By Nefishetu Yakubu

Daikin Middle East and Africa company has announced the launch of its first Proshop in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, in partnership with Integrated Home Concepts Limited (IHCL), to showcase advanced air conditioners.

Daikin is a leading global innovator and provider of advanced, high-quality air conditioning, heating, ventilation, and refrigeration (HVAC-R) products for residential, commercial, and industrial use.

In a statement, Sami Monastiriotis-Gkouneim, Africa’s Sales Manager at Daikin, MEA, said Africa represented a key market in which Nigeria particularly stood out as a growth area.

Monastiriotis-Gkouneim said with the inauguration of the Port Harcourt Proshop, Daikin is taking its commitment to delivering industry-leading innovation and unmatched expertise to its customers in Nigeria

“Our objective is also to address the evolving needs of the Nigerian market by offering advanced air quality solutions that balance comfort with energy efficiency.

“Studies have revealed that certain air conditioning units might not be suited for Nigeria’s unique weather conditions, leading to potential health risks and mishaps from outdated systems and lack of technical know-how.

“Having rigorously assessed Nigeria’s market and its air quality challenges, we are now bringing our specialized expertise to bear to deliver top-tier air-conditioning solutions in this market.

“Our collaboration with IHCL follows Daikin’s approach of aligning with strategic local partners to ensure customer service excellence,” he said.

According to him, the newly launched Proshop is opened to costumers from September 13.

He disclosed that the Proshop would serve as a sales and service hub for Daikin’s extensive range of air conditioning technologies.

In the statement, Sanjay Mishra, the Managing Director of IHCL said that IHCL was partnering with Daikin to open its first Proshop showroom in Port Harcourt to offer quality and comfortable experience for both existing and prospective customers.

Mishra said “the partnership will provide sales and technical services at one place, ensuring a seamless customer experience and a great Daikin brand experience.

“Daikin’s goal is to foster a step-change in indoor air quality in the region by developing new sales and service channel partnerships that can bring our air quality and energy efficiency-enhancing systems to a wider audience.”

According to him, Daikin is committed to nurturing sustainability, promoting healthy living and introducing innovative products that ensure superior performance, lower operational costs and minimized environmental impact. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Vincent Obi

By Justina Auta

Actionaid Nigeria, a social justice organisation, has reviewed its strategy and engaged the media in alleviating at least five million Nigerians out of poverty.

Its Country Director, Mr Andrew Mamedu, said this at a media engagement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Mamedu noted the high poverty rates in the country, adding that the deployment of new strategies through collaboration with the media, communities and government would eradicate poverty and redistribution of wealth in the country.

“For us, the media is not just a tool, but partners in progress to achieve the five million people we want to contribute to take out of poverty.

“We will take five million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years. That is one of the mandates we are doing now.

“We are in the process of reviewing our current strategy and we are looking at plans, strategies and processes on how to achieve that.

“Is it achievable? Yes, China, India, in one swift way got about a hundred and three hundred million persons out of poverty in one year.

” They did that by investing in education, infrastructure, and small-scale businesses,” he said.

Mamedu reiterated their commitment in promoting social justice, gender equality and poverty eradication through partnership with the government and other stakeholders to make an impact in the lives of citizens.

“The contribution of actionaid in ensuring transparency and holding the government accountable and ensuring that our resources are adequate and well utilised to benefit the people.

“Our bias is towards those living in poverty and the marginalised,” he said.

According to him, even though the organisation has specific programmes for women, men and boys were also not left out in some of its programmes.

“For us to achieve these lofty ideas that we have put in place, we have specific targets for women, children or young persons on unemployment, economy, humanitarian and others,” Mamedu said.

He, therefore, urged the media and other stakeholders to support the organisation to achieve its mandates.

“We will be providing some training, support for your organisation, proposals specifically targeting media organisations on what we can do towards poverty eradication in Nigeria,” he said.

Also, Mr Shagari Sumner, a senior media practitioner representing Arise TV, urged the organisation to factor some challenges affecting media operations, while relating with them.

Sumner also encouraged Actionaid to sustain its relationship with the media towards achieving its aim for the overall benefits of the citizens.

NAN reports that various media organisations from the print, television, radio, online and others were represented to strengthen partnership towards eradicating poverty, ensuring social justice and gender equality. (NAN)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Bashir Rabe

By Oluwatope Lawanson/Florence Onuegbu

The Lagos State Government said on Wednesday that it would end food wastage in the state by 2024.

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State made this known in Ikeja, during the swearing-in of the new cabinet members of 37 commissioners and special advisers.

Sanwo-Olu said that ending food wastage and ensuring food security for the residents of the state was one of the focus agenda of his second term administration.

He said that the government would establish the Lagos Food Security and Central Logistics Park in Ketu-Ereyun, near Epe, by 2024.

“Food security for our people is another critical focus area for us this term. As we all know, Lagos ”imports” most of the food that we consume.

