By Abigael Joshua

Inspiring confidence during an era of low morale, potential future global damaging economic recession and failing organisational models have been identified among challenges facing organisations in Africa, Asia and Western Europe.

These threats are fallouts of the COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine crises. Their possible panaceas will be addressed by TEXEM UK at its programme coming up from Nov. 21 to Nov. 24 in Birmingham.

TEXEMs Director of Special Projects, Caroline Lucas, in a statement on the firms website, says the Strategic Leadership for Success in Volatile Times programme aims to equip leaders with the skills to deal with the uncertainty that tomorrow brings.

As a leader, you hope each year brings great fortunes for your organisation.

However, there is a lot that we do not know about tomorrow. So, as you wish for the best, you need to develop the core competence to prepare for an uncertain future, Lucas said.

She said other challenges facing organisations include supply chain disruption, new cybersecurity threats, low national cohesion, dramatic forex fluctuations, high level of inflation and, by extension, low customer disposable income.

Lucas said that dwindling government, business revenue and diminishing productivity are major existential threats for all organisations.

Specifically, she said political unrest, the upcoming election in 2023 and likely uncertainty in monetary and fiscal policies in a country like Nigeria would likely affect the competitiveness and comparative advantage of organisations and the nation.

Lucas reiterated that TEXEMs tested and proven methodology comprising of case studies, role play, games and working visits to companies would be deployed during the programme.

According to the director, this will be deployed to encourage participants to enhance their cognitive skills and improve their analytical rigour and evaluation skills to better assist them in managing ambiguity.

She added that this would make the programme an enjoyable, impactful, and memorable experience which would stimulate better strategic leadership competence.

On the programmes impact, Lucas assured that participants should expect to learn several actionable winning strategies on how to thrive in a future characterised by stiff competition, a fast-paced and challenging operating context.

Some ways to provide leadership for success in such times is by being agile, optimising the capacity of your organisation to turn challenges into opportunities, building resilience, prioritising your people and acting decisively.

You need these practical strategies and others to help steer your organisations plan for success in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous tomorrow, she affirmed.

Prof. Rodria Laline,

Professor of Strategy and Governance, the Founding Director of the Harvard University Maximise Your Boards Potential Programme, is expected as a faculty member of the programme.

Laline has been CEO of Global Research and Development Collaborations with IBM, Hewlett -Packard, ING Bank, Royal KPN, Groupe Bull, Elsevier Science, Siemens, And Philips.

Another distinguished faculty expected is world-renowned London Business School alumnus Prof. Paul Griffith,

Professor of Practice and the Senior Vice President, Products at Ashridge Executive Education, Hult International Business School.

Griffith is the worlds first Management Professor to lead a team that launched a rocket to space.

He is a business leader with extensive experience in leading culture change and Business Innovation.

Cambridge University alumnus Ambassador Charles Crawford, founding Partner of the Ambassador Partnership LLP, Communication and negotiation specialist par excellence and public speaking expert, is a faculty on this programme too.

A qualified Barrister and Mediator, Crawford draws on 28 years of experience in the UK diplomatic service, much of it spent in former Communist Central and Eastern Europe. He is the winner of two Oscars for strategic communications.

The statement also articulates the following testimonials from past participants of TEXEMs recent programme in the UK:

I learnt about organisational dexterity, exploitation and exploration aspect of an organisation and how to strike a balance.

One major key takeaway for me would be that fear is our biggest enemy, and once you can conquer fear, you can do anything, Ann Iyonu, Executive Director, Goodluck Jonathan Foundation.

I liked so many things about the programme; it was very interactive and insightful, the lecturers were carefully selected, they came full of experiences.

Here we are, matching theories and experiences and interacting with colleagues from different private and public sectors. At the end of the day, we also carried out some exercises to test our understanding of the programme.

I have learnt about leadership, how to manage a leader and follower, and I am going to use this to improve my leadership skills when I get back home,

Dr Musa Zagi, Zonal Operation Controller, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.

I have read a few things about TEXEM before coming here, but my expectations were surpassed by any standard and by any way.

This training institute can compare with any other one worldwide. The packaging, the faculty, everything is just excellent.

More importantly, the module on resilience, the world is changing and changing very fast, it is those who can adapt to their environment that would be able to survive or be able to excel in the future, Michael Faloseyi, Assistant General Manager, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Razak Owolabi

Source: NAN News

By Philomina Attah

The Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, has said that money recovered by the commission is paid into the coffers of the Federal Government.

The chairman disclosed this at a one-day Sensitisation Dialogue with stakeholders on Behavioural Change, National Ethics and Integrity Policy on Wednesday in Abuja.

The workshop is an avenue to sensitise stakeholders on its Constituency Projects Tracking Initiative which commenced in 2019, focusing on how well money allocated to critical sectors by government is utilised.

The project is in it fourth phase with the recovery of assets worth billions of Naira to the government, return of equipment to communities for whom they were meant.

Also, the project has forced a lot of contractors to return to sites and completed hitherto shoddily done or abandoned projects.

The exercise, however, led to revelation that some projects were excellently and completely executed.

Reacting to question on what happened to recovered assets, the ICPC boss reiterated that all the monetary recovered goes into the Recovery Account and the account is with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

He said the commission has no powers over funds or assets recovered from corrupt people, adding that it does not spend recovered funds.

The commission has a designated account for the recovery of proceeds of crime known as ICPC Recovery Account into which all recovered funds were paid into

Let me clear some of the misinformation out there. First thing is that, all the monetary recoveries goes into the recovery account.

And theres a lot of misinformation out there and its because there is a high level of cynicism. People do not believe anything righteous about the government.

But I can swear an affidavit I can go on oath and swear on the Bible. Since I resumed in ICPC, no one kobo from recovered assets have been diverted.

What is the proper thing? There is a recovery account the money goes there, thats one.

So if it is liquid cash, the money goes there and that account is in the CBN. This information is important for community leaders to have because most people just accuse and say things that are simply incorrect.

You can ask anybody that you know who has ever been the suspect of investigation by ICPC.

They have paid through remittance into the recovery accounts called ICPC Recovery Account, he said.

Owasanoye further explained that the Proceeds of Crime Act was recently passed and the law says, confiscation account should be opened and we have also opened one.

If you step out of our compound, all you cars you see to the right are sized vehicles, covered vehicles, because the procedure for disposal was not carried until recently.

We pressured until government made claim the guidelines by saying every agency now has responsibility to dispose of assets and put the money into the recovery account.

So ICPC has formed an Asset Disposal Committee which included members of the public as observers. The Nigeria Labour Congress, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Civil Societies, Bureau of Public Procurement all are represented.

Let them come and see what we are doing and broadcast it to the whole world, he added.

He urged the public to visit the ICPC website for information on its recovered assets, adding that such information has been on its website since 2020.

We try to put this information out there. All the recovered assets by ICPC have been on our website since 2020 and we have a digital assets record for all recovered assets whether interim or final.

Government doesnt have good reputation. Even when they are doing the right thing, citizens will say they have stolen the money.

People will grant interview and they will be talking with passion and you will almost believe them that what they are saying is correct. But sometimes, how many people can you correct?.

In explaining further, the three categories of assets recovery, Owasanoye added it was important for the public to be carried along for transparency purposes.

Its good to educate the public.

When assets are recovered, they are recovered in three categories.

They can been siezed, interim forfeiture and final forfeiture.

So, a lot of assets that dragged for years are under interim forfeiture. If at the end of the day ICPC loses the cases for whatever reason. The court might say we do not agree with us on some evidence tendered.

Like recently, we arrested somebody that used public fund to acquired 19 properties and we say this can not be his money.

We filed all the documents. The court said some of these properties can be acquired by the suspect.

The court forfeited four to government and left the rest of the properties to the suspect. We have appealed but there is nothing we can do, he said.

The ICPC boss maintained that under interim forfeiture, the properties would be under its custody until the court case had concluded.

We will mark them and put security there. We do not allow you to operate there except if they are perishable, we bond it. You give us the value of the assets. We hold it until the case is concluded.

He, however, stated that the new regime openly stated that before the end of the year, the commission would publish some assets that were under final forfeiture that have been valued and have no challenge in court.

We will wait until the court cases are concluded. If ICPC wins, the assets becomes government properties, if we lose it goes back to the suspect, he maintained. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Tosin Kolade

The National Water Resources Institute (NWRI), has adopted Eco-hydrological solutions and innovations to manage the nations water resources potential.

This was the thrust at a workshop on Implementation of Integrated and Holistic Eco-hydrological Approaches for Improved Water Management in West Africa, organised by NWRI in partnership with UNESCO.

The Director-General of the Institute, Prof. Emmanuel Adanu, at the event in Abuja on Tuesday, said Jabi Lake in the FCT had been selected as the first eco-hydrology demonstration sites.

According to him, the approach uses simple solutions toward addressing the challenges in the water resources sector, as all stakeholders should embrace it.

So, anywhere you have stagnant water, you have a way of approaching it, because no water is useless until it is impure, so if you make it pure, it becomes useful at any environment you see it, so thats what we want to do, and eco-hydrology is one of the methods.

Now let me tell you one thing, if you go to your villages, anywhere you see stagnant water, the kind of plants that grow there are different from plants that grow in moving water, those are the kind of plants we intend to put around stagnant water to remove all the impurities in the water.

When those plants become yellow, it means they have rid the environment of those impurities. So we now intend to do that one intentionally in stagnant places, so it is just an integrated way of using nature to purify water, instead of toxic materials used in treating water.

Adanu, however, called for the support of all stakeholders in its implementation, saying bureaucracies in establishments would not do the country any good.

Mr John Ochigbo, the Director, River Basin Operations and Inspectorate, who represented the Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, said water was an important resource to lifes sustenance and for economic developments.

According to him, as the population expands, the need for water is increasing, with many environmental pollutions threatening the countrys water resources.

Ochigbo said discharges from industries and homes into the lake was abusive, hence the need to clean them up and for them to be more beneficial.

Jabi Lake has been approved by UNESCO as a demonstration site for eco-hydrology, and the ministry is here to support the UNESCO office towards the development of this center.

We are encouraging all relevant water agencies in Nigeria and across West Africa to make use of this demonstration site to be able to build their capacity to handle water resources management issues.

The lake was initially to serve the purpose of water supply to FCT before the Usuma dam came on board, it is an important water resource and needs to be protected.

Mr Dimitri Sanga, of UNESCOs Dakar Regional office, said that water was at the core of sustainable development, adding that it was critical for socio-economic development, healthy ecosystems and for human survival.

According to him, the incidence of COVID-19 has shown how access to clean and safe water and sanitation is critical and indispensable to avoid the spread of the virus.

Given the importance of water, UNESCO works to build the scientific knowledge base, to help its member states manage their water resources in a sustainable manner.

We work through the Intergovernmental Hydrology Programme (UNESCO-IHP), through leading the UN-wide World Water Development around the world.

Sanga said that the partnership would contribute to the achievement of human sustainable development goals and build the resilience of ecosystems in member states. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Source: NAN News

By Tosin Kolade

Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, on Monday, called on the private sector and other stakeholders to be involved in the protection of the nations rivers from man-made pollution.

Adamu made this call at an event commemorating the 2022 World Rivers Day, with the theme: The Importance of Rivers to Biodiversity, in Abuja.

He said that challenges, such as pollution through dumping of refuse and untreated sewage wastes, open defecation, urbanisation and climate change were still affecting the nations waterways.

According to him, rivers have rights and they need to be healthy, as this is critical for promoting livelihood support and sustenance to those who depend on them.

He said that private individuals and volunteers had a huge role to play in protecting rivers and lakes, adding that this was crucial for public health and socio-economic development.

We are in a society where everybody is waiting for government to do everything; this is not supposed to be the case; I will like to see volunteers and champions.

We need to create an arrangement where the society and people take ownership themselves. These things are not owned by government. So people should be able to come and take ownership and do the needful.

We are sending the message and we hope that the citizens will come to do the needful, even if its just a question of, okay, I will not drop this bottle in this river.

I think you have done enough if we can get people to stop polluting the rivers; that will be a major achievement, he said.

The minister said he had mandated the 12 River Basin Development Authorities and Agencies to carry out regular and increased advocacy programmes for rivers restoration, protection and conservation.

This, he said, would be done within the framework of Integrated River Basin Management, for the overall development and management of all water resources.

Earlier, the ministrys Permanent Secretary, Dame Didi Walson-Jack, said that rivers had been degraded, diverted, and polluted at high cost to people and the earths living system for a long time.

She stressed the need for scaling up national efforts toward rivers remediation, protection and conservation in the interest of the present and future generations.

Prof. Ramah Elfithri, Representative, Regional Centre for Integrated River Basin Management in Nigeria, urged all stakeholders to do more to protect rivers water quality.

According to her, the quality of the countrys rivers and lakes will ensure livelihood support for those living around them.

She also called for more measures to protect the biodiversity of all water resources, saying that this would promote inclusive development.

Highlights of the event were a memorial tree planting and symbolic river clean up at Jabi Lake in the FCT. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Wale Sadeeq

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Military Pensions Board (MPB) says it is yet to fix date for verification of military pensioners urging them to disregard the publication which said the exercise would commence on Nov. 26.

The Public Relations Officer of the board, Flt.-Lt. Abdullahi Gambo, said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Gambo described the information as fake, saying that it did not emanate from the board.

He clarified that the purported story was lifted from the website of a popular newspaper which was published in 2017 during the preparation for the 2017 verification exercise.

Although, the board is working towards conducting a verification exercise of military pensioners on its payroll, the board will adequately inform military pensioners of the date and time when all preparation for the exercise are concluded.

Accordingly, our esteemed military retirees are please urged to remain calm and patient.

Finally, all military pensioners are advised to always rely on established official means of communication provided by the board to source their information.

Pensioners can call the Board on 09087447782 or 09087994694 or send an email to [email protected] in order to confirm any issue that concerns them, he added.

He said the board appreciated the retirees for their usual support and understanding. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

Source: NAN News

By Abbas Bamalli

The Management of Katsina United Football Club has invited 120 indigenous players across 34 local government areas of the state for talent hunt and screening.

The spokesperson of the club, Mr Nasir Gide, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen in Katsina.

According to him, the screening is scheduled to hold between Sept. 28 and Oct. 6 at Muhammadu Dikko Stadium Katsina.

He explained that participants were expected to arrive at the venue by 10 a.m on Wednesday.

The exercise is meant to revamp the team and also to give more chances and playing time to the home based players, he said.

According to him, the clubs Director of Football Development, Mr Saleh Yusuf, said the slots for the players were given, depending on the profession of the active football teams in the local governments areas.

Katsina local government, being the centre, carried 20 slots with some of the players from the Junior Katsina United FC.

The director stated that feeding and accommodations will be provided to all the invited players.

The invited players are therefore urged to exhibit sportsmanship and discipline during the screening and assured that fairness and just consideration will be done to whoever deserves to be registered with the club.

The management expressed gratitude to the state sports Commissioner, Dr Bishir Gambo-Saulawa, for giving the state home based players a chance to exhibit their talents.

Gide reported Yusuf as saying this would greatly improve the performance of the players and the development of football in general. (NAN)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Kadiri Abdulrahman

As the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) holds its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on Monday, some stakeholders project a hike in policy rates.

This is against the backdrop of global monetary policy trend, which has seen the American Central Bank (The Fed), and the Bank of England increasing Monetary Policy Rates (MPR).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the MPR is the benchmark interest rate that guides all other rates in the financial market.

The MPC had raised the MPR by 100 basis points from 13 per cent to 14 per cent in its last meeting in July.

The July increase represented the second consecutive hike in the MPR within two months.

The committee had in May, and for the first time since September 2020, increased MPR by 150 basis points from 11.5 per cent to 13 per cent.

According to Prof. Umhe Uwaleke, an economist, the MPC is likely to increase the MPR again by at least 50 basis points.

Uwaleke, a Professor of Economics from Nasarawa State University, said that his projection was informed by rising inflation rates as well as the trend in the some developed countries.

Judging from the recent shift in monetary policy stance from accommodative to contractionary in deference to the CBNs primary mandate of price stability.

And against the backdrop of rising inflation, the MPC is most likely to increase the MPR by at least 50 basis points.

Aside inflationary pressure and the need to tame it, the MPC will be considering current global monetary developments such as the hike in policy rates by central banks in developed countries.

For example, the U.S. Federal Reserve recently increased the benchmark rate by 75 basis points while the Bank of England increased by 50 basis points, he said.

Uwaleke said that these monetary tightening by central banks of U.S. and the UK continued to trigger capital outflows from Nigeria with negative implications on the exchange rate.

So, the MPC will equally consider this as justification for increasing MPR, he said.

The economist, however, urged the MPC to hold the prevailing rates constant as tightening may not tame inflationary trend.

Be that as it may, if I were a member of the MPC, I would vote for a hold position. In other words, I would advise that the policy rates be held.

This is because the major drivers of inflation in Nigeria today are cost-push related rather than demand-pull.

Further policy tightening may not really tame inflationary pressures that are stemming more from high cost of energy and negative impact of insecurity on food output.

Furthermore, any hike in rate at this time will hurt output growth through higher cost of lending to SMEs.

In view of the current tepid real GDP growth, I will advise the MPC to maintain the status quo and give more time to the current CBN monetary policy to permeate the economy, he said.

Dr Tope Fasua, an economist, also urged the MPC to retain the subsisting rates as past rates increase had not tamed inflation.

Though I expect that they may further raise rates, my advice to the MPC will be that they hold rates.

We have raised rates by 250 basis points in the last two meetings but inflation has surged further.

This means that our own inflation is not tightly linked with interest rates and may recede in its own time.

Ours is a bit of a carryover from the COVID-19 era of production shut down and imported inflation because our economy is dependent on foreign ones battling inflation presently, he said.

According to Fasua, raising rates further will only be a continuation of punishment for local industries that borrow locally and are struggling to achieve previous levels of productivity post COVID-19.

Banks are always quick to raise lending rates anyway. The CBN had to recently force them to increase savings rates.

Their margins are always so high, so the committee and CBN must be careful about raising rates, he said.

A financial expert, Mr Okechukwu Unegbu, urged fiscal and monetary authorities to look beyond the MPC and work together to save the economy from negative external influence.

Unegbu is a past President of the Chattered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).

He particularly decried the negative effect of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict on the Nigerian economy and called for policies decisions that could insulate the Nigerian economy from such incidents. (NAN)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Source: NAN News

China has achieved initial success in new infrastructure construction, which has greatly facilitated the countrys social and economic development over the past decade, officials said on Monday.

Zhang Zhihua, an official with the National Development and Reform Commission said at a news conference that China had quickened its steps in upgrading information infrastructure as well as advancing infrastructure integration and innovation.

Zhang said that the length of Chinas optical fiber network had increased 2.7 times over the past decade, and the number of data centre racks has topped 5.9 million.

According to him, smart devices are being integrated into various industries and businesses such as transport, energy supply, and industrial production, as well as facilities concerning peoples wellbeing like e-commerce, telemedicine, and online education.

In terms of innovation, Zhang said up to 32 of Chinas planned 77 major national science and technology infrastructure projects had been put into operation.

He said centres on engineering research, enterprise technology, and industrial innovations were being set up across the country.

According to him, new infrastructure has greatly empowered Chinas economic and social development by offering sustained support to new technology exploration, effectively backing the development of the digital economy and fully facilitating the improvement of peoples wellbeing.

While each round of scientific and technological revolution introduces new infrastructure, each round of infrastructure construction will bring in an upgrade in economic transformation, he said.

Also speaking,Song Wen, an official with the National Energy Administration, said that with the energy sector seeking a faster shift to digital, internet-based, and smart-tech models, progress had been made.

In fields such as smart grid, mining, and power generation, as well as energy storage, he said.

Wen said that the coverage rate of Chinas power distribution automation system had exceeded 90 per cent by 2021.

He said that the country had seen the completion of more than 800 smart mining sites and a number of 5G plus smart thermal power plants. (Xinhua/NAN)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Source: NAN News

The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the Yuan weakened 378 pips to 7.0298 against the dollar on Monday.

This is according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System.

In Chinas spot foreign exchange market, the Yuan is allowed to rise or fall by two per cent from the central parity rate each trading day.

The central parity rate of the Yuan against the dollar is based on a weighted average of prices offered by market makers before the opening of the interbank market each business day. (Xinhua/NAN)

Edited by Remi Koleoso/Ese E. Eniola Williams

Source: NAN News

By Jessica Dogo

The Nigeria National Christian Coalition (NNCC) says no tribe or religion can build the country alone, adding that nation-building is a collective responsibility.

NNCC said this in a communiqu at the end of the annual Meet the Church summit by its Convener, Pastor Titi Oluwadare, on Sunday in Abuja.

According to Oluwadare, working together and investing wisdom are key to nation-building.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme, which had more than 700 participants, had the theme: The Role of the Church in Nation Building.

Oluwadare called on the Church to fight for justice for everyone, including Christians and adherents of other religions.

She said that the indivisibility of justice, and being vigilant to protect the rights of humans as enshrined in the constitution would go a long way.

No tribe or religion can build the country alone, thus all must work together and invest wisdom which is the application of the right knowledge.

Equal opportunities and access to wealth to every Nigerian and inclusion of youth and women in all national calculations must be treated with the sense of urgency that it deserves.

There should be counterpart equity in all policies that will be passed into law.

The banking sector, sharing of political and government offices or ambassadorial positions must recognise all interests identified in Nigeria, she said.

She called for selfless and visionary leadership, and a trans-generational process of producing leaders with requisite character, competence and conscious of the consequences of their actions and inactions.

She said the creation and development of strong institutions, structures, policies and strategies were applicable to everyone, adding that there was the need to realise previous mistakes and usher in a new Nigeria.

To establish credible elections, the Federal Government must derive their governance from the governed.

It is of utmost importance that there is a national vision, a national dream and nationhood premised on national shared core values.

Furthermore, we need to put in place, a national strategic purpose and the national will to pursue and enforce the purpose, she said.

According to the former Deputy Governor of Taraba State, Dr Danjuma Gani, the decisions made today and the actions that follow will greatly affect Nigeria and Nigerians.

Gani called on Christians to participate in electoral processes come 2023.

A nation is built upon the vision and values of the founding fathers which, more often than not, are a God-given ideal to see to the business of nation building, national transformation and prosperity.

Whatever we do must be accomplished with a clear vision, strong value systems rational thinking with a critical mass of information populace fully engaged in the project of nation building, he said.

NAN also reports that the summit comprised three plenary sessions and four interactive group sessions.

The conversations were aimed at identifying the role of the Church in nation building and charting a new course for credible elections with the critical inclusion of all stakeholders in the nation. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

=============================

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman/Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

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)

=========
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)

=========
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)

===========
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)

========
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)

============

Edited by Deborah Coker/Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News