Blog

Kogi elders tasked on children’s future
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‎Children

Lokoja, Nov.‎ 11, 2016 (NAN) Mrs Stella Olukeyi, a former Women Leader from Yagba West in Kogi, has appealed to elders in the state to protect the future of their children.

Olukeyi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on Friday that selling of votes to politicians by parents in the state could affect the future of children.

She said such monetary politics as the root of corruption in Nigeria.

The politician pointed out that positions that were meant for youths in the country have been given to elders just because politicians have bribed their way to those positions.

Olukeyi also appealed to Nigerians to embrace politics like the Americans ‎whereby a person’s integrity and achievements would speak rather than money and gifts.

She said that governance in Nigeria has become very expensive just because everyone wants to benefit from aspirants.

Besides, Olukeyi urged Nigerians to ensure that only aspirants with clean records are made to contest elections in the country.

However, she expressed optimism of better changes in future ‎electioneering, saying that is the only way development could be recorded in the country. (NAN)

WAL/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

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IPPIS

By Monday Ijeh

Abuja, Nov. 11, 2016 (NAN) The Office of the Head of the Civil Service (HOS) of the Federation has commenced the implementation of the Human Resource (HR) module of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).

 Mr Mohammed Manga, the Assistant Director, Media Relations in the office of the HOS, said in statement on Friday in Abuja, that the module was to improve efficiency of the payroll system.

He said that the module was also to enhance data integrity, eliminate ghost workers and consolidate staff records and management.

Manga said that the HOS, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, in a circular entitled “Implementation of Human Resource Module of the IPPIS”, urged public servants to complete the HR Data form.

He said that the circular had been circulated to all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government.

According to him, all public servants currently enrolled on the IPPIS Platform were directed to complete the online HR Data form.

He said that the form, expected to be completed at http://verification.ippis.gov.ng would be accessible from Nov. 21, 2016.

“The circular further directed public servants to submit hard copies of the completed form along with certified copies of accompanying documents.

“The copies are to be submitted to the Permanent Secretary, Common Services, in the office of the HOS through the Director, Human Resources, of the respective MDAs on or before Dec. 15.”

He further said that physical verification of submitted records and documents as well as biometric capturing of the Federal Public Servants would commence thereafter. (NAN)

IMC/DO/NKO

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Edited by David Onilede/Nkechi Okoronkwo

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Legacies

By Akeem Abas

Ibadan, Nov. 11, 2016 (NAN) Mr Owolabi Oladejo, the Executive Chairman, Metropolitan Broadcasting Service, has stressed the need to build on the legacies of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the first Premier of defunct Western Region.

He made the suggestion at a news conference heralding the Impact South West Economic Development Exposé (ISEDE) 2016 Summit in Ibadan on Friday.

Oladejo maintained that the legacies of the late sage must be sustained and improved upon.

He held that the South-West had always been the bedrock of development, adding however that the story was not same again.

“Efforts should not be spared in taking the region out of the woods. We should ensure that the region is not dependent on other regions.

“We should strive to have another Adeola Odutola, the first president of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and other leading lights in journalism and banking.

“This is a challenge. Enough of the debate on what Abuja will give us. We can’t rely on government to develop our economy. We need to encourage entrepreneurial development’’, he said.

He said ISEDE would focus on fashion, agriculture, construction and technology.

“We want to showcase the companies we have around here, what we can leverage on and career process people can work on. We want to link people and businesses. I can be of help in growing your business.

“We will bring policymakers to those utilising the policies, and supplies to demands. Brand exposure is key. We want to draw them out. Let them come and showcase these ventures.

“There is a big problem if nobody knows that they are there. We can do better if we can showcase what we have,. There is a huge market here.”

Oladejo said the event will feature Southwest Impact Maker Awards where those who had contributed to the development of the region will be honoured. (NAN)

TAA/AK/IEA
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Edited by Akin Makanjuola/Idahosa Asowata

Begging: Association recommends provision of `white cane’ to blind persons

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Begging

Bauchi, Nov. 11, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Association of the Blind, Bauchi State Chapter, has called on local government councils to procure and distribute white cane to blind persons in order to reduce street begging.

The state Chairman of the association, Malam Haruna Pali, made the appeal on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi.

Pali described the white cane as the foresight of a blind person, adding that it has become costly in the market due to instability of dollar currency in the world market.

According to him, the white cane also helps the blind in his educational, economic and religious pursuits.

“I assure you with many of us having in their possession the white cane street begging will reduce.

“The local government especially should please procure and distribute the white cane to our members because it would lead us to gaining lots in human endeavours.

“The white cane presently is about N10,000 of which a blind man cannot afford, just like healthy human beings sees through their eyes, so is the blind person with his white cane.

“The white cane is the guide of any blind person not someone that holds his hand and serves like a guide.

“It leads the blind to carry out economic, social and religious educational pursuits.

“Is better we get the white cane than the two the few bags of grains we are receiving from the government,” he said.

