By Gabriel Agbeja

Mr Said Alkali, the Minister of Transportation, says the Nigerian Railways will commence e-ticketing on Wednesday.

Alkali made this known on Monday in Abuja during the flag-off of e-ticketing for Lagos-Ibadan and Itakpe–Warri routes.

According to him, the e-ticketing system will direct ticket sales revenue to the government’s funds.

He added the e-ticketing platform would significantly reduce potential for corruption and revenue leakage.

“It will also help to ensure security of our passengers and avoid racketeering.

“It is the desire of this administration to have zero tolerance for corruption. All these are aimed to benefit our citizens,” he said.

Contributing, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, said the Federal Government had really deepened efforts to ensure the dream of having e-ticketing platform come to reality.

Ajani explained that electronic ticketing for the standard gauge would comfortable curb racketeering that is capable of negatively affecting the economy.

Speaking, Mr Fidet Okhiria, the Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), said the e-ticketing system would improve integrity of operations in the sector.

Okhiria expressed optimism that the e-ticketing  platform would increase revenue generation of the Federal Government.

According to him, the Federal Government had concessioned the Warri-Itakpe and Lagos–Ibadan routes to “Ticketing Solutions Limited” and “Global Software and Digital Solution” respectively for 10 years.

The two private firms said they would work effectively and efficiently fulfil mandates to operate the system. (NAN)

Edited by Vincent Obi

By Tosin Kolade

Mr Rotimi Odusola, Corporate Relations Director, Guinness Nigeria, has called for more partnerships with relevant authorities to promote responsible drinking in Nigeria.

Odusola made this call when the Guinness Nigeria team led by Mr John Musunga, its Managing Director, paid a courtesy visit to the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) office on Friday in Abuja.

According to Odusola, those under 18 years have no business consuming alcoholic beverages.

He said that the organisation was working to promote responsible and positive drinking habit for Nigerians to drink better and not more.

Odusola said that in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), many motorists had been educated on the dangers of excessive drinking and driving.

He noted that the visit was to strengthen collaboration with NOTAP on diverse areas, so as to do business correctly and in line with its corporate governance.

He said although Nigeria was faced with a lot of challenges that hindered organisations,  his company would continue to play its part in changing the economic landscape by supporting locally manufactured products for their alcohol beverages.

“I have to say that in our value chain, we have farmers; farmers that  supply us with raw materials for our production processes, especially sorghum; we have even localised recently, the ethanol that we use in the production of some of our alcoholic beverages.

“At the moment, the value chain in the farming area that constitutes the support of our business supports up to about 30,000 farmers across the country.

“80 per cent of our local raw materials or materials are sourced locally, and we also support a lot of local businesses to the tune of about 30 billion,” he said.

The corporate director said his organisation would continue to research on ways to further localise the things that were used in production process, as part of its social responsibility.

He, however, urged NOTAP to support the company in its renewal of all approvals needed to function well in the country for the benefit of all Nigerians.

NOTAP’s acting Director General, Dr Idy Imiyoho, commended the interventions of Guinness in economic strengthening and development.

She said there was the need for the agency to be carried along in all activities as it regulated the inflow of foreign technologies into the country through the registration of technology transfer agreements.

According to her, the agency also has the duty to encourage the development of indigenous technologies, hence the call on Guinness to invest more in research.

“We will continue to strengthen partnerships to change the narrative for manpower technology development; we ask that Guinness carries us along in all activities,’’ she said.

Mrs Yejide Akinkunmi, NOTAP’s Director of Consultancy Services, called for more corporate social responsibility from Guinness in sponsoring young professionals in the NOTAP Industry Transfer fellowship.

She said it would encourage manpower development and close the huge technology gaps, adding that emphasis should be placed on market-driven research.

Mrs Caroline Anie-Osuagwu, NOTAP’s Director of Technology Acquisition Research Coordination, noted that demand-driven research would help to reduce the major setback to technology development of the country.

She said that NOTAP had the duty to encourage the development of indigenous technologies, urging Guinness to key into the database of science, technology and engineering platform of the agency.

“We need to start raising awareness for demand-driven research;  we encourage universities to come out with products and we are taking them into the industries,’’ she said.

Anie-Osuagwu added that Nigerian researchers should take up demand-driven research that would turn into goods and services for the benefit of the country.  (NAN)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkkwo

By Usman Aliyu

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) on Thursday inducted 55 newly qualified doctors at the Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo, into the profession.

Dr Tajudeen Sanusi, the Registrar of the council, who conducted the oath of hippocratic on the inductees, charged them to be familiar with the medical code of ethics of the profession to avoid infractions.

Sanusi, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Victor Gbenro, said the council would not hesitate to sanction any practitioner found wanting in the discharge of the professional duty.

Earlier, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, said the inductees at the 18th oath taking and induction ceremony were made up of 36 females and 19 males.

Ezemonye, who was also represented by his deputy, Prof. Raphael Adeghe, said the Adesanya Class, as the set was called, was joining the list of over 3,000 medical doctors so far produced by the College of Health Sciences of the institution.

“Today’s gathering is significant in the context of present day Nigeria, as it occurs at the intersection of myriad challenges and opportunities that define medical education and healthcare in our nation.

“Universities offering training in medicine and surgery are increasing in number by the day. As of 2020, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) approved 39 universities to train medical students.

