Qnet digital group to provide financial literacy, entrepreneurial skills to Nigerians

By Jessica Dogo

The Qnet, a digital marketing group, in partnership with Transblue Limited, says it is building financial literacy and providing trainings on entrepreneurial skills and business management to help Nigerian youths start-up and grow their own businesses.

Transblue’s Managing Director, Abdulhakeem Abiodun, said this during a roundtable in Abuja.

Acording to Abiodun, there is a growing demand for job creation among young people in Nigeria to drive economic growth

He said that technology and innovation had provided opportunities for young entrepreneurs to develop new businesses, solve local problems and positively impact society.

“This partnership enables us to connect every Nigerian to the global network of QNET.

It aims to provide a great business opportunities to those who seek a better tomorrow and transform their lives.

“This is not to say that Qnet is giving employment to Nigerians, but it enables sharp minds to create an entrepreneurial skill to give value to people,” he said.

He addded that Qnet did not promise employment but encouraged youths to their own employers.

“The company has much for Nigerians that have shown commitment to entrepreneurship to be mentored and be trained to improve their skills.

“We want to leverage the technological advancement needed for direct selling to achieve these goals.

“Entrepreneurship education, financial literacy, skill development and business management Programmes are available for young people in Nigeria.

Those opportunities would help the young people to build the skills necessary to start and grow their businesses in different endeavours, like music, fashion, and the arts,” he said.

Abiodun said that the challenges companies faced in Nigeria encouraged Transblue to become a part of the solution by bringing superior customer and logistics services to the market.

Qnet’s Director-General, Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr Biram Fall, said that the company had consistently maintained legitimate business model.

Fall said that the organisation used virtual e-commerce platforms to conduct transactions, manage customer orders and provide real-time support to its representatives.

“Qnet has been consistent and we continue to maintain that we are a legitimate business model.

“We provide comprehensive training and support to our independent representatives, including sales and marketing tools, product knowledge, and leadership development,” he said.

The Group Chief Communications Officer, Qnet, Singapore, Ramya Chandrasekaran, said the company recently launched a Direct Selling Disinformation Centre (DSDC).

Chandrasekaran said the centre would help to combat the proliferation of disinformation and misinformation about the direct selling industry and its brand.

“QNET operates an online global DSDC to dispel misconceptions, unethical behaviour and public complaints about the sector.

“From an industry perspective, this is a unique initiative that advocates transparency and good practices.

“We keep hearing on social media that there are people offering jobs in the name of Qnet, people who are misrepresenting the name of Qnet and this is disturbing to us,” she said.

She urged the general public to report such incidences of unethical conduct at the DSDC for further action.

According to her, Qnet promotes entrepreneurial opportunities for individuals to start their businesses and achieve financial independence globally, especially in Africa. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman/Idris Abdulrahman

MACBAN urges CBN to mainstream interest of pastoralists in cashless policy

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), an umbrella
body of Nigerian pastoralists, has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to mainstream the interest of pastoralists in the implementation of cashless policy.

The National Public Relations Officer, Malam Muhammad Nura, made the call in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

Nura also called on the CBN to
extend the deadline for the change of currency to cater for those pastoralists and small-scale farmers living in the rural areas with no access to banking infrastructure.

He said that the association observed that the policy had crippled many of its members because of the insurgency in the North East and banditry in North West
and other related security issues.

He said those in the livestock business and who were excluded from the current banking system in the country, coupled with the debilitating network challenges and economic activities in the remotest areas, had been badly affected.

He said that MACBAN supported the Federal Government in it’s current policy that sought to stem money laundering, terrorism financing, unregulated liquidity in the market and to curtail the use of money in politics.

” However, reports from our members across the country show that unless the policy is modified, livestock markets across the states will be crippled as most of the small livestock holders can’t accept money transfers for now.

” Now that An average cow costs between N250,000 to N350,000, far above the cash transaction allowed by the CBN, The question is how will pastoralists who don’t have bank accounts be paid when they had no access to banks and POS service in the rural areas?.

” MACBAN states its members are some of the biggest victims to the security
challenges in country in the last eight years, haven lost over 10,000 of its
members and 4.5 million livestock due to insurgency in the North East,
banditry in the North West and cattle rustling in the North Central.”

Nura stated that it was time for CBN to come out and tell pastoralists and those who lived on the fringes how they could be mainstreamed so that all Nigerians
were made to share the gains and not only the pains .

” MACBAN regrets that policies designed for urbanised Nigerians are imposed on
rural people who lack all the infrastructure for a seamless inclusion into the mainstream economy.

” The sensitisation for the new policy ought to have been well thought out and after the take-off of the programme. This is what we as a body intend to hear and be engaged, to enlighten our members rather than expose them to the dangers of hearsay, misinformation and insinuations that could lead to induced rebellion.

” While this policy has its long time benefits, let the CBN ease the difficulty that has arisen now.” (NAN)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Foundation offers scholarship to undergraduates in Niger Delta

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Ojah Scholarship Foundation has opened its portal for application into its annual scholarship programme for indigent undergraduates in the Niger Delta region.

The foundation’s Secretary, Mrs Bisi Olabode-Foghi, who made the disclosure in a statement, on Friday in Abuja, said that the portal would remain open till April 30.

Olabode-Foghi added that the applicants must be students with interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics areas.

She said: “The applicants must have gained admission for the current year (2023 -2024) to a Nigerian public university (state or federal) or is already in year onevor year two in a Nigerian public university.,”

While advising interested applicants to log on to https://www.ojascholarships.org/ for registration, Olabode-Foghi said non-Niger Delta students with extraordinary performance in academics could also apply.

The secretary, who doubles as a trustee said that the organisation was a non profit one providing access to higher education for remarkable, yet indigent students from the region.

She said: “Our interest is to contribute towards closing the present gap in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) in this region.

“We also want to set in motion a strategic advancement that will see Niger Delta become a giant in the STEM field in the near future.”

Olabode-Foghi added that the vision to launch such an initiative has been a slow-cooking plan, saying: “we have always helped people get education.

“We also yearn to see a real change, systemic and lasting improvements/projects that breed better life and growth for our people at home.

“So, merging these two aspirations together was the next best thing for us.

“The idea is not to only grant scholarships and set them on their way, we are keen to providing necessary mentoring, career opportunities and support for as long as it is needed.

“We are looking to help shape this younger generation into renowned professionals.

“We want these people to be advantageously placed so that they are also be able to give back much more and altogether build the Niger Delta,”she added.(NAN) (www.nannewd.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

APC will not engage in violence – Wamakko

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Sokoto State All Progressives Council campaign team has reemphasised it’s commitment to embark on an electioneering campaign without violence in spite of alleged provocation by the opposition in the state.

Sen. Aliyu Wamakko gave the assurance in a statement by Dr Danladi Bako, the Chairman, Publicity, Sokoto State APC Campaign Council and member of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council Media Directorate, on Thursday.

Wamakko spoke to newsmen after a caucus meeting on the outcome of a briefing by the heads of security agencies with political parties in the state, attended by State APC Chairman, Isa Achida.

He rejected insinuations or allegations that the APC was responsible for the increased violent clashes and counter-clashes during political campaigns in the last one month within the state.

The former governor of Sokoto state reassured APC faithful , residents and the public of the party’s resolve to commit itself to a very peaceful electioneering campaign.

He called on the PDP to endeavour to disarm its youth wing and educate them on the need for peace and tranquility as we approached the general elections.

According to him, APC as a party is made up of decent and peace loving citizens, and encouraged all residents of Sokoto to abhor violence and embrace peace during “this period and in future”.

The caucus meeting was attended by the Director-General of the APC Campaign and Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi and other party bigwigs.

