By Hilary Akalugwu

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, has assured that the Federal Government will continue to invest hugely in education to boost the quality of teaching and learning in the country.

Adamu made the pledge in a message he sent to the 33convocation ceremony of the Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu, near Nsukka in Enugu State on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 1,611students were awarded Nigerian Certificate of Education (NCE), while 69 others got their Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) from the institution.

Adamu said that President Muhammadu Buharis administration had always given education special attention, which he said, informed the decision to upgrade teachers retirement age from 60 to 65 years.

This administration invests hugely in education to ensure quality teaching and learning.

Government has ensured that all tertiary institutions in the country received robust interventions from TetFund to boost infrastructure in institutions.

Many structures I inaugurated earlier today in this college before the convocation ceremony, attest to governments huge funding on tertiary institutionsin the country.

It is because of the regard government has for teachers as critical stakeholders in education that it upgraded teachers retirement age from 60 to 65 years, he said.

Adamu, represented byMr Chukuemeka Nwajiuba, the Minister of State for Education, urged teachers to reciprocate governments gesture by being dedicated to their duties and to be good role models to students.

Teachers are critical stakeholders in education, so they should always strive to comport themselves to dignity and respect the teaching profession deserves.

I commend the Provost of the college, Dr Pauline Ikwuegbu, for her good performance and judicious use of funds as testified to by the facilities I inaugurated today in the college.

The minister, who congratulated the students, advised them to put the knowledge they acquired to good use so as to contribute their quotas to national development.

Also speaking, Ikwuegbu, who is also the first female provost of the college, said that the convocation was meant to confer certificates on students found worthy in character and learning.

At this 33rd convocation, we conferred 1,611 graduates with NCEand 69 with PDE certificates, having been found worthy in character and in learning.

I congratulate them for successful completion of their courses and urge them to always be good ambassadors of their alma mater.

Dont see your academic attainment today as the climax but a pedestal for more academic pursuits in life.

She listed some of her achievements since assumption of office in 2018, attributing them to good working relationship between staff, students, management and the colleges governing council.

The provost expressed appreciation to the minister for finding time to witness the 33rd convocation and 40th anniversary of the college as well as the inauguration of projects completed within three years of her administration.

Some of the projects inaugurated by the minister include an administrative building, 1,000 capacity auditorium and a farm-house, where chickens, rodents and pigs would be reared.

New buildings for the school of arts, schoolof social sciences and school of languages were also inaugurated.

Prof. Paulinus Okwelle, Executive Secretary, National Commission for Colleges of Education and Mr Doifie Buokoribe, Chairman, FCE Eha-Amufu Governing Council also attended the convocation.

In their separate remarks, they commended the provost for her achievements within three years of assumption of office, urging her to keep it up.

Some of the graduands told NAN in separate interviews that they were grateful to God, who made it possible for them to graduate successfully, pledging that they would be good ambassadors of the college. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ephraims Sheyin

The dry ports would soon be completed and put to use as government intensifies efforts to broaden and diversify Nigerias economy, Emmanuel Jime, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), has said.

Jime told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that operations had begun in the Kaduna dry port while others had attained more than 80 per cent completion.

Some of the inland ports are located in Ibadan with 50,000 Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEUs), Isiala Ngwa in Abia, 50,000 TEUs, Jos, 20,000 TEUs and Dala in Kano, with 20,000 TEUs.

Others are located in Funtua, Katsina State with 10,000 TEUs, and Maiduguri with 10,000 TEUs.

The dry ports are expected to serve as a catalyst for trade stimulation and economic development by bringing shipping services to the doorstep of shippers across the nation.

They are also expected to assist in decongesting the seaports and make them more user-friendly.

Jime, while referring to the dry ports as very crucial to Nigerias economic success, expressed satisfaction with the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements towards their completion and effective take-off.

He commended the efforts of the host state governments and concessionaires towards the speedy completion of the projects, urging all stakeholders to sustain the tempo.

Jime particularly commended the Plateau government for injecting funds into the Heipang dry port and expressed confidence that it would soon come to life.

The state governments effort is mitigating the funding gap. This is encouraging and commendable, he said.

On the Ibadan dry port, Jime said that issues around the contract agreements, especially the payment of compensation, were being resolved to make way for its speedy completion.

He regretted, however, that most investors prefer areas with short-term turn around in profit making, saying that the situation had consistently created some funding challenge for the dry ports.

