The Nation Newspaper

Tag: urged

  • Govt urged to support Yoruba Movie Academy Awards

    Govt urged to support Yoruba Movie Academy Awards

    Crossover actor, Kelvin Ikeduba, has urged the government to support the Yoruba Movie Academy Awards (YMAA), describing it as a strong platform for the promotion of Nigerian culture.

    In an interview with The Nation, Ikeduba, who won the Best Crossover Act award at the last YMAA, said: “The YMAA is coming up strong. It projects the African culture, particularly the Nigerian culture. So, I urge the organisers of other movie awards to emulate it. Government should also pay attention to this awards ceremony. Everything about the award is culture-related. I have never experienced a thing like this before. Most of the awards I had attended were foreign in nature, but this is the first cultural awards ceremony.”

    He, however, countered the insinuation that he is more accepted in the Yoruba movie industry than in its counterpart, where he started from.

    “I am accepted both in the English and Yoruba movie sectors because I am an actor. I have fans in the English movie industry who understand Yoruba as I do and vice-versa. In fact, I have acted more in English movies than Yoruba movies in recent times.”

  • Students urged to participate in politics

    Students urged to participate in politics

    Youths and students of tertiary institutions across the country have been advised to devote more time to active politics as the 2015 general elections approach.

    Head of Department, Management Science and Accounting, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Dr Owolabi Usman, gave the advice while delivering a paper titled: “The role of the youth in socio-economic development in Nigeria.” It was at the second annual symposium and distinguished personality lecture in honour of the late Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, former Premier of the defunct Western Region.

    The event, which took place last Thursday at the M.K.O. Abiola Lecture Theatre in the institution, was organised by the Federation of Oyo State Students Union (FOSSU) as part of their annual week.

    The programme was attended by former Nigerian Ambassador to Hungary Yomi Akintola; Oba Aare Ogboni of Osun State, Chief Najeem Lawal Okikiola; Agba of Agaara, Oba T.A. Olajoju II; Mr Waheed Olowonijaye, Alh Tairu Bamidele, Pa George Olayinka, Mr A.O. Adewole and Hon Taiwo Adeyemo.

    Dr Usman identified poverty, lack of access to quality education and unemployment as some of the challenges facing youths across the globe. He said most of the youths in Nigeria have become instruments of social discords such as hooliganism, prostitution, drug pushing and examination malpractices due to several political, cultural and socio-economic problems facing the country.

    According to him, the role of the youths in the socio-economic development included the use of their youthful exuberance for productive ventures, saying they must use their knowledge and skills as instruments of national integration.

    He said a strong family unit and vibrant educational policy are needed to make youths effective and harness their potentials.

    “I am urging all Nigerian youths and students to participate actively in politics and drive the vehicle of social change. You must not allow anybody to destroy your future by giving you ammunition to fight an opponent. Don’t allow anybody to ruin your career because of his or her political ambition. I advise you to do away with all forms of electioneering violence. You have to be part of the political transition so that we can change the destiny of our future in this country,” he stated.

    Ambassador Akintola, thanked the students for the remembrance of his father. He said: “I thank them for honouring him, as students you should work hard; pray hard to get what you want in life”.

    Chief Okikiola urged them to face their studies, warning them never to be used by anyone to destroy their future.

    National Vice President (Internal) of the association, Abdullahi Adeyemi said the union’s recognition of Akintola’s contribution to the development of the country, prompted the association to institute the annual lecture.

    Adeyemi said the lecture, since its debut in 2012, has become a yearly ritual to recognise the contributions of selfless personalities such as Akintola.

    The President, Sunday Agbedeyi urged members to be good ambassadors of their respective families.

    Highlight of the event included amala competition, presentation of gifts to winners of the annual week competition, cultural display and awards presentation. Some of the awardees included late Ladoke Akintola, Oba Aare Ogboni of Osun State, Chief Okikiola Lawal Agbabiaka, and Barrister Waheed Olowonijaye.

  • Study engineering and technology, girls urged

    Study engineering and technology, girls urged

    Girls have been urged to embrace engineering and technology and seeing them as the exclusive preserve of the male folk.

    The charge was given at the Young Girls in Engineering (YGE) 2014 Exhibition held in Afe Babalola Auditorium of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka.