Violent clashes have become a regular occurrence within the state recently, prompting Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar to call on politicians to carry out their campaigns in a peaceful and violence-free environment. (NAN)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

FCT minister pledges enhanced collaboration with soil science institute

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello has pledged to strengthen the existing collaboration between the Nigeria Institute of Soil Science to improve the quality of soil in the FCT.

Bello, represented by the Permanent Permanent Secretary FCTA, Mr Adesola Olusade, made the pledge when the Governing Council of the institute led by its President, Prof. Ayoade Ogunkunle, paid a courtesy call on the FCTA, on Thursday in Abuja.

The minister said that the FCT Administration was very concerned about the quality of land because the productivity was largely dependent on the soil.

“If the land quality is weak, you will farm for nothing, and therefore, for a body to regulate the use of land is very important and appropriate for the country.

He assured that any agency of government that was desirous to contribute to the development of the FCT “is always well received”.

“We are here to receive you today on behalf of the FCT Minister by me, Adesola Olusade, the Permanent Secretary FCTA, the Mandate Secretary Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, FCT, Abubakar Ibrahim and other management of staff in the secretariat.

” We have taken note of the accomplishments of the institute and we also noted the paragraph two of your letter where you requested for an office space in the FCT. We will convey your request to the minister

” I thank you Prof. Ayoade for acknowledging the robust structure we have in the FCT and for the enlightenment you provided us on the institute. On thing is certain the institute appears to be the father of all.”

Earlier, Ogunkunle explained that the institute was an agency under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with its Act enacted and signed by President Muhammadu Buhari on Feb. 3, 2017.

He said that the institute was charged with the mandate of regulating and sustaining the profession of soil science and not just for the profession but the use of soil.

He revealed that currently the institute had over 350 registered soil scientist that could be vouched for and they counsel or advice people on the use of soil “and if you adhere to, it you are bound to succeed”.

According to him, soil is like the home for everybody, such as human being, plants, animals, and the nature of soil in every country is such that when we destroy it, there will be problem.

” If we don’t manage it sustainably, then we are in trouble. In developed countries where we studied, they make so many places untouchable because you cannot go to the next country to ask for their soil.

” You can ask for many other things but not soil. If a soil is erroded and damaged, it will take many years to be restored. Soil is like a living being; when you start using it, at a stage it doesn’t respond again unless it is well manage.”

The president use the opportunity to request for a piece of land from the FCT Minister to enable the institute build a befitting permanent headquarters.

” We want a piece of land that can be develop for the institute.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Grace Yussuf

2023 Elections: Organisation urges youth to take responsibility, maintain peace

By Sylvester Thompson

Junior Chamber International (JCI), a non-profit organisation of young people, have called on Nigerian youths to take responsibility during and after the general elections.

The President of the JCI, Mr Samuel Chinonyerem, made the call while addressing newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said that youths should also make it a duty to go and get their voter’s card and vote for their preferred candidates.

“We pray that government through the security agencies provide an enabling environment for peaceful elections.

“Politicians should desist from any act that will bring violence before, during and after the elections. Government of the people will emerge at the end of the 2023 elections,’’ he said.

The president said their prayers was predicated on the fact that, the relative peace t enjoyed in the country had been threatened by heightened insecurity.

He said that the heightened insecurity which cuts across all regions of the country, needed to stop for the country to experience economic growth.

Chinonyerem who further listed the causes of insecurity in the country, identified good governance as key to the solution.

He said having the right leadership in place would guarantee good governance and can only be possible if there was peace and security in country. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

APGA unveils Hadiza Mohammed as Vice-Presidential Candidate

By Angela Atabo

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on Wednesday unveiled Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed as its Vice-Presidential Candidate for the Feb. 25 general election.

Edozie Njoku, National Chairman, APGA, unveiled Mohammed at a ceremony on Wednesday in Abuja, naming Jonathan Elendu as Director-General, of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).