Jime said that the dry ports remain the remedy for the congestion in the seaports usually caused by challenges of infrastructure, articulated vehicles and persistent gridlock.

He expressed happiness with the very dramatic progress in the Dala dry port in Kano that is 80 per cent ready, while the Abuja dry port had also recorded appreciable progress.

He also thanked the Abia government for waking up to the need to play its crucial role in the development of the dry port at Isiala Ngwa, urging it to sustain the tempo.

Jime said that the NSC would continue to encourage the partnership with the states toward completing the dry ports in view of their relevance to the nations economic growth.

He also spoke on the need for an effective and efficient railway as a primary mode for long-distance haulage.

A functional railway will assist in the overall costs of cargo to hinterland locations and transit cargoes to landlocked countries, he pointed out.

He said that NSC was working toward building a robust partnership with the nations railway authorities so that all the dry ports would attain their potential when they come on stream.

The NSC boss said that the Council had been able to resolve lots of disputes among shippers, and attributed the feat to our robust complaints unit.

He said that most of the disputes bordered on financial issues like demurrage, port charges and other basic disagreements.

Jime also spoke on the Lekki Deep Seaport in Lagos.

The Lekki Deep Seaport is designed to be the first Deep Seaport in the nations maritime industry. It is a game changer.

We have always lost a lot of maritime clients to other countries. The Lekki Deep Seaport will change that. It will make Nigeria truly the hub of maritime activities.

He called for more attention to the provision of traffic infrastructure in and around Lekki Deep Seaport to avoid another Apapa there.

Jime observed that there were many huge establishments, including refineries, around the area and expressed concern that the Apapa scenario could be replicated there if effective transport infrastructure was not put in place.

He suggested a quick construction of a rail linkage to ward off possible congestion when activities begin at the Lekki Deep Seaport. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Clara Egbogota

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta says criticism by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) that the state is proliferating universities withrecent establishment of three new onesis false.

Okowa spoke at the inauguration of chairmen and members of the Governing Councils of the three new universities at Government House, Asaba.

The three Universities are the University of Delta, Agbor; Dennis Osadebey University, Asaba; and the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro.

He said the universities were established to broaden access to the teeming number of students from the state, desirous of university education.

He also said that it was to ensure that no qualified student from the state was denied admission into the University.

Let me respectfully disagree with the position of ASUU that there is an unhealthy proliferation of state universities in the country.

The establishment of universities is on the concurrent list and, as a state, we do so when the need arises.

In our case, it is to fill the gap created by shortage of space and to increase access to university education for our qualified youths, he said.

Okowa said that according to the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) 2018 report, 80,131 indigenes of the state, representing 4.85 per cent of total applicants, sat for the boards university entrance examination.

He stressed that only a fraction of those who passed could be admitted.

Also, for the 2019/2020 academic session, 25,896 candidates from the state chose Delta State University (DELSU) as first choice. Out of this number, 22,358 qualified but only 4,854 candidates could be admitted.

From the foregoing, you can see that even the state-owned DELSU has reached its full carrying capacity, hence, it is incumbent on us as an administration to broaden access to university education for our bright students.

Especially in the fields of medicine, engineering, law, ICT, and architecture, he said.

The governor said the ongoing strike by universities lecturers was nationwide and it was not a state issue.

Teachers in the states universities merely joined in the action in obedience to their unions directive, he said.

According to the governor, the state government is not in dispute with any staff union in its tertiary institutions.

The issues raised by ASUU at the national level do not pertain to us in Delta as the allowances they are asking for are already being enjoyed by staff in our tertiary institutions.

Okowa described members of the universities governing councils as men and women of proven integrity and impressive track record in the academia in public administration and the private sector.

He urged them to bring their wealth of experience to bear in the respective institutions.

As the supreme governing authority of the university, you are expected to use your expertise and experience to put these universities on the trajectory of growth, academic excellence, and national recognition.

It is incumbent on them to bring balance and disinterested judgment to policy issues, the general management of the affairs of the university as well as provide the expenditure template for the universities.

I expect the councils to lead the efforts in ensuring financial autonomy of the universities.

To do this successfully, you need to concentrate more of your efforts on marketing these institutions and sourcing help, financial and otherwise, for them, he said.

