Blog

NAN-H-89
Education

By Yinka Olawale-Ajayi
Lagos, Sept.22, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Government on Thursday said it was irrevocably committed to promoting competency-based education in order to boost employment generation and fast-track the nation`s development.
The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, said this in Lagos at a national workshop on technical and vocational training in Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop with the theme“ Technical Education: A tool for Sustainable National Development“ was organised by the Lagos Chambers of Commerce.
The minister, represented by Dr.Margaret Ladipo, Rector, Yaba College of Technology, said the government would continue to invest in technical education to build the requisite human capital base for a competitive economy.
“The Nigerian education system has an important role to play in actualizing government’s desire to nurture and develop the requisite human capital base for a globally-competitive economy.
“This informs the emphasis the present administration has placed on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education.
“We will continue to invest and promote this form of education to encourage job creation and employment generation.
“As a nation, we must face the reality that education today has to be functional, in the sense that it must be structured to meet the requirements for the growth and development of the nation.
“Education must be purpose-driven toward the development of the individual. This what technical and vocational education guarantees and we will continue to focus on that,’’ he said.
He said the government would bridge the gap between the “Town and the Gown“ by encouraging closer interaction between workplaces and students in technical schools.
The minister said an enabling environment would be created in the universities, polytechnics and colleges of education for pragmatic private sector involvement.
Adamu said that the government would regularly review the curriculum to ensure that students undergoing technical training meet the required standards.
He said the government would equip technology-oriented institutions with the right equipment and facilities to ensure quality training.
The minister commended the Lagos Chamber of Commerce for organising the workshop, saying it would go a long way in raising consciousness about the importance of technical education.

Also speaking, the Deputy–Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Idiat Adebule, described technical education as a strategy to promote the country`s national development.
Adebule, therefore, advocated the proper integration of vocational education programmes at all levels of education to achieve the objective`
“At Lagos State, we attach priority to the acquisition of vocational skills as a panacea to reduce the challenges of unemployment.
“We believe our great men and women can achieve greatness with their hands.

“The state has created technical colleges and skills’ acquisition centres to empower youths with the required skills to build their future “she said.
The keynote speaker, Mr Laolu Oguntuyi, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Board, LASTVEB, said technical education was key to producing productive citizens and promoting national development.
He, therefore, called for concerted efforts from all stakeholders in promoting vocational education for sustainable growth and development.(NAN)
OOG/PAD

Edited and controlled by Peter Dada

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NAN-H-91
Donation
By Olayinka Olawale
Lagos, Sept. 22, 2016 (NAN) The Flour Milling Association of Nigeria on Thursday donated equipment worth N8million to the Food and Technology Department, Yaba College of Technology to boost technical and vocational training.
The equipment include Deck oven, Proofer, three Dough Spiral Mixers, Double Face Electric Frying Pot and Digital Scale with 60 kilogram capacity.
Speaking at the presentation, Mr Lanre Jaiyeola, Vice Chairman, Flour Milling Association of Nigeria, said the gesture was to improve and enhance knowledge of master bakers in Nigeria.
He said the donation was also to help to improve on modern teaching and learning of baking in the college.
Jaiyeola said the equipment was donated by all members of flour millers association and it would be replicated in other geo-political zones of the country.
“Today is a great day to show support and unity of purpose; this initiative is to small and medium scale companies in the country.
“This not about marketing, this is part of our corporate social responsibility to the society, and we are happy to make this donation to YABATECH.
“This is not our first donation to this college and we will still do more; times are hard now, but even with the situation, a lot can be done.
“The equipment is donated by all flour mill members, and for us, this goes beyond marketing.
“We are a national association and we will replicate this in other geo-political zone in the country.”
Dr Margaret Ladipo, Rector, Yaba College of Technology, commended the association for selecting the college as a beneficiary of the equipment.
Ladipo said the equipment would assist the students and other professional master bakers to update their knowledge and skills with the latest technology.
She said the equipment would help the college to increase its Internally Generated Revenue by engaging in large scale bread and confectioneries production.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 9th batch of 2016 master bakers class graduated at the ceremony.

(NAN)

OOG/SOA

(Edited by Oluwole Sogunle)

Flood kills 2, submerges 3,000 farmlands in Katsina State – Official
NAN-AE-12
Flood
Katsina, Sept. 22, 2016 (NAN) Dr Aminu Waziri, the Executive Secretary, Katsina State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said that two persons were killed as a result of flood which occurred in the state this year.

Waziri, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, added that several other persons sustained various degrees of injuries in the incident.

He said that over 300 houses were also affected in one way or the other by the disaster.

Waziri said that over 3,000 farmlands were submerged by the flood that destroyed crops estimated at millions of naira during the period under review.

He further revealed that property worth millions of naira was also destroyed by the disaster in the state.

Waziri told NAN that the local government areas worst affected were Malumfashi, Bakori, Funtua and Baure.

According to him, the state recorded few cases of flooding in 2016, when compared with previous years.

The secretary attributed this to the state government’s efforts in providing effective drainage, particularly in the flood prone areas.

He explained that the flooding experienced in 2016 could be blamed on earth dams collapsed, indiscriminate dumping of refuse in waterways and erection of houses on waterways.

Waziri advised all the three tiers of government to conduct a scientific study on the disaster vulnerability of each state so as to be able to plan for remedy in case of emergency.

He further urged authorities concern to continue to ensure effective monitoring of weather situations and dams with a view to plan ahead and enlightens the public on the anticipation of such disasters.

Waziri also urged the public to desist from indiscriminate dumping of waste and building of houses on waterways to avoid flooding and outbreak of diseases.

He said that the state has over 700 Internally Displaced Persons, who were currently camping in public schools at Danmusa and Faskari Local Government Areas of the state. (NAN)
ZI/SUD/FF/AFA
Edited by Fela Fashoro/Felix Ajide
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Audio Attached

NAN-HG-6
Violence
By Grace Alegba
Lagos, Sept. 22, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has urged communities to foster child victims of domestic violence and rejection.

The National Chairperson of NAWOJ, Mrs Ifeyinwa Omowole made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.

She said that such children needed care and love to recover from their traumatic experiences.

• Cue in audio

“A man kills his wife; he goes to jail. Who looks after the children?

“The children suffer; so, when we look at the ripple effect of this on our children, on the future generation of Nigeria.

“In those days, the community used to cushion a lot things.

“Can we go back to those days when we were a community?

“We could cushion the effects of everything with each other.

“As neighbours, do we have neighbourhood meetings that will help us cushion effects of things.

“Are there things we can do as smaller units in the communities to help each other come through certain challenges so that it does not result in our killing ourselves?

“My husband offends me, (but) do I have a group in my church or mosque that I can talk to and then I get a kind of therapy?

“Or are you afraid of talking and because you are afraid of talking, you bottle in some of your challenges and then they come out as anger and then you take a life?

“Justice is one thing and justice is relative.

“Who is the real victim?

“The real victims are the children and NAWOJ is talking about how we can begin to foster children that are abandoned or have come out of these violent situations.’’

• Cue out audio

Every year, an estimated 3.3 million children are exposed to domestic violence in their homes in third world countries such as Philippines and Nigeria.

As a result, a sizeable number of such child victims are orphaned by incidence of domestic violence. (NAN)

GA/ERO/OSA/YEE

Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Shittu Obassa/Emmanuel Yashim

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NAN-H-79
Tariffs
By Bolaji Buhari
Lagos, Sept. 22, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Thursday says it has not increased duties on imported goods in all its commands across the country.

Mr Adeola Olayinka, Assistant Public Relations Officer, Tin-Can Island Port 2 Area Command, made the clarification in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He said what the Customs had done was to adopt the flexible exchange rate in all its transactions as against the old fixed rate of N197 to one U.S. dollar.

