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  • EEDC sensitises schools, churches

    As part of efforts to enlighten its customers and bridge the existing knowledge and communication gap, the Enugu Electricity Distribution PLC (EEDC) has taken its sensitisation campaign to Schools and Churches within its coverage area.

    This was made known to by the Head of Communications, EEDC, Mr. Emeka Ezeh.

    Ezeh said that the initiative is in furtherance with the organisation’s resolve to ensure its customers are better informed of its operations and the dymanics of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

    He also said that the exercise allows it the opportunity to ensure customers are well equipped with the relevant safety measures and rules to observe within their immediate environment.

    So far, some of the schools visited include: Spring of Life International Schools, Independence Layout, Enugu; Graceland College, GRA, Enugu; Nike Grammar School, Enugu; Government Secondary School, Enugu; St. Patrick’s Secondary School, Emene; St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Emene, Enugu; Gateway Secondary School, Trans Ekulu, Enugu, to mention but a few.

    On the other hand, some of the churches visited include: St. Mulumba Catholic Church, New Haven, Enugu; St. Peters Anglican Church, Emene; All Saints Catholic Church, Ibagwa Nike, Enugu; Mater Dei Catholic Church, New GRA, Enugu; Assumption Parish Nkwo Nike, Enugu; St. Jude’s Anglican Church, Oraifite, Anambra State; St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Uruagu, Nnewi, Anambra State, among numerous others as the exercise is still ongoing.

    Read also: EEDC commences upgrade of injection sub-stations in Enugu, Awka

    Ezeh said that this engagement is timely, as the rains are here and always come with windstorm, and those reached so far can better apply these safety knowledge imbibed during our engagements during this period.

    The decision to target schools is hinged on our belief in “catching them young”, noting that majority of our adults already have a poor orientation about electricity operations and usage, hence, the need to start with the children so as to build a better and safer nation.

    “We value our customers and care about their wellbeing. We need them to be alive to be able to use electricity and not to be used by electricity” Ezeh said.

    EEDC emerged overall first position in the 2018 cumulative Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) Safety ranking – a testament of sustainable safety practices which EEDC has consciously and consistently instilled in her staff and customers through the various trainings and enlightenment programmes.

  • 300 Enugu youths trained in biz management, customer service

    No fewer than 300 youths are currently being trained in Enugu under the Pan Africa Youths Entrepreneurship Development Program (PAYED) on business management and customer service with a view to inculcating competent business idea and capacity in them.

    The programme is sponsored by Cities Foundation.

    The project coordinator of the group, Chinwe Owhorji made this known during the kick-off of the four month training in Enugu, stating that the training would help youths know business strategies.

    Owhorji disclosed that the training would allow youths between the age of 18 – 35 to develop enough capacity to improve on their businesses and contribute to the nation’s economy.

    Owhorji disclosed that the group would connect the beneficiaries to financial institutions to start up their business, and help them secure access to loans.

    “Pan Africa Youths entrepreneurship provides support through Citi Foundation and funded by Techno Serve 2 for enterprising people to build competitive business and employ more people in their business. We are trying to get more youths to be financial literate, to rely more on themselves and be able to contribute their own quota to economic development of the country.

    “At the end of the training which lasts for four months, we will connect the beneficiaries to financial institutions to start up their business, get them access to the market and also partner with other internship organizations to help establish them”, she said.

    She stated that the group has trained and empowered about 280 youths in its first phase of the programme, adding that the programme is holding simultaneously in Abuja.

    “The Citi Foundation have partnered with Techno Serve 2 to deliver the PAYED programme to over 250 youths in Nigeria, between the ages of 16 and 35. The programme links youth to owners, managers, supporting them to launch new micro-retail start-ups.

    “The Citi Foundation takes a philanthropic approach to funding, and leverages the enormous expertise of Citi and its people to fulfil our mission and drive thought leadership and innovation. The Financial Literacy Session is an example of how Citi engages its employees as volunteers to deliver training in basic accounting, helping to maximise the impact of the grant to the PAYED entrepreneurs”, she disclosed.

