Author: premier radio premier radio

NAN-HE-18

Loan

By Abdulfatah Babatunde

Lagos, July 4, 2017 (NAN) The Citibank (Citi) has granted a N500 million loan to Accion Microfinance Bank (Accion MFB) as part of efforts to promote the development of the microfinance sector in Nigeria.

Lola Oyeka, the bank’s Country Public Affairs Officer for Nigeria and Ghana made the announcement in a statement she issued on Tuesday in Lagos.

According to her,the grant will fund Accion’s loan portfolio and support the development of approximately 5,000 micro and small enterprises in the country.

She also said the loan agreement would support the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS).

According to her, it will also reduce the number of excluded population by bringing them into the formal banking fold.

She further stated that the loan was part of a long-term business partnership between the Citi Inclusive Finance, Citi’s specialised unit for microfinance and inclusive finance transactions.

The bank’s Country Public Affairs Officer also named the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and the U.S. government’s development finance institution as part of the partnership.

The partnership intends to provide financing in local currencies to leading microfinance institutions operating in frontier and emerging markets around the world, according to her.

The bank cited a survey by the Enhancing Financing Innovation and Access (EFInA), stating that as at 2012, about 39.7 per cent or 34.9 million adult Nigerians were excluded from financial services.

CBN’s NFIS focuses on working with financial institutions to increase access of the unbanked population to banking products under affordable terms and conditions.

This is with the overall objective to empower people, promote savings culture, increase productivity and reduce poverty.

Akin Dawodu, Citibank, Nigeria CEO, reinstated the bank’s commitment to working with Microfinance partners in support of the national financial inclusion strategy.

“This, we intend to do by availing credit to micro and small enterprises in Nigeria.

“We are delighted to partner with microfinance enablers such as OPIC and Accion MFB for the benefit of SMEs and micro-entrepreneurs, thereby contributing to the economic development of the country,’’ Dawodu said.

Mrs Bunmi Lawson, MD/CEO Accion MFB, said funding from Citibank would enable the MFB to expand its financial services to a larger number of micro-entrepreneurs across the country.

“This will lead to economic empowerment and job creation for more Nigerians.

“We hope that other financial institutions will emulate Citibank by providing loans to the Microfinance banks which will, in turn, ensure that we truly meet the credit needs of the average Nigerian entrepreneur.

“Accion MfB core values, business philosophy and methodology have continued to distinguish it as the leading Microfinance Bank in Nigeria,’’ Lawson said.

Accion Microfinance Bank is listed on the London Stock Exchange as one of the companies to inspire Africa in 2017.

It has won the Lagos State Enterprise (LEAD) award for Best Microfinance Bank in Lagos State multiple times.

It has also won the EFInA award for the Service Provider that Deepens Financial Inclusion in Nigeria for its impact on socio-economic development.

“OPIC is committed to helping underserved populations gain access to more finance opportunities,’’ said Acting OPIC President and Chief Executive Officer, Dev Jagadesan.

“OPIC recognises the positive impact that microfinance institutions have on local economies throughout frontier markets.

“We are proud to partner with Citi and Accion Microfinance Bank to expand access to financial services in Nigeria.’’

Citibank, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions.

It provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, and securities brokerage among others. (NAN)

AIB/IFY/DUA
Edited by Ify Omowole/DUA

NAN-HG-6
Research
By Chinyere Nwachukwu
Lagos, June 29, 2017 (NAN) University of Lagos (UNILAG) said it invented a new method of diagnosing malaria, following intensive research by its Department of Medical Micro Biology and Parasitology.

Prof. Wellington Oyibo, the Director, Research and Innovation of the institution, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

Oyibo, a lecturer in the department, said the university’s research on malaria testing without the use of blood was validated in 2016.

He said that by this feat, the institution was fast becoming a clinical trial site for diagnosis in the country.

According to him, the institution has provided a platform and an enabling environment for researchers that have been providing solutions to life challenges.

The Professor of Medical Parasitology noted that having worked in the malaria space, he discovered that malaria was a major health challenge in the country.

He added that “one of the major challenges in managing the menace has to do with case management, as there are assumptions that all fevers are malaria.

“This leads to excessive diagnosis and over treatment.”

He recalled that the policy that malaria test should be done before treatment was approved since 2010, noting however, that “in spite of this policy, people are still not doing tests.

“So, one way by which we can encourage diagnosis is by introducing tests that will
not require blood from patients.

“Under the new test formula, medicine retailers will be able to carry out diagnosis before dispensing drugs.

“If we keep selling drugs for a disease that does not exist, it will amount to waste of resources and patients will be suffering.’’

The lecturer said that the research was conducted in collaboration with a group of researchers in Baltimore, U.S., adding that the outcome was to diagnose malaria using urine.

He explained that “the first urine malaria test’’ has been validated.

According to him, the urine malaria test is the first clinical and global trial to be done in the world.

He said the test had been registered by both the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control (NAFDAC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA).

He noted that the development was remarkable and groundbreaking, considering the fact that one could carry out malaria test without taking blood.

He appealed to the Federal Government to create easy access for people to test for malaria through the new approach.

This, he said, is possible by establishing testing centres in various parts of the country.

“This achievement shows that UNILAG is becoming a clinical trial site for diagnosis.

“In the past, trial test are conducted in India and Bangladesh or somewhere in Asia for Nigerians.

“But now, we are conducting tests for Nigerian patients and we are providing data and that is quite remarkable.’’

Oyibo further said that the new research breakthrough would improve malaria diagnosis and treatment. (NAN)
CCN/AIB/HA
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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Hadiza mohammed-Aliyu

NAN-H-100

Examination
By Chinyere Nwachukwu

Lagos, June 20, 2017 (NAN) The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has fixed Saturday, July 1 to conduct supplementary Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for 85,000 candidates.

The board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, announced the date in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to him, the examination, which is for candidates who registered late and those with related issues, will be spread across some Computer Based Testing (CBT) centres.

“Following an enlarged management meeting of the JAMB, the supplementary 2017 UTME has been fixed to hold on Saturday, July 1.

“No fewer than 85,000 candidates are scheduled to write the examination.

“Affected candidates have been notified through text messages.

“By this notice, they are advised to check their e-mail and profile for the schedule of their examination or visit the board’s website for their status,’’ Benjamin said. .

According to him, candidates will soon be requested to print their e-slip for details such as date, venue and time of the examination.

The board noted that candidates, who are not listed for the supplementary, would not be communicated while those, whose results are withheld, would reflect in their profiles, which have been updated.

The board  also advised rescheduled candidates to comport themselves and be of good behaviour to avoid the circumstance that earlier necessitated the cancellation of their previous examination.

“Many of the candidates rescheduled for this examination enjoy this privilege because of the board’s principles of equality and inclusiveness.

“It is better to let 100 offenders go free than to punish one innocent person.

“The board will enhance its monitoring of the examination as it would not compromise its sanctity.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that  1.7 million candidates registered for the 2017 UTME in 633 centres across the country.

The examination was conducted from May 13 to May 20 but the board  cancelled the results of more than  50,000 candidates.

It also delisted 48 Computer Based Testing  centres over what was described as huge and organised malpractices. (NAN)

CCN/AIB/JCE

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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Chukwudi Ekezie

NAN-H-55
Centres
By Chinyere Nwachukwu
Lagos, June 15, 2017 (NAN) The Academic Staff   Union of Universities (ASUU) has commended JAMB for blacklisting 48 Computer Based  Test (CBT)   centres  used for the 2017 UTME.

The President of the union, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos that the owners of the blacklisted centres should also be prosecuted.

The 48 CBT centres were among more than 600 centres used for the conduct of  the UTME nationwide in May.

NAN reports that JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, had on Wednesday announced the blacklisting of the centres for alleged  involvement  in extortion and `organised examination malpractice’ during the UTME.

