The Nation Newspaper

Tag: today

  • Ex-UN man for Africa Today summit in Abuja

    The third Africa Today conference  will hold at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, on October 17. It will discuss a germane topic, particularly as it relates to Nigeria and Africa. This year’s topic is Energy Options in Low-cost and Low-Carbon World: Which Way Nigeria and Africa?

    The special guest of honour and keynote speaker is energy expert, international technocrat and renowned sustainable development specialist Dr Kandeh Yumkella.

    A former United Nations under-secretary general, 2013-2015, Yumkella was the chief executive officer and representative of the secretary general’s Sustainable Energy for All Initiative and UNIDO Director-General, from 2005 to 2013.

    He will be supported by British High Commissioner Mr Paul Arkwright; Dr. Frank Jacobs, president of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria; Mr. Olukayode Pitan, managing director of Bank of Industry; Mr. Nir Marom, co-founder and president of Lumos; and Mr. Adekunle Oyinloye, managing director of Infrastructure Bank, among others.

    Mr. Victor Eromosele, former general manager (Finance) at the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd is the guest speaker, while Minister of Power Babatunde Fashola will give the keynote address.

    Africa Today Publisher Mr Kayode Soyinka said: “Dr. Yumkella is someone who is well known in Nigeria and Africa, especially for his work as director-general of UNIDO and as UN under-secretary-general and representative of the secretary-general on Sustainable Energy for All.

    ‘’His presence at this year’s edition follows Africa Today dream of bringing to Nigeria and Africa international figures to speak, share and impart their knowledge and experiences with us on this Policy Conversation Platform, which Africa Today has endowed.”

    Africa Today, through its Conference and Summit Unit, has been at the forefront of innovative continental discussions. The first edition, which featured a former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Sir Shridath (Sonny) Ramphal in 2015, focused on the controversial Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union and Africa at a time the continent was being pressured to sign the agreement. The second edition last year focused on China’s increasing influence in Africa and what its entry portends for the continent. The conference had as its keynote speaker, Sir Vince Cable, a former Business Secretary in the British cabinet. There were two other speakers, Prof. Howard French from Columbia University, New York, and Prof. Yun Sun from the Brookings Institution, Washington DC.

  • Ozubulu: Yesterday and today

    Ozubulu, Anambra State, is in the news on account of the August 6 gun attack at St. Philip’s Catholic Church in which 13 people were killed.

    What happened brought to the surface a similarly tragic incident that happened about 10 years ago. The traditional ruler of Ozubulu community, Fidelis Nnamdi Oruche, said in an interview: “This incident I am telling you happened around 2007. Four of our security men were killed in a very agonising and painful manner by unknown people. Their body parts were not complete as we buried them. Their tongues, eyes and even private parts were taken away.”

    He continued the tale of terror: “They were dragged into a bush where they killed them. It was painful. My brother was among the 2007 victims. The government and security agencies are aware of the issue. Their killers disguised by wearing camouflages. The victims were blindfolded. The palm wine tapper who saw them told us. We are still asking questions to know why they were killed and where their organs were taken to.”

    Similarly, the public is asking questions about the latest carnage.  In both cases, the evildoers should not go unpunished.

    Oruche spoke about the community’s response to the church bloodbath: “I told you that the spiritual solutions to the development have begun. We are bringing back our old culture into the spiritual inquiry. We are going to approach the issue using the Igbo spiritual method of seeking solutions to their problems.”

    Was this method used concerning the earlier incident? Ozubulu needs a method that works.

  • Council election tribunals begin sitting today

    The Lagos State Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal will begin sitting today on petitions filed against conduct of the July 22 elections.

    A statement by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of High Court of Lagos State, Mrs Grace Alo, said the tribunals were set up to enable aggrieved parties or individuals seek redress through a seamless legal process and in accordance with relevant laws and legislations.

    The statement said the election petitions tribunal (Lagos Division Panel), under the chairmanship of Justice A. Olateru–Olagbegi (retd.), will sit at High Court No. 1 on Igbosere Road in Lagos.

    It said the registry of the tribunal is located directly at the tribunal venue.

    Also, the Election Petitions Tribunal (Ikeja Division), under the chairmanship of Mrs Folasade Adetiba, will sit at the Roseline Omotosho Courthouse in Ikeja, while its registry is situated at the same venue.   The statement  added that the registry of both tribunals will be open to the public from today at 8 am (Monday to Friday).

  • NiMet predicts cloudy skies today

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted cloudy weather conditions over the central states of the country this morning.

    The NiMet’s Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office (CFO) yesterday in Abuja, also predicted the prospects of thunderstorms over Yola, Jalingo, Mambila Plateau, Gombe and Ibi.

    It said that there would be day and night temperatures of 26 to 35 and 18 to 24 degrees Celsius respectively.

    NiMet said that there were prospects of thunderstorms over Abuja, Jos, Lokoja, Lafia, Mambila Plateau, Jalingo and Minna in the afternoon and evening hours.

    The agency predicted that Southern states would experience cloudy morning over the inland cities with chances of thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening.

    It said that the southern states would have day and night temperatures of 30 to 35 and 21 to 23 degrees Celsius respectively.

    According to NiMet, northern states will experience cloudy conditions in the morning with chances of thunderstorm over Kano, Nguru, Maiduguri, Gusau and Dutse in the afternoon and evening.

    “The region will also have day and night temperatures of 29 to 40 and 26 to 29 degrees Celsius respectively.

    “Most parts of the country are favourable for rains and thunderstorm activities in the next 24 hours,” NiMet predicted.

  • Fayose declares today public holiday

    Fayose declares today public holiday

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has declared today a public holiday in honour of the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola.

    Other Southwest governors have declared today a public holiday to mark the day in remembrance of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, adjudged the freest and best in Nigeria.

    In a statement yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, Fayose said he took the decision “in the spirit of Yoruba nation and Southwest integration”.

    He said: “The Yoruba nation’s interest is beyond personal interest of anyone. For us to forge ahead as a people, we must speak with one voice.

    “In the light of this, I declare Monday (today) a public holiday to further strengthen our collective belief, hope and aspirations.”

  • Project ‘Touch a life today’ launched

    Project ‘Touch a life today’ launched

    Project ‘Touch a life’ visited Ughelli General Hospital and Kiagbodo General Hospital in Delta State on May 2.  131 patients, including children, women and men had their medical bills subsidised.

    It is the brainchild of the Global Initiative for Peace, Love and Care (GIPLC), which was launched a new initiative which will be taking place from April 25 to May 17. Project ‘Touch a life’ will reach 1000 patients in three states in three weeks.

    The non-governmental, not-for-profit charity organisation, which was founded in 2006 to cater for orphans and vulnerable children in Nigeria, has launched this new project as part of Igho Charles Sanomi II’s birthday celebrations and to commemorate the GIPLC’s 11th anniversary. 1000 identified vulnerable Nigerians in Abuja, Delta and Benue States will receive financial support to subsidize and assist their medical bills. Visits will be made to patients to follow up on their progress.

    A full professional team of GIPLC staff, doctors and nurses will be deployed to ensure the desired impact is met and lives are touched and saved.

    Sanomi, founder and chairman of Taleveras, and past recipient of a Dr Martin Luther King Legacy Award for Philanthropy and International Service, said: “Supporting the work of the GIPLC is something I have done for many years, in many ways. This year I wanted to do something which would help even more of the vulnerable people who have been at the core of the GIPLC activities. This unique initiative seeks to touch the lives of the most needy members of our communities at a time when they need it the most. This is something I believe in wholeheartedly and to which I am pleased to have been able to lend my support.”

    Nuhu Kwajafa, GIPLC Co-ordinator, said: “We give God all the glory for His blessings and the capacity and the will, for people like Igho Sanomi to give back to those in need.  We pray that by this gesture, ICS II will endear others to do same, so we may sustain this practice on a yearly basis. Ultimately, the goal is to stimulate the mobilisation of resources and raise awareness on the plight of those living in especially difficult circumstances. GIPLC will coordinate and share this experience daily. God bless you all.”

    The initiative was founded in 2006 to cater for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Nigeria by providing food, medical assistance and learning materials for their development.  It also aims to stimulate sustainable, participatory, community based projects, which will help to meet the needs of vulnerable children and other persons living in especially difficult circumstances.

    “Life has been interesting since I started GIPLC because I look at it like a cash register, in that every account, every thought, every deed, like every sale is registered and recorded. The best use of life is to spend it for something that will outlive life itself. I believe at my age I have lived half my life for myself. Right now I am dedicating the remaining half for humanity,” Kwajafa.

    Sanomi II was born in 1975 in Agbor Delta State, the fifth child (and first son) of a devout Catholic family. His father, the late Dickens Oghenereumu Patrick Sanomi hailed from Delta State and was a retired Assistant Inspector General of the Nigerian Police. Mr Sanomi’s mother, Mabel Iyabo Sanomi holds a Royal title of Yeye Jemo of Isotun Ijesha Kingdom in Osun State. She was a renowned nurse and medical entrepreneur from Osun State in South Western Nigeria.

    Sanomi entered the world of business shortly after completing his Bachelor’s Degree in Geology and Mining at the University of Jos in Northern Nigeria. Mr Sanomi is the Chairman of Taleveras which he founded in 2004. He is also Chairman of the Dickens Sanomi Foundation board of Trustees. He also sits as Chairman and co-chairman of various companies which he founded or co-founded. These companies’ activities span from Telecom to Shipping, Aviation and Real Estate Investments worldwide.

  • Polio: Kano commences 2017 immunisation today

    HE Kano State Government says it will commence the 2017 polio immunisation across the 44 local government areas in the state on Saturday. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Kabir Getso, said this on Friday in Kano during an interactive session with some development partners in preparations for the campaign against polio in the state. According to him, the interactive session will assist towards achieving the desired results on the four-day campaign against the disease. Getso said despite the fact that the state has not recorded any case of polio for the past 33 months, the state government would not relent in its efforts to prevent further outbreaks. He described such success as a major achievement by the State Government. “In the next three months, we would be celebrating three years without polio in Kano State. “If not for the four cases recorded in Borno State, Nigeria would have been satisfied polio free,” according to the commissioner. He expressed the commitment of the state government towards ensuring that the country became polio free through collaboration with international and home partners. “The Kano state government has provided adequate funds to make sure that the campaign against polio in the state is successful,’’ he said.

