By Oladele Eniola

Mr Ben Llewelyn-Jones, British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, has urged Nigerians to respect the electoral process.

Llewellyn-Jones gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He urged politicians to resolve their grievances in a peaceful manner and avoid heating the polity and inciting violence.

My advice to politicians in the upcoming elections is that they should respect the process as the new technology is there to ensure that people can vote and that must be respected.

If the politicians have problem or dispute, then the use of legal or peaceful processes should be carried out and if their supporters are angry, ensure peaceful protests and avoid any form of violence.

Most importantly, politicians must desist from buying votes as the right thing is to tell people to vote for you because of what you would do and not by buying votes to convince them to vote for you.

It is imperative of politicians and people to do the right things as the UK government is committed to issuing visa restrictions where it is aware of attempts to subvert the democratic process, he said.

Llewellyn-Jones noted that since 2019, the UK government has spent over 10million working with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), institution capacity building and civil societies, amongst others.

He urged the public to cooperate and work with the INEC, noting that the commission has the capacity to deal with challenges facing it.

We have been working very closely with INEC and we have spent over 10 million since 2019; not just on them as that money went into capacity building for Nigerian government institutions, civil societies and observers who have been working closely with INEC.

We are impressed with steps that have been taken as we know there is still a lot do, especially in terms of logistic challenges, but INEC is very experienced and they would overcome the challenges.

We encourage Nigerians to work and cooperate with INEC as there would always be challenges, but Nigerians should remain supportive, he said.

The UK envoy noted that there should be inclusiveness of people across the board in elections.

He encouraged People Living With Disabilities (PLWDs), youths and women to contest various positions in future elections.

We are strong supporters of the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Movement, as we supported the act and encouraged more people to come forward to participate in the elections because we want to see more inclusiveness across the board.

We want to see people with disabilities, people from different backgrounds and ages contest in elections but that is still a real challenge as we dont see that.

More women should participate in politics as you can look at the UK who has had three female prime ministers and we believe it is important to see more women participating as it would be a massive encouragement in general.

It is important to have that identification process so we are actively supporting all of that to make that difference to happen, he said.

Llewellyn-Jones expressed confidence that the forthcoming elections would be peaceful and fair.

He revealed that the UK government did not have preferred candidates noting that its concern was for the public to determine their preferred leaders.

I have been watching elections in Nigeria since 2014 and every election since 1999 has been an improvement as there have been changes, improvements, development, assurance and more confidence from the voters.

Im certain that the upcoming elections would be a step forward and the technology that is being introduced is a big part that would ensure that people cant rig the elections.

We would be observing the elections and we are really hopeful that the elections would go smoothly.

The key thing is that Nigerians vote, that they vote in a peaceful environment and that their votes count and the process is credible.

The UK government is not bothered about who wins the elections but our focus is on the process and to ensure Nigerians choose their leaders, he said.

The general elections will start with the presidential poll on Feb. 25.

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Kingsley Kubeyinje

Source: NAN News

Yiaga Africa, a Civil Society Organisation has advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rectify observed lapses at the recently concluded mock accreditation for a successful 2023 election.

The Executive Director, Yiaga Africa, Mr Samson Itodo, made the call while presenting the organisations report on Bimodal Voters Accreditation System(BVAS) testing, mock accreditation and electronic transmission of accreditation data in Abuja on Friday.

Itodo said that data and technology would play prominent role in 2023 election, because INEC was relying on electoral technology to enhance the transparency and credibility of the election.

He said that tools such as the BVAS and INEC Election Result Viewing portal (IREV) would be deployed for the election.

He said to deliver on Nigerians expectations; the deployment of electoral technologies must conform to the principles of transparency, accountability, suitability, cost-effectiveness, security, accuracy and inclusion.

He said that INEC should make public its reports on the set-up and testing of the BVAS and mock accreditation and provide update on steps taken to address the challenges identified during the BVAS testing and mock accreditation.

He added that the mock accreditation confirmed that INEC assigned registered voters to new polling units without prior information to them, revealing a potential operational challenge on Election Day where voters would be unable to locate their polling units.

INEC should investigate cases where the BVAS failed to authenticate the biometrics of voters, despite having the names on the register. This will inspire public confidence in the BVAS and IReV.

As a matter of national emergency, INEC should notify all voters affected by the migration of polling units of changes to their polling units via text messages, emails, and phone calls if possible.

In addition, a copy of the voter register should be posted across polling units for voter to confirm their polling unit.

This should be backed by a national campaign on locate and confirm your polling units via online and offline platforms, he said.

Itodo said there was need for INEC to replicate the transmission of the accreditation data on the BVAS to the IReV in the general election.

He added that the transmitting accreditation figures would enhance the transparency of the election as it would give Nigerians the opportunity to check the consistency of the number of accredited voters recorded on the BVAS and the accreditation figures entered on the result sheet by polling officials.

He said that INEC should educate polling officials on recording and documentation of election figures, to avoid discrepancies between the accreditation data uploaded by the BVAS to the IReV and the figures recorded on the polling unit result sheet.

He said INEC should ensure all the BVAS devices deployed for the mock accreditation were reconfigured to read zero in the field for accreditation before deploying for the general election.

He said that the assembling a monitoring team to supervise and monitor the reconfiguration was highly recommended.

Yiaga Africa commends and encourages INEC to continue to demonstrate its commitment to enhancing the transparency of the electoral process, while hoping that all the other recommendations of ERAD will be implemented for the 2023 general election.

Director of Programmes, Yiaga Africa,Cynthia Mbamalu, said that in the states observed by Yiaga Africa, the BVAS testing was successful and the ICT staff demonstrated good knowledge of the systems and testing guidelines.

She however, said some devices failed activation and configuration due to hardware failures such as problematic cameras, screens and power buttons.

She said the exercise was also blighted by poor internet connectivity.

Network challenges were experienced mostly in Adamawa, Taraba, Akwa Ibom and Rivers states.

More than half of the locations visited during the four visits experienced network challenges which hindered the activation of the machines on the days observed.

Cases of faulty BVAS devices were reported in states like Sokoto, Edo, and Akwa Ibom, the ICT officials discovered the defective hardware components when they attempted to operate the machines.

The dominant hardware defects include non-functioning camera, faulty screen and faulty fingerprint scanner and reports from half of the centers indicate faulty fingerprint scanners was the most prevalent defect with the BVAS devices, she said.

Mbamalu said that in some states, INEC officials resisted and declined to grant access to citizen observers to observe the testing process and this hampered the observation in Zamfara, Jigawa, Kaduna, Plateau Kogi, FCT, Cross-River, Bauchi, and Gombe states amongst others.

She said that in 98 per cent of polling units, the BVAS functioned properly, saying however that in two per cent of polling units, the BVAS malfunctioned, and it was fixed.

She said that in 84 per cent of polling units, every voters fingerprint was checked using the BVAS and in cases where the fingerprint authentication failed, the official resorted to facial authentication.

She said that Yiaga Africa observers reported cases of missing names of the voter register and the BVAS were denied accreditation.

Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu , Board Member,Yiaga Africa, recommended that registered voters should utilise platforms provided by INEC to locate and confirm their polling units before election day.

Nwagwu said that this would fast-track the process of voting on Election Day.

He said that the National Assembly should consider further amendments to the Electoral Act, 2022 after the 2023 general election to make the conduct of testing and mock exercises for electoral technologies mandatory including timelines for their conduct.

He said that political parties should educate party agents on the process of accreditation and results management process to ensure effective oversight and avert undue interference with the process on Election Day.

He said that civil society groups, media and international partners should undertake and support campaign initiatives aimed at assisting voters to locate and confirm their polling unit including inspiring confidence in the BVAS and IReV. (NAN)(nannews.ng)

ATAB/ABI

Source: NAN News

Azibaola, standing, addressing a cross-section of the engineers during their tour of Zeetin Engineering complex in Idu, Abuja

Zeetin founder charges young engineers on innovation, patriotism

Mr Azibola Robert, founder of Zeetin Engineering Limited, has charged young engineers to take advantage of the companys expertise and array of machines to improve their practical knowledge in engineering and contribute to the technological advancement and infrastructural development of Nigeria.

He gave the charge on Friday while taking members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Abuja branch, on a facility tour of Zeetin Engineering complex in the Idu Industrial Area of Abuja.

Our engineers have learnt a lot in schools. Now, Zeetin is the right place for our young engineers to come and hone their skills; they can come here and practice what they have been taught in schools, Azibaola, a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers said.

He said that young engineers would be given the opportunity to use the company to demonstrate their ability to design and carve metals into different shapes and sizes with the companys machines.

We are also building capacity; we are open to collaboration in engineering with Nigerian engineers across the globe, as we continue to work with our technical partners to achieve all these.

In Zeetin, we want to make as many spare parts as possible and ultimately, make car engines both hydrocarbon-based and electric engines and that will change the narrative that we are not just about automobile assembly. Some of the machines we have here are the same machines that are used abroad to do your jets, he said.

Robert advised Nigerians to stop sending faulty machines and equipment abroad for repairs, instead of patronising Nigerian firms to fix them.

We should discourage the practice of quickly sending faulty machines, equipment for repairs to Europe or to China or to India. Despite the challenges we are facing as a country, we in Zeetin Engineering want to change the narrative.

By making Zeetin the engineering hub for the design, fabrication and production of OEM spares for all sectors of engineering, automobile, aviation, etc, instead of having to go abroad to either buy or repair these things.

This is because we have here in Zeetin the machines that our people go to patronise in other countries abroad.

Azibaola also charged Nigerian engineers to continue to advocate for changes and re-orientation of the way and manner the engineering profession and its practitioners are perceived by the Government in the development of the country.

The government encourage local production and the country will develop, no two ways about it. Its about Ingenuity. Its about ability to function. Technology is rapidly evolving. Not like it used to be in the 1980s, when you have to go through stringent policy process to be able to import machines.

If you encourage a lot of people to buy cars from the local industry, several industries will grow. For instance, I start making engine block, cars; somebody will be interested in making bolts and nuts, so, another industry will grow; somebodys interested in making upholstery.

It might not be very pleasant at the beginning; but over time, technology improves. We must start from somewhere, and keep improving.

Zeetin Engineering is a technology and precision engineering company, which focuses on all types of metal works, including high-end engineering spares production.

In his remarks, the leader of the delegation and chairman of the Abuja branch of the NSE, Ben-Osy Osita, accepted and thanked Zeetin founder for offering to give hands-on training to young engineers in the practical use of the different machines in the factory.

Our young engineers would like to be trained here in Zeetin. We would love to send them to come here and do training, their IT (Industrial Training).

We will definitely collaborate on that and bring our engineers here. We really appreciate and accept your kind gesture. Theres no other engineering firm in Nigeria that has the kind of equipment we have here in Zeetin.

Its only Zeetin and, I think, one company in South Africa, that have it in Africa. Our young engineers would like to be trained here, Osita said

He also thanked the Zeetin founder for his support and encouragement to engineering bodies as a whole, and commended his belief in Nigerian engineers.

Im very proud of your belief in Nigerians Building Nigeria. You employed Nigerian engineers and pay them well. Thank you for your belief in Nigerian engineers.

You believe that something good will come out of this country, for your belief in Nigerian engineers. Some other persons would, ordinarily, have gone elsewhere, like Ghana, to establish this factory there.

But you chose to establish it here in Nigeria because of Nigerian engineers. Thats commendable, and we thank you for that.(NAN)

Deputy Editor in Chief,
Head of Website/Solutions Journalism desk.

Source: NAN News

Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu and other dignitaries during the wedding

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Minister of Power, Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, on Friday said that patience and tolerance were key to a successful marriage.

Aliyu made the remark shorty after the wedding fatiha of the son of the late Yobe Governor, Sen. Mamman-Ali, Alhaji Abdallah Mamman-Ali and Aisha Bello, held at Al-Noor Mosque, in Abuja.

The minister, who noted that marriage was a serious business, enjoined the groom to ensure a barrier between his friends and family.

Aliyu said: This is the beginning. So, it is a bumpy ride at the beginning, so they are now going to start to understand each other.

No matter the time they spend during courtship, they will never know each other until they come together under one roof. Then the real self will start to come out.

So, the only thing that can keep them together is patience. He has to be patient with his wife and the wife also has to be patient with her husband.

I want to advise him to realise that she is his wife no one else. She is not his friends wife, therefore, there has to be a barrier between his friends and his family. And family is a serious business.

