By Philip Yatai

Good Deeds, a global movement of people dedicated to doing good, is to sensitise Abakpa community of Kaduna metropolis on how to convert waste to wealth.

The coordinator of the group in Kaduna State, Mrs Itama Okhuelegbe, stated this during the evacuation of refuse dump, located close to Government Junior Secondary School, Abakpa, in Kaduna on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the refuse evacuation was organised in collaboration with the Kaduna Capital Territory Authority (KCTA), community leaders and other stakeholders.

Okhuelegbe expressed concern that the community members were dumping refuse and other household waste close to a school and exposing the students and the community to environmental hazards.

According to her, the waste, if properly managed, will keep the environment clean and be a source of wealth to the community members.

She said that the sensitisation would involve all community stakeholders; traditional and religious leaders, youth and women groups, government officials and other partners.

She added that Good Deed would reach out to the KCTA to provide a designated location where the community would be dumping their waste.

This will solve the problem of indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainages and other public buildings, particularly schools who were the worst affected.

The gesture is part of our support to keeping the environment clean.

We are support changemakers who desire living in a better world with inspiration and motivation to take impactful action for the good of their communities.

This is because we believe that every person has the power to create positive change in his or her community and our world, she said.

The Village Head of the community, Alhaji Rabiu Dansani, commended Good Deeds for supporting the community to evacuate the refuse, adding that this would improve sanitation.

The group has put its resources, time, and energy in supporting us to clear and evacuate the refuse dump.

This will not only keep our environment clean, but also prevent the outbreak of cholera, malaria and other preventable diseases linked to improper waste disposal.

The village head appealed to the state government to provide a designated location or facility for households to dispose of their waste to avoid further dumping.

Also speaking Dr Umar Hairau, acting Director, Municipal Waste Management, KCTA, said that the authority was collaborating with non-governmental organisations to manage refuse and other environmental menace.

Hairau said that the KCTA has provided refuse receptacles, a metal or plastic container for the disposal of refuse, in strategic locations across the four metropolitan Local Government Areas (LGAs).

He identified the four metropolitan LGAs as Kaduna South, Kaduna North, Chikun and Igabi, adding that the authority had also engaged 13 private service providers.

He said that the service providers were contracted to manage waste collection and disposal in the state.

He said that the Abakpa community would be provided with a refuse receptacle to prevent dumping of refuse close to school and ensure proper management of waste in the community. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) says the partys Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, will get 65 per cent of Benue State votes.

Mr Abraham Chila, who is a grassroots mobiliser expressed the optimism while speaking with newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.

He said that in spite Gov. Samuel Ortoms support for his Rivers counterpart, Gov. Nyesom Wike, in the power tussle within the PDP, Atiku would garner 65 per cent of the state votes.

Ortom had said that unless Wike was appeased, PDP would risk losing the state votes during the 2023 presidential election.

Chila said regardless of whatever action Ortom would take, during next years general elections, PDP and Atiku would always win elections in the state.

He said that from 1999 to date PDP has become very entrenched in Benue.

He added that for the fact that PDP National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu is from Benue, it made it imperative that nothing could change the voting pattern in the state.

You may wish to know that my governor, Ortom, is also a candidate for the senatorial election in next years election. Interestingly, the presidential election and that of National Assembly come up the same day.

So, with Gov. Ortoms fate tied to that of Vice President Atiku Abubakar, it is impossible for PDP to get less than 65 per cent of the state total votes cast.

And with our son, Dr Ayu as the national chairman, PDP has the bragging rights for the maximum votes from Benue State, Chila noted.

Chila, who contested the partys ticket for Kwande/Ushongo federal constituency, explained that being a predominantly agrarian state with more population in the rural communities, no other political party could achieve rural penetration more than PDP.

He expressed confident that with the security and economy challenges facing the country, including Benue, the state would vote for Abubakar who has the capacity to address the challenges.

We need stability and security and Benue State voters know that the only man that can pull Nigeria back from the precipice is Abubakar.