Oloyede said the decision was taken at the end of an enlarged meeting with external examiners and other stakeholders in the conduct of the examination.

He  also announced the cancellation of results of 50,000 candidates for alleged involvement in malpractice during the examination.

The ASUU boss said the development was a step in the right direction, describing it as “ the way to go.’’

“What JAMB has done in that respect  is a welcome development and a good decision.

“I will not expect it to stop at just blacklisting of such centres.

“The leadership of the board should go a step forward by prosecuting owners of the affected centre in order to serve as a deterrent to others.

“This measure will further ensure that the integrity of the examination cannot be undermined,’’ Ogunyemi said.

He added that JAMB should also strive to do a thorough check on centres and their owners before engaging them in the conduct of the UTME to avoid a re-occurrence. (NAN)
CCN/AIB/OJO
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(Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-H-48

NYSC

By Chinyere Nwachukwu

Lagos, May 28, 2017 (NAN) Brig. Gen. Sulaiman Kazaure, Director General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has advised corps members to acquire extra business skills in camp in order to have a guaranteed future.

Kazaure, who is on a duty tour of NYSC orientation camps in the South-west zone, gave the advice at the Iyana Ipaja orientation camp in Lagos on Sunday.

According to him, the days of white-collar jobs are over and the only way for survival, currently, is skills acquisition.

He said that camps were meant for orientation and should be an enclosed environment with regimented activities.

The DG pleaded with the corps members to adjust themselves to the minimal discomfort that may come their way during the orientation.

He also asked them to take advantage of any form of skills acquisition programme offered to them.

The director-general congratulated them for being part of those undergoing the scheme this year.

“I want you to consider yourselves blessed for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.

“I urge you all to be focused and pay attention to all the skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development programmes within the scheme.

“The NYSC has, in the last few years, recorded a great paradigm shift in its orientation course contents.

“It is tailored towards being a responsive, responsible and result-oriented agency.

“The dearth of white-collar jobs, which led to an army of unemployed and restive youths, made this shift very germane and compelling.

“I do not want you to start seeking for jobs where they do not exist at the end of your service year.

“I want you to create your own jobs; let people serve you as there are no more white collar jobs,’’ Kazaure said.

He urged the corps members to strive to understand the ‘dos and don’ts’ of their host communities and respect their cultures and traditions.

The director-general also urged them to be security conscious and avoid night parties and lone movements.

He, however, assured the corps members that NYSC was committed to giving priority to their welfare.

The Lagos Coordinator of the NYSC, Mr Muhammed Momoh, said that 2,577 ‘Batch A’ corps members were deployed to the state for orientation.

He said that facilities needed to ensure the comfort of the corps members were fully in place. (NAN)

CCN/AIB/SOA

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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Oluwole Sogunle

NAN-H-56
Security
By Chinyere Nwachukwu
Lagos, May 27, 2017 (NAN) The National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) says it is planning to sensitise schools across the country on issues bordering on security and self-defence.

The 2nd Deputy National President of the Association, Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, disclosed this  to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos.

Ogunbanjo said that the development was against the backdrop of the incessant kidnap cases being recorded in schools across the country.

NAN reports that the most recent of such cases was that of    May 25  at the Igbonla Model College in Epe,  Lagos.

The gunmen had abducted six students and escaped through a hole they had dug at the rear of the college fence.

They were said to have sped off with the students in the speed boats they had come with.

The college is said to be surrounded by a thick bush with a river not too far from it.

A  gang of armed men had  abducted some students and teachers of the same college barely seven months ago.

According to Ogunbanjo, the incident of kidnap in the college is becoming one too many, describing  this  as worrisome and sad.

He appealed to affected state governments   to tackle the  challenge promptly.

“We must rise up to nip this ugly development  in our schools  in the bud as quickly as possible.

“It is gradually constituting a threat to the development of the children and education generally.

“According to reports made available to us, these gunmen had actually written to the school, notifying them of their intention and yet  nothing was done to prevent it.

“These kidnappers had visited the college before and this should have served as an eye-opener on the need to strengthen security around the entire college premises and environs.