We will continue to pray for them. May Allah give them a happy home and a blessed family.

Also speaking, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, the Deputy National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), reiterated that patience and tolerance were the magic wands for a very successful marriage.

Kyari: Ours is to pray for them to have a very successful marriage and a very bright future.

As we all know, there are challenging times ahead and we wish them all the best and they should keep all their problems within themselves.

Let them sort it out themselves without any third party and they will have a successful marriage just like his father and all of us.

On his part, the groom, expressed gratitude to the Almighty Allah for sparing his life to witness his wedding day in good health.

He added: I am very happy, I am fulfilled and in sha Allah, everything will go smoothly during this wedding ceremony and with my partner as well.

I dont think I will have the time to list all the qualities of my wife, but I will say she is a smart woman, she is very caring, she is loving and very appreciative.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe stood in for the groom.

NAN also reports that the union between the couple was solemnised after the payment of N200,000 dowry.

The wedding fatiha was presided over by an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Muhammad Adam.

In attendance were the former Yobe Governor, Sen. Bukar Ibrahim, the Emir of Machina, Dr Bashir Bukar, Group Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd., Malam Mele Kyari and Dr Kabir Kano, Director-General, International Centre for Islamic Culture and Education, among others. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

Mr Bitrus Chinoko, the Director-General, CMD and Mr Yuzurio Susumu, the Chief Representative of JICA in Nigeria

By Adeyemi Adeleye

The Centre for Management Development (CMD) seeks collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to fulfill its mandate of providing capacity building for national development.

The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, CMD, Mr Bitrus Chinoko, during a bilateral meeting with the representatives of JICA in Lagos on Thursday said that the centre needed support to achieve its goals.

Chinoko, who described the visit of JICA officials as home coming, said that the history of the CMD could not be written without JICA.

According to him, CMDs area of focus has not changed.

He said that the centre still wanted to build a viable entrepreneurship and business development department.

Seeking JICAs cooperation in the training of Nigerian youths, the DG said: A sizable number of our youth are roaming the streets because there are no jobs.

We started a programme where we train the youth free of charge, and try to attach them to some industries so that they can learn skills. Unfortunately, we do not get a positive response but we have not given in.

He said that the centre expected cooperation from JiCA in the area of leadership training, economic management, ICT and infrastructure development.

Economies all over the world today are driven by knowledge. Of course, that is what Japan has stood out for. Everybody knows that what makes Japan what it is today is the knowledge-based economy that it runs.

Except we have this knowledge impartation, we can have all the resources in the world in Nigeria, if it cannot be judiciously utilised and exploited for the good of everybody, nothing can be achieved.

That is why we continued to emphasise on capacity building for national development and that is one of the key mandates for CMD, to provide capacity in the public sector and private sector.

We cannot do this alone, the government itself is overwhelmed, and the need for technical collaboration with agency like JICA becomes very imperative, he said.

The CMD boss expressed confidence that something positive would come out of the collaboration, saying whatever JICA would do for CMD is done for the entire nation.

He said that the staff needed capacity building with international best practices, that would be cascaded for national development across levels.

In his response, Mr Yuzurio Susumu, the Chief Representative of JICA in Nigeria, said that the agency had been discussing with CMD for a long time about the future possible collaboration and cooperation.

I heard there is a big headquarters office and facilities, so this time we are inspecting to see the facility on the ground and also if possible to observe the training they are running, Susumu said.

He said that the agency was looking at collaborating in the area of training programmes in the priority areas such as leadership, entrepreneurship, economic management and others.

Assessing the facility, Susumu noted that CMD was trying its best with the limited resources, saying we understand that the government is facing some difficulties financially.

I am very much encouraged that CMD is moving towards ICT here in training and retraining and libraries.

On how soon the expected collaboration would begin, he said that the agency was still in discussion with his home country..

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CMD management took the JICA officials round its facilities during a bilateral meeting that had some directors of the centre in attendance. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

Source: NAN News

By Olatunde Ajayi

The newly-appointed Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Yushau Ahmed, has given assurance of safety to Youth Corps members during the forthcoming general elections.

Ahmed gave the assurance during his official visit to the Oyo State NYSC Orientation Camp on Friday in Iseyin, Oyo State.

