By Ismaila Chafe

The Federal Government says it successfully averted over 4000 impending strike actions by industrial unions across the country through dialogue in the last seven years.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, made this known at the weekly Ministerial briefing organized by the Presidential Communications Team on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to him, dialogue remains the best tool for settling labour disputes.

We have been very proactive in handling industrial disputes.

We have conciliated about 4000 labour disputes, more than that figure I think about 4300 or so since I came into that ministry and you dont hear about that.

Once we get notice of an impending strike, we call them to come, we discuss and we resolve the matter.

Some of them are not very big unions especially in the oil and gas sector. But you dont hear about that because we are forever committed to doing what we are supposed to do.

The Ministry of Labour holistically conciliates but we dont make those ones public because an agreement is reached almost immediately and the agreement ground is easy and you wont see a strike.

Once you write to us of a pre-action, (Trade Dispute Notice) once you do that, you have exercised your right and the rest is left for us. he said.

Ngige added that the Ministry has Labour Dispute Desks and Rapid Response Teams in all the States of the federation that help in addressing industrial disputes.

According to the minister, modalities are already in the pipeline to give pay rise to civil servants especially those that enjoy peculiarity allowance, adding that the authorities are just waiting for the presidents approval to implement.

We are already addressing the envisaged challenges associated with the current high cost of living.

We are handling the issue of pay rise, some of the Ministries Departments and Agencies are doing that; even for Federal Civil Servants, there is a peculiar allowance that is envisioned for them.

The Presidential Committee on Salaries has approved it and we have sent that to the President and once he approves it, implementation will start for them.

Other people in the public service are also taking a queue, some are giving five or ten per cent pay rise,he said.

The minister further disclosed that Nigeria had completed arrangements to collaborate with the International Organization for Migration to prevent illegal migration by job seekers.

He added that efforts had been intensified to revive textile industries in the country, adding that the Central Bank of Nigeria had since put in place special funds for cotton growers.

He said that the fund was to locally source raw materials for the textile industries.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Source: NAN News

Shoreline protection of Tombia community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa

By Felicia Imohimi

The Federal Government has urged the contractor handling shoreline protection of Tombia community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa to work according to the jobs specification and fast-track the process.

The Permanent Secretary, Ecological Project Office (EPO), Shehu Ibrahim, made the call at the inspection tour of some ecological projects in Yenagoa.

Ibrahim identified the projects specification as 800 metres shoreline protection of River Nun.

He, therefore, frowned at the quality of work done so far, giving the contractor MW Global Services, three weeks to make amends and ensure the completion of the project within the time frame.

According to him, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was not carried out hence the challenge.

Mr Stanley Odenigbo, Managing Director of the company however assured the EPO boss and entire community of delivering a quality project within the stipulated time.

He attributed the setback to flood, adding that the 2022 flood ravaged the project.

According to Odenigbo, the completion of the project will safeguard the community from flood.

Meanwhile, Chief Patrick Ikpaikpai, the Community leader, has commended the Federal Government for the intervention by giving succour to the community members during raining and dry seasons.

One of the residents, Okpoffaa Julius, decried that prior to the project, flood had ravaged the community and farmlands rendering a lot of people homeless, while some non-indigenes relocated.

Since the commencement of this project in year 2022, we have been believing that God has finally answered our prayers. he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

By Funmilola Gboteku/Stellamaris Ashinze

The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) is partnering with the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology (FCFMT) to sanitise the profession against quackery.

A Senior Engineer and COREN Representative in Lagos, Mr Tomide Akinnawo, made this known during a courtesy visit to the FCFMT, Victoria Island, on Monday in Lagos.

He said that the partnership would give them the opportunity to help the institute ensure that all its engineers were certified members of COREN and not quacks.

We need to ensure that all the engineers are registered professionals; that way we are sure the students are in safe hands.

Engineering is the backbone of development in any nation. Therefore, it has to be taken seriously, he said.

Akinnawo said as members of COREN, it was essential to ensure that quackery and fraudulent practices which had been hindering engineering practice in the society were curbed.

The Provost of the FCFMT, Dr Chuks Onuoha, said that the institute was ready to collaborate with any sister agency and COREN would not be an exception.

Onuoha said that such collaboration would lead to the development of the nation.

Just as pointed out by COREN that technology or engineering is the bedrock of any development.

We look forward to a friendly relationship with your agency and also no advice from you regarding how to make our institution better would be disregarded, he said.

He also urged the council to assist in registering their students as members of COREN at a subsidised fee.

The Chairman of Nigerian Association of Technologists in Engineering (NATE), Lagos chapter, Mr Kayode Ibidapo, said that the council was willing to expose the students to more beneficial workshops and trainings about the engineering profession.

We believe that the technicians and craftsmen in your institution should also not be excluded. They need to attend trainings and workshops to upgrade themselves, Ibidapo said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that COREN is the regulatory body that governs the practice of engineering in Nigeria, while the FCFMTis a monotechnic approved by the National Board for Technical Education.

The College was originally known as the Federal School of Fisheries, established in 1969 as a vocational training institute for Nigerias in-shore fishing fleet.

It was upgraded to a technological institution in 1992.

The college offers courses in Fisheries Technology, General Science, Marine Engineering, Nautical Science and Maritime Transport. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Adeleye Ajayi

Source: NAN News

Mr Kenneth Sharpe, Chief Executive Officer, WestProp Holdings, speaking during a press conference held in Zimbabwe, on Monday. (Picture via Zoom)

By Adebola Adegoke

A leading Zimbabwean property company, WestProp Holdings has announced its official listing on the Victoria falls stock exchange.

Dr Michael Louis, Chairman of the board announced at a press conference held in Zimbabwe, on Monday that the company would formally be listed on April 29.

He said the company had received approval to list two categories of share capital namely its ordinary shares and preference shares.

It is my privilege to formally announce that on the 7th of March, the Registrar of Companies approved West Property Company Pvt Ltd., to become a public company and West Prop Holdings Ltd. was birthed and issued with its certificate of name change, he said.

Louis said the shares would accordingly be opening an offer for public subscription for the securities from March 27 to April 21, 2023.

He said the decision was in line with the National Development Strategy of ZImbabwe to achieve an empowered upper-middle income society by 2030 to chart a new transformative and inclusive development agenda.

The board thought of creative ideas to have a participatory inclusive economic model that really can help the poor and give everybody a secure future.

We are further elated to announce that we have decided to list on the victoria fall stock exchange because of the numerous benefits it holds for shareholders, including but not limited to shares trading in US Dollars, no capital gains and minimum transaction costs.

If you buy preference shares the company underwrites a minimum return of 7.5 per cent per annum on investments, he said.

Louis added that WestProps IPO is to raise 30 million dollars in capital to accelerate the development of the companys existing projects such as Pokugara Residential Estate, Millennium Heights, Pomona City, The Mall of Zimbabwe, Millennium Heights Office Park and the Hills Golf Estate.

This, he said, was in line with the companys 2050 vision of one billion bricks resulting in thousands of jobs and a total value of five billion dollars.

As we have now gone public, the board is convinced the time is now for individuals to be part of a bigger family to start investing in their long-term future and especially encourage the youth to start participating.

To this end, the board will be investing in educational literacy programmes to transform and educate the public and especially the youth regarding their responsibility of securing a generational future, he said.

Louis, the new chairman of the board acknowledged the achievements of Kenneth Sharpe, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and his team that have led the company to receive several international and national awards.

The awards included Company of the Year 2023 ( Zim land Developments and construction Awards); Property Development Company of the Year 2021. ( Property Magazine); Company of the Year National Awards 2021 (Zimbabwe Business Awards).

Others were Best Real Estate Innovative company of the year 2021 (Zim Infrastructure Investment summit);

Outstanding Property Development company 2022. (Zim CEO Network).

In his remarks, Sharpe announced that the company was offering one million ordinary shares at 10 dollars each and 5.4 million preferential redeemable convertible shares at 5 dollars each.

According to him, the preferential shares allow investors five years to decide to become ordinary shareholders during which time they will benefit from a minimum guaranteed return of 7.5 per cent per year as well as dividends from the companys profits.

This is likely to result in over 10 per cent per year being paid out which is an amount that no other listed company or bank in Zimbabwe is currently offering investors.

We have a goal of taking our company from the current annual sales of 40 million dollars to over 100 million dollars within seven years and to create a balance sheet that will exceed one billion dollars in value which is more than five times the one today.

All the shareholders will benefit from this growth. We know It is achievable and within our grasp, he said

He said the companys corporate strategy statement was to pioneer world-class, vertically-integrated, premium lifestyle communities in Zimbabwe by 2025.

It is not a coincidence that we have targeted one billion bricks if you look at our projected construction for the projects we have designed, it will take one billion bricks and five billion dollars to complete them.

Every day we are putting bricks into the ground working towards the vision where we know that within the next 27 years, we will have laid one billion bricks.

As of today, we have laid 5,298,975 bricks and we have 55, 626,972 committed bricks from our existing sales, he said.

This ensures we have smart cities encompass the live, work, shop and play model which means we provide social amenities like shopping malls, sporting facilities, creches, churches and many other recreational facilities in a safe 24 hour secure gated community, he said.

He also assured the public that the benefits of investing in the company were multi-dimensional.

According to him, the company guarantees a secure investment where someone whos investing 50 dollars will know that their money will still be there in one month, in one year and five years.

Its an alternative to the banks. Theres no cost we deduct for holding that value on behalf of the investor, and they are guaranteed that their investment is safe with us.

Once they have invested with us, the investment doesnt just stay at the 50 dollars that they invested. We give a solid return. The reason why were able to give them an expected return of over 10 per cent a year in USD is that we are highly profitable.

We are saying that together with the public, we can join hands and build Zimbabwe because the opportunity to invest with us will allow us and the public to come together, hold hands and build our country brick by brick.

We are doing this today through IPO and the listing, benefiting yourself in becoming a shareholder with us, you are joining hands in owning the assets that we own, he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chioma Ugboma

Source: NAN News

By Isaac Aregbesola

Participants at the International Women Conference have urged the President-elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu, to promote more laws, policies and special budgets targeting women and institutions that advance the cause of women.

They made the call at the first International Women Conference, with the theme Equity versus Equality, Redefining Gender Roles, organised by Arise Monilisa Foundation (AMF) in Abuja on Monday.

The conference was convoked to celebrate women, especially those that excelled in the male dominated sector.

Zik Okafor, a former National President of Asscoaition of Film Producers, Nigeria, who was a key speaker at the conference, stressed the need for women to be given opportunity to have their voices in the society.

The Chief Executive Officer of Zulu Film noted with concern that women had not been allowed to occupy their rightful places in the political space in Nigeria.

He said that out of 192 countries Nigeria is number 184 in terms of women participation in politics, it is not a good story.

From 1999 till date, only 157 women have been elected into the National Assembly in Nigeria, 38 Senators and 119 members of House of Representatives, compare to 2,657 men elected, 616 Senators and 2041 House of Representatives members.

I think government needs incisive mind set, bold action and commitment, they need to promote more laws, policies, special budgets targeting women and institutions that advance the cause of women.

According to him, there should also be deliberate and conscious efforts from the government to seriously put an end to gender based violence, secure equal access to quality education, health, economic resources and importantly participation in politics.

I have no doubt that women are ultra-commitment agents of change and they hold a brand new hope for the world, he said.

Speaking in the same vein, Monalisa Chinda, the Founder of AMF, said women and youths should be given the chance and the leverage to participate in all sectors including politics.

They should be given that chance to play their role by the incoming government to contribute their own quotas to the development of the country.

I think it is time to give women space to be what they are meant to be, she said.

While noting with concern that women were not encouraged by their male counterparts to thrive politically, she called on men to support women to occupy rightful political seats in the country.

She also challenged the women to become mentors that change the narrative for female folks everywhere.

Women must start from henceforth to become the biggest supporters, fans, Trust-anchor, mentors and financiers of their fellow women, she said.

Also in her submission, Alex Okoroji, an actress and author, stressed the need to fill the existing gender gaps in our society.

The gender gaps should be filled to enhance development in the country and the best way to fill the gap is to bring up women to fill their rightful place in the society.

By bringing more women into discussion. By acknowledging women contribution to development in the society, I think there also need to be better presentations.

People need to be more aware of women achievement in the society, media can play a crucial role in bringing the women folk to the limelight, how women are represented in the society, she said.

According to her, there is the need to encourage more women in the areas of leadership, governance and politics.

I believe that there are not enough laws that support women ideas.

Because a lot of the laws were made by men and when you have more men as lawmakers than women, not enough women representative, how do we create laws that will be in favour of women?

So, we need to have more female lawmakers, and have them in politics and governance, then we can have our voices represented and raise issues that women care about, she said. (NAN)

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Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Source: NAN News

L-R: Dr Ajibola Abayomi, President of the Journalists International Forum For Migration (JIFORM), Gerald Wolf, Deputy Consul General, German Embassy, Lagos, and Mrs Yemisi Izuora, the Publisher of Oriental Nigeria News during a visit of the JIFORM to the embassy.

By Ibironke Ariyo
The Journalists International Forum For Migration (JIFORM) and the German Embassy in Nigeria will be partnering on a training programme for journalists on migration and economic issues.

Dr Ajibola Abayomi, JIFORM President, in a statement said that his team was received by Mr Gerald Wolf, the Deputy Consul General and Elle Ogunsanya, the programme Coordinator at the Lagos consulate of the embassy.

Abayomi said that the JIFORM delegation had requested for collaboration on the training of journalists on migration matters.

He urged the embassy to work with the JIFORM to further drive the campaign against irregular migration, human trafficking and other migration menaces.

According to him, while we agree that migration is not a crime, the message must be clear that it must not be abused by anyone due to inadequate information on the choice they make.

We are appalled by the cases of repatriation of thousands of migrants from Germany and other countries involving Nigerians.

We are convinced that we can do better with quality information for the purpose of enlightening the public and this can be achieved with capacity building for media practitioners to engage stakeholders on the way out.

Journalists also need to be exposed to better management of migrant information geared towards economic development for the good of all, he said.

Abayomi emphasised that JIFORM was open to collaboration with various institutions to ensure that migrant matters from the point of safe, regular and orderly migration become a win-win situation for all countries.

On this, we seek your support to continue to empower journalists in Nigeria as we look forward to having the second edition of the JIFORM intercontinental migration summit hosted in Germany later this year, he said.

Responding, Wolf said his office would welcome a proposal to actualise a workshop for journalists and take steps to ensure its success when approved.

Wolf also said that the German government had a series of opportunities for skilled and qualified migrants from Nigeria, especially in education and those who are qualified teachers.

The Deputy Consul wished the JIFORM well on its desire to stage a migration summit in Germany.

He said his office was looking forward to also liaising with other German organisations in Nigeria to be part of interaction with the media during the proposed training programme.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that JIFORM, founded in 2019 in Lagos, comprises over 300 journalists covering migration across the continents.

NAN reports that the body has facilitated a series of local and international capacity building and training programmes for journalists and other stakeholders over the years. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vincent Obi

Source: NAN News

Gov. Abiodun during his condolence visit to the family of late Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya

By Oladapo Udom

The Governor of Ogun State, Mr Dapo Abiodun, on Monday said that the state would take over the burial of Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya, to give him a befitting farewell.

Abiodun said this during his condolence visit to the family at the late Diyas residence at Adekunle Fajuyi St., GRA, Ikeja, Lagos State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lt.-Gen. Diya died on March 26 at the age of 79.

The governor said that Diya was a former governor of Ogun State in 1984 and was an illustrious son of the state, in whom they were specially very pleased.

His contribution to the state will be remembered for many years to come.

The least we can do to honour him and support the family is to take over and give him a befitting farewell and that is what we are going to do.

A committee will be set up that will comprise members of our cabinet and members of the family, to ensure that we give our departed son a befitting burial, he said.

Abiodun said that one of the lessons that could be learnt from the life and times of Diya was to absolutely put your trust and faith in God.

I learnt that when God is with you, and when your trust and faith is in God, man can sentence you but God will uphold you.

A sentence was pronounced on Diyas life but God upheld him and he lived for many more years after that sentence.

So, for me, that is one of the take aways that I will remember from the life and times of Lt.-Gen. Diya, who we are going to immensely miss, he said.

The governor said that Diya was a soldier, a lawyer and a gentleman, who rose to the peak of his career by becoming the Chief of Staff at the Supreme Headquarters.

He also became the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Div, he was the Commandant of the Nigerian War College, after which he became the defacto vice-president of Nigeria.

His philanthropic intelligence and community involvement is such that we can not write the history of Ogun State without remembering him particularly or where he comes from , which is Odogbolu LGA.

All of us in Ogun State will forever be grateful to the impactful life that he has lived, Abiodun said.

He offered his deep condolences to Diyas family on behalf of the entire people and government of Ogun State.

Our prayer to the almighty God is to forgive his sins and grant recourse of his soul.

We pray that the Almighty God will give his wife, Mrs Josephine Diya, the children and entire members of the family the heart to bear the loss, Abiodun said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Omowole

Source: NAN News

By Jacinta Nwachukwu

A member of Frederal House of Representative, Rep. Olubukola Oyewo has facilitated a capacity building workshop for mathematics teachers in his constituency to enhance the teaching and learning of mathematics.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview at the five days workshop in Abuja Oyewo, member representing Irepodun/Olorunda/Orolu/ Osogbo Federal Constituency, Osun said the training was borne out of his passion for mathematics.

I am facilitating the ongoing capacity building workshop for mathematics teachers in my constituency because of my passion for mathematics.

The abysmal performance of students in mathematics from my constituency also prompted this training programme, he said.

He, however, said that paucity of fund prevented many mathematics teachers from the constituency from participating, hence the few participants.

It is however unfortunate that paucity of fund is a limitation to the number of participants proposed to be trained.

He, therefore, said that the few participants would hopefully make up for the training by being trainners to other mathematics teachers in the constituency.

Dr Olatunji Jekayinfa, a Research Fellow, National Mathematical Centre (NMC) said the teachers were trained on the effective methods of teaching mathematics for quality learning among the students.

He said after the programme, the teachers would acquire effective methods of teaching mathematics and impact same on the students to enable them perform better in examinations.

One of the major mandates of National Mathematical Centre is to organise trainings that culminate in quality and effective teaching and learning of mathematics.

So what we are here for is to make sure that the teaching and learning of mathematics is simplified; thereby endearing the subject to the students.

Because there are many problems associated with mathematics ranging from students poor perception of the subject as hard and difficult to teachers adoption of poor teaching methodology.

He said that a training like this could not have come at a better time than this.

Jekayinfa, while commending Oyewo for the programme, urged other spirited Nigerians to contribute their quota towards retraining of teachers for efficiency and effectiveness in teaching and learning in schools.

Mr Jare Tiamiyu, a Mathematics Teacher at Al Bin Islamic College, Irepodun Local Government Area, Osun said with the training, he had learnt how to combine learning and play to keep the students attention.

There are some things both teachers and students consider as mystery; mathematics is believed to be hard because of all these mysteries.

This training we are having will really help us on how to combine learning and play, students will learn more when the teaching is more of fun, something that will keep their attention and boost their interest.

He said this new approach of teaching would go a long way in changing the poor perception about mathematics.

Mr Michael Leshi, another Mathematics Teacher at Divine Favour Model School, Olorunda Local Government Area, while appreciating the facilitator of the training said that quality training of this nature was not easy to come by.

Leshi noted that the Rep. member had been helpful in the areas of education and infrastructure development within the constituency.

Facilitating this capacity building workshop for mathematics teachers will go a long way in helping both the teachers and students towards effective performance, he added.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Grace Yussuf

Source: NAN News

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige handing over two documents - Convention 1975(143)

Wildlife conservation

By Christian Njoku

Nigeria and Cameroon are planning to establish a world heritage site for the protection of endangered species such as gorillas, chimpanzees, lions and elephants native to both countries.

Dr. Inaoyom Imong, Director, Cross River Landscape for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), disclosed this on Monday in Calabar, at a workshop on Watershed Protection for Safe Sustainable Water Supply.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) aims to educate Nigerians on the need to protect its wildlife.

According to Imong, rare species indigenous to both countries are very few in their numbers in the whole of Africa, hence the need to protect them through the establishment of the site.

He said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), would soon be signed by the Presidents of the countries, adding that the site would help both nations achieve joint conservation goals.

The World Heritage Site will strengthen trans-boundary efforts between Nigeria and Cameroon which will make conservation more effective and reduce cost.

When the MoU is signed by the two presidents very soon, it will bring about many more benefits, including joint patrols and regular trans-boundary workshops between Nigeria and Cameroon, he said.

Imong appealed for the strengthening and enforcement of laws against attacks on wildlife and incessant infiltration into protected forests.

He also called for support for prosecution of violators as well as creation of code of conduct for forest rangers.

He further said that WCS recently had a workshop for officials of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, (NESREA) and Nigeria Customs Service in Calabar in that regard.

The workshop became necessary to keep relevant agencies abreast with the international dimensions which wildlife trade has assumed, including methodologies to tackle them.

We are also providing livelihood support for local communities in the forest areas to stem widespread poverty, and also dissuade them from invading protected areas for food, he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Benson Ezugwu/Ejike Obeta

Source: NAN News