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  • Sterling Bank marks World Clean-up Day with nationwide cleaning

    ONE of Nigeria’s leading commercial banks, Sterling Bank Plc, last weekend joined other corporate organisations to mark the World Clean-up Day (WCD) and the International Coastal Clean-up Day at over 20 locations nationwide.

    States where the clean-up held, according to a statement by the lender, include Kaduna, Kano, Imo, Niger, Benue, Oyo, Enugu Ogun, Rivers, Kogi, Bayelsa, Osun and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    In Lagos, streets and beaches were cleaned at Sura Shopping Complex on Lagos Island and Kids Beach Gardens in Lekki.

    The bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Abubakar Suleiman said cleaning the environment is beyond any single institution to accomplish.

    The bank chief said it was a thing of joy that other institutions were also committed to the same journey as Sterling Bank “because more could be achieved by working together”.

    He said: “It is also beyond cleanliness… It is about protecting the environment so that we have a better environment for those that will come after us.”

    Suleiman assured the bank’s customers that it was committed to the environment on a long-term basis.

    The bank chief stressed that the commitment started from the way Sterling Bank encouraged its workers to use and manage energy in the office.

    Read Also: Sterling bank is top best place to work in Africa

    He said the bank was also collaborating with state governments to keep their environment clean, adding that the commitment was a continuous project with many phases.

    “We are currently in over 20 states of the federation but plan to be in all the 36 states and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), over time. We are just waiting for the right partnership to enable that. But more importantly, we plan to encourage corporate bodies to join us. It is not a question of one bank but that of corporate Nigeria joining hands to support the environment,” Suleiman said.

    Also, the General Manager of Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) Dr. Dolapo Fasawe said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had asked the agency to draw up a framework that would enable the state to tap into the carbon credit scheme of the United Nations (UN) and the World Bank.

    The LASEPA chief noted that for every carbon footprint the state is able to reduce, it will be paid in cash, in kind or in collaboration.

    Other corporate organisations that collaborated with Sterling Bank for the cleaning include Green Hun Africa, F.A.B.E, tek experts, Bolt, DuPont, Digibrands and Clickatel, among others.

     

  • Invest more in education, Daniel urges govt, others

    FORMER Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel has urged all stakeholders to invest more in the Education sector to improve the quality of teaching and learning.

    He said this would lead to rapid transformation and development of the society and nation.

    Daniel spoke on Tuesday at the 40th Founder’s Day of Ososa Comprehensive High School, Ososa-Ijebu in Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State.

    The former governor lauded foremost industrialist, Adebola Adegunwa, for his intervention in the development of the school.

    Daniel, who was the chairman of the occasion, also urged other Nigerians to emulate the philanthropic gesture of the industrialist by assisting in the rehabilitation of infrastructure and development of schools in their areas.

    Adegunwa warned parents against abandoning the roles of building good characters in their children.

    The industrialist noted that “children are the real gratuities and pensions of parents at old age”.

    He said one of the ways to ensure a happy life at old age is to give quality education to one’s children.

    Adegunwa added that quality education would enhance children’s competence to care for their parents at old age.

    Read Also: Gbenga Daniel for minister!

    The industrialist said he was appalled by the state of the classrooms and decided to rehabilitate them.

    “I charge the parents to strive and give sound education to their wards. Also, good character is foundation in the development of these young adults. Without any doubt, school learning drives growth, but it does not strongly build character and values.

    “I have noticed that parents abandon their responsibilities and duties, but these are required to build good characters in their offspring. I implore you to make a change because those children are your gratuities and pensions during old age,” Adegunwa said.

    According to him, the school in his hometown will continue to enjoy his philanthropic gestures as he personally develops the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre.

    The philanthropist said the centre would also serve the needs of pupils from neighbouring Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) as well as the community.

    Global President of Ososa Comprehensive High School Old Students’ Association (OCOSA) Prof. Obatunde Bright Adetola, implored the pupils to draw motivation in the model of the old students who had distinguished themselves in their chosen careers.

     

  • Reps to probe INEC for not de-registering political parties

    THE House of Representatives is set to investigate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for failing to de-register any political party in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

    This followed a motion by Francis Charles Uduyok, representing Ikot Abasi/Mkpat Enin/Eastern Obolo Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State.

    The lawmaker requested the House to make the Commission implement the provisions of Section 78 (7)(ii) of the Electoral Act, which empowers it to deregister parties that does not win at least one seat in either the State or National Assembly.

    Presenting the motion, Uduyok informed the House that Section 78, subsection 7(ii) of the Electoral Act 2010, gives INEC the powers to de-register political parties.

    He said: “Note that Section 78, sub-section 7 (ii) of the Electoral Aft 2010 confers on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the power to deregister political parties.

    Read Also: Service chiefs upset Reps, shun meeting with lawmakers

    “Also notes that the aforementioned sub-section clearly states that failure of any political party to win at least one (1) seat in the National or State Assembly Elections will result in de-registration of such political party.”

    The lawmaker said he was “concerned that since the commencement of the Act, Section 78 (7) (ii) has not been fully implemented, given the rising number of political parties in Nigeria with neither a seat in either a State House of Assembly or the National Assembly”.

    He stressed that if Section 78 (7) (ii) of the Electoral Act was fully implemented, it would regulate the numerous political parties, reduce election costs, as well as reduce void votes caused by the inability of citizens to comprehend the long list of political parties on ballot papers.

    The House Committee on Electoral Matters was mandated “to investigate (the matter) in order to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the non-implementation of Section 78 (7) (ii) of the Electoral Act by the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure compliance and report back within four weeks for further legislative action”.

     

  • Satellite firm connects 700 schools to internet

    SATELLITE broadband firm, YahClick, has said it had connected over 700 schools in Nigeria to the internet in the last two years.

    YahClick Vice President for Sales in Africa, Michael Brown, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos yesterday that the broadband connectivity was in collaboration with the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF).

    Brown said the Federal Government sponsored an annual grant that paid for the connectivity, as there were many of the schools that did not have the means to get connected.

    He said that the connection was made possible through the company’s cost-effective satellite connectivity.

    The vice-president explained that the firm had border-to-border coverage in Nigeria and was seeing that the increase in connectivity translated into real benefits, particularly for remote areas in Nigeria.

    According to him, YahClick’s connectivity has benefited the civil service, healthcare and, in particular, education.

    “We are making immense contribution. From a government partnership perspective, we are very active with the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) in its goal to improve connectivity and access to information.

    “Access to information and services in rural and undeserved areas of the country is of course very important for learning.

    “So, we are working with our partners to find more solutions and how to continue servicing them with the solution that works for the both of us,” Brown said.

    Read Also: Project to provide satellite TV for villages

    The vice-president said rural areas had less Internet connection because the traditional terrestrial-based operators – Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) operators – would not want to go to such areas as there were no commercial benefits.

    According to him, it is very difficult for GSM operators to have solutions in an area that does not have connectivity because it is too expensive.

    “The beauty of satellite is that it has instant connectivity and we can cover everywhere. And that is our strongest selling point. There is no other connectivity mechanism that can connect in those areas.

    “We are bringing faster broadband speed with our new satellite. We are constantly reducing prices, we are extending our footprint by our distribution partners to be available everywhere.

    “We will have a large push out in the next six to eight months into modern areas, where traditionally we did not have full coverage or partnerships,” he said.

    Brown said that YahClick was also involved in a number of projects with the military to ensure national coverage.

    He added that the company was having talks with the police force for connection and helping to change how they communicated with each other through the ecosystem.

    “So, we are looking at different police stations, customs and border control and obviously with government on the education side,” Brown said.

    NAN

     

     

  • Commissioner plans 21st century civil service

    The Lagos State Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Mrs. Ajibola Ponnle, has urged the ministry workers to be determined to change the negative attitude associated with civil servants.

    She spoke on Tuesday at the opening session of a strategic retreat organised for heads of units and departments in the departments and agencies under the supervision of the Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions, in Alausa, Ikeja.

    Ponnle, who recalled the dignifying nature of public service in the past, said all hands must be on deck to revert to the good old days when people were willing and anxious to be identified with government institutions.

    Read Also: Challenges before Lagos commissioners, special advisers

    She said the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration has a laudable plan to make Lagos a 21st century economy in consonance with T.H.E.M.E.S. (Traffic Management and Transportation, Health and Environment, Education and Technology, Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy, Entertainment and Tourism, and Security and Governance), adding that “the governor has enjoined the ministry to support this mandate, develop plans and policies to ensure this is driven by a 21st century-enabled workforce.”

    The commissioner said the coming together of the ministry’s officials comprising those from the Office of Establishments and Training, Lagos State Pensions Commission (LASPEC), Public Service Staff Development Centre (PSSDC) and Civil Service Pensions Office (CSPO) was aimed at sharing a combined vision and pursuing their mandates with uniformity and in consonance with the project T.H.E.M.E.S.

    ”Our aim as a ministry, working in partnership with other relevant MDAs, is to ensure the engine of governance, which is driven by its people, working efficiently and effectively to ensure the plans become our collective reality,” Ponnle said.

  • Army partners NPS to protect national parks, reserved areas

    NIGERIAN Army is committed to the protection of the country’s reserve areas and national parks to boost national security, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said on Tuesday.

    The COAS, who spoke at the presentation of Hilux vans to the Nigeria Park Service, noted that the National Parks and Reserve Areas were not adequately protected.

    Tukur, who was represented by the Chief of Standard and Evaluation, Maj.-Gen. Okwudili Azinta, regretted that the national parks had become safe haven for hoodlums to hibernate and engage in criminal activities.

    The COAS assured the nation that the Army would continue to synergise with the Nigeria Park Service to flush out criminals from the Parks and Reserve Areas.

