Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan

By Okon Okon

The Federal Government in collaboration with Bank of Agriculture on Monday in Abuja inaugurated Federal Public Service entrepreneurship programme (FPSEP) for serving and pre-retiring public officers.

The FPSEP is start-up programmetargeted at preparing prospective retirees that have three years prior to retirement for life after service by providing opportunity for them to acquire new skills.

The initiative will enable retired public servants to have new career choices after their retirement from active service.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan said FPSEP was developed out of the need to pay greater attention to the welfare of the public servants, who constituted the administrative machinery for implementing government policies and programmes.

Represent by Dr Ngozi Onwudiwe, the Permanent Secretary in her office, Yemi-Esan said some aspects of the programme would create window for those in service to earn supplementary income to improve their quality of life, enabling those retiring to cope with life after service.

In addition, the programme will contribute to the development of other sectors of the economy and by implication, increasing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.

The programme consists of two components namely: Agri-preneurship start-up scheme; and pre-retirement training and business start-up scheme.

On the other hand, the pre-retirement training and business start-up scheme is tailored towards preparing public servants for life post-service by providing opportunities for them to acquire new skills for new career choices, she said.

In her goodwill message, Dr Emem Omokaro, the Director-General, National Senior Citizen Centre (NSCC), expressed delight to be part of the programme which would be impactful to senior citizens after their retirement from the service.

Describing the participants at the programme as potential retirees, Omokaro said the centre had a lot of package for senior citizens after retirement hence such initiative should be applauded.

I wish to appreciate the HOCSF for this invitation not only to give a goodwill message but to identify and say a few things to the participants.

This is because the NSCC has the mandates to identify with challenges of older persons that are up to 60 years and above and to carter for their challenges.

In his contributions,Mr Alwan Hassan, the Managing Director, Bank of Agriculture, lauded the HOS for the initiative which would address the plights of retirees after their services to the nation.

Hassan assured the successful participants of the programme of the agencys loan to carry out their businesses without stress.

All you need to do is to get letter of recommendation from your place of work and bring to us to fill the form for the needed fund to start up you businesses. he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Cosmas Ayayi, a participant from office of HOCSF, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government and the HOS for the initiative, saying it would broaden their knowledge on the next step to take in life after retirement.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the FPSEP is the first batch of the programme which attracted 87 participants across three MDAs of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the office of the HOCSF. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Grace Yussuf

Source: NAN News

Old and new naira notes

By Ibukun Emiola

Banks across Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, opened their doors to customers to withdraw cash and transact other financial transactions in line with the directives of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that long queues were witnessed within the banking premises as customers besieged the financial institutions for transactions.

It was also observed that old notes were issued to customers, as new Naira notes was still being rationed to them.

NAN also reports that most banks operated between 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with customers taking turns accessing the banking hall to collect mostly old notes.

In several locations, long queues of customers trying to make withdrawals were recorded, with some of them expressing relief of getting their money after months of scarcity.

Bankers told NAN that the Naira supply situation was expected to gradually ease out within the week and beyond as the CBN had matched its word with action.

Some of the customers told NAN that with the withdrawal limits on both old and new Naira notes, they may be forced to face more hard times ahead.

Mr Olaniyi Olawuyi, expressed joy that banks operated during the weekend as he was able to withdraw cash, after long months.

I was at my bank for financial transactions, although, there were old notes that I withdrew from the Automated Teller Machines, (ATM) but the most joyful thing is that there was no queue at all, while the cash limit remains N10,000.

But in other places, long queues were visible as customers lined up in front of the banking hall and ATM, Olawuyi said.

Mrs Adurayemi Ojeyemi said there were queues where she had gone to withdraw, but expressed optimism that the hardship would reduce after sometimes.

I saw long queues in some other banks, but I thought things would be better than what they had been some months back.

I have been coping at this time by collecting cash from market sellers and so far that has been my way out of this present predicament, Ojeyemi said.