“This incident is about the third or fourth that is taking place in Lagos schools alone and I do not think we are getting things right,’’ he said.

Ogunbanjo said NAPTAN would organise a sensitisation workshop on security in schools across the country.

“We are collaborating with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the National Security and Civil Defence Corps  (NSCDC) and the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS).

“We are going to be talking to the students, the teachers and non-teaching staff on how to be more security conscious.

“We are starting the sensitisation programme  in Lagos and we hope to write the state government before the end of the first week of  June,’’ he said. (NAN)
CCN/AIB/OJO
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(Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-H-32

Research

By Chinyere Nwachukwu

Lagos, May 23, 2017 (NAN) The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has pledged to continue to proffer solutions to challenges facing Nigeria’s education sector through intensive research.

Mr Collins Udu, Deputy Registrar in-charge of Research Unit of the council’s International Office, made the pledge in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

According to Udu, one of the mandates of the office, aside from conducting credible examinations, is also to carry out research on issues bordering on education holistically.

“Though our main mandate is to conduct the examination, we also contribute to nation-building by going into intensive research on issues militating against education development in the country.

“We do this mainly through paper presentations at seminars, which are normally held at least twice every month by the office.

“These presentations are called seminar series, where we invite teachers; it also serves as a forum for capacity building.

“The essence is to highlight areas of challenges in teaching and learning process, seek viable means on the way forward and build the capacity of the teachers,’’ Udu said.

He said that Nigeria has yet to get to where it should be, educationally.

According to him, there are several challenges in the education sector that stakeholders should look at holistically and provide solutions to.

“A situation, where we do not have up to 80 per cent of the students obtaining five credits and above in Mathematics and English, is not a good development.

“We should be able to present at least 90 per cent of candidates being qualified to gain admission into the country’s citadels of learning, in a situation where things are working well.

“It is only when we get to that standard that we can now say that we are getting there.’’

Udu said the fact that the country had yet to attain the expected standard of education, meant that some basic things were missing in the sector.

He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to provide adequate and decent public schools and equip them with facilities that would enhance teaching and learning.

According to him, qualified teachers must also be recruited to complement infrastructure development at all levels of education.  (NAN)

CCN/AIB/SOA

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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Oluwole Sogunle

NAN-H-103
Candidates
By Chinyere Nwachukwu
Lagos, May 19, 2017 (NAN) Twenty three visually impaired candidates from Bethesda Home for the Blind sat for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) on Friday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 321 blind candidates registered for the examination nationwide.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, had earlier in the month in Abuja, told newsmen that adequate provisions had been made to attend to the needs of the special candidates for the examination.

He said that the desire of the board was to ensure that no visually impaired candidate is deprived of sitting for the examination.

The Proprietress of the Home, Mrs Chioma Ohakwe, told NAN that she was expecting 100 per cent success at the end of the examination.

Candidates from the Home, she said, recorded 90 per cent performance in 2016.

Ohakwe told NAN that all the blind candidates went through rigorous preparations for the examination.

She commended JAMB for the efforts it made to ensure that visually impaired candidates were well catered for to sit for the examination.

“Gathering all blind candidates from various zones and lodging them in hotels, days to the examination and other logistics was not easy.

“This is an innovation that had been lacking before now; it is worth commending JAMB for it.

“The candidates feel more at home and interacted freely with their colleagues,’’ Ohakwe said.

The proprietress called on JAMB to ensure that blind candidates were obliged placements in their institution of first choice and course of study.

She said: “we have been having instances where candidates are offered courses that they were not familiar with and universities outside their choice.

“For instance, some of these blind candidates, who might have opted for placement at the University of Lagos, are sometimes sent to another university.

“Some of them may choose Mass Communication but eventually offered Philosophy.

“We therefore appeal to JAMB to help look into these issues, considering the special case of their disability.’’

The supervisor of blind candidate centre in Lagos, Prof. Peter Okebukola, told NAN that 127 blind candidates, drawn from all the states in the South-West were writing the examination at the centre.