He said his administration had embarked on the construction and upgrade of 44 infrastructural projects in the three universities which were already at advanced stages of completion.

Prof. Emmanuel Nwanze, Pro-Chancellor of University of Delta, Agbor. described Okowa as a visionary leader whose impact in creation of the three new universities would be felt and appreciated in 20 years time.

He urged other Pro-Chancellors and members of the governing councils to distance themselves from the day-to-day running of the universities to eschew acrimony in the institutions.

Those inaugurated for University of Delta, Agbor, were Prof. Emmanuel Nwanze, Pro-Chancellor; Dr. Geoffrey Enita, retired Rear Admiral Peter Eluma , Prof. Ebele Egwunyenga, Dr Roland Oritsejafor, and Prof. Job Akpodiete.

Dennis Osadebey University, Asaba, has Prof. Robert Ikomi as Pro-Chancellor; Dr Christopher Onyemenam, Prof. Ezekiel Agbalagba, Prof. Peter Aloamaka, Prof. Sam Ogege, Dr Arnold Ojugo, and Mrs Vivian Nanah.

Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro has Chief Godson Echegile as Pro-Chancellor; Prof. Benedict Binebai, Prof. Arthur Ekpeko, Chief Terry Otuya, Prof. Sam Aghalino and Mrs Felicia Omatsola.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Sarafina Christopher

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has urged Nigerian government officials to ensure timely fulfillment of their commitments to the 13 million dollars e-Government project, sponsored by the Korean Government.

KOICAs Country Director Mr Sungil Son gave the advice in a statement on Friday.

The agency made the call after an interaction with government officials at a two-week pre-kick-off survey.

The survey was a pre-launch of the Project for Building Foundations Towards Digital Governance in Nigeria from 2021~2026 through collaboration between KOICA and the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy (FMCDE).

According to KOICA, the project is a fully-funded grant project worth 13 million U.S. dollars between Korea (represented by KOICA) and Nigeria (represented by the ministry).

An official project kick-off ceremony signifying the commencement of the project implementation activities is scheduled for May 2022.

The project is expected to enhance Nigerias e-Government implementation system through an update of the current Nigeria e-Government Master Plan (NeGMP), upgrade of Nigerias Enterprise Architecture, and development of 10-year e-Government Implementation Plan.

Other objectives of the project include improvement in competencies for e-Government service delivery through capacity building programmes designed for policymakers and technical officers at both the federal and state levels of government.

The project also seeks to enhance the quality of government digital services through the activation of the Government Service Portal www.services.gov.ng, to create increased access for National Identity Number (NIN) enrollment through the establishment of additional NIN enrollment units, the agency said.

The KOICA country director underscored the need for the stakeholders to remain committed to ensuring full implementation of the project in a timely manner.

He further called for the support of government at all levels towards the realisation of the objectives of the project.

The event attracted stakeholders from Sangmyung University, National Information Technology Development Agency, Galaxy Backbone, National Identity Management Commission, United Nations Childrens Education Fund, and the National Population Commission. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Angela Atabo

Connected Development (CODE), a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) has urged youths not to allow themselves to be used to heat up the polity but rather participate in politics.

Mr Hamzat Lawal, the Chief Executive Officer, CODE, also the Founder of Follow The Money made the call in Abuja.

Lawal spoke with newsmen shortly after a novelty match between Hamzy United and CODE City to mark his 35th birthday.

He urged youths to change the narrative by actively participating in politics and not sit to complain as usual.

Lawal said that the football match was used as an avenue to create the consciousness to engage the youth because football had always been a game that united people.

According to him, sometimes, even when there is conflict, or when there is a cause to celebrate, football is used because it doesnt have religion or ethnicity.

Football talks about justice, equity, and peace and for me, these are the values I stand for.

Today, I am really excited that friends, well wishers and colleagues have come together to play a football match in my honour.

However, what this also means to me, is that they are playing for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) because they are playing for what the youth represent vibrancy, energy and tenacity.

As I transition into 35 years, this will also springboard into active participation in politics and decision-making, so this is just the beginning because, as young people, we can no longer remain on the sidelines.

Lawal said that advocacy alone would no longer suffice, adding that it was time to organise, mobilise and throw complaints away.

He said that it was now time to take decisions and consolidate on various efforts of youths .

We will inaugurate movements that are political, we would shape narratives and as we go into 2023 and as football has united us as young people, we will unite Nigerian youths.

We will also unite women and people with disability and vote for equity, justice but most importantly for the SDGs.

Lawal said that it was time to streamline other activities and be more deliberate on actions and find ways so that youths would actually fill leadership spaces .

According to him, politics is not served la carte, so young people must take actions and not wait to be given.

He said that youths had the number, so they could use those number to their advantage.

Today, I have influence, power, credibility and I cannot have those and just sit down.

I will use it to mobilise and to educate other young people on the need to see that we would be leaders that would invest in the future of Nigeria, and invest in the next generation of leaders.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the novelty match ended 8-3 in favour of Hamzy United .

Highlights of the event was the presentation of medals to the players. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

An analysis by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

The past two years have seen dramatic changes in the global economy occasioned by the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic.

Indeed, the pandemic had devastating consequences on many corporate organisations, hence the need to evolve new survival strategies for profit optimisation.

2022, being a pre-election year, made it even more imperative for the egg heads in various organisations to think out of the box,to set the tone for economic activities for the year.

A handy tool for many corporates was to organise conferences/webinars, bringing experts together to brainstorm on the best way to come out of the challenges of COVID-19 and to set the tone for the year.

The conferences/webinars provided participants with a repository of information to make the right decisions in 2022.

One of the pacesetters was First Bank of Nigeria Ltd., which convened the Nigerian Economic Outlook webinar in January to reflect national and global economic trends that shaped 2021, whilst forecasting the economic outlook for 2022.

The webinar themed: Rearview look at 2021, lessons learnt Outlook 2022, with over 2,000 participants across the globe was strategically positioned at a time when investors were making decisions and forecasts for the year.

The Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Company Ltd., Mr Bismarck Rewane, keynote speaker at the webinar, stressed the need for successful implementation of the 2022 budget, broadening of the tax base and creating investment opportunities for the country to witness a decent outing in 2022.

Rewane, who spoke on 2022 Nigerian Economic Outlook, said the elimination of subsidies and lower exchange rate would free up funds for the three tiers of government.

He noted that pre-election spending would increase money supply in 2022.

Rewane scored Nigerias performance at 40 per cent in 2021, but said the economy did not perform better in 2021 due to the failure of the nations Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

He said although Nigeria spent a lot last year, there was no much impact on its economy, adding that the money spent came from borrowings as well as taxes.

There was a projected revenue of N7.99 trillion but we ended 2021 with N3.06 trillion and that is because our revenue is still largely oil dependent.

We must remember that the elections are coming and so the onus is on the Federal Government to do something fast as regards our debt.

Our total debt is currently 6.23 billion dollars, domestic debt is up by 1.62 billion dollars; this means our borrowings have continually gone up and yet we have not seen the much desired impact in our economy, Rewane said.

He listed the factors that defined the countrys performance in 2021 as inflation, oil price, oil production, external reserves, average Gross Domestic Product growth and the Naira.

Rewane noted that the first half of the year would focus on economic reforms while politics would take the centre stage ofthe second half of the year.

He stressed that pre-election spending would be positive for aggregate demand and would as well boost corporate performance.

On the exchange rate outlook he said, the CBN would likely step up efforts towards exchange rate convergence.

He also noted that political jitters would heighten foreign demand pressures in the fourth quarter of the year.

On the risk matrix in 2022, he listed policy reversal and delayed reforms, heightened social unrest spurred by high unemployment and poverty levels and financial sector crisis, among others as things to watch out for.

Pre-election spending should drive up cash in circulation and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is likely to increase foreign exchange supply to manufacturers while economic performance will be largely determined by the successful implementation of the 2022 budget.

Inflationary pressures will intensify for two to three months before abating if it coincides with the increase in foreign exchange supply.

We also expect the CBN to deplete reserves to maintain exchange rate stability and this is what I have said time and time again that the apex bank needs to step up efforts toward exchange rate convergence, he said.

The founder of RTC Advisory Services Ltd., Mr Opeyemi Agbaje, speaking at the webinar, said inflation would potentially remain a concern to Nigerian consumers in 2022.

Inflation will probably continue to be a concern for the consumer, shrinking his wallet and decreasing the cost of consumption for the consumer.

GDP growth is gradually inching up, we may finally be above the rate of population growth in terms of growth.