The former Vice President is not coming to the Presidency as a learner, but will bring his wealth of experience to bear on national reconstruction.

On the calls by some PDP stakeholders on Ayu to resign, Chila said those making the calls were either mistaken or mischievous, saying Ayu emerged through a foolproof process that was not controverted.

He said that telling Ayu to quit when he had not committed any impeachable offence amounts to questioning the very rudiments of democracy.

Ayu has not committed any offence. Therefore, anybody asking him to leave office is indirectly calling for the proscription of PDP, which is not attainable in a democracy.

People should look beyond Ayu as an individual, he represents that party on account of the mandate freely given to him.

If I may add, what would be the compensation for the North Central if Ayu resigns?

The North Central has been making sacrifices for the growth and stability of PDP.

Do we have to wait for 24 years before being considered for the presidential ticket, why must we throw away the consolation prize of national chairman? Chila asked. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Obike Ukoh

Source: NAN News

By Ginika Okoye

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) says the passage of the Investments and Securities Bill (ISB) will facilitate the growth of the economy.

The SEC Director-General, Mr Lamido Yuguda, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Yuguda said the passage of the bill would also facilitate effective functioning of the capital market to make it more competitive.

The director-general said the passage would also help in the on-going economic diversification in the country.

He appealed for the buy-in of key stakeholders to make the passage of the bill, a reality.

Yuguda said the bill expanded the categories of issuers, as a key step toward the introduction of new innovations and offerings such as crowd-funding.

Importantly, the bill introduces an express prohibition of ponzi/pyramid schemes as well as other illegal investment schemes.

The bill also prescribes a jail-term of not less than 10 years for promoters of such schemes.

It expands the definition of a Collective Investment Scheme to include schemes offered privately to qualified investors.

Minor reviews on various sections of the extant law have been carried to provide greater clarity, he said.

Yuguda said that a recommendation was made in the bill for the inclusion of the National Pension Commission (PenCom) on the SEC Board for increased collaboration between the agencies.

He said the collaboration would encourage greater investment of pension funds in capital market products and instruments. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Source: NAN News

By Abiemwense Moru

John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, has called for better care and welfare of the poor in the country.

Onaiyekan who made the call in his Sunday Homily at the Catholic Church of Assumption in Abuja, said that the rich should always accommodate and catered for the poor.

A man with many mansions can only sleep on one bed, so help the poor people around you to improve their living conditions.

He maintained that if the rich carried the poor along, the country would be good for everybody.

Onaiyekan also called for the structuring of the systems by making sure that the countrys education system worked as it ought to be.

He said there was a need for the healthcare system to function properly for easy access to healthcare.

The cleric further called on all Nigerians to pray for the country and also participate actively in politics.

Make sure that those who represent you fulfil all promises made during campaigns and also ask question when they are not meeting up with their promises, he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Joseph Edeh

Source: NAN News

By Polycarp Auta

Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has urged Christian to be united irrespective of their denominations.

Adeboye gave the advice at the Chapel of Mercy, Dadin-Kowa, Jos, on Sunday.

He said he was in Jos to commiserate with the family of the Late Rev. Isaac Oyebamiji, the Founder and Senior Pastor of Chapel of Mercy, as well as members of the church.

Adeboye, who described the deceased as one of his spiritual sons, apologised for his inability to visit immediately Oyebamiji died.

It took me this long to come for this visit because we had a close relationship with your late pastor for over 40 years.

So, it has not been easy with me trying to accept the fact that he is no more, but Im here today to condole and pray for his family and indeed all members of this congregation.

The servant of God has finished his assignment on earth and has gone to be with his maker; ours is to live right so that we will meet him on the resurrection day.

But I want to use this opportunity to call on Christians in Nigeria to be united in order to defeat the enemies of the nation,he said.

Adeboye advised family members of the deceased to emulate the good ways of their father and sustain the legacies he left behind.

Responding, Pastor Olutoyin Oyebamiji, wife of the deceased thanked Adeboye for the visit and described it as encouraging.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adeboye was accompanied for the visit by his wife, Foluke.

