By Esenvosa Izah

The Director-General of Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Mr Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, says he has been given yet another opportunity to serve at the global level.

Oyerinde said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos, following his recent appointment as a member of the governing board of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

NAN reports that Oyerinde was on Feb. 6 appointed member of the ILO governing board.

The  board comprises representatives of governments, workers as well as employers.

“It is another opportunity to serve and contribute to the deepening of engagement and collaboration between all Labour and employment stakeholders at the global level.

“The appointment is also a recognition of the role that NECA is playing in the global stage; for the labour sector, it is a win-win for all of us (employers and employees).

“Without a peaceful Industrial environment, the recognition that our nation enjoys will not be there; so, the appointment is a plus to everyone in the labour sector, “ the NECA boss said. (NAN)

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

By Angela Atabo

Ms Obiageli Okafor, fintech entrepreneur has created a platform – tech4eons to build the capacity of Nigerian youths in Information Technology (IT).

Okafor, a young woman making a mark in the fintech industry told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the gesture was to make Nigerian youths irresistible in the labour market.

The self-taught techie, who started her journey into the space at the age of 16, said her passion for technology and her drive to create innovative solutions led her to be part of the development of several successful tech products.

She said that her dedication and hard work did not go unnoticed, as she was offered a job at a leading fintech company in Dubai, Tafabot.

She said that part of her role as a product manager at the Dubai-based company, was the development and management of the cutting-edge fintech product.

“I created a platform for young Nigerians to express themselves. Being at the forefront of the entire rave about tech careers.

“I found a distinct reoccurring problem involving Nigerian youths which is the lack of clarity when trying to get into the tech space.

“Most Nigerians think they have to be a master at coding to succeed in the IT space but there are on demand non-tech code roles.

“I have been informally guiding people to make their career into tech using transferable skills from their previous jobs as well as school.’’

Okafor said she decided to make it official by creating a platform known as tech4eons to see to it that 12 people a month were guided into the tech industry.

This, she said was by organising courses and landing internships.

The 25-year-old advised youths to invest in training and education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to build their employability skills.

“This will increase their chances of finding well-paying jobs and contribute to the development of the country.

“I also encouraged them to be proactive, be a problem solver ,network and build healthy relationships with people within the industry,” she said.

Okafor said as a firm believer of IT growth in Nigeria, said that to improve technology usage in Nigeria several key steps needed to be taken.

She called on the government to provide incentives for tech companies to set up operations in Nigeria, as well as invest in improving the country’s infrastructure to support the growth of the tech industry.

She said that improving access to education, skills and training especially in technology and computer science would help increase the number of skilled workers in the country.

Okafor said that encouraging investment in technology startups and small businesses through initiatives like venture capital funds and incubators would help to drive innovation and entrepreneurship in the tech sector.

She also called for improved internet access by increasing the availability and affordability of high-speed internet access to bridge the digital divide and support the growth of the tech industry.

She said that encouraging collaboration and partnerships between tech companies, universities, and research institutions would help to drive innovation and knowledge-sharing in the sector.

According to her, by taking these steps, Nigeria can build a strong foundation for technology innovation and usage, and position itself as a leader in the tech industry in Africa. (NAN)(nannews.ng)

========

Edited by Ali Baba Inuwa

By Cecilia Ijuo

Sen. Shehu Sani has adopted a two week old baby, reportedly abandoned on the street in Nasarawa State.

The baby was reported to have been picked by a Police patrol team, who proceeded to a social welfare centre.

Sani who on Tuesday paid a visit to the Restored Destiny Child Orphanage Foundation where the baby is kept, pledged to provide necessary support.

He commended the orphanage for agreeing to take up the responsibility of the child.

Sani eventually christened the child “Jordan Shehu” and promised to do everything to support in his upbringing.

The former lawmaker who represented Kaduna Central in the Eight Assembly, said the increased rate of abandoned children was worrisome.

Sani said reports had shown that many children, who were born under such circumstance were from unwanted pregnancies, particularly from single girls.

According to him, the mothers of such abandoned children do so to avoid stigmatisation.

He said, while no immoral act should be condoned, girls who got pregnant outside wedlock should be supported and counselled.

The lawmaker said different factors were responsible for mothers abandoning their children.

“One of the factors is the stigma attached to such birth and I think it is high time our society began to address and discuss this issue.

“By addressing this issue the idea of shaming people who give birth to this type of children will be checked.

“It is also important that our society starts to pay attention to orphanages where these type of children are kept.

