Leadership of the group in a group photograph cutting birthday cake with the IDPs

By Naomi Sharang

Asiwaju Project Beyond 2023, one of the foremost support groups that worked for the election of Sen. Bola Tinubu, the President-elect, on Wednesday fed no fewer than 3000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the gesture was part of gestures to mark the 71st birthday anniversary of the president-elect by his supporters and well-wishers across the country.

The event which took place at the Dagba IDP Camp in Area 1, Garki Abuja, was attended by leadership of the support group and politicians who broke their Ramadan fasting and a cut birthday cake with the IDPs including women, children and youths.

The Director-General of the group, Mr Realwan Okpanachi, said the gesture was in line with the generous and humble nature which Tinubu is known for.

He said that the choice of the IDP camp was another demonstration of the low-key birthday celebration as directed by Tinubu who is currently outside the country.

The significance of this event is Tinubus love for the downtrodden. For the less privileged and the challenged in the society. Thats why we are here to celebrate with these people.

If you listened to his directive, he said his birthday should be celebrated with the downtrodden. Thats why were here.

Were also here to tell them that the very reason why theyre here is the same reason why Tinubu is coming as President of the Rederal republic of Nigeria to tackle the problem of insecurity which has led them to this place in the first place, abandoning their homes, farming and businesses to seek refuge in this place.

By the coming of Tinubu to office, he will provide security, education for their children and ensure that each and everyone here is rehabilitated and returned to their original homes to start life afresh as it used to be.

So, there are no better people to celebrate Tinubus birthday with than this vulnerable group who he cares about passionately, he said.

Okpanachi added that as representatives of the President-elect, they had given the IDPs a message of hope that he will make live liveable and bearable for them in particular and all Nigerians as a whole.

He disclosed that the initial projection of feeding the IDPs was put at 2000, but with the large turnout witnessed additional 1000 packages which had to be made so that they could have a memorable breaking of Ramadan.

Amina Musa, a mother of five and one of the beneficiaries who spoke in Hausa Language thanked the group and said the foods, drinks and fruits collected by her household would help them in breaking the fasting.

We thank Baba Tinubu for this gesture to me and my family. The things I collected here today will help us to break our fasting. We wish him happy birthday too.

Speaking on behalf of the IDPs, Idris Alilu, expressed appreciation for the kind gesture from Tinubu to have remembered them at this Ramadan season.

Alilu used the opportunity to pray for good health and divine wisdom for the president-elect to pilot the affairs of the nation commencing from May 29 Presidential Inauguration Day.

NAN reports that prayers were also offered for the unity and peace of the country following the aftermath of the 2023 general elections.(NAN)
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Source: NAN News

Some participants at the mentorship training on how to end Gender Based Violence in Enugu

By Alex Enebeli

An Enugu-based Non Governmental Organisation, Boys Champions (BC), has trained 120 boys on how to end Gender-Based Violence (GBV) against girls and women.

BC is a non-profit organisation that leverages mentorship, sports, education, peace building and empathy to empower boys, founded by the United Nation award-winning Nigeria, Noel Alumona, in 2018.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the boys, who were drawn from different schools in Enugu State.

A Team Member of BC, Chukwunonso Okolo, said the mentorship training was aimed at making young people better people in the society and teaching them how to respect girls and women.

He added that the training would help to raise responsible boys and men who would take actions to end violence against women and girls.

According to Okolo, the training will further reshape boys thinking of dominance and superiority over girls.

We are actually making them to understand that both sexes can actually coexist and still achieve their dreams in life without suppressing the other because of their gender.

We want to fix the society by mentoring these boys on the danger of GBV as we believed that fixing the boys will make the society a better place.

We want them to understand there is no competition among boys and girls and this will make them not to hit their wives when they marry, he said.

Okolo explained that the project focused on boys, stressing if they are fixed, GBV would be minimized.

So today, we are training about 120 boys from different schools in Enugu.

And, it is going to be an interactive session as they will be allowed to ask basic questions and their perception on gender equality, he said.

He said that the founder had it rough, which made him to share his experience to help younger ones.

If you know him very well, whatever we are doing at BC its actually his life story, he added.

Taking the boys on the topic Guys vs Girls: Building Healthy Relationship, a BC facilitator, Onyekachukwu Asado, said there was nothing wrong for boys relating with girls if they do it right.

He said that things that kept him and family going was those things he learnt while growing, urging them not to claim superiority over their girlfriends.

A participant, Michael Omotayo from the Good Shepherd Anglican Secondary School, commended the organisers, saying the experience he gathered would help him in treating women well.

I learnt that both genders are equal, he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vincent Obi

Source: NAN News

By Lizzy Okoji

The U.S. government has announced an increment for its non-migrant visa application fee effective from March 30.

The U.S. Mission in Nigeria, which said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, disclosed that the increases were published in the Federal Register on March 28.

According to the U.S. government, the changes is in line with the Department of States commitment to facilitating legitimate travel to the United States for both immigrant and nonimmigrant travellers.

The Department of State published a Final Rule regarding increases to certain non-immigrant visa application (NIV) processing fees and the Border Crossing Card (BCC) for Mexican citizens age 15 and over.

These increases were published in the Federal Register on March 28, 2023 and will be effective on May 30, 2023.

The fee for visitor visas for business or tourism (B1/B2s and BCCs), and other non-petition based NIVs such as student and exchange visitor visas, will increase from 160 dollars to 185 dollars, it stated.

The mission said that the fee for certain petition-based non-immigrant visas for temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, and R categories) would increase from 190 dollars to 205 dollars.

The fee for a treaty trader, treaty investor, and treaty applicants in a specialty occupation (E category) will increase from 205 dollars to 315 dollars.

NIV fees are set based on the actual cost of providing NIV services and are determined after conducting a study of the cost of these services

The Department uses an Activity-Based Costing (ABC) methodology to calculate, annually, the cost of providing consular services, including visa services.

The fees for most non-petition based NIVs were last updated in 2012, and certain other NIV fees were last updated in 2014, it stated.

According to the mission, other consular fees are not affected by this rule, including the waiver of the two-year residency required fee for certain exchange visitors.

The U.S. government also noted that Visas for work and tourism are essential to President Bidens foreign policy, recognising the critical role international travel plays in the U.S. economy.

Fee information can be found on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website, travel.state.gov, and on the websites of U.S. embassies and consulates, it stated. (NAN) ()

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

Retired Maj.Gen. Barry Ndiomu, The interim Administrator of PAP

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The Office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) says findings from the ongoing investigation into multiple accounts of ex-agitaors linked to one BVN will determine the fate of protesting beneficiaries.

This is contained in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja by Mr Freston Akpor, Media Aide to the PAP Interim Administrator.

Akpor disclosed that names of all those involved in the alleged BVN fraud had been forwarded to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for investigation.

He said that the Amnesty Office also blamed bank officials for colluding with the ex-agitaors to aid the financial crime.

So, investigation is ongoing, I must tell you there is nothing the PAP can do now over this matter until the investigation is concluded and then the ONSA will take a decision on what to do.

This is a financial crime which is why the ONSA is investigating the matter.

The policy is one name, one BVN. But in a situation where you have more than 30 names linked to one BVN, it becomes an issue.

We discovered that 513 names were linked to 1370 accounts. And these are the people who have cases to answer.

As it stands, those who are protesting are the people who fall within those who have multiple accounts linked to their BVN, Akpor explained.

On the purported gentleman agreement with leaders of the ex-agitators to receive monies in bulk to pay the boys, Akpor said

it is these same boys, that also complained that when the money is collected by this so-called leaders, the money doesnt trickle down to them.

A handful of ex-agitators on Tuesday gathered at the premises of the National Assembly to express anger over the stoppage of their monthly N65,000 stipends.

The PAP office had explained that the stoppage of payment was necessitated by the issues surrounding BVNs of ex-agitators. (NAN)

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Edited by Deborah Coker/Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

James Lalu, Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities

By Ahmed Ubandoma

The Federal Government has sought the support of relevant stakeholders for victims of explosions and violent attacks across the country.

Mr James Lalu, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), said this in a statement by Mbanefor Michaels, his spokesman, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Lalu was speaking when he received a delegation from the Humanitarian Mine Action Committee (HMAC) and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD).

He said that the 2006 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) provided a framework for the implementation of Victims Assistance in regards to survivors.

According to him, Article 11 and 12 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities captured the Rights of Persons with Disabilities resulting from Mines and explosive.

He urged the HMAC and GICHD to generate accurate and comprehensive data of victims of mine action with a view to addressing their plights.

Medical care, rehabilitations, psycho-social and economic support is needed to support these victims.

I therefore, urge the Mine Action Committee to engage in data collection of victims across board in order to ascertain the degree of interventions needed, he said.

Mr Valon Kumnova of the GICHD charged the committees to be resilient and committed to assisting the victims of war as well as persons with disabilities.

He called on stakeholders to develop and ensure strategies, technical survey, gender diversity, information management, form treaties as well as an operational management.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the purpose of the present Convention is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote their dignity. (NAN)()

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Source: NAN News

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has congratulated President-elect Bola Tinubu on his 71st birthday.

The vice president conveyed his felicitations in a statement he personally signed on Wednesday in Abuja.

He prayed God to grant the president-elect more wisdom and strength in the years to come.

Dolly and I rejoice with you, the family, friends and associates on this occasion of your 71st birthday.

We thank the Almighty God for his grace and enablement upon your life that has made possible your many years of service and contributions to Lagos State, our nation and our great party.

This occasion of your 71st birthday is unique, as it occurs as you prepare to take on your most significant assignment yet as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

All we can offer you in this solemn period is a prayer; that the Lord will help you in this assignment and give you good health, strength and wisdom to serve our people and our nation excellently.

Happy Birthday! God bless you, he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Source: NAN News

Retaining N-Power for youth empowerment, poverty alleviation

News analysis by Collins Yakubu-Hammer, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

When the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHADMSD) was created by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, he charged the pioneer Minister, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, to rescue Nigerians from poverty.

Earlier in 2016, the Buhari administration created the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP), which was overseen by the office of the Vice-President, until the creation of the FMHADMSA in 2019, which then took over the NSIP.

The Ministry began overseeing the numerous intervention programmes with regards to tackling poverty, unemployment and insecurity through job creation.

This was to culminate with the lifting of projected 100 million Nigerians out of poverty over the next 10 years.

One of the cardinal points of NSIP is the N-Power programme whose focal point are young people, especially school leavers, non-graduates and school graduates between the ages of 18-35.

Under N-Power, graduates are expected to earn N30, 000; N10, 000 for non-graduates as monthly stipends from the Federal Government until they are exited the programme or secure permanent employments.

It has three core segments, namely N-Power Volunteer Corps (for graduates), N-Power Build (for non-graduates) and N-Power Knowledge, which is also a non-graduate programme for the ICT-inclined.

Being an all-inclusive programme, N-Power focuses primarily on unemployed Nigerian youths with the aim of developing their employability, entrepreneurship skills and capacity to lift them out poverty.

Since its inception the federal government has channeled a lot of human and material resources to enable it deliver on its targets.

One of the beneficiaries of N-Power Knowledge Programme, Mr Umar Ahmed Sarki, said that the programme was of immense benefit to youths.

The N-Power programme is a good one. We thank the government for empowering the youths with monthly stipends. We hope it will be sustained by the incoming administration, Sarki said.

Similarly, Miss Abigail Thomas who benefited from the same programme said she would use the knowledge gained from the training on software engineering to develop applications that would help in solving some of the challenges facing humanity.

I have been here since February. It has been an amazing experience as we were paid transportation fare to get here and we get paid N1, 200 for daily feeding.

We have been taught Javascript, how to build websites and other programmes. I thank God and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs for this wonderful opportunity, and will definitely implement what Ive learnt at the end of the training.

The Federal Government should please sustain the programmes to give opportunities to other youths to benefit. This way, the vision of Buhari to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in ten years will be achieved, Thomas said.

A beneficiary of N-Creative, Mr Ngusha Elijah, said he would venture into the entertainment industry after learning how to write scripts for TV production.

Since resuming on Feb.15, Ive learnt a lot on how to generate interesting story ideas, write stories and create interesting contents.

The Federal Government has done its best to ensure that unemployed youths are empowered. It will be highly appreciated if the incoming administration will sustain the N-Power programme.

The programme has helped a lot of people. There are some people out there who have never earned N30, 000 before, but the N-Power programme has helped their lives. It is a step in the right direction to alleviate poverty.

Even my younger sister is a beneficiary, so I can cite her as an example of how the N-Power programmme has been to Nigerians and should be sustained, Elijah said.

Another beneficiary, Mr Akighir Aondohemba, from Benue, said he would use knowledge gained from the training to build websites for business owners and create wealth for himself and his families.

I want to appeal that the Federal Government should ensure that this kind of programme continues so that other Nigerians can benefit from it.

The target audience should be people like me; people who are based in the rural and semi-urban areas of Nigeria.

, with my knowledge, especially in using WordPress, I feel I can now build websites at affordable prices so that business owners living in rural areas will have websites.

So Im encouraging the Federal Government to continue with this programme, Aondohemba said.

Experts say that successful application of skills learnt is imperative in measuring the outcome of any training programme and a facilitator on N-Creative (script writing), Mr Marvelous Abutu, said the beneficiaries are well equipped in that regard.

The Programme Manager on Software Training Mr Temitope Folorunsho, shares that same optimism.

We teach them web design, graphics and basic ICT knowledge. So, my expectation is that they should learn this as if their lives depend on it.

There is the need for the programme to be sustain by the next administration, because the impact is enormous, Folorunsho said.

However, critics had alleged that the N-Power programme is shrouded with corruption and several forms of malpractices, allegations the supervising minister has denied.

The ministry has deployed a well-rounded mechanism for selection of eligible beneficiaries from across the country; this has been in place since the inception of the programme.

Working with our service provider, program beneficiaries are boarded, trained and deployed to pre-selected places of primary assignment.

When it came to our notice that there may have been sharp practices by some personnel of the Payment Service Provider (PSP) involved in the payment processes of beneficiaries, the matter was immediately referred to ICPC, she said

In spite of the shortcomings, experts say the programme has been a major contribution by Buhari administration to fight youth unemployment and stimulate poverty alleviation.

Observers, therefore urge the incoming administration to consider the possibility of retaining the programme and making amendments to take care of identified lapses. (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.

Source: NAN News

Stakeholders, on Tuesday, converged on Abuja to brainstorm on ways of tackling the menace of moral decadence in children and to enhance development and progress of the country.

The stakeholders, at a Moral Regeneration and Re-orientation meeting, organised by Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in Abuja on Tuesday, advocated relevant programmes in schools for effective moral education.

Prof. Soji Oni, of Department of Sociology, University of Lagos, stressed the need to find solutions to the falling standard of education, occasioned by absence of moral values.

According to him, moral regeneration must also be taught, not only in schools but at home, worship places, cultural gatherings and the likes, in order to bring back the moral qualities in the educational sector.

There is the need for periodic evaluation of the education system so as to keep the system on track.

Government, parents, teachers, political, religious and community leaders must provide moral leadership in order for children to learn.

There is the need for appropriate action on what the children are watching on the internet.

The Federal Ministry of Education, UBEC and SUBEB should draw programmes on relevant moral education that are different from social studies to provide conscious efforts at transmitting the values to our learners.

This should mean that every school curriculum must contain values and morals that should be taught, as this will lead to reduction in incidences of corruption and other vices in our society, he said.

Dr Hamid Bobboyi, Executive Secretary, UBEC, said before now, the commission had conducted an explorative survey to gather information on the level of moral degeneration, its causes and effects on teaching and learning in schools.

Bobboyi said with the re-orientation and regeneration of morals of learners at the basic education level, there would be appropriate character and value judgment that would make the society peaceful.

He further stated that there should be a place where children growing into adulthood would be made to behave appropriately.

Over the years, there has been great concern over the degeneration of moral and overturn of values in our society.

This is demonstrated in the many vices and negative behaviours, such as stealing, drunkenness, financial crimes, known as yahoo-yahoo, truancy, violence and many others.

The disheartening aspect is that many of these vices are now prevalent in our schools, especially the basic education schools.

The mantra: education for all is the responsibility of all should be our guiding principle in whatever contributions that would be made here today.

This will also go a long way in building a society where people innately demonstrate appropriate behaviours, obey laws, behave responsibly and have sense of patriotism, he said.

Similarly, the Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, said moral education was key to reduction of corruption in the society.

Owasanoye, represented by Director, Public Enlightenment and Education, ICPC, Mr Mohammed Baba, said that the commission had introduced several moral regeneration programmes, in line with ICPCs mandate of reducing corruption in the country.

He said that other moral regeneration programmes had been introduced in tertiary institutions, with emphasis on the national value curriculum developed in conjunction with Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC).

The ICPC chairman added that the curriculum was infused into English Language, Mathematics, Civic Education and religious education from primary to tertiary levels.

He further stated that in a bid to transfer knowledge from the curriculum, the commission, in 2018, trained no fewer than 200 teachers on the implementation of the curriculum.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event brought together education stakeholders, including teachers, parents, religious leaders and other stakeholders drawn from EFCC, National Council for Women Society and NAPTIP. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Auwalu Birnin Kudu and Wale Sadeeq

Source: NAN News

The Okere of Saki, Oba Khalid Olabisi, addressing stakeholders at a public awareness and anti-human trafficking campaign programme on Tuesday in Saki, Oyo State.

By Olatunde Ajayi
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in collaboration with the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP) has called for strong action against the menace.

The collaboration is aimed at addressing human trafficking said to be posing serious security challenge.

The call was made on Tuesday at a two-day public awareness and anti-human trafficking campaign programme organised for community leaders, law enforcement agents/officers at the border posts and other stakeholders held in Saki, Oyo State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that FIIAPP is a Spanish Government Foundation in Nigeria implementing European Union funded project through the Action Against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Project (A-TIPSOM).

A-TIPSOM project is tackling human trafficking and smuggling of migrants in Nigeria through 5Ps, which include Prevention, Protection, Policy, Partnership and Prosecution.

NAN reports that the stakeholders forum is to increase the level of awareness about human trafficking and its dangers in border communities.

In his remarks, the Zonal Commander, NAPTIP Lagos, Mrs Comfort Agboko, said that the public awareness programme was aimed at enlighten Saki residents on the dangers and scourge of human trafficking.

Agboko said that human trafficking remains the violation of peoples right, crime against mankind and sin against God.

She said that Saki Town was strategically chosen for the sensitisation programme because of its location as a border town with a lot of foreigners engaging in cross-border trade between Nigeria and the neighbouring countries.

We discovered that our young ones are being trafficking to other West African countries and rest of the world as soon as they are successfully taken out of Nigeria through border communities like Saki here.

We believe that if we succeed in raising the counsciousness of our people living in border communities across the country, the human trafficking will be reduced to the bearest minimum, she said.

Agboko said that the NAPTIP Act has provisions for severe punishment for any human trafficker found guilty after thorough investigation under the law.

When a suspect is found guilty of child labour after the court process, the minimum punishment is six months imprisonment and maximum of three years imprisonment.

When a case of trafficking in persons is being suspected, people can reach us on our toll free line 627 to report the case.

We urge parents not to release their wards to people who promised fake jobs for them somewhere, Agboko said.

Also, the Head of NAPTIP in Oyo State, Mr Augustine Akanya, said that the community-based programme would simplify and teach Saki residents on the signs, how to know who is being trafficking and how to rescue such people.

The circumstances of trafficking determines the signs to look for; the person who has been trafficked for labour such as housemaids will be seen look distress, crying or at times with different marks on their bodies.

Some of them are being deprived of having education and international trafficking victims will be seen naive, always withdrawn and unable to give clear answers to questions about their destination.

We want people to always alert NAPTIP whenever they noticed these signs and other strange signs on a child in their neighbourhood, Akanya said.

Commenting, Mr Joseph Sanwo, the Senior Project Officer and Technical Adviser, Prevention in FIIAPP, said that human trafficking posed serious security challenge to a nation.

According to Sanwo, human trafficking poses serious security challenge to a nation as it can easily diversify to other forms of crimes such as drug trafficking, arms smuggling and money laundering.

The community leaders have a lot of roles to play in supporting government and other partners in stemming the tides of this heinous crimes being perpetuated in their domain.

The project aims to provide mass awareness in the community and within its environs.

It shares with community new ideas on how to identify and escape the antiques of human traffickers; and create working synergy between the community leaders and the law enforcement agencies, he said.

Sanwo noted that lots of traffickers and their agents always take advantage of parents that relied on relations, religion associates and friends to take care of their children by pretending to assist them in the upbringing of those children.

The technical adviser reiterated the continuous support of FIIAPP in the fight against human trafficking to the Federal Government through NAPTIP, security agencies, the Network of CSOs Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) and other critical stakeholders.

Earlier, the Okere of Saki, who also was the Royal Father of the Day, Oba Khalid Olabisi, urged parents to always give birth to number of children they know that they could conveniently cater for.

Olabisi said that children from families with lack of basic means of survival always end up becoming victims of human trafficking.

He, then called on the government to step up its various empowerment programmes through Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and resuscitation of farm settlements to boost job opportunities in the country.

NAN reports that the awareness programme featured the inauguration of the Anti-human trafficking neighbourhood

Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

Source: NAN News

stranded Nigerians depart Libya (file photo)

By Lizzy Okoji

The Federal Government, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), on Tuesday evacuated 151 stranded Nigerians from Benghazi, Libya as the government resumed its voluntary evacuation in Libya.

Amb. Kabiru Musa, Charge Daffiares en titre of the Nigerian Mission in Libya, made this known in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to Musa, the evacuees who included 71 females, 54 males, 14 children and 13 infants are expected to arrive at the Murtala Mohammed Airport Lagos at 8 p.m.

Musa said that in 2022, the IOM, Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Nigerian Mission in Libya, successfully repatriated almost 4,000 Nigerians who were irregular migrants in the country.

He said that the March 28 voluntary evacuation was the first in the year with several other exercises to follow in the coming days and weeks.

Under the IOMs voluntary repatriation exercise, we successfully evacuated 151 stranded Nigerians from the city of Benghazi to Lagos, Nigeria at 16:00 hours local time aboard chartered flight no. UZ189.

The flight is expected to arrive the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos at 20:00 hours Nigerian time the same day.

There are several Nigerians living illegally in this country who have been subjected to very inhumane treatment, and the Federal Government, through the Mission here, has continued to intervene with local authorities to stop this.

The voluntary repatriation offers an opportunity for those who want to return to Nigeria to do so safely and reunite with their families.

There are always officials of relevant government agencies on ground to receive them and ensure their resettlement and reintegration back to society, Musa said.

Musa said that more Nigerians would be evacuated from Tripoli on Wednesday, with another exercise to be carried out on April 3 from Misrata, Libya. (NAN)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

The Federal Government says it successfully averted over 4000 impending strike actions by industrial unions across the country through dialogue in the last seven years.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, made this known at the weekly Ministerial briefing organized by the Presidential Communications Team on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to him, dialogue remains the best tool for settling labour disputes.

We have been very proactive in handling industrial disputes.

We have conciliated about 4000 labour disputes, more than that figure I think about 4300 or so since I came into that ministry and you dont hear about that.

Once we get notice of an impending strike, we call them to come, we discuss and we resolve the matter.

Some of them are not very big unions especially in the oil and gas sector. But you dont hear about that because we are forever committed to doing what we are supposed to do.

The Ministry of Labour holistically conciliates but we dont make those ones public because an agreement is reached almost immediately and the agreement ground is easy and you wont see a strike.

Once you write to us of a pre-action, (Trade Dispute Notice) once you do that, you have exercised your right and the rest is left for us. he said.

Ngige added that the Ministry has Labour Dispute Desks and Rapid Response Teams in all the States of the federation that help in addressing industrial disputes.

According to the minister, modalities are already in the pipeline to give pay rise to civil servants especially those that enjoy peculiarity allowance, adding that the authorities are just waiting for the presidents approval to implement.

We are already addressing the envisaged challenges associated with the current high cost of living.

We are handling the issue of pay rise, some of the Ministries Departments and Agencies are doing that; even for Federal Civil Servants, there is a peculiar allowance that is envisioned for them.

The Presidential Committee on Salaries has approved it and we have sent that to the President and once he approves it, implementation will start for them.

Other people in the public service are also taking a queue, some are giving five or ten per cent pay rise,he said.

The minister further disclosed that Nigeria had completed arrangements to collaborate with the International Organization for Migration to prevent illegal migration by job seekers.

He added that efforts had been intensified to revive textile industries in the country, adding that the Central Bank of Nigeria had since put in place special funds for cotton growers.

He said that the fund was to locally source raw materials for the textile industries.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Source: NAN News

Shoreline protection of Tombia community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa

By Felicia Imohimi

The Federal Government has urged the contractor handling shoreline protection of Tombia community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa to work according to the jobs specification and fast-track the process.

The Permanent Secretary, Ecological Project Office (EPO), Shehu Ibrahim, made the call at the inspection tour of some ecological projects in Yenagoa.

Ibrahim identified the projects specification as 800 metres shoreline protection of River Nun.

He, therefore, frowned at the quality of work done so far, giving the contractor MW Global Services, three weeks to make amends and ensure the completion of the project within the time frame.

According to him, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was not carried out hence the challenge.

Mr Stanley Odenigbo, Managing Director of the company however assured the EPO boss and entire community of delivering a quality project within the stipulated time.

He attributed the setback to flood, adding that the 2022 flood ravaged the project.

According to Odenigbo, the completion of the project will safeguard the community from flood.

Meanwhile, Chief Patrick Ikpaikpai, the Community leader, has commended the Federal Government for the intervention by giving succour to the community members during raining and dry seasons.

One of the residents, Okpoffaa Julius, decried that prior to the project, flood had ravaged the community and farmlands rendering a lot of people homeless, while some non-indigenes relocated.

Since the commencement of this project in year 2022, we have been believing that God has finally answered our prayers. he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

By Funmilola Gboteku/Stellamaris Ashinze

The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) is partnering with the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology (FCFMT) to sanitise the profession against quackery.

A Senior Engineer and COREN Representative in Lagos, Mr Tomide Akinnawo, made this known during a courtesy visit to the FCFMT, Victoria Island, on Monday in Lagos.

He said that the partnership would give them the opportunity to help the institute ensure that all its engineers were certified members of COREN and not quacks.

We need to ensure that all the engineers are registered professionals; that way we are sure the students are in safe hands.

Engineering is the backbone of development in any nation. Therefore, it has to be taken seriously, he said.

Akinnawo said as members of COREN, it was essential to ensure that quackery and fraudulent practices which had been hindering engineering practice in the society were curbed.

The Provost of the FCFMT, Dr Chuks Onuoha, said that the institute was ready to collaborate with any sister agency and COREN would not be an exception.

Onuoha said that such collaboration would lead to the development of the nation.

Just as pointed out by COREN that technology or engineering is the bedrock of any development.

We look forward to a friendly relationship with your agency and also no advice from you regarding how to make our institution better would be disregarded, he said.

He also urged the council to assist in registering their students as members of COREN at a subsidised fee.

The Chairman of Nigerian Association of Technologists in Engineering (NATE), Lagos chapter, Mr Kayode Ibidapo, said that the council was willing to expose the students to more beneficial workshops and trainings about the engineering profession.

We believe that the technicians and craftsmen in your institution should also not be excluded. They need to attend trainings and workshops to upgrade themselves, Ibidapo said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that COREN is the regulatory body that governs the practice of engineering in Nigeria, while the FCFMTis a monotechnic approved by the National Board for Technical Education.

The College was originally known as the Federal School of Fisheries, established in 1969 as a vocational training institute for Nigerias in-shore fishing fleet.

It was upgraded to a technological institution in 1992.

The college offers courses in Fisheries Technology, General Science, Marine Engineering, Nautical Science and Maritime Transport. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Adeleye Ajayi

Source: NAN News

Mr Kenneth Sharpe, Chief Executive Officer, WestProp Holdings, speaking during a press conference held in Zimbabwe, on Monday. (Picture via Zoom)

By Adebola Adegoke

A leading Zimbabwean property company, WestProp Holdings has announced its official listing on the Victoria falls stock exchange.

Dr Michael Louis, Chairman of the board announced at a press conference held in Zimbabwe, on Monday that the company would formally be listed on April 29.

He said the company had received approval to list two categories of share capital namely its ordinary shares and preference shares.

It is my privilege to formally announce that on the 7th of March, the Registrar of Companies approved West Property Company Pvt Ltd., to become a public company and West Prop Holdings Ltd. was birthed and issued with its certificate of name change, he said.

Louis said the shares would accordingly be opening an offer for public subscription for the securities from March 27 to April 21, 2023.

He said the decision was in line with the National Development Strategy of ZImbabwe to achieve an empowered upper-middle income society by 2030 to chart a new transformative and inclusive development agenda.

The board thought of creative ideas to have a participatory inclusive economic model that really can help the poor and give everybody a secure future.

We are further elated to announce that we have decided to list on the victoria fall stock exchange because of the numerous benefits it holds for shareholders, including but not limited to shares trading in US Dollars, no capital gains and minimum transaction costs.

If you buy preference shares the company underwrites a minimum return of 7.5 per cent per annum on investments, he said.

Louis added that WestProps IPO is to raise 30 million dollars in capital to accelerate the development of the companys existing projects such as Pokugara Residential Estate, Millennium Heights, Pomona City, The Mall of Zimbabwe, Millennium Heights Office Park and the Hills Golf Estate.

This, he said, was in line with the companys 2050 vision of one billion bricks resulting in thousands of jobs and a total value of five billion dollars.

As we have now gone public, the board is convinced the time is now for individuals to be part of a bigger family to start investing in their long-term future and especially encourage the youth to start participating.

To this end, the board will be investing in educational literacy programmes to transform and educate the public and especially the youth regarding their responsibility of securing a generational future, he said.

Louis, the new chairman of the board acknowledged the achievements of Kenneth Sharpe, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and his team that have led the company to receive several international and national awards.

The awards included Company of the Year 2023 ( Zim land Developments and construction Awards); Property Development Company of the Year 2021. ( Property Magazine); Company of the Year National Awards 2021 (Zimbabwe Business Awards).

Others were Best Real Estate Innovative company of the year 2021 (Zim Infrastructure Investment summit);

Outstanding Property Development company 2022. (Zim CEO Network).

In his remarks, Sharpe announced that the company was offering one million ordinary shares at 10 dollars each and 5.4 million preferential redeemable convertible shares at 5 dollars each.

According to him, the preferential shares allow investors five years to decide to become ordinary shareholders during which time they will benefit from a minimum guaranteed return of 7.5 per cent per year as well as dividends from the companys profits.

This is likely to result in over 10 per cent per year being paid out which is an amount that no other listed company or bank in Zimbabwe is currently offering investors.

We have a goal of taking our company from the current annual sales of 40 million dollars to over 100 million dollars within seven years and to create a balance sheet that will exceed one billion dollars in value which is more than five times the one today.

All the shareholders will benefit from this growth. We know It is achievable and within our grasp, he said

He said the companys corporate strategy statement was to pioneer world-class, vertically-integrated, premium lifestyle communities in Zimbabwe by 2025.

It is not a coincidence that we have targeted one billion bricks if you look at our projected construction for the projects we have designed, it will take one billion bricks and five billion dollars to complete them.

Every day we are putting bricks into the ground working towards the vision where we know that within the next 27 years, we will have laid one billion bricks.

As of today, we have laid 5,298,975 bricks and we have 55, 626,972 committed bricks from our existing sales, he said.

This ensures we have smart cities encompass the live, work, shop and play model which means we provide social amenities like shopping malls, sporting facilities, creches, churches and many other recreational facilities in a safe 24 hour secure gated community, he said.

He also assured the public that the benefits of investing in the company were multi-dimensional.

According to him, the company guarantees a secure investment where someone whos investing 50 dollars will know that their money will still be there in one month, in one year and five years.

Its an alternative to the banks. Theres no cost we deduct for holding that value on behalf of the investor, and they are guaranteed that their investment is safe with us.

Once they have invested with us, the investment doesnt just stay at the 50 dollars that they invested. We give a solid return. The reason why were able to give them an expected return of over 10 per cent a year in USD is that we are highly profitable.

We are saying that together with the public, we can join hands and build Zimbabwe because the opportunity to invest with us will allow us and the public to come together, hold hands and build our country brick by brick.

We are doing this today through IPO and the listing, benefiting yourself in becoming a shareholder with us, you are joining hands in owning the assets that we own, he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chioma Ugboma

Source: NAN News

By Isaac Aregbesola

Participants at the International Women Conference have urged the President-elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu, to promote more laws, policies and special budgets targeting women and institutions that advance the cause of women.

They made the call at the first International Women Conference, with the theme Equity versus Equality, Redefining Gender Roles, organised by Arise Monilisa Foundation (AMF) in Abuja on Monday.

The conference was convoked to celebrate women, especially those that excelled in the male dominated sector.

Zik Okafor, a former National President of Asscoaition of Film Producers, Nigeria, who was a key speaker at the conference, stressed the need for women to be given opportunity to have their voices in the society.

The Chief Executive Officer of Zulu Film noted with concern that women had not been allowed to occupy their rightful places in the political space in Nigeria.

He said that out of 192 countries Nigeria is number 184 in terms of women participation in politics, it is not a good story.

From 1999 till date, only 157 women have been elected into the National Assembly in Nigeria, 38 Senators and 119 members of House of Representatives, compare to 2,657 men elected, 616 Senators and 2041 House of Representatives members.

I think government needs incisive mind set, bold action and commitment, they need to promote more laws, policies, special budgets targeting women and institutions that advance the cause of women.

According to him, there should also be deliberate and conscious efforts from the government to seriously put an end to gender based violence, secure equal access to quality education, health, economic resources and importantly participation in politics.

I have no doubt that women are ultra-commitment agents of change and they hold a brand new hope for the world, he said.

Speaking in the same vein, Monalisa Chinda, the Founder of AMF, said women and youths should be given the chance and the leverage to participate in all sectors including politics.

They should be given that chance to play their role by the incoming government to contribute their own quotas to the development of the country.

I think it is time to give women space to be what they are meant to be, she said.

While noting with concern that women were not encouraged by their male counterparts to thrive politically, she called on men to support women to occupy rightful political seats in the country.

She also challenged the women to become mentors that change the narrative for female folks everywhere.

Women must start from henceforth to become the biggest supporters, fans, Trust-anchor, mentors and financiers of their fellow women, she said.

Also in her submission, Alex Okoroji, an actress and author, stressed the need to fill the existing gender gaps in our society.

The gender gaps should be filled to enhance development in the country and the best way to fill the gap is to bring up women to fill their rightful place in the society.

By bringing more women into discussion. By acknowledging women contribution to development in the society, I think there also need to be better presentations.

People need to be more aware of women achievement in the society, media can play a crucial role in bringing the women folk to the limelight, how women are represented in the society, she said.

According to her, there is the need to encourage more women in the areas of leadership, governance and politics.

I believe that there are not enough laws that support women ideas.

Because a lot of the laws were made by men and when you have more men as lawmakers than women, not enough women representative, how do we create laws that will be in favour of women?

So, we need to have more female lawmakers, and have them in politics and governance, then we can have our voices represented and raise issues that women care about, she said. (NAN)

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Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Source: NAN News

L-R: Dr Ajibola Abayomi, President of the Journalists International Forum For Migration (JIFORM), Gerald Wolf, Deputy Consul General, German Embassy, Lagos, and Mrs Yemisi Izuora, the Publisher of Oriental Nigeria News during a visit of the JIFORM to the embassy.

By Ibironke Ariyo
The Journalists International Forum For Migration (JIFORM) and the German Embassy in Nigeria will be partnering on a training programme for journalists on migration and economic issues.

Dr Ajibola Abayomi, JIFORM President, in a statement said that his team was received by Mr Gerald Wolf, the Deputy Consul General and Elle Ogunsanya, the programme Coordinator at the Lagos consulate of the embassy.

Abayomi said that the JIFORM delegation had requested for collaboration on the training of journalists on migration matters.

He urged the embassy to work with the JIFORM to further drive the campaign against irregular migration, human trafficking and other migration menaces.

According to him, while we agree that migration is not a crime, the message must be clear that it must not be abused by anyone due to inadequate information on the choice they make.

We are appalled by the cases of repatriation of thousands of migrants from Germany and other countries involving Nigerians.

We are convinced that we can do better with quality information for the purpose of enlightening the public and this can be achieved with capacity building for media practitioners to engage stakeholders on the way out.

Journalists also need to be exposed to better management of migrant information geared towards economic development for the good of all, he said.

Abayomi emphasised that JIFORM was open to collaboration with various institutions to ensure that migrant matters from the point of safe, regular and orderly migration become a win-win situation for all countries.

On this, we seek your support to continue to empower journalists in Nigeria as we look forward to having the second edition of the JIFORM intercontinental migration summit hosted in Germany later this year, he said.

Responding, Wolf said his office would welcome a proposal to actualise a workshop for journalists and take steps to ensure its success when approved.

Wolf also said that the German government had a series of opportunities for skilled and qualified migrants from Nigeria, especially in education and those who are qualified teachers.

The Deputy Consul wished the JIFORM well on its desire to stage a migration summit in Germany.

He said his office was looking forward to also liaising with other German organisations in Nigeria to be part of interaction with the media during the proposed training programme.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that JIFORM, founded in 2019 in Lagos, comprises over 300 journalists covering migration across the continents.

NAN reports that the body has facilitated a series of local and international capacity building and training programmes for journalists and other stakeholders over the years. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vincent Obi

Source: NAN News

Gov. Abiodun during his condolence visit to the family of late Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya

By Oladapo Udom

The Governor of Ogun State, Mr Dapo Abiodun, on Monday said that the state would take over the burial of Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya, to give him a befitting farewell.

Abiodun said this during his condolence visit to the family at the late Diyas residence at Adekunle Fajuyi St., GRA, Ikeja, Lagos State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lt.-Gen. Diya died on March 26 at the age of 79.

The governor said that Diya was a former governor of Ogun State in 1984 and was an illustrious son of the state, in whom they were specially very pleased.

His contribution to the state will be remembered for many years to come.

The least we can do to honour him and support the family is to take over and give him a befitting farewell and that is what we are going to do.

A committee will be set up that will comprise members of our cabinet and members of the family, to ensure that we give our departed son a befitting burial, he said.

Abiodun said that one of the lessons that could be learnt from the life and times of Diya was to absolutely put your trust and faith in God.

I learnt that when God is with you, and when your trust and faith is in God, man can sentence you but God will uphold you.

A sentence was pronounced on Diyas life but God upheld him and he lived for many more years after that sentence.

So, for me, that is one of the take aways that I will remember from the life and times of Lt.-Gen. Diya, who we are going to immensely miss, he said.

The governor said that Diya was a soldier, a lawyer and a gentleman, who rose to the peak of his career by becoming the Chief of Staff at the Supreme Headquarters.

He also became the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Div, he was the Commandant of the Nigerian War College, after which he became the defacto vice-president of Nigeria.

His philanthropic intelligence and community involvement is such that we can not write the history of Ogun State without remembering him particularly or where he comes from , which is Odogbolu LGA.

All of us in Ogun State will forever be grateful to the impactful life that he has lived, Abiodun said.

He offered his deep condolences to Diyas family on behalf of the entire people and government of Ogun State.

Our prayer to the almighty God is to forgive his sins and grant recourse of his soul.

We pray that the Almighty God will give his wife, Mrs Josephine Diya, the children and entire members of the family the heart to bear the loss, Abiodun said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Omowole

Source: NAN News

By Jacinta Nwachukwu

A member of Frederal House of Representative, Rep. Olubukola Oyewo has facilitated a capacity building workshop for mathematics teachers in his constituency to enhance the teaching and learning of mathematics.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview at the five days workshop in Abuja Oyewo, member representing Irepodun/Olorunda/Orolu/ Osogbo Federal Constituency, Osun said the training was borne out of his passion for mathematics.

I am facilitating the ongoing capacity building workshop for mathematics teachers in my constituency because of my passion for mathematics.

The abysmal performance of students in mathematics from my constituency also prompted this training programme, he said.

He, however, said that paucity of fund prevented many mathematics teachers from the constituency from participating, hence the few participants.

It is however unfortunate that paucity of fund is a limitation to the number of participants proposed to be trained.

He, therefore, said that the few participants would hopefully make up for the training by being trainners to other mathematics teachers in the constituency.

Dr Olatunji Jekayinfa, a Research Fellow, National Mathematical Centre (NMC) said the teachers were trained on the effective methods of teaching mathematics for quality learning among the students.

He said after the programme, the teachers would acquire effective methods of teaching mathematics and impact same on the students to enable them perform better in examinations.

One of the major mandates of National Mathematical Centre is to organise trainings that culminate in quality and effective teaching and learning of mathematics.

So what we are here for is to make sure that the teaching and learning of mathematics is simplified; thereby endearing the subject to the students.

Because there are many problems associated with mathematics ranging from students poor perception of the subject as hard and difficult to teachers adoption of poor teaching methodology.

He said that a training like this could not have come at a better time than this.

Jekayinfa, while commending Oyewo for the programme, urged other spirited Nigerians to contribute their quota towards retraining of teachers for efficiency and effectiveness in teaching and learning in schools.

Mr Jare Tiamiyu, a Mathematics Teacher at Al Bin Islamic College, Irepodun Local Government Area, Osun said with the training, he had learnt how to combine learning and play to keep the students attention.

There are some things both teachers and students consider as mystery; mathematics is believed to be hard because of all these mysteries.

This training we are having will really help us on how to combine learning and play, students will learn more when the teaching is more of fun, something that will keep their attention and boost their interest.

He said this new approach of teaching would go a long way in changing the poor perception about mathematics.

Mr Michael Leshi, another Mathematics Teacher at Divine Favour Model School, Olorunda Local Government Area, while appreciating the facilitator of the training said that quality training of this nature was not easy to come by.

Leshi noted that the Rep. member had been helpful in the areas of education and infrastructure development within the constituency.

Facilitating this capacity building workshop for mathematics teachers will go a long way in helping both the teachers and students towards effective performance, he added.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Grace Yussuf

Source: NAN News

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige handing over two documents - Convention 1975(143)

Wildlife conservation

By Christian Njoku

Nigeria and Cameroon are planning to establish a world heritage site for the protection of endangered species such as gorillas, chimpanzees, lions and elephants native to both countries.

Dr. Inaoyom Imong, Director, Cross River Landscape for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), disclosed this on Monday in Calabar, at a workshop on Watershed Protection for Safe Sustainable Water Supply.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) aims to educate Nigerians on the need to protect its wildlife.

According to Imong, rare species indigenous to both countries are very few in their numbers in the whole of Africa, hence the need to protect them through the establishment of the site.

He said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), would soon be signed by the Presidents of the countries, adding that the site would help both nations achieve joint conservation goals.

The World Heritage Site will strengthen trans-boundary efforts between Nigeria and Cameroon which will make conservation more effective and reduce cost.

When the MoU is signed by the two presidents very soon, it will bring about many more benefits, including joint patrols and regular trans-boundary workshops between Nigeria and Cameroon, he said.

Imong appealed for the strengthening and enforcement of laws against attacks on wildlife and incessant infiltration into protected forests.

He also called for support for prosecution of violators as well as creation of code of conduct for forest rangers.

He further said that WCS recently had a workshop for officials of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, (NESREA) and Nigeria Customs Service in Calabar in that regard.

The workshop became necessary to keep relevant agencies abreast with the international dimensions which wildlife trade has assumed, including methodologies to tackle them.

We are also providing livelihood support for local communities in the forest areas to stem widespread poverty, and also dissuade them from invading protected areas for food, he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Benson Ezugwu/Ejike Obeta

Source: NAN News