He informed the corps members that he had on assumption of duty visited all service chiefs in the country to get assurance from them for the protection of Corps members on election duties.

He, however, urged the Corps members to abide by the rules and regulations guiding their participation as umpires in the elections and desist from unauthorised journeys throughout their service year.

The D-G charged them to maintain high level of discipline and translate the sound training imparted on them into impactful service year as they assumed various roles in their Places of Primary Assignment (PPA).

Recounting his own experience as a Youth Corps member in Osun State, in 1995, Ahmed urged them to make friends and respect the culture of their host communities.

The NYSC boss further urged corps members to relate well with the people in their host community to have a memorable and rewarding service year.

He said that NYSC scheme had zero tolerance for extortion and promised that security and welfare of Corps members would be his topmost priority.

The Oyo State Coordinator of NYSC, Mr Odoba Abel, in his welcome remark, gave a report of the ongoing 2023 Batch A Stream 1 Orientation Course.

Abel, therefore, paid tributes to the participating Corps members and the NYSC staff working with him who made the exercise successful.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the visit of the new D-G, who assumed duty on Jan. 22, was his first to the South-West.

He was accompanied by senior officials of the scheme from the Directorate Headquarters.

Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Grace Yussuf

Source: NAN News

L-R: An Engineer from the Lagos State Office of Infrastructure, Mr Tokunbo Oyenuga; Special Adviser to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Works and Infrastructure, Mrs Aramide Adeyoye and a Town Planner, Oladimeji Animashaun, representing the Commisioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Omotayo Bamgbose-Martins during stakeholders with Eti-Osa Local Government Area residents towards dualisation of Alpha Beach Road at Alausa.

By Grace Alegba

The Lagos State Government on Thursday said it had given the deserved attention to infrastructure development and delivery for the wellbeing of the residents.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Omotayo Bamgbose-Martins, said this at a stakeholders meeting held in Alausa for the dualisation of Alpha Beach Road, located in Eti-Osa Local Government Area.

The meeting, held with the Eti-Osa stakeholders, was jointly organised by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development in collaboration with its Works and Infrastructure counterpart.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Alpha Beach road, which is off Lekki-Epe Expressway, is also called Omo Oba Murphy Adetoro Road.

The project has a length of about 1.9km and width of 14.6m, and will link the proposed Coastal Road.

Bamgbose-Martins, represented by Oladimeji Animashaun, a town planner, said the project was in line with the THEMES Agenda, to improve traffic flow and assist the socio-economic development of the entire Eti-Osa axis.

He said the Sanwo-Olu administration began year 2023 on good note with inauguration of iconic projects such as the Blue Rail Line, Imota Rice Mill, Dangote Fertilizer Plant and the Eleko-Epe Road.

The dualisation of Alpha Beach Road is yet another that is capable of further articulating the economic potential of the Lekki axis as the development zone of the state.

Therefore, I make bold to say that this administration has earned a reputation as a progressive one that is paying the deserved attention to infrastructure development for a 21st-century Lagos, which is evident on many fronts, including education, public health, and transportation, where the state is growing rapidly as a result of the addition of the facilities required for the wellbeing of the people.

Therefore, I am elated that the proposed dualisation of Alpha Beach Road in Eti-osa Local Government Area is coming at this point in time when the populace are able to assess the government, based on the delivery of electoral promises of which transportation and traffic management are important components, he said.

The commissioner said the stakeholders meeting was organised to have inputs of residents, discuss issues Right of Way (RoW) recovery and other activities for the successful take off of the project.

Bamgbose-Martins said the meeting was well publicised to ensure adequate information on the modalities for the establishment of the RoW and other requirements for payment of compensation to affected property owners.

He appealed for support of the residents towards successful execution of the project while urging citizens to always comply with physical planning laws, build right and avoid illegal constructions.

The Special Adviser to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Works and Infrastructure, Mrs Aramide Adeyoye, said the project was being executed in partnership with Zenith Bank under the governments Public Infrastructure Improvement Partnership Project.

She listed other projects being built in partnership with other private sector partners and commended Zenith Bank for the project and others it had undertaken in the past.