“Despite this number, the number of medical doctors in active medical practice has declined tremendously.

“A number of junior and even senior doctors are emigrating at their own expense to greener climes due to a myriad of problems with training at the postgraduate level in particular and medical practice in general.

“This is what is now euphemistically referred to as the “Japa syndrome” in our dear country, Nigeria,” he said.

The vice-chancellor also said amidst the challenges facing the health system in Nigeria, the university was proud to have contributed to the journey of equipping the new doctors with the knowledge, skills and values, paramount in the practice of medicine.

He urged the inductees to take up the responsibility of carrying the legacy forward, be the advocates of change, and the torchbearers of a brighter future for Nigeria healthcare system.

In his lecture at the occasion, Prof. Francis Faduyile, who bemoaned the rot in the health system, however, urged the inductees to stay in the country and improve on the situation.

He warned the new doctors against unethical behaviour, particularly offences related to drug and alcohol.

Faduyile also charged them to improve their skill and further their education home and abroad as well as involving in politics for development of policies favourable to the profession. (NAN)

Edited by Ayodeji Alabi/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The Association of Rural Electrification Contractors of Nigeria (ARECON), has lauded the achievements of the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Mr Salihijo Ahmad in the power sector.

They urged him to continue to do the good works to help the downtrodden in the society.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Association, Mr Rotimi Raheem, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

“We are also delighted to hear the news of a clean bill of health given to the MD by the House of Representatives.

“Recall that in our recent press release, we highlighted the giant strides accomplished by Ahmed and his Management team in the improvement of lives of our rural dwellers.

“He has also connected numerous markets, schools and economic activities to the solar system and mini-grids all over the country.

“We therefore urge him to continue the good work he and his team are doing for the benefits of the downtrodden in our Rural Areas,” Raheem said.

He also said that what the REA boss is doing is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu. (NAN)

Edited by Vincent Obi

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the Access Bank Retail Operations Group has donated hospital equipment to the Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) at Gurku 1, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

Ms Emem Ukoh, Zonal Head, Abuja 1, Retail Operations of the bank, on Thursday led the delegation to donate the equipment.

The theme for the Access Bank’s CSR for the year 2023 is “Nurturing Love for Babies and Mothers.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the equipment donated include one Double Suction Machine, two Delivery Forceps, two Delivery Beds and one Commode Wheelchair.

Others are two Resting bed after delivery, one Analog Sterilizer and two Mattresses.

According to Ukoh, the CSR is a way of giving back to the community by Access Bank Retail Operations Group.

“Whatever we can do, we do it with all our hearts. We thank the Karu Local Government and staff of the PHC for giving us the opportunity to give back.

“We renovated the delivery room of the PHC and provided those equipment to ensure that women get the best service and treatment during pregnancy and delivery.

“We normally go to different communities across the country to fix things. We did that in six health centres across the country.

This is part of our CSR. We do this because we observed that women face challenges during delivery and that is why we decided to bring these equipment.

“We hope and pray to God to give us the strength to do more and we pray for safer deliveries in this facility. No woman will die during delivery in this health centre,”  Ukoh said.

She reiterated that the Bank’s CSR was so far carried out in six Primary Health Centres Across the Country.

NAN reports that other principal officers from Access Bank Bank in the delegation include Udeme Nwosu, Zonal Head Abuja 2 Retail Operations, and Morenike Ojewunmi, Head, Retail Operations – North.

Others were members of the Retail Operations Group of Abuja and Nassarawa and members of the Sales team.

Meanwhile, the Health Secretary of Karu LGA, Mr Uye Wumani, lauded the effort of the Bank and the Group.

“Some of us in the village never had this kind of opportunity. I pray and urge the community to take this opportunity and use them. I am sure that the hospital can now deliver more women.”

Speaking, Ms Ibrahim Happy Auta, the Principal Community Health Extension Worker in charge of the PHC, Gurku 1, commended Access Bank and its Retail Operation Group, adding that it is a dream come true for her.

Auta explained that the Bank renovated the Labour Room and promised to do more, saying “these equipment is something that our yearly subvention could not afford”.

A community member, Hajiya Sadiya Haruna, appreciated Access Bank Retail Operation Group, adding that the PHC lacks a lot of things.

“But with the donation of these equipment, women in this community will get the best treatment during pregnancy and delivery.” (NAN)

Edited by Vincent Obi

By Femi Ogunshola

The Asiwaju Women Cooperative Society (AWCS) says it plans to empower 50 less privileged women in the country with N20,000 each to enable them start businesses of their own and become self reliant.

Alhaja Stella Kokumo, the National President, AWCS said this at the national executive meeting in Abuja on Thursday.

“Fifty market women will receive the sum of N20,000 each,” Kokumo said.

She said the group’s aim was to support vulnerable women and empower them for a better life through its cooperative society.

She said the group had resolved to give back to women who had given their time and resources to support the actualisation of President Bola Tinubu’s presidency.

She said one of the decision made was to float a cooperative society that would lend to women soft loans across all states at zero interest or at the most administrative interest.

“Our state chapters are now at liberty to open state cooperative accounts through which we can actively and effectively reach our members who are interested in getting cooperative loans at zero interest,” she said.

She said more than 300 packs of clothing materials had been distributed to members across states, adding that the distribution was continuous tcategories of members across the states.

She said AWCS was active, and was poised to reach out to as many women as possible.(NAN)

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa