforcement agencies.

    It was jointly organised by NESREA, Office of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court  and UNEP.

    Minister of the Environment,  Mrs. Luarentia M. Mallam,  represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Rabi Jimeta said the workshop was organised to strengthen the enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, standards and guidelines in Nigeria through sensitisation and retooling of the judiciary and other law enforcement agencies.

    Federal High Court Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta said there should be massive and sustained programme for publicity and environmental awareness to facilitate the much needed attitudinal change and re-orientation.

    In a comuniqué, the organisers called for special courts to handle environmental matters, synergy and collaboration among law enforcement and security agencies;

    It said legislations should be reviewed to accommodate stiffer penalties for environmental crimes in Nigeria.

    It added that a regional judicial forum should be established in West Africa for the Anglophone judges, to promote environmental governance in the sub-region.

    Director-General of NESREA, Dr. Ngeri S. Benebo said the media should publicise environmental law violations and enforcement actions.

    The keynote address was delivered by Attorney-General  and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, (SAN), represented  by Mr.  Bola Odugbesan.

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria was represented by  Justice Samuel Walter Onnghen of the Supreme Court. Court of Appeal President was represented by Justice Abdulkadir Jega, while the  Inspector General of Police was represented by a Commissioner of Police,  Nwodibo Ekechukwu.

    No fewer than 70 participants, including judges, representatives of the police, Department of State Security, Army, Office of National Security Adviser, the academia and the media were in attendance.

  • NIPR holds stakeholders’ conference today

    The Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations holds its first Annual Stakeholders’ Conference today at the MUSON Centre, Onikan Lagos with the Theme: “Effective Stakeholders’ Engagement and Corporate Profitability”.

    According to the Chairman, Mr Joseph Okonmah, the conference will attract respected personalities in the corporate world. “We are honoured to note that the plenary session is being chaired by the President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON. While the keynote address is expected to be delivered by the governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN)”, he said.

    Speaking further he noted that the conference and workshop involving major corporate organisations in the country will attract highly respected resource persons and provide opportunities for leading organizations in the country to make presentations.

    Some of the guest lecturers expected at the conference include; the President/Chairman Governing Council of NIPR, Dr. Rotimi Oladele, Fnipr; Founder CVL, Prof Pat. Utomi; MD/Editor- in-Chief, The Sun Newspaper/President NGE and others.