Mr Mayowa Olayinka said that long queues were experienced in the morning, but gradually eased out towards evening as fewer people were seen on queue at most ATM points.

Olayinka said that many people preferred to queue than pay a certain amount on every withdrawal for PoS agents.

Different banks have different withdrawal limits from N2,000 up to N20,000, but they are old notes. I still wonder why the new notes are scarce.

But it is a thing of joy that the CBN has decided to make more cash available for Nigerians, he said.

Ms Lizzy Adelaide decried situation that many banks stopped attending to customers before 4:00 pm, which was the closing hours set by the banks.

She, however, commended the innovations and ingenuity of some banks that have provided other means of attending to their customers complaints.

NAN reports that the CBN directives on weekend banking came a few weeks after the Supreme Court ruling on the case of the redesign of the notes.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Ismail Abdulaziz

Source: NAN News

By Ikenna Uwadileke

Dr Garba Abari, Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), has cautioned politicians against inciting comments capable of threatening the peace and unity of the country.

Abari spoke on Sunday in Abuja when he appeared on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Some politicians are fanning the embers of disunity through hate speech and derogative comments over the 2023 general elections.

This trend is dangerous and highly inimical to the peace and unity of the country.

The elections are over, but the language of politicians still remain toxic and intemperate. This is escalating the social tension.

It is providing room for those who do not believe in the unity of the country to go about pulling from centrifugal perspectives in order to pull down the roof, he said.

The NOA boss, however, commended those embracing constitutional means to seek redress instead of trying to push for social strife and violence.

Abari particularly urged politicians and their supporters to desist from using denigrating, offensive, hateful or inflammatory remarks.

The elections have come and gone, the elections have been lost and they have been won; there are those who are happy and there are those who are aggrieved.

Our country has provided constitutional processes to seek redress from such incidences; the laws of the land have given us opportunity to seek redress.

Politicians must realise that there is life after elections and I want the media, in its reportage, to be very sensitive to the sensibility of Nigerians, he said.

According to Abari, Nigeria must survive for anybody to actualise whatever political ambition he or she has.

He said, When we have no country, we will have no government, we will have no National Assembly members, we will have no President nor Vice President and no governor.

So, whatever it is that we are going to do, without prejudice to the right of everybody to feel the way he or she feels, please allow peace to reign.

It is a right to feel angry and also a right to feel happy but talk in such a way that the country remains peaceful, stable and secure, Abari said.

He further urged politicians not to create a situation that would lead to a breakdown of law and order through actions that are intemperate and wholesome.

We are better together; if Nigeria breaks, which country in Africa can take 200 million refugees from Nigeria?

God, in his infinite mercy, brought the Kanuri, Efik, Ijaw, Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, Tiv, Nupe, Igala, Benin and all other tribes we have in Nigeria together.

We didnt bargain to be here, God put us here, so we must be conscious of this.

God has blessed Nigeria abundantly in terms of population, expansive land mass, resources, talents. So, we must be thankful to Him through actions that will bring out these bounties for the benefit of all.

The path to greatness depends on how much we are able to respect and tolerate one another and contribute our quota to national development.

It is easy to destroy but absolutely difficult to rebuild, Abari warned. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Justina Auta

Oxfam Nigeria and Women in Information Technology and Communication (ICT), have advocated for more women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)-related fields to advance gender equity.

They made the call during an event, tagged SHESHINES, to create more awareness on gender and creativity in Abuja.

The President, Women in ICT, Ms Kemisola Bolarinwa, stressed the need to encourage the society dismantle stereotypes and long-held beliefs on perceived appropriate careers meant for women and men.

According to her, women are often more productive in every areas, hence the need to increase their presence in technology, which will increase the turnout of inventions, innovative solutions and breakthrough in sciences.

