The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Stakeholders

  • Stakeholders back quality art education

    President of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), Mr Oliver Enwonwu, has described art as an authentic expression of the minds, which encompasses literature, playwriting, painting and craft of the people.

    He said through art the identity of the people can be revealed. “Art can be used to proclaim the power of the kingdom and show the identity of the people,” he said, noting that art plays a vital role even in religion by using it to show the greatness of God.

    Oliver spoke at the yearly United Nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) international art education week organised by the International Society for Education through Art in collaboration with the Society of Nigerian Artists. The theme of the event held at the Yusuf Grillo Gallery, Yaba College of Technology, was Art is beauty, wealth and the soul of a nation.

    It featured art talk and art exhibition of selected Nigerian artists’ works. The art education week is to increase global awareness about the importance of quality arts education by showcasing projects and practices, along with reinforcing cooperation with principal stakeholders such as artists, patrons, collectors, gallery owners, art lovers, art teachers, schools and students in order that the potential of culture and cultural diversity are fully realised.

    Former Provost, Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta, Dr. Filani, who spoke on art education, said art is an expanded discipline that involves everybody and that it is significant to be creative enough in everyday life in order to make right selection. “Art gives utmost satisfaction. It is very significant and it measures the civilisation of a country’ he said. He added that art assist in creating a total person. If you lack the intellectualisation of activities of art, you will not realise full sensation,” he added. Filani urged artists and art teachers to generate new collectors while young to encourage everyone to understand and appreciate art because appreciation is a vital part of art.

    Founder, Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Art Foundation (OYASAF), Yemisi Shyllon, urged students to take art seriously saying that art gave him the ‘ability to reason in many dimensions, to be creative, to have expanded nature about life, ability to develop the basic instinct in me as a person. If you try and develop your instinct in art, you will have nothing to regret’ he said.

    He described art education as the beauty and soul of a nation which is not measured in terms of physical wealth but in terms of human capacity.

    According to him, Nigeria needs to develop human capacity which is very important in any nation.

    Among the renowned artists at the event were former Dean School of Vocational Studies, Federal College of Education (Technical) Dr. Demola Azeez and former vice president of SNA, Dr. Kunle Adeyemi.

  • Stakeholders praise Berger Paints over N650m mall

    Stakeholders have commended Berger Paints Nigeria Plc for building an ultra- modern building materials and related products shopping complex in the Central Business District of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    They gave the commendation in Abuja during the inauguration of the N650 million complex.

    President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Chief Kola Jamodu, who inaugurated the complex described it as another first in the paints industry by the leading paint manufacturing company in the country.

    He advised the company to contract the management of the facility to a professional property management firm so that it would be better managed.

    Shareholders of the company also lauded the board and management for the diversification strategy which the complex represented.

    National Coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Sir Sunny Nwosu, appreciated the board and management of the company for being proactive about how to enhance the value of their investments in the company.

    He said the diversification was in the right direction, because it would bring in huge benefits to the company.

    Similarly, President, Nigeria Shareholders’ Solidarity Association (NSSA), Chief Timothy Adesiyan, commended the board of the company for the new investment.

    Chairman, Berger Paints Plc, Mr. Clement Olowokande, said that Berger Paints Plc undertook the construction of plaza as a diversification strategy and as part of its continuous contribution to the economic development of the Federal Capital Territory.

    He said the commissioning of the plaza was historical because it is the first time a paint manufacturing company would be dedicating such a magnificent structure in Abuja.

     

  • Stakeholders reject govt’s private jets policy

    Stakeholders reject govt’s private jets policy

    There was outrage yesterday over the new aviation policy rolled out by the Federal Government.

    Under the new regime, owners of private jets are barred from carrying friends and associates.

    The Presidency in a statement by Dr. Reuben Abati justified the policy, saying it was introduced in line with international best practice.

    But concerned stakeholders, including airline operators, said the policy was inimical to the aviation industry.

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), in a statement by its spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, faulted the policy, describing it as another hallmark of emerging despotism of the Jonathan Administration.

    The statement reads: “Aviation is global, yet nowhere in the world has this kind of policy been put in place, and it is simply impracticable. Whoever is still in doubt about the transmogrification of the Jonathan administration should have a second thought.

    This policy could only have been designed to satisfy the yearning for absolute power by a democratically-elected President who will not hesitate to subject his compatriots to tyrannical rule.’’

    The party wondered “how the President’s spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, who as usual rushed to the blind defence of his boss over whether or not he is fast becoming an emperor, will rationalise an unprecedented and impracticable policy that could only have been formulated with evil intentions.

