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Health

NMA trains members on entrepreneurship skill in Nasarawa

By Sunday John
The Nasarawa State Chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has begun entrepreneurship training programme  for its  members on sustainable income economic after retirement.
Dr Sabo Emmanuel, the State’s NMA Chairman at the  training in  Lafia, said the initiative was aimed at securing better living conditions for  members after retirement.
Emmanuel said  that the leadership of the association had decided to train Doctors in animal husbandry, crop farming, food storage and processing, Information Communication Technology (ICT), among others, in line with the diversification programme of the government.
“This is an idea that we brought to the association to ensure doctors also take good care of their families,  considering the fact that their monthly salaries can no longer meet their increasing demands in the midst of raising economic challenges.
“Even after their retirement from service, they can go on with their businesses to cater for their families”, Emmanuel said.
The NMA Chairman added that the association would assist their members with finances to set up their businesses at end of the training.
Emmanuel , who noted that  60 medical doctors  from Nasarawa South Senatorial Zone were  selected for the training, said  the gesture would be replicated in Nasarawa North and West Senatorial Zones.
He  also  called on the State Government to establish entrepreneurship programme for civil servants.
On his part,  Mr Nicholas Aboki, the State’s  Head of Civil Service, commended the association for the initiative with a promise that government would always support them to succeed.
Aboki also said that  government would study  the mode of the training with a view of replicating it for all civil servants in the state.
Similarly, Dr Hassan Ikrama, Chief Medical Director, Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH) Lafia, lauded the association for the initiative.
Ikrama said the training  programme, if properly implemented would go a long way towards improving the living standards of doctors in the state. (NAN)
Culture & Tourism

Constant training will enhance productivity in tourism sector – NIHOTOUR

By Priscilla Osaje

The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) says constant training of its personnel on leadership and citizenship will go a long way to enhancing productivity in the tourism sector.

The Director- General of NIHOTOUR, Alhaji Nura Kangiwa said this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.

Kangiwa said this when he received the Director-General of the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), Mr Jonah Bawa in his office.

According to him, for any organisation to achieve its full potential in orientation and reorientation, such organisaton must focus on the mandate of the organisation, “which is key and germane’’.

He reiterated his determination in the training of staff and personnel for improvement of quality, efficient service delivery of their jobs in the institute.

He said that such would enable the institute achieve the core mandate for which it was established.

Kangiwa lauded the visit of the D-G of CLTC and the training the centre offered to military, para-military and civil personnel.

He said he would do all possible to explore the opportunity of sending staff of the institute to such training in the centre.

He said such training would acquaint them with the discipline, self-discovery, patriotism and commitment required of them to serve the institute.

He said it would help them to achieve the institute’s aims and objectives to benefit the larger society.

Earlier, Bawa said the centre, which was established to training military and para-military personnel under the name Man-O-War, was later changed for the training of both military and non-military personnel in leadership.

He said the leadership training inculcated the virtues of discipline, civic responsibilities, tolerance, endurance and good character under its current name ‘Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre’.

Bawa said that since the establishment of the centre about 70 years ago, it had trained all Nigerian military and para-military personnel in the course of their careers as a prerequisite for their graduation.

DG CLTC said that the centre had extended and expanded further the scope of its training activities to include all eligible working Nigerians irrespective of their background.

He said this was to enable them fit into and function well in the country for peace, understanding and national cohesion.

“The centre in addition to leadership and citizenship training, also undertakes reformatory and correctional training services for youths.

“The youths are engaged in militancy and restiveness and other social vices that threaten peace in the country,” Bawa said. (NAN)

Economy/Business

Restructuring, reforms, revenue generation key to NCS success- Ali

By Emmanuella Anokam
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), retired Col. Hameed Ali, on Sunday cited restructuring, reforms and revenue generation as key factors responsible for the impressive performance of the NCS.

Ali, who made the disclosure at a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum in Abuja, said that the three items were the mandates given to him by President Muhammadu Buhari on his appointment.