Bolarinwa cited recent breakthrough in the early detection of cancer through the early cancer detection smart brassiere by her Women in ICT team as a perfect example of how creative women in the innovation space could be.

Right now, the invention of the smart bra detects cancer.

This cancer has been a disease that has been there for a very long time but even though we have a lot of men in the sciences, they couldnt think through to solve womens problem through technological invention.

These are part of reasons why we need more women in STEM space generally, she said.

She explained that the smartbra safely detects and monitors potential cancerous cells at an early form, which will reduce death rate by 80 per cent by 2030.

Prof. Olabisi Aina, Researcher and Lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, said the National Gender Policy aims to promote gender equality, women empowerment and human rights.

Aina, who led the 2006 Gender Policy for Nigeria, added that it would also provide platforms for more sectors of the economy such as the sciences, to key into the drive for gender mainstreaming.

The National Gender Policy is an umbrella policy to which we expect that every sector, whether it is labour, environment, health and others, to key into and look at gender issues in their sectors and then draw policy guidelines in order to mainstream gender into what they do.

Women are now competing with men in the workplace and do a variety of jobs from ICT to high profile corporate work.

But in all of this, the environment of work is said for a long time to be very masculinised because men are in majority.

Now that women are entering the labour sector, we recognise the need to make that workplace comfortable for men and women to work, she said.

Also, Ms Esohe Ahior, a legal Practitioner and Head of Department, Poise Graduate Finishing Academy, highlighted the need to upscale youth in technology and innovation to advance their livelihood and enable them contribute to the economy.

Ahior revealed that through the support of OXFAM, they worked with Project Alliance Project to train girls in sectors like graphic design, reproductive health, among others to improve more participation of women in STEM fields as part of the International Womens month.

According to her, over 190 marginalised girls who have been abused and who have become early mothers, and girls the economy has set aside as not being able to do things, have benefitted from the training.

This training will help upscale girls in the technological field. Because in my organisation, women are doing more things in tech than men. Women are the lead trainers in tech, graphic designers, photographers.

It is an eye opener and shows that women are just as hungry to be in tech space like the men, and some are even surpassing the men, she said.

She added that women in STEM field have shown the strength, commitment and tenacity to even supercede societal expectations and the men in technology innovation.

NAN reports that other highlights were poetry recitations, music performances and presentations by various outstanding women and female groups. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vincent Obi

Source: NAN News

Sen. Ifeanyi Araraume says he is not contesting the Imo governorship election under the Labour Party (LP) as he still remains a bona fide All Progressive Party (APC) member.

In a statementby Uche Anyanwu, his
SA Legal and Public Affairs, Araraume described the rumour about such moves as fake and unfounded.

The attention of Senator Ifeanyi Araraume has been drawn to the mischievous and fake list of Labour Party governorship aspirants, making rounds in Sections of the Media wherein his name was published as having picked the expression of interest form to run for the office of governor in Imo state, under the Labour Party (LP).

Senator Arararaume hereby reiterates unequivocally that he is still a bonafide member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Director of Trade and Economic Affairs (South) of the APC presidential campaign council (PCC). he said.

Araraume reiterated that he is not a member of LP and has not picked or paid for any the partys nomination form.

He said that he does not intend to pick the nomination form of the LP now or later in this dispensation.

Senator Araraume is a responsible member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and does not even have the faintest idea who the Labour Party ward chairmam is in his immediate ward.

Araraume said he is not a man to shy away from what he believes in and will not approach the Governoship contest in Imo state through the back door.

He added that his intentions about the would be without ambiguity whenever he decides to throw his hat into the ring for a contest which he has the requisite qualifications and capacity.

The fake aspirants list under the Imo state Labour Party is a fabrication and the work of mischief makers, who are bent on using his name to score cheap political victory.

The 2023 Imo State governorship election will take place on Nov. 11 due to the late inauguration of incumbent Gov. Hope Uzodinma of the APC.

