By Emmanuel Mogbede

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has released a 422-member Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) ahead of the commencement of the partys 2023 presidential campaign to be headed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the list of members of the council released in Abuja on Saturday.

Sen. Bola Tinubu, the partys 2023 presidential candidate and Abdullahi Adamu, its National chairman, are to serve as deputy chairmen of the council.

Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau is the Director General with James Faleke as secretary of the council.

Sen. Kashim Shettima, the partys Vice-Presidential candidate is the vice chairman of the council and Adams Oshiomhole, former APC National Chairman is the deputy director-general (Operations) while Hadiza usman is the deputy director-general (Admin).

The 422-man campaign council has Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and Chairman Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), as Vce Chairman and state Coordinator.

Godswill Akpabio, former Akwa-Ibom Governor, is vice chairmen (South-South and Uju Kennedy, the former female APC presidential aspirant is vice chairman South-East.

Gov. Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa is the Regional Coordinator and Chairman for North and his state, Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi, regional coordinator South and Ebonyi; Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River is regional director South-south and Ebonyi.

Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu is zonal coordinator for South-West and Ondo State; Gov. Abubakar Sani Bello is the zonal coordinator for North-central and his state.

Gov. Muhammed Yahaha is zonal coordinator for the North-East and Gombe and Gov. Bello Matawalle is the zonal coordinator for the North-West and Zamfara.

The list showed that all APC governors are coordinators of the presidential council in their respective states and where there was no sitting governors of the party, its governorship candidates were the coordinators.

Others appointed were Gov. Yahaha Bello of Kogi as National Youth Coordinator, Felix Nicholas, Deputy National Youth Coordinator; Festus Keyamo, spokesperson, Chris Tarka, deputy secretary, Gov. Kayode Fayemi is the Coordinator for Ekiti State and Adviser Foreign Affairs.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan is made Senior Adviser on strategic planning, Femi Gbajabiamila, Adviser on Legal Matters, Aliyu Wamako, former Sokoto State Governor, Adviser on Special Duties.

Rotimi Amaechi, is adviser on infrastructure; Ibikunle Amosun, adviser on contacts and mobilisation; Dele Alake, Adviser on Media, Communications and Public Affairs.

Others are Abdullahi Ganduje, adviser political affairs and Kano coordinator; Nasir El-rufai, coordinator, Kaduna State and senior adviser, policy, strategy and enforcement and Abdulrahaman Danbazzau adviser, strategic engagement.

Faleke, Secretary to the council, advised all nominees to pick their appointment letters on Monday at the APC presidential campaign office.

The PCC with its many directorates would be inaugurated on Sept. 26 at the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Office in Abuja. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

==============
Edited by Deborah Coker/Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Vivian Emoni

The Sappers Engineering Nigeria Ltd. (SENL), a subsidiary of the Nigerian Army Engineers (NAE), Friday sought for collaboration with the Federal Government on effective implementation of ecological projects in the country.

Its Director of the Project, Brig.-Gen. Aderemi Gbedebo, at a visit to Ecological Project Fund (EPO) in Abuja, said the company was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

Gbedebo, who visited the EPO with some members of his team, said the company had been involved with several government projects, including construction of roads/bridges, buildings, canals and reservoirs across the country.

He said that the SENL was a subsidiary of the Nigerian Army Engineers (NAE), and was committed to work with the EPO for efficient implementation of projects.

According to him, the purpose of the visit is to reach out to the EPO to offer technical expertise in the implementation and operation of ecological projects in the country.

The company has the human resources, equipment and capacity to carry out any of the intervention projects towards national development.

The SENL had performed similar projects with some Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as constituency projects.

The projects are professionally and thoroughly executed by our team of experts, he said.

The Director, Overseeing the EPO, Dr Famous Eseduwo, while expressing delight over the visit, said that the office was ready and committed to work with the SENL.

Eseduwo said that the EPO would encourage the company to be involved in the execution of some of its projects, especially, considering the present security challenges facing the country.

Security is a frontline issue in governments efforts at meeting some of the needs of Nigerians and to mitigate their challenges. I believed that the collaboration will be an added value.

I want to assure that the request will be escalated to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation ((SGF), Boss Mustapha, for further necessary action. (NAN) (

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

========

Source: NAN News

By Peter Uwumarogie

Source: NAN News

By Oluwatope Lawanson/Florence Onuegbu

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has charged Nigerians to elect candidates that could sustain the country, in the 2023 general elections.

Sanwo-Olu gave the charge at a Special Prayer Session/Jumat Service to commemorate the 62nd Independence Day Celebration, organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs at the Lagos Secretariat Community Central Mosque Alausa, Ikeja on Friday.

The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, said the APC Presidential Candidate, Sen. Bola Tinubu if elected, has the ability to sustain the nations economy, hence the need to support him.

The governor urged Nigerians to vote wisely come 2023 general elections by choosing a good leader for a better Nigeria.

He also urged Nigerians to be astute in their voting in 2023, avoid elevating issues that are unnecessary and consider what the candidates had done in their various communities.

Sanwo-Olu urged Nigerians not to listen to bogus statistics but consider the candidates plans, especially in the areas of security, economic development, social and physical infrastructure provisions.

We should look at who have access to the sources for businesses, so that they can employ, ability to sustain the economy of our country, so that we can have a bigger pie and then we can share across the states.

Nigerians should look at who has ability to protect the integrity of our country by sustaining the military, training them well, he said.

Speaking on the religious distractions within the country, the governor stated that the election should be based on capacity, achievement instead of religion and other inconsequential considerations.

According to him, there is no point in elevating religion instead of the virtues required of a productive leadership.

If we can put our lives in the hands of doctors without asking for their religion before surgery, why then are we neglecting what we are supposed to do and doing otherwise in the name of religion.

We should not play politics under the guise of religion, he said.

The governor tasked Nigerians on fixing the country and making it better, noting that every developed nation had been lucky to have good leaders at a point in time.

He added that Nigeria would not be an exception while citing Singapore, having Lee Kuan Yew or America having Abraham Lincoln at the right time which led to rapid development of the different countries.

It is fundamental for all to do the right thing and it is in our interest to fix the country and make it a better place for all, the governor said.

Sanwo-Olu, therefore, prayed that Nigeria would not miss the opportunity of choosing a good leader.

He also prayed for a peaceful and violence free election.

Earlier in his sermon, Sheik Saheed Aro enjoined leaders to always go about their responsibilities toward the nation and the people with the fear of God.

Aro said they should always be reminded that they would give account of whatever they did on earth before their maker, God Almighty, after death.

The Sheik also urged Nigerians to commit the 2023 elections into the hands of God almighty for a peaceful, free and fair election, devoid of bloodshed and rancour.

Nigerians are also advised to do the right thing at all times wherever they find themselves. They are also enjoined to always pray for their leaders to do well rather than condemn or curse them. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

=================
Edited by Angela Okisor/Chioma Ugboma

Source: NAN News

By Lydia Ngwakwe

The Naira appreciated slightly against the dollar at the Investors and Exporters window on Friday as it exchanged at N436.33.

The rate represented a 0.04 per cent appreciation compared to the N436.50 for which the dollar exchanged on Thursday.

The open indicative rate closed at N434.83 to the dollar on Thursday.

An exchange rate of N438 to the dollar was the highest rate recorded within the days trading before it settled at N436.33.

The Naira sold for as low as N425 to the dollar within the days trading.

A total of 106.11 million dollars was traded at the official Investors and Exporters window on Friday. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

===========
Edited by Salif Atojoko

Source: NAN News

By George Odok

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) on Friday inaugurated the Evergreen Energy Limited, signalling the commencement of the Calabar depot operations.

Mr George Ene-Ita, Regional Coordinator of NMDPRA, South South, led his team of officials to perform the inauguration of the facility on behalf of the Authority on Friday in Calabar.

Ene-Ita said that with the inauguration of the facility, the depot was now ready to begin full operations in the area, andurged the management of the facility to maintain high safety standards within their facility.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the facility was first licensed in 2019, but has remained non functional ever since.

NAN also reports that the depot is expecting its first cargo vessel receipt soon.

The team from NMDPRA further inspected equipment and installations in the facility with a view to ensuring compliance to standards.

Mr Abdulrazak Hashiru, Managing Director of Evergreen Energy, promised to work in harmony with all relevant authorities to ensure a safe and seamless operational environment.

The management of the facility demonstrated their readiness in event of a fire emergency by activating the critical safety equipment including the sprinkler systems at the gantry and on the tanks respectively. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Ismail Abdulaziz

Source: NAN News

By Taiye Agbaje

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered the reinstatement of two aggrieved directors of Green Energy International Limited, Dr Bunu Alibe and Mr Ayo Olojede, who were illegally removed by the companys management.

Justice Bolaji Olajuwon, in a judgment, described their removal from the oil company as unlawful.

Olajuwon said that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company held on Nov. 12, 2020, during which Alibe and Olojede were removed, was convened in contravention of Section 285 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2020.

The judge, who ordered that all the backlog of the directors entitlements, including salaries and allowances be paid, also awarded three million naira in favour of the duo for damages.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Alibe and Olojede had in a suit marked, FHC/ABJ/PET/20/2020, sued Green Energy and Prof. Anthony Adegbulugbe as 1st and 2nd defendants.

Adegbulugbe was a former Special Adviser on Energy in the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

The plaintiffs, in the suit which commenced via a petition, accused Adegbulugbe of series of corporate misdemeanours, including unilateral usurpation of executive responsibilities, contrary to the provisions of CAMA, 2020 and the companys Article of Association.

They claimed that they were unlawfully removed by the chairman of the company they jointly nurtured to fruition.

Responding, Adegbulugbe also filed a separate suit against the two directors before the court marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1390/2020.

Although the matter was formerly before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, the case was, however, reassigned to Olajuwon following the transfer of Ojukwu to the Calabar division of the court recently.

Delivering the judgement, Olajuwon said that notice of general meeting to all directors and members of a company must be given 21 days from the day it was issued.

She held that the petitioners were only given 20 days notice instead of 21 days, as required by the law, for the meeting held on Nov. 12, 2020.

According to her, Section 241 of CAMA provided a lengthy time to be provided for a meeting of a company to be held.

The judge held that the argument of the defence that Ojukwu had ordered that parties should attend the AGM as part of the efforts to resolve the crisis rocking the company and that the aggrieved directors failed to comply did not hold water.

I have carefully read the proceedings of Hon.Justice Ojukwu.

The notice of the Annual General Meeting was served before the order of the court was made and the court did not abridge the length of time for the meeting to be held.

Where the provision of the law is clear and unambiguous, the court must give it its meaning, she said.

Olajuwon, therefore, declared that all actions taken at the AGM held on Nov. 12, 2020 were null and void.

A declaration that the alleged non-election and/or removal of the petitioners as directors of the 1st respondent (Energy Oil) was unlawful, illegal and not in accordance with the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters 2020 in that proper procedure was not followed or adopted.

A declaration that pursuant to Article 27 of the 1st respondents Articles of Association, the provisions and powers contained in Section 285 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 are neither exercisable nor applicable to the 1st respondent.

An order invalidating and setting aside the holding of the purported Annual General Meeting of 12 November, 2020 and nullifying every decision taken thereafter, including the purported non-reelection of the petitioners as directors of the 1st respondent.

As the petitioners are still members of the 1st respondent, the court hereby restrains the respondents whether by themselves or their servants, agents, privies or how whatsoever, from denying the petitioners any or all rights, emoluments and benefits due to them as directors of the 1st respondent, including but not limited to unhindered access to the companys offices and sites, settlement of all bonuses and financial entitlements and allowances due and or payable to them.

General damages in the sum of N3 million is hereby awarded in favour of the petitioners for their unlawful removal as directors of the 1st respondent in contravention of the provisions of CAMA 2020, the judge further declared.

She held that the petitioners were not given fair hearing in the decisions taken by the company.

The petitioners case succeeds in part because they were not given adequate notice, she said

The judge also dismissed the sister suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/1390/2020, and filed by Adegbulugbe against the two directors.

Earlier, Olajuwon had also dismissed the defence motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit.

Olajuwon, however, dismissed the allegations levelled against Adegbulugbe that he took unilateral decisions in the running of the company and turned the firm into a family affair.

According to Olajuwon, he who asserts must prove.

She held that the two directors failed to discharge the burden of proof of the allegations as no sufficient materials were placed before her to believe so.

On the aborted Project Horizon Contract, she held that it was executed by Adegbulugbe in the interest of all the shareholders and the firm while the petitioners could not prove their allegations against him.(NAN)

(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

Source: NAN News

By Georgina Adegbie

William Glenwright, International Cricket Councils (ICC) General Manager (Development), is scheduled to visit Nigeria on a tree-day working visit ahead of the U-19 World Cup Division 2 Qualifiers in Abuja.

A statement by Emeka Igwilo, General Manager, Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), said Glenwright will inspect facilities in Lagos, Edo and Abuja from Sunday to Wednesday.

The visit according to Igwilo comes ahead of the ICC mens cricket World Cup Africa division 2 qualifier taking place in Abuja from Sept.30 to Oct. 9.

He said cricket has improved in Nigeria, with the country winning two development awards in the last three years.

Igwilo said the visit would further cement the federations developmental efforts in the sport.

We hope to also leverage on his coming to showcase and drive our plans deeper with various stakeholders.

Nigeria also plays a strategic role in terms of supporting the growth of the game amongst other countries, in this part of the continent.

We are involved in some facility developments in Ghana, where our ground men are supporting the Ghana Cricket Federation to upgrade their cricket pitches to meet international standard.

Ghana will be the host of the All-Africa Games in 2023 and Cricket will be featuring for the first time, so we have to offer our expertise in that regard,he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rwanda, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Mozambique, Botswana, Ghana and Nigeria will participate in the Qualifiers.

NAN also reports that Nigeria won the Female Initiative of the Year for Africa in 2021 and the ICC Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative Award in 2022. (NAN)()

Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Joseph Edeh

Source: NAN News

By Constance Athekame

The Nigerian electricity supply industry has recorded 31 deaths and nine injuries in the fourth quarter of 2021, says Nigerias regulatory agency.

The accidents involved both employees of the companies and third parties.

This is contained in the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Fourth Quarter Report 2021, released late on Thursday.

The report said that the total number of incidents that occurred in the quarter under review were 40 with nine injuries and 31 deaths compared to the 49 incidents recorded in Q3 with 19 injuries and 30 deaths.

According to the report, the commission has launched investigations into all the reported incidents with a view of understanding the root causes records as well as meting out relevant sanctions against the licensees.

In line with its 2017-2020 strategic goals, the commission has intensified efforts at implementing various safety programmes aimed at eliminating accidents in the industry.

Some of the safety programmes implemented by the Commission include the standardisation of protective schemes, public enlightenment on health and safety, engagement of government agencies on Right of Way (RoW) violations.

And a review of an operational procedure for distribution system operators on fault clearing, it said.

The commission also said that out of the 87 mandatory health and safety reports expected from licensees in Q4, 2021, it received 75 reports against 85 submitted in the Q3.

Port Harcourt DisCo had three outstanding reports while AES Barge, Afam Power, Abuja, Benin, Eko, Enugu, Ibadan, Ikeja, and Kano Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) each had one outstanding report for Q4.

The report said that in accordance with Section 32(1)(e) of(EPSRA), the commission continued to monitor the health and safety performance of the NESI.

In order to guarantee the delivery of safe and reliable electricity to Nigerians, the report said.

It said that the commission had developed new processes to track the submission of statutory reports, including the health and safety reports by licensees.

The report said the processes would guide the implementation of relevant actions against licensees that do not meet their obligations.

The health and safety reports were analysed in line with the provisions of Section 32(1)(e) of ESPRA for monitoring and evaluating of health and safety performance of licensees.

In order to ensure that operators abide by their responsibility of delivering safe electricity services to consumers, the report said in part. (NAN)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Source: NAN News

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja Catholic Archdiocese, John Onaiyekan has called government and religious organisations to collaborate in boosting humanitarian works across the country.

Onaiyekan made the call in a keynote address titled The Church in the Service of Integral Human Development: The Nigerian Experience, at the Caritas Nigeria Day Celebration, on Thursday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the celebration with the theme: The Church in the Service of Integral Human Development: The Nigerian Experience, marked the 12th anniversary of Caritas humanitarian activities in the country.

Caritas activities cover Health and HIV/AIDS, Good Governance, Anti-Human Trafficking and Force Migration, Emergency Response and Humanitarian Services.

Other areas are Institutional Development and Capacity building, and Agricultural and Livelihood Interventions.

Looking forward there is need to put more effort on collaborations with government and other organisations, including religious organisations.

Caritas Nigeria has different departments in which they render humanitarian assistance to individuals, groups and society. They also have many partners, he added.

Onaiyekan also said the organisation had worked with Nigerian Government in the areas of education and health, until the civil war, when the collaboration was terminated.

It is better to collaborate than to stay apart and I think it is not too late for us to insist that we must collaborate with our government.

Once in a while, the government talk about Public Private Partnership with private business people, have they ever thought of partnership with groups like the churches and other agencies?, Onaiyekan asked.

He explained that in other countries, religious organisations were given funds to carry out humanitarian activities, adding that it was necessary for Nigeria to adopt that.

The collaboration between the church and the state must continue to grow, it is only then that we can belong to clubs of countries that are helping others.

The church need to be seen as agent of integral human development that no person should be left out.

We must continue to make our services available to everybody who ask for it. This is in line with church doctrine, he said.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of Caritas Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Uchechukwu Obodoechina said the celebration was organised to showcase what Caritas has been doing and motivate men of good will to partner with the organisation.

We all know the level of the unavailability of basic necessities to Nigerians, and the responsibility of the church that is close to the people is enormous.

That is why we feel we have a duty as a church and as men and women of the faith to build hope among those who have no hope. So Caritas is a participation of the work of the church.

The church has a responsibility for her sons and daughters, men and women of goodwill, but this job has to be systemically and professionally carried out.

That is why we work in partnership with other agencies and funding partners to realize the goals and vision of Caritas, Obodoechina said.

According to him, Caritas is working on 31 projects in 35 states, touching the lives of over seven million poor and vulnerable households in the country.

In their responses, the panelists, Dr Chichi Aniagolu-Okoye from Ford Foundation, Dr Rose Uchem of Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary and Rev. Fr. Maurice Kwairanga, also highlighted the need for corroboration to boost humanitarian works.

Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, the former Chairman of National Human Rights Commission who spoke virtually, cautioned that the collaboration between government and the church should not lead to silencing the church or compromising the word of God.

According to Odinkalu, it would be wrong for a politician to win election on the altar of rigging and come to give thanks to God for such victory in the church.

The event attracted many stakeholder, including National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Catholic Relief Services, among others. (NAN)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Ethnic Coalition for Peace, a Non-Governmental Organisation, says troops of the armed forces have shown courage and determination to wipe out those threatening the peace of Nigeria.

The coalition said this is a statement by its Convener, Mr Isiaka Gani and Co-conveners, Obi Okoro and Abdullahi Mustafa on Thursday in Abuja to commemorate the 2022 International Day of Peace.

The coalition described the ongoing military operations in various parts of the country as courageous, saying the efforts would ultimately lead to the restoration of peace in the country.

According to the statement, peace is a necessity for socio-economic development and the news coming out from the North-East is commendable.

The coalition noted that the military had been reinvigorated to sustain ongoing operations, and advised criminals, terrorists and bandits to lay down their arms and embrace peace.

The 2022 International Day of Peace should be an opportunity for deep retrospect on the advantages of having peace in a country. No country can make progress where there is crisis.

We urge criminals, terrorists and bandits to lay down arms in the interest of the country. We cannot continue to spend scarce resources to prosecute an unreasonable war.

We celebrate troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria for keeping the momentum and the positive results seen in the various theatres of operations.

As the 2023 General Election approaches, we urge Nigerians to seek every avenue for peace to reign, to enable peaceful conduct of the polls, the coalition said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

Source: NAN News

in collaboration with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), has launched a Call to Action towardending all forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Africa.

Habib stated that the call was launched during a high-level meeting by the AFLPM in New York on the margins of the 77th UN General Assembly (UNGA) with the theme: The Role of Young Women and Girls in Advancing Peace and Security: Promoting a Culture of Peace in Fragile Settings.

She added that, this Call to Action contains commitments, recommendations and request for urgent action by signatories, public i

girlsin

She listed such articles to include the October 2000 UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peaceand Security (WPS) which specifically addresses the situation of women in armed conflict,and the December 2015UNSCR on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS), among others.

She stated that the African first ladies urged member states to give youths greater voice in decision-making at the local, national, regional and international levels, and empower young women and girls with skill-sets that would accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Africanfirstladies also urged

deliberate measures toward ensuring that women, including young girls, are among the front-row occupants at the decision-making table in all state matters.

The first ladies urged states to prioritise girls education under safe environment as critical to improving the well-being of women and for their meaningful inclusion and participation in the formal sector, as well as a strategy for poverty reduction.

nsure availability of quality, accessible, affordable, resilient preventive and response services for all forms of GBV and strengthen universal health coverage systems.

platform to support these efforts for the development of women and girls in the region. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by

Source: NAN News

By Ruth Oketunde

The Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls (AEIG) has collaborated with community leaders, women and youths of Bwari Area Council, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to end sexual and gender-based violence.

Mrs Abiodun Essiet, the Executive Director, AEIG, made the commitment during an inter-phase meeting with the members of the community on Thursday, in Abuja.

She said that the meeting was aimed at enlightening the community and drafting an action plan on how to address the menace.

According to her, the meeting was important to strengthen traditional justice system on how to handle such cases, as community leaders were mostly the first point of call once there is a case.

We want to eradicate this menace in the FCT and as we are in the right step in the right direction.

That is why we gathered members and key stakeholders of the community to provide them with more knowledge on sexual and gender-based violence and how to address it.

So far, we have realised that some of them do not know much about it, some things that are categorised as sexual and gender-based violence are not regarded as such because of their cultural and religious background.

So we are here to create awareness on how cases as such can be handled and how they can refer cases to appropriate agencies, she said.

Mr Timothy Dakcoye, Acting District Head, who represented the Esu Palace, Bwari Area Council, appreciated the organisation for the sensitisation and the partnership.

He added that the knowledge gained would be shared among other community members to effectively mitigate the menace.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kayode Olaitan

Source: NAN News

By Felicia Imohimi

The Federal Government/International Fund for Agricultural Development Programme (FGN/IFAD)-Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) says it has trained 6,793 members of farmers organisations from January to August.

Dr Fatima Aliyu, National Programme Coordinator, IFAD/VCDP said this on Thursday in Abuja at the Federal Government/IFAD-VCDP Additional Financing Implementation Support Mission.

Aliyu, represented by Mr Usman Mohammed, Financial Controller of IFAD-VCDP, said the number trained representing 119 per cent achievement weremore than the annual target of 5,706.

She said that a total of 23,265 beneficiaries had been trained from inception of VCDP additional financing in 2019.

Aliyu said the overall VCDP objective was to enhance on a sustainable basis, incomes and food security of poor rural households engaged in the production, processing and marketing of rice and cassava in the programme states.

The NPC said members of the groups were trained on financial literacy.

Giving a breakdown of achievement in 2022, Aliyu said 188 cassava farmers groups consisting of 390 adult males, 320 adult females, 236 male youths and 152 female youths were trained.

She added that they were trained in Enugu and Nasarawa being VCDP new states.

A total sum of N31,340,900were deposited to pay for their matching grant support for 2022 cassava wet season production.

709 rice farmers groups consisting of 447 adult males, 301 adult females, 164 male youths and 145 female youths in the two states deposited a sum of N50,176,032 matching grant support for 2022 rice wet season production.

VCDP implementing states are nine consisting of Anambra, Benue, Ebonyi, Niger, Ogun, Taraba, Enugu, Nasarawa and Kogi, Aliyu said.

Dede Ekuoe, IFAD Nigeria Country Director, said the implementation support mission of the project done twice annually with a team of international and national experts was to access project performance against annual target.

Ekuoe said the essence of the mission was basically to accelerate project implementation.

According to her, IFAD and the Federal Government are trying to see how they can leverage resources to impact many more farmers and also to yield a deeper and more positive transformation of the livelihoods of farmers.

Implementation support mission is to help the project achieve its purpose and then to accelerate implementation of programme activities to ensure that the project is on course.

The mission go to the field, assess what is in the report, interact with farmers, stakeholders, VCDP staff in participating states to see the progress made and address the bottlenecks in terms of implementation.

Weare here to provide our technical guidance so that we can really boost the results to the full potential of VCDP, a transformative programme that has been recognised as a key tool for improving rural livelihoods,
Ekuoe said.

Also,Ms Carine Toure, Senior Procurement Specialist IFAD West and Central Africa, saidadditional finance would help Nigeria to absorb money to fast-track VCDP project and enable beneficiaries timely access to goods and services.

Toure saidIFAD and the government decided to extend VCDP projects to enablemore rural farmers in the country benefit. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Razak Owolabi

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Army team has won seven gold and two silver medals in the just concluded 2022 Armed Forces Inter-Service Sports Competition.

The Army secured the first position having won the highest number of laurels in different games of the competition.

The three services, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force competed for five sports in Basketball, Cross-Country, Taekwondo and Volleyball in men and women category but only men competed in football.

The army teams won gold medals in basket ball (female), cross-country (male and female), volley ball (male and female) and taekwondo (male and female) as well as silver medals in basket ball (male) and football (male).

Also; the Nigerian Air Force won gold medals in basket ball (male) and football (male) with three silva and four bronze medals while the Navy won four silva and five bronze medals.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Minister of Defence, retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi commended the outstanding performances displayed by the atheletes.

Represented by the Director, Army Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Mr Sunday Attach, the minister said the competition had engendered unity and comradeship among the competing services personnel.

He said the objective of fostering good working relationship between the services had been achieved notwithstanding the physical and mental fatigue that the championship might have exerted on the athletes.

I, therefore, commend all the competing athletes for the efforts they have put into winning laurels for their various Armed Services.

Specifically, I congratulate the athletes that have distinguished themselves by winning individual prizes during this sports competition.

Let me once again assure our hardworking service personnel of the commitment of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, at ensuring their welfare is adequately catered for.

Additionally, the provision of the enabling environment required for our service personnel to function effectively and professionally remains undented.

I, therefore, urge you all not to rest on your oars as you remain loyal, patriotic and committed to your oath of allegiance to defend the territorial integrity of our dear nation, Nigeria, he said.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor said the competition was designed to sharpen the physical fitness, mental alertness and skills of the military personnel essential for combat readiness in the light of current security imperatives.

Represented by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, Irabor said the competition also provided opportunity for participating teams from the three services to compete for laurels and display comraderie and team spirit.

According to him, the level of sportsmanship exhibited during this competition further gives credence to the premium placed on sports by the AFN and efforts towards enhancing the combat readiness of its personnel.

He said the armed forces had continued to evolve joint training with emphasis placed on physical training and sports in general.

It is my belief therefore, that continuity and sustainability of this level of training and competition, coupled with ongoing reequipping of the force forces will develop the required capacity to overcome the security challenges that confront us today and in the future.

Accordingly, as we draw the curtains on the 2022 Armed Forces Inter-Service Sports Competition, I will like to encourage everyone to sustain one form of sports or the other as the resultant effects are enormous.

It is on this note that I congratulate everyone that participated and particularly for those that won medals.

It is one thing to win medals and another to hold unto the medals won.

I will, therefore, encourage you to hold unto these medals as well as improve on winning more medals in subsequent competitions and games particularly at the forthcoming World Military Sports Championship in Beja, Portugal, he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Former President Goodluck Jonathan says the biggest threat to democracy is no longer the gun, but propaganda, fake news and disinformation.

Jonathan stated this in Abuja at the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation 2022 Peace Conference with the theme, Nation Building: The Role of Peaceful Elections in a Multi-Ethnic Context.

Jonathan urged young Nigerians to embrace good conduct rather than hate speech, saying those advocating for violence and orchestrating fake news were the big threats to democracy.

We must discourage this issue of hate speech and propaganda that are going on because before this time, we were always afraid of the gun as a threat to democracy.

But the biggest threat to democracy now that we know is the issue of propaganda, fake news and hate speech. Anybody that is an advocate or vanguard of this is a threat to democracy just like the gun.

So, our young people should know that we must embrace good conduct that would lead to good elections, Jonathan said.

Jonathan also advised political parties, their candidates and supporters to put the country first in their conducts towards the 2023 general elections.

I always say that, first we must have a country and state before you talk about having a president or having a governor. If you destroy the country, then where do you need a president? We dont need a president.

So, anybody that is interested in leadership at the level of the president, governor, senator etc you have the biggest stake of protecting the country.

If you know where nations are in crisis, you will not think about economy and before you know it everything will go down.

So, those who want to be president, governors and their supporters should first know that we need a nation before whoever you are supporting can emerge as a governor or president, Jonathan said.

He added that the interest of every politician should be the people first; saying those who are going into politics to make money should rather go into business.

Jonathan urged religious leaders and civil society to continue to sensitise Nigerians until the country was better.

The former president, who noted that the electoral process of the country had improved, said that with the introduction of technology it would continue to be better and faster.

The Executive Director of the foundation, Ms. Ann Iyonu, said that as the 2023 election approached, there was a compelling need now more than ever for multi-stakeholder consensus building towards ensuring credible, transparent, and peaceful elections in Nigeria.

Iyonu said that to avoid a situation where elections divide rather than strengthen nations, all stakeholders needed to make a conscious effort to embrace and promote a culture of peace, justice, equity, and fairness for all groups in the polity.

She said that the aim of the conference was to provide the avenue to examine how the Nigerian democratic space had evolved, discuss the trends and threats to an inclusive and peaceful election.

Promote the culture of tolerance among different political actors and highlight best practices for the conduct of credible and violence-free elections in Nigeria.

We also hope that at the end of the deliberations, we would have canvassed strategies toward nation-building that will consolidate our nations 23 years of democracy and sustain a culture of peaceful elections in the country, she said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Mark Longyen/Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar III, has advised Nigerian students and youths to avoid acts of violence by embracing peace for progress.

Abubakar made the call at the National Secondary Schools Security Awareness Programme organised by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College (AANDEC) on Wednesday in Abuja.

The programme was in collaboration with Office of the National Security Adviser, NDC and Ufuk Dialogue to commemorate the 2022 International Day of Peace.

The Sultan said that Nigerian society like any other society, had both good and bad people, adding that good people were more than the bad ones.

He said that mentoring young ones who are future leaders remained an important component of peace in the home and the society at large.

He urged parents to start the mentoring from home, saying that if there is peace in the home, then there will be peace outside.

So you must have peace at home first, because everything starts from home.

Your first teacher is your mother from the day you were born, when you came out. They bring you out, cut all the umbilical cord and whatever, wash you clean and dress you up.

The mother is the one handling you from the time until you start running and working, and maybe even until they die.

Your mother is your first teacher and is the most important part of the home.

If you have a good home, look for who is the mother; if you have a bad home, look for who is the mother and that is why the mothers are so important in our lives.

If you have bad children running all over the place, carrying guns, killing people, kidnapping, ransom, or whatever, look at the background, he said.

The Sultan commended the alumni association and its partners for putting the programme together with a view to addressing the future.

He urged all Nigerians to continue to work towards restoring peace, saying peace is not the absence of war.

I believe peace is the presence of justice. If there is no justice, you can not have peace, he added.

The Chairperson of Access Bank Plc, Dr Ajoditsedere Awosika, said the youths must understand that the unity of the country would affect its peace and ultimately result in progress.

Awosika urged the youths to insist on doing the right thing to ensure that peace and unity prevailed in the nation.

President of AANDEC, retired Air Cdre. Darlington Abdullahi, said the programme was put together to create awareness for various for children and students in all levels of educational system.

Abdullahi said the target of the programme was to reclaim the children from the hands of criminal groups trying to induct them into criminality.

He said the programme was also designed to inculcate discipline, loyalty, patriotic tradition in the students as well as and show them the need to do the right thing at all times.

Fevzullah Bilgin, Managing Director, Nigerian Tulip International Colleges, one of the partners in the programme, said youths remained the future of any nation.

Bilgin said that peace had become a significant topic in public discourse in recent time, adding that the position of the youth was also significant.

He said it was important to engage the youths in discussing peace and nation building, saying that conflicts could be prevented if the youths were engaged and their minds purified.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 15 secondary schools comprising nine public and six private schools in FCT were selected for the programme.

A student each from the schools made presentation on peace during the event. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

Source: NAN News

The youth, JDPC and Its partners

By Bridget Ikyado

The Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) of the Archdiocese of Abuja, has begun a skills training programme for 300 youths to make them self reliant and contribute to societal development.

Mr Josephat Abaagu, the Vice Chairman of the commission inaugurated the Youth Entrepreneurship Development and Empowerment Scheme (YEDAS) on Tuesday in Abuja, on behalf of the Chairman, Damian Dodo, SAN.

The empowerment scheme was in partnership with the Catholic Relief Services.

He said that Nigeria must invest in the youths in order to ensure a better and prosperous future.

A nation which leaves a vast majority of its youth uneducated and unskilled, risks a certain future of poverty, insecurity and high possibility of an ultimately failed state, he said.

Abaagu said that the skills training was initiated based on the realization that nation building is not the exclusive business of government, but a collective effort.

He appreciated His Grace, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Abuja Archdiocese, Rev. lgnatius Kaigama for revamping the JDPC, which is the social arm of the church.

Abaagu said the JDPC in the last two years, has provided potable drinking water in several communities through partnership with different organizations.

We have ongoing revolving loans and micro credits to youths and women in all the parishes, chaplaincies and pastoral areas in the Archdiocese.

In collaboration with INEC, we have sponsored the registration of many hitherto unregistered voters and also trained several for election monitoring duties.

We have provided assistance to IDP camps, relief materials to victims of demolition exercises and fire disaster victims.

We have also provided wheelchair to physically challenged persons and motorcycles to remote pastoral areas for evangelism, the vice chairman said.

He added that the commission has been working to fight human trafficking with support from the United States Agency for International Developments Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement.

He commended the Archbishop for ensuring that the commission realised its vision of a mega multipurpose youth center, to provide skills acquisition in different areas.

The vice chairman said the centre would impart leadership skills, mentorship and to also serve as venue for youth recreation, sports and other programmes.

This will no doubt be a game changer for the youth of the FCT, he added.

Abaagu said that at the end of the training, successful participants would be empowered by the commission

The vice chairman appreciated the Catholic Relief Services for partnering with JDPC to provide relief to just a few of the very large army of the unemployed, unskilled, uneducated, marginalized and often exploited youth of the FCT.

He said that this would make them self employed, employabie and even employers of labour in no distant future.

More than anything else, after training, they wiIl regain their self respect and the dignity God bestowed on all humans at creation.

He enjoined the youth to take the training seriously in order to win the empowerment packages earmarked for successful trainees.

In a project overview, Mr Timothy Ejeh, Programmes Director, JDPC, said the commission had since its creation in 1994, remained committed to delivering on its mandate.

He said the scheme is a two year pilot project to strengthen the skills set and financial security of vulnerable youth in the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, for enhanced livelihood.

Ejeh added that apart from providing them with access to newer and innovative alternative sources of livelihood, it would build and expand youth skills set.

Thereby making them employable, improve market access, consumption demand and supply chain linkages for vulnerable youth in the FCT.

To provide mentorship and proper career direction for over 80% of youth who pass through the scheme called YEDES.

To minimize crime among and by youths by 55% through profitable engagement, and provide access to finance through savings, grants, credit, venture capital and equity.

Some of the skills to be taught include Digital Photography and Video Editing, Website/App development, Catering and Event Planning.

Others include, Fashion Design, Poultry and Fish Farming, Graphic Design, Interior decoration, Shoe/bag Making, among others.

In his good will message, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, represented by Gabriel Ojelade, Deputy Director, Employment, in the ministry, said the Federal Government had established 27 Skills Upgrading and Vocational Training Centres nationwide.

These centres are fully equipped to train youth in over 60 specific skills and trades.

He commended the church for the initiative to empower youth with life long skills to contribute to national development.

In his remarks, the Archbishop who commissioned the scheme commended the JDCP and their partners and urged government and the private sector not to relent in assisting the youth.

He enjoined the participants to be focused and take the training seriously, so as to prosper.

Light the candle, rather than cause the darkness. All we expect right for the nation will happen by the Grace of God, if not now, then later, Kaigama prayed.

Dane Fredenburg, Deputy Country Representative, Catholic Relief Services said, for any nation to prosper, the youth, security, health and education must be taken seriously, which Nigeria is doing.

Also, Emrah Ilgen, President UFUK Dialogue Foundation said the youths were the greatest potentials of any nations and should be focused on.

He commended Nigeria for its effort to curb insecurity by empowering the youths. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

Source: NAN News

By Glory Abuh-Adejoh

The National Industrial Court on Wednesday restrained the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) from continuing the strike it embarked on Feb .14.

Delivering judgment, Justice Polycarp Hamman, held that the court determined the application based on issue two as formulated by the claimants.

The ASUU by themselves, members, agents, servants or anyone privy to them is hereby restrained from taking further step or taking any action or otherwise any strike action pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit..

The court in addition finds merit in the application for Interlocutory injunction brought by the claimants, he held.

Hamman further said that in granting an injunction, certain requirements such as existence of legal rights, balance of convenience, conduct and evidence of damages and loss needed to be met by the applicant seeking reliefs.

He also discountenanced the argument of Mr Femi Falana, SAN, counsel to ASUU, on the issue that Mr Okechukwu Wampa was not qualified to depose to the claimants affidavit.

Falana had argued in the defendants counter-affidavit that Wampas deposition was based on hearsay.

The court said that Wampa being a legal officer employed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and deployed to the Ministry of Labour and Employment as a legal adviser could depose in the issue and could offer legal advise in the matter.

He resolved the issue citing section 115 (1) (2) of Evidence Act, 2011 and section 12(2) of NICN Act,2006.

The court while addressing the issue of competency of the referral as raised by Falana, it ruled that the issue will be delved into when taking the defendants preliminary objection application and during the hearing of the substantive suit

The judge added that the balance of convenience tilted to the claimants based on paragraph 3,5,6 and 7 of their affidavit.

He said the paragraphs which cited the plight of students who ought to have graduated still in school as the result of the strike and the claimants who owns the public universities that are on strike as balance of convenience.

The court also ruled that the intellect of students who have been out of school for several months equated irreparable loss and damages were the facilities that have been dormant for months.

The court also discountenanced the argument of the defendant which submitted that the urgency of the matter was self- induced.

Falana in his submission had prayed the court for an accelerated hearing in the suit instead of granting an interlocutory injunction.

The court however differed that it was not self-induced as parties had been in negotiation all the while until the defendant declared the strike as indefinite on Aug.29.

The court therefore held that the conduct of the claimants were not reprehensible.

The court in conclusion stated that granting an injunction was at the discretion of the court, that the court however found the application meritorious on the strength of section 256 of the Constitution, section 18(1e) of the Trade Disputes Act and section 17 of the NICN proceeding, as shown by the claimants

The court made no order as to cost and added that the court will be sent back to the president of the court to be reassigned as the court ends its vacation by Sept.27.

News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that the the Minister of Labour and Employment on behalf of the Federal Government had filed the matter before the court by way of referral instrument to resolve the issue of the ongoing strike by ASUU.

Also joined as a claimant in the suit is the Minister of Education (NAN) (www.nanews.ng)

GOAA/SH

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News