Njoku commended the judiciary for finally resolving the party’s crisis, lauding the party loyalists that stood by the party.

He alleged that he was accused of so many things including forging a supreme court judgment and expressed happiness that truth had prevailed.

Njoku said that with the court judgement, it was left for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to do the needful by recognising authentic APGA candidates, ahead of the general election.

“So I am pleading with the hierarchy of INEC to address this ,because if the right thing is not done, I assure you that after the election, there will be more suits on the basis of exclusion,” he said.

Njoku said that the party was ready to launch its campaign to win the 2023 election and called for support from Nigerians to make the nation better.

He expressed confidence in the party’s candidates and in its ability to serve justice to Nigerians and unify all.

Dr Chekwas Okorie, APGA, Presidential Candidate,said he consulted with the National Working Committee (NWC) and it was unanimously agreed that no person was better suited to pair him on the presidential ticket as VP than Mohammed.

Okorie said that Mohammed hailed from Borno and had a rich and impeccable profile and she was an accomplished personality with sound education and varied academic exposure.

“I am confident that as l march side by side with Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed to campaign across Nigeria our strong and progressive message shall resonate and introduce fresh and exciting narratives to our proposed governance agenda.

“This is if by the special grace of God Nigerians give us their mandate to preside over the affairs of our great country as President and Vice President, come May 29.

“It is also my singular pleasure to unveil at this occasion the Director General of our Presidential Campaign Organisation who prefers to be referred to as simply Jonathan Elendu.

” His rich profile that shows his wide experience and knowledge as a publisher, an author, poet and public affairs analyst both in Nigeria and many countries abroad has also been read to this distinguished audience,” he said.

Okorie said it was neither by design our desire that APGA was stepping into the campaign arena somehow late.

He said that it was public knowledge that on May 9 2022, the Supreme Court corrected a judgment it had delivered on Oct. 14 2021, which erroneously referred to the former National Chairman of the Party, Chief Victor Oye as National Chairman instead of Chief Edozie Njoku.

“Unfortunately, the parties adversely affected by the well-considered correction effected by the Supreme Court engaged in all manner of blackmail, subterfuge and malicious allegations.

“ As we speak, Chief Edozie Njoku has not only been affirmed but reaffirmed to the third degree by the Supreme Court of Nigeria as the authentic, indisputable National Chairman of APGA duly elected at the Party’s convention held at Owerri, Imo State, on May 31, 2019,” he said.

Okorie said it was after these series of affirmations by the apex court that APGA resolved that the time has become ripe for the authentic Candidates of the party to step into the arena of the 2023 general election to be counted.

Speaking, Mohammed commended AGPA for the opportunity to serve as its Vice-Presidential Candidate for 2023 general election.

“Fellow party members, ladies and gentlemen, with all humility, with all sense of responsibility as a daughter, a wife, a mother and grandmother, I accept the honour of being the Vice-Presidential candidate of our great party.

“On my honour, I hereby declare that I will follow where you lead. And I know that together as we campaign, our women, youths, and even men will see that APGA is the party for today and the future,” she said.

Mohammed said APGA had always proven that it respected gender equality in Nigerian political experiment.

She called on all Nigerian women to join APGA , vote for APGA to empower women and deliver good governance.

Mr Jonathan Elendu, Director General, Chekwas Okorie Presidential Campaign 2023 congratulated the party’s chairman and presidential candidate for the judicial victory.

Elendu said Nigeria required to be rescued from the clutches of effects of an unworkable coupling that had made development of the country and peoples almost a mirage.

“In the days and weeks ahead, we shall traverse the length and breadth of Nigeria to sell your message of hope, your vision of a new Nigeria, your formula for a renewed Nigeria.

“Nigeria will be a place where security of lives and property are not just mere words that have no resemblance to the reality of our lives,” he said.(NAN)(nannews.ng)

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

Election: Archbishop cautions Nigerians against voting on basis of religious sentiment

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Archbishop of the African Church Province of Abuja, Peter Ogunmuyiwa, on Wednesday cautioned Nigerians against voting for candidate on the basis of religion in the 2023 general elections.

Ogunmuyiwa made the call at the Interfaith Peace Summit: Tips on 2023 General Elections, with the theme,” Prosecuting Peaceful Elections: Role of Faith Communities,” organised by the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, in conjunction with the NTA Abrahamic Mission, in Abuja.

Ogunmuyiwa said: ” Religion of a candidate should not be the basis for our choices at the forthcoming elections but their antecedents and commitment to the development of the country.

” The effects of bad governance are felt on all Nigerians, irrespective of their religion or ethnicity, poverty has no religion and friend as when we have bad leadership all of us Christians, Muslims and others eill suffer.

” Democracy thrives on diversity and our diversity and our religions should be something that we harness together.

“We therefore need to be wise this time around and make wise choices in the forthcoming elections.

” We need peace in Nigeria. We can’t afford religious crises or civil war any longer which ordinarily is always instigated by the sentiment of religion or tribes.”

On the Muslim-Muslim ticket, the archbishop said any religion’s person could be a President of Nigeria.

” I am not an advocate of Muslim-Muslim ticket but if para venture the ticket wins, it will mean that christians also voted for the ticket. So, it will make a lot for the stability of this country.

” It will means a lot to the ideology of Abrahimic mission and if it comes to be and there is peace in Nigeria, then that will suggest that a Christian supports the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“The forthcoming elections are very interesting and eventually the will of God will prevail.

“But the signal will be that God is interested in Nigeria which ever way the election goes.

Earlier, the Chief Iman of Al-Habibiyyah Mosque, Faud Adeyemi,said the NTA Abrahamic Mission programme was widely accepted and had a lot of impact in the lives of Nigerians.

” Then we decided to move forward to see what can we do to get it more impactful now that elections are here.

“We want to use that expose to be able to get to the people so that we do the right thing for ourselves during the forthcoming election.

” We all know that we are mostly religious people in this country and that is why we brought Muslim and and the Christian leaders to talk from their religious perspective what should we be doing now that election is by the corner.

” And as people who follow God injuctions what are the things we should do to ensure peaceful elections in the country? Adeyemi asked.

Also, the Iman of the Abuja National Mosque, Dr Kabir Mohammed, urged Muslims and Christians to embrace themselves and continue to live in peace and harmony before, during and after the elections.

Similarly, the Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Garba Abari, said the agency was doing its best to instill positive attitude in the electorate to ensure peaceful polls.

Represented by Mrs Ebele Okonkwo, Assistant Director, Political and Civic Ethics and Values Department, Abari said the agency was also working to ensure that the election was all-inclusive.

This is by engaging women and the People with Disabilities to ensure that they are represented in the electoral process.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Tambuwal’s Aide, Maina, laid to rest in Sokoto

By Habibu Harisu

The remains of late Aisha Maina, the Special Adviser on Female Education Board to Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State had been buried on Wednesday in Sokoto.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Maina died on Tuesday at the Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto as result of complications related to suffocation sequel to a stampede shortly after the PDP presidential campaign rally.

The funeral was conducted according to Islamic rites at her residence in the 500 Kalambaina Housing Estate in Sokoto.

Funeral was attended by PDP gubernatorial candidate, Sa’idu Umar, his running mate, Sagiru Bafarawa and Director-General, PDP Campaign Council in the State, Yusuf Suleiman.

Other were: Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, Mr Usaini Gumel, as well as the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Sokoto State Council, Alhaji Dallhatu Safiyal-Magori.

Others were: The NAN Sokoto Zonal Manager, Habibu Harisus and a NAN Deputy Editor-in-Chief (DEIC), Bashir Rabe-Mani, among other dignitaries.

Umar said that Tambuwal was touched by the sudden death and he had wished to attend the funeral, but was unable to do so due to some unforseen circumstances.

He said Maina lived an exemplary life of humility, generousity and hard work, adding that she was a devout mother who was loved by all who interacted with her.

According to Tambuwal, Maina was one of the few women in the state that contributed towards building a greater place for the less-privileged persons.

“Also, she extended the frontiers of peace, unity and cohesion by participating actively in political orientation around the North and the nation in general.

Earlier, Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Sanusi Abubakar confirmed the death of one person due to congestion after the PDP presidential campaign rally and refuted rumours in circulation that five persons died.

Abubakar said there was no description of such incidents before, during and after the rally, adding, “everything ended peacefully.

“It was after all the dignitaries had left the venue that the police started receiving reports of a stampede involving some scavengers at the stadium.

“Unfortunately, some people among the few of those taking care of the items left behind at the facility were involved.

“Consequently, police and other security services’ quick reaction forces were deployed of which the crowd was dispersed and normalcy was restored.

“Sadly, we were told that among those affected who were taken to the hospital one was confirmed dead,” Abubakar said.

The PPRO added that the overall situation was being reviewed and thorough investigations would be carried out.

NAN recalls that the late Maina was a one-time Chairperson of NAWOJ in Sokoto State and a former Special Adviser, New Media to Tambuwal.

Edited by Fatima Sule Abdullahi/Bashir Rabe Mani

FG moves to train 250,000 persons on data privacy, protection

By Ruth Oketunde

The Federal Government has unveiled plans to train 250,000 data protection officers on enhanced management of data across organisations to safeguard the privacy of citizens.

Dr Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau, (NDPB) made this known during a capacity building workshop for data protection officers in the public sector, in Abuja.

He said that there is need for data protection officers operating in the public sector to understand the difference between data security and data privacy as they carry out their duties.

He bemoaned the poor statistics of data expert operating in Nigeria, adding that the Bureau would not relent in its drive to build capacities and train data protection officers in the country.

“We will develop a pool of competent data protection experts in the country. This is first set of data protection observers that we are training so far.

“We have gone round ministries and parastatals, we have trained them. We have done for the Attorney-General office, we have done for NTA, we have done for VON, we have done for Federal Polytechnic Nekede, we are working with the office of the secretary general to conduct their own.

“We are also working with the Federal Ministry of Health. We are pulling different people from ministries and departments and this is the first batch and I want to really congratulate all of them.

“Data privacy protection ecosystem is still emerging globally.

“In Nigeria the number of data processors and controllers that we have identified are over 500,000 and by our own estimates, those who are experts are not up to 10, 000, so there is a huge gap of over 490, 000 jobs available,” he said.

For his part, the Head, Legal Enforcement and Regulations, NDPB, Mr Babatunde Bamigboye, said that the training is part of its activities to commemorate this year’s Data Privacy Day, celebrated yearly on Jan. 28.

Bamigboye said that the training which would be in series, is aimed at ensuring that the officers are placed aper with their counterparts in the western world.

“We are starting with a batch of 100 and the idea is to have a pool of about 250,000 data protection officers in Nigeria who are globally competent.

“We also want to ensure that they have competence to practice data privacy or protection anywhere in the world. We have our partners from META that are helping us to achieve this,” he said.

On enforcement mechanisms to checkmate data breach on data protection by any organisation, he said that the Bureau would continue to create awareness and build capacities of data protection officers in the country.

“The bureau is currently investigating two banks because of data privacy issues. We realize that it is possible that organisations could have data privacy or protection policies at the very top.

“Sometimes they have third parties and these policies do not go down the strata. We have enforcement, though it is an emerging thing but we still have to create awareness even though ignorance of the law is not an excuse,” he said.

A participant, Patrick Odeh, from the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) appreciated the Bureau for the training, adding that the knowledge gained from the training would make them more effective as they handle data issues.

“I believe that what NDPB is trying to do is to ensure that we understand what it takes to be able to manage our records, manage the data, and also put the subject data into consideration,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

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