By Patience Omoha

The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has submitted a draft National Biosecurity policy to the Federal Executive Council (FEC), for consideration and approval.

Dr Rufus Ebegba, the Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, disclosed this, on Friday, in Abuja, in a statement signed by Gloria Ogbaki, NBMA Head of Press and Protocol Unit.

Ebegba noted that the agency was also carrying out expert reviews of other regulatory instruments and possible validation of guidelines on Genetically Modified (GM) Fish, tree, birds, animals and mosquitoes.

The NBMA will continue to ensure that her mandate is delivered and process Biosafety applications, nationwide survey and tracking of GMOs and inspection of GMO farms, companies and Research Institutes.

As well as risk management plan and strategy development for protecting human and animal health, and the environment.

Template development for Risk assessment, Establishment of a NBMA Data Centre and Integrated Monitoring System, participation in UN COP-MOP, among others, he explained.

He highlighted the achievements of the agency in 2020 to include, creation of the department of Biosecurity and organizing, a national stakeholders consultative meeting and drafting of a National Biosecurity Policy.

The director general, however, lamented that in spite of its relative successes, the agency was bedeviled by some challenges that include lack of a befitting office space for the agencys national headquarters, poor funding, among others.

He requested the Senate committee to assist and collaborate with the agency in finding solutions to the challenges.

The Chairman senate committee on Environment, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu commended the NBMA for its efforts in securing the health of Nigerians and the environment, despite the poor funding of the agency.

Ekweremadu promised that the needs of the agency would be adequately met as the committee was prepared to work with the agency to ensure the achievement of its mandate of facilitating the safety of human health and the environment. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Investment experts on Friday urged commercial banks and financial institutions to support investment clubs to curb ponzi schemes in the country.

They gave the advice at The Green Investment Club (TGIC) media parley in Lagos with the theme: The Money Moves of Todays Young Nigerian.

TGIC Founder, Mrs Tomie Balogun, said that investment economic fallout from events such as global market crash, economic recession and the COVID-19 pandemic made young Nigerians to fall for ponzi schemes.

Balogun said that the economic situation and high incidence of these fraudulent schemes showed a dire need for financial education.

According to her, TGIC works to bridge the gap in financial literacy among the youth in Nigeria through its products and services.

She said that the club, from 35 members at inception to over 1,700 members in three years, was targeting 10,000 members in the next five years.

Our five-year vision is to help at least 10,000 individuals be financially educated and provide investment advisory services to them.

We expect this to increase saving deposits in financial institutions. The deposits will be mobilised toward investing in small businesses in the economy.

When these businesses are supported, they will provide employment to more people and reduce unemployment figures by at least 20 percent, Balogun said.

She said that the club had successfully mobilised million for multiple projects that created jobs and contributed to economic growth in Nigeria.

Balogun said the club had sourced direct investment opportunities in the capital market, agro-processing, consumer lending, logistics, FinTech and real estate development sectors in Nigeria, UK and USA.

Speaking on investment challenges, she called on the government to unify the countrys exchange rate to reduce production cost.

Balogun said that multiple exchange rates drive arbitrary charges, cost of production and hike in prices of goods and services.

Government should support SMEs and the manufacturing sector to grow output in order to boost the Gross Domestic Product, she said.

She noted that the COVID-19 pandemic, in spite of the challenges, came with a lot of investment opportunities for smart investors.

Also, Mrs Oladunni Olawuyi, Chief Operating Officer, Apel Asset Ltd., said that financial institutions should support investment clubs to boost investment education.

Olawuyi said that investment clubs help to sanitise the economy of ponzi schemes, promote financial literacy and investment diversification across different economies.

She also stressed the need for an enhanced investment for a better future.

Mr Osazuwa Osayi, co-founder Farmforte Ltd., said that investment remained the key for financial freedom.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the TGIC, at the event, unveiled its three-year report.

The club, in the report, said that macroeconomic environment in Nigeria in the second quarter of 2021 would remain tight.

It said that government earnings from the sale of its major export, crude oil, would be subdued despite the increase in Nigerias production quota at OPECs last meeting.

This, we believe, will bring tighter restrictions on foreign exchange in Q2, thereby pushing up inflation and widening the disparity in the different segments of the foreign exchange market, said the report in part. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ifeanyi Nwoko

Ms World United Nations, Queen Hadassah Allaputa, has launched a new family pageant aimed at improving humanitarian services and contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The pageant launched in Abuja on Friday and tagged United Nations Pageants Nigeria will draw participants from the six geo-political zones to jostle for eight titles.

Briefing newsmen at the launch of the pageant, Allaputa said that the pageant was different from the regular ones and would focus more on training and development of participants for the betterment of their communities.

The beauty queen said that in stead of having only one winner who would fade out at the end of her one-year reign, the new pageant would have eight winners who would hold their titles and perform their roles for life.

Today is the official launch of the United Nations Pageants Nigeria, the biggest family pageants, the biggest ever in Nigeria because of its size and the number of pageants under it.

We would be having eight categories of contestants from different age groups and genders; this complete family pageant will have contestants for eight titles.

They will be trained, equipped and empowered to become kings and queens, princes and princesses of the United Nations Pageant, she said.

Allaputa said that successful contestants would serve as role models and ambassadors, carrying out particular SDGs.

Apart from its size, one thing that makes this truly unique is that it is aimed at empowering Nigerians across different geo-political zones.

That is why our tag line is Uniting Nigeria through pageantry.

All contestants will be trained to creatively function in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

They will be taught peace and conflict resolution, etiquette and image branding, humanitarian services as well as persuasive communication and effective leadership skills.

