Blog

NAN-H-33
Inauguration
Benin, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Benin inaugurated the remodeled 200-bed capacity ultra modern central hospital.

Buhari, who said he was impressed with the edifice, noted that it was ”the best way to do things and the best thing to do for the people” by any government.

While commending Gov. Adams Oshiomhole’s efforts at uplifting the lives of the people, Buhari said “I respect his sacrificing his personal comfort to constructing the edifice”.

He said that he was in the state for the third time to inaugurate projects executed by the governor.

Earlier, Oshiomhole said that since the hospital was established in 1902, successive governments had tried to renovate the hospital.

He, however, said he was embarrassed by the state of the medical facility during his first visit and decided that rather than continue with the “piece-meal renovation work; we decided to demolish and rebuild the hospital.’’

Oshiomhole stressed that this was with the conviction that public health facility should not be inferior to private one’s.

The governor said that one way to show equality was for government to provide good health facilities and stop lamenting about foreign medical tourism.

Similarly in her opening remarks, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Aihanuwa Erigie, said that the hospital was established in 1902 with initial bed capacity of 10.

She disclosed that each section was equipped with state of the art facilities. (NAN)
DCO/KOO/IS
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Ismail Abdulaziz

NAN-H-15
Empowerment
By Chiazo Ogbolu
Lagos, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) A Google executive, Ms Bunmi Banjo, on Monday said that there was need for the refocusing of African youths, to prepare them for online jobs that would be available in future.

Banjo, who is the Head, Digital Education, Google Sub-Saharan Africa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the digital era in which the world was in meant future jobs would be online.

She said African youths needed to be able to tap into these growing online opportunities, so they would not be stranded.

“In view of this fact, Google is poised to bridge the big gap between youths and online future jobs.

“In the job market, there is a big gap between future jobs that is jobs that are going to be available in the near future and the preparedness of young people to fill such positions.

“In order to fill this existing gap, Google introduced a portal called digitalskills.go.com.

“The idea is to train young people. We will show them what is possible with the web and how they can earn income through it and help their communities,’’ the Google executive said.

Banjo said under the training scheme, it would train a million youths from 23 countries.

According to her, the programme which started in April, was yielding great results as 500,000 youths had already been trained between the commencement date and September.

“We have met half of our target; we need another six months, which will end in March to train the remaining 500,000 youths with the help of our partners.

“Out of these figure, 400,000 youths are to come from Nigeria.

“The programme involves six hours of content, 89 videos, with an option to choose either the business training or for young people. The training is also in three languages: English, French and Portuguese.’’

According to her, the idea is not charity, even though the training is free.

Banjo said the benefit to Google was in having a thriving digital economy in Nigeria, in particular and Africa, in general.
She added that the focus was also on youth employment and empowerment

“If the digital economy is strong and growing, obviously Google as a digital business will also flourish in the environment.

“It does not make sense to be in an environment with so many challenges that potentially affects one’s business and not try to deal with them.

“With the right environment, digital business will thrive with online advertisements, young people getting jobs digitally, earning money and it will trickle down on us too,’’ the Google executive said.

She explained that local trainers, who understood the communities, were being used for the training, adding that they translated the curriculum to their local classroom.

According to Banjo, the organisation will carry out an impact study to track and monitor the progress of the participants after the training.

“We have witnessed tremendous success so far.

“An example is that of a lady that got a job within two days of starting the training.

“There is another success story of a business in Kenya that experienced 60 per cent growth within months.

“A group of women also opened a WhatsApp group to encourage themselves technology-wise in their businesses.

“We are hopeful that in 2017, we will witness positive growth as people trained will have the benefit of getting jobs, opening businesses, hopefully on a large scale,’’ Banjo added.

She said the participants would not be hindered by network during and after the training as materials would be loaded on audio files.

“Audio files can load much faster and take smaller space with a lot less data required, and that is the way we are going,’’ she added. (NAN)
CAN/COF/PIO
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Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Idonije Obakhedo

NAN-H-5
Education
By Aminu Ahmed Garko
Minna, Nov. 7,2016( NAN) The Child Protection Network (CPN), Minna has taken back to school four girls of Women Teachers College (WTC) Minna, who were earlier withdrawn for marriage.