    YGE is a project under the Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative (CYFI) of the United States Consulate General in Lagos. It seeks to encourage female secondary school pupils who aspire to study engineering in tertiary institutions across the country.

    The event was attended by the Vice Consul, Jeff Jung; board member, Deepa Sipes; Dr Tolulase Ajayi from the Department of Chemical Engineering (UNILAG); Ms Oreoluwa Somolu, Executive Director, Women Technology Empowerment Centre, Lagos; Dr Gbenga Ilori, from the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Mrs Khadeeja Abdulsalam from the Department of Electrical Engineering.

    The keynote speaker, Dr Ajayi, described engineering as a unique career and enjoined students to start from the basics.

    “Engineering gives life, makes a world of difference, beautifies the world and shapes the world. Engineers have the power to make a difference; they are multi-talented and can work anywhere because they create, design, explore and innovate,” she said.

    He added that some myths about the profession had prevented a lot of students, especially females, from taking up engineering as a career.

    She said: “Some traditional beliefs have made women to think that engineering is for men alone. We need more young ladies in engineering for the profession to grow in our country.”

    Ms Somolu spoke on technology and gave reasons why the students needed to embrace it, saying it could solve environmental health problems and train youths to become innovators.

    Dr Ilori said misconceptions; deterring factors like societal influence, parental interference, lack of role models were some of the reasons why female students were not taking up engineering-related courses.

    The participating schools competed in a quiz competition. At the end of the contest, International School, Lagos (ISL) emerged winner. Yaba College of Technology Secondary School and Baptist Girls Academy emerged first and second-runners up.

    Other participation schools included Methodist Girls Secondary School, Yaba and Wesley Senior Secondary School.

  • EFCC urged to expose Owo Medical Centre fraud

    A group, the Concerned National Medical Practitioners of Nigeria CNMPN), has called on the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) who are investigating large-scale fraud uncovered at the Federal Medical Centre in Owo, Ondo State, not to relent until all the people behind the scam are exposed and brought to book.

    The group, after praising the operatives of the anti graft agency, said such a move will help in checkmating malfeasance as well as serve as a deterrent to other people in public offices who may want to loot government treasuries to enrich themselves. In a statement by the group’s coordinator and secretary, Dr Donard Litmus and Dr Ebenezer Julius, CNMPN appealed to the commission to leave no stone unturned in the ongoing investigation so as to unravel the mystery behind the fraud, adding that corruption is the bane of development in the country.

    It also urged the EFCC to beam its search-lights on the audit reports of the hospital, saying the development will expose facts on how the frauds were perpetrated in the place. The group said the arrest of a lawyer who came to bribe the operatives of the commission over the issue is a pointer to the fact that the fraud is real and those behind the frauds are desperate to bribe their way out at all costs so as to pervert the course of justice. “We aware of the development going since the commission has been investigating the case of fraud emanated from the Federal Medical Center in Owo and we give kudos to the commission’s operatives for their brave, painstaking and professional tactics used in handling the case so far. We know more facts may be uncovered that may lead to discovery of bigger frauds. As you are intensifying efforts to get to the root of the case, we want whoever indicted or involved in the fraud, no matter how highly placed they may be, be made to face the full wrath of the law,” the group said.

    There was a mild drama at the FMC, as a senior official reportedly went into hiding to escape arrest by the EFCC operatives who stormed the place. It was gathered the operatives stormed the hospital to verify the claims of the hospital over the CTscans and other equipment worth several millions of naira claimed to have been purchased by the management team.

  • Lawmakers urged to support critical infrastructure funding

    Experts have urged the National Assembly to pass a transportation bill on the improvement of safety, facilitate trade and create jobs in the agricultural sector.

    According to them, infrastructure carry the weight of the economy and helps sustain long-term economic prosperity through food production.

    Speaking with The Nation, Director, General Management Division, Agricultural and Rural Management and Training Institute (ARMTI), Dr Ademola Adeyemo, said the government must invest more in infrastructure to boost the quality of key roads, seaways, airways and railways to enable farmers in the rural areas to move their produce.

    He said farmers and producers use waterways to ferry their produce to the market.

    Adeyemo asked for more focus on rural transport to boost agriculture in rural areas, and for the government to work harder to keep traffic under control, minimise traffic accidents and check the capacity of vehicles.

