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Tag: summit

  • NESG Summit House commissioned

    NESG Summit House commissioned

    Former head of state Chief Ernest Shonekan at the weekend, commissioned the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) Summit House in Lagos. The NESG, which was created to bridge the communication gap between the private and public sectors of the economy, is also meant to serve as advocacy group that advises the government on the ways to move the economy forward.

    Chief Sonekan said the NESG which has been in existence for 21 years, has now expanded and made significant progress.

    Chief Sonekan said there was a lot of mutual suspicions and communication gaps between the operators in the private and public sectors, prompting the creation of the NESG to help bridge that gap.

    He further said he was proud of NESG achievements and also challenged other private sector groups to emulate what the body has achieved over the years. He noted that the private sector should not expect government to do everything for them as the country belongs to everyone and collective responsibility is needed to make it a better place for all.

    The Minister, National Planning Commission (NPC) Dr. Abubakar Olarenwaju Sulaiman, said occasion signifies the formal transition of the NESG from infancy to greatness after two decades of existence.

    “I am delighted that the NESG Summit House is being commissioned today. Let me start by expressing the National Planning Commission appreciation and commendation of the Chairman of the NESG, Mr  Foluso Philips; the outgoing Director General of the NESG Mr Frank Nweke and the entire board of members of NESG for the role played in completing the project,” he said.

  • Abia plans business summit

    As part of its contributions towards rekindling the interest of investors in Nigeria and the world at large to invest in Aba and help the city regain its pride of place in the economic map of the world, Abia State has concluded plans for the the first Aba Business Summit.  The summit is coming four years after investors fled the once economic pride of Abia State because of insecurity challenges.

    Organisers of the Summit comprising a group of intellectuals from different professional backgrounds known as Abia Think Tank Association said all was set for the second edition of the programme.

    At a press conference in Aba, the President of the group, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa (OFR), said that the two-day interactive programme with the theme, “Aba as the Centerpiece of Abia Economic Renaissance”, was to consolidate and deepen the gains of the maiden summit.

    According to Ohuabunwa, the summit scheduled to hold on Thursday, October 23 and Friday October 24 is aimed at helping private and public sector business managers that have interest in the restoration and transformation process of  Aba, Enyimba City into a modern industrial and commercial city with global influence “which entails building a strong partnership in terms of robust  synergies of financial and sundry support to strategic developmental goals for the transformation of the economy of Abia State, Nigeria and the West African sub-region.”

    Mazi Ohuabunwa, who is also National President, Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce, revealed that the event was going to provide opportunities for business owners in Aba to have a one-on-one chat with investors, entrepreneurs and financial experts who will take them round on how best they (traders) can develop their businesses, source loans to fund their businesses, how to get about getting loans that they can repay at a stipulated time with a subsidised interest rate.

    He expressed his hope that the outcome of the two-day summit was going to engender meaning development in business and economic activities in the state and the country in general, adding that they have already started working collaboratively with higher institutions on how traders and businessmen and women with no or less educational background could be incorporated into their institution’s programmes in order to expose them to the best and acceptable practices of doing businesses.

    Prominent dignitaries that are expected to present speeches at the event are Governor Theodore A. Orji, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Emeka Wogu (Labour Minister, Ms. Arunne Ote, Director-General, Security and Exchange Commission, Dr. Alex Otti, GMD/CEO Diamond Bank and Prof. Barth Nnaji, among others.

  • Diamond Bank Hosts first Woman Summit

    Diamond Bank’s Head, Micro Small and Medium Enterprise Propositions Chima Nnadozie has said the bank has restructured to focus on women.

    He spoke at the first Diamond Woman summit in Ibadan held at Mauve 21 Event Center, Ring road.

    He said the bank was working with women but is now prepared to take an advanced step with the Diamond Woman package targeted at women in all sectors.

    The event started with a lecture from Dr Tola Owolabi of the Enterprise Development Centre, Pan African University.

    Speaking on “Pricing:Getting it Right from the Beginning”, Owolabi said: “Pricing is one of the best strategy of advertising and promoting your business and optimality is the key to ensuring happiness between the businesswoman and her customer.