He said that the NCS under his leadership was focusing on aligning the NCS’s operation with international best practice through the mandate.

“We developed many standard operating procedures to achieve the mandate, all the officers became accustomed to restructuring.

“Training was no longer by chance but by schedule and a fundamental thing. No training, no promotion.

“So we renovated our college, developed a curriculum for training of our officers. For us to do the best we must train and continue to train.’’

He, however, described the NCS as a highly technical organisation, governed by laws, including the World Customs Organisation (WCO) laws, Civil Service laws and laws enacted by the National Assembly.

According to him, the approval of certain recommendations by the president also enhanced the remuneration and welfare of the organisation.

The comptroller-general also disclosed that he was working towards providing office and residential accommodation for NCS workers.

According to him, in the next one or two years, officers will no longer stay in rented apartments, especially those working in the borders.

Ali noted that the NCS had also empowered some commands and created enabling environments for them to operate effectively.

Education

Niger SUBEB, NGO train 2,625 teachers on Jolly Phonics

By Rita Iliya
The Niger State Universal Basic Education (NSUBEB) on Wednesday in Minna partnered the Universal Learning Solutions Initiative(ULS), a non-profit organisation, to train 2,625 teachers and 50 government officials on Jolly Phonics literacy teaching methodology.

Mr Vic Poluektoff, the Senior Project Manager of ULS, said that the training was to equip teachers with the expertise and tools.

He said that the methods were “to enable them to improve on reading and writing skills in English of Early Childcare Development (ECCD) for primary one to three pupils in government schools across the state.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three-day training was for 750 teachers of Early Childcare Development (ECCD), 1,875 primary one to three teachers and 50 officials across Minna, Mokwa, Kontagora, Bida, Agaie and Suleja centres.

NAN also reports that Jolly Phonics is a fun and interactive teaching tool that uses the synthetic phonics literacy teaching methodology introduced in the state in 2017 under Teacher Professional Development initiative.

Poluektoff said that the teachers, selected from 25 local government education authorities (LGEAs) were being trained in specialist literacy teaching practices called ‘synthetic phonics’.

He said that the synthetic phonics had been recommended by governments around the world because of the way it provides children with the skills needed to read and write.

“I will particularly like to thank the Executive Chairman of Niger SUBEB, Dr Isa Adamu, and the rest of NSUBEB Team for their wisdom, strength and initiative in inviting us to work in the state to give the children a brighter future,” he said.

Earlier, the ULS Projects’ Director, Dr Louise Gittins, said that the Jolly Phonics project was well embedded in the hearts and minds of the teachers in the state.

He said that the project would be expanded to reach more teachers this year with the Teachers Professional Development (TPD) initiative.

Similarly, Mr Gary Foxcroft, the Chief Executive Officer of ULS, lauded the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), for its continued support and adoption of Jolly Phonics in government schools across Nigeria.

“UBEC has really recognised the tremendous impact Jolly Phonics has been making on literacy levels in Nigeria’s government schools and has taken it as one of its flagship programmes,” he said.

Foxcroft said that the programme had helped in initiating new projects across the country as Jolly Phonics was being taught across the 36 states and the FCT.

He added that the programme would assist in improving the reading and writing abilities of over 3.5 million children within the next two years.

Defence/Security

Naval War College graduates 25 Command Officers

By George Odok
The Naval War College Nigeria has graduated 25 officers of the Command Level Officers’ Course 4 after a three weeks intensive training in Calabar.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony in Calabar, Commandant of the College, Rear Adm. Adeseye Ayobanjo, said that the course was designed to prepare select officers for command responsibility.

Ayobanjo explained that the course was aimed at enhancing effectiveness in command, leadership and management by focusing on self-awareness, ethics, communication skills, team work and command climate.

“I must state that this graduation ceremony in honour of Command Level Officers’ Course 4 participants mark yet another milestone in the annals of the College.