NAN reports that Oyebamiji, 64, died in February after a brief illness in the United States.

He held a doctoral degree in Ministry, with emphasis on Leadership and Preaching from the Asbury Theological Seminary, Kentucky, U.S.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Nabilu Balarabe

The Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN), Yobe Chapter, has offered free medical services to over 800 patients in Fune Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking at the end of the two-day outreach on Sunday in Ngelzarma, IMAN Vice Chairman, Dr Mahmoud Maaji, noted that the outreach was conducted in various clinics in the area.

He listed the services to include: consultations, provision of drugs, psychological and psychosocial counselling as well as various laboratory tests.

Maaji said the aged, orphans, widows, pregnant women and under-five years children were given more attention during the outreach which began on Saturday.

The vice chairman said the objective of the outreach was to assist the less-privileged and to educate residents on the need to seek for medical assistance in the hospital.

In his remarks, the Emir of Ngelzarma, Muhammad Mai-Yeri, thanked the association for helping his people.

He called on philanthropists to support IMAN to enable it to carry out activities effectively.

Mai-Yeri also called on members of the association to sustain the good work they did, saying Allah would reward them in this world and the hereafter.(NAN)

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Alex Enebelie

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) said it raided Enugu and impounded illegal digital cable network worth N250 million to serve as deterrent to others in the business.

The commission had on Sept. 21 sealed the premises of a digital television station, Real Summit Television, situated at Nsukka, Enugu State.

The television station, it was gathered, was allegedly stealing the programme contents of other digital satellite transmitting stations like DSTV and Startimes.

Before sealing the station at Ugwuoye, Nsukka, the commission had first arrested the Manager, Mr Daniel Anedo and subsequently demobilised the station by removing the gadgets used in getting signals.

The gadgets and equipment demobilised included the transmitter, decoders, inverters, and the scramblers.

The commission equally switched off the transmitter and other gadgets so that there was no way the broadcast station could indulge in pirating other stations.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Sunday, the Enugu State Director, NCC, Mrs Okeke Ngozi, said Anedo was arrested while doing illegal broadcasting activities and his equipment impounded.

According to her, he was arrested sometime in March but still went back to same business without permission from the cable network.

Condemning the act, Okeke urged other citizens doing same illegal business to desist from it as it was discouraging the investor that invested in that line of business.

The illegal operation prevents the real owners from engaging unemployed Nigerians and NCC is warning them that if they continue, the full wrath of law will descend on them.

They will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly, she said.

The state director, however, stated that the Director-General of NCC, Dr John Asein had zero tolerance for piracy, saying he was more committed in the fight against it.

It is no longer business as usual, NCC under our Director-General is fighting piracy in all aspect of copyright as well as creative works.

All the perpetrators will soon be clamped down, no matter how long it will take, she said.

Speaking to NAN also, the Leader of the Operation, Mr Macfoy Akachukwu, an Assistant Director, NCC, Enugu Office said the operation took place to stop them from stealing other stations contents.

We were not interested in what they were doing except that they were pirating other Cable Network programme contents.

If they want to operate an independent station, we have no problem with that, What we will not tolerate is the piracy going on at the station, he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Iziama/Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Abigael Joshua

The late British Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has been described as one of the worlds most famous diplomats and most impactful global leaders in the 21st century.

A British Nigerian don and founder of the firm TEXEM UK, Dr Alim Abubakre, gave the description while speaking on the leadership attributes of the queen.

In a statement on TEXEMs website, Abubakre, whose organisation has trained over 4,000 executives across multiple continents, said global leaders could learn a lot from the Queen.

According to him, the queen is a case study of excellent global leadership skills and unique statesmanship.

I agree with King Charles that Queen Elizabeth the Second is a pattern for all princesses living, and I add for all leaders hoping to have an enduring legacy.

The death of Queen Elizabeth II is undoubtedly one of those endings that one would argue has a bitter-sweet conclusion of impactful, strategic and global selfless leadership spanning seven decades and filled with an enduring legacy.