“All the blind candidates nationwide are writing the examination in four zonal centres located in Kano, Abuja, Enugu and Lagos.

“The examination is going on smoothly and the candidates are happy and doing well.

“As expected, they are writing the examination with technology that is convenient for their status,’’ Okebukola said.

One of the blind candidates, Hamed Kareem, said many of his colleagues would prefer writing the examination with the Braille Note Apex Machine.

He complained that the interactive mode used for the examination this year, was slowing them down in the process of answering the questions.

“This year, we are using the interactive mode, where the examiners dictate the questions to us and we respond by using our typewriters or braille.

“Sometimes, we may not get the wordings right and when we try to seek for clarification, it takes time.

“We will, therefore, prefer our CBT mode like our sighted colleagues as it is faster for us and more convenient,’’ Kareem said.

Faith Ihedioha, another visually impaired candidate, however, commended JAMB for measures put in place to cater for their welfare during the examination.

She said preferred to write the examination through the CBT mode, instead of the interactive mode. (NAN)

CCN/AIB/AEA
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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Archibong Asuquo

NAN-H-79

Platform

By Chinyere Nwachukwu

Lagos, May 4, 2017 (NAN) The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says it has launched a talk back platform, known as “WAECKonnect’’ to improve effective communication between the council and candidates.

The organisation said this in a statement issued by its Head of Public Affairs, Mr Damianus Ojijeogu, on Thursday in Lagos.

WAEC said it established the platform to further engage the candidates and bridge the communication gap between them and the council.

“We are pleased to announce a new electronic information sharing and dissemination platform, called Candidates Interactive System or WAECkonnect.

“This is to enable the council communicate effectively with candidates during its examinations.

“The council is determined to protect candidates from also falling prey to fraudulent persons, who might want to take advantage of parents and candidates’ ignorance about its operations, to misguide and defraud them,’’ the statement read in part.

The platform will also allow WAEC to effectively engage the candidates before, during and after the registration and examinations.

Ojijeogu stated that the platform would enable the council in Nigeria to disseminate information to the public effectively.

“Notification of important information and changes regarding the past, present or future examinations of the council, examination date, time and venue will also be made available through the platform.

“The platform will also provide an auto creation of unique email address for candidates for all interactions with WAEC.

“It will also afford the candidates the opportunity to acquaint themselves with current technological tools that will be useful for them in the future.

“It would also be used to publicise Nigeria Examinations Council (NEC) decision on results among other benefits.’’ (NAN)

CCN/AIB/SOA

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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Oluwole Sogunle

NAN-AE-1

Fish

By Stellamaris Ashinze

Lagos, April 27, 2017 (NAN) Prof. Morenike Adewolu of the Lagos state University (LASU) has called on the Federal Government to increase investment in the production of fish feed locally to improve the Nation’s fishing industry.

Adewolu, a professor of Aquaculture and Fish Nutrition, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos that local fish production is hampered by high cost of imported feeds.

The professor spoke to NAN on the sideline of the institutions’ 62^nd inaugural lecture at its Ojo campus in Lagos.

Adewolu, who spoke on the topic “Feed the Fish: Feed the Nation”, said that Nigeria needs to have fish feed mills that would use 100 per cent local ingredients for various fish species.

She said that aquaculture plays an important role towards food security and nutrition for citizens.

According to her, a healthy meal of fish would provide the necessary nutritional values required to bridge the gap of poor food match in the country.

She called on government to facilitate research into local species of fish and the appropriate feed for them in order to improve production.

She advocated for monitoring of the nutritional content of farmed fish to ensure that feed ingredients did not affect their body composition.

“There is the need for fish nutritionists, human nutritionists, food scientists and others to work together and explore cultured fish to tackle the prevailing malnutrition and other nutritional diseases in the country.

“This is considering the fact that people are encouraged to consume fish, high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which promote cardiovascular health and neurodevelopment.’’ (NAN)
SKA/AIB/IS

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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Ismail Abdulaziz