Uzodinma is eligible to run for re-election, but has not yet stated whether he will do so. (NAN)

Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz

DD/Website

By Bridget Ikyado

Nigerians on pilgrimage in Israel on Sunday urged their compatriots to remain positive in their hope for a better nation.

A cross-section of the 9th batch of the 2022 pilgrims gave the advice in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), while touring the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem.

The Pool of Bethesda is the place where Jesus Christ miraculously healed a paralyzed, according to Christian tradition.

The Nigerians prayed at the pool where Jesus healed the 38-year-old paralytic man, who never saw his miracle coming asking God to intervene in Nigerias economic woes.

They also committed the challenges faced by their fatherland to God for a turnaround, believing that with God all things are possible.

Mrs Caroline Adepoju, Deputy Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, said she believed strongly that Nigerias glory would be restored.

Faith, hope and love abide. I believe Nigeria will be better. Nigeria will overcome its challenges. Nigeria is a developing country and we will get there someday.

Lets be patient and stop the comparison with developed nations, they did not get there in one day.

The paralytic was patiently waiting for his turn. It even came in a way he did not expect. So let us be patient in our prayers for our country.

According to Adepoju, through prayers and proper guide, children with various exposures will also contribute their quota in Nigerias sustainable development.

Also speaking, a cleric, Rev. Simeon Aderibigbe, admonished Nigerians to stop their constant fears of failure.

According to him, people should drop their failure where they failed and move on: dare to forget about yesterdays failure.

Cultivate the habit of praying every morning and night, cultivate the habit of thanking God for everything.

Aderibigbe advised Nigerians to show mercy to people in distress, saying that Nigerians needed to appreciate God for everything.

Do not be lazy. God will bless the work of your hand. Do not put the horse before the cart, find something doing. Take steps and move on.

The clergyman also expressed his optimism that Nigeria would encounter breakthroughs and make impacts on the global arena.

The highpoint of the tour was prayers at the home of Mary, the Mother of Christ, who hailed from Bethesda, according to biblical records. (NAN) (www.nannewsnng)
BTT/SN

Edited by Silas Nwoha

Source: NAN News

By Ahmed Ubandoma

Stakeholders in the healthcare sector have agreed to the full implementation of new formulated standard curriculum for training of caregivers to the elderly in the country.

The stakeholders made this known to newsmen on Saturday the end of a 3-day Stakeholders engagement on the development of national benchmark statement and minimum standards in curriculum for training caregivers to older persons in Abuja.

The stakeholders engagement was organised by the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), UNFPA and National Primary Healthcare Development Agency.

The stakeholders expressed the need for relevant agencies, states and local governments to get involved in the project.

The Director-General, National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) Dr. Emem Omokaro said the meeting was geared towards building a concensus on the need to develop a national benchmark statement and minimum standards in curriculum for training different levels of caregivers.

Omokaro said some of the stakeholders and agencies that have statutory mandate in social and healthcare had issued their commitment towards supporting and certifying the project.

We have NBTE for certification of skills, we have NPHCDA, Nursing and Midwifery Council, WHO, Federal Ministry of Health, UNFPA and other existing care agencies; so for the past three-days we have brain stormed on the challenges of ageing and care provision in Nigeria.

We build concensus and thats the communique that all the agencies signed that theres need to develop a national benchmark statement and minimum standards in curriculum for training different levels of caregivers.

And for standardisation of care agencies and even certification of care agencies operators in Nigeria, So, what we are coming-out here with is a draft benchmark statement and minimum standards in curriculum for training this different levels of caregivers and also certifying care agency operators.

What these means is that we have to now move here to validation after having harmonised the zero draft.

It means we have to now move to states because if we say it is national, then states have make inputs, so what we have here is a zero draft.

Omokaro, therefore, assured the stakeholders that the process of validating the draft document would commence in earnest.