“Children without parents belong to the society and we must play our part in their upbringing,” he said.

The lawmaker called on leaders to use their position to change the narrative.

He said, “our traditional and religious leaders should wade into this issue, first to prevent the type of pregnancy that leads to this kind of birth.

“However, when it happens, we should accept them as one of us.

“There is nobody that is born without a father or a mother.

“So when we begin to discuss this issue, it will make it easier for children born under such circumstances to live with their parents,” he said.

The lawmaker thanked the orphanage for accepting to cater to the child.

Mrs Grace Chinedu, Founder, Restored Destiny Child Orphanage Foundation said she was elated by the visit.

She said she would continue to work to put smiles on the faces of children who were not privileged to be under their parents’ tutelage.

Chinedu said the orphanage, which houses over 26 children was founded seven years ago.

She thanked the former lawmaker and other Nigerians, who had assisted the orphanage over time.

The founder said “no help rendered to an abandoned child or an orphan will go unrewarded”. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

============
Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Vivian Emoni

The National University Commission and World Bank have encouraged Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement Centre of Excellence (SPESSECE), to involve Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in training to enhance their knowledge.

The Centre Leader of the SPESSECE, Prof. Mohammed Yunusa, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja, at a Stakeholders Forum, orgainised by the SPESSECE, Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU) Zaria.

Yunusa said that the SPESSECE was established in 2019 by the NUC in collaboration with the Word Bank.

He said that the centre was to bridge the knowledge and skill gap in the areas of sustainable procurement environmental and social standards education in the public and private sectors.

He said that the NUC and the World Bank had encouraged the centre to ensure that the IDPs and vulnerable groups were involved in capacity building training to help them acquire more knowledge.

“In all the training the World Bank and the NUC have encouraged the centre to note the IDPs and other vulnerable groups to enable them acquire more knowledge.

“The SPESSECE, ABU, through its training programmes focuses on building the capacities of professionals and practitioners in procurement, environmental and social standards.

“The drive is to train competent and skilled sustainable procurement, environmental and social standards practitioners in the public, private and civil society organisations,” he said.

Yunusa said that the beneficiaries of the training were equipped with appropriate intellectual and practical abilities and to display the right virtues, ethics of equity, discipline, commitment and transparency in the practice of sustainable procurement, environmental and social standards.

“The SPESSECE enjoins everyone to patronise our programmes because we have the best online teaching and experienced instructor.

He said that the centre is engaged with Master`s Degree in procurement management, sustainable environmental studies and social development studies.

He said that short executives courses in procurement management, sustainable environmental studies and social development studies were also available in the programme.

The National Project Coordinator of the NUC, Dr Joshua Atah, said that the programme was running out its time scheduled.

Atah, who represented the NUC Executive Secretary, Prof Abubakar Rasheed, said that the programme was a five year programme and meant to end in 2024 but has not yet implemented its mandates.

He said that COVID 19 pandemic and other obstructions affected the effective implementation of the programme.

He advised institutions on efficient training and retraining of people for exchange of knowledge and understanding among professionals.

Also, Director, Academic Planning and Monitoring, ABU, Prof. Muktar Bello, said that the centre was working hard to ensure that the programme was able to achieve its mandates.

According to him, we are far behind the rescheduling but we believe that we can do whatever possible to ensure that we achieve as much as possible.

The director said that the centre needs more support to enable the programme to get to a better level and can attain its goal, adding that the centre had established good relationships with relevant stakeholders.

He said that the essence of the collaboration with other stakeholders was to ensure that the progrgamme was sustained effectively. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

============
Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Fabian Ekeruche

Folio Media Group, publishers of Daily Times, and its partners has called for renewed hope in the Nigeria of our dreams.

Mr Sunny Ikwuagu, General Manager, Folio Communications, made the call at a news conference to unveil Nigeria’s Heritage Protect – “The Nigerian Grand Book.’

Ikwuagu said that the Nigerian project is a multipurpose platform conceived for redirecting the convoluted perception of Nigeria (and Nigerians).

He added that the project was in partnership with the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).

“In the next 10 years, this public-private partnership project shall strategically reveal, highlight and celebrate the very best of Nigeria.

“We are convinced that this partnership shall deepen the ultimate objective of the project for a wholesome image overhaul for Nigeria.

“We believe that this project will engender an inflow of foreign direct investments through a well coordinated mix of sustained activities.

“We have put together critical initiatives and programmes that will be instrumental to the actualisation of the broader objectives of this project.

“Part of which is the Nigerian Grand Book, a national souvenir, which seeks to create a high-impact historical publication to feature the path-finding role of Nigerians and corporate organisations in national development,” Ikwuagu said.

According to him, the Nigerian Grand Book is an impeccably researched compendium of the birth and growth of Nigeria, which is presented in two broad sections to reaffirm Nigeria’s bond of unity and diversity.

Ikwuagu said that the book was an exclusive stand alone collectors’ item, exquisitely handcrafted in limited editions.

He said that the book highlights historical contents to reinforce an understanding of essential Nigeria in its glorious antecedents and the narrative up until 2000AD.

Ikwuagu said that the book was an archival delight and a treasure trove of nostalgic pictures of remarkable moments of the Nigerian nation.

“I am happy to announce to you today that our media organisation, The Daily Times Nigeria, with over 90 years of operation possesses the richest reservoir of captivating library images of Nigeria’s epochal moments.

“The book is a cultural phenomenon defining a new Nigeria, emblematic of positivity.

“Naija has become the established spirit of the contemporary Nigeria as a power house of talent and opportunities, where creativity is empowering the youth to winning acclaim in the global space.

“We believe that this project provides a powerful platform to showcase pioneering contributions of Nigerians to nation building and development.

“We welcome partners from the organised private sector on this quest of a global perception management project for Nigeria,” Ikwuagu said.

He said that the first edition of the book that would be released on June 1, would be a limited edition with only 63 units produced to align with Nigeria’s years of nationhood.

He said that the first edition would be distributed to their partners in the private sector and key Ministry, Department and Agencies of government.

According to him, the Nigerian grand book is a national souvenir which tells the Nigerian story, highlighting the rich cultural resources which abounds in Nigeria.

Also speaking, Mr Bolaji Okusaga, Managing Consultant, Precise Platform, said the book seeks to restore hope and optimism to Nigerians, Nigerians in the Diaspora and the global investment community.

Okusaga said that the book chronicles achievement of Nigerians, home and abroad, who are contributing meaningfully to better the world.

The consultant noted that beyond the daunting challenges of today, Nigeria has scalable achievements that could be leveraged to woo investors into the country. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

==============
Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Raji Rasak

Malam Tijani Isa, the President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), says only a government that comes to power through free and fair election can redeem the country’s economy.

Isa disclosed this during the institute’s 17th Western Zonal Accountants’ Conference holding at Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Topo, Badagry, Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the conference was “Professional Accountants Uncertain Economy and Sustainable Development”.

According to the ICAN president, a government that comes to power with a vision and has a programme to uplift the population will surely redeem the economy.

“When you have a government that is based on financial or military inducement, we are not going anywhere.

“I keep on saying that Nigeria is blessed with all resources to excel, but the problem we have is harnessing these resources.

“We are the fifth largest suppliers of crude oil in the world, yet we can’t refine sufficiently locally, our refineries are in comatose.

“We need to have a leadership that has vision and focus, then we can move forward,” he said.

The president said that the theme of the conference was timely and pertinent.

“It avails us the platform to collectively examine our pivotal roles in sustainable development in the face of an uncertain economy.

“The conference provides us with a unique opportunity to rethink our evolving roles in national development.

“We are faced with the most challenging period in history, as a nation and globally.

“The need for a more accountable and efficient utilisation of scarce resources has been heightened.”

Isa said the New Normal was challenging the accountants as professionals to deploy their skills in charting a more robust, inclusive, and sustainable future.

He said the country’s challenges were diverse, running the gamut of high inflation, increasing debt profile, rising unemployment and underemployment, and intractable security challenges.

“We must assist the nation and businesses to maximally utilise the limited resources to achieve national and organisational goals and objectives,” he said.

Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, the Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU), said the theme was very apt at a time when the economy formed the core of the talking points in campaign conversations.

“I do not possess the expertise to speak on matters of the economy as much as many of you here today do.

“But I am sufficiently educated enough to understand that accountants, like many other professionals, are partly responsible for the precarious situation of our nation today,’’ she said.

Olatunji-Bello said the accountants should play a key role in salvaging the situation.

“It is also important that this conference also considers sustainable development as one of the cardinal topics.

“I therefore believe that this conference is coming at a most auspicious time.

“Accountants can engage in robust conversations on some of the key economic issues facing us and proffer solutions,” she said.