  • Polytechnic lecturers begin five day warning strike today

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) will today begin a one-week warning strike to protest  the government’s refusal to honour its agreement with the union and fund the polytechnic sector.

    ASUP National President Comrade Usman Dutse said the union’s one month ultimatum to the government expired in December 2016 without any visible sign of the government willingness to meet the demands of the union, leaving them wig no choice than to embark on a warning strike.

    Dutse said in a statement after an emergency National Executive Council meeting of the union in Abuja that the union had earlier given the government an ultimatum in July 2016, but decide to stay action on their proposed strike because of appeal from the government and renewed the ultimatum in November, 2016.

    He said despite the magnanimity of the union, the government failed to address the issues raised by the union, which include the non implementation of the NEEDS assessment reports, poor funding of public polytechnics, deliberate attempt to frustrate the resolution of the meeting of the council on establishment in July 2016 and victimisation of union members as well as interference in union activities.

    Other issues include Jon release of CONTISS 15 migration arrears, non release of visitation panel reports of federal polytechnic a as well as non release of ministerial panel to federal polytechnic a in Auchi, Oko, Yaba and Ado Ekiti, delay in the review of the federal polytechnic act, non commencement of renegotiation of ASUP/government agreement of 2010 and government’s tardiness in the appointment of Rectors of Federal a polytechnics.

    He said that there was no attempt by the government to improve the funding of public polytechnics in the country as the 2017 budget currently before the National Assembly does not have any provision to that effect.

    He said further that there were attempts to frustrate the decision taken at the National Council on Establishment held in Minna in 2016 directing the removal of the age long entry level dichotomy against HND holders, while no further step has been taken on the issue.

    He also accused the government of not showing any interest in amending the Federal Polytechnic Act, adding that the bill amending the act currently before the National Assembly was the effort of a private member.

  • Iheanacho hits camp today

    • Set to become a Nigeria legend at 20

    Manchester City striker, Kelechi Iheanacho will arrive the Super Eagles camp in Abuja  today, according to his father, James Iheanacho.

    With four goals in his last four matches for the national team, the former Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles star will be hoping to enter the history books if he finds the net against Algeria.

    Kelechi Iheanacho’s run for Nigeria began on May 27 when he netted the winner against Mali after coming on as a substitute, then scored against Luxembourg four days later, and he followed this up with goals against Tanzania and Zambia.

    “Kelechi will be in Abuja tomorrow (Monday). He will definitely come for the match, ” said James Iheanacho to allnigeriasoccer.com.

    The 20-year-old replaced Sergio Aguero in the 90th minute in Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Boro in the Premier League on Saturday, and will be fresh to face the Algerians on Saturday.

  • Sultan of Sokoto gets Medical College Fellowship today

    National Post Graduate Medical College (NPGMC), will today confer an honorary Fellowship of the of the institution on Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji  Sa’ad  Abubakar, at its 34th convocation.

    Its President Prof Ademola Olaitan, announced this in his pre- convocation address at the institution  in Ijanikin, Lagos.

    He said the Sultan was being honoured for his ‘’relentless advocacy for improved healthcare in the country and stemming the outbreak of communicable disease’’.

    According to him, the institution would also honour two former registrars-Dr Michael Akintayo Bankole and Dr Kamil Olanipekun Alausa with its distinguished award in recognition of their contributions.

    Olaitan also said 340 fellows would take a bow from the institution today. According to him, they comprised those who had completed the compulsory clinical placement and rotation of not less than five years in accredited teaching and specialist hospitals, and had also passed the prescribed examinations.

    Similarly, Olaitan cleared the air on the age-long controversy of their Fellows becoming vice chancellors in universities.

    He said any individual conferred with a Fellow of the institution was qualified to aspire to the position of vice chancellor nationwide.

    Olaitan said where such an individual was prevented, it meant politics was being involved by some people who did not like the face of such a Fellow to prevent him from aspiring to the position.

    Olaitan said:  “Let me say our members are more than qualified to aspire to the vice chancellor post or any other higher designations.

    “It would have been political in universities where our members are disqualified because they don’t have Ph.D. The NUC (National Universities Commission) itself has a document, part of which states that those who don’t have Ph.D can use the Fellowship should they wish to aspire for the post of vice chancellor. “However, there are some places where internal politics come in. Some elements think because they don’t want certain individuals to get into certain position, they will use their power to prevent such person from getting there.

    “At the level of the college, all we are doing is to get the necessary stakeholders invited so we can get this controversy behind us.”

    In all, Olaitan said, the college had graduated 5,387 fellows since inception in 1979, thereby saving the country billions of dollars, which would have been spent on overseas training.