    In 2018, Nigeria received over $1.3 million dollars in grants from the Citi Foundation to fund 6 programmes supporting young people to develop the leadership skills and entrepreneurial mind-sets required to compete in today’s economy.

    In some cases, the partnership with TNS have also expanded financial inclusions efforts to Nigerian communities, as entrepreneurs marry their business ventures with financial mechanisms that provide access to services to money transfer systems.

  • Chelsea beat Slavia 4-3 to book Europa League last-four place

    Chelsea reached the UEFA Europa League semi-finals by beating Slavia Prague 4-3, helped by a Pedro double on Thursday.

    Pedro led Chlesea’s first half onslaught before withstanding the Czech’s comeback bid after the break in a pulsating game.

    The London side were cruising 4-1 at half-time but Slavia Prague added two goals early in the second period.

    Two powerful strikes by Petr Sevcik, narrowed the aggregate score to 5-3.

    The London side had won the first leg 1-0.

    Sevcik spurned a chance to cut the deficit further before Chelsea held on to see out the win and set up a semi-final against Eintracht Frankfurt.

    The German side won 2-0 against Benfica to go through on away goals after a 4-4 aggregate scoreline.

    Chelsea raced into a 3-0 lead within 17 minutes, starting with Pedro chipping goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar.

    The Spain winger hit the post four minutes later only for the ball to rebound into the face of Simon Deli and into the net for an own goal.

    Pedro carved out Chelsea’s third when he squared for a simple finish by Olivier Giroud and the scurrying Spaniard claimed Chelsea’s fourth goal in the 27th minute.

    A minute earlier, Slavia’s captain Tomas Soucek had given the boisterous Czech fans something to cheer at Stamford Bridge when he powered in a header from a corner kick.

    A Chelsea triumph in the UEFA Europa League, a trophy they won in 2013, would provide a way back into the UEFA Champions League.

    This will be if they finish outside the English Premier League (EPL) top four this season.

    They currently sit fifth on the league table.(Reuters/NAN)

  • FG has 58 roads, bridges ongoing projects in Southeast – Minister

    The Federal Government has 58  ongoing road and bridge projects in the South East, Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Alhaji Mustapha Shehuri has said.

    Shehuri said this on Thursday in Abuja when he received a delegation from Igbo World Union (IWU) led by its President General, Dr Mishak Nnata during a courtesy visit.

    He said that the Second Niger Bridge, Enugu-Port Harcourt road, Onitsha-Enugu expressway, Onitsha-Owerri road, Ninth mile-Orokam road, Nnewi-Enugu road and Onitsha Eastern Bypass were among the ongoing projects.

    The minister said that since the inception of the current administration in 2015, the federal government has put up several initiatives to ensure construction and rehabilitation of roads across the country.

    “At the inception of this administration in 2015, we met a lot of mess in the system, particularly, in the area of infrastructure.

    “As I speak to you now, we need nothing less than N3 trillion to fix road infrastructure in the country and as at 2015 when we came in, budgetary allocation for road was just N18 billion.

    “The N18 billion would not have gotten  any where, but in view of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to developing  infrastructure in the country, the budgetary allocation was increased to over N480 billion in 2016.

    “The allocation was increased, notwithstanding the dramatic fall in the price of crude oil that led the country to recession at the beginning of the administration,” he said.

    He said that the Federal Government had come up with several initiatives, including the Sukuk fund, Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund and Tax Credit Policy to addressing funding challenges in the execution of road projects.

    The minister commended the delegation for the visit and noted that the commitment of the union which preached and promoted peace in the midst of challenges in the country was a welcome development.

    Nnata said that IWU was a Pan Igbo Social-Cultural organisation with focus on peace and unity, based on equity and transparency.

    He said:”we encourage peaceful co-existence not only among the Igbos, but with host communities while in pursuit of the Igbo cultural diplomacy.

