The Nation Newspaper

Tag: support

  • NGO seeks govt’s support

    Chairperson, LUCINMA Women Development Centre, Akoka, Lagos, Madam Lucy Jonah, is seeking government’s assistance for the body.

    The centre offers vocational and entrepreneurship training to women.

    Speaking at the 10th anniversary and graduation of the centre, Madam Jonah lamented that over the years, rather than get support, they are asked for money.

    She said: “We need government support. We want them to appreciate what we are doing. We have been training people for 10 years and whenever we go to them instead of listening and commending us, they ask for money.”

    Jonah, however, praised Zenith Bank which donated some laptops to the centre.

    “We believe that everyone has potential and our purpose is to help every woman develop her God given potential and talents, by inspiring her to embrace a spirit of excellence, creativity, hard work, ethical conduct and exemplary leadership,” she said.

    Jonah added that the centre is guided by the late India’s President, Mahatma Ghandi’s philosophy of “Educate a woman and you educate a nation”.

    She said the centre has trained a many public school teachers in computer appreciation without input from the government, adding that the centre gets fulfillment in training women free of charge, particularly teachers.

    Speaking on “Managing diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, preventing heart attack and strokes and understanding the facts about Ebola,” the special guest of honour and keynote speaker, Dr. Goddy Okoruwe, cautioned the women against consumption of fruit juice.

    He said many of the fruit juices available in the market are dangerous and poisonous to the human system, especially adults.

    He suggested that consumption of clean portable water remains the only liquid that is harmless for human consumption.

    Fifteen of the 26 graduating students went home with laptops donated by Zenith Bank.

  • #BBOG queries govt on N80b victim support fund

    The #BringBackOurGirls (#BBOG) advocacy group is asking the government why it is taking so long to implement the N80 billion victims support fund to care for insurgency victims.

    It said while the National Information Centre (NIC) Coordinator, Mike Omeri, told BBC Hausa that they were waiting to reach a certain amount, Boko Haram victims were suffering and dying.

    The group accused the government of ignoring many helpless Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    Speaking yesterday in Abuja at the group’s usual sit-out, a member, Abiola Sanusi, said: “After listening to survivors of Boko Haram, I call them survivors even though some may refer to them as victims, I ask the government what is being done with the N80 billion victims support fund that was raised to care for people suffering as a result of Boko Haram?

    “What is the Borno State government doing to rehabilitate the escaped Chibok girls and their parents who are experiencing psychological trauma? The other day, Mike Omeri was speaking on BBC Hausa and he was asked why they were yet to implement the fund and he said they were waiting for it to reach a certain amount. What are they waiting for while these survivors are suffering with barely enough food to eat and some are dying from diseases? Why is the Federal Government allowing them to suffer and is not assisting them?”

    Another member, Fatima Abba-Kaka, who visited several IDP camps in Borno, said the government had failed the IDPs.

    She said: “There are about 18 official IDP camps in Maiduguri, but several other IDPs take cover in the homes of influential people. The camps are something else and the people are suffering with barely enough food and medicine.

    “Their existence is an unfortunate issue that the government is trying to avoid or deny, but we can see the havoc caused by Boko Haram in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa. The victims of this carnage are increasing everyday.

    “Personally, my government has failed me and these people don’t even know if they have a government. The state government is providing little relief materials for them in the absence of the Federal Government, but there is corruption in the camps and the victims are being shortchanged

  • ‘We won’t support Jonathan’

    Hundreds of Ijaw youths, under the aegis of Izon Ibe Global Policy Network (IGPN), have said they will not support the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The group also condemned statements by some Ijaw leaders that Nigeria will break up, if Jonathan loses the election.

    The group, whose membership is drawn from Edo, Ondo, Delta and Rivers states, in a statement by its spokesman, Ayubalayefa Dennis, said it would support the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

  • ‘We’ll support Attah’s decision’

    ‘We’ll support Attah’s decision’

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ibesikpo Asutan, Akwa Ibom State, said yesterday that the decision on who it will support in the governorship primary rests on former Governor Victor Attah.

