By Victor Adeoti

Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun  says  the sum of N100 million has been set aside to boost Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) development in the state.

The governor spoke at the graduation ceremony of the first batch of the participants of the post COVID-19 Economic Strategy Pilot Training Programme in Osogbo.

Oyetola said his administration had adopted a proactive strategy to stimulate the state’s economy adversely affected by the novel COVID-19 pandemic.

He said each of the trainees under the programme would have access to N100,000 as a start-up loans.

He added that the training programme was designed to generate 15,000 direct and indirect sustainable job opportunities annually.

The governror also said that the training programme was a swift response to the challenges brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.

He urged the beneficiaries to utilise the skills and knowledge acquired in the course of the programme positively to enable them compete favourably in the industrial and commercial sectors.

“As pioneer graduates of this scheme, you are our voice to your successors that this programme is useful and doable.

“You are our proof that entrepreneurship is a worthy solution to youth unemployment and poverty.

“You are our strength that will lay a solid foundation for a sustainable, life-transforming and destiny-changing programme that will join other proactive initiatives to deliver the prosperous Osun that we seek,” the governor said.

According to him, under the skills upgrade training programme, the state government was able to re-focus, re-engineer and expand the scope, knowledge and relevance of artisans.

He added that government was able to make people who lost their jobs during the pandemic relevant “under the new normal orchestrated by COVID-19”.

In his remarks, Dr Bode Olaonipekun, Commissioner for Commerce, Industries, Cooperatives and Empowerment, said 2, 000 participants were trained and empowered with startup loans to support their businesses.

Also, the Executive Director, Micro Enterprise, Bank of Industry, Mrs Toyin Adeniji, commended Oyetola for building a virile and healthy economy for the state. (NAN)

By Akeem Abas

Hadjia Sadiya Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster, Management and Social Development, has said that 5,280 rural women in Oyo State would benefit from a Federal Government’s Special Cash Grant.

She made the disclosure during the flag-off of the special cash grant held on Thursday at the Western Hall, Secretariat in Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister presented the cash to the beneficiaries earlier before food items were distributed to persons affected by the recent Sara market mayhem in Ibadan. Some 928 households, 5,568 displaced persons benefitted from the food items distributed.

The minister said that each of 5,280 persons received a cash grant of N20,000 to uplift the socio-economic status of the rural women in Oyo State.

Farouq said that the state has received a total sum of N992,715,000.00 from the Federal Government’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme since inception.

She said that the programme had impacted the lives of 14,021 poor and vulnerable households from 28 Local Government Areas.

“I must note at this point, that the social register is being expanded to cater for more poor and vulnerable households in Oyo State.

“The Rural Women’s cash grant is designed to provide a one-off grant to some of the poorest and most vulnerable women in rural Nigeria.

“A grant of N20,000 will be disbursed to each of 150,000 poor rural women across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

“The grant is expected to increase access to financial capital required for economic activities,” she said.

Gov. Seyi Makinde, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Bisi Ilaka, appreciated the Federal Government for the cash grant initiative.

He assured that the state government is committed to creating and improving opportunities for people to live a meaningful and fulfilled life.

“I advise the beneficiaries to take advantage of the current women’s emancipation initiative, both globally and locally, involve in governance, seek political positions and take advantage of different policies of government to change the society,” he said.

In his remark, Mr Sunday Dare, the Minister of Youth and Sports, harped on the need to empower more women.

NAN reports that the event featured symbolic presentations of the cash grant to some physically challenged women by the minister.

Among the dignitaries at the event are the Minister of State for Niger Delta, Sen. Tayo Alasoadura, the Director-General, National Emergency Management Authority, Retired Air Vice Marshal Alhaji Muhammed, and the State APC Chairman, Chief Akin Oke. (NAN)

By Grace Alegba

A University don, Prof. Gloria Chukwuedebe, has called for the collaboration of government, academia and industries towards evolving an implementable engineering curricular, tailored towards Nigeria’s peculiar needs for rapid growth and industrialisation.

Chukwuedebe, who is the Dean, School of Computing and Information technology, Federal University of Technology Owerri, (FUTO) made the call on Thursday at an e-symposium to commemorate 2021 World Engineering Day.

The programme was organised by the Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NIEEE) tagged “Reforming Electrical Engineering Education’’.

She said collaboration towards the right skills for manufacturing was important for academic researches to proffer actual practical solutions to societal problems.

“We need to work together industry, government and academia,’’ she said.

She lamented that Nigeria had become a dumping ground for substandard products and technology because the needed synergy to enforce standards in the nation was missing.

Chukwudebe added that the collaboration was important for Nigeria to excel in innovation, research and development and “to achieve the SDGs and become a self-sufficient nation’’.

The don said that manufacturing would become easier when government’s funding for research is increased and for industries to adapt and perfect the works of researchers.