    A consultant to the World Bank, Prof Abel Ogunwale has expressed concerns over the state of the infrastructure.

    According to him, the infrastructure is in a poor shape, while roads in particular are getting worse.

    He said the deteriorating condition of infrastructure affects the water transportation which also affects agriculture.

    He said access to a reliable and cost-effective transportation network by land, sea and air is critical to farmers reaching customers with their produce.

    Modernising and investing in infrastructure, he maintained, is a key priority to make Nigeria a good place for agricultural prosperity.

    Having an efficient and reliable inland waterway system linked to the ports is vital to the nation’s ability to provide affordable farm products domestically and to compete internationally.

  • Fed Govt urged on appropriate mobile money model

    Acting Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to come together and decide which model of mobile money will be well suited for the country.

    According to him, mobile money remains one of the most convenient, secured and affordable way of sending money to friends and family members, adding that the fundamentals of the scheme has to be identified for it to succeed in the country.

    He said the banks, the regulators and telcos need to build efficient mobile money that will assure the success of the initiative which recorded resounding success in Kenya with M-Pesa. He spoke in Lagos on the sideline of the launch of Going the Extra Mile (GEM).

    Willsher who is also the Chief Commercial Officer of the telco said: “I have always believed that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), telecommunication operators and banks need to build efficient mobile money structure that will guarantee the project’s success.

    “It is only when the fundamentals, like knowing whether a bank-led or telco-led model is best for the country that the level of success expected would be achieved. At Etisalat, we are committed to the mobile money project.

    “Mobile money remains a convenient, secure and affordable way to send money to friends and family

    “As at today, it remains a huge business opportunity for stakeholders, but there is the need to get the fundamentals right. We see a lot of business potential in this field. But, like I said, regulators and other stakeholders need to get the fundamentals right.”

  • Govt urged on utilisation of N4.3b Cassava Bread Fund

    Proper utilisation of the N4.3 billion Cassava Bread Fund can help farmers to benefit from the soaring prices in agriculture as well as deliver healthy returns to producers and investors, stakeholders have said.

    The stakeholders, including the National Cassava Processors and Marketers Association (NCAPMA), Crops Commodity Farmers Association and Processors and the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), said the prices of cassava could hit historic highs on the back of increasing demand for the produce.

    The cassava price makes potential returns look attractive, but, according to the stakeholders, investors need to consider how this type of investment would fit into their financial plan and this requires support from the N4.3 billion cassava bread fund meant for farmers, bakers, processors and others.

    Worried by the usual mismanagement and diversion of funds meant to enhance the productivity of farmers and processors, the stakeholders urged that the government set up a powerful monitoring committee to ensure judicial use of the cassava bread fund to avoid defaulters and saboteurs.

    Released late last year, the N4.3 billion-cassava bread fund is meant for farmers, bakers, processors and others, who would be direct beneficiaries of the largesse. The disbursement to individuals would be based on need specific.

    The initiative, enjoyed by cassava growers, according to the farmers, will not only put smiles on the faces of Nigerians, the sector too will witness major transformation as it is expected to reduce poverty in the society as millions of jobs would be created.

    The stakeholders said it is a good time to invest in cassava production with the econonomy showing healthy appetite for more and higher quality cassava.

    As the middle-class population expands and emerging economies continue to grow, that appetite is only going to get bigger.

    The meeting noted that cassava production has attracted a lot of focus and there are prospects of agribusiness-related companies enjoying healthy returns.

    They maintained that there is a strong case for direct investment into the sector with some of the companies well placed to help meet growing food requirements.

    At the meeting, the Chairman of Crops Commodity Farmers Association and Processors,Chief Adebayo Ajayi, advised the Bank of Industry(BoI) to judiciously carry out the assignment of disbursing the money promptly to avoid unnecessary diversion that caused the failure of past interventions.

    He urged the government to ensure that representatives of farmers, processors, bakers, millers, middle and small scale processors, Chairman of the House Committee and Senate Committee on Agriculture, BoI, FIIRO and others are members of its monitoring committee to avoid defaulters and saboteurs.

  • Young entrepreneurs urged to foray into interior designs

    An entrepreneur and promoter of Unique Interiors, Mrs Debola Majekodunmi, has urged youths to take advantage of opportunities in the sector.