    It said: “The presidential spokesman describes his boss as ‘a democratically elected leader who is running a people-oriented, inclusive and progressive government. Under his watch, Nigeria’s democracy has been consolidated; the scope for human freedoms has been further expanded and there is respect for due process and the rule of law’.

    ‘’Words are cheap! We will like to know how the kind of controversial and oppressive aviation policy put in place by the Jonathan administration will expand the scope of human freedoms, when, in fact, it has stifled such! We will also like to know how such a policy signifies respect for due process and the rule of law, when all it does is to negate the best practices in the global industry.’’

    It called on aviation experts to speak out on the new policy, with a view to educating the administration and those it has put in charge of the country’s aviation sector on the implication of such a policy, before Nigeria is made an object of ridicule in the critical global aviation sector.

    ‘’In the meantime, we wager that in the not-too-distant future, the real reason for the policy will become clear to all, and it will be anything but in the national interest,’’ the party said.

    Aviation Roundtable (ART) President Captain Dele Ore described the policy as not only a setback but unnecessary.

    Captain Ore counselled Aviation Minister Princess Stella Oduah to focus on the challenges of the industry rather that dissipating energy on how to review a 2006 aviation policy which, according to him, enjoyed international acceptance.

    The ART chief said the 2006 policy has not been faulted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

    The Secretary-General of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Captain Mohammed Joji, said there was nothing wrong with the existing policy.

    Joji said the new policy would move the industry back in the global aviation community.

    His words: “It is better to move the industry forward than to seek its regression. It is my humble opinion that nothing is wrong with the 2006 civil aviation policy.”

  • Book stakeholders bemoan Fed Govt’s neglect

    Publishers, book sellers, authors, printers and other stakeholders in the book industry are lamenting government neglect which they say is retarding book development in Nigeria.

    They spoke at a briefing to announce the Nigeria International Book Fair (NIBF) coming up between May 5 and 11 at the Multipurpose Halls of the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

    Pioneer chairman of the Nigeria Book Fair Trust, Mr Dayo Alabi, who stood in for the incumbent chair, Mr Samuel Kolawole complained that the Federal Government has failed to evolve policies that would aid the growth of the book industry unlike India, which promotes its intellectual property both home and abroad.

    While hailing the Indian government’s support for their own to the extent that many publishers and booksellers from the country have registered to exhibit at next week’s fair, Alabi cautioned that they would take over the Nigerian book industry if nothing is done to develop local capacity. He called on the Federal Government to establish a commission for the book industry.

    “We don’t have anybody in government that looks at any aspect of our lives to identify problems and analyse the solutions. In Nigeria, any policy that benefit the people is by accident. Four years ago, CAPAXIL, an umbrella body of professionals in India, came to Nigeria. They were able to see the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC). If it was us, it will take one year to book an appointment.

    “We are happy the Indians are coming to exhibit but we are not happy that they will take over the industry. Nobody is helping us to develop local books; nobody is helping us sell our books. Very soon we will all be selling local books,” he said.

    Speaking on the book fair, Executive Secretary of the NIBF, Mr Biodun Omotubi said 131 exhibitors, among them, 48 foreigners will be at the fair to sell books and transact other businesses.

    He said the International Conference will discuss the theme: Investment in the Knowledge Economy as a Vehicle for Sustainable Growth and Development in Africa, on May 7.

     

  • Stakeholders fret over plans to amend Aviation Act

    Stakeholders fret over plans to amend Aviation Act

    Stakeholders have called on the National Assembly to exercise caution in its planned amendment of some sections of the 2006 Civil Aviation Act, granting autonomy in regulation to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

    According to industry players, a revision of the act may affect NCAA’s autonomy. They raised concerns over plans to tinker with some sections of the act, which may reduce NCAA’s powers, thereby bringing about laxity in the oversight duties of the authority.

    The Ministry of Aviation has denied plans to remove NCAA’s autonomy, affirming that the authority has been given free hands in line with the provisions of the 2006 Act to carry out its oversight duties.

    Media assistant to the Minister of Aviation, Mr Joe Obi said: “There is no truth in information making the round that there are attempts by the Ministry of Aviation to strip the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) of its autonomy and removing the responsibility of issuing Air Operator Certificates from the Regulatory agency.

    “The ministry places very high premium on the autonomy of the NCAA as the regulator of the sector and will not do anything wittingly or unwittingly to whittle down its powers. In fact, the new Aviation Policy that is currently being fashioned out is intended to strengthen the NCAA to place it in good stead to perform its regulatory functions as well as safeguard its autonomy.”