Mr David Yisa, Coordinator of the group, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) in Minna on Monday.

He said the intervention made it possible for the parents to allow the girls continue with their education.

He explained that the group had also returned seven children who came to Minna from Kafachan in Kaduna State by rail in search of manual job.

“We succeeded in uniting them with their respective parents through the support of the State Ministry of Women Affairs, ” he said .

Yisa said the measure was part of the group’s efforts in protecting the right of the Nigerian child.

He appreciated the support of the National Human Rights Commission to the group.

The coordinator solicited the support of traditional and religious leaders in sensitising parents on the importance of child right and western education.

He said proper sensitisation would enable parents give proper training to their children.

“As leaders of tomorrow, all hands should be geared towards providing qualitative and sound education for the children to excel.”

Yisa observed that the only legacy responsible parents and government would leave behind for future generation is education.

“We are battle ready to compliment the efforts of government in providing academic excellence for our children through proper awareness on what the society intends to benefit through their education,” he said .( NAN)
AAG/CEO/MZA
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Edited by Evengeline Opara/Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-AE-3
Biosafety
By Ebere Agozie
Abuja, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) Mr Dennis Ndolo, the Programme Officer, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), says Biosafety capacity building in Africa is necessary to allay the fears surrounding Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO).

Ndolo made the assertion in Abuja on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said that the activities of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) generally require prior regulatory approvals, which must be done by highly trained personnel who had carried out Risk Assessments of the products.

“Risk analysis plays a central role in the decision-making process regarding activities with GMOs which is what the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology does.

“ICGEB provides scientific and educational environment of the highest standard and conducts innovative research in life sciences for the benefit of developing countries.

“It strengthens the research capability of its members through training and funding programmes and advisory services and represents a comprehensive approach to promoting biotechnology internationally. “

He said Africans must be dedicated to advanced research and training in molecular biology and biotechnology to hold the prospect of advancing knowledge and applying the latest techniques in different fields of studies.

According to him, these areas include biomedicine, crop improvement, environmental protection and remediation, biopharmaceuticals and biopesticide production.

“This is why ICGEB’s Biosafety Group is out to disseminate as widely as possible significant information related to biosafety issues raised through the use of products derived from modern biotechnology. “

He said this would also “assist member- states in their capacity to identify, regulate, manage and monitor those products within their own countries. “

He said that the ICGEB Biosafety Group was currently implementing a major biosafety capacity-enhancement project for selected countries in sub-saharan Africa (including Nigeria).

“The project is being implemented in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

“And its primary focus is to enhance the capacity of African regulators to ensure the full and balanced consideration of biosafety issues in the use of modern biotechnology in agriculture.

“ The project supports the development of more effective approaches to regulate the products of modern biotechnology through the exchange of relevant working experience, “ he added. (NAN)
EPA/MOL/AFA
Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Felix Ajide
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Obesity affect chances of conception in men, women – Expert

NAN-HG-2
Obesity
By Talatu Maiwada
Abuja, Nov.7, 2016(NAN) A Lagos based fertility expert, Dr Kayode Jegede, on Monday said obesity and overweight could reduce the chances of conception among couples.

Jegede disclosed this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

The fertility expert defined infertility as the inability of cohabiting couples to get pregnant after one year of adequate unprotected sexual intercourse.

He said that infectious diseases were the leading causes of infertility in developing countries, however, obesity and environmental changes, among others, have been recognised as major contributors.

Jegede said modern day living and various lifestyles today had contributed in no small measure to the accumulation of fat and toxic materials in our bodies.

He said such could affect several natural body functions and the ability to reproduce thereby contributing to various degrees of sperm disorders in men and implantation failures in women.

The expert added that overweight and obese men could experience hormonal changes that could reduce their level of fertility and make them less interested in sex.

He said that obese men were more likely to have challenges getting an erection with low sperm quality than men of healthy weight.

Jegede stated that such factors could reduce the chances of men who were overweight or obese fathering a child.

He said that obesity in women could also affect their chances of conceiving and having a healthy baby.

“Obese women can experience hormonal imbalances, ovulation problems, particularly for obese women having their first baby.

“The risk of pre-eclampsia doubles in overweight women and triples in obese women, as well as the likelihood to have a miscarriage.

“Overweight women also have twice the risk of gestational diabetes and obese women eight times the risk, compared to women of healthy weight,’’ he said.

Jegede added that infants born to obese women were more likely to be very big, in need of neonatal care or born with congenital abnormality.

He advised obese individuals to exercise, eat healthy with supplementation in order to boost the quality and quantity of sperm and eggs needed for optimal fertility.

He said that with technology most infertility cases could be treated, adding that research had also proven that there are cases of unexplained infertility.

The fertility expert urged obese couples with infertility concerns to seek medical help after one year of unprotected sexual intercourse; eat organic foods and live a healthy lifestyle. (NAN)
TIM/JPE/MST
Edited by Joseph Edeh/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Borno to prosecute parents who fail to send children to school

NAN-H-12
Education
By Ali Inuwa
Maiduguri, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) Borno State Government on Monday said it would prosecute parents who fail to enroll their children and wards in schools.

“Any parent either out of ignorance or willingly refuses to send his child to school will be made to face the full wrath of the law,” Alhaji Kaka-Shehu Lawan, the Bono State Attorney General/Commissioner of Justice said.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri that government was already offering parents several incentives to encourage them to send their children to schools.

The commissioner noted that it was lamentable that some parents still refused to send their children to school in spite of the incentives.

“The government has directed the Borno State Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to mobilise all children of school age to be enrolled in schools.

“It has also invested heavily in constructing new schools and renovating those vandalised by Boko Haram terrorists in the course of the insurgency, so as to provide conducive atmosphere for learning”.

Lawan said that government had also introduced free school bus services and other incentives to attract children back to schools.

“Government has procured 150 luxury buses to provide free ride to school children in Maiduguri and communities liberated from the terrorists by the military.

“It has also introduced the provision of free meals, school uniform and books in schools as part of the incentives to retain students in schools.

“The governor is also looking at the possibilities of introducing cash incentives to parents to ensure retention of children in schools,” the commissioner added. (NAN)
ABI/IKU
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Edited by Tayo Ikujuni/Tony Nezianya

NAN-H-28
Dissolution
Abuja, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) The new Special Court of Appeal Penal Panel constituted to resolve all appeals in the Ondo State PDP governorship candidate crisis is set to deliver ruling on motion seeking it to disband itself.

Justice Ibrahim Salauwa, leading the three member panel had on Friday in Abuja opened hearing in the multiple appeals.

The new special panel had succeeded the Justice Jummai Sankey’s panel which disqualified itself on Nov.2 following accusation of fraud against the members.

The two other justices that made up the panel were Igwe Aguba, and George Mbaba.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, Sen. Ben Obi, Biyi Poroyo, Eyitayo Jegede, and Jimoh Ibrahim were parties in the matter.

The Executive of PDP South West Zone, Ondo State Executive members of the party were also interested parties.

The panel, among other things is, therefore, to determine the legitimate faction empowered to conduct governorship primaries of the party.

The court had been for the umpteenth time asked to reverse the administrative decision by its President, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, to constitute a fresh panel to hear appeals relating to the dispute.

At the resumed session, Mr Benson Nwafor (SAN), counsel to Poroye and eight others, sought to move an application challenging the jurisdiction of the special panel.

The motion was brought pursuant to Section 36, Order 7 Rule 1 of the Court of Appeal Rules.

The motion was also supported by 14-paragraph affidavit.

The motion is asking for the dissolution of the special panel constituted by the President of the Court to determine appeals arising from the Ondo State PDP governorship candidate disputes.

Nwafor submitted that the panel had no jurisdiction to entertain the matter, adding that its clients were not served the notice for the constitution of the appeal.

He also said Jegede, who contested the governorship nomination of the party, had approached the President of the court for this penal, adding that it was against fair hearing.

“We, therefore, want the administrative decision of the court that constituted this penal to be set aside.

“By extension, we are urging the members of the panel to disband the panel as they have no backing of law to adjudicate on these appeals.

“If this development is allowed to go on it would amount to disrespect of the rule of law, due process and fair hearing,” he said.

Also, Mr Godswill Mrakpo, Counsel to the Sheriff-led faction, also asked the court to disband the panel forthwith.