Now, we are going to embark on validation exercise to ensure that we capture even the voices of stakeholders consultative forum on ageing, voices of older persons and then we have input from state departments and agencies in charge of older persons, social welfare departments because these concerns everybody.

So, it is really an excitement for us in the NSCC to initiated these programmes and to have been able to strategically bring all the actors.

We are hoping that by August 2023, we will finish the validation exercise and by then we will have a guideline document for administering care to older persons in Nigeria.

We are calling on all the experts and some more because we now want to develop a standard guidelines and regulations as a policy document, she said.

The Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs, Mr Musa Bungudu said the project was critical and important to the welfare of older persons in Nigeria.

Bumgudu commended the centre for initiating the programme aimed at providing psycho-social and health support to the senior citizens in the country.

I really commend the experts for coming together to develop a training framework that we never had, infact up till, yesterday I couldnt believe the modules for the training that was developed we dont have it in Nigeria, he said.

Mrs Lilian Sule-Jiringho, the Founder of the Centre for Happy Elderly People (CHEP) said the engagement afforded her the opportunity to understand a new dynamics in caring for the elderly.

Sule-Jiringho promised to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in administering care for the elderly in her centre.

My expectations is to see that I have been able to formalised all the training I acquired here and now with the existence of NSCC, who initiated the stakeholders meeting for developing a standard curriculum for training caregivers for the past three-days; we will continue to improve our services.

When I go back, I am going use the knowledge acquired to improve on my work. So I am very happy to be part of this programme, she said.

Dr Emmanuel Osundu, the Administrator of Tender Loving Care, an NGO expressed confidence on the ability of the centre to achieve its target of formulating a unique standard procedure for managing the health and wellbeing of older persons in Nigeria.

We are here as stakeholders to develop policies and procedures on how to manage the health of the elderly. What I am going home with today is that we have achieved the purpose that is designed for us to come here.

In terms of developing policies, procedures, benchmarks on how to manage the health of the elderly in Nigeria, thats our theme and thats what we accomplished here today. he said (NAN)(www.nannews.ng).

AMU/GY

Edited by Grace Yussuf

Source: NAN News

By Justina Auta

The 2023 National Population and Housing Census is to commence on May 3, the Federal Government has confirmed.

Dr Garba Abari, a member of the Publicity and Advocacy Committee on 2023 National Population and Housing Census, confirmed this on Sunday in Abuja when he appeared on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum.

He said that the three-day exercise would commence May 3 and end on May 5 across the country.

Abari, who is the Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), explained that the census exercise would capture every person, household and structure for national planning and project execution purposes.

According to him, the change in the date was due to the postponement of the 2023 gubernatorial and state houses of assembly elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

That change by INEC made it mandatory for us to also adjust the date for the conduct of the exercise, he said.

He described the census and the 2023 elections as major national events with significant importance which had earlier been planned to hold not too far away from each other.

The census had to be put forward from the initial date of March 29 to April 2nd, now to May 3rd to 5th.

There are two things that informed the shift in date. First, in the course of our planning by the National Population Commission, it was so factored that INEC will also tinker with its own electoral timetable.

The gubernatorial election, as you are aware, had to be shifted by one week. This had a telling effect on the date of
commencement of the census.

Just like election, the Census is also a very long process, from the training, the sub-trainings, retraining leading uptill the very day of the actual house listing and numbering.

These will then be followed by the actual capture of the population.

On the level of preparedness, the NOA boss assured the nation that the National Population Commission was ready to embark on the exercise.

He described the exercise as a significant event that would aid national planning and execution of developmental projects.

He said: Most of the information that have gone out to the public about the census like the awareness creation, sensitisation, enlightenment, advocacy around the census have all been taking place.

Perhaps, not on a scale that will make us feel comfortable to say every Nigerian is now census conscious, census aware, in spite of the very significant role that it has to play in our national life.