“Due to the lack of appropriate storage facilities, up to 40 per cent of the agriculture products either cultivated in Lagos or imported from other states end up wasted.

“We are poised to end this monumental waste when the Lagos Food Security and Central Logistics Park is completed in Ketu-Ereyun, near Epe, by 2024.

“This will cut down, if not eliminate scarcity of perishable food, improve access for processing and packaging, and ensure the application of quality standards.

“Above all, it will facilitate higher revenue for our teeming farming population,” the governor said.

He said that over the past 100 Days since the administration began its second term, a lot more had happened, as the government announced the renaming of its Governance Agenda to T.H.E.M.E.S+.

According to him, the renaming of T.H.E.M.E.S to T.H.E.M.E.S+, is in recognition of the necessity of incorporating Social Inclusion, Gender Equality and Youth Development into all government’s programmes.

Sanwo-Olu said that the government would focus on building a better and more equitable society, as no one and no sector would be left behind in the journey to building a Greater Lagos.

He said that beyond the broad T.H.E.M.E.S+ agenda, the second term would focus on building and completing enduring legacy projects in transportation, health and agriculture that would open up more economic and developmental opportunities for residents of the state.

The governor said that already, in just the first 100 days, the state had witnessed the commencement of operations of the Blue Line Rail Service.

“What a joy it has been for me and I am sure for millions of our people, to watch as Lagos finally joined the list of cities around the world with a modern and functional metro rail system.

“The journey to make this happen was long and tough but we proved ourselves to be more durable and tougher.

“The smiles on the faces of commuters already using the Blue Line will soon be replicated along the Agbado to Marina corridor, where we are putting finishing touches to the completion of the Red Line Rail Service.

“This route will encompass 13 Stations in iconic parts of Lagos like Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, Ebute Meta and Ebute Ero.

“Still on Rail, we shall commence the extension of the Blue Line from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko. This will expand coverage of the service to millions more of our people,” he said.

According to him, when completed and fully operational, the extended Blue Line and the Red Line will jointly serve over one and half million commuters daily.

He said that as many experts had stated, the benefits of this to the economy would be massive and more importantly, the improvement in the quality of life of the people would be palpable.

Sanwo-Olu said that the giant strides being made with the rail would be complemented by the efforts on road infrastructure, as the government would focus on completing Phase 1 of the 4th Mainland Bridge.

He said that the 4th Mainland Bridge, which would link Ikorodu, Epe and Ibeju-Lekki axes of the state, would further open up the Eastern corridor of Lagos and catalyse economic growth and development for the millions of residents living and working in that area.

“Alongside the 4th Mainland Bridge is the Omu Creek Project. This will link the Lekki-Epe Expressway (the redevelopment of which is almost completed) to the Ito Omu area of Lagos.

“When completed, expect the rise of new towns that will help to decongest our metropolis, create massive job opportunities for the indigenous people of the area and facilitate private investments in multiple sectors.

“Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, a Greater Lagos is coming to Ito Omu,” Sanwo-Olu said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Adeleye Ajayi

By Justina Auta

Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) have called on the government and stakeholders, to prioritise disability inclusion as a strategy to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

They made the call at a one-day consultation on mid-term review of disability inclusion in the implementation of SDGs organised by an NGO, Sightsavers Nigeria, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Dr Abdullahi Usman, National President, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), called for bridging disability gaps and promoting good governance to address them.

“It is important to note that building an inclusive society goes beyond preparing PWDs for the workspace or providing them with skills.

“We are appealing to all relevant stakeholders both in public and private sector to accelerate action on the SDGs and ensure inclusion for PWDs.

“We all have equal rights to education, employment opportunities and health care, and the rights to have a say in the decisions that affect our lives,” he said.

He said Nigeria has an estimate of over 30 million PWDs, who are marginalised on the grounds of gender, poverty, age or other factors.

Mrs Esther Bature, Sightsavers Country Advocacy Coordinator, said the forum was for PWDs members in Nigeria to review mid-term implementation of the disability inclusion in the SDGs.

Bature explained that the upcoming SDG summit, as part of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) scheduled for Sept.18 and 19 was an opportunity for the voices of PWDs in Nigeria to be heard.

He said that their voices would be heard in the implementation of all inclusive SDGs.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity for the voices of PWDs to be heard in the highest echelon.

“So we work with the JONAPWD to mobilise their members across the geopolitical zones, across disability clusters to come together and hold a consultation about the SDG implementation at the grassroots.

“This is to ensure that recommendations made to our government so that when they go to the SDG Summit, they will make commitments that are inclusive.”

According to her, Sightsavers has collaborated with the Office of the Senior Special Adviser to the President on SDG (OSSAP-SDGS), in shadow reporting for the Voluntary National Review (VNR).

Dr Zakariya Mohammed, Deputy Director, OSSAP-SDGs, said the meeting was crucial toward ensuring inclusion in the implementation of the SDGs for PWDs. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru/ Joseph Edeh