Adeyoye urged other private sector partners to join in such collaboration, while giving a brief of the project being upgraded to be built with rigid pavement to carry heavy axle load for longevity.

She assured that CCTV cameras would be included in facilities on the road project as requested by a stakeholder, for effective monitoring after completion by community development associations.

Adeyoye, however, expressed disappointment over absence of the members of the Lekki Estates Residents and Stakeholders Association (LERSA) who were important stakeholders on the project alignment.

She said there was opportunity for further future engagement with stakeholders on the project while listing ongoing collaboration with the private sector in the area of road constructions.

I am a little disappointed that LERSA is not here, she said.

Adeyoye called for continued support of stakeholders to government while appealing to residents to take ownership of the project and prevent it from all forms of abuse prevalent on the Eti-Osa axis.

Earlier, while giving a brief, the Project Director, Mr Tokunbo Ajanaku, said the Alpha Beach Road constructed between 1990 and 1994 would be upgraded to a dual carriageway to connect 20 estates.

Ajanaku, a certified Engineer from the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, said the project would also link the proposed Coastal Road project with proper drainage channel and service ducts for future passage of cables and utility lines.

He said that site clearance would warrant demolition of some properties on the Right of Way, adding that, efforts were made through design adjustments to reduce the number of houses to go down.

Stakeholders at the event including Mr Uneku Okpanachi, a lawyer, took turns to raise concerns which were addressed.

However, Mr Dayo Joshua, who earlier appealed for inclusion of CCTVs in the project, also called for rehabilitation of inner estate roads that were destroyed as a result of traffic diverted on them for take-off of the main project.

Alhaji Razak Olokooba, a civil society representative from Eti-Osa, applauded the government, saying it was not right to give commendation for good deeds and not to always give negative commentaries.

We are interested in the good things you are doing for the people so that we can balance it, he said.

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

Source: NAN News

Lucky winners of the mega millions Naija lottery scheme

By Kingsley Okoye

International Gaming and Entertainment Limited (IGE), promoters of Mega Millions Naija lottery scheme, says it has obligation to sustain its core value of integrity to subscribers that emerge as lucky winners of the mega millions Naija lottery scheme.

Director of IGE, Mr Okwy Okeke, said this at the presentation of a N2 million cheque to a lucky winner, Mr Oluseyi Lasisi in Abuja on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that IGE is licensed by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission to operate a national lottery promotional scheme, Mega Millions Naija.

Okeke said, shortly after presentation of the cheque to the winner: If you are regulated and your licence is current with the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, it means that you are legitimate and legal.

Mega millions Naija is actually a messenger platform, that simply helps people to buy tickets for the lottery played either in Western Europe, North America or Australia, and Brazil and would also help you collect the money at no extra commission.

And when you win, we help you collect, so you dont have to travel; without us you will have to fly to many countries to participate in any of their lotteries, but with us, you send us as messengers and we get it done for you.

He said the company, via its activities, was also contributing to the growth of the economy via job creation and provision of corporate social responsibilities.

We assist Nigerian economy, and Nigerians in more ways than one.

We employ many Nigerians, and for every Naira worth of lottery people buy, we dedicate a percentage to charity; we are still in the process of building a school block at Seun, near Sagamu in Ogun State, so we also engage in charity.

From the point of view of the economy, money won comes into Nigerian economy, and money won has a way of shoring up the value of the naira.

He explained that the company was involved in facilitation of playing of multiple lotteries for subscribers every single day.

Three to six lotteries are drawn on our platform and very soon we would also start a local draw of every week; we would give out million naira to a random player, Monday to Saturday we have multiple lotteries drawn, a good example is the U.S. power ball draw.

He said it was important for the media to be aware about the winnings by Nigerians for purpose of documentation, confidence building by local and international regulators, third parties, adding that lottery thrived on trust.

He said the winner, Mr Oluseyi Lasisi, played the category of the euro jackpot lottery for which he marked four cards that resulted in his winning of over 4,000 euros which was an equivalent of two million naira.

Lasisi, at the presentation of the cheque, was represented by his friend, Mr Adekunle Mohammad, who received the cheque on his behalf.

Mohammad, who expressed delight for the cheque said: I feel very happy for my friend, considering the financial challenges in the country now.