But, clearly, the census is absolutely important because it is for development, planning, security, infrastructure development, educational, health and other demographic considerations all encapsulating in one. (NAN)
www.nannews.ng

Source: NAN News

By George Odok

A socio-political group, Us4Us Movement, has canvassed the support of the national leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for Sen. Godswill Akpabio to be become the 10th Senate President.

Convener of the group, Mr Richard Romanus, made the call during an interaction with newsmen after an extraordinary meeting of the group held on Sunday in Calabar.

Romanus said that Akpabio had made huge political sacrifices for the party; hence he should be rewarded and supported for the position of the 10th President of the Senate.

He explained that the Us4Us Movement is made up of young political enthusiasts across all political parties in Nigeria.

According to him, the group exist with the sole aim of advancing the socio-political wellbeing of young people and advocating for good governance in Nigeria.

Bearing in mind the huge sacrifices Sen. Akpabio made in the interest of the party and for stepping down his presidential ambition unconditionally for Sen. Bola Tinubu, he should be compensated.

His stepping down overwhelmingly helped in midwifing a seamless victory for Sen. Tinubu during the national convention of the APC.

Also, we are aware that Sen. Akpabio worked assiduously to deliver more than the constitutionally required 25 per cent vote to the APC in a Peoples Democratic Party controlled state like Akwa Ibom.

The leadership of Us4Us Movement hereby resolve to support and appeal for Sen. Akpabio to be elected as the Senate President of the incoming 10th Assembly.

We call on the vast majority of elected Senators to galvanize their support for the Senate Presidential ambition of Akpabio, he said.

Romanus added that in the interest of fairness and expanding the party in the South South geopolitical zone, the leadership of the APC should zone the office of the Senate President to the South-South region.

He noted that the Us4Us Movement was of strong opinion that the interest of young people, especially within the South-South geopolitical zone, would be best protected by Akpabio as Senate President.

We the members of Us4Us Movement hereby unanimously adopt and endorse Akpabio for Senate President, on the strength of his unrivalled track record of performance and commitment to the party and the people of Nigeria.

We urge other elected members of the incoming 10th Senate and the leadership of the APC to overwhelmingly support Akpabio in the spirit of fairness, credibility and competence, he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

DD/Website

From left: Dr Adesotu Adebowale,award recipent and President of Yoruba Youths Assembly (YAA) Mr Olarinde Thomas

By Kingsley Okoye

An Entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer, Sotab Continental Limited, Dr Adesote Adebowale, has won a Yoruba youths group 2022/2023 humanitarian Icon award.

The President of Yoruba Youth Assembly (YYA), Mr Olarinde Thomas, in a statement on Friday, said Adebowale was selected for the award based on his giant strides on youth empowerment in Yoruba communities.

He also disclosed that Adebowale had been inducted into YYA 2023 Hall of Fame, given his outstanding humanitarian services.

YYA is an umbrella body of Yoruba youth groups globally, with 38 affiliates in Nigeria and the Diaspora.

It is a socio-cultural youth organisation designed to champion the unity, development and emancipation of young people of Yoruba nation, both home and in Diaspora.

YYA is a body that is founded on the principle of patriotism, justice, equity and egalitarianism to actualise harmonious, indivisible and indissoluble Yoruba nation, championed by the younger generation of Yoruba in consonance with the dreams and inspiration of Yoruba founding fathers.

Thomas said final results on the list of nominees indicated that Adebowale was the most outstanding personality amongst the pool of humanitarians nominated for the award in humanitarian services and societal development per excellence.

He described him as a man with love and passion for youth empowerment, having specifically empowered and mentored many youths in real estates, providing employment in construction sector for welders, bricklayers among many other artisans and business people.

He urged the awardee to continue his selfless service of uplifting humanity globally and the Yoruba youths in particular.

Adebowale thanked the YYA for finding him worthy to receive the award, saying it would spur him to continue his humanitarian services in greater dimension, especially to the downtrodden in the society. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News