    She told The Nation that her firm plans a symposium which would among other things, build capacity on creative designs on both local and imported materials to upscale potentials of participants to make them marketable in both the local and foreign markets.

    The goal, she said, is to upscale young entrepreneurs into becoming employers of labour and possibly exporters of competitive finished products. She pledged that the company will at its 11th exhibition and symposium at Federal Palace provide ideas by giving detailed information on interior designs and the intricacies involved in meeting the demands for the international market.

    Mrs. Majekodunmi said the exhibition is committed to the vision that the nation’s economic growth can be enhanced through creativity. Citing examples with India and other Asian Tigers that are growing their economy through Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), information technology designs , she stressed that Nigeria can leverage on its local entrepreneurs and core competencies to build a formidable economy.

    On activities to bring local furniture makers, related products and skillful designers together, she said her firm is making inroad into encouraging the popular Maryland Cane chair producers and others in that bracket to expose them to international market. She commended the artistic designs of the cane chair producers, but called for more efforts in terms of training, exposure and funding by government for them.

    She also said that key stakeholders, such as architects, Interior Designers Association of Nigeria (IDAN), government agencies and International Federation of Facility Managers (IFMA), Information Technology professionals, electronics manufacturers, such as LG and Samsung among others will feature at the event.

    She said the symposium will host the biggest auction where visitors can buy manufactured goods at rock bottom prices including the introduction of N1k shops where visitors can buy goods at discounted price from N1k to N1,999.

    A business development consultant, Mr. Dapo Orelaja criticised government for not making good their threat of banning imported furniture by surreptitiously allowing the importation of completely knocked down parts (CKD) used in the industry into the country which is affecting the local industries.

    The symposium organizsing chairman, Mr. Sola Olajuyigbe said the event is targeted at horning the creative skills and abilities of young entrepreneurs to make them better in terms of product delivery that can compete with imported ones. On the expected outcomes, Olajuyigbe said they expect to have young people sign on to entrepreneurship training while gearing up to be employers of labour in the nearest future.

  • Traders urged to register

    The market leader (Babaloja) of Ladipo General Market, Ladipo in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State, Alhaji Abibu Oladotun Oki, has appealed to traders to register in compliance with the government’s directive.

    Oki made the appeal during a sensitisation tour of the market, urging the traders to get registered, noting that government “is not charging any fee for the exercise as the purpose is to make government know the number of people carrying out trading activities in the market to determine what basic social amenities to be provided.”

    He lamented the low turn-out of traders for the registration, noting that only 212 people had so far registered in the three weeks that officials of Lagos State Residents’ Registration Agency (LASRRA) had spent in the market.

    He explained that over 10,000 people carry out various trading activities in the market, adding that it was in a bid to make exercise more convenient for the traders that his administration provided a conducive space for LASRRA officials in the market and as such, saw no reason for the traders’ reluctance to participate fully in the exercise. He, therefore, urged those that are yet to register to do so promptly.

  • ANAN urged on ‘missing’ N500b

    The President of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Hon. Bala Kaoje has urged the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) to assist the nation in tracing the alleged missing N500 billion Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) Fund.

    Kaoje who spoke yesterday in Abuja at the induction of 167 fellows of ANAN said members of the accounting body could help trace where this money is.

    “This is a task I am giving as the President of the APBN to the ANAN President and all members of the association. We cannot as a nation allow corruption to ruin us. We must fight corruption in order to occupy our rightful place in the comity of nations, ‘’ the APBN President said. He explained that all other professional bodies look up to accountants, particularly ANAN.

    He was optimistic that the accounting body would help tremendously to fight corruption in the country. “Your body has been talking about whistle-blowing. This is a big challenge to all accountants because it is not everybody that is ready to blow the whistle as some people might be afraid. Blow the whistle about these people trying to milk this country dry,’’ Kaoje said.

    The President of ANAN, Alhaji Sakirudeen Labode disclosed ongoing plans to create a forum for Fellows in future. According to him, the Fellowship of ANAN goes with certain privileges and the criteria for Fellowship of the association are well known.

    He said that application for fellowship must be accompanied by payments of all levies. Labode added that nominees must have spent not less than 10 years in the profession and recorded number of credit hours.