    “We canvas and support moves for an egalitarian, civilised Nigeria state that will be home to all Nigerians.

    “IWU pledges her expertise in servility to the success of this government, to synergise and harmonise partnership with your ministry to provide the much needed infrastructure in the Southeast,” he said. (NAN)

  • Onnoghen appeals CCT conviction, sack

    Justice Walter Onnoghen, sacked on Thursday as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) upon his convention by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), has appealed the tribunal’s decision.

    In a notice of appeal, filed at the Registry of the CCT, shortly after the judgment on Thursday, Onnoghen raised 16 grounds on which he faulted the decision and urged the Court of Appeal to set it aside and discharge and acquit him.

    The appellant want the Court of Appeal to hold that the CCT lacked the jurisdiction to hear the charge and that the tribunal ought to have recuse itself from the trial.

    He also prayed the tribunal to set aside all the orders made by the tribunal in the judgment, including that for assets forfeiture.

    The appellant argued, among others, that the tribunal erred in law when it refused to abide by existing judicial precedents in refusing his applications, challenging its jurisdiction and asking it to recuse itself.

    “The lower tribunal erred in law when it refused to recuse itself from the proceedings in view of the open declaration by the Chairman of the tribunal that he is only accountable to the President, who appointed him and nobody else, because he is not a judicial officer and thus, occasioned a grave miscarriage of justice.

    “The lower tribunal erred in law when it held that the appellant confessed to the charges framed by admission and used that as a basis to hold that the appellant did not declare his assets from the year 2005 when he became a justice of the Supreme Court and thus occasioned a grave miscarriage of justice.

    “The lower tribunal erred in law when it held that the appellant is guilty of counts 2 – 6 of the charge in view of the fact that the appellant made an admission that he did not declare the Standard Chartered Bank account numbers in the 2014.

    Read also: In the matter of Walter Onnoghen

    “The lower tribunal erred in law when it held that the appellant made false statement by the omission to declare the account numbers in Standard Chartered Bank in 2014 declaration, the same way he did in the 2016 declaration and held counts 2 – 6 to be proved. ”

    Meanwhile, Okon Nkanu Efut, Who led Onnoghen’s legal team on Thursday, while reacting to the judgment, said: “The journey has ended today because everything that has a beginning must have an end. So this day, we have heard that the Chief Justice of Nigeria has been convicted and sentenced.

    “The conviction is out of order, it is unconstitutional. It is a breach of fair hearing because before this day, on the January 23, the same judgement had been passed before now, removing the CJN without a fair hearing.

    “So it was a fait accompli, it was premeditated gas judgment had been passed before today.

    “So today’s judgement is just a formality and we hold the view that the tribunal has not only breached the constitution of Nigeria, it has breached the fundamental principles of natural justice, equity and good conscience.

    “It has not only not been able to pass judgement, it has convicted for an offence that was never charged and this is an erosion of the fundamental principles of our constitution.

    “Until some questions are answered, for instance, why is it that the due course of justice was not allowed to flow? Why was judgement passed on January 23 before today, removing the CJN?

    “Why is it that today, even after the CJN had tendered his notice of voluntary retirement and the NJC has taken a position, why is it that the tribunal has gone ahead to pass a judgement in total disregard of the independence of the NJC, in total disregard of the powers of the Senate in this matter?

    “We hold a view that the tribunal in reversing itself in the case of Ngwuta, has breached the principle that hold us together.

    “This is a sad day in our nation’s democracy and we know that all is not over with this matter. The wheel of justice grinds slowly but surely. This is not a matter that will end here.

    “We shall avail ourselves of all the processes, the hierarchy of the judiciary and we know that the judiciary will redeem itself even though seriously battered and bruised.

    “The judiciary will do justice. Justice has not been done today, but it will surely be done tomorrow. If not by the tribunal, but by our God. Justice will be done by our God,” Efut said.

  • McGregor challenges Adesanya’s record-setting performance at UFC 236

    MMA’s biggest star Conor McGregor is sick and tired of the UFC crediting fighters with erroneous record-setting performances, or so he says.

