Sustainable energy access has been identified as a crucial element needed in creating a brighter and more equitable future for Nigerians, especially the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs) operators.

Ms Damilola Ogunbiyi, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, said this during her visit to Iponri Market, Surulere, in Lagos.

The purpose of the visit was to inspect the first phase of solar installation in the market, funded by the Universal Energy Facility (UEF).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the UEF is a results-based finance facility administered by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and executed by SOLAD Integrated Power.

“Sustainable energy access is the cornerstone of a brighter and more equitable future as our visit to the market underscores that.

“It underscores our commitment to empowering communities with clean, affordable and sustainable energy solutions while setting the stage for Nigeria’s energy transition to a greener future.” she said.

Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, lauded the initiative to electrify the Iponri Market with sustainable energy solutions.

“The electrification of the Iponri Market with sustainable energy solutions exemplifies Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to enhancing energy access, driving economic growth and embracing the transformative potential of solar energy. 

“This visit to witness the impact of clean, affordable energy reaffirms our dedication to businesses, emission reduction and advancing our nation toward a more sustainable and prosperous future,” he said.

Other dignitaries at the event were; Mr Abubakar Sulaiman, Managing Director, Sterling Bank; Caroline Eboumbou, Chief Executive Officer, All On amongst others.

Workers

By Adeyemi Adeleye/Abiodun Azi

The Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Ali M. Ali, says unhappy workers will negatively affect productivity of any organisation.

Ali made this remark at a lecture by the Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers’ Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU), the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Chapter, on Friday in Lagos.

NAN reports that the event, tagged RATTAWU Week Convergence 2.0 has the theme: “Enhancing Employees Development through Sustainable Skills,” was held at the NAN Media Centre.

According to Ali, the happiness of workers is directly related to their productivity within an organisation.

He, therefore, said that the leadership of NAN is committed to ensuring the well-being and happiness of its employees.

Ali acknowledged the critical role played by trade unions, especially RATTAWU, as they are essential stakeholders in the organisation.

“Trade unions, like you know, are critical in any organisation. RATTAWU, a sister union of the NUJ, is very key.

“In NAN, our leadership places very high premium on the welfare of our staff more than anything else.

“If an employee is unhappy, it is going to affect productivity and it will also affect the employers. Without the employees, there won’t be any employers, except you are self-employed.

“The management of NAN will always, at any point, keeps its doors open to union like RATTAWU.

“We identify with events like this and we will continue to support in spite our lean resources,” Ali, who was accompanied by key management staff of NAN, said.

The managing director said, “Trade union and management  should be working for the same purpose and not at cross purposes.

“We are not to work against each other. We are working toward the same vision and the same goal, especially in taking NAN to greater heights

“I see us working harmoniously together towards that goal of lifting NAN and towards halting the drift and rot in NAN.

Speaking, Dr Oluwarotimi Fashola, Special Adviser to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Agriculture and Chairman of the occasion, said that agriculture remains a way of life

Fashola, who was represented by Mr Adedotun Ogunleye, noted that government workers could embrace agriculture to add value to their lives.

“We have crops that you can venture into, there are opportunities in agriculture these days.

“The beauty of it all is that you do not need a large space to start. There is urban agriculture now.

“Let’s do away with the idea of thinking that until you have a large space before you get involved in agriculture. In our own little space, we can grow crops which saves cost.

“It would be interesting to go back to the corners of our houses to grow crops, so that the lessons learned will not be wasted,” Fashola said.

In his remark, Mr Ishola Adejumo, the Chairman of RATTAWU, Lagos State Council, commended the NAN management for its commitment to staff welfare.

Adejumo thanked the management for the fleet of buses that were added to the existing ones, to ease staff’s movement.

He said that RATTAWU in Lagos State had distinguished itself in Nigeria and the first to be reckoned with.

Earlier in his welcome address, Mr Deji Fadipe, RATTAWU Chairman, NAN Chapter, commended the new management of NAN for its vision to improve the welfare of staff.

Fadipe noted that the NAN RATTAWU WEEK 2.0 featured several activities and training to equip members with more skills to contribute their quota to national development.

He said that several seminars and trainings for members on agriculture and agro-related ventures were also to help the staff in the current economy realities.

NAN reports that the event was attended by representatives from various other trade unions like the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporation and Government-Owned Companies. (SSASCGOC) among others.

Award were presented to winners who emerged in various activities carried out during the week. (NAN)

Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa

By Mariam Akande

The story of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) will be incomplete without capturing the landmark efforts of Ms Alaba Lawson.