It is bitter in the sense that Britain and, indeed, the rest of the world have lost a great leader with massive wealth and experience of impressive transformation, Abubakre said.

He added that the sweet part was that world leaders could learn valuable lessons from when she became queen as an inexperienced person to her acquisition of globally admired excellent leadership skills.

Abubakre asserted that over the years, she became a visionary leader and an influential political figure.

He said that one of the lessons to be learnt from the late British monarch was her empathy and strength of character.

When it comes to empathy and the strength of her character, the Queen ensured that she remained herself throughout her reign.

She remained unapologetically female, and at no time did she pretend to be someone she wasnt.

For instance, instead of ruling other kings (exerting power and always seeking to dominate), she offered a beneficial sounding board in all her sittings with other leaders, Abubakre said.

He said though she did not intervene openly in governance operations, the Queen utilised her convening power to exemplify strength, stability, dependability and empathy in her engagements with diverse stakeholders.

Abubakre said the Queens ability to inspire service to humanity was a global lesson leaders should copy.

Right from her tender age, Queen Elizabeth II strongly believed in her uncommon sense of purpose to serve humanity.

As her successor, King Charles expressed in his tribute speech; the rested Queenmade sacrifices for dutyher dedication to servingnever waveredthrough times of joy and celebrationand through times of loss.

In doing so, the Queen demonstrated her determination to serve and ensured that she upheld the public pledge she made at the young age of 21.

This was a time during which she announced that she would devote her life, whether short or long to serve humanity until her demise, the TEXEM founder elaborated.

On her attribute of strategic leadership,

Abubakre said throughout her reign, the Queen was very strategic in her decisions and actions, especially when she was required to act quickly.

He said that from the death of Princess Diana to the COVID-19 crisis and the Meghan scandal, the Queen was able to decide, align, inspire and learn from the crises to stimulate the nation to navigate these turbulent times effectively.

Abubakre further referred to the following quote of the Queen from her speech during the COVID-19 crisis to buttress his point on her good leadership credentials:

I hope in the years to come; everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge. And those who come after us will say the Britons of this generation were as strong as any.

That the attributes of self-discipline, quiet good-humoured resolve and fellow-feeling still characterise this country. The pride in who we are is not a part of our past. It defines our present and our future.

The don said that the Queens focus on the bigger picture even in times of crises and her amazing ability to communicate this effectively, was legendary.

One could argue that these contributed immensely to UK scientists being world leaders in genome sequencing and the country being the first nation in the world to license COVID-19 vaccine, Abubakre added.

He recalled a testimonial from a former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, which extolled the Queens unique leadership qualities.

According to the former UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, the Queen always listened fairly to everyone and offered to help solve the most complex problems without necessarily making her physical presence felt or using force.

While some criticised such a character, the Queen kept it and never allowed them to interfere with her leadership, Abubakre said.

Speaking on the Queens dedication to duty, he said that while she had the liberty to retire at the age of 66, she continued to serve and carry out her duties diligently up to the age of 96.

Abubakre said this was an indication of her commitment to dedicate her time to serving the UK, Commonwealth nations and the rest of the world.

He said that remarkably, even two days before her death, the Queen performed one of her most important roles: accepting the resignation of the parliamentary leader of the country and asking the new Prime Minister to form her government.

Dr Alim Abubakre is on the advisory board of the London Business School Africa Club and is the non-executive chair of These Executive Minds (TEXEM)-An organisation which he founded and has trained over 4,000 executives across multiple continents.

He is a Senior Lecturer in International Business at Sheffield Business School (An AACSB accredited Business School) at Sheffield Hallam University.

Sheffield Hallam was named the University of the Year for Teaching Quality by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Razak Owolabi

Source: NAN News

By Justina Auta

Stakeholders on Saturday urged the Federal Government to include cancer treatment under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to reduce death rates of victims of the disease.

They also called for special consideration for childhood cancer care under the service.

They made the call during a 5km sensitisation walk organised by an NGO, Okapi Children Cancer Foundation, to raise awareness for children fighting cancer.

Ms Kemi Adekanye, the Chief Volunteer of the foundation, said diagnosis and treatment of cancer was expensive and not easily affordable for some, especially those in rural areas.

She added that incorporating childhood cancer treatment and care into the NHIA would reduce the burden and support parents and caregivers.

We would like to see a situation whereby children with cancer are being considered in all the healthcare schemes, they are being supported psychologically and in all other means as well, she said.

According to her, the foundation has over the years organised annual walk, donated money for treatment and supported children and families of those with cancer at the National Hospital and University of Abuja Teaching Hospital.

Dr Adamu Alhassan, the President, Nigerian Cancer Society, said cancer treatment in children was highly neglected and underestimated in Nigeria despite the high rate of death which could be treated and prevented, if detected early.

You find out that most cancers are not detected early and but at the advance stage, thereby recording high mortality rate among children.

Unlike other forms cancers, we dont have early screening services for childrens cancers and that is the reason why there is need for early detection, he said.

Also, Dr Uduak Effiong, a Paediatric Consultant at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, listed the various types of cancers in children, stressing the need for early detection, treatment and follow-up.

The most common used to Burkitt lymphoma, it was the most common in the malaria zone because it is associated with the presence of malaria.

But now in my own centre it is kidney cancer and in other centres they have cancer of the eyes, which is becoming more rampant in my centre too.

Leukaemia is also a common type of cancer in Nigeria, she said.

On his part, Mr Izuyon Tobi, father of an 11-year-old cancer survivor, said his daughter would have died of the disease, if not for the timely intervention and support of the foundation.

Tobi commended the foundation for its support to his primary five daughter, who is now cancer free and undergoing regular checkup to forestall any reoccurrence.

Dr Shuaibu Belgore, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, said they partnered with the organisers to show support to the children and create more awareness on the disease.

Other highlights of the event, themed Make Childhood Cancer a National Priority, featured aerobics and a 5km walk along Jabi-Utako axis of the FCT. (NAN)

JAD/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Source: NAN News

By Gabriel Agbeja

The Federal Government has selected Ethiopian Airlines (ET) Consortium as preferred bidder for Nigeria Air.

The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika made this known during a media briefing on Friday in Abuja.

According to him, ET scored 89 per cent out of 100 as regards the technical bid and 15 out 20 as regards financial bid.

Sirika explained that the Request for Proposal (RFP) under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Act, governed by Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission(ICRC) regarding the Nigeria Air was now completed.

After a careful, detailed and ICRC governed selection process, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) Consortium has been selected as preferred bidder, offering an owner consortium of 3 Nigerian investors.

The Nigerian investors are MRS, SAHCO and the Nigerian Sovereign Fund (46%), FGN owning 5% and ET 49%. The consortium has been subject to a due diligence process.

The contract will be negotiated between consortium and FGN leading to a Full Business Case (FBC) which will be expected to be approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). We expect this process to take 6-8 weeks.

The minister said the national carrier would be launched with three Boeing 737-800 in a configuration very suitable for the Nigerian market.

According to him, Nigeria Air will be launched with a shuttle service between Abuja and Lagos to establish a new comfortable, reliable and affordable travel between the two major Nigerian Airports.

Sirika added that other domestic destinations would follow thereafter.

The first aircraft is ready to arrive in Abuja for the further work and NCAA inspection, demo flights and audit as part of the AOC requirements.

In time, two others will arrive to complete the required three aircraft for a new AOC holder. The interim executive team has prepared, with the support of FAAN.

The team has arranged for Terminal C at the Abuja Airport and finalised a contract with MMA 2 terminal in Lagos, for the operation of an initial shuttle between Lagos and Abuja, he said.

He noted that the Operations Control Centre (OCC) at the Abuja Airport would act as Headquarters of the airline. (NAN)

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Edited by Deborah Coker/Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News