Trade is beginning to pick up, real estate is beginning to reach positive territory, communications and information has been strong, agriculture remains problematic and I think there is finally evidence that insecurity and disruptions of the agricultural value chain are affecting food production and prices, Agbaje said.

He noted that consumers were concerned about food supply and its prices in 2021, stressing that it would be sustained in the current year.

To the Chief Executive Officer, FirstBank, Dr Adesola Adeduntan, the webinar provided an opportunity to assess the performance of the Nigerian economy across key indices in 2021 and benefit from expert opinions on the expectations and forecast for 2022.

Adeduntan said it provided excellent insights on the key factors that would shape both the global and local economic landscape in 2022.

He noted that in 2021 global outputs rebounded and recovery was strong following improved vaccination efforts, as well as support from the monetary and fiscal authorities.

According to him, the fourth wave of COVID-19 omicron variant created some level of caution, impacting the activities of the fourth quarter of 2021 and leading to the push for booster jabs and reinstatement of COVID protocols.

To him, specific key lessons can be gleaned from the economic and related activities of 2021.

These lessons and other expected occurrences in 2022, he noted, were vital ingredients in the planning processes of the banks customers and stakeholders.

As a bank, we have a legacy of supporting the growth of businesses as the engine for economic growth and development in Nigeria and across Sub-Sahara Africa.

In line with our renewed vision to be Africas bank of first choice, FirstBank will take the lead in driving the development of the different sectors and industries within the economies where we operate to support overall economic growth and sustainability.

As a bank that is woven into the fabric of society, this webinar is further reinforcing our support and collaboration with stakeholders as we demonstrate our commitment and willingness to be the partner of first choice to our customers, he said.

Adeduntan had no doubt that participants at the webinar gained valuable insights into the global and local economic direction.

Indeed, he was emphatic that the participants understood how to strategically position their businesses and personal endeavours to harness the opportunities that would arise all through the year.

Source: NAN News

By Maureen Okon

No fewer than 301 stranded Nigerians returned home from Ukraine amidst Russia attacks on multiple fronts through Budapest.

Thisnis according to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) Twitter handles: @ NigeriaGov.

#Nigeriansinukraine https://t.co/yKnPRRwlEb stated that the evacuees boarded Flight AZM2351 with AzmanAir from Budapest, Hungary.

It stated that the evacuees arrived the Nnamdi International Airport at 8.50 p.m local time, of which the majority of the returnees are the #SumyStudents from Ukraine.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that many Nigerians and other nationals have fled Ukraine into nearby countries since Russia launched a full-scale war on its neighbour on Feb. 24.

The Nigerian government approved the release of 8.5 million dollars for the immediate evacuation of at least 5,000 Nigerians fleeing the Russian-Ukrainian conflict zone to Poland, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Getting the Apo-Karshi Road for economic, social benefit of FCT residents

By Ismail Abdulaziz

The Apo-Karshi stretch road was first awarded at the cost of N6.4 billion to Kakatar Engineering. The road project is aimed at reducing the hardship experienced daily by commuters coming into the Federal Capital City from the AYA-Nyanya-Mararaba-Keffi road in the FCT and Nasarawa State.

Work on the project stopped after the 2015 general election, but on assumption of office as FCT Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello, on May 2015, ordered the contractor back to the site to continue with the construction of the Apo-Karshi road project.

Karshi-Apo road contract was awarded to Kakatar by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) at the sum of N6, 355, 609, 124.53, on Jan. 19, 2011, but actual work commenced on March 23, 2011.

An official had revealed that:A substantial part of the road has already been completed. What is happening is that there is about 200 metres not completed because there is a hill of about 50metres high which has to be chopped off otherwise vehicles wont be able to use the road.

After the Federal Executive Council meeting on Feb. 16, 2021, the minister pledged that the Apo- Karshi road would be completed before the rainy season sets in and attributed the delay in completion of the road project to the error of design whereby a huge rock outcrops on the alignment of the road.

That had been the delay in the project seen as a legacy project by residents of FCT because it will ease the daily gridlock, improve productivity of civil servcant as well as open up new site within the territory. Many rural areas would be opened up when the project is completed.

Thousands of people who reside in Karshi, Orozo, Gidan Mangoro, Kurudu, Wasa, Kyami, Takushara, and other communities, would be direct beneficiaries of the road project.