“It seems just like yesterday when you assembled here for the course, and today, after three weeks of vigorous training, extensive lectures from seasoned expert and resource persons from within and outside the military, you are graduating successfully.

“We have 25 graduating senior officers ready to go back to the field to contribute positively towards the achievement of the Nigerian Navy overall responsibility.

“Let me use this opportunity to state that the conceptualisation, planning and execution of this course are well in tandem with the vision of the Chief of the Naval staff, Rear Adm. AZ Gambo

“The vision is to leverage on all factors of national location, technology, training, team work and synergy to re-energize the Nigerian Navy and enhance her as a well-motivated and ready Naval force in the discharge of her constitutional mandates and other assigned tasks in fulfillment of national security objectives,” he said.

He explained that the Chief of the Naval Staff therefore envisions that the Nigerian Navy core values of team work, integrity and professionalism finds a more effective reference and meaning in a well-trained and motivated workforce.

He urged the graduands to see themselves as a privileged integral part of the renewed vigour towards attainment of the set goals.

He noted that the Nigerian Navy has been undergoing some transformation occasioned by contemporary threats in the maritime domain, changing operational concept, fleet renewal, advancement in technology as well as effects of globalisation and human development.

The Commandant, who congratulated the graduands for their successful training, cautioned them not to forget the basis of the knowledge based approach to leadership that they were taught in the College.

In his remarks, Rear Adm. Perry Onwuzulike, Fleet Commander, Eastern Fleet of the Nigerian Navy, congratulated the Commandant of the College and the graduands for their training and graduation.

Onwuzulike, who was the special guest of honour at the event, said that the College has carved a niche for itself as a centre of excellence.

Highpoint of the event was the presentation of certificates to the 25 graduands.

General News

FG to establish leather factory for training of inmates in Kano

By Rabiu Sani-Ali

The Federal Government says it will establish a leather factory at Janguza Custodial Centre, Kano State, that will  enhance vocational and skills’ acquisition for the inmates.

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola,  stated this during the virtual ground-breaking ceremony of the factory at Janguza Custodial Centre, Kano, on Tuesday.

Aregbesola was represented by Shuaib Belgore, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry.

He said that the project was part of the reform programmes initiated by President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to enhance care and support for offenders and criminal suspects in custody.

He said that the factory would fast track training of inmates of the centre on leather works and enterprising skills as well as boost revenue base of the state and the country.

The minister noted that skills’ training had been a critical component of the correctional institutions to keep safe custody of convicted offenders and criminal suspects.

He added that it would also help to  rehabilitate and imbue them with a sense of responsibility  which would enable them live a crime-free life on discharge.

Aregbesola said that many inmates engaged in criminal activities because they had no marketable skills that could provide them with  means of livelihood or lacked  parental support to see them through schooling or vocational learning.

“However, the serenity and the regimentation of incarceration will provide the environment for vocational training and skills’ acquisition.

“Without doubt, providing skills’ development opportunities is central to the realisation of this task,  hence, the initiative to up-scale this service in our custodial centres is commendable, especially, with the collaboration of the private investor.

“As a government, we are entrusted with the responsibility of raising the bar of the living standard of the people and the President Buhari-led administration has passionately pursued this course among the Nigerian people, irrespective of social status, including those in incarceration.

“The recent increase in the budgetary allocation to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to meet the demands of the institution is a clear testimony to the President’s irrevocable commitment to actualise this promise.

“It must be noted and commended that this leather factory is just a tip of the iceberg on what the government has been doing to improve the conditions of inmates in our custodial centres. They have been beneficiaries of education and other skills’ acquisition programmes,” he said.

According to him, the educational and self-improvement programmes of the service recorded an unprecedented rise in the number of inmates that enrolled for schooling and those that had already graduated.

Aregbesola disclosed that 23 inmates were undergoing Post-Graduate Programmes comprising: one PhD; 16 Masters Degree; and six Post Graduate Diploma Programmes.

He explained that 465 inmates were currently studying various Degree Programmes and 634 of the 1,404 inmates that wrote the SSCE examinations passed with five credits, including English and Mathematics.

He added that 4,757 inmates enrolled for the Adult Education programme and 1,162 graduated, while 280 others had enrolled for vocational education programme.

While commending the outgoing Controller General of Correction, Ja’afaru Ahmed, the minister tasked the Acting CGC, John Mrabure, to build on the enviable legacy of his predecessor and ensure that inmates are put to productive engagements to reduce recidivism.

In a remark, Alhaji Usman Alhaji, the Secretary to the Kano State Government, lauded the initiative saying it would go a long way in training inmates on trades that would  enable them become self reliant.

Alhaji, represented by Musa Yahaya-Bichi, a senior official in his office, said that the state government had adopted proactive measures to create conducive business environment aimed at revitalising its moribund industries.

He reiterated the state government’s commitment to supporting the service to enable it  achieve its objectives.

Also speaking, Ese Idiegbe, the Project Management Consultant, said that the factory when fully operational would provide 5,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Idiegbe said that the factory was designed with an annual processing capacity of 400,000 hides to provide employment opportunities and boost the state’s  revenue base.

Economy/Business

NEPC trains 6, 500 entrepreneurs on export trade in Enugu

By Emmanuel Acha
The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) says it trained no fewer than 6, 500 entrepreneurs in six Community Trade Groups in Enugu State in 2020.

The Southeast Regional Coordinator of the council, Mr Arnold Jackson, disclosed this on Tuesday, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu.

Jackson said that notable among the trade groups that were trained was the Cashew Community Trade Group in Udenu Local Government Area of the state.

He said that no fewer than 6,000 members of three trade groups, namely, farmer group, processor group and pickers were trained under the cashew value chain.

Jackson said that the move was in line with the diversification policy of the Federal Government.

The coordinator said that the council had in line with its one state one product policy, identified Enugu State as having comparative advantage in cashew production.

He said that such policy was aimed at empowering entrepreneurs to enable them to participate in the promotion of non-oil export in Nigeria.

Jackson, however, said that the state was also doing well in cassava production and spices, adding that the various programmes of NEPC had impacted positively on the active entrepreneurs in the state.

He said that the council would give the operators of small scale businesses the needed exposure to explore international markets.

The coordinator said that with the coming into effect of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), goods produced by local entrepreneurs would in principle reach no fewer than 1.2 billion people in about 54 countries.

He said that the AfCFTA was a noble initiative aimed at increasing the volume of trade among African countries, which currently stands at about 20 per cent.

“With the AfCFTA, local entrepreneurs can choose to supply about 90 per cent of their goods in the international market and reserve 10 per cent for the local market,” Jackson said.

The coordinator said that the council, as part of its efforts to encourage local entrepreneurs in the state, had concluded arrangements for the establishment of Export Promotion Clubs in the state.

Defence/Security

Foundation trains NIS officers on ways to combat trafficking, smuggling

By Ikenna Osuoha

A Spanish public foundation, International and Ibero-America Foundation for Administration and Public Policy (FIIAPP), says it has started training of officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) on how to combat smuggling and trafficking.

FIIAPP is currently working on a project in Nigeria tagged: “Action Against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants in Nigeria (A-TIPSOM)”, a project aimed at reducing the menace.

The foundation Coordinator, Mr Jose Andeme, made this known at the ongoing three-day workshop for NIS officers to sensitise them on Immigration Act, 2015 and Immigration Regulations, 2017 on Monday in Abuja.

Andeme said the workshop was to support NIS efforts for better performance in combating trafficking and smuggling, and to have a better understanding of the Act that regulates its activities.

He said the training was organised to support NIS and build its capacity, adding that smuggling and trafficking activities were on the increase in the country.

