Author: premier radio premier radio

Elderly

By Joan Odafe

Lagos, July 13, 2018 (NAN) A Physical Health Instructor, Mr Jeje Adeoye, has advised the elderly to avoid cold drinks, especially shortly after physical exercise.

Adeoye gave the advice at an aerobic session held for elderly people at Festac town in Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos on Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise was organised by the Charity Organisation for the Welfare of Aged People (COWAP) in collaboration with Amuwo Odofin Local Government (LG).

Participants walked a three-kilometre distance from the LG council office at 41 Road to the 206 Road Park on Second Avenue.

Adeoye, 73, cautioned the participants, who were mostly retired citizens, to avoid taking cold drinks when they feel hot or when they are sweating.

He said this precaution was necessary so that they would not suffer dehydration.

“If you take any drink, it must be warm; reason being that the body is warm, so the body needs something warm.

“Not that you go into your freezer and pick very cold water to drink.

“If you try it, all the water in your body will now come out and you will sweat profusely,’’ he said.

The septuagenarian also advised senior citizens who have orthopaedic beds to exercise on their beds every morning or use mats where possible.

Adeoye urged them to ensure they ‘coast’ before getting up from their beds daily.

He described coasting as a process where someone takes some time after waking up to get used to his environment, instead of getting up suddenly.

This, he said, will help set the pace of the day.

“Our body is a walking machine; we don’t need to rush, we need the brain to work with our body.’’

Dr Sunday Orebiyi, the Medical Officer of the LG told NAN that the quarterly walking exercise was designed to help reawaken the bodies of the participants.

According to him, most foods consumed contain toxins that need exercises to be burnt off the body.

“Most times when we’re taking foods and we don’t burn them, they turn to toxins in our body.

“We have people that are above 80 years old amongst us doing these exercises.

“They’re retirees, and as a local government, we are showing our responsibility by being in their midst, giving the right advice and preparing them for any case of emergency,’’ he said.

Orebiyi urged private organisations and pharmaceutical companies to support the group so they could scale up the walk to a monthly event.

Also, Mrs Agnes Kiladejo, 82 and Chairperson of COWAP, Festac Chapter, said the walk was aimed at keeping the elderly fit.

According to her, the tips she gets from the group have been very useful to her.

The octogenarian said: “virtually, almost everybody here is a retiree and at home and this is an opportunity to get out of the house’’.

Mrs Adetutu Jekamo, 70, told NAN that she practises what she learns from the group on her own at home.

“I used to have arthritis that bothered me for years.

“I was even recommended for an operation, which I did not do, but I thank God, I’m getting better with the exercises I engage in,’’ she said. (NAN)

JOJO/AIB/SOA

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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Oluwole Sogunle

Dr Uche Olowu, CIBN President

Banking

By Abdulfatah Babatunde

Lagos, June 4, 2018 (NAN) The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) says the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration’s commitment to ensuring proper banking regulation has assisted in helping the country out of recession.

The President of the institute, Dr Uche Olowu, gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday, while speaking on the sideline of a “Special Luncheon” held in his honour by the management of Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State.

Cue in audio 1 (Olowu)

“Shortly (after) he (Buhari) was sworn-in, the economy went into recession.

“That was occasioned by the fall in government revenue occasioned by fall in oil prices and that had a toll on the banking system because what it meant was that there was the scarcity of the dollar as the exchange rate went to the roof.

“But with the alignment of fiscal and monetary policies, we came out of recession.

“That’s a big plus because never have we had a situation where you saw that kind of synergist alignment between fiscal and monetary policies.

“So to that extent, you’ll have to give kudos to them.

“There are lots of reforms that the CBN governor has been doing carrying out.

“The agricultural revolution, the intervention by the apex bank means quite a lot to the economy because it was in furtherance of the government policy of food security. 

“So he intervened a great deal in making sure that the right revolution worked..

“And so, that to a great extent, it has also improved the economy. 

“And of course, a successful economy means that the financial sector would be deepened.

“So to that extent, you also will agree that yes, the banking system is better off with the kind of reform (that was carried out).

“We must give kudos to the government for handling the situation well, although there is still room for improvement.’’

Cue out audio 1

Godwin Emefiele, CBN Governor

Olowu, however, identified some areas in need of adjustment.

Cue in audio 2 (Olowu)

“I think the banks are well regulated. There are some policies that negate the efficient management of the banking system.

“Take for example, the sovereign risks that the banks took, take away liquidity from the system.

“So, the governments should respect their own obligations because it sends out a signal to investors that if your sovereign risks that bank took were not respected because the banks are so pivotal to sustainable economic growth.

“Everything that would be done to making sure that the banks are properly regulated, policies are sustainable, because banks do not strive on uncertainty.

“There are too many policy summersaults; that should be stopped and then we should also encourage the issues of building human capital that would make for the virile banking system.

“We also will encourage a situation where the government will align physical and monetary policies basically and then regulation and compliance issues are taken seriously.

“That heavy punishment, fines should be meted to any person so that it should serve as a deterrent to whoever that would want to compromise the system.’’

Cue out audio 2 (NAN)

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Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

Collaboration

By Abdulfatah Babatunde
Lagos, June 3, 2018 (NAN) The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) says it will introduce a programme to enhance human capital development under town and gown arrangement in the country.

President of the institute, Dr Uche Olowu, announced the plan at a Special Luncheon organised for him by Caleb University, Imota, Ogun, said the programme would bring professionals and academics together for manpower development.

Olowu said that through long interaction with the Caleb University, CIBN had realised there was a huge gap existing between town and gown in terms of manpower development.

“We found out that there is one particular thing that Caleb University has done and that is bringing people that have had field experience into the academics to impact on students.

“I’ve served as governing council member of a university, I’ve interacted with employers and therefore, I’ve seen that there is that gap between town and gown.

“Timothy Franz Geithner, the former Treasury Secretary of the U.S., when he finished serving, he left for Harvard; the former Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, when she finished serving, she went to a university, why is it so?

“It’s a tradition in America because they need to bring practical experience to university students so that they will have that experience preparing them for democracy,’’ Olowu said.

He said CIBN, under the programme, planned to get competent persons that have made their marks in their chosen industry to go to universities to lecture just to deliver their experience.

“Already, I have sold the idea to the Group General Manager of Chevron and he has expressed his readiness to be part of the programme

“In fact, so many people whom I have spoken to are excited about the idea and ready to collaborate with us on this programme.

“Even our research with university professors, they are also interested because they recognised the necessity to ensure an effective nexus between the academics and operators in the labour market.

“What we are experiencing today, banks are spending quite a lot of money in training and retraining of graduates and so, we felt that this programme, by the time we are done with the groundwork, you (Caleb) as a trailblazer will also be a beneficiary of it.’’

He thanked the university authorities for honouring him and assured them of the continued relationship between CIBN and Caleb University to boost the opportunity of developing human capital in the financial sector.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Daniel Aina, commended the cordial relationship that existed between the two bodies which, he described as crucial to human capital development in the financial sector of the country.

Aina said the luncheon was organised to cement the relationship and raising the CIBN as a key stakeholder and citizen of the Caleb University carrying its flag anywhere in the world.

“The proprietor, Board of Trustees and the Governing Council of the university, really appreciate the association and relationship between the university and the CIBN.

“We are particularly delighted that CIBN gave the immediate past president, who is our Dean of Postgraduate College, the maximum support while he was served the institute.

“We are also more elated that the transition process in the CIBN was concluded very well.

“We want to assure that the core leadership at the Caleb will meet with the leadership of the CIBN so that as the transition continues, we will be partnering on the development as it affects human and capital developments,’’ the V-C said. (NAN)
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)

Education

By Abdulfatah Babatunde

Lagos, June 1, 2018 (NAN) An educationist, Prof Lai Olurode, has given a pass mark to the three years administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in the education sector.

Olurode, a former Dean, Faculty of Social Science, University of Lagos gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

He said that the Federal Government particularly recorded landmark achievements in turning around the administration of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Cue in Olorode

“I think we must give kudos to the President for appointing Prof. Ishaq Oloyede. He has brought about tremendous improvement in the administration of JAMB, from about one million to about two million candidates.

“Not only that, JAMB has become revenue generating body for the government, which before, we never had.

“What we hear is that government is not funding JAMB before.

“So, if other similar bodies can be turned around…..though, I think students should be made to pay less for sitting for JAMB.

“There is a policy that the JAMB Registrar agree to implement, that is to say, JAMB results can last three to four years, it should be enforced.

“Once you sit for JAMB this year, the result that you have can still apply till the next three years until after which means  when a candidate sits for JAMB this year, the result that you have can still be presented for admission for the next three years. I think it requires enforcement.

“If you look at primary education, the school feeding programme, I think is a welcome idea, it’s good though the coverage is small.

“And think kudos must first go to Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, who first initiated the programme in Osun state and is being emulated by the federal government and other states.

“I think it should go round, but we have not gone far to where former western region government stopped.’’

Cue out Olorode

According to him, the government should extend the programme beyond feeding.

“We should be able to distribute books to pupils; we should be able to give them tablets (computers) like Aregbesola did to schools in Osun.

“Education should be free; we have the resources in this country.’’

Olurode urged the government to boost the welfare of students posting doctors and other health workers to schools where they can be resident in schools.

“These are programmes we can afford so that we can begin to have a serious reduction in child mortality, especially under-five child and under-10 children,’’ Olurode said. (NAN)
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Funding

Sydney, May 10, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Australia plans to cut recurrent funding to its corporate regulator in coming years, even as a wide-ranging inquiry into the financial sector exposes corporate malfeasance and regulatory shortcomings.

“That will likely further weaken a watchdog already understaffing pressure and facing criticism for taking a soft touch approach to the banks when investors and the public are expecting a more robust regulator,’’ corporate governance experts said.

Government revenue payments to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), which is tasked with enforcing the corporate law, are estimated to fall eight per cent to A$320 million over the next four years, budget documents show.

The funding cut comes at a time when the Royal Commission inquiry has uncovered years-long misconduct in the financial sector, with an ASIC executive citing ‘limited resources’ as one reason the problems weren’t discovered sooner.

“These cuts are not large cuts but they’re significant in the public’s mind and they’re significant for the morale and strength of resolve of the regulators concerned,’’ Thomas Clarke, a business school professor at the University of Technology, Sydney said.

“One of the principal lessons of the Royal Commission in recent weeks has been ASIC’s toothless handling of the banks over the last ten years.

“I think the public will interpret this budget cut as giving up on ASIC to some extent, which is exactly the wrong signal.’’

Ian Ramsay, professor of corporate law at Melbourne University, said the cuts were ‘unfortunate’ in the current climate.

“If anything, we will expect more work from ASIC in terms of investigations and possible prosecutions,’’ Ramsay said.

ASIC referred Reuters to Australia’s government for comment.

A spokesman for Kelly O’Dwyer, Australia’s Minister for Revenue and Financial Services, said ASIC is “well funded and resourced to undertake its important regulatory work.’’

“Approximately 20 per cent of ASIC funding is project driven, so funding and personnel fluctuate from time to time,’’ he said in an emailed statement.

The budget provides ASIC with an extra A$10.6 million over two years to assist with its involvement in the Royal Commission, along with other short-term project payments. (Reuters/NAN)

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Thunderstorm

New Delhi, May 10, 2018 (Xinhua/NAN) At least 12 people have died in a thunderstorm in the Northern Indian State of Uttar Pradesh in the past 24 hours, officials said Thursday.

“While four people died in Etawah district, three were killed in Mathura, two in Firozabad and one each in Agra, Aligarh and Kanpur districts.

“Some people died after lightning struck them, some were killed as trees and power poles fell on them,’’ a disaster management official said.

“Officials are assessing the damage in these districts,’’ he added.

India had earlier this week put as many as 13 of its states, including Uttar Pradesh and two central government-territories on high storm alert for 48 hours.

Last week, more than 125 people died and over 300 others were injured in fierce dust storms in northern and western India.

The storms also brought down electricity poles, uprooted trees, destroyed houses and killed livestock in five states, including Uttar Pradesh. (Xinhua/NAN)

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Security

Maimana (Afghanistan), May 10, 2018 (Xinhua/NAN) Afghan security forces have succeeded in retaking control of the restive Bilchiragh district in the northern Faryab province, after one day of the collapse of the district to the militants’ hand, an official said Thursday.

“Taliban militants have been defeated in Bilchiragh district after units of Special Forces launched an overnight offensive, forcing militants to run away, which resulted in the full recapture of the district today morning,’’ Mohammad Hanif Rezai, the spokesman of 209-Shaheen Military Corps in the northern region said.

Taliban militants took control of Bilchiragh district on Tuesday night and both sides have suffered in the fierce fighting for the control of the restive district over the past couple of days.

Militants loyal to the Taliban outfit have yet to make comment on the situation in Bilchiragh district. (Xinhua/NAN)

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Securities

Beijing, May 10, 2018 (Xinhua/NAN) China’s Central Bank drained 20 billion yuan (3.1 billion U.S. dollars) from the financial system through open market operations Thursday, with the volume of maturing securities exceeding new injections.

The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) pumped 30 billion yuan through reverse repos, with 50 billion yuan of contracts maturing, leading to a net withdrawal of 20 billion yuan.

A reverse repo is a process by which the central bank bids and buys securities from commercial banks, with an agreement to sell them back in the future.

The interest rate for the 20-billion-yuan seven-day reverse repos was 2.55 per cent and the rate for the 10-billion-yuan 14-day reverse repos was 2.70 per cent.

Both rates were unchanged from the previous operations.

The PBOC has recently managed market liquidity through targeted moves rather than across-the-board adjustments of interest rates.

The central bank plans to keep monetary policy prudent and neutral, maintain a stable, reasonable level of liquidity and oversee the moderate growth of financial credit and social financing. (Xinhua/NAN)

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EU

Brussels, May 9, 2018 (dpa/NAN) The European Union vowed to preserve the Iran nuclear deal on Tuesday, which might put the bloc on a collision course with the one country that does want to end the deal: the United States.

US President Donald Trump announced he was withdrawing his country from the international agreement, which is aimed at preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

“As long as Iran continues to implement its nuclear-related commitments, as it is doing so far, the EU will remain committed to the continued full and effective implementation of the nuclear deal,’’ said EU Foreign Policy Chief, Federica Mogherini, just minutes after Trump’s announcement.

“The EU is determined to preserve it. We expect the rest of the international community to continue to do its part to guarantee that it continues to be fully implemented, for the sake of our own collective security.’’

While the withdrawal of the US doesn’t automatically end the deal, the re-imposition of US sanctions will essentially make it moot as Iran would not be able to enjoy most of its economic benefits due to insecurities tied to the US sanctions.

“Our governments remain committed to ensuring the agreement is upheld.

“Our governments will work with all the remaining parties to the deal to ensure this remains the case, including through ensuring the continuing economic benefits to the Iranian people that are linked to the agreement,’’ the leaders of Germany, France and Britain said in a statement.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Theresa May also urged the U.S. “to avoid taking action which obstructs’’ the implementation of the deal.

The 2015 deal was struck between six global powers – Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the U.S. – and Iran with the EU, playing a key role coordinating the diplomatic efforts.

“This is one of the rare concrete achievements of EU multilateral diplomacy in the past years,’’ said Ali Vaez, Director of the Iran Project at the International Crisis Group, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to preventing crises.

Preserving that deal might put the EU on a collision course with the US.

“The U.S. remains our closest partner and friend and we will continue to work together on many other issues,’’ Mogherini said.

However, she noted, the nuclear deal was “not in the hands of any single country to terminate it unilaterally.’’

Signalling the growing divide, European Council President Donald Tusk said on Twitter that U.S. policies would be met with “a united European approach.’’

He said EU leaders, who are set to meet in Sofia next week for a summit, would discuss the U.S. decision to leave the Iran deal and to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium products, from which the EU is still trying to get a permanent exemption.

Mogherini also had some words of encouragement to Iran’s citizens and leaders – that also contained some veiled criticism of Trump’s decision.

“Do not let anyone dismantle this agreement,’’ she said.

“It is one of the biggest achievements diplomacy has ever delivered, and we have built this together.’’

She said the deal was a “win-win” solution that demonstrated that “respect can be a universal language.’’

“Stay true to your commitments as we will stay true to ours and together, with the rest of the international community, we will preserve this nuclear deal,’’ she said. (dpa/NAN)

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Denuclearisation

Tokyo, May 9, 2018 (dpa/NAN) The leaders of Japan, China and South Korea held a summit in Tokyo on Wednesday and agreed to cooperate over the denuclearisation of North Korea.

Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, hosted the trilateral meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and South Korean President Moon Jae In.

The leaders discussed Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programme and supported free trade.

“The momentum of the complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula and peace and stability in North-East Asia has to be led to North Korea’s concrete actions,’’ Abe said after the meeting.

Moon, who took office a year ago, is the first South Korean president to visit Japan in more than six years, while Li is the first Chinese premier to travel to the country in seven years.

Abe attempted to improve Japan’s relations with the two neighbouring countries that have been strained over differing views of Japanese wartime atrocities and territorial spats.

While the three leaders were holding talks on Wednesday, US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, arrived in Pyongyang to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ahead of the first-ever US-North Korean summit between President Donald Trump and Kim, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported.

The Tokyo gathering comes less than two weeks after inter-Korean talks between Moon and Kim and ahead of the planned US-North Korean summit, which is expected to be held later this month or in June.

The Korean leaders held a summit in the border village of Panmunjom on April 27 and agreed to pursue a set of historic goals, including a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and an official end to the 1950-53 Korean War.

Kim met President Xi Jinping in the north-eastern Chinese port city of Dalian on Monday and Tuesday, the second meeting between the two, according to China’s state news agency Xinhua.

The two heads of state had an “all-around and in-depth exchange of views” about China-North Korea relations and “major issues of common concern,” Xinhua said.

During his meeting with Xi, Kim said the Korean Peninsula’s denuclearisation was Pyongyang’s “clear and consistent position.’’

“As long as relevant parties eliminate the hostile policy and security threats against North Korea, North Korea does not need to have nuclear weapons, and denuclearization is achievable,’’ Kim said, according to Xinhua.

In late March, Kim made a surprise visit to Beijing and held talks with Xi, his first known trip abroad since he assumed power in 2011.

Trump spoke with Xi by telephone on Tuesday and they “agreed on the importance of continued implementation of sanctions on North Korea until it permanently dismantles its nuclear and missile programmes,’’ according to the White House.

Abe talked to Xi over the phone on Friday ahead of Li’s four-day trip to Japan and they agreed to closely cooperate in resolving the issue of Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programme. (dpa/NAN)

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