    He said: “Few months ago, the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with the Nigeria Park Service, organised a seminar with the theme: Enhancing Synergy Between the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Park Services, National Security in Perspective. The purpose of the seminar was to develop synergy between the two services towards denying criminal elements the use of our national parks as well as the reserved areas as safe haven.

    Read Also: Army assures Borno town of security

    “We all know that our national parks and reserved areas have become a safe haven where criminals hibernate and carry out their nefarious activities. At the of the seminar, which was the first of its kind, it was discovered that out of the 92,300 square kilometre landmass that makes the National Parks and Reserved Areas, only 10 per cent is protected. It was based on this the Conservator General made a passionate appeal to the COAS for patrol vehicles. Today, he has fulfilled the promise by providing two Hilux vans to the NPS.”

    Receiving the cars, Conservator General Ibrahim Musa Goni enjoined other security agencies to emulate the Army and support NPS.

     

  • Buhari appoints Ladan as NIALS DG

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Prof Muhammed Tawfiq Ladan as the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS).

    He succeeds Prof Deji Adekunle.

    A letter from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha reads: “I am pleased to inform you that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved your appointment as Director-General Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies for an initial term of four years.

    “This appointment is with effect from 9th September 2019…Please accept my congratulations and best wishes on your appointment.”

  • Navy gives conditions for promotions

    THE Central Naval Command (CNC) of the Nigerian Navy on Tuesday said physical and mental health status of its officers and ratings were conditions for their promotions.  Attendance of courses and operations, according to the command, are also key.

    Speaking at the maiden edition of a wellness lecture entitled: harnessing good health through prescribed medical lifestyle, which held at the naval headquarters, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), CNC, Rear Admiral Saidu Suleiman Garba, said health was important to the navy.

    Reae Admiral Garba insisted that the Nigerian Navy placed a lot of emphasis on the physical and mental health of its personnel, a development he said, led to the lecture series.

    He said the programme was a welfare package to enable personnel understand the need to be medically and mentally fit to undertake every operation expected of them.

    He also said that the Navy introduced the Body Mass Index scale as a measure of fitness to be sure that everyone was fit to undertake normal routine operations and activities.

    Read Also: Navy: we won’t promote unless..

    He said: “This will serve as a criteria for promotion, availability for courses and operations. In order for personnel to know their status we introduced this lecture. It will be quarterly so that we can reach other who are on the field so that we can also enhance their health.

    “Our annual programmes shows we have to undertake series of event like swimming, football championship, the tug of war games and so many others we concluded few days ago”.

    The health expert, Dr. Susan Adam, said the programme was designed to encourage all participants to be more conscious of their health status and appealed to them to embrace nature.

    He said: “We recognize that a lot has been done and already put in place for them to be proactive but we think something could be done extra to enhance their health. They have to deliberately prevent some things, watch their BMI and what to eat, and how to wake.

    “The vegetable drinks is all about going to nature, because it has so much to offer and heal us, by running away from nature is running from natural medicines. First they should be awareness that there’s something called healthy living, it will be a learned habit and it doesn’t happen overnight”.

     

  • Fire guts building in Mushin

    Fire razed the second floor of a two-storey building on 152 Agege Motor Road in Mushin Olosha, Lagos state on Tuesday.

    It destroyed household materials.

    The Nation learnt that the fire, which began around 3 pm, was put out around 5:30pm .

    It was gathered that there was an electric spark when power was restored in the area which led to the fire outbreak.

    The goods on the second floor were burnt.

    Occupants of the building were said to have fled immediately the fire began.

    Read Also: Unity Bank head office on fire

    An official of the Lagos State Fire Service at the scene, Mr. Usman Ibrahim said the cause of the fire was yet to be known.

    “We responded immediately we got the calls but the bad roads and reckless driving by some motorists caused the little delay,” he said.

    An official of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, Mr. Adekunle Sunday, said a resident told him that a tenant put on gas and suddenly exploded.

    He added that the residents were also helpful in the process of vacating the leftover goods not engulfed in the fire.

    A trader on the ground floor of the building, who simply identified himself as Mr. Chukwudi, said he was the one who called the firefighters.

    He added that the fire outbreak was due to electric spark.

    “Thank God none of my goods caught fire,” he said.

    A resident, who pleaded not to be named, said some hoodlums seized the opportunity of the incident to steal valuables from the building. He said he was one of the rescuers before some other boys in the area joined.

  • NANS hails improved security in Katsina

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has commended Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari on the improved security in the state following his dialogue with bandits.

    Read Also: Xenophobia: NANS advises youths to shun violence

    The President of the Association, Mr. Danielson Akpan, who addressed a press conference at the NUJ secretariat in Katsina, told newsmen that they have been in the state for 4 days to inspect projects executed by the present administration in the state and from what they have seen during the tour of the three senatorial districts in the state, the state is peaceful and secured.

    He said’’ I want to state quite frankly, we have visited the three senatorial districts in the state, we didn’t notice pandemonium, and from what we have seen during this visit, there is peace now in the state and considering the way he has reached out to the bandits, peace has returned to Katsina State.”