    In a position paper , the Airline Operators of Nigeria( AON), the umbrella body of domestic carriers speaking through its Secretary-General, Captain Mohammed Joji, said nothing was wrong with the Civil Aviation Act, adding that tinkering with some of its provisions may have ripple effects in the industry.

    Joji said: ”The proposed Civil Aviation Act, as it were, is a new document. It is still extant, serves as the basis of various Civil Aviation Regulations, which underpins aviation business in the country.

    “While time and developments have thrown up new issues demanding attention, particularly in economic regulation and consumer protection, the Act is modern and in no way defective.

    “Only a few years ago (2007 – 2008), the Act was evaluated by both ICAO, FAA and other such world bodies and was confirmed to be in tandem with global standards and best practices. Therefore, what is required is only Amendments rather than a new Act.”

    Besides, he said the existing non-defective one is even more confusing as it is not as encompassing as the extant Act.

    He said the question to ask is: “What is wrong with the Act that the Proposed Act is seeking to replace?”

    He said: “The Proposed Act is by standard; content, depth, and coverage, inferior to the existing Act. Rather than strengthen the regulatory body, it further tends to weaken it by not only removing some of its functions, but also eroding its autonomy by surreptitiously narrowing the insular corridor between it and the ministry.

    “This will move us many steps back in the global aviation community.”

    The AON scribe alleged that the proposed act seeks to hijack the responsibility of economic regulation of airlines from the NCAA and hand it over to the Ministry of Aviation.

    He said: ”Unless the Ministry intends to create another agency to handle economic regulations and related issues, which will run contrary to the Act, the present Act should be amended to the ill-advised Proposed Act of 2013.

    “It is better to move our country forward rather than to regress. Power of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to regulate the industry must be upheld in order to move the industry forward.”

    The law, which is an Act of parliament gives power to NCAA to regulate the industry. In so doing, the regulatory authority published two fundamental guiding documents, which can be amended periodically by the operators and other stake holders and the NCAA vide seminar, under what is called Proposed Notice of Amendment (PNA). The initial publication is called Proposed Notice of Rules making (PNR).

    He said: “It is also our humble opinion that there is nothing wrong with the 2006 Act, since most of the recent feats achieved by the Aviation industry were as a result of the adequate provisions contained in the Act. We however, do not object to an amendment of the existing Act to take care of identified flows, provided all stake holders shall be consulted for input during the amendment exercise.”

  • NFVCB treats stakeholders to new opportunities

    NFVCB treats stakeholders to new opportunities

    TOMORROW, April 29, at the Musa Yar’adua Centre, Memorial Drive, Central Area Abuja, the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) will hold a Consumer Forum. The Conference, according to the management of the body, is organised to help engage the consumers on a wide range of regulatory responsibilities of the NFVCB and to help distill some of the information available.

    Also serving to educate the general public of their responsibilities to the society and the film maker, acting Director General, Ms Patricia Bala, says that the forum will help transform the movie industry by proffering solutions and ideas which will add value to the making of any film in Nigeria.

    “The Nigerian movie industry with its rich cultural and academic tradition makes an attractive choice and great story line for producers but unfortunately we have found ourselves ‘swimming in the bottle ‘creating the same story line over and over again. The idea behind this parliament is to tickle the intellectual imagination of our producers and movie stakeholders to ‘think out of the box’ and create movies that will stand the test of time,” Bala says.

    She stated that the consumer forum represents a new opportunity of sorts. “There is an overwhelming consensus within the public that the movie industry needs reform. Therefore, the aim of this forum is, of course, to work closely with the public and other stakeholders because we all share the common goal of getting this problem fixed,” the DG adds.

  • ‘Tourism stakeholders must develop human capital’

    ‘Tourism stakeholders must develop human capital’

    The Chairman of the Fedration of Tourism Associations of Nigeria, Manpower Development and Standards Committee, Mr. Abiodun Odusanwo, has called on stakeholders to rally round to develop the human capital in the Nigerian tourism industry.

    He said this in a commendation letter he wrote to the Assocciation Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET), an affiliate of the world body, FIJET.

    He said: “ Nigeria is a wonderful country in all ramifications. This is especially so when you look at the aggregation of its people, the landscapes, culture, character, history and traditions. Our culture of hospitality is remarkable, while our festivals are embedded in deep-rooted cultural legacies, impacting, therefore, a sense of socio-cultural successes that are not only long-standing, but are also one of the pointers to our future in terms of the visions and potential to develop. These are the indicators of our uniqueness as a nation which we hold as a matter of proud inheritance. They are also potential factors to galvanise people from around the world to want to see our vast array of cultures and to know and understand Nigeria.

    Odunsanwo said tourism is central to how people from across the country and from abroad can begin to do that and continue to do that and “It is incumbent on the ANJET to disseminate cohesive and abundantly rich information that reflects good appreciation of the tourism industry in its entirety to everyone, whether they’re from different parts of Nigeria or from different countries around the world, to be able to enjoy the rich diversity of what Nigeria has to offer’.

     

  • Stakeholders urge fans to behave well at match venues

    Stakeholders urge fans to behave well at match venues

    Some notable football stakeholders on Thursday urged the Nigeria Professional Football League’s (NPFL) Interim Management Committee to sensitise fans on the need to comport themselves well during matches.

    The stakeholders who made their views known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, in separate interviews, complained that violent acts by restive fans could disrupt proceedings during league matches. They said that fans must be made to imbibe the virtues of fair play during matches, especially when their teams are not performing well.

    Paul Hamilton, a former Super Eagles Head Coach, noted that referees would have a pivotal role to play to curb restiveness among fans. He added that the way and manner they handle matches; would determine the response of fans, and that they should guard against avoidable errors.

    “ When the referee is fair in his officiating to both teams, there would definitely be no hassles,’’ Hamilton said.

    Folorunsho Okenla, a former Green Eagles winger, said that the various clubs and their supporters should be educated on the need to accept the outcome of matches. Okenla stressed that the Interim Management Committee should enlighten supporters on how to conduct themselves at match venues.

    “Clubs and their supporters should be sanctioned now for any misbehaviour they exhibit at match venues. There should be stipulated punishment for fans’ restiveness at match venues, and I strongly believe that this will curb or eradicate such misdemeanours,’’ Okenla said.

    In his reaction, Festus Allen, a former coach of 3SC FC of Ibadan, said that the responsibility of curbing restiveness at match venues rests with the regulatory body. “The body should educate themselves too because you cannot give what you don’t have,’’Allen said.

    Allen added that there should be laid down rules to govern the operations and that violators should be docked. “The game is not a do-or-die affair. Fans should be made to understand that defeat is part of the game,’’ he added.

    Tayo Balogun, a sport analyst, said that the problem is that the supporters fail to realise that it was impossible for the referee to recall all the happenings in a match.

    “The supporters feel they are not getting the right calls in most cases but fail to understand that the referee cannot see everything. Violence should not be part of the game, because we are human beings and as such we are bound to make mistakes,’’ Balogun added.

    The analyst urged fans to work on their emotions, and accept the fact that football is more of leisure and not an outlet for violence.

  • PDP stakeholders to meet Soludo, others

    PDP stakeholders to meet Soludo, others

    Stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State have called for a meeting to address the crisis rocking the party in the state.

    The stakeholders have agreed to meet former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme and other stakeholders, including Chris Uba, his brother, Andy, ex- Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Nicholas Ukachukwu and the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metu.

    The decisions were taken yesterday at a meeting summoned by Senator Emma Anosike at Umueri in Anambra East Local Government.

    The meeting was attended by all serving members of the House of Assembly, former lawmakers both at the state and national assemblies, ex-council chairmen, commissioners, board directors, among others.

     

  • Stakeholders fault new bill on market practitioners

    Stakeholders fault new bill on market practitioners

    Some capital market stakeholders have faulted a new bill that is seeking to replace the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) with the Institute of Securities and Investment (CISI).

    The bill is being sponsored by former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Capital Market, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, and it is intended to replace the law that set up CIS and will bring other capital market operators under the supervision of CISI.

    The Association of Asset Custodians of Nigeria (AACN in a memorandum to the committee said the bill violates the constitutional freedom of association for all practitioners in the market.

    They noted that to be forced to belong to an institute that is being sponsored by stockbrokers when they do not have anything in common violates principles of fairness.

    “No major stakeholder was consulted by the CIS in lobbying for this bill that has significant implications for our survival and well being of the market. It violates the principle of fairness and fair play for a subset of the market to go behind everyone else and lobby for a bill that would force everybody in the market to come under its own umbrella without any discussion or consultation with those it seeks to appropriate,” the group stated.

    According to them, stockbrokers do not understand the market intricacies and challenges faced by the other trade groups who are specialists in their various fields and as such, CIS could therefore not bring any value to these other bodies.

    AACN argued that it does not know of any country in the world where a chartered institute is the same as institute that licenses stockbrokers, trustees, investment bankers, fund managers, custodians, registrars, among others, noting that if it must be pioneered in Nigeria, it must be by consensus.

    Earlier, the CFA Society Nigeria (CSN) had expressed concerns on the bill, requesting the Senate Committee on Capital Market to reject it.