The Coordinator of the FCT Satellite Town Development Department (STDD), Mr Francis Ogwuegbu, told NAN that happily the Apo-Karshi road construction projects fund has been paid recently, I think last week. They are on site working.

The staff of the STDD were also on the site overseeing the activities of the contractor during our visit.

In a statement a fortnightago, the contractor handling the project, Kakatar Engineering, announced that work would commence because the Federal Capital Territory Administration has reached an agreement on the various grey areas that had been encumbering the completion.

A statement by MrAzibaola Robert,Chairman/Managing Director of Kakatar Engineering, disclosed that the project would soon be completed and handed over for use by the public.

The issue relating to design has since been taken care of and being implemented on ground, while the issue of review of rates is being tackled with zeal by the authority.

It will be recalled that the Karshi Apo road project was awarded to Kakatar CE in 2011 as an addendum to the Apo Ara project at rates which were poor even at 2011.

In 2022, these rates have become even so unappealing for a contractor to make any margin, and we appreciate the Honourable Minister of the FCT, Muhammad Musa Bello, the Honourable Minister of State, Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, and the Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD) for their understanding.

It is on this note that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) authority has graciously approved the review of the rates of the project for its immediate completion. This has now given us a renewed momentum and the impetus to expedite the completion of the project without further delay.

We are, therefore, grateful for this gesture and assure Abuja residents that this road shall sooner than later be completed and handed over for their use.

Already work has commenced at the site with equipment and staff at work with the Chief Executive of the construction company leading the team himself; the hill that had been an great issue between the contractor and the FCTA had been cut through and vehicles were seen plying the road even though it was still untarred.

The road project, no doubt, would be of great benefit to Nigerians as well as improve the visibility and economic life of people in FCT and those living in the rural areas along the route.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Victor Okoye

Kano Pillars on Friday defeated Bauchi Nets 77-68 to emerge Group 3 winners in the 2022 Mark D Ball Mens basketball championship in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the result meant that Kano Pillars finished with a 100 percent win record.

They topped the eight-team Phase 1 Group 3 table with 14 points.

In this final game of the group, it all started out as a ding-dong affair at the Indoor Sports Hall of Moshood Abiola Stadium and with Kano Pillars looking eager to extend their winning run.

But it was the Bauchi Nets who were on the foot right from the jump ball as they dominated the first quarter, taking it 17-15.

However, Kano Pillars quickly bounced back into the game with more strength and vigour as they came from behind to take the second quarter 19-10 for a 34-27 half-time scoreline.

Pillars continued from where they stopped as they mounted more pressure on their opponents and extended their lead in the third quarter 24-19 for a 58-46 scoreline.

Bauchi Nets by now had their work cut out for them, but they rallied to a 22-19 win in the fourth quarter to reduce the gap.

Their late effort was however not enough as Kano Pillars held on for a 77-68 victory.

NAN reports that Bauchi Nets with eight points from seven games played finished at the bottom of the table after managing to win only one game.

In other Match Day 7 fixtures, Delta Force walloped Benue Braves 81-56 to claim second spot with 12 points.

Kada Stars with 11 points settled for the third position after suffering a heavy 107- 72 defeat to The Assist Planet (TAP).

Novena Heartlanders defeated Bayelsa Waves 61-57 to also finish with 11 points but slipped to the fourth spot by virtue of Kada Stars head-to-head superiority.

Also, Bayelsa Waves with 10 points edged out TAP (who also finished with 10 points) from the fifth and last qualification spot by virtue of the formers head-to-head superiority.

The Ogun-based TAP side had to settle for the sixth positionand will now have to wait to see if they stand a chance of making it to the round of 16 as best losers.

This was after winning three out of seven games with a goal difference of 6.

Benue Braves (-73) and Bauchi Nets (-51) with eight points finished seventh and eight respectively after managing to win only one game each.

Both sides have thus been automatically eliminated from the competition

Five teams each are expected to qualify from each of the three (eight-team) groups for the Round of 16, with the best losers completing the line-up.

Mo Heat, Gombe Bulls, Hot Coal Ballers, Nile University Spartans and APA Flames have already qualified from Phase 1 Group 1.

Also, Nigeria Customs, FCT Hardrockers, Kwara Falcons, Suleja Bulldogs and Civil Defenders are the qualified teams from Phase 1 Group 2.

They are now joined by Kano Pillars, Delta Force, Kada Stars, Novena Heartlanders and Bayelsa Waves.