    According to McGregor, Adesanya, who captured the interim middleweight title last weekend in a brutal war with Kelvin Gastelum, falsely holds a UFC knockdown record that he earned at UFC 236. The UFC sent a tweet out stating that Adesanya’s four knockdowns of Gastelum are tied for third-most in a single fight.

    “Israel Adesanya’s (@Stylebender) knockdowns tonight are tied for 3rd most by a fighter in a single @UFC fight, behind Forrest Petz and Jeremy Stephens each connecting with five in a fight. #UFC236” – UFC on Twitter

    Facts are facts, but “The Notorious” had something to say about it while responding to a fan on Twitter. That fan claimed McGregor had knocked Eddie Alvarez down five times at UFC 205. He was credited for five knockdowns at the time but that was later corrected to be three.

    McGregor questioned what the UFC had done. claiming they had hosed him twice. Then, he demanded the promotion send him a ‘plaque,’ even if it a digital one.

  • Easter message: Nigeria has what it takes to overcome challenges – Jonathan

    Former President Dr.  Goodluck Jonathan has said that the country has what it takes to overcome its challenges.

    He, therefore, urged Nigerians not to give up on the nation in the face of unabating violence and misery.

    The Ex-President who stated this in his Easter goodwill message also enjoined Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of love, unity, sacrifice and hardwork as necessary instruments for the fixing of what has gone wrong in our society.

    He said: “Through our faith and collective actions, we will overcome the tempests of violence, misery and insecurity that threaten our nation.

    “Easter is a time Christians celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ who offered Himself as a sacrifice for the remission of the sins of the world. Christ’s resurrection as a testimony of the new covenant is the justification for Christians’ commemoration of the triumph of life over death, freedom over bondage and hope over despair, at this time.

    Read also: Easter: IGP tells Christians to be security conscious

    “I, therefore, urge us not to give up on our ourselves and our nation no matter the challenges that confront us today. At all times we must remain resolute on our love for God and our nation and work towards building a country that we can all be proud of.

    “Through our faith and collective actions, we will overcome the tempests of violence, misery and insecurity that threaten our nation. We are more than conquerors and the future of our nation is bright, if we work as one.

    “May God fill our homes with peace, love and joy even as we enjoy the abundance of Grace that Easter brings. Happy Easter!”

     

  • 9th NASS: North-Central govs endorse Lawan, Gbajabiamila

    The race for the leadership of the 9th National Assembly leadership hot up yesterday with the

    All Progressives Congress (APC) governors and party state chairmen from the North-Central on Thursday endorsed the choices of Dr. Ahmad Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila for Senate President and Speaker.

     The endorsement was done at a closed-door meeting of stakeholders from the zone at the Plateau State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.

    The meeting was presided over by the Plateau State Governor, Rt Hon. Simon Lalong.

    According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to Plateau State Governor on Media and Publicity, Mark Longyen, the session lasted one hour.

    Addressing newsmen, Lalong said:  “A meeting of governors and the party chairmen from North- Central on Thursday resolved to go along with the decision of the party’s endorsement of Senator Ahmed Lawan as Senate President and Hon Femi Gbajabiamila as the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 9th National Assembly.

    “Since it was a party affair, our decision was in line with the wish of the party and that is why we the governors and state chairmen of our party from the zone are in support of the decision of the party”.

    Read also: 9th NASS leadership: Buhari host reps elect to dinner

    When asked what the zone stands to gain in the power-sharing formula, Lalong said: “We are still deliberating. We have not exhausted the positions with respect to zoning.

    “Our decision and position are only on two issues, while the rest delibrations are ongoing.

    “There is going to be a continuation of our meeting in respect of positions to the North Central with both Mr. President and the party”.

    The meeting had in attendance Lalong, his Niger State counterpart, Abubakar Sani Bello; Nasarawa State Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura and Benue State APC governorship candidate, Barrister Emmanuel Jime.