A former Director General of NACCIMA, Amb. Ayoola Olukanni, made the remark on Tuesday in Lagos while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Lawson, a former National President of NACCIMA, died on Saturday, Oct. 29, at the age 72. She held the traditional title of Iyalode of Yoruba.

“I had the honour of serving with Iyalode as DG NACCIMA during a part of her tenure as national president and I can testify to her commitment to the development of NACCIMA and the chamber movement at all levels,” Olukanni said.

He said Lawson’s vision to take NACCIMA and chambers in the nooks and crannies of Nigeria
to the highest level was unquestionable.

According to Olukanni, the chambers Accreditation Programme is a testimony in this regard.

Olukanni explained that Lawson, who was NACCIMA first female national president, initiated so many programmes and projects with many national and international institutions, including organisations of the UN Development System.

“Indeed, during her tenure, we participated in the 74th Session of the UNGA in November 2019.

“While we were in New York, she insisted we must visit the UN WOMEN Headquarters located on 42nd St. in New York and submitted an MoU between NACCIMA and UN WOMEN,” he said.

Olukanni recalled that the goal was to tap into the UN WOMEN programmes to support NAWORG, which Lawson nurtured to become a prominent National Women movement for Economic Empowerment of Women, especially those in the private sector.

“As a former High Commissioner to Australia, Iyalode encouraged us to work with our former High Commissioner, based in Canberra,  for an economic visit to Australia in 2019 focused on mining.

“She eventually led the NACCIMA to Melbourne in Australia and Perth, Western Australia, to attend the 2019 Africa Down Under Mining Conference in Perth.

“Her objective was to link up NACCIMA members with Australian mining investors, in pursuit of her commitment to the development of the Nigerian Mining sector.

“She was also the inspiration behind the economic visit to Israel in 2019. At the West African sub-regional level, she did a lot at the level of FEWACCI,” Olukanni said.

He, however, admitted that: “Surely like all mortals, she had her little foibles.

“But Iyalode was truly visionary, a grassroots person and leader who courageously walked the talk, and tenaciously was always in pursuit of her goals with the courage of her conviction.”

Olukanni said a fitting tribute in her memory would be to continue the expansion and development of the chambers movement across the country.

This, he noted, would serve as a platform and forum, for inclusive economic growth and development in Nigeria and West Africa; “where no one will be left behind.” (NAN)

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Olawunmi Ashafa

Treat economic saboteurs as criminals, says public analyst

By Yusuf Yunus

P&ID
Lagos, Oct. 28, 2023 (NAN) A public affairs analyst, Mr Jerry Amao, says any erring Nigerian found guilty of negligence or economic sabotage,  which could bring the country into disrepute, should be treated as criminal.

Amao said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) on Saturday in Lagos.

He also recommended that, henceforth, any government official found wanting in decision-making should be held responsible for any financial breach against the Nigerian government.

The consultant was reacting to the Oct. 23 victory by Nigeria, at a London High Court which set aside the arbitration award of January 2017 by P&ID, a British Virgin Islands company against Nigeria.

He added that punitive action on any untoward act against the country should be countered with force.

According to him, those in position of responsibility and decision-making must, henceforth, be held liable for any misdemeanour and answerable for their actions.

‘’The tribunal identified several instances where key recommendations concerning the arbitration were not acted upon by the officers responsible, including Ministers of Justice and of Petroleum Resource.

‘’The court has come to Nigeria’s rescue this time, but it is clear from the judgement that if the heads of the relevant ministries had performed their duties effectively, this case might not have arisen at all,” Amao said.

The consultant opined that the court was ‘’very critical’’ of the Gas Supply and Purchase Agreement, (GSPA) to supply gas to a P&ID project that was to be located in Calabar, Cross River State.

‘’One of the major lessons from the case is that the nation must ensure that contracts entered into by government are prepared by competent and experienced legal and other experts.

‘’The court was very critical of the GSPA and the obligations that Nigeria assumed under the contract,’’ the expert noted.
Recall that the country was triumphant in a London Court which set aside the arbitration award obtained in January 2017 by the British firm against Nigeria.

Originally, the award was about $6.6 billion but rose to about  11billion as of the date of the final judgement because of interest.

The P&ID had instituted the suit against Nigeria before the arbitral tribunal, alleging a breach of agreement for the supply of gas to a project to be located in Nigeria’s Cross River State.

However, Nigeria was able to, successfully obtain leave of the London High Court in September 2020 to appeal against the tribunal award, the hearing which lasted eight weeks between January and March.(NAN)

Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa