By Victor Okoye

The Chartered Institute of Educational Practitioners UK (CIEPUK) on Saturday in Abuja said no fewer than 10,000 talented youths would be discovered at its grassroots talent hunt in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the show has been scheduled to hold in July in Abuja.

Prof. Marcel Ezenwoye, the President CIEPUK, told newsmen at a news conference in Abuja that the CIEPUK talent hunt was a project designed to empower African youths gifted and talented in various entertainment sectors.

Ezenwoye explained that the show was primarily geared towards the discovery of hidden talents yet to be empowered and give hope to the helpless.

He said the show was therefore a platform and support system for such youths to actualise their dreams as well as achieve their goals.

CIEPUK talent hunt season 1 is targeted towards transformation of lives round the globe. We discover these wonderful talents and put them on the spot light for the world to see.

Not less than 10, 000 talented people are expected to be discovered and winners who emerge will be empowered with prizes and rewards.

These talents will be grouped into six different categories, spanning through various acts including singing, dancing, rapping, acting, comedy and other talents discoverable, he said.

He revealed that there were a lot of juicy prizes to be won at the end of the show with the overall winner smiling home with a mouth-watering sum of 1m, including an album recording deal and a label to work with.

He said that prizes for both the first and second runner up positions were 700,000 and 300,000, with an album recording deal as well.

He stressed that there would be other consolation prizes to be won in the various categories, adding that all the contestants would be under the mentorship and tutolage of seasoned nollywood actors and movie directors.

In addition, contestants stand a chance to premiere their album in our prestigious recording studio in Egypt.

There will also be an automatic membership award of CIEPUK Professional Certificate for all contestants.

All interested persons are invited to click on the link below and register as the portal is already open and will run until June 15 when auditions are expected to begin.

Encourage that child you notice that has some talent toregister and contest. He or she may be on their way to stardom. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Martins Abochol

Alhaji Muazu Sambo, Minister of State for Works and Housing, says there is a provision of N3bn Sukuk fund in 2022 by the Federal Government to finance the Numan- Jalingo Road in Adamawa and Taraba states.

Sambo announced this on Saturday during an inspection of federal road projects within Taraba and Adamawa states.

He gave the assurance that once the Sukuk fund was accessed within a shot time, there would be remarkable progress at the construction site.

The 103 kilometre Numan- Jalingo road is part of the MaiduguriCalabar Highway.

The section of the road that is not motorable is not acceptable for the road is the only connection between the North and South on the North Eastern axis of the country, Sambo said.

The minister said that he wouldnt blame the contractor for the slow pace of work.

According to him, it was due to the insufficient budgetary provision in the past and COVID-19 pandemic that affected the progress of work.

He, however, said that with the current improved funding provision, the contractor was expected to service its equipment and be more serious on the construction work.

He said if the company was found not to have the capacity to complete the job, government would not hesitate to terminate the contract and re-award it to a competent one.

While briefing the Minister on the progress of work on the Numan- Jalingo road, a Senior Civil Engineer at the site, MariaZirrah representing the Federal Controller of Works Adamawa,said insecurity, lack of construction materials and funding were responsible for the slow pace of work on the project.

Also, the Project Engineer of Deux Project Limited, the contractor for the Numan-Jalingo project, Frank Koshihuk who spoke on behalf of the contractor, said inflation, funding , insecurity were the major challenges on the construction work.

Koshihuk promised that as soon as the funding pattern for the rahabilation improved, the work would be completed within 8 months .

NAN reports that the ministeralso inspected the construction of Zing Yakoko-Monkin Road in Taraba during his two-day working visit.

The Numan-Jalingo road rehabilitation was awarded to Deux Project Nigeria Ltd at the cost of N11.6bn in March 2017 to be completed in July 2019.

NAN reports that the Federal Government has released N1.5bn to the contractor who has executed seven per cent of the work. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) says its harmonised regulations will be operational by June 2022.

It said it would enable the Petroleum Prospecting Licences (PPL) to be issued to 2020 marginal field awardees.

The NUPRC said the harmonised regulations would soon be forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Justice for vetting before becoming operational.

Mr Gbenga Komolafe, Commission Chief Executive (CCE), NUPRC, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja at a stakeholders engagement with print and electronic media.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 had empowered the commission to develop regulations that will give meaning and intent to the Act.

This will ensure that all bottlenecks associated with regulatory processes are eliminated or minimised towards seamless upstream petroleum operations.

Therefore, the commission in collaboration with the Presidential Steering Committee, has developed some key regulations for the upstream petroleum sector in line with Section 216 (4) of the PIA, 2021.

The commission also organised a stakeholders consultation forum from April 20, to April 22, for the input from all stakeholders in the upstream petroleum operations before the finalisation of the regulations.

The draft regulations were harmonised and also hosted on the commissions website for general review and inputs from Stakeholders.

The regulations included Conversion and Renewal (Oil Prospecting Licences and Oil Mining Leases) Regulations; Petroleum Licencing Round Regulations and Upstream Petroleum Fees and Rent Regulations.

Others were Petroleum Royalty Regulations; Domestic Gas Delivery Obligations Regulations and Petroleum Host Community (Upstream) Regulations.

The CCE while speaking with newsmen said the final reviewed regulations were expected to be completed and become operational later by the first week of June 2022.

Accordingly, the commission has incorporated into the Regulations the relevant issues of concerns raised during the working and plenary sessions to finalise the draft regulations, he said.

He said in line with the PIA 2021, it had prepared Model Licences and Leases, and delineation of 57 areas of marginal Fields awarded following the 2020 Marginal Field Bid Round.

These initiatives will facilitate issuance of petroleum prospecting Licence to the Marginal Field Awardees that formed Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) as required in the 2020 bid round guidelines.

He said it would lead to the early Field Development Plan (FDP) and oil and gas production from the awarded Marginal Fields. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Donald Ugwu

Source: NAN News

By Victor Okoye

Ifedayo Akindoju, President of Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), says their partnership with DavNotch Nigeria Ltd. has been very rewarding in terms of talents discovery and the sports grassroots development.

Akindoju told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that a lot of talents had been discovered as a result of the tournament.

He added that it had indeed given the federation a platform to assess the players.

Last year, in the first edition, we discovered a lot of talents and equally went ahead to find the right players to represent the country.

We had the World Cup of Tennis last year and that was the very first time Nigeria participated in that tourney which took place in Lithuania.

Infact, the winner of the maiden edition of the DavNotch Open was one of the top players who played in that tournament and she did extremely well.

Even though we didnt get promoted, we howeverhad a very good outing in Lithuania.

In a similar event in the wheelchair category, the winners at the DavNotch Open equally went to represent the country in the World Team Cup Wheelchair Tennis in Antalya, Turkey and had a great outing, Akindoju said.

He added that apart from the wheelchair athletes, there were a lot of junior athletes who also took part in the tournament and did well.

These young athletes are been monitored. Most of them are currently playing in Togo, while others took part in international tournaments last year after participating in the maiden edition of the DavNotch Open.

It is worthy to note that most of the international tournaments hosted in Abuja, like the J5, the Junior Category of the under-18 event and in almost all the other categories in both men and women events, were ultimately won by Nigerians.

So, the DavNotch Open has exposed a lot of our players like I said earlier. It has indeed given us that much-needed platform because without a platform you cannot have the basis to assess these players.

So, its been a very good opportunity to partner with DavNotch to ensure that this tournament happens on a yearly basis, the NTF President said.

NAN reports that the second edition of the DavNotch Open which officially began on Friday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja will end on May 14.

Initially, last year when the tournament was unveiled, the sponsor promised to bankroll the tournament for a period of at least five years.

But we are very happy that today Emmanuel Ochei, the Director at DavNotch, has further assured us of their intention to host it beyond that period, Akindoju said.

He also disclosed that the competitions singles qualifying draw has in the mens category 128 players, with the main category having a draw of 64 players.

The NTF President said the doubles main draw has 16 entries, while in the womens category, the singles qualifying draw has 64 players and the main category 32 players.

There are 16 entries for the doubles here, he said.

Akindoju added that the wheelchair singles main draw for both the men and women categories was 16 each.

NAN also reports that a total of 9.2 million Naira will be won as prize monies at the competition.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Muhyideen Jimoh and Olawale Alabi

Source: NAN News

By Fortune Abang

The Bank of Industry (BOI), has reiterated its commitment to the partnership with Dream Advantage, an NGO, to empower Nigerian youths in intellectual and entrepreneurial creative skills.

Mr Samson Paul, Chief Creativity Facilitator of Dream Advantage, who made this known in a statement on Friday, said the pilot programme was hosted by Covenant University, Ota, in Ogun State recently.

According to Paul, BOI was in partnership with Dream Advantage to train Nigerian youths on how to maximise education for intellectual product invention and economic creativity.

He said; BOI by this partnership shall sponsor Nigerian students, and youths to undergo Dream Advantage tailored creative mastery courses: Commerce by Nature creative entrepreneurship course and Mindmatics intellectual creativity course.

BOI will empower Nigerian youths to overcome illiteracy, which was the bane of underdevelopment of any society.

BOIs partnership with Dream Advantage will empower Nigerian youths to develop mastery for creative entrepreneurship, and transform them into Product Creative Entrepreneurs, rather than Money Hunter Entrepreneurs.

According to him, Mrs Mistura Johnson, leader of the BOI delegation, said the mandate of the Bank is to transform Nigerias industrial sector by the provision of financial and advisory support.

To establish large, medium, and small project, enterprises; nevertheless, BOI has a passion for the youths.

This is the reason the bank resolved to go into partnership with Dream Advantage to sponsor Nigerian students and youths to undergo courses by Dream Advantage such as Commerce by Nature Master class, and Mindmatics Master class, Johnson said.

Prof. Adebayo Abiodun, Vice-Chancellor of Covenant University, who spoke at the event, commended the organisers for the initiative, which was aimed at empowering Nigerian youths to become truly self-reliant.

Covenant University is delighted to have been selected to host this event.

I wish to appreciate the facilitators of this training, Dream Advantage, and the sponsors, BOI, for partnering with the university towards the attainment of this great vision.

I also congratulate the participants for this unique opportunity; I urge you to exploit the benefits of this training, Abiodun said.

In separate remarks, Miss Favour Ogochukwu, a participant, expressed appreciation to BOI and Dream Advantage for the programme, saying it improved her knowledge of Masterclass.

I thank BOI for this, and also the Course Instructor, Mr Samson Paul for this Masterclass; I knew what to expect, but without any doubt, this beat my expectations.

As an Engineering student, gaining mastery is a bit vague; but I can say for sure that I got clarity on quite a number of things, both in Engineering and other aspects of life, Ogochukwu said.

Meanwhile, another participant, Miss Gloria Ayeni described the programme as apt.

This class is like nothing I have ever been to before; I have been to many entrepreneurship workshops; but, this is one that has been very different and very insightful.

Paul spoke in a way I have never heard anybody speak about creativity and entrepreneurship, Ayeni said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Dream Advantage is a human capacity development organisation that seeks to activate the innate creative potential of people from all walks of life.

Paul is an author of human development books namely: Nigerian Dream, Back to Sense, God of Industry, Creative Control, Dream Vacancy, and Atomic Knowledge, all adopted as mental development textbooks for Covenant University students. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Philomina Attah

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), says it will track 550 projects in 18 states in the fourth phase of its Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Exercise (CEPTE).

The Spokesperson for ICPC, Mrs Azuka Ogugua, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, said the exercise would commence on May 9.

Ogugua said that the exercise would focus on Federal Government funded projects in Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Kaduna, Kebbi and Kano.

Others, according to her, are Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Edo, Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti State, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

She said that a total of 424 projects were tracked across 12 states in the first phase of the exercise in 2019.

ICPC spokesperson said the second phase conducted in 2020 featured 722 projects in 16 states while the third phase in 2021 featured 1,098 projects in 16 other states and FCT.

She identified the focal sectors of the fourth phase of the exercise to include the education, health, water resources, agriculture and rural development and power sector.

According to her, tracking involves investigating fraudulent procurement practices in the award of contracts for projects.

It ensures projects are executed to the specified standard, value-for-money obtained, and implementation of the projects are from inception to completion monitored.

In collaboration with critical stakeholders, there will also be recoveries on projects/contracts confirmed to have been inflated or where contractors under-performed or did not perform at all, she said.

Ogugua also said that runaway contractors were compelled to return to site to complete hitherto abandoned projects during the teacking.

She added that the exercise also compelled contracting companies to comply with all statutory regulations as well as prosecuting persons or institutions found culpable in undermining the execution of government funded projects.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that CEPTI, an initiative of the ICPC, commenced in 2019.

It ia aimed at promoting social accountability and transparency in the conception, execution and management of public funded projects as well as ensuring value-for-money in the execution of the projects.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has insisted that the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu must defend himself in court.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the president said this while responding to appeals for the release of detained IPOB leader.

NAN reports that South East traditional, religious and political leaders made the appeal during a town hall meeting with Buhari in Abakaliki, on Friday.

The meeting was the last official engagement of the president who was on a two-day working visit to Ebonyi.

I have listened carefully to the various appeals from the elders to the traditional leaders regarding wide range of options.

As I have said previously this matter remains in the full purview of the courts where it will be properly adjudicated

My worry is for our hardworking and innocent civilians, for whom life is already though and would like to earn a decent and honest living, Buhari said.

He frowned at the brutal activities of terrorists in the South-East and other parts of the country.

He reiterated the commitment of his administration to continue to protect and defend innocent citizens from those bent on causing breakdown of law and order across the country.

He also expressed concern over the worsening security situation in the region, reiterating his directive to security agencies to flush out those perpetrating violence in the land.

Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi, who appreciated the president for his visit to Ebonyi, reiterated his position for political solution to the Nnamdi Kanu dilemma.

On his presidential ambition, the governor expressed optimism that the president would support Southeast Presidency in 2023.
He, however, said it would be morally wrong for any candidate from the South-South and South- West to vie for All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket if the party agreed to zone it to the South.

Others who spoke at the event including the Chairman, South East Traditional Rulers, Eze Charles Mkpumah and the Chairman, Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), South-East, Rev. Abraham Nwali, appealed for the release of Kanu.

Edited by Uche Anunne/Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Deborah Coker

A socio-political group in Edo, Owan and Akoko-Edo Alliance, says it will mobilise N120 million in support of the presidential aspiration of former Governor of Edo, Mr Adams Oshiomhole.

The groups decision is contained in a statement issued in Benin on Friday, by its Chairman and Secretary, Sunny Ifijen and Omeiza Ogumah respectively.

The group said it voluntarily decided to support the former governor because of his capacity and the fact that he would make a difference in the polity and governance of the country.

According to the alliance, it never supported Oshiomholes senatorial ambition because it wanted him to contest for a higher office such as the President.

We have always known the capacity and ability of our comrade and hence our decision to support his ambition for higher office and not the senatorial ambition.

Oshiomholes pedigree as a former labour leader, governor and former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has adequately prepared him for the task of restructuring the change.

Indeed, the country is in dire need of a change in insecurity, social-political setting, economy and the general wellbeing of the people.

Of course, we have other capable people aspiring for the same position but Oshiomholes antecedents stand him out.

If his performance as governor of Edo doesnt say anything about him then I wonder who else is better positioned to occupy the number one political sit in the country, the group stated.

According to Owan and Akoko-Edo Alliance, Oshiomhole had proved in all offices he held, that the challenges in the country were surmountable.

That is only if we have leaders that are committed, dedicated and good managers of human and material resources.

These were the things that guided his (Oshiomhole) achievents in office as governor of Edo and also other endeavours where he excelled.

Oshiomholes popularity has not waned since leaving office unceremoniously as national chairman of the APC.

He is also a detribalised Nigerian whose friendship cut across every part of the country, the socio-political group added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ejike Obeta

Source: NAN News

By Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Ulla Mueller, the Country Representative of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) in Nigeria has
expressed determination towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) where every pregnancy will
be wanted, with zero Maternal Mortality (MM).

She made the UN bodys position known at the Strategic Stakeholders Reflection meeting on Korea International Cooperation
Agency (KOICA)-Funded project held in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the KOICA-funded project followed an agreement between UNFPA Nigeria and
the Korean agency to implement a five-year (2018 2021) plan toward f

The project is to build resilient communities through the restoration of access to basic medical and social services in conflict-affected communities.

The specific objectives of the project are to increase access to comprehensive maternal and child care, increase access to fistula care and improve capacity
for result-based data management system.

The UNFPA country representative, therefore, scored the Fund, KOICA and the Federal Government high in bringing smiles to the faces of women in Borno
through the KOICA-funded project.

She said that UNFPA, in collaboration with KOICA and support from the Borno Government, established a fistula centre in Maiduguri.

She explained that the centre was to address the problem of the more than 150,000 women living with fistula, also known as
Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF), an abnormal opening between the bladder and the vagina that results in continuous and unremitting
urinary incontinence.

Mueller, who also expressed the passion of the UN to tackle all manner of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), said more than three
million women in Nigeria are exposed to GBV.

Mr Son Sungil, the Country Director of KOICA, commended UNFPA, the Borno Government and other partners for the giant strides
in the last four years of the project.

Represented by Dr Salma Anas-Kolo, the Director, Family Health in the ministry, Ehanire said it was imperative to establish department of
family health in healthcare centres and hospitals to achieve quality care for women and children.

The minister, who reiterated Federal Governments commitment toward mitigating maternal mortality and other health challenges such
VVF, also affirmed governments continued support to Borno.

According to him, continued support to the people of Borno is part of Ministry of Healths mandate.

Ehanire asserted the achievements of the Federal Government in collaboration with KOICA and the UNFPA,and promised to do more.

He said we have clinical management of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases; we are going to support you to adopt those documents.

He identified Borno as one of the states with the highest burden of maternal mortality and assured of a new structural
approach to strengthen the healthcare system.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, affirmed the commitment of the ministry to continue to support programmes
aimed at improving healthcare and empowering women.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that KOICA serves both domestically and internationally as a development
coordination platform that is working toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Source: NAN News

Progressive Lawyers for Osinbajo (PLO) has kicked against the proposed meeting of South West Presidential aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by some leaders of the region.

The Convener of the group and a Constitutional Lawyer, Dr Kayode Ajulo, said in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, that it was a wrong motive and a wrong move.

Ajulo said that the meeting, slated for May 6, at the State House, Marina, Lagos, lacked some elements of credibility.

He agreed that the initiative was borne out of earlier call on Yoruba leaders to hold strategic conference to provide direction towards the fate of South West in the forthcoming presidential election.

He noted that it was the utmost desire of the group that such an important meeting be conveyed with a view to establish a consensus among aspirants of the APC in South West.

He, however, said it should have been designed appropriately to promote fairness with genuine intention.

This above scheduled meeting should have been a welcome development but for the following configurations which were not rightfully designed as it is ought to be.

The composition of personality invited for the meeting is a testament to our position that it is a sectional affair of the APC and not in the interest of the southwest and Nigeria, he said.

The group said that the choice of the venue in Lagos State, which is the flag House in Marina, belonged to Lagos State and associates and would not augur well.

This venue should not play host to such a meeting if it will be adjudged to be credible and fair.

The meeting, if it is in collective good of the people, should be held at a neutral location like Ibadan, Oyo State or Akure, Ondo State, he said.

He alleged that an already drafted communiqu had already been drafted based on information at its disposal, adding that it was in favour of a particular aspirant.

The constitutional Lawyer said that the document was currently in circulation among some of the invitees.

It is on this premise that we look forward to a meeting convoke by Southwest leaders of note like Chief Afe Babalola, Chief Femi Okunnu, Pa. Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Wole Olanipekun.

Others includeProf. Tunde Adeniran, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, Iba Gani Adams, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba and frontline traditional rulers in South West as well as the governors from the region, he said.

He said that the meeting as conveyed with alleged prewritten communique without the inclusion of the above mentioned notable statesmen on the list of invitees was premeditated. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News