While giving a detailed history of the evolution of engineering from the first generation to the currently debated 5G technology, she said engineers were working silently in various sectors towards transforming lives globally.

She said that engineers were hardly commended for their achievements, but their errors usually exposed when there are accidents, and commended UNESCO for setting March 4 as a date to celebrate engineers globally.

Chukwuedebe, a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers commended new initiatives introduced by COREN to change the narrative for Nigeria not to be left behind.

Also, Prof. Olasebikan Fakolujo, Dean, Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan said that in 2015 over 250,000 graduates relied on formal jobs which worsened unemployment in Nigeria.

Fakolujo said that engineers stepped in and began to create jobs, but changed the narrative for a while as the problem resurfaced in 2018 with unemployment worsening because the engineers slacked.

“The graduate engineer should be innovative to create jobs,’’ he said.

He said engineering education fared well in early years after independence because teachers taught with adequate “practical background and industry knowledge “.

He said that the trend had changed with lecturers teaching with outdated notes that did not meet up with current electrical and electronic training requirements hence, the curriculum gap.

He appealed to industries to enforce standards and promote local content, and should not use the industrial training period as a time to send interns on errands instead of equipping them with practical knowledge.

He called for reforms in all aspects which included government funding, the trainer’s attitude and approach, trainee’s orientation and industries support to achieve results.

Prof. Joseph Odigure, Registrar, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) said Nigerian graduates do not fit into the 21st century engineering community because the technological space was evolving.

Odigure represented by Prof. Eyitayo Agfolabi said that Nigerian students cannot cope after learning outdated methods, hence the introduction of Outcome Based Education (OBE) by COREN which brings students and industries together.

He said the initiative sought to close the gap between theoretical and practical knowledge where attention must shift from the traditional method of focus on lecturers to students ability and understanding.

He said engineering curriculum approaches in Nigeria were not outcome based hence the unemployability of most graduate engineers.

Odigure said that there was need to put focus on Outcome Based Education (OBE) to be able to fit in, adding that, curriculum must be reformed to the OBE model instead of emphasis on grades.

“OBE approach is a must,’’ he said.

Mr Adeyemi Kings, National Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NIEEE), in his opening remarks said that engineering entrepreneurship was important for wealth creation to tackle the economic challenges of COVID-19.

“There is an urgent need to strengthen engineering design education which is significant component of undergraduate engineering education. This is critical for long term development and ripple into economic development,’’ he said.

Mrs Abosede Adewole joined other speakers to call for more teachers as the few lectures were inadequate to execute practical sessions to a logical conclusion with students.

Adewole also called for action against marginalisation of women in Nigeria whose passion for engineering has waned from being turned down in various engineering fields based on gender and not competence.

Other speakers also lamented the reluctance of the academia and industries to adopt OBE and collaboration and stressed the need for them to embrace change and partnership for progress.

(Edited by Emmanuel Okara)

local_offer
Posted in GENERAL NEWS

event_noteMarch 4, 2021account_boxGRACE.ALEGBA

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Managing-Director, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Buki Ponle, has urged the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers to ensure professionalism as it discharges its duties in the society.

Ponle made the call on Thursday in Abuja when a delegation from the guild, led by its President, Mr Dotun Oladipo, paid him a courtesy visit seeking for assistance to enrich their news content.

He urged the association to continue its crusade and social responsibility in ensuring that journalism is practiced rightly for development.

The managing director also urged the guild to use its noble platform to correct the ills in the society and highlight many developmental strides of the present government in the country.

“No matter what, criticisms are needed but when they are not healthy criticisms or not in line with development, they will bring reaction,’’ he said.

The NAN boss expressed delight to identify with the guild, adding that social media had been put in a tight corner because of the noble role it assumed in the society.

“In recent times, we have witnessed news disinformation, misinformation and total lies just to serve a purpose but it does not help us.

“It is high time we all looked forward to helping our country to get it out of this,’’ he advised.

The guild had sought for partnership and to reach an agreement with NAN for the services being rendered to the huge platform by NAN to be given at a cheaper rate.

He said NAN, as a Federal Government agency had been battling over the years to get out of the financial mess adding that government resources were dwindling especially with challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic.

Ponle, however, assured the guild that it would review its operations but appealed for it to take what it could offer presently.

“We have in the past months reviewed our operations and added value; the ratings are there, I will urge you just to bear with us now.

“It is painful for us to review upwards but how do we survive? We can only survive if we add just a little for us to do what you are expecting us to do.

“If NAN were to be a private organisation, it would either go down or increase its price in a par with the market situation.

“To do it the previous way does not pay us, we have considered so many issues and put so many things into critic before we came up with the slightest offer we have added,’’ he said.

Earlier, Oladipo said the guild had come to seek NAN’s assistance in offering service to them at a cheaper rate due to the economic downturn, which affected every sector.