Olayinka said that complaints of duty being raised were unfounded, adding that the fact that more naira was now paid as duties did not translate into a hike.

“ The Nigeria Customs Service has not increased tariffs contrary to complaints in some quarters that it has hiked import duties.

“What we have done is to adopt the flexible exchange rate in the administration of duties in line with the Federal Government’s forex policy.

“Because of the present value of the Naira, some people believe they are paying more in Naira.

“For example, our duty on private vehicles remains 35 per cent.

“It is the exchange rate that determines what we now charge as import duties, so people need to be informed that that is not the same as tariff increase, “he said.

Olayinka said the customs had no powers to increase import duties but that of the Federal Government.

The spokesman said that rather than a hike, the government was contemplating a downward review of duties on imported goods to attract cargoes to Nigerian ports.

Olayinka urged stakeholders, especially freight forwarders and importers to show understanding on the issue, adding that the Customs was committed to promoting trade and interests of all its partners.

NAN reports that the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) had recently complained of arbitrary hike in duties by the Customs.

The National Publicity Secretary of the association, Mr Stanley Ezenga, urged the Customs to stabilise the duty to ease operations of freight forwarders and curb inflation. (NAN)
BHB/JI/AJA
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(Editing by Joseph Idika and controlled by Adeleye Ajayi)

NAN-H-77
MTN
By Cecilia John/Ifeanyi Nwoko
Abuja, Sept. 22, 2016 (NAN) The Senate on Thursday  agreed  to investigate an allegation that telecommunication giant, MTN Nigeria, repatriated 12 billion dollars out of the country over a 10-year period.
The resolution followed a motion moved by Sen. Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi) who relied on a point of order to make the allegations.

The Senate asked Melaye  to present documents at the next legislative day showing evidence of the transfer for immediate investigation.
Melaye had alleged that the South Africa-owned company had taken away over 12 billion dollars from Nigeria in the last 10 years.
“My respected colleagues, MTN Nigeria paid a sum of 284.9 million dollars on the 6th of February, 2001, to purchase their licence of operations in this country.
“Between 2006 and 2016, through four Nigerian Banks and a serving minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, MTN moved over 12 billion dollars out of Nigeria.

“That is about half of our external reserves.
“If I get the nod of the Senate I will want to bring a substantive motion on the next legislative day with substantiated facts to buttress this position,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that MTN was involved in a dispute with the Federal Government over the non-registration of 5.2 million subscribers in 2015.

The government subsequently imposed a fine of N1.04 trillion on the firm but later reduced it to N330 billion after negotiations but the company has paid N50 billion of the agreed sum.  (NAN)
CJM/ICN/JCE
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(Edited by Chukwudi Ekezie)

NAN-ELS-14
Nigerians
By Josephine Obute
Lagos, Sept. 22, 2016 (NAN) Nigerians have continued to shower encomiums on the King of Juju music, Sunny Ade (KSA) as he turns 70.

Upcoming artistes, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday, described him as a cultural legend.

Elizabeth Oyovwe, a gospel artist told NAN that she had always regarded KSA a “godfather’’ in the music industry because of his maturity both in style and trend.

“I always play the videos of Pa Sunny Ade to enlighten my intellect on the cultural touch whenever I was planning a show and even in the composition of my songs.
“I cherish the cultural touch he sustains in his music and he maintains it even outside the country,’’ she said.

According to her, Sunny Ade should be named “Pride of Nigerian culture’’ as the leading projector of the nation’s cultural heritage to the world.

Speaking on her latest work, “Gallant of Praise’’, Oyovwe stated that the album featured four ethnic cultures, Hausa, Edo, Igbo and Yoruba in both the lyrics and the video.

The upcoming artist noted that it was her own way of promoting Nigeria’s rich culture and tradition to the outside world.