In a paper presentation, Mr Olanrewaju Sharafa, the Associate Lecturer, Canterbury Christ Church University, United Kingdom, urged ICAN members to seek financial freedom and sustainability within their practice and professional practice.

Sharafa, also National Treasurer, Institute of Corporate And Public Sector Professionals (ICPSP), said chartered accountants should improve the accounting profession through value adding services diversification.

He listed some of the areas ICAN members could explore to include governance and strategic services, leading innovative business idea development, tax and wealth and advisory, compliance and regulatory services, among others.

“You are the future of the accounting profession, hence the need to go out there and do great things. There is nothing limiting you,” he said.

Pastor Samuel Egbetokun, the Conference Chairman, said paper presenters at both plenary and workshop sessions had done their researches and prepared to disseminate to participants a body of seasoned knowledge.

“I don’t have any doubt in me that at the end of this conference, all of us will be loaded with adequate practical knowledge and enough skills that will make us better accountants,” he said.

In her remarks, Alhaja Kafilat Hassan, the Western Zonal Chairman, urged those at the conference to maximize the opportunity of the diverse registered delegates to establish new business relationships.(NAN)(www.nannews,ng)

Edited by Kabir Muhammad/Oluwole Sogunle

By Bridget Ikyado

His Eminence, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has advised Nigerian leaders to promote human dignity and oneness in line with the Human Fraternity Rules to enhance peace in the country.

Onaiyekan gave the advice in a keynote address to mark the International Day of Human Fraternity.

The event, which held at the Catholic Secretariat on Tuesday in Abuja, was organised by the Department of Mission and Dialogue, supported by Caritas Nigeria.

It had the theme  “Interfaith Relations in Nigeria; Diversity, Dynamism and Strength”.

The Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together is also known as the Abu Dhabi Declaration.

The Declaration was signed by Pope Francis and Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, on February 4, 2019 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirate.

The cardinal outlined 11 points which should be adopted by individuals and leaders to promote unity, peace and progress in every society.

He listed the points to include belief in the oneness of God, human dignity and equality before the law, religious diversity, and the importance of family in building a nation.

Others included care for children nurtured through marriage, and abhorrence of homosexuality in any form.

“Respect of human life is absolute; abortion, mercy killing and murder are crimes and sin,” Onaiyekan said.

He noted that the document was emphatic on the fact that there should be no killing in any form in the name of God, and declared that terrorists were ungodly and irreligious.

Onaiyekan said that every responsible person and leader should condemn kidnapping and other forms of terror as part of the drive to ensure a peaceful society.

“The dignity of women is to be recognised and women are to be given full dignity,” he said, adding that leaders should expunge laws that undermine women.

Onaiyekan also prayed for peaceful and successful elections in Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event had lay faithful, clergymen and other stakeholders who sued for peace and unity in the country. (NAN)(www.nannnews.ng)

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) will ensure that no benefiting community is left behind in this year’s project execution.

Mr Joseph Ityav, HYPPADEC Chairman, who disclosed this on Tuesday at the HYPPADEC 9th Council meeting in Abuja, said that the project would be part of its medium-term strategic plan.

The strategic plan aimed at improving the welfare, security and development of HYPPADEC states and focussed on 10 key areas of education, healthcare, security, economy, environment, agriculture, energy, road infrastructure, water and youth empowerment.

Ityav said that projects on erosion control would be deployed to HYPPADEC states to reduce the burden of the yearly flooding in such benefiting communities.

‘’All the projects we have set in place to carry out in this accounting year are based on the cost sector that is captured in a medium-term strategic plan.

“We have been able to execute projects in almost every community of HYPPADEC and based on the plan that we have on the ground now, we will be able to take more projects to the host communities.

‘’We have started on a good note; we have tried to take projects to every committee of HYPPADEC based on enumeration exercises that have been carried out in the past. So this ninth meeting is to strategise and make sure that every HYPPADEC community is captured in what we do,’’ he said.

The HYPPADEC member states are Niger, Kebbi, Kwara, Benue, Kogi and Plateau while Taraba, Gombe and Kaduna states have applied to be part of the commission areas.

Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, HYPPADEC Managing Director, said the commission would this year give priority to erosion control and transportation infrastructure.

“I think we are going to pay specific attention to erosion control, transportation and infrastructure, especially the provision of ferries and high bulk goods conveying ships along the communities.

