AFTER 25 days in Saudi Arabia, the Lagos contingent to this year’s pilgrimage yesterday lost one pilgrim.
The death occurred barely two days to the completion of the hajj rites.
The female pilgrim was on her way to the Jamrat, where the stoning of Shaytan (the devil) was taking place, when she slumped. Efforts to revive her proved abortive. She died on the spot.
THREE prominent figures – Alhaji Olufemi Okunnu, Pastor Daniel Olukoya and Jim Ovia – were yesterday conferred with honourary doctorate degrees at the University of Lagos’ (UNILAG’s) 50th Convocation.
The trio advised the Federal Government on what should be done to develop the education sector.
Okunnu, a former Federal Commissioner for Works and Housing, called on the federal and northern state governments to bridge the education gap between the South and the North.
According to the elder statesman, the governments in the North have not shown enough commitment to education like their counterparts in the South.
In his wake-up call, the 86-year-old lawyer said: “The federal and state governments ought to do a lot about education, especially secondary education. The southern parts are lucky with the governments involved in the evolution of primary and secondary education.
“The private sector, especially the missions, also impacted the struggle for western education. Unfortunately, in the northern parts of the country, that effort – either by the private sector or the state government itself – I am yet to see the signs of seriousness about education in the country.”
Dr. Olukoya, who is the General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, called on the government to encourage young people, saying he had scientific backing to prove it works.
He said: “The youths of this country need encouragement. They need more believers. We can encourage them by action. I did an experiment. I said anybody from Mountain of Fire in the university who gets a First Class, I would give them a car.
“What it did completely beat my imagination. What it did to students all over the nation, they started working hard. We did the first one in 2010, 19 people got cars. I could afford it at that time. We did another one 2016, 77 people got First Class. In 2015, 106 First Class. Now this year the number has grown to 300.”
Ovia, Zenith Bank’s founder, said the government should approve more licensces for privately-run varsities to improve the quality of education.
UNILAG’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council Dr. Wale Babalakin said the quality of education can only be guaranteed by adequate funding.
Addressing the 150 graduands who were awarded their PhD at the event, President Muhammadu Buhari, represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Adamu Rasheed, said they should put their degrees to use in developing Nigeria.
Dignitaries at the event included: the Chancellor, Shehu of Borno , Alhaji Abubakar Garabi El-Kanemi; Lagos State governor-elect, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Prof Sulaiman Adekola was conferred with Emeritus Professorship, while Prof James Olowokudejo, was conferred with Distinguished Professorship.
The best PhD thesis award was presented to Oluwaseyi Ayodele Ajibade of the Metallurgical and Material Engineering department while the best Ph.D Thesis award for Humanities went to Olumide Oyewole Ajibade.
Popular comedian Helen Paul got a Ph.D in Theatre Arts.
The School of Art, Design and Printing, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos is now home to the Canon 850 Digital Imaging Machine, courtesy of office-multifunction device manufacturer, Canon Inc.
The firm handed over the N23million equipment at a brief ceremony held at the School of Art, Design and Printing of YABATECH on Monday, following which 65 staff members and students were trained in colour management while using the machine.
Canon’s Market Intelligence Manager, Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Matt Kelly, said the initiative was done under the firm’s Miraisha project, a programme implemented to update the skills of young people in Africa. He expressed hope that through the use of the machine, the college is able to equip its students with the latest skills in printing technology.
He said: “We called it the Miraisha project. Mirasha, is composed to two words MIRA for future and ISHA for livelihood. We are looking, using Canon core imaging skills and know-how to help people to develop future livelihood to cross the market in which we operate.
“We are looking to help professional printers and especially students. We looking to use Canon know how and its technology in order to develop their own skills. These are skills that they will learn and use in their future jobs and it will help them gain an advantage in the market place.”
The training was facilitated by two experts brought in by Canon
Dean, School of Art, Design and Printing, Dr Kunle Adeyemi, said the participants for the training were drawn from various departments and units of the school that do work with printing.
He said the machine, which he attracted to YABATECH after meeting a CANON representative at an event, was the first of its kind in the country.
“The machine is a digital direct image machine. We call it 850 series and it is the first one in the country. When printing on it, you do not need to go through the stress of having the original to plate from plate to film from film to plate etc now you can actually move on the system, do your design, do your origination on the system, pass it on to the machine, the machine will do all the needful and move it straight to printing and finishing,” he said.
The YABATECH Rector, Mr Femi Omokungbe, an engineer, expressed hope that the machine would serve not only as a tool to train students but as a means to generate revenue for the college. He said the decision to do some printing jobs in-house by the Printing Department saved the institution up to N30 million last session.
“In 2017/2018 Session, the Printing Department was commissioned to print examination materials and by this singular act, the College was able to save over thirty million naira. The Printing Department has since been opened for commercial purpose,” he said.
Omokungbe promised that the college would take good care of the machine.
“We will also like to inform you that there will be proper maintenance of the machine while students and staff will not be denied access to it. We will also fulfil our own part of the memorandum of understanding between the College and CANON,” he said.
Roman Troedthandl, Managing Director, Canon Central and North Africa, said two more training sessions would take place later this year and next before the three-year partnership between the firm and YABATECH runs out.
“Indeed, the training workshop will offer unparalleled prospects for graduates to broaden their horizons and take advantage of employment opportunities that support this remarkable population growth, “ he said.
For two years that Nigeria was absent at the annual African Junior and Cadet Championship, the North Africans especially, Egypt held sway but with the return of the West African giant this year, the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) believes it would create stiff competition among the teams in Ghana.
An elated ATTF President said he was excited that Nigeria is making a return as their quality most times threatens other teams in any continental tournament.
“Nigeria is most welcome to join us again in the African Juniors to provide very stiff competition with the North African countries (Algeria – Egypt – Tunisia), and with all our powerful countries/players and we could also ensure the top standard for them to qualify and represent Africa at the World Junior Championships and World Cadet Challenge,” Khaled El-Salhy said.
The ATTF boss admitted that the Ghana’s gathering would be setting a new record for the tournament.
“It seems we are going to have historical event with the highest level of entries since 2001, with 180 players representing about 20 countries listed for the 2019 African Junior and Cadet Championships. I am so eager to ensure the safe arrival of all those confirmed 20 national associations in Accra next week and to follow-up that we have a competitive tournament for all the top players in event cadre,” the ATTF boss revealed.
Khaled El-Salhy describes the staging of the tournament in Ghana as a unique opportunity for the West African former table tennis giant to reclaim its lost glory.
“I am so happy to come back to Ghana for the forthcoming ITTF/ATTF events next week after 16 years when we conducted an African Juniors & Cadet Championships in 2003. Ghana is one of the traditional countries for table tennis in Africa; they had so many legends whom won gold medals at African events in 1960s,” he added.
After two years absence from the tournament, the ATTF chief described the return of one of Africa’s superpowers in table tennis – Nigeria as a good development for the sport. “Nigeria is most welcome to join us again in the African Juniors to provide very stiff competition with the North African countries (Algeria – Egypt – Tunisia), and with all our powerful countries/players and we could also ensure the top standard for them to qualify and represent Africa at the World Junior Championships and World Cadet Challenge,” Khaled El-Salhy said.
The ATTF helmsman promised support to African teams heading to global tournaments later this year. “We will try our best to support the qualifying teams to prepare well and to ensure their participation in WJTTC & WCC 2019. Also the selected African Cadet Team will be entitled to a special practice camp in the 1st half of October in Egypt before their participation in Poland for the 2019 WCC,” he added.
Nigeria Rugby national team, Black Stallions star, Thankgod Okafor is in cloud nine after helping RC Montemor to win the Portuguese national rugby championship title, NationSport reports.
“Words cannot describe the happiness and joy I have at this moment of being a champion my God is good all the times I shall forever praise your name. There is always a say ‘do your best and leave the rest to God almighty’. I’m very proud of the boys for a fantastic performance and will like to take this opportunity and thank the Montemor staff especially Todinha for being with me in the hospital after having a hectic concussion during the match feeling much better all thanks to God,” the Black Stallions center and winger said.
RC Montemor won the national championship of the first rugby division, corresponding to the second national level, by beating Benfica 17-11 in the final in Lisbon last weekend.
The Alentejanos scored the first try through Okafor (33 minutes) and Miguel Casadinho (65), both of them converted by João Bibe, who totaled seven points. Bibe then increased their lead with a 53 meter drop goal to put the game beyond benefica’s reach.
RC Montemor won the third title in the second tier after having also won the title in 2013 and 2016.
Okafor has been in top form for Montemor since joining from Cowrie Rugby Football Club in December 2017.
Okafor was born in Nigeria, but he grew up in South Africa’s Durban province. He joined Sharks Rugby Academy in 2012 at the age of 18 and continued to develop through the ranks. He later joined Varsity College in 2015 and Cowrie Rugby Club in 2016.
The United Capital Plc Board of Directors has assured shareholders that it has put in place appropriate strategies to ensure that the company continues to make progress and deliver better returns, irrespective of the challenges in the operating environment.
Addressing shareholders at the annual general meeting in Lagos, its Chairman, Chika Mordi, said things are definitely looking up for the company, a development he attributed to deliberate implementation of actionable strategies, that have paid off.
Shareholders approved payment of N1.8 billion as cash dividend for the 2018 business year, representing a dividend per share of 30 kobo. “I am confident in our ability to deliver superior returns to you going forward,” Mordi assured.
He said the company is cognisant of the challenges in the current operating environment and it will strive to maximise value creation for its shareholders.
“Our staff remained resourceful, motivated and dedicated, and we continue to attract the best of talent to execute our short-medium and long-term strategic objectives,” Mordi said.
United Capital drew on operating efficiency and steady growth in the top-line to grow its profit to N6.22 billion in 2018. Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of the company for the year ended December 31, 2018 showed that profit before tax rose by 12 per cent from N5.55 billion in 2017 to N6.22 billion in 2018.
However with 58.8 per cent in taxes, profit after tax dipped marginally to N4.34 billion in 2018 as against N4.36 billion in 2017. Total turnover improved by four per cent to N9.26 billion compared with N8.92 billion in previous year. Operating income had grown from N7.0 billion in 2017 to N7.2 billion in 2018.
With earnings per share of 72 Kobo, the company’s board of directors recommended N1.8 billion payment as cash dividend for the 2018 business year, representing dividend per share of 30 kobo. The dividend payout represents a dividend yield of about 9.0 per cent, which most analysts considered attractive.
The report also showed that the investment and finance group leveraged cost saving techniques to deliver a 10 per cent reduction in operating expenses. Net trading income also grew by 43 per cent on the back of increased gains from the sales and purchases of financial instruments. Net interest margin quadrupled by 428 per cent from N143.52 million in 2017 to N757.48 million in 2018. Total assets rose to N148.70 billion in 2018 as against N136.60 billion in 2017.
Group Chief Executive Officer, United Capital Plc, Mr. Peter Ashade said the result showed modest improvement in the performance of the company despite the challenges in the operating environment.
He said the company’s continuous dedication to providing optimum satisfaction to its wide clientele base has necessitated the need for it to be creative and innovative in its operations, and this is evident in the reduction in its operating expenses.
He noted that the investment and finance group implemented the new IFRS 9-Financial Instruments, which required the reclassification of most of its financial assets.
According to him, the standard necessitated the impairment of some assets based on the expected credit loss model, leading to recognition of an impairment charge of about N3 billion, which significantly impacted the shareholders’ fund.
United Capital is the first investment bank to be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). The group include subsidiaries in trusteeship, securities and asset management business.
Sankin Industries Ltd, the makers of Sofy sanitary pad, has continued to place great importance on helping women succeed. It is poised to support the sixth edition of Hangoutwithtee ladies’ event on April 7 at the Panda Events Centre, Oyadiran Estate, Sabo Yaba, Lagos.
The Hangoutwithtee is a free-to-attend women’s event. It is designed to help women learn and grow together in a fun and friendly environment.
The sixth edition hangout, which is themed OyaShift, will include inspirational talks, music, poetry, a dance competition, games, a raffle draw and many other fun events.
It will feature speakers like Toki Mabogunje who is Deputy President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry; TewaOnasanya, the Publisher, Exquisite Magazine; and Zimbabwean Actress & OAP VimbaiMutinhiri.
Entertainers will include Female saxophonist Funmi Sax Ajayi, singer and guitarist Sha-de, The Bio Poet Lady Yudy; NekkyThe Body Confidence Chick.
The show will be hosted by Jessica Fortunes.
Doors open at 2pm and the curtains will drop on the event by 6pm.
For all women in Lagos, this hangout is an event not to be missed.
A workshop that will offer a unique opportunity to reflect on work and its future is being planned for Lagos. Powered by the Knowledge Exchange Centre (KEC) and supported by the Ford Foundation and the Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, the workshop with the theme: “Preparing the Workforce for the Future”, is scheduled for May 11. It will hold at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.
Executive Secretary, Maria Glover, said the workshop is being organised with special focus on the future of work. Citing World Economic Forum Report for 2018 on the Future of Jobs, which revealed that 75million jobs will be displaced through automation between now and 2022, while there will be a possible creation of as many as 133 million new roles, Glover said a new set of skills will be required for these new positions of the future.
She said with technology disrupting the workplace, there are dynamic and complex issues that need to be analysed from multiple perspectives on how this addresses growing unemployment.
“A good question one must ask is what will be the future of work within the Nigerian context? We have a long list of challenges, which include, but not limited to – outdated secondary and tertiary school curriculum. High level of poverty, which automatically excludes children and young people from low-income families from science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and attending good schools. Inadequate investment in training and upskilling of employees; their lack of interest in taking responsibility for their personal development and upskilling. The unpreparedness of students and job seekers in joining the workforce,” she said.
She continued: “How ready are we for the future? Another way of framing this question is, ‘are we going to have the right workforce to deliver the bottom line for our organisations by 2030? If automation is going to drive the workplace of the future, are we doing enough to prepare our teeming youths to achieve this for our businesses? We must bear in mind that Nigeria has the largest cohort of youths in Africa, and by 2030, it would have one of the largest in the world.
“This alone provides global opportunities for the country if carefully harnessed. Otherwise, we are most likely to experience a mass displacement of our youths due to the lack of appropriate skills for the future workplace. The result would not only be a national catastrophe, but a global one that will further increase the inequality between ‘the haves and the have nots.”
Operators of food services have been advised to inculcate food safety measures to prevent diseases that are detrimental to public health.
Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSC) Hakeem Dickson spoke at a food safety sensitisation programme in Ketu.
According to him, there was a need to train food dealers on the proper handling of foods, adequate temperature needed in preserving and storing foods, hygiene, hazard control and others.
The programme was organised by the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSC) with Restaurant and Food Services Proprietors Association of Nigeria (REFSPAN) known as Association of Fast Food and Confectioneries in Nigeria (AFFCON).
He said: “Since I became the Director of this commission in 2017, we have received many complaints of food poisoning. There are grocery stores selling expired foods. Many are not even aware that a commission for such exists. This training will enlighten them of the need to be safety conscious and create awareness that a regulatory body exists.
“From the complaints we have got, we have intervened in not less than seven different companies within the Ikeja axis alone. We are doing this safety programme to ensure everyone is carried along, even those selling on the streets. Safety should be incorporated at every step of food-making.”
President of REFSPAN Kehinde Kamson explained that the sensitisation was needful for all food operators to conform to the safety standards and regulations.
She noted that the association has developed to incorporate more practitioners, even canteens and bukas, who are internally regulated by the association and have the REFSPAN mark of quality.
“To signify that quality food is sold at any food outlet in Nigeria, the REFSPAN mark of quality will be domiciled at the entrance of every registered food outlet. The idea is to have a broader spectrum for regulation and for efficiency.”