Phase 1 Group 3 final standings

S/N TEAM P W L GF GA PTS GD

1. Kano Pillars 7 7 0 514 376 14 138
2. Delta Force 7 5 2 469 408 12 61
3. Kada Stars 7 4 3 472 486 11 -14
4. Novena Heartlanders 7 4 3 437 463 11 -26
5. Bayelsa Waves734 417 413 10 4
   6.The Assist Planet7 3 4 495489 10 6
6. Benue Braves 7 16 470 543 8 -73
7. Bauchi Nets 7 1 6 441 492 8 -51
   (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Angela Atabo

Say No Campaign, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) on Friday said fighting corruption through citizens participation remained crucial to achieving accountability in governance.

Convener, Say No Campaign, Ezenwa Nwagwu said this at the Close-Out ceremony of the groups Campaign Project in Abuja.

Nwagwu, said the Say No Campaign-Nigeria project presented an opportunity for its networks at the state level to intensify the anti-corruption movement in the country.

He said that this was because individuals at the local levels were most relevant in driving community development and good governance in their communities.

He, however, said that while communities were complaining about unaccountable leadership, the personal responsibility needed to hold leaders accountable was being ignored by citizens.

This he said was making some leaders to trample on their rights and privileges.

He said that in order to change the narrative, transform communities to enable government work for the people, his organisation designed an accountability movement to be driven by community members.

According to him, the aim is to influence budgets, monitor and score implementation of government projects.

The way the programme is structured is to give it back to the people, we ensure that it is not just going to be our programme.

This is because part of the challenge that we are facing is that people have outsourced the anti-corruption fight to be Muhammadu Buharis anti-corruption fight and there is nothing like that.

Even though the constitution has made it compelling for government to abolish corrupt practices, the people are the ones who suffer the brunt of the consequences of corruption.

Across our country, you will find scattered all over the place abandoned projects in communities, we started thinking about what to do and the MacArthur Foundation gave us the support.

Nwagwu said that the group took the campaign to communities, trained people and engaged them to be able to by themselves begin to see how they could deal with the challenges they face on daily basis.

We started doing this with traditional and religious leaders and went into communities, we engaged labour groups, we had lawyers network against corruption among others.

Mr James Ugochukwu, the Programme Manager, while sharing the reflection of the project said that the groups resolve to engage community members to monitor projects paid off.

Ugochukwu said that by their participation in the process of governance, they identified and articulated their needs, engaged representatives and government institutions, tracked government responses and activities in the interest of accountability.

Over the last four years, say No campaign prioritised deepening anti-corruption awareness, mobilising and harmonising citizens voices against corruption, building citizens capacity to effectively engage governance, and mobilising citizens oversight on government programmes and initiatives.

Say No Campaign inaugurated various citizens groups at grassroots and elite levels in Akwa Ibom, Borno, Enugu, Lagos, Kano, Edo and the FCT.

A representative of MacArthur Foundation, Mr Dayo Olaide , Deputy Director of the Foundation commended Say No Campaign for the work done in the last four years in communities.

Olaide said that the project was a wakeup call to Nigerians who had normalised the problems they face in communities due to failure of leaders every day.

We have become dead to the sensitivity of the issues and that is something that is playing out in our subconscious that we cannot do anything and so the approach that Say No Campaign has done is to counter that logic.

They demonstrated that indeed we can change the situation whether normalised or not, we can change it and create a new normal, what Say No Campaign has done is a project.

It is not a project that will defeat corruption in Nigeria, it is citizens movement that will defeat corruption in Nigeria and so what Say No Campaign has done is to sow a seed for that movement.

Olaide urged a stop of it does not concern me approach to life or the if it does not affect me it does not concern me way of life to begin to show more interest and be more active in changing bad situations around them.

Alhaji Abu Garba ,a traditional leader from Rimba Ebagi, Abaji, thanked Say No Campaign for the imitative, adding that it had availed participants knowledge of how to demand accountability from government.

Say No Campaign taught me how to monitor projects, so we followed the Rimba, Ebagi road project across river Gurara that was awarded because our people could not cross the river.

The contract was given for more than eight to nine years and even though all the money was paid, nothing was being done on the roads except when Say No Campaign came.

Garba called on the government to assist the community in connecting to mobile network as well as the fencing of the communitys primary healthcare centre and their primary and secondary schools. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News