‘’These are some of the major challenges that the communities are facing, which we have not addressed so far,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 9th council meeting would consider reports from Policy Guideline and HPPADEC Medium and Strategic Plan as well as the Monitoring and Evaluation Committees.(NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

By Peter Okolie

Members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Imo, on Tuesday, staged a peaceful protest following the incessant attacks, killings and kidnapping by gunmen in the state.

Their grievance was further heightened with the killing of Nnaemeka Ugboma, the Chairman, Customary Court, Ejemekwuru, in Oguta Local Government Area, on Feb. 2 within the court premises while presiding over a matter.

The group also decried the gruesome murder of the Sole Administrator of Ideato North Local Government Area of the state, Chief Chris Ohizu, among other incidents.

The lawyers had marched with placards from their Owerri bar center to the Police Headquarters near the Government House, Owerri.

Some of their placards read “Violent attacks on Imo citizens must end now!! #saveourland#”, “Murder in the court, stain on justice” and “We demand justice for the slain customary court chairman #JusticeforUgboma,” among others.

A nine-point communique read by the Chairman, NBA Owerri branch, Mr Damian Alinnor, shortly before the protest, expressed concern that the insecurity situation in the state had assumed a worrisome state.

“We hereby call on all manner of persons engaging in violence and killings in the state to ceases with immediate effect as the lives of Imo citizens are not worth losing for any reason whatsoever.

“Imo state must not be reduced to a theatre of war for any reason, known or unknown.

“Security agencies should be more tactful in their security approach and be more proactive in the safeguard of the lives and properties on Imo citizens,” he appealed.

Alinnor further called for urgent beefing up of security around the courts, including building perimeter fence as well as devise a roundtable dialogue between government and non-state actors to address the perceived agitations.

He urged the government to take more proactive actions to safeguard the lives of Imo citizens, especially the members of the bar and the bench.

According to Allinor, until members of the bar in Imo are sufficiently assured of the safety of the Judiciary, the bar and litigants as well, it may advisedly recommend that members desist from attending courts.

“In the circumstance, the members of the bar in Imo have resolved to boycott all courts from Monday, Feb. 6, to Wednesday, Feb. 8, and call on the relevant authorities to make clear assurances of safety of the Judiciary, the bar and litigants before court resumes,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the communique was signed by the five chairmen of Owerri, Orlu, Mbaise, Okigwe and Mbano/Etiti NBA branches in the state.

The NBA members also observed a one-minute silence in honour of late Ugboma and others, who have lost their lives to insecurity in the state.

However, neither the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Barde, nor any other senior police official attended to the protesters as at the time of report.

Also, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Henry Okoye, who picked a call put across to him, however, said he was in a meeting.

Okoye did not respond to a text message soliciting his reaction on the matter. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

==========
Edited by Vincent Obi

By Segun Giwa

The Atulunse Initiative, a cultural socio-political pro-democracy advocacy group, says it is planning a symposium on electoral reform to educate Nigerians particularly in South-West on how to make their votes count at the forthcoming elections.

Mr Olaseni Shalom, Coordinator, Atulunse Initiatives, Nigeria, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Akure.

Shalom said that the symposium would principally highlight the challenges in electoral systems with particular regards to vote capture and reflection.

He said the symposium would hold in Akure, on Thursday with Dr Kayode Ajulo, a legal practitioner, delivering the keynote address and lecture.

“The symposium is on electoral reform titled: “Let Our Votes Count,” and the Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredelu is the Chief Host of the day,” he said.

Shalom said that the Atulunse Initiative had over the years driven discourse for credible leadership as a veritable tool for social engineering.

He noted that the group was interested on the concentric benefits of evolving reliable systems and institutions to birth seamless and credible electoral processes where votes count and determine political outcomes.

“This year’s symposium will build on the lessons and observations of the past and present to add practicable thoughts and solutions to the unique challenges in the Nigerian electoral process particularly as it affects the South-West.

“The symposium will be contributing a body of literature toward influencing a policy shift in favor of the Yoruba race.

“With evolving crisis in a waning sense of belonging, insecurity and political subterfuge of the Yoruba people in contemporary times, the imperative to regroup, re-think and re-strategise a stake in the unfolding theatre of modern Nigerian politics is overwhelming.

“Atulunse Initiative seeks to interrogate a pathway to a legitimate leadership post 2023 at the federal, state and local government areas, deliberately and favourably disposed and committed to the growth and development of the Yoruba Nation.

“In doing this, we are mindful of the peculiarities that set us apart broadly and specifically,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng.ng)

================
Edited by Emmanuel Afonne/Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma