By Mercy Omoike

Some vendors at the ongoing Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc annual Food and Drink Festival have lauded the group for increased business visibility of their brands following the return of the fair.

The vendors said this in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos.

Mrs Temilade Agunbiade, Founder T-Crown Food and Processing, a two-time vendor at the fair, said the platform had created more patronage and visibility for her brand.

She also lauded the company for giving back to society by promoting the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through the platform.

This is our second time as vendors at the GTCO Food and Drink festival and we are so excited to be part of the business growth venture.

This is an opportunity to enjoy the ambience provided by the GTCO Food and Drink fair platform alongside our customers.

The fair has also provided an opportunity for us to meet with investors, increase sales and gain better visibility for our business.

We witnessed increased patronage for our business following our participation in the 2019 GTCO fair and this year we hope for more reach and to take our brand global.

Thank so much GTCO for this opportunity; it is a great way of giving back to the society and we appreciate it, Agunbiade said.

On his part, Mr Edward Ikesa, the founder of Healthy Lifestyle Meals, a first time vendor at the fair, lauded the group as he hoped for more reach for his business.

We make healthy meals; we have different menus to encourage Nigerians to eat healthy.

Our expectations at the 2022 GTCO Food and Drink fair are to reach out to more people and have a wider coverage while introducing people to healthy meals.

We are so glad to be part of this years fair, GTCO has been awesome and we hope to see more of this.

The stands are all free of charge, we do not get to pay anything to display our goods and services, Ikesa said.

Another firs-time vendor, Mrs Efe Inyang, the Chief Executive Officer, Yange Yoghurt, thanked the group for impartial selection of vendors at the fair.

Inyang also expressed her hope for a wider visibility for business at this years fair.

I am so grateful that GTCO selected our business for this opportunity, it is so huge. We did not do anything but chose to bank with them.

For me and my business, it is a big deal and my expectation for the fair is to sell out the thing we brought to the fair.

I hope to be here also next year if the opportunity is granted to us. We are so grateful to the GTCO. Keep doing what you are doing.

The sale has been good even though we just came in today, this is our first time at the fair and we got a good spot.

Everything has been perfect so far, GTCO is just fantastic at promoting SMEs through this intiative, Inyang said

Also speaking, Ms Anita Nwoye, the Founder Mmaabacha, a local cuisine shop, thanked the group for the opportunity to get more investors for her business.

We provide meal services for local gatherings by serving local cuisines such as abacha, nkwobi, ugba and palmwine, among others.

It is our first time at the GTCO Food and Drink Festival and we expect wider visibility for our business through this platform.

We hope to spread our network and hopefully get investors for our business.

GTCO Food and Drink fair has impacted positively on my business and has opened more doors of opportunity for us.

I expect to broaden the scope of my business from this outing based on the contact I have started gathering, Nwoye added.

NAN reports that this years edition will run from April 30 and end on May 2, at the GTCentre, Plot 1, Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Victoria Island.

The free to attend three-day festival willfeature cooking masterclasses of cuisines chosen from all around the world and over 150 free retail stalls showcasing everything from the best of Nigerias street food to bite-sized gourmet treats and fresh farm produce from the farmers market.

The primary objective of the GTCO Food and Drink Festival is to showcase our diversity and industry as a people whilst delivering a sumptuous culinary experience to food enthusiasts across the continent.

The fair returned after a two-year break orchestrated by the COVID-19 pandemic. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Ikechukwu Iweajunwa

The youths, who started the procession from the MASSOB leaders house in Owerri, Imo, marched through the streets, carrying different placards, with inscriptions such as: Power to the Youths, Support Yahaya Bello, Youths Can Also Lead, and Yahaya Bello for the Youths, among others.

They made it clear that the only solution to Nigerias political quagmire was for power to go to the youths.

According to them, in this regard, Bello is the right fit for the position of president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Recall that Bello picked his Expression of Interest and Nomination forms at the All Progressives Congress national secretarial in Abuja on Wednesday.

Bello, who was the first to pay the N100 million required for the forms, was received by a mammoth crowd of party faithful and support groups from across the country, who had been urging him to run for office of the president.

Uwazuruike advised Nigerians and party leaders to shun zoning, saying it had no place in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

He said that his group would support Bello to become the next president of Nigeria because he had the leadership qualities to lead Nigeria effectively.

He noted that power should go to the best in the race, adding that the Kogi governor was the best for the job.

All Nigerians should rally round the youthful goveenor. Today, April 30, 2022 is all about Nigerian youths.

We are supporting Bello for this and no one else. That he has the capacity to solve the problem of insecurity and a host of others facing the nation is not in doubt.

This is a crucial time in the history of the country. We must give youths a chance, especially one that has demonstrated uncommon capacity, in the person of Yahaya Bello, he said.

Uwazuruike, who is also the founder of Biafran Independent Movement said that he does not believe in a president of Igbo extraction, insisting that the contest should be thrown open. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Felicia Imohimi

Dr Bala Muhammed, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Blueblood Veterinary Services on Saturday, called for adequate support from government, Development Partners, NGOs and individuals on animal health infrastructure and legislation.

Muhammed made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, in Abuja in commemoration of the World Veterinary Day (WVD).

The Vet surgeon said the provision of adequate legislation and animal health infrastructural would address infrastructural gap, mental and physical burden challenging veterinarians in the country.

NAN reports that WVD is commemorated annually on last Saturday of April and the theme for 2022 is Strengthening Veterinary Resilience.

Muhammed who is also the Vice-President, Governing Board of Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) said that veterinarians in the country needed proper tools and support to maintain their personal health and wellness, education, training, mentorship and collegiality.

Veterinarians in Nigeria need proper tools and support to maintain their personal health and wellness. Healthy animals require healthy advocates.

Not only veterinarians themselves but also government, NGOs and individuals need to support veterinary ventures that will ensure adequate legal framework, education, training, mentorship, and collegiality.

Veterinary resilience assures effective handling of mental and physical burdens veterinarians face in their line of duty, he said.

The CEO described the WVD as a day set aside to remember, mark and showcase the veterinary profession and practitioners contributions to the wellbeing and wellness of not only animals (their primary attention) but also man and the environment.

Muhammed said 2022 theme was aimed at reminding the global veterinary community to continue to be steadfast in holding on to one of the cardinal age-long characteristics expected of every veterinarian in the face of numerous challenges and difficult terrains.

He said that those were numerous challenge and difficult terrains veterinarians had to navigate and wade through in the course of delivering their services to the animal and human populace.

Muhammed said the 2022 WVD set to be celebrated and showcase the efforts and preparedness of the veterinary professionals across the globe including Nigeria, in addressing these problems and making the world a better place for humans.

He said veterinarians and allied professionals in the country would mark the day with series of programme and activities including workshops, seminars, among other programme and fun fare across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Muhammed said those activities are also geared towards sensitising the general public on the roles of veterinarians in providing succor to the world

The theme could not have come at a better time than now that the whole world and human race are confronted with a myriad of challenging such as socio-economic situations.

Others are insecurity, terrorism/bioterrorism, high level of outbreaks of emerging and re-emerging transboundary and zoonotic diseases, climate change with attendant environmental degradation,

Indiscriminate and largely uncontrollable animal and human movements seeking for better conditions; pastoralist-farmers crisis; animal rustling and other associated criminalities among others.

If veterinarians are supported, properly trained, equipped and positioned they can provide needed solutions in solving these societal menaces, Muhammed said.

He said the history of the WVD was dated back to 1863, when the first International Veterinary Convention (later renamed World Veterinary Convention) was held at Hamburg, Germany under the leadership of the famous Edinburgh Professor, John Gandi.

The world veterinary convention had its 1959 meeting in Madrid, Spain and gave birth to the World Veterinary Association (WVA)

In 2001 the WVA conceived the idea of having a day set aside every year to be marked as the WVD.

This years celebration is the 21st edition of this great and important day for veterinarians and allied professionals,

Muhammed said the profession in Nigeria had over the years grown from strength to strength from 1914 with Capt. Carr of the Royal Armed Forces, the first veterinary surgeon to practice in the country.

He further said that first veterinary school in Vom, in Plateau was established in 1947 and several other veterinary institutions across the country that had continued to produce veterinary and veterinary para-professionals.

The profession and professionals have made modest contributions to the growth and development of the country in several ways through the instrumentality of some of its members among others.

He commended President, Muhammadu Buhari government for engaging veterinarians in various capacities through the provision of incentives to strengthen veterinary resilience including various animal health interventions to reduce incessant clashes among pastoral-farmers.

We commend the Central Bank of Nigerias (CBN) intervention in dairy and beef cattle production, robust support and repositioning of Veterinary Research Institutions and associated bodies such as Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) and National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI).

Effective legislative frameworks including the recent Presidential assent of the Animal Diseases Control Act, 2022. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Ginika Okoye

Stakeholders in public and private sectors have committed to the effective implementation of the second National Programme of Action (NPoA) to enhance economic growth and development.

The stakeholders who spoke at the closing of a five-day workshop to finalise the NPoA document in Abuja on Friday, said a collaborative effort was needed to implement the action.

Princess Gloria Akobundu, the Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), Nigeria, said the workshop dealt with challenges identified in line with the countrys National Development Plan (NDP).

Akobundu said that participants at the workshop also looked at the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 and the AU-Agenda 2063 for smooth implementation of the NPoA in line with global best practices.

She said that some of the recommendations made were geared toward addressing security challenges and unemployment in the country.

Others recommendations are policies that would enhance economic growth, address education lapses, out of school children, public private sector partnership and infrastructure to ensure good governance.

Akobundu said the implementation of the NPoA would take place across all states in the country.

We designed a framework that will be used to implement the NPoA, addressing the challenges and consolidating on the gains, she said.

Akobundu, however, expressed optimism that President Muhammadu Buhari would launch the NPoA document between July and August for effective implementation.

Prof. Eddy Maloka, the Chief Executive Officer of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Continental Secretariat, said that the country had shown commitment in producing the document.

Maloka, represented by Mr Jean Adou, acting Director of Monitoring and Evaluation at the APRM Secretariat, said that collaborative efforts were needed in the implementation process.

Dr Louis Mandema, a member of the National Governing Council of the APRM, said that all stakeholders must remain consistent in the implementation of the NPoA until the results were achieved.

Alhaji Nuhu Laumarah, the Gombe State Coordinator of AUDA-NEPAD, Nigeria, assured that the coordinators would ensure prompt implementation of the programme in the states when launched.

Mr Kanayo Iwuchukwu, a representative of the Organised Private Sector (OPS), said the workshop had enlightened them for better understanding of the document.

Iwuchukwu pledged the commitment and collaboration of the OPS to ensure adequate implementation of the programme when launched.

Mrs Margaret Katanda, a representative of the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), said they were committed to making the NPoA, a success.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APRM was established in 2003 by the AU Heads of State and Government to foster practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable and inclusive development.

The core mandate of the APRM is a comprehensive NPoA developed to address governance challenges identified in the country.

NAN also reports that the five-day programme attracted stakeholders from across AU member states. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha
Patience Key, former Chairman, Board of Directors, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Americas (NIDOA), USA, has joined the presidential race by purchasing the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) expression of interest and nomination forms.

Key, who was speaking with a newsmen shortly after obtaining her nomination forms at the party national secretariat on Thursday in Abuja, said that she would prioritise tackling insecurity, poverty and injustice.

She was accompanied to the party secretariat by her supporters from different states.

Key said that the three agenda were in line with PRPs constitution and programmes.

Number one is peace. Why I say peace is because with the chaotic situation we see ourselves, security is basic. To be able to gain peace, we need to look at the root causes of this problem.

We need to put together structures to be able to tackle and erase poverty in our country through education, healthcare and building structures.

Key, who was the first to obtain the partys presidential nomination form, also pledged to address inequality in the country, especially gender bias facing women and marginalisation causing some parties in the country to be demanding for secession.

The third one is wealth creation. A nation that does not produce anything cannot grow.

Yes, we are the giant of Africa in terms of our population; the population alone is not going to make us what we need to be if we dont produce; if we are not industrialised, if we dont build capacity.

I believe that the number one thing is wealth creation, building the potential because Nigerian has talents.

We have great population and with our population, we do not need other country to survive. We just need to do the right thing and so on.

Key said that she decided to contest on the platform of PRP because the party had ideology and structures in the 36 states, the FCT and 777 local governments needed to win elections.

Also the way Nigerians are looking at the next election, it is no more just about party. They are looking at individuals. They are looking at what this person or group has for us.

And for the 18 political parties that we have, you see that PRP has the oldest ideology and the best identity. We have stayed on course, since inception, we have not shifted.

She said that these and many other characteristics were presently attracting many great Nigerians to the party.

Key commended Nigerians both within the country and those in the Diaspora for contributing toward the purchase of her nomination forms, said such gesture had energised her to join the race, adding nothing can stop me.

The Party National Secretary, Babatunde Ali assured all the aspirants of free, fair and credible primaries from where the partys presidential candidate would emerge.

Our circular is already out. Our guideline is already out and it is going to be by indirect voting. Delegates are going to vote and whoever wins, I can guarantee you, PRP will give it to that person.

In our party, the first principle is value and quality of human beings. It does not matter if she is a woman. If she wins she will have it.

Ali advised aspirants running on the platform of the party not to run manifestoes that were not in line with the partys documents.

The documents, according to him include its constitution, programmes and principles, which are always together.

He also advised the aspirants that the party supremacy must also be honoured at all times.

In the Constitution of PRP, the president, the governors, elected officials and others are members of the National Working Committee and the chairman of the party is the leader, he said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Dr Lazarus Gaza, House of Representatives aspirant for AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency of the APC says he is the right person with the competence and acceptability to represent his people in the Green Chamber in 2023.

Gaza said this, while addressing journalists after he obtained the N10 million APC expression of interest and nomination forms at the International Conference Centre, Abuja on Friday.

He lamented the inability of APC to win the seat since its inception, saying that did not mean the party could not win as one or two things must have been done wrongly.

And the best thing it to correct the mistake that has been made.

Its most likely the candidates that were fielded had not been the right candidates; they may not have been the popular candidates.

Perhaps, the electorate or the delegates were not happy with the candidate that was brought out to contest the election on the platform of APC.

This time around, I want to tell the whole world that Im the right candidate. I have the credentials, Im competent and I have the overall general acceptability of the electorate cutting across the two political parties not only APC but including PDP .

On his mission and vision for his constituents, Gaza said he was contesting to ensure that the four slots that were given to FCT during the 1992 and 1993, were restored to FCT.

And Im going to do it this way, Im going to bring the consensus of my colleagues; members of the National Assembly. I need to synergise with the executive like the minister of FCT, I need to get his backing.

With this synergy, I believe we will be able to do something rightly. The constitutional benefits and rights the FCT is supposed to get have not been given to us. During my tenure, these constitutional rights will be granted FCT.

I will make sure that the second tier of government is given to FCT residents. I will also ensure that at least FCT is given a ministerial slot whether its an FCT indigene or any Nigerian that is resident in FCT.

If such a person can be given a ministerial slot, then we would have made progress. I will ensure that the city itself is kept clean. The citizens are supposed to enjoy a clean city.

The need for decentralisation of development is very important. Development should be decentralised so that the rural areas can develop. Why is it that some ministries can not be moved to the area councils?

If we do that, the development in the FCT will be faster. The election is about the people and I always been with the people.

I will ensure that enabling laws are put in place that will diversify, deepen and take care of the socio-economic wellbeing of the people. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Doris Esa
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Ernest Umakhihe, has extolled the virtues of the retiring Director of Information in the ministry, Mr Theodore Ogaziechi, describing him as a good team player.

Umakhihe, who made the remarks at the celebration of the retirement and 60th birthday of Ogaziechi on Friday in Abuja, noted that the retiring directors productivity was very high.

Ogaziechi is a very good team player; he is also a sports man, with his elegant status. We have bonded very well; this is a man I cherish.

We will miss him greatly. We pray for good health and we want to assure him that this family (ministry) will continue to identify with you. Though you are retiring, you will continue to engage with us and we, with you, Umakhihe said.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Mr Funso Adebiyi, described Ogaziechi as a man of integrity, with a good heart.

He advised people to be kind to others, irrespective of the positions they held.

Director of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Ume Umoh, and his General Services counterpart, Mr James Solomon, described their retiring colleague as a man of integrity, wishing him good health and prosperity.

Also, Deputy Director of Information in the ministry, Mrs Eno Olotu, described Ogaziechi as a wonderful person, team player and career builder, who ensured that he carried everyone along in the discharge of his duties.

Responding, Ogaziechi expressed happiness for the show of love and the encomiums poured on him.

I feel honoured and elated by this kind of event held for me today, which marks my 60 years on earth as well as my retirement from service.

I am so touched. I thank God for the opportunity to meet you all. l bless your good souls for the resounding sent-off. I thank you all, he said.

He called on men to always protect women and fight for their rights, stressing without women, there would be no society.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the high point of the event was the presentation of an award of excellence to Ogaziechi by Umakhihe, presentation of gifts, cutting of the birthday cake as well as prayers for the celebrator and his family. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Mogbede

Mr Kingsley Fanwo, the immediate past Commissioner for Information in Kogi, has picked the All Progressives Congress (APC) Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to contest the House of Representatives ticket for Yagba West Federal Constituency.

Fanwo who had earlier resigned his appointment from Gov. Yahaya Bellos government, said if given the opportunity to represent the Constituency, he would do better as a lawmaker by improving the well-being of the people.

Speaking with newsmen after picking the forms on Friday, in Abuja Fanwo lauded Bello for the opportunity to learn under him.

I have learnt from the best in terms of politics, administration and humanitarian service.

I have learnt from the best and the best is Alhaji Yahaya Bello, we are all proud of him and his giant strides looking at what he has done in Kogi, he said.

According to him, Bello inherited a balkanised state that was divided and disunited but got united under his leadership, who also ensure its security.

He said that the Kogi governor had been able to put his foot down to ensure that the state was the safest in the country today.

Fanwo said the governor had also ensured the prosperity of the people of the state by implementing programmes that touched on their welfare.

You will agree with me that he is the best thing to have happened to the people of Kogi.

And thats why we are not surprised that Nigerians are calling on him to be the countrys next president.

When he becomes president, I am not saying if he becomes president, he will ensure security, he will ensure unity and he will enthrone prosperity in our nation, Fanwo said.

He said he was contesting to represent the people of Yagba Federal Constituency to improve their well-being.

He noted that the people of the constituency were blessed with the best brains in Nigeria but lacked adequate representative in the lower Chamber.

He said though the current representative of the Constituency had done some good things, there was need to do more.

He added that he was joining the race to contest the seat in 2023 elections because he could do it better, saying that he would ensureparticipatory representation.

You can not represent the people you dont know, you can not represent the people you dont even understand thechallenges they are going through.

You must know them, you must understand them before you can represent them and that is what we are bringing on board from 2023. Fanwo stressed.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Mogbede

A two-time member of the House of Representatives, Hon Ahmed Wadada says he is in the race for Nasarawa West Senatorial District to win and replace Sen. Abdullahi Adamu in the National Assembly.

Wadada said this on Friday in Abuja while speaking with newsmen after picking the All Progressives Congress (APC) Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to contest the seat in 2023.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Wadada is the current Chairman of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited.

Sen. Adamu who occupied the seat before, recently resigned after emerging as the national chairman of the APC at its March 26, National Convention.

Wadada said his chances at emerging victorious in the election was bright as a man of the people with vast political and administrative experience.

If you limit me to the private sector alone, you are not doing justice to my blessings, neither are you doing justice to my people.

I am have both public and private sector experience and the National Assembly will not be a new place to me. I was a member of the fifth and sixth assemblies.

And, my representation was well felt. I impacted as much as I could, not only to my Federal Constituency, or to my state alone, but to Nigeria as a whole, he said.

The aspirant added that given the proximity of the state to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), he would address its socio political problems of the state.

Wadada, who holds the traditional title of Sarkin Yakin Keffi Emirate, said he would also put in place enabling laws to deepen, diversify and grow the economy well-being of the people of the state.

Wadada said he was well prepared for the election since it was going to be about the people.

I have been with the people, I have always related and aligned with them, I have always associated and supported and assisted my people, so I am a man of the people.

As far as Nasarawa West Senatorial District is concerned, I am the man to beat, he stressed.

He commended the APC Adamu-led National Working Committee (NWC), saying that the partys national chairman was a political guru who knew the way and manner to get things fixed.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

The Presidency says the traditional Sallah homage to the President by the residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja returns to the Aso Rock Villa two years after lockdown to slow the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Presidents media aide, Malam Garba Shehu, confirmed this development in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

Though this is a sign of the return to normalcy as infection rates fall to their lowest, those coming on invitation are still required to wear face masks and undergo the linear COVID-19 test at the State House Conference Centre to obtain a negative test result as condition for admittance to the event.

President Muhammadu Buhari is set to receive the visitors, numbering about 100 at the New State House Banquet Hall at 3:00pm on Sallah Day (Sunday or Monday), itself to be determined by moon sighting to be announced by Islamic authorities in the country, Shehu stated.

According to the presidential aide, invited Guests for the event, will be led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammed Bello.

He said the guests include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Head of Service, the Senator and House members from the territory, leadership of the FCT Judiciary and members of the cabinet.

Others are, Service Chiefs and heads of security agencies, Muslim and Christian leaderships in the FCT, Council Chairmen, Traditional Rulers and others who received invitations as listed on the manifest. (NAN)

Source: NAN News