    State APC Chairmen in attendance were Engr. Jibrin Imam of Niger State; his Kogi State counterpart Alhaji Abdullahi Bello; Nasarawa State’s Philips Shekwo; Chief Letep Dabang of Plateau State, Comrade Abba Yaro of Benue State as well as the FCT’s Abdullahi Usman.

  • Joshua to receive confirmation of world title challenger next week, says Hearn

    Anthony Joshua will receive confirmation of his world title challenger in the “early part of next week” with an America-based opponent viewed as the ‘ideal’ choice, says Eddie Hearn.

    The unified world heavyweight champion will press ahead with his planned US debut at Madison Square Garden in New York on June 1, live on Sky Sports Box Office, after Jarrell Miller was refused a boxing licence following an adverse finding from a drug test.

    Miller has protested his innocence and will await a B-sample, but promoter Hearn has drawn up a shortlist of alternative opponents for Joshua, and expects to make an announcement in the coming days.

    “Obviously it’s a fight in America, so from our point of view, we would like an American challenger really,” Hearn told Sky Sports News. “I don’t think it will be Dillian Whyte.

    “You go through the list: Luis Ortiz; Adam Kownacki; Michael Hunter; Manuel Charr; Agit Kabayel, the European champion who beat Derek Chisora.

    “There’s probably seven or eight guys I think would fit the bill. Being an American debut, in an ideal world we would like it to be an American, or someone that fights in America.

    REad also: Joshua’s opponent Miller fails drug test

    “We’re going through that and we’re going to be working hard in the next couple of days. There will be an announcement from us in the early part of next week, locking in Anthony Joshua’s next opponent.”

    Luis Ortiz, whose sole defeat came in an exciting battle with Deontay Wilder, was initially one of the preferred options, although Hearn is unsure if the Cuban will take the fight.

    “Luis Ortiz was one of the first people that I spoke to actually, his manager, a guy called Jay Jimenez, who we’ve worked with before.

    “He told me it was too short notice. I disagreed with him, but they are going to be speaking to their fighter. I think the Luis Ortiz fight is a great fight, he has been promised the Deontay Wilder fight as well, by his team, which is a bit worrying for us to hear that news.

     

  • Labour commends Buhari for signing Minimum Wage Bill

    The Organised Labour has commend President Muhammad Buhari for assenting to the National Minimum Wage Amendment Act approving N30,000 for the least paid worker in the country.

    It would be recalled that he bill was passed by the National Assembly in March.

    Some of the Labour leaders who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) on Thursday in Abuja described the action as a way forward.

    Mr Bobboi Kaigama, President Trade Union Congress (TUC) said it was long overdue.

    According to Kaigama, we want to appreciate Mr President for assenting to the Bill on the National Minimum Wage.We also want to use this opportunity to congratulate Nigerian workers.

    “We also want to use this opportunity to tell the Nigerian workers that the battle for the actualisation of N30, 000 minimum wage is not yet over.We still have to wait for the template to be release by the National Salaries and Wages Commission.

    “We want our members to be very calm and await the release of the table and also the consequential increases, ” he said.

    He however said although the battle has been won it is not yet over, noting that the Federal Government does not have issue in terms of implementation.

    “I want to assure you that the states and local governments will have issues on the implementation. That is why I said the battle has started.

    “We will begin to hear from states government on how they will announce the implementation and which of the states that will have one obstacle or the other, and we plan how to confront those governments.

    ” The Nigerian workers also expect that by May they should start enjoying the new wage and I am sure the implementation has started from today and we also start counting the areas from today , ”he added.

    He said that as the Workers Day approaches, workers were also expecting the Federal Government to do the needful as it concerns workers’ welfare.

    Also Mr Uche Ekwe, Head of International, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) commended the President for signing the National Minimum Wage Bill.

    “I say that Nigerian workers are happy about the signing into law the national minimum wage and we also hope that the state governors will also do the needful, ” he said.

    He also noted that the leadership of the NLC will do a formal statement on the implementation by Mr President. (NAN)