    The chapter Chairman, Emmanuel Ukim, said this when an aspirant, Benjamin Okoko, visited him at the party secretariat.

    Ukim said the party would support all aspirants and create a level playing field.

    He said: “We thank you for visiting us today. Ibesikpo people, you have seen a good, humble party man today coming to solicit our support.

    “But Attah will guide us to make our decision because he is our leader. Whoever Attah says we will support is the person we will support but we urge you to keep consulting and by God’s grace you will succeed.”

    Okoko thanked the people for the reception, love and solidarity.  He urged them to remember how he helped Attah win the party ticket.

     

  • IFC delivers support for private sector

    IFC delivers support for private sector

    IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, have provided billions of dollars of new financing and  investment mobilisation and delivered wide-ranging advisory services in sub-Saharan Africa during its most recent fiscal year.

    IFC’s activities impacted 1.1 million farmers, provided $17 billion of financing to entrepreneurs, delivered health services to a million patients and improved quality of education for 117,000 students.

    In coordination with other World Bank Group institutions, IFC’s work in sub Saharan Africa supported agriculture and power, job creation, health, education and capital markets.

    IFC made new investments in 31 countries in sub-Saharan Africa during its 2014 fiscal year, totaling $4.6 billion. In partnership with MIGA, IFC mobilised an additional $343 million of financing for the private sector.

    IFC provided more than $4.0 million in new investments in the continent’s lowest income economies. New IFC commitments provide $800 million to countries affected by recent conflicts, including Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo and Mali.

    Drawing on support from the World Bank Group, African governments enacted over 70 reforms to improve business regulation. Examples of t The impact of these reforms includes private sector cost savings of $25.5m in Ethiopia, thanks to more efficient imports and exports clearing procedures, an additional $106million in investment by new businesses in Rwanda generating 29 000 jobs, and levelled taxation between men and women in Cote d’Ivoire.

    The World Bank Group also supported the modernisation of the Uniform Act on Companies, which led to more than 20 reforms of the investment climate among the 17 member- countries of the Organisation for the Harmonisation of Business Law in Africa (OHADA).

  • Ideye sends support to Eagles

    Ideye sends support to Eagles

    Despite not making the team, Super Eagles striker Brown Ideye has sent a message of support to the team after their embarrassing 2-3 home loss to Congo on Saturday.

    It was the first hurdle for Nigeria on their way to defending the African title they won last year in South Africa, but obviously the story didn’t go according to script.

    And Ideye, who was completely ignored by Stephen Keshi for selection for the qualifiers, has  supported the team.

    “Head up guys, look forward to the next game and make us proud ?,” he said via his twitter account.

    Ideye, who was a member of the 2013 AFCON winning team, has surprisingly been overlooked from recent squads and even missed out on the World Cup despite playing a pivotal role in Nigeria’s qualification.

    The 25-year- old moved to West Bromwich Albion this summer for a club record £10m fee from Ukrainian giants, Dynamo Kiev.

  • DMO may raise N300b to support budget, infrastructure

    DMO may raise N300b to support budget, infrastructure

    The Debt Management Office (DMO) is expected to raise over N300 billion this quarter to support 2014 budget and infrastructure development, analysts have said.

    Currencies Analyst at Ecobank Nigeria, Olakunle Ezun, said the debt agency will raise the funds through reopening of three-year, 10-year and a new issue of 20-year tenor.

    He explained in an emailed note that the debt agency this month alone, raised N100 billion through three offerings (all re-openings) of 13.05 per cent Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) August 2016 bond; 14.20 per cent FGN March 2024 and 12.14 per cent FGN July 2034 bond. The stop rates, he said, were 11.123 per cent, 12.22 per cent and 12.389 per cent respectively.

    “In third quarter, the DMO plans to raise over N300 billion ($2 billion) through re-openings of 3-year, 10-year and a new issue of 20-year tenor to support budget and infrastructure needs,” he said.

    On the naira, Ezun said the currency’s short term outlook seems balanced and steady, but on the long term, the risk to the outlook is both on the upside and downside. “The upside risks are driven by the weakening global commodities prices and gloomy global economic outlook. The likely fiscal expansion prior to 2015 elections and reasonably strong liquidity growth continued to drive the downside risks to the naira outlook,” he said.

    He explained that while the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele’s forward guidance to steer economy to a low interest rate environment showed a clear departure from that of his predecessor era, his recent statement to sustain monetary policy stance until after the February 2015 elections supports naira above upper end of interbank plus or minus three per cent of N160 to dollar.

    “Nonetheless, there is high expectation that the rebased national accounts, in addition to a stable foreign exchange reserve and CBN’s tight monetary stance, would help support naira,” he said.

    The DMO said Nigerian companies have in recent months, issued nine bonds worth $30.4 billion in the International Capital Market.

    The Director-General of DMO, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo said the Nigerian companies took advantage of the window opened through the successful issuance of Nigerian Sovereign Eurobonds to successfully issue the international bonds.

    Nwankwo said the funds will be instrumental in helping Nigeria meet its infrastructural needs especially power. He noted that “for the first time in Nigeria’s economic history, the private sector has been enabled to access long-term funds from both the domestic and international capital markets. The successful issuances of three Nigerian Sovereign Eurobonds in the International Capital Market – one in 2011 and two in 2013 – have opened the window for Nigeria’s private sector to raise required foreign currency funds.

    The DMO chief said:  “They are now able to fund long-term real sector projects in agriculture, manufacturing, housing, mineral exploration and processing, infrastructure, for diversified and sustainable economic growth, towards employment generation and poverty reduction.”

  • Artistes support Julius Agwu for Crack Ya Ribs London

    Artistes support Julius Agwu for Crack Ya Ribs London

    The 2014 London edition of comedy concert, Crack Ya Ribs, hosted by ace comedian, Julius Agwu is set to hold in the later part of this month.

    According to the host of the show, Glasgow city will be the first to experience the concert on August 22 before the London show on August 24 at the Hackney Empire. The train will later move to Manchester on August 28 for another rib cracking edition at Roots Restaurant while the last stop will be at Aberdeen on August 30 at Café Drummond.

    Agwu revealed that the concert will parade music stars such as Phyno and Patoranking. Comedians already penciled down to deliver jokes to guests are Akpororo, Osama, Monkalas, Romeowivoutjuliet and Pencil. Two prominent London based disc jockeys, DJ Abass and DJ Osa Jatt will be on the wheels of steel.

    This year’s event, Agwu stated, is supported by Arik Air, Diamond Bank, Gistfactory and Lebara Mobile. Over the years, Crack Ya Ribs has held in different cities across the world such as Atlanta, Texas, Glasgow, Manchester, Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt and London.

  • AfDB plans $3b support for Power Africa project

    AfDB plans $3b support for Power Africa project

    African Development Bank (AfDB) Group President, Donald Kaberuka has reaffirmed the lender’s support to advance the Power Africa initiative, with a commitment of $3 billion over a five-year period.

    This support was originally announced by the AfDB, as an anchor Power Africa partner on the continent, in July 2013. In 2013 only, AfDB interventions related to focus countries (Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria and Tanzania) amounted to over $600 million.

    Under the enhanced partnership announced Tuesday, the United States and AfDB will collaborate on scaling up the use of off-grid and mini-grid technologies, supporting geothermal power development, and strengthening regional power trading between African countries among others.

    Over the next year, the AfDB expects to commit around a billion dollars in support of energy projects in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, and Tanzania, the six Power Africa focus countries. Once implemented, these operations would contribute towards five to 10 per cent of the stated Power Africa goal of developing 10,000 megawatts of new power generation in Sub-Saharan Africa.

    The AfDB supports far-reaching power sector reforms and provides technical assistance, financing and guarantees for power generation, transmission and distribution projects in Africa.

