Author: Isah Mukhtar

NAN-H-21
Drum
By Taiye Baiyerohi
Lagos. Nov. 21, 2016 (NAN) Performing artistes at the ongoing “Jang-gu Drum’’ training on Monday, said the effective acquisition of drumming skills would help to create more jobs for unemployed youths in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Jang-gu drum is a South-Korean drum.

It is sometimes called “Seyogo’’– slim waist drum. It is also the most widely used drum in the traditional music of Korea.

The drum is available in many kinds and consists of an hourglass-shaped body with two heads made from animal skin.

The two heads produce sounds of different pitch and timbre which, when played together, are believed to represent the harmony of man and woman.

The participants, who spoke to NAN in Lagos, described the training as an avenue for artistes to tap new ideas and skills for better performance.

According to them, the knowledge gained will go a long way to ensure better understanding in the use of other Nigerian drums.

Mrs Elizabeth Amaifeobu told Nan that the drum had some similarities with the Bata Drum, adding that she was able to understand the bata drum better having explored the Jang-gu.

She, however, described the training as an eye opener to various drumming skills, noting that she would want more Nigerians to be trained, especially from the Nursery and Primary schools.

“I will go to schools to train pupils on drumming the nation’s indigenous drums since the training received from Jang-gu drum has taught me in a simpler form.

“This will eventually put food on my table and I will recover the money paid for this training,’’ she said.

Mr Rowland Oke, a performing artiste, said he was interested in promoting the country’s cultural heritage through music and drums.

“I have found a viable platform for that,’’ the artiste told NAN.

Oke said that after his training that he intended to establish a drumming school where the Jang-gu drum would be used to teach more persons on how to use most of the country’s traditional drums.

Mr Anuoluwapo Washington, also a performing artiste, described the Jang-gu drum training as a viable opportunity for the nation’s youths to be self-reliant.

“This is a good opportunity for youths who are talented in performing arts, they can be trained like me and make a living from it by thinking out of the box,’’ he said. (NAN)
PTB/ENN/PDE
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-S-4
Sports
Lagos, Nov. 21, 2016 (NAN) Emmanuel Oghenejobo, a taekwondo silver medallist at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, on Monday urged the nation’s athletes to downplay monetary demand in their service to the country.

Oghenejobo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that athletes should be committed in their pursuit to represent the country creditably in major competitions before expecting reward.

He noted that the economic situation in the country had made many athletes to demand for monetary reward before competing in competitions unlike in the past when athletes competed for glory.

Cue in Audio

“Economic reasons is what is killing sports today, there is hunger some administrator becomes bad they want to embezzle as much as they can, even some athletes themselves, if you tell them to come and do the sport, they tell you what is in it for me.

“In our time, imagine you win a national championship and they put glucose in your hand, you lick the glucose and you feel excited, it’s not the money, we want to bring taekwondo back to that feeling, the way we use to live.

“Taekwondo is character, my coach use to say to me then, just train by the time you win and become somebody money will follow you and that was the principle we adopted and that’s how we live over the years’’.

Cue out Audio — (NAN)

KOA/ENN
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu)

1. The 6th Business Forum of Small and Medium Enterprises takes place in Abeokuta.

2.The 6th South-West Governors’ Economic Forum comes up in Ibadan.

3.The Ondo State Governorship election campaign train of Alliance for Democracy moves to Okitipupa and its environs.

4. FADAMA III Additional Financing (AF) begins second phase of inspection in Lagos.
5. Poultry Association of Nigeria meets with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in Abuja.
6. Federal Government arraigns Supreme Court Judge Sylvester Ngwuta in Abuja.
7. Nigeria Partnership on Education Programme holds stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja.

Supreme Court Judge,  Sylvester Ngwuta,  facing trial on charges of fraud and judicial misconduct at Federal High Court, Abuja, pleads not guilty and applies for bail.

NAN-AE-2

Technology

By Kudirat Ogunyemi

Abuja, Nov. 18, 2016 (NAN) Dizengoff Nigeria, in collaboration with Phinada Integrated Farms, has introduced first-hand greenhouse technology to the northern part of the country, to improve agricultural production.

Mr Antti Ritvonen, Dizengoff`s Country Manager, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Ritvonen said that the partnership had brought out first-hand fresh products from the greenhouse technology, known as the Dizengoff Farmers Kit.