He said the economic downturn hit the guild so hard that it decided to go into partnership with the NAN because it appreciated the role of NAN in intervention in terms of stories and wide coverage.

“But for the online platform, it has not worked that way; we discovered that for both government and private businesses the level of patronage has drastically dropped due to bad economy, which has led to downsizing in most places.

“Our records will testify that since we started, we have always fulfilled our part in terms of payment in spite of the level of hardship and COVID-19 pandemic challenges,’’ he said.

He described the guild as a body of eminently qualified journalists adding that for one to qualify for its membership, the benchmark was that the journalist must have practiced not more than 10 years in a reputable organisation.

According to him, the journalist must have risen to not less than the position of the level of an Assistant Editor to qualify to be a member to sustain professionalism.

“Because we have seen a lot of disinformation and falsehood online and the question has always been how to help the country to overcome this challenge.

“We have seen in the last couple of years how the social media has developed and being put to negative use by many Nigerians

“How do we step in when there is authentic information to dwell on and we also believe that with the number of years that those who are members of this association have put into journalism, they have a name and people keep following them,’’ he said. (NAN)

By Philomina Attah

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday in Abuja, inaugurated the N9.1 billion data communication and command centre for the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

The centre, tagged “Technology Building”, will serve as a platform for the NIS to synergise with relevant agencies, both local and international, to enhance national security.

Speaking at the event via video link, Buhari said the project was in line with his administration’s mandate of formulating and implementing policies to protect the lives and property of Nigerians.

“This administration has been relentless in our desire to create an enabling business environment that will usher in an economic boom for Nigerians and all those doing business in the country.

“It is imperative that our ranking in the global security index has improved.

“And I am using this medium to call on all security agencies to scale up their activities towards achieving this goal.

“I assure you that this administration will give the much-needed support in carrying out your mandates,’’ the President said.

He urged NIS to put the facility to optimum use in carrying out its duty of keeping the country’s border safe.

The Comptroller-General of NIS, Mr Muhammad Babandede, said the contract for the project was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in November 2018.

According to him, the first phase of the project was awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria for N7.119 billion.

Babandede said FEC approved the second phase covering furnishing, installation of multimedia and other equipment, costing N2 billion in December 2020.

“The unveiling of this building provides a unique platform for security agencies to truly synergise and harmonise efforts under one roof to address security issues, using technology.

“The nature of the building and its robust IT infrastructure makes it a great investment and a huge contribution to global security, particularly with its effective connectivity to special platforms such as the INTERPOL and ICAO PKD/PKI data based.

“We assure the global community that holders of Nigerian passport can no longer travel with a lost, stolen or re-issued passport.

“This information is now available to INTERPOL and ICAO member states.

“In the next few days, Nigerians can use their passport in any airport with e-gate facilities throughout the world,’’ he said.

Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, remarked that the occasion was a dawn of a new day at NIS for border management in Nigeria.

Aregbesola said that in the past, border watchers rely on language, physical look and ethnicity for the purpose of identification.

He added that this required a lot of guesswork and the system was beaten easily with disguise.

“However, the development of photography was a quantum leap in border management as the circulation of pictures of potential troublemakers lead to their arrest and entry denials, though make-up artists could still dance around photographs.

“But with digital imaging and its accessories of fingerprint, retina scan and voiceprint, identity disguise is nearly impossible.

“Also, having a data bank and data processing centre provides access to information at the touch of a button.

“This makes it possible to monitor all entries and exits at our borders and have real-time information on all immigrants.

“This development will have a great impact on our security,’’ the minister said.

He assured Nigerians that the security challenges facing the country at the moment were surmountable and “are indeed being addressed.

“Though the concerns are shared but there is no need to despair’’. (NAN)

By Ramatu Garba

A Federal High Court sitting in Kano, on Thursday, sentenced a 36-year-old Cameroonian, Hoth Simplice-Patrick, to 15 years imprisonment for human trafficking.

The convict, who lives in Sabon Gari Quarters, Kano, was arraigned by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons(NAPTIP) on three-count charge of human trafficking.

Delivering judgment, Justice Sa’adatu Ibrahim-Mark, did not give the convict any option to pay fine.

She found Simplie-Patrick guilty on all three counts.

Ibrahim-Mark held that the sentence shall start from July 2020, when the convict was arrested.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Mr Abdullahi Babale told the court that NAPTIP in collaboration with the Joint Border Task Force(JBTF) arrested the convict in July 2020.

Babale said that the convict acting on behalf of his Principal, one Albany, now at large on July 15, 2020 at his residence in Sabon Gari Quarters, Kano, procured the illegal entry of two females and one male, from Lagos State to Libya, enroute Kano.

Simplice-Patrick, however, pleaded guilty to the charge.

The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of Section 26(1) of the trafficking in Persons(Prohibition) Act 2015.

The defence Counsel, Mr Murtala Isa, pleaded for leniency on behalf of his client as a first time offender. (NAN)