    The Regional Head, Southwest, Diamond Bank, Akin Ogunleye, said importance will be attached to empowering women because when they are empowered there will be development. He added that Ibadan was chosen for the first summit because the women are quite enterprising and very productive.

    “The invitation is not only for the Diamond Bank customers alone, because we believe that once a woman is really convinced of her benefits from a product then you have a good ambassador with that woman,” Ogunleye said

     

  • Marriage summit holds

    A one-day all night marriage summit of Holy Fire Overflow Ministry International Ogba, Lagos holds on Tuesday September 30th by 10.00pm.

    The theme of the summit is “Get married soon,…stay married & bloom”.

    The Chief host, Apostle John Ahamzie, said the summit was organised to speak to the mountains, break strongholds, and deactivate evil circles of demonic operations of delay and lack among singles and couples.

     

  • Gov. Ahmed flags off sports summit

    Gov. Ahmed flags off sports summit

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has flagged off the state’s maiden sports summit with a call on governments at all levels to actively support and promote sports in all  ramifications as a way of enhancing national unity.

    In a statement signed by the governor’s chief press secretary, Abdulwahab Oba, said the achievements in sports were anchored on long term planning, early identification and growing of talents and private sector participation.

    “For me, normative sports development with the endpoint in mind, with a clear idea of where we want to be, in what sports, with what resources and based on clear yardsticks, I hold, therefore, that success in this vital sector lies in adopting a corporate structure in which strategic long-term planning and private sector participation are critical success factors”, he said.

    The governor was of the view that for effective and result oriented sports administration, the private sector should play an active role while government should be an enabler of a condusive environment.

    Ahmed said it was expected that the  summit, with the theme, “Sporting Nation, Sporting Kwara: Setting the Winning Agenda”, would fashion a framework for sporting excellence by leveraging on identified areas of strength of Kwara State.

    He reiterated his administration’s resolve to restore the state’s past glory in sports, especially in some sports. His words: “For us, glory in sports should no longer remain the stuff of fables but an inherent element of our identity as Kwarans just like our identity and our reputation for successful commerce.

    Former Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Bolaji Abdullahi, in his keynote address, said the economic values of sports have been under estimated in Nigeria over the year, adding that sports administration should maximise the economic potentials of sports rather than the participatory and entertaining aspects of sports.

    Abdullahi, added that Kwara State and Nigeria at large should never be contended with mere participation at sports meets but evolve strategies that would engender attainment of excellence in such participations.

  • Fellowship hosts students’ summit

    Covenant Christian Centre has organised a conference for Nigerian undergraduates with the theme: “Making the most of your stay on campus.” The event, which held at the Covenant Place, Orile-Iganmu, Lagos suburb, was witnessed by top-notch motivational speakers who addressed participants on the realities of post-graduate life.

    An official of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Francis Ebuhei, said life was a personal journey where everyone would be responsible to what they get from it.

    The organisers told CAMPUSLIFE that the aim of the workshop was to bring together youths from various institutions to learn the winning formula for success in today’s world.

    Speakers at the summit included the Head, Learning and Development Division, Fidelity Bank Plc., Irunna Ejibe; Executive Director of Stanbic IBTC Bank, Obinna Abajue, among others.

  • Abia youths hold prayer summit

    The National Youth Wing of the Abia State Town Unions Association (ASTUA) will hold a prayer summit on September 20 at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

    Its President, Prince Ikenna I. James said this during a briefing in Lagos.

    He said the youth are presenting the state Governor, Dr. Theodore A. Orji, before God and also interceding for all Abia youths and people for overall success.

    He noted that the governor represents the life and image of the state. That, he said, necessitated the need for prayer for all-round success in his programmes.

    James said the summit would hold in Lagos first and later in Umuahia.

    He added that the elections of the association would hold in October, stating that the president and the vice-president are the only elected officers.

    Officers such as Legal Adviser, Director of Protocol and National Coordinator are appointed positions which are held by James Nwabuche Esq., Prince Kelechi, Ulu Torti and Dr. Emeka Nwaogu.

    Assessing Orji’s administration, James praised his efforts, particularly the empowerment of youths. He prayed that God would grant the governor more knowledge and good health.

    On the purported claim by one Okey Ezekwe as the public relations officer (PRO) of ASTUA youth wing; he said the group had no PRO, adding that such false claims are common given that the elections are drawing near.

    The youth leader expressed his belief that the prayer summit will strengthen Abia youths and open channels of blessing for them.

    Evangelist Uma Ukpai will be the chief guest speaker.

  • U.S.–Africa Summit opens in Washington

    U.S.–Africa Summit opens in Washington

    The United States-Africa Leaders Summit opened yesterday in Washington, D.C. and will end tomorrow.

    Bringing together nearly 50 leaders from across Africa, it is being hailed by the White House as “the largest event any U.S. President has held with African heads of state and government”.

    Ben Rhodes, the White House Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Communications, spoke during a teleconference on the rationale for hosting the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit.

    He said: “We chose to do this summit to send a very clear signal that we are elevating our engagement with Africa. We see enormous opportunities in Africa as it continues to advance its economic development and continues to develop capabilities as African countries continue to develop their capabilities as security partners of the United States and as democratic partners of the United States.”

    The theme of the three-day summit is: Investing in the Next Generation.

    That future-oriented view reflects, said Rhodes, “our focus on African capacity-building and integrating Africa into the global economy and security order”.

    U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry convened yesterday the “Civil Society Forum” at the National Academy of Sciences to discuss the role of civil society in Africa.

    In his opening remarks, Kerry said the summit seeks to support the “empowerment of people, through their government, through their civil society” and noted that “we need to invest in relationships with not just those who are in charge today, but those who are pushing for change”.

    Lagos lawyer Mr. Femi Falana has urged African Heads of State and Governments to challenge the alleged manipulation of the continent’s economy by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank as a summit of the United States (U.S) and African leaders opened in Washington, DC, this week.

    American President Barack Obama is expected to host the summit, which focuses mainly on trade and investment in Africa. The theme of the summit is: Investing in the Next Generation. A number of signatures and side events have been organised to acknowledge the role of civil society, women and youth in the development of Africa.

    Forty African Heads of Governments are in Washington, DC for the summit.

    As part of the run-up to the summit, 15 civil society organisations (CSOs) from Africa, in an open letter on August 1 by Pamela Timburwa and addressed to the U.S. and Heads of African State and Governments, urged the leaders “to ensure that serious consideration is given and firm commitments are made to ensure an enabling environment for the participation of civil society, women and youth in Africa’s development”.

    The 15 CSOs include Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA), Human Rights Watch, International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Africa Regional Program, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Lawyers for Human Rights, Regional office; Liga Moçambicana dos Direitos Humanos (LDH), Mozambique, Liga Guineense dos Direitos Humanos (LGDH), Guinea Bissau.

    Others are: Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA); Southern African Litigation Centre (SALC), South Africa; Swaziland Coalition for Concerned Civic Organisations, Swaziland; Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA), Malawi; Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA), Mozambique; Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA), Regional office and Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), Zimbabwe.

    Reacting to the letter, which was copied to him by Ms Timburwa, the Lagos lawyer disagreed with the issues tabled by the civil societies before U.S. and Heads of African State and Governments.

    The activist said the letter was silent on the economic system in the 54 member-states in Africa.

    He said the African Union (AU) and the regional economic groupings had not addressed the empowerment of Africans, adding that without addressing unemployment, poverty and insecurity, majority of Africans cannot enjoy any human right.

    Falana said: “Africa must challenge the manipulation of the economy of the continent by the IMF and the World Banký. The lower interest rates in the West and the very high interest rates in Africa, being endorsed by the Bretton Wood institutions, should be seriously challenged. Instead of aid, the emphasis should be on trade. After hundreds of years of crude exploitation of her resources, Africa should no longer be a dumping ground. Having been on the receiving end, Africa should champion the struggle for a new world economic order based on justice and fair play.”

    The frontline lawyer noted that apart from condemning the level of corruption in Africa, the U.S government had not deemed it fit to ensure that the stolen wealth is repatriated.

  • U.S. may give Africa $1b business deals at summit

    U.S. may give Africa $1b business deals at summit

    The United States will announce nearly $1 billion in business deals, increase funding for peacekeeping and commit billions of dollars to expanding food and power programmes in Africa during a summit this week, U.S. and development officials said at the weekend.

    U.S. officials said the summit billed for today till Wednesday in Washington of nearly 50 African leaders hopes to showcase US interest in the fast-growing region through a series of government-private partnership deals to boost trade and investment.

    The spread of the deadly Ebola virus in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone is also a reminder of the vast development needs that persist in some of the region’s poorest countries despite rapid economic growth and investment.

    Administration officials have played down questions over whether the summit is in response to China’s growing presence in the region. Instead, they have emphasized American interests go beyond Africa’s oil and minerals, where China is focused. “You will see a series of announcements on agriculture and food, and power and energy,” Rajiv Shah, the administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), told Reuters. “We will make big announcements that demonstrate these are big ambitions we can take on with our African partners and the private sector.” Shah said there will be new support for Power Africa, a privately-funded program launched by US President Barack Obama last year to install 10,000 megawatts of new generation capacity and connect 20 million new customers across Africa by 2018.

    The programme had already met that goal after just one year, Shah said. “Next week we will announce a more than doubling of our aspirations,” he added. Shah said while companies pledged $7 billion to the program last year, next week “we will be in excess of $20 billion” in new investments. The World Bank is expected to make a major contribution toward the program, according to Bank officials. The programme is also likely to be expanded from the six nations – Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Tanzania – that currently benefit from Power Africa.

    There will also be significant increases in private sector support for US-backed food and agricultural programs in Africa, including the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, US development officials said.

    The programme was launched in 2012 to bring together African governments, the private sector and donors to boost investment in agricultural production after a massive 2008/09 food price crisis, which sparked unrest in developing nations.

    An announcement worth billions of dollar by a large U.S. beverage company is expected to boost purchases from African farmers, according to one official, who declined to elaborate. The summit will include a business conference on Tuesday bringing together African leaders and American CEOs. US commerce officials said close to $1 billion in various business deals will be announced covering different sectors and involving several African countries.

    Trade ministers will spend a day discussing ways to improve the US trade program with Africa, known as the African Growth Opportunity Act, or AGOA, which gives African countries duty-free access to US markets. AGOA expires in September next year and will need congressional approval for renewal.

    In other funding increases, the State Department is expected to announce a further $60 million a year for peacekeeping training in six African countries, according to U.S. officials

  • Summit seeks revival of family values

    The family is a place to mentor real leaders.

    It is the place where a father shows himself as an example to his children, where mothers help the kids to become the leaders they should be.

    This is a picture of a typical home painted at a gathering of hundreds of men and women from across the country during the July edition of Awesome Treasures Summit with the theme where are the real men II?

    The Chief Executive Officer of Gemstone Group, Fela Durotoye; the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Homebase Mortgage Bank, Dr Paul Johnson and the Africa Marketing Director, Family Nutrition at GlaxoSmithKilne, Mr. Lampe Omoleye, among others, spoke at the summit.

    It considered the vital roles of parents in the upbringing and mentoring of their children.

    To the convener, Mrs. Olajumoke Adenowo, the examples parents present their children make a huge difference because children easily relate more with what they see.

    This, she said, has changed because men no longer have a personal walk with God and fail to take up their responsibilities at homes.

    She told fathers: “Your children will become who you are and not what you say.”

    She said men in the country have failed in their duty to bring back the abducted Chibok girls.

    “The Bring BacktheGirls campaign is for all to know that we have not forgotten. Real men protect and are there for their children.

    “Each woman’s child is a Chibok child and we cannot forget. Time or the length of day will not make us forget.

    “The fact that the noise has gone down will not make us forget because we are mothers who do not forget their children,” Adenowo, an architect, said.

    Johnson was of the opinion that couples have been getting married for the wrong reasons, leading to massive divorces.

    Lasting marriages, according to him, are built on friendship, understanding, forgiveness and kindness.