The chairman said that members of the association would showcase their ability in disability to the people of the state on Nov. 15, when they celebrate the International World Cane Day in Bauchi. (NAN)

AE/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-H-60
STEM
by Chiazo Ogbolu
Lagos, Nov. 11, 2016 (NAN) A Microsoft official, Ms Jordan Bel-Monte, on Friday said that the organisation was ready to assist in reducing barriers to learning Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in schools across Nigeria.

Bel-Monte, who is the Microsoft Education Programme Manager, gave the assurance during the 2nd edition of the Microsoft and Fliplearn creativity in learning event held in Lagos.

The event jointly organised by Microsoft and Fliplearn had the theme: “Creativity in Learning: A Hands-On Approach’’.

The Microsoft official said there was need for educational transformation in the country, adding that this could be achieved through adoption of different learning skills and through technology.

“Microsoft has the firm belief that power in education can transform lives and foster economic growth across the country.

“This can also be achieved through technology adoption and that is why Microsoft has invested heavily to provide affordable access to technology for schools in the country.

“The theme of the programme, `creativity in learning’, implies that students have various ways of adapting to learning skills.

“However, through technology, the promise of an adaptable diverse classroom experience can be realised,’’ she said.

Bel-Monte said it was time for people to move away from the old ways of doing things to embrace new technical ways, so the Nigerian education sector could compete favourably with other climes.

She said that what students needed to be able to fit in the labour force was to be able to collaborate, and communicate with strong critical thinking and creative skills.

The Microsoft official said as regards adoption of STEM, Microsoft had recorded success stories like that of Anambra that came top in the Joint Administration Matriculation Board (JAMB) Examination.

“Anambra State adopted our Emerging Academy Programme which is a digital training platform for students and teachers, where they are taught various skills with the university teaching technology framework.

“Microsoft with the initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education proffered technological solutions to some unity schools and Federal schools in the country,’’ she said.
Bel-Monte said that Microsoft had offered free office 365 for schools, which meant that programmes like Word, PowerPoint and Excel comes with free data.

She said that in the offing, Microsoft would offer a free professional level developers tool for students to allow them create games, apps and websites, also the free cloud-based solution account.

The Microsoft programme manager said the tool was an investment it made because of the available emerging market.
She said that setting pricing for their products was based on indications from World Bank, World Economic Forum and the Human Development Index that existed in a country.

Also contributing, Mr Clifford Ifebueme, Director, Fliplearn, said the event was about bringing digital concepts to the classroom to help students’ internalise learning.
Ifebueme said that one of the problems to be solved by STEM was technology adoption; how to implement it in the classroom, and how to be able to measure it.

“Fliplearn is all about internalising learning for students, bringing the best in technology to the classroom and making it more engaging for the 21st century kids.

“The programme is also to bring educators around the world to share their experiences, best practices, and bring content to teachers,’’ the director said.

He said the reception of the programme was good because schools recognised technology’s importance in training a child.

Ifebueme stressed that there was need to work on the current educational curriculum so that it would fit in the present world.

“Our products come in the form of creative writing training and exams,’’ he said. (NAN)
CAN/COF/AJA
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(Edited by Oluyinka Fadare and Adeleye Ajayi)

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Irrigation
Dutse, Nov. 11, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa on Friday said the CBN would fund the de-silting project in the Hadejia-Jamare River Basin  which stretches from Kano to Nguru in Yobe in order to enhance irrigation farming.

He said this while speaking with newsmen on the outcome of the inspection tour of rice mills he embarked on with CBN governor, Mr Gowin Emefiele, and Agriculture Minister, Chief Audu Ogbe.

The governor said based on the discussion he had with Emefiele, plans were underway by CBN to provide funding for the dredging of River Hadejia from Kano to Hadejia and then on to Nguru.

This, he said, was to allow free flow of water to boost agricultural activities in the three states of Kano, Jigawa and Yobe.

He said typha grass and some debris had prevented the river from smooth flow, adding that this had affected farming activities in the states within the basin.

Abubakar stated that the Jigawa government had already purchased machines to weed out the typha grass and other debris hindering free flow of the river.

The governor also commended CBN for its intervention in rice and wheat production in some states to boost food production and food security in the country.

According to him, the CBN’s intervention in rice farming in Kebbi is worthy of commendation.

The governor said that Kebbi had set a pace in rice farming, adding that Jigawa was working hard to surpass this.

He said the CBN governor had seen the potentials in massive rice production in the state and had promised to assist farmers. (NAN)
MS/ASS/OJO
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(Edited by Saidu Adamu/Mufutau Ojo)

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Skills
By Amen Gajira
Minna, Nov. 11, 2016 (NAN) Mr Joseph Ari, the Director-General of Industrial Training Fund (ITF), says wealth creation is a veritable strategy to ‎ address socio- economic problems plaguing the nation.‎

Ari, represented by Malam Abubakar Bungudu, an official of ITF, made the observation at the graduation ceremony of 500 trainees of the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP) on Friday in Minna.

NAN reports that ‎the beneficiaries were trained in three trade areas of beads making, carpentry and aluminum works.

“If we must address some of the socio-economic vices ‎in the nation such as kidnappings, assassination, armed robberies and terrorism, militancy, then the issue of wealth creation must be properly addressed.

“Technical and vocational skills acquisition is a veritable strategy for deploying sustainable solutions to redress these vices,” he said.
According to him, the NISDP is a capacity building initiative‎ aimed at actualising the diversification agenda of the Federal Government.

He said that 500 youths were trained in each state and 1,100 youths in Borno.

Ari called on Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision for rapid industrialisation and economic diversification‎.

The Area Manager of ITF in Minna, Mrs Ifeoma Ihezue, said the trainees were drawn from the three senatorial zones in the state, adding that the youths had been equipped with skills to start their own businesses.

Ihezue appealed to financial institutions to grant the trainees special concessions to enable them access loans to start and grow their businesses.

She urged the trainees to put to good use the skills and knowledge they had acquired to fast-track the rapid industrialisation and sustainable development of the country.

Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Miss Blessing Yerima, said that she had learnt no fewer than 30 designs in beads making. (NAN)
AMEN/JPE/TA
Edited by Joseph Edeh/Tajudeen Atitebi
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Suspects

Maiduguri, Nov. 11, 2016 (NAN) The Police in Borno on Friday said 10 suspected criminals who specialized in stealing domestic animals in Maiduguri had been arrested.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Damian Chukwu, who made this known in Maiduguri, told newsmen that the command also recovered 63 domestic animals from the suspects.

Chukwu said that the suspected, suspected to have been responsible for loss of sheep and goats in the city, while terrorizing resident, were apprehended on Sept. 3. on a tip-off.

He said that the recovered animals comprised 61 sheep and two goats and were valued at N 5.7 million, adding that the suspects confessed to stealing the animals.

He said that the police also arrested a suspect over allegation of criminal trespass, and explained that the man was believed to be going into homes of people and stealing various items.

“The suspect confessed to the crime and one Samsung TV set, one laptop computer and nine assorted wrappers all valued at N200, 000 were recovered from them.

“Efforts are being intensified to recover the remaining stolen items sold to some persons currently on the run,’’ Chukwu said.

He added that two suspected armed robbers, who disposed a man of his tricycle after stabbing him, had been also arrested.

“The tricycle and the blood stained knife used for the attack had been recovered,” he said.

Chukwu said that all the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation was concluded. (NAN)

ABI/OPI/OPI

Edited by Olisa Ifeajika

Sheikh Sanusi Gumbi buried in Kaduna

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Burial

Kaduna, Nov. 11, 2016 [NAN] The remains of foremost Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Sanusi Gumbi has been buried in Kaduna on Friday.

Gumbi, aged 63, died on Thursday at an Abuja hospital.

The funeral prayer for the deceased was performed after Friday prayers at the Sultan Bello Mosque, where he made name as an Islamic preacher before setting up another school at his house.

The News Agency of Nigeria [NAN] reports that Dr Ahmad Gumi led the funeral prayers, attended by thousands of symphathisers.

Among those that attended the funeral prayer was former Kaduna State Governor Ahmad Makarfi and a former presidential aspirant, Alhaji Lema Jibril.

The deceased, who hailed from Gumbi, Wamakko Local Government of Sokoto State, left behind two wives, 18 children and 30 grand children.[NAN]

TJ/MZA

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

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Dana
By Adekunle Williams/Solomon Asowata
Lagos, Nov.11, 2016 (NAN) Dana Air says it has flown over four million passengers in the last eight years of its operations.

The Accountable Manager of Dana Air, Mr Obi Mbanuzuo, made the disclosure at a news briefing in Lagos on Friday to mark the airlines’ eight anniversary of commercial flight operations.

Mbanuzuo reaffirmed Dana Air’s commitment to provide safe, reliable and customer–centric air transport services to its customers.

According to him, in spite of the visible operational challenges in the industry, the airline has remained strong.

He attributed the airlines’ consistency to its shrewd managerial style, passion and commitment of its staff and the unending support of its amazing customers.

“We are indeed proud to have flown over four million passengers in the last eight years and we are very grateful for the support and patronage we have enjoyed since commencing operations.

“We would like to assure our loyal guests and the travelling public that we will not relent in our efforts to deliver world-class air transport services that all Nigerians can be proud of.’’

On safety and security, he said the airline would continue to adhere strictly to the maintenance schedule of its aircraft as prescribed by the manufacturers and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

Mbanuzuo said for the airline to have successfully undergone an operational audit conducted by the NCAA and its foreign partners, the Flight Safety Group; the airline was on a sound footing.

“Dana Air’s vision is to be recognised and respected as Nigeria’s most reliable and customer-friendly airline and its mission is to earn the loyalty and respect of customers.

“This is by consistently demonstrating our commitment to service and providing affordable regional air transport services that focus on innovation, quality and service excellence.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dana Air began commercial flight operations on Nov. 10, 2008 with its maiden flight from Lagos to Abuja.

The airline currently operates 27 daily flights from Lagos to Abuja, Port Harcourt, Uyo and Owerri. (NAN)
WAC/ASO/ENN/MO
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Morayo Omolade