Honestly two million naira is a huge amount, and I know he will be very happy to receive the fund.

He said the mega lottery project was unique and real, while encouraging people to participate.

Mohammad thanked management of IGE, promoters of mega million naija lottery, for its contributions to growth of the economy via the lottery project.(NAN)www.nannews.ng

=============
Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Ibironke Ariyo

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to improving the transport sub-sector as a key contributor to the countrys economic development.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, stated this at the first quarter 2023 Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) strategy session, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The News agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mustapha was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Office of General Services, Mr Maurice Mbaeri.

According to him, the federal government hopes to improve the transportation sector through improvements in interlinking modes.

He said that government would also seek improvement in congestion management and urban mobility through road construction and maintenance.

By so doing, pressure is removed on the road and the road sector better preserved and safer.

This will also manifest in the federal governments construction and rehabilitation of rail tracks, dredging of waterways and upgrading of most airports in Nigeria.

For sustainable management, government is working through the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission.

This is to explore public-private partnership in the management of these critical national assets, he said.

Mustapha appreciated the limitations and enormous challenges facing the corps in enforcing its mandate, while encouraging them, as the consistent part of the leadership of the corps, to widen their horizon.

Think outside the box; be creative in beginning to fashion new workable strategies that will better respond to our current challenges to traffic management in Nigeria.

Begin to reposition your thoughts and vision to play critical role in the wider national security architecture, he said.

Earlier, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Dauda Biu, urged the commanding officers to reawaken field operations and reclaim the admiration of road users through improved professionalism and dedication to duty.

According to Biu, there is the need to pay specific attention to improving the declining level of enforcement on critical offences.

Also, increase the rate of road traffic crashes (RTCs) across the country, the traffic congestions in our urban centres and the response time to RTCs.

We need to be more civil and professional in our engagements as well as address extortion and high-handedness by patrol teams, he said.

Highlights of the event were the decoration of the two newly-appointed Deputy Corps Marshal (DCMs). (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Nwachukwu and Wale Sadeeq

Source: NAN News

By Justina Auta

The Federal Ministry of Education (FMoE) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural (UNESCO) are to review the Annual School Census (ASC) tools and implementation manuals in line with global trends and the SDGs.
This was made known at a three-day workshop for relevant stakeholders in selected states and education sector to review of the ASC instrument and implementation manuals on Wednesday in Abuja.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Andrew David-Adejo, said ASC helps the education sector by generating data on the number of schools by level, learners, staff, classrooms, books and facilities.
David-Adejo, represented by Mr Zubairu Abdullahi, therefore, urged the participants to contributes towards producing a reviewed instruments and manual in line with global best practices.

I look forward to the report of this workshop, especially as Nigeria really needs to improve on the credibility of data on Out-Of-School-Children, he said.
He also expressed appreciation to UNESCO for their support in the education sector, especially in the conduct of ASC to ensure Nigeria has the appropriate tools to use.
Also, Mr Mamadou Lamine-Sow, Head of Education Sector, UNESCO Abuja Regional Office, said the exercise aim at collecting accurate, reliable and timely data from schools.
It is the primary source of education data in any country. Data provides the statistical evidence for a majority if not all the education sectors policies, plans, strategies, decisions and distribution of resources.

One of the objectives of this workshop is to review our annual school census tools to be that 21st-century tool we all want it to be and to capture most of the SDG4 indicators.
With this alone, there will not be anything like no data or blank spaces when it comes to reporting globally such as with UNESCO Institute for Statistics, he said.
Lamine-Sow, represented by Mrs Ngozi Amanze, UNESCOs National Programme Officer, said they would also be reviewing the indicators for school health and child well-being to promote positive development and healthy behaviours in children.
It is important that we strengthen the capacity of the school health system to provide conducive environment for physical, mental and social wellbeing of young people and to achieve SDG 4 and the health-related SDGs.

Also, to prepare learners to thrive, learn and build healthy and peaceful sustainable futures for all, he said.
He said the workshop would educate school heads and teachers on the new integrations to the ASC tools, reduce the complexity of completing the questionnaires and improve the understanding of the school administrators to efficiently complete the assignment.
He reiterated the commitment of UNESCO towards supporting the education system, adding that the workshop was part of UNESCOs Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3) Programme.