“The Dizengoff Farmers Kit was developed with the aim of helping farmers like the Phinada Integrated Farms with an all-year-round technique to produce and increase yields of greenhouse crops.

“The greenhouse crops are tomatoes, pepper, cucumber and sweet melons, which will earn the greenhouse operators guaranteed income on their investment as well as improve on the quality of food consumed by Nigerians.

“This will ensure sustainability, availability and affordability of quality food for all Nigerians and be a significant net provider of food to the global community.”

According to him, the greenhouse comes in different sizes and is specifically designed to help farmers work smarter, grow better and harvest bigger.

He said that a complete greenhouse is a combination of drip irrigation system, quality seeds, knapsack sprayer, agro chemicals & water-soluble fertiliser, training, installation, agro advisory support and insurance.

The manager urged the government to continue to provide an enabling environment by formulating and implementing policies that would make the agriculture sector self-sufficient and private sector-driven.

“That way, lots of employment opportunities will be created for Nigerians by Nigerians and there will in turn be an appreciable reduction of youth involvement in crimes.

“Therefore, to ensure the agricultural sector grows at the rate we all envision into the self-sufficient and private sector-driven model, government at all levels need to embrace the greenhouse technology.

“It will also develop the sector by encouraging banks to provide loan facilities at single digit interest rate for Nigerians to engage meaningfully in the production of high quality food to boost the economy of the nation.”

He further identified some challenges militating against the provision of the greenhouse technology to individual farmers.

“The issue of import duty on greenhouse equipment which we sincerely hope that the planned duty exemption granted to greenhouse will be fully implemented.

“The process of importing special greenhouse fertilisers required to achieve the desired yields can be made less cumbersome by ensuring that genuine importers certified by the Ministry of Agriculture are recognised.

“The tractors that are imported as semi-knocked down, bear a 35 per cent duty, while fully built and fully knocked down tractors have zero percent duty,” he said.

He appealed to the Federal Government to consider the semi-knocked down tractors for zero per cent duty, saying that this would create job opportunities for Nigerians.

NAN reports that Phinada Integrated Farms is owned by Sen. Philip Aduda, the Minority Whip in the Senate, who also represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). (NAN)

ROK/MOL/NKO
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Nkechi Okoronkwo
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NAN-H-17
Summit
By Idris Olukoya
Lagos, Nov. 18, 2016 (NAN) The Badagry Convention and Visitors Bureau, says it would hold the maiden edition of Badagry Economic Summit, in conjunction with the Lagos State Government in January 2017.
Mr Ashamu Fadipe, the Bureau’s Chief Executive, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Friday, said that the actual date for the summit would soon be announced.
He said that top tourism experts and investors were being mobilised for the summit to explore investment opportunities in the area.
Fadipe said that the summit would showcase the abundant investment opportunities in Badagry so as to lure investors and tourists to the area.
“There is no doubt that investment opportunities abound in Badagry, we have all it takes for investors to invest in.
“The community is blessed with rich historical and cultural heritage, crude oil, serene beaches, coconut plantation, seaport and massive land for development.
“If all these potentials are properly utilised, it will boost the economy of Badagry and increase the Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) of Lagos State,” he said.
He called for the continued preservation of the heritage sites and monuments in Badagry in their natural state.
Fadipe said keeping the sites intact would go a long way in telling their stories to tourists in order to give them a sense of belonging.(NAN)
SIO/DUA/WOJ
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(Edited by Dada Ahmed / Wale Ojetimi

NAN-AE-10

Technologies

By Kudirat Ogunyemi

Ashyin Kasa (Niger), Nov. 17, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Government says it will deploy modern agricultural technologies to improve  the quality and quantity of food  being produced in  the country.

Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, disclosed this at the Farmers Field Day organised by Dizengoff in collaboration with Phinada Integrated Farms on Thursday in Ashyin Kasa, Niger State.

Lokpobiri said this was why the government remains committed to the  policy on increasing private sector investment in agriculture.

He said that the collaboration of Phinada Integrated Farm with Dizengoff on the available technologies, machinery and all-year-round agricultural production was a clear demonstration of the thrust of that policy .

“ Federal Government is determined more than ever before to support farmers with modern equipment such as irrigation pumps, threshers, rice reapers, agro-chemicals, post-harvest equipment and tractors, among others.”

The minister said that the ministry operates a private sector-driven agricultural mechanisation programme which assists service providers to extend mechanisation operation like ploughing and harrowing at minimal cost.