The beauty queen, who is also the Founder, Queen Hadassah Legendry, said that winners who would become part of the UN Royal Family and must acquire the skills to be part of the family.

She said that the skills would be taught to all participants and they would be expected to go back to their communities to implement tasks to improve the lives of those in the communities.

I want to change the narrative and educate both participants and Nigerians that beauty pageantry is more than a hobby or a show of beauty.

This is a life-time call to service, winners will be reoriented to see pageantry as an act of service that they will take seriously for life.

Usually, most winners complete their reign and they are forgotten and nobody remembers them as kings or queens, but this time, they will be groomed to be legends, she said.

She said that winners would continue to channel their works toward community services, protecting the environment and advancing the development of their motherland.

According to Allaputa, enrolment has already begun and interested participants urged to visit the website.

Registration starts immediately and I am inviting all Nigerians to be part of this historic event, she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the categories to be contested in are Mrs Nigeria United Nations, Mr Nigeria United Nations, Miss Nigeria United Nations, Ms Nigeria United Nations, Mr Teen United Nations and Miss Teen Nigeria United Nations.

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Afonne

The National Coordinator, Nigeria Para-Badminton, Sam Ekeoma has appealed to the Federal Government to immortalise Abdulrafiu Bello, Nigerias and African Para-Badminton champion who died on Wednesday in an auto crash.

Ekeoma made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

NAN reports that Bello, Kwara Badminton Association coach, died while returning from Lagos after a visa-application-visit to the Spanish embassy for last round of qualifying event for Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

Bello, an Africa and Athlete Representative on the board of the World Para-badminton Federation (WPF), was scheduled to travel to Spain on May 6, for the last stage of qualifier for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

Ekeoma noted that Bellos death had dealt a big blow to the countrys quest of picking one of the slots for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

He, however said that things could still change if government could honour him by sponsoring other players.

Bello paid the ultimate price for the development of Para-Badminton in Nigeria and Africa, and his wife is pregnant as he got married last year.

We are calling on the Federal Government to see Bellos sacrifice as what he did for the country, and ensure that Nigeria Para-Badminton qualify for Tokyo 2020; this is exactly Bellos dream and expectation, he said.

According to him, Bello will be happy from the land of the dead to see Nigeria at the Paralympics especially the Spanish championship scheduled for May 6.

I know that Nigeria will qualify if we attend that championship and government should not fail to sponsor our players as a mark of honour for Bello.

And I say this because Bello groomed very strong players that will take over from him, even in his own category.

And, one of them is expected to go with us to Spain if government can provide sponsorship, Ekeoma said.

According to him, it is painful that the country lost Bello when the target and dream is to ensure Para-Badminton is part of Tokyo Games, from Nigeria.

Bellos death is like a film to me because we were together at the just concluded National Sports Festival in Edo, strategising on how to embark on our trip to Spain for the last round of qualifiers for Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

On Wednesday around midday, I spoke with Bello and he told me that he has arrived the Spanish embassy to submit his document for next months Spanish International Para-Badminton championship which we are to attend.

He first of all cracked a joke with me that he was in a serious traffic and that he was yet to arrive in Lagos, he said

He said that he told him to come down from the vehicle and trek if possible, to be able to meet up with time at the embassy.

When I told him that, he now said I shouldnt worry that he was already inside the Spanish Embassy and immediately he submitted his documents, he called me again that he had submitted.

From Lagos to Ilorin is about four hours, so, around evening time, I was calling Bello to know if he has arrived Ilorin, and his line was initially ringing but at some point it was switched off.

It was yesterday that I heard that Bello is dead and you know how far we have gone in para-badminton and Bello is the key to our strength, Ekeoma said.

He noted that the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and the Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA) had already taken over Bellos sponsorship for the Paralympics upon qualification.

I got a call on Wednesday from the Ministry of Sports to discuss about Bellos travelling to Spain for the qualifier, not knowing that he is already dead.

And he had this accident at the same area he jokingly told me there was traffic when he was going to Lagos from Ilorin, to keep the visa interview appointment at the Spanish Embassy, he said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

The nations bourse key market indicators closed the week upbeat on Friday with a growth of 0.43 per cent.

The market capitalisation increased by N89 billion or 0.43 per cent to close at N20.568 trillion against N20.479 trillion posted on Thursday.

Also, the All-Share Index which opened at 39,131.80 inched higher by 170.02 points or 0.43 per cent to close at 39,301.82.

A breakdown of the price movement chart indicates that Triple G led the gainers table in percentage terms, gaining 9.23 per cent to close at 71k per share.

Sovereign Trust Insurance gained 8.70 per cent to close at 25k, while Stanbic IBTC Group added 8.70 per cent to close at N50 per share.

Academy Press garnered 8.11 per cent to close at 40k, while Regal Insurance rose by eight per cent to close at 27k per share.

On the other hand, Union Dicon topped the losers chart in percentage terms, dropping by 9.59 per cent to N9.90 per share.

Linkage Assurance trailed with 4.76 per cent to 80k, while Cornerstone Insurance lost 3.70 per cent to 52k per share.

FTN Cocoa dipped 2.50 per cent to 39k, while Transcorp also lost 2.50 per cent to 80k per share.

Access Bank dominated the activity chart with exchange of 46.79 million shares valued at N351.76 million in 346 deals.

Guaranty Trust Bank accounted for 42.67 million shares worth N1.33 billion in 336 deals, while Linkage Assurance exchanged 29.78 million shares valued at N23.72 