According to him, I will say that our immediate output for this training is to have NIS official with clear understanding of what their mandate is and how to fulfil it.

“We expect to see a reinforced and improved NIS performance in combating smuggling of migrants,” Andeme said.

Also, the NIS Comptroller-General, Mr Muhammad Babandede, charged investigation officers of the service to always embark on thorough investigation before submitting their findings for prosecution.

Babandede said there was a huge gap between investigators and prosecutors, noting that there was need for a synergy between the two to enable them to carry out successful investigation.

He said there was need to bridge the gap, so that investigators and prosecutors could work closely together.

“The arrest you are going to carry out, the search you will conduct must be guided by the prosecutor who will face the law, face the court to convince the court that a crime was actually committed.

“In the whole of all in this country, we need to find opportunity to bridge this gap, so that investigator and prosecutor can closely work together,” Babandede said.

In his remarks, Mr Jorgis Martinez, the Senior Assistant, Spanish Ministry of Interior, thanked FIIAPP for the training.

Martinez said that the Spain Embassy, especially the national police member, had been in continuous collaboration with NIS.

He said the two organisations had built a very strong relationship, adding that, Spain Embassy and its national police would continue to support NIS in the fight against smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons.

Martinez thanked Babandede for paving the opportunity to further enhance the collaboration between the Spain Embassy and NIS, adding that, officers participating at the training would gain more knowledge.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report that 40 officers of NIS are currently participating in the ongoing training. (NAN)

Defence/Security

Correctional Service to train inmates on garment, shoe making

The Controller General, Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) Mr Ja’afaru Ahmed, says the service is set to train inmates on shoes, garments and leather works.

Mr. Chuks Njoku, spokesman of the  Service, said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeira (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to the statement, the Controller General said at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by NCoS with a private entrepreneur that the training would be on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

He said the first phase of the engagement would be the shoe and garment factory at Aba Custodial Centre and the Leather Factory at Janguza Custodial Centre, Kano State.

Ahmed said the benefit of the arrangement included skills acquisition by the inmates, which would enhance their employability when they are discharged.

“It will also increase the internally generated revenue of the Service and enhance self-sustainability in the provision of staff uniforms and foot wears as well as inmates’ uniforms and beddings,” he said.

Ahmed used the opportunity to solicit the support and patronage of members of the public of the goods produced by inmates in order to create a sense of self-worth in the offenders.

NAN reports that President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 gave a directive that all military and para-military agencies should resort to purely local sourcing of their uniforms and foot wears.

This laudable initiative was borne out of the need to generate employment for Nigerians, conserve foreign exchange, utilise local raw materials and generate other value added services in the chain of production. (NAN)

 

Economy/Business , Food Security

Farmer urges govt. to train rural colleagues on modern farming

By Benson Ezugwu

Mr Godshield Kanjal, Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, Kalmz Farms Limited, Ogoja, has appealed to governments at all levels to assist in training rural farmers on modern farming.

Kanjal made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Calabar.

“Today’s farming is no longer what it used to be. A lot of technologies are now employed in farming. It is no longer the crude way farmers used to know.

“These days, drones are being used to fight pest globally. How many farmers in Nigeria have seen drones, not to talk of using them?

“So, I appeal to government at all levels to assist our farmers, especially rural farmers by exposing them to modern farming methods,’’ Kanjal said.

According to him, governments have not been doing enough to encourage dry season irrigation farming.

“We are just introducing irrigation farming in Cross River North Senatorial District through the River Ogoja by individual efforts.

“We plant vegetables including, okro, flutted pumpkin and tomatoes, and the demand is quite high.

“I have even gone ahead to introduce onion farming which is alien to our farmers, and it’s going on well,’’ he said.

He, however, said that most farmers lacked the needed funding for expansion.

According to Kanjal, many beneficiaries of the various agriculture loans given out by government are not real farmers.

He called on government to ensure that those granted such loans are genuine farmers so as to achieve the purpose – ensuring food security. (NAN)