“ The programme guarantees the service providers to pay 20 per cent of the cost of the equipment to Bank of Agriculture and the equipment will be released to them and they pay the balance of 80  per cent within four years.

“ Our goal is to provide support and solutions to address issues and constraints faced by farmers and I am optimistic that we will achieve it.”

He commended Sen. Philip Aduda, the Minority Whip and Founder of Phinada Integrated Farms for his massive investment in agriculture.

The minister urged farmers to take advantage of the ‘Farmers Field Day’ to access one or more technologies that would enhance their farming systems and improve the quality and quantity of their yield.

Mr Antti Ritvonen, Dizengoff Country Manager, said that the company was ready to assist Phinada Integrated Farms with modern technologies in all-year-round production of vegetables such as cucumber, tomato, pepper.

“We share the Federal Government vision on Green Alternative to ensure sustainable, availability and affordability foods for all Nigerians.

“ Our Green house is the first of its kind in northern Nigeria and we have different sizes and different kits like farmers greenhouse, fertilisers and agro-chemicals, Nursery set and drip irrigation system.

“Others are jacto sprayer, health and safety and quality seeds, among others  for sustainable farming to achieve improved livelihoods and to combat food insecurity in many communities,’’ he said. (NAN)

ROK/DO/NKO

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Edited by David Onilede/Nkechi Okoronkwo

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Army arrest 37 Boko Haram suspects in 15 months in Lagos, Ogun
NAN-H-70
Army
Lagos, Nov. 17, 2016 (NAN) The 81 Division of the Nigerian Army on Thursday says it arrested 37 suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Lagos and Ogun States within the last 15 months.
The outgone General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Maj.-Gen. Isidore Edet, disclosed this in Lagos while handing over to his successor, Maj.-Gen. Ebenezer Oyefolu.

Edet said the Division, under his watch, arrested the terrorists in different parts of the two states.

“As Boko Haram is being defeated, the terrorists run to other parts of the country.

“From the period I took over in August 2015 till date, we arrested 37 Boko Haram suspects.

“We will continue to arrest them and hand them over to the appropriate authorities,’’ he said.

Edet said his most challenging moment as GOC 81 Division was the abduction of three of his operatives by militants in Ijagemo Area of Lagos.

“I had to work round-the-clock to secure their release,’’ he said.

On pipeline vandals at Arepo area of Ikorodu, the outgone GOC said the Army worked collaboratively and cooperatively with other security agencies to rout the vandals from the area.

In his remark, the new GOC, Maj.-Gen. Oyefolu, said he would key into the successes of his predecessor to move the Division forward.

Until his appointment as GOC 81 Division, Oyefolu was the Deputy Director at Defence Intelligence Agency, Abuja. (NAN)

HOB/WOJ
(Edited by Wale Ojetimi)

1. Plateau Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Jos meets with leaders of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria.

2. Commissioner of Police, Benue command speaks with journalists on the resurgence of house breaking and theft in the outskirts of Makurdi, the state capital.

3. Taraba Commissioner for Information speaks on digitisation project in Jalingo.

4. Kogi Agric. Core Delivery Team meets with farmers in Lokoja to deliberate on inputs for the 2017 farming season.

5. Workshop for MDA’s with the theme ‘’Packaging of Infrastructure PPP Projects’’ holds at Hawthorn Suites, Garki II, Abuja.

6. University of Ibadan holds 2016 convocation lecture to be delivered by Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, former Minister of External Affairs, entitled: “ Nigeria Exceptionalism: Nigeria’s quest for World Leadership.’’

7. The trial of a 48-year-old pastor, who allegedly impregnated a teenager, comes up at an Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court.

8. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) meets with religious leaders in Ondo, ahead of the Nov. 26 governorship election in Ondo State.

Economist urges CBN to monitor intra banks dollar transfers
‎NAN-HE-22
‎Dollars

Lokoja, Nov. 15, 2016 (NAN)Mr Bankole Adeniyi, an economist, has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to monitor Forex ‎ transfers within banks in Nigeria regularly.

Adeniyi said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) in Lokoja on Tuesday that commercial banks were mainly responsible for scarcity of dollars in the country.

He noted that banks sold dollars to Bureau de Change  operators directly instead of bringing it to the bank for proper banking to customers.

Adeniyi said Nigeria had no reason to be in recession.

Adeniyi urged President Buhari to sack managers of the economy and replace them with capable hands that to move the nation forward.(NAN)

WAL/IA

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman