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Igbo traders in Lagos want more engagement with LASG

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Lagos, Nov.13, 2016 (NAN) Igbo traders in Lagos under the aegis of Igbo Traders in All Progressives Congress (APC) have urged the Lagos State Government to increase its interaction with them for better understanding.

The traders made the demand in a communiqué issued at the end of its maiden meeting in Lagos at the weekend.

They said increased government engagement with them would ensure better understanding of their needs and the challenges they were faced with at the various markets in the state.

According to the communiqué presented by Mr Erondu Chinedu, the Co-ordinator of the meeting, the traders sought an end to what they called “discrimination against the igbos on levies and taxes at the various markets”.

They also demanded for more inclusion of the Igbos in the political affairs of the state to give them a sense of belonging.

Chinedu said the members of the association were law abiding and they would continue to relate harmoniously with the people of the state.

Earlier, Chief Odus Ikejiobi, the President-General of the association. said the traders were in support of the administration of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode and the APC.

He said Igbo traders had contributed immensely to the state`s economy and were passionate about its development.

“We are Igbo traders from all parts of Lagos. Some of us were born here, while others had their children here, so we are part of the state`s economy.

“We believe Lagos is our home and we need to protect it.That is why we are pledging our unalloyed support to the administration in the state.

“We also support our great leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; he is a detrabilised Nigerian who has made Lagos a home for us all.

“We are in support of his politics because we know he means well for the state and the nation.

“We believe in the APC and we will continue to support the party both at the state and national level to take the nation to greater heights,”he said.

Ikejobi said the traders believed in the “Change”agenda of the Federal Government and urged other Igbo traders who were yet to join the train to support the current administration in its effort.

He urged the state government to reciprocate the traders` gesture by addressing the challenges faced by members in all the 52 affiliated markets in the state.

Mr Ganiyu Ajose, A representative of the APC at the meeting, commended the traders for declaring their suppport for APC and the state government.

He said the Igbos were part of the builders of Lagos and promised that the state government would continue to provide the right atmosphere for their businesses to thrive.

Ajose said he was impressed by the large turn out of traders at the inaugural meeting, adding that this was an indication that the traders had actually aligned with the ruling party.

He urged the traders to move beyond the declaration for the party and start working for the progess of APC in the state.

“The Igbos are part of Lagos, we recognise you. I urge you to be resolute in your support for our party, the state government and our leader, Asiwaju Tinubu.

“We will do all our best to provide the atmosphere for you to succeed. We are partners in progress and we will work with you to achieve a greater Lagos.“he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that traders from markets across the
the state attended the meeting.

Some of the markets represented by traders at the meeting included markets in Iyanapaja, Ajah, Apapa and Festac. (NAN)
BHB/TA

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Seminary
By Chukwuemeka Opara
Ezzamgbo (Ebonyi State), Nov.13, 2016 (NAN) The St. Augustine Catholic Seminary, Ezzamgbo, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi
had initiated a N500-million indoor sports hall project.

The Rector of the seminary, Rev. Fr Donatus Ofuluozor, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Ezzamgbo, Ebonyi State on Sunday, on the sidelines of the seminary’s 2016 Inter-House Sports Competition/Parents Day celebration at the seminary premises that the project commenced in 2012.

He said “the indoor sports hall, designed to be of international standard and has attained roofing level, will be used for multiple indoor sporting events such as basketball, volley ball, tennis, wrestling, among others.

“We have invested heavily in the project and will need about N20 million to make it attain international standard.”

The rector said that the project was a landmark in the country as only few schools could boast of embarking on such monumental project.

He added that “we invest heavily in sports in realisation that it is a vital part of human development and enhances the physical and mental well-being of our students.

“Our massive investment in sporting facilities and competitions have unearthed the hidden talents in our students which made us win the Milo Nestle Basketball competition on several occasions.

“We invested in the project without government support.”

On the inter-house competition, Ofuluozor said the event was organised bi-annually to celebrate with parents and showcase the sporting talents of
the students.

“This year’s event is joyous because we are celebrating 58 years of the school’s existence which makes it imperative to give thanks to God,” he said.

Chief Nicodemus Omenka, former Ebonyi Commissioner for Youths and Sports, said that the state government would assist the institution in completing the project.

Omenka, who is the Secretary of the State Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), added that government would evaluate the situation and decide on modalities for the assistance.

“We are impressed with the emphasis the school places on sports development which made it attain several sporting feats and become worthy ambassador of the state.

“The state government also places much emphasis on sports development which necessitated its infusion in the school curricular of the education sector,” he said.

Mr Cajetan Iloh, the Chairman of the seminary’s Parent/Teachers Association (PTA) hailed the institution for its sports development policies and pledged the parents’ continued assistance.

Iloh, a Lecturer at the Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki, said that the array of sporting events on display was a testimony of the schools’ feat in sports.

“The school mandated that we should not contribute toward the construction of its indoor sports hall but as responsible parents, we tasked ourselves during events such as this to offer our assistance,” he said.

Sporting events on display at the occasion included finals of several athletics, sack race, football match between junior secondary school students and teachers, among others.

The overall best participating team event was won by St. Joseph hostel as prices were awarded to winners of various categories of events. (NAN)
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Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

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Taekwondo
By Kemi Ajayi
Lagos, Nov. 13 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) on Sunday commended Abubakar Adamu-Isah for his brilliant performance at the World Taekwondo President Cup in Portland, U.S..

The commendation is in a statement on Sunday by Sunny Obot, the Secretary of the Federation.

Adamu-Isah won the WTF President Cup which held from Oct. 27 to Oct. 30 in Portland, U.S.

The NTF scribe stated that the athlete, who was ranked 380 in the world by WTF seven months ago, climbed to 62nd position in the WTF -58kg category.

He noted that “Abubakar Adamu-Isah’s resilience, hard work and determination culminated to his winning three international competitions
in a row.

“We are proud of his performance and current ranking.”

Obot added that Adamu-Isah made his international debut in 2013 at the World Youth Taekwondo Championships and World Youth Championships in Taipei.

He stated that in 2014, NTF sent the athlete to a Youth Camp in Korea for training, who later that same year won gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

He reiterated the Federation’s resolve to ensure that the athlete qualified for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

He noted that “as a result of the body’s inability to participate in the 2016 Rio Games, the Federation has since begun preparation for the 2020 Olympic Games.

“Our President, George Ashiru, had sponsored and hosted an Invitational Taekwondo Championship at University of Lagos a part of the preparations.”

Meanwhile, Ferguson Oluigbo, a certified WTF referee told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he was not surprise that the athlete performed brilliantly at the President Cup in U.S.

Oluigbo advised the athlete not to relent in his pursuit to reach the peak of his career. (NAN)
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Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

NGO pays N3.5mln WAEC fees of 1,650 students in Kogi

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WAEC

Egbe (Kogi), Nov. 13, 2016 ( NAN) An NGO, Stanley Jegede Foundation, has released N3.5 million for the payment of 2016/2017 WAEC fees for 1,650 students in the six secondary schools at Egbe town, Kogi State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Mr Stanley Jegede, the Executive Chairman and Founder of the NGO, presented the cheques on Sunday, at Egbe in Yagba West Local Government.

In a brief speech at the ceremony, Jegede said that the payment of the WAEC fees represented his modest contribution to the educational development of his community.

He said that the donation, made under the Educational Development Programme ( EDP) of the SJF, was to support and encourage indigent, but brilliant students, to retain their interest in education .

Jegede, Chief Executive Officer, PHASE – 3 Telecoms, Abuja, listed the schools to include Titcombe College, Heritage College, Ambassadors College, ECWA George Campion Academy, Government Secondary School and St. Peters College, all in Egbe.

According to him, the payments are to be made directly into the accounts of the secondary schools for onward payment to WAEC.

He also distributed past question papers of WAEC, from 1985 to 2015, to the students to enable them to prepare well for the examinations holding in May/June 2017.

Jegede promised to grant full scholarship to any of the students that gained admission into any Nigerian university at the first attempt.

According to him, the NGO with its partners, within and outside the country, will also assist any willing students to read up to masters and PhD levels.

The Chairman described education as “very key to the development of any country”, saying that the gesture would reverberate across the country as majority of the beneficiaries were from other parts of Nigeria.

He said that the organization, which had supported more than 20 projects under various initiatives since it was founded in 2003, would also empower young widows and train some youths under its youth apprenticeship scheme.

Jegede also announced a personal donation of N2 million towards the completion of the Elegbe of Egbe’s palace project.

Speaking at the event, the Elegbe of Egbe, Oba Ayodele Irukera, described the gesture as a divine intervention in view of the effect of the current recession on parents and guardians in Egbe.

“Education is the main enterprise of a Egbe people. Unfortunately, that enterprise is now under threat as parents are now barely managing to eat, thereby making schooling almost impossible for their children,” the Oba said.

He said that since the state government stopped its policy of settling WAEC fees for final year secondary school students in 2014, parents had been compelled to sell off their property to pay the fees of their wards.

Oba Irukera commended Jegede for coming to the aid of the community at a critical period, and urged other indigenes to emulate him.

He pleaded with Jegede to assist the community to secure a JAMB examination Centre in Egbe, and stated that the current situation where students had to travel to Lokoja, Kabba and Oye Ekiti in Ekiti State to write JAMB was “not god enough”.

An SSS 3 student of Heritage College, Egbe, Miss Oreofe Babatunde, while responding on behalf of the benefitting students, expressed gratitude to the NGO for the gesture.

She described the intervention as timely, noting that it came at a time many parents were owing school fees and unsure of where to source funds for the WAEC fees. ( NAN)
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Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

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Super Eagles
By Victor Adeoti
Osogbo, Nov. 13, 2016 (NAN) Football fans in Osogbo have commended Super Eagles’ 3-1 2018 world cup qualifier win against Algeria on Saturday in Uyo stadium.

Some of the fans told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent on Sunday in Osogbo that the win was heart warming.

Some of the fans, however, said the Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, still have a lot of work to do on the defenders.

Mr Wole Adeniran, a football enthusiast, said the Super Eagles have started reawakening the hope of Nigerians in the team.

Adeniran, who said it had been long when the team scored three quality goals in a match, added that the hope of the Super Eagles to qualify for the world cup was getting brighter.

“I am happy for the team, especially Victor Moses and Mikel Obi who scored the goals.

“The team is now reawakening our hope again.”

Another fan of the Eagles, Mr Dele Fajuyigbe, said he was happy that Nigerian football was gradually coming back to life.

Fajuyigbe, who said that the Algerians came with determination to win the match, commended the Eagles for displaying team spirit during the match.

He also urged the coach to work on the defenders, saying the back room was too weak throughout  the match.

Miss Olufunke Simeon, another fan, said the performance of the players during the match was encouraging.

Simeon, who described the team as a work in progress, said before the world cup, the team would have blended together perfectly.

She said “now that the Super Eagles is sitting comfortably on the table, it is good to go.”

NAN reports that Victor Moses scored the first goal at the 25th minute, while Mikel Obi scored the second goal at 42nd minute and Moses again scored the third goal at the 90th minute.

With the win, Super Eagles is now at the top of the table with six points. (NAN)
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Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

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Women
Fufore (Adamawa State), Nov. 13, 2016 ( NAN) An Adamawa-based Non-Governmental Organisation, Bindo Economic and Social Transformation,
has distributed delivery kits and drugs to more than 8,000 pregnant women in Adamawa.

Alhaji Ahmed Lawal, the Director-General of the organisation said this on Sunday while distributing the kits in Fufore town, headquarters of Fufore Local Government Area of the state.

Lawal said the distribution was to assist government’s efforts in controlling the rate of death during child birth in the state.

He added that “today, we are witnessing another milestone as we distribute free delivery kits and drugs to pregnant women in Fufore and
Girei local government areas.

“The exercise is aimed at complimenting government’s effort in controlling the rate of death and saving the lives of pregnant women during delivery in the state, especially in rural areas.”

He said that the group identified the wonderful efforts of the state government and decided to join hands with it to assist women to deliver safely.

He assured that the group would expand the programme to reach other areas of the state and solicited for understanding and support from well meaningful individuals to support government’s efforts to move the state forward.

Receiving the kits on behalf of the pregnant women, Hajiya Amina Wakili and Hajiya Hauwa Hussain, wives of  chairmen of Fufore and Girei local government areas respectively thanked the group for the gesture.

They assured the group of judicious distribution of of the kits.

In his remark, Dr Abdullahi Belel , the Chairman, Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, thanked the group for the gesture.

Belel appealed to other meaningful citizens of the state to emulate the organisation. (NAN)
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Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

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Beneficiaries
Calabar, Nov. 13, 2016 (NAN) Some beneficiaries of the National Industrial Skill Development Programme in Cross River have appealed to the Federal Government to provide them with funds to procure the equipment that they need to work with.

They made the appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the ceremony marking the end of their three-month training in Calabar.

Mr Agim Joseph who obtained some training in Electrical Engineering, said he wanted government to provide funds for him to enable him to open a workshop.

Joseph told NAN that he enrolled in the programme having searched for white-collar jobs for over five years after graduation, but no success.

“I am a university graduate and had searched for jobs for many years after graduation. Now, I have been trained in aluminium fabrication.

“I can now provide employment for myself and others. But I need some funds to procure the tools to work with so as to take full advantage of the skills I acquired.

Another beneficiary, Mrs Elizabeth Dennis said: “I want government to do more by providing us funds to start the business because some of us may find it difficult to raise funds.

“I thank the organisers of the programme for the skills I acquired during the training. It is a very rewarding experience.

“I enjoyed it and I appreciate government for giving me the opportunity. Now, I can design different fabrics on my own. I can also bake cakes.

Mr Obase Sam who also trained as an aluminium fabricator, lauded UNPF for organising the three- month training.

Sam, however said, “my problem is how to raise funds to start off. I think government should help the beneficiaries with funds and working tools so that we can take off properly.

“This is necessary otherwise some people will just end up idling away their time for lack of funds to start practising what they have learnt.

The programme was jointly organised by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and Bank of Industry. (NAN)
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Edited by Ejike Obeta and Abdullahi Yusuf

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Rohr
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Nov. 13, 2016 (NAN) Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, has advised that celebrations should be put on hold for now, as there are more matches to play in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying race.

The advice is in a statement issued by Ademola Olajire, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF’s) Spokesman, made available on Sunday in Abuja.

Olajire stated that the Franco-German spoke at the post match press conference after Super Eagles dismantled Algeria’s Fennecs 3-1 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.

Rohr reacted un the same manner after the win over Zambia in Ndola last month when he said “we played a good match and got three points, but I want to say that there are more matches to play and we have to keep our focus.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria look solid at the top of Group B with six points, with second–placed Cameroon, which Nigeria next play in Aug. 2017, four points behind.

“We have a friendly against Egypt in Dubai in January, which will enable me to look at the home–based players, but I will continue to monitor the Europe–based players and we will see how we get matches for them on FIFA free dates,” Rohr was quoted as saying.

He also said “I praise the players for their spirit, for their dedication and for their discipline; they all did very well and I am happy at
their output.”

NAN reports that the win earned Rohr, who was signed on by Nigeria in August this year, three wins out of three matches.  (NAN)
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Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

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Children
Dutse, Nov. 13, 2016 (NAN) The Dutse Local Government Council of Jigawa said on Sunday that it would vaccinate no fewer than 109,882 children against polio during the immunisation exercise in the state.

The Information Officer in charge of the Local government area, Malam Ya’u Garba, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse that the council had 120,000 doses of Oral Polio Vaccines (OPVs) to cover the targeted number of children.

Garba said that the children would be immunised against polio and other childhood-killer diseases during the five-day exercise.

He said that 642 ad-hoc staff had been trained and were currently conducting the exercise.

According to him, the Health Educator of the council, Alhaji Sani Yusuf, commended traditional and religious leaders for mobilising people to participate in the exercise and solicited for more cooperation to ensure its success.

He added that Yusuf particularly appealed to parents to make their children available for the exercise.

NAN reports that the current round of polio immunisation was launched in all the 27 local government areas of the state on Saturday, Nov. 12. (NAN)
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Edited by Halima Sheji and Abdullahi Yusuf

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Appeal
Anthony Okpu/Nathan Nwakamma
Imiringi (Bayelsa), Nov.13, 2016 (NAN) The people of Imiring in Ogbia Local Government in Bayelsa, have appealed for speedy reconstruction of the bridge in the community which was destroyed by flood in 2012.

The Spokesperson of the community, Chief Augustin Imo, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Imiringi on Sunday.

Imo said the completion of the bridge had become necessary because it linked the community with other communities in the area.

He regretted that the residents had resorted to the use of canoe to cross the river because of the condition of the bridge.

The spokesperson said that the 2012 flood also created canals in the area which the people now had to cross with canoes on a daily basis in spite of the risks involved.

Imo also appealed to Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and all the other multinational oil companies operating in the area to assist in completing the bridge.

He noted that pupils and students in the community were now exposed to danger daily because of the crossing of the canals, pointing out parents now spent more on ferrying their children to and from school. (NAN)
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Edited by Ejike Obeta and Abdullahi Yusuf

Edited by Ejike Obeta