    The AfDB Group – including the concessional lending window African Development Fund (ADF), to which the United States contributes – works directly with governments and private investors to advance critical reforms needed to attract public and private financing and build the capacity in Africa’s power sector. AfDB commitments to Africa’s energy sector currently total over $12 billion, and are projected to increase by $2 billion in the coming year.

  • FG nets N58.7b to support terror victims

    FG nets N58.7b to support terror victims

    •Danjuma,Dangote, Adenuga, Elumelu, Tinubu, others donate billions 

    Victims of terror attacks in the country have  a N57.790billion kitty for their rehabilitation.

    The amount was amassed on Thursday night in Abuja by the Federal Government and key players in the private sector under the  Terror Victims Support Fund.

    It is about N10billion in excess of the N50billion targeted by the initiators of the fund.

    An elated President Goodluck Jonathan  yesterday  expressed  ”immense appreciation of the kindness of all persons who responded enthusiastically” to his appeal for collective action by contributing generously to the fund.

    N20billion of the donation came from the Federal Government while key players in the oil sector gave N17 billion.

    Other high profile donor were:the banking sector- N15 billion; Mr. Tony Elumelu, N2.5 billion; General T.Y. Danjuma, N1.6billion; and Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Mr. Jim Ovia, Wale Tinubu, Mike Adenuga,all of whom donated  N1billion each.

    From the 36 states and the FCT came N3.7billion; Arthur Eze and Mohammed Indimi, N800million each;and  Mrs. Folorunsho Alakijia, Alhaji Dahiru Mangal, Abdul Samad Rabiu, N500million each.

    Presidedent  Jonathan  speaking at  the occasion bemoaned the terror unleashed on Nigeria by  Boko Haram for the umpteenth time  ,but declared that the defeat of the sect was imminent.

    He vowed to personally  lead Nigerians to victory  over the  terrorists.

    He told the audience comprising key players in the polity and the economy that he often wonders why Nigerians  make themselves available to be used as suicide bombers.

    “I never for once thought that I would, in my life time, hear of Nigerians strapping bombs to themselves and blowing up innocent people. We would have sworn that it is impossible! Ten years ago, no Nigerian would have imagined it. We thought it was something that could only happen in other countries,” he said.

    “But here we are today witnessing this sordid phenomenon. Even women, who are not known for violence, are now involved.We will defeat terror and I will lead Nigerians to achieve this.”

    He said the setting up of the fund should not be seen   as an acceptance  of  terrorism as a way of life in the country.

    ”No! Never! Rather, this is just one of the short-term measures in our overall strategy against the enemies of peace and progress,” he said and spoke of government’s determination not to allow evil to overcome good in the country.

    He also said he found it  unbelievable to think that “some twisted minds” could kidnap innocent school girls and keep them in captivity for months.

    Government,he added,was  now  caught between demonstrating military might and endangering their lives or undermining the sovereignty of Nigeria by succumbing to the blackmail of the terrorists on their own terms.

    All options, he said, were  still opened to bring the girls back home safely.

    He said: “We will come out of this tougher and better nation. In these trying times, we have seen Muslims and Christians, Northerners and Southerners, men and women, and Nigerians from all walks of life rise up in unison to condemn the terrorists.

    “By bombing mosques and churches, they have shown to us that they are enemies to all. By killing Muslims and Christians, they have demonstrated to every Nigerian that their evil agenda does not discriminate. Unintentionally, they are motivating millions of Nigerians to see them as common enemy whose only purpose is to steal, to kill and to destroy.”

    Chairman of the  Fund Committee and former Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma said : “All too often, the victims of terror are soon forgotten. The majority are the soft targets the terrorists prefer but unable to fend for themselves. The funds being collected are not for combating terror or fighting terrorists organizations but for supporting victims of terrorists attacks.”

    The President  said  yesterday that he was overwhelmed by the “expression of support, cooperation and solidarity by Nigerians and friends of Nigeria from all walks of life” at the launch

    He said this showed that the public  ”is genuinely concerned about the threat of terrorism to our common humanity and stands ready to support worthy causes and pro-people policies.”