Mrakpo alleged that the panel was set up in breach of the applicant’ right to fair hearing guaranteed under Section 36 of the Constitution.

According to the appellants, the court lack the jurisdiction to constitute the panel to hear the matter.

He equally prayed the court to order the return of the case files relating to all the appeals to the Registry of the court.

However, Chief Wole Olanikpekun (SAN), Counsel to Jegede, urged the panel to dismiss the motion.

“We oppose this motion, we are urging the court to dismiss the motion on the basis of the motion itself and the grounds of the motion which are baseless,”he said.

On the submission by Nwafor that the no counter-affidavit was filed challenging the propriety of the motion, Olanipekun said there was nothing to counter.

Olanikpekun said the motion was contrived by the applicant and counsel to Sheriff-led PDP faction to frustrate the hearing of this matter.

On allegation that Jegede approached the President of the court for the constitution of a special penal to hear these appeals, Olanipekun argued that submission should be discountenanced.

“My noble lords, the applicant has not attached any letter or correspondence that proves such fact and therefore, the panel cannot decide on such element.

“Also, the court should take judicial notice of the applicant’s submission that challenges the capacity of the President of the court from taking administrative decisions.

“We are of the thinking that the applicant having challenged the powers of the President of the court should have joined her as a party in the application,” he said.

Olanipekun further argued that the word “decision” in the context of its usage by the applicant was not contemplated by Section 318 of the 1999 Constitution.

“The court can neither set aside the decision of the President of the court nor can be appealed against by the applicant in this manner.

“This application is simply an attempt to truncate and frustrate judicial process and it must be resisted.

On the point of law, Nwafor submitted that facts submitted needed no proof, adding that Olanipekun agreed to the fact in its process that his client filed a representation before the President of the court.

“This formal representation filed by Jegede resulted in the constitution of this special panel. Our contention is that we were not notified,” Nwafor said.

However, the court had allowed counsel to Jegede to move his client’s application seeking leave to appeal the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, that ceded the Certificate of Returns to Jimoh Ibrahim.

Olanipekun urged the court to grant expeditious hearing to the application because the matter required urgent attention.

According to him, the development is clear attempt to rob his client of his legitimate right, having emerged as the party governorship candidate from a primary conducted in Akure.

The application was opposed by counsel to Sheriff-led PDP faction, South-west PDP and Chairman of Ondo PDP, Poroye. (NAN)
OMO/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha

Multiple taxes, insecurity impeding business in Plateau – entrepreneurs

NAN-HE-15
Entrepreneurs
By Martha Agas
Jos, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) Plateau Coalition of Business and Professional Associations(PLACOPA), a coalition of entrepreneurs,
has identified multiple taxes and insecurity as impediments to doing business on the Plateau.

“The weather is attractive and the market is good, but mutliple taxes and the fear of the unknown constitute some hindrances to
doing business here,” PLACOPA Chairman, Mr Simon Tangni, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos on Monday.

He said that cumbersome land administration systems had also frustrated and discouraged many large scale entrepreneurs seeking
to establish firms in the state.

Tangni said that the group recently conducted a survey on obstacles of doing business and submitted its findings to the authorities.

“ We conducted a survey and submitted the outcome to those concerned and believe that something will be done to assist people
seeking to invest in Plateau,” he said.

The Chairman called for a harmonized taxation formula that would allow those in business to know what to pay, when and how, to minmimise a situation where
investiors would operate at a loss.

He also decried the “ùnnecessary” bureaucracy ìnvolved in the acquisition of land and title documents, and stated that the complicated processes had often encouraged
corruption.

Tangni also complained against the lack of a central market in Jos, and explained that the situation had forced entrepreneurs into street trading and hawking which had also led
to negative social vices and loss of revenue to government.

He advised government to rehabilitate existing central markets and establish new ones, while affordable stalls should be constructed and fairly shared to deserving traders. (NAN)
MAA/ETS/ETS
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Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

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NAN-H-11
Dissolution
By Oluwatope Lawanson
Lagos, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) A 31-year-old trader, Oluwatoyin Ibikunle, on Monday pleaded with an Agege Customary Court in Lagos to dissolve her 14-year-old marriage over constant beating by her husband.
Oluwatoyin, an indigene of Osun and a mother of four who resides at Fagba, a Lagos suburb, said her husband Okiki Ibikunle was irresponsible.
“My husband is irresponsible; he has turned me into a punching bag, I am no longer interested in the marriage.
“He keeps threatening my life, embarrassing and harassing me.
“He is so abusive, always raining curses on me and accusing me of having illicit affairs with different men.
“He made the police to arrest me and l slept in the cell for two days before l was released,” she said.
The petitioner said her husband was not taking proper care of her and their four children.
Oluwatoyin pleaded with the court to separate them, saying: “I am no longer interested in the union; the love I have for him has faded.
“l also want my husband to give me custody of the children for good and proper upbringing”.

She debunked all her husband’s allegations, saying that there were fabricated stories.
She told the court that she moved out of their matrimonial home due to constant beating and sometimes with injuries.
Ibikunle, a 44-year-old driver from Oyo State, denied the allegations and described his wife as wayward.

“My wife is not submissive and she is wayward; she is not a good wife.
“She enjoys doing things l do not like and she moved out of our house two years ago.
The respondent said that his wife used to be honest, faithful and straightforward, but suddenly changed after he lost his job and she started keeping bad friends.
He further alleged that the petitioner started keeping late nights and received strange calls late at night.
“I couldn’t talk much because l was not working and couldn’t provide for the house financially.
The respondent accused the wife of infidelity having caught her on several occasions with different men at different hotels.
“On several occasions my wife lied that she was going for parties and left the house for days.
“There was a time she went for a party and did not return claiming she slept over at her sister’s house which l later discovered were all lies”.
He said that he confronted her on a particular day when he saw her with one of her male friends.
“She told me to my face not to disturb her that the man has been of immense help to her”.
The respondent told the court that he made efforts to resolve the issues between both of them which were fruitless.
“I later realised her family were supporting her because she credits her father and family member accounts with money she gets from her male friends”.
He also said his wife did not care about the welfare of the children as all she was good at was her business and relationship with men.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that during mediation the children did not want their parents to live separately.
The Court’s President, Mr Philip Williams, then admonished the estranged couple and told them that they did not love their children.
“If care is not taken, you will ruin the life of these children and turn them to societal nuisance,’’ he said.
The case was adjourned to Dec. 1 for judgment. (NAN)
LAW/LAB/TA
(Edited by Lydia Beshel/Tajudeen Atitebi)

NAN-H-9

Projects
By Victor Adeoti
Osogbo, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) The Osun House of Assembly has called on the Federal Government to resuscitate its various abandoned projects in the state.

Members of the assembly made this appeal at the plenary on Monday in Osogbo.

Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, who raised the issue, put the sum of the abandoned federal projects in the state at N20 billion.

Oyintiloye recalled that the abandoned projects, which were awarded in 2008, included road infrastructure, water schemes and housing.

The lawmaker (APC- Obokun Constituency), said road infrastructure cost N16.519 billion, housing N2.955 billion and water scheme N844.342 million among the abandoned projects.

“Some of the projects were 22 km dual carriageway of Mayfair-Lagere-Iremo-Enuwa-Ilesha bye-pass in Ile-Ife, awarded, and reconstruction/rehabilitation of Gbongan-Iwo-Oyo S/B road.

“Among others were the rehabilitation of 27 km Osogbo-Ilesha road, Oyan township water pipeline and Iwo township water supply scheme”.

Oyintiloye implored the Federal Government to resuscitate the abandoned projects, stressing their socio-economic benefits for the state.

Contributing, other lawmakers said the resuscitation of the abandoned projects would enhance job creation, attract investors to the state and make potable water available to the people.

In his remarks, the Speaker, Mr Najeem Salaam, said the appropriate Federal Government agencies would be invited to explain why the projects were abandoned.

Najeem said the explanation by the government agencies would enable the assembly to know the necessary steps to be taken.

The speaker lauded the Federal Government for paying attention to the construction of the federal secretariat and other projects in the state. (NAN)

VE/IKU/YEMI

Edited by Tayo Ikujuni

Controlled by Yemi Idris-Aduloju