Similarly, a comedian Emmanuel Idemudia, popularly known as “Paparazzi’’ said that Sunny Ade’s works would remain timeless because of the wisdom in his lyrics.
“The songs of the Juju music icon is an ever active lyric that will remain relevant even decades after, unlike our contemporary songs by our young artistes.

“Though his songs are seen by many as songs for the matured minds, it is a challenge for the computer age musicians, as most young artistes drift towards alien entertainment.

“We need to redirect our youths to our cultural songs and performances like that of King Sunny Ade which is in line with programmes such as “Village Headmaster’’, “Tales by moonlight’’, “Winds of Destiny’’ and lots more.

“The media industry should promote more of these cultural and epic works in Nollywood and national screens,” he said

Paula Mbah said that the Juju music exponent was her cultural role model that inspired her in compositions and stage performances.

“King Sunny Ade has raised my moral in learning how to play local drums and other traditional musical instruments during my stage performances.

“In fact, as a woman, I play the talking drum which is a major point of admiration from my fans,’’Mbah added.

Meanwhile, another upcoming artiste, Otunba has urged the government to honour Sunny Ade for his cultural contributions to the entertainment industry.

“I see King Sunny Ade as a model that showcases the rich cultural heritage of our great country,’’ he said. (NAN)
JNEO/ERO/EEE
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Edited by Emma Okara/Ese E. Ekama

NAN-AE-11
Waste
By Uche Bibilari
Nyanya (FCT), Sept. 22, 2016 (NAN) Satellite Towns Development Department, Federal Capital Development Authority, will soon commence sanctioning of residents who dumped waste indiscriminately in the satellite towns.

Mrs Victoria Imande, Acting Director of the department, handed down the warning on Thursday in Abuja when officials of the department went to evacuate waste in the popular Nyanya market

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nyanya is a bustling and densely populated satellite town in the Federal Capital Territory.

Imande said the sanctions would range from payment of fines to closing down of shops especially those located near the roads.

She added that defaulters would also appear before mobile court.

She said that defaulters, who would not be able to pay the stipulated fine, would be imprisoned.

Imande said the department was planning sensitisation campaign to educate the public on how best to dispose their waste to avoid outbreak of diseases.

She said: “we have upgraded the laws and as we sensitise the people, we are telling them that after now we are going to roll out sanctions for defaulters caught doing wrong things.

“We are assuming that they are doing this because they don’t know, but we know they know what they doing.

“We are going to have mobile court; people will pay fines and go to prison where need be, as part of the sanctions.’’

The acting director advised residents against patronising waste collectors popularly known as; “maibola,“who she said, were fond of dumping waste in wrong places.

According to her, maibola are the reason for indiscriminate dumping of refuse in most satellite towns.

She said that the department had mapped out waste collection centres in communities across the FCT, saying that more of such centres where been identified.

“ We are advising residents that they don’t need to bring their waste to the roads, rather they should dump them in designated dump site and we will go and evacuate them.’’

Imande identified lack of accessible roads to link satellite towns as a major challenge to the department; a development she said, was impediment to easy evacuation of waste.

She said that the department would create a data base to enumerate houses that could be accessed as a way of addressing the situation.

The acting director said that the population of Abuja was growing at an unprecedented level, adding that daily in flock of people into the city, was also increasing waste generated.

She said that attitude of residents towards waste management was also a challenge to the department and called on residents to cultivate proper waste management culture.

Imane assured that in spite of the challenges faced by the department, waste evacuation in the six area councils of the FCT would be sustained for a cleaner environment. (NAN)

UU/EEM/AEA
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Edited by Emmanuel Mogbede and Controlled by Archibong Asuquo

NAN-AE-10
Prices
By Awayi  Kuje
Keffi (Nasarawa State), Sept. 22, 2016 (NAN) Prices of grains have reduced significantly in various markets in Nasarawa State following the arrival of new farm produce, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

A survey conducted by a NAN correspondent in some markets in Keffi and Akwanga revealed that the prices of maize and local rice have reduced.

A bag of maize, which sold for  between N23, 000 and N25, 000 two months ago, now goes for between N 9, 000 and N10, 000, depending on quality.

In the same vein, a measure of maize, hitherto sold for between N230 and N250, has come down to between N90 and N100

Also, a measure of local rice, which sold for N550 some few months ago, is now selling for between N400 and N450.

The foreign brand, however, is N550 for a measure.

Mrs Jacinta Luka, a resident of Keffi , expressed happiness at the development.

“We are now happy that the harvest of new agricultural produce has led to a drop in the prices of food items, especially the prices of maize and local rice.

“ This will reduce people’s hardship in the state.

“The previous hike in the prices of goods in the market has created untold hardship for many Nigerians who can no longer feed their families well, considering the nation’s economic situation,” she said.

Another resident, Ibrahim Dantala, described the falling prices as a welcome development.

“Most consumers are now happy that the harvest of food crops is forcing down prices, except that of foreign rice.

‘’I will attribute the expensive price of foreign rice to the price of dollar, “he said.

According to him, low prices of commodities will not only encourage consumers to stock their homes with more food items, it will also improve their standard of living.

He added that the development would boost the socio-economic development of the country.

Dantala expressed optimism that prices of food items would crash further before the end of the year.

He expressed the belief that massive food production would end the current economic hardship in the country. (NAN)
AKW/DUA/OJO
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(Edited by Dada Ahmed and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-AE-9
Youths
By Yinusa Ishola
Omu-Aran (Kwara) Sept. 22, 2016 (NAN) The traditional ruler of Egosi in Oke-Ero Local Government Area, Kwara, Oba Daniel Dada, has urged governments to increase funding of agriculture and make it more attractive to youths.

Dada, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Egosi on Thursday, urged government at all levels to boost agricultural mechanisation.

The monarch said that involvement of youths in all categories of agricultural practices would assist to secure the nation’s growth and economic diversification.

Dada, the Elegosi of Egosi kingdom, said that Nigerian youths have formidable roles to play in the government’s efforts to diversify the nation’s economy from oil to agriculture based.

According to the monarch, transforming agriculture requires a collective responsibility of all stakeholders to achieve success.

He stressed the need for re-ordering of priorities by the federal, state and local governments to adequately tackle the nation’s food insufficiency challenges.

Dada suggested a well coordinated national policy on agriculture to be embrace by all tiers government to develop the sector.

He decried the situation whereby most of the youth empowerment initiatives are concentrated on distribution of motorcycles, grinding machines with less regard for agriculture at the grassroots.

Dada criticised the influx of many youths into commercial motorcycle business, saying such could be a stumbling block to governments’ developmental efforts.

“Government needs to make agriculture attractive, especially with the availability of credit facility and farm inputs to the youth.

“There is the need to refocus the minds of the youths from ‘get-rich-quick’ syndrome for them to embrace agriculture as a trade and vocations

“Other farming inputs to promote agriculture mechanisation should be highly subsidised,” he said.

The royal father also identified lack of continuity in government’s policies as a major factor hindering successful implementation of past laudable agriculture initiatives.

“It seems there is lack of coordination or working relationship among all tiers of government as far as agriculture development is concerned,” the monarch said.

He mentioned the Agriculture Transformation Agenda (ATA) initiative of the past administration aimed at registering 20 million farmers nationwide as deserving replication by states and local government areas.

“There is need for state Ministries of Agriculture to work in tandem with their federal counterparts in the areas of research, documentation and development.

“Same goes for the local government areas, agriculture institution and centres spread across the country.

“By so doing our efforts in making agriculture a veritable alternative to boost the nation’s economy would be achieved,” he said. (NAN)
ISHO/FF/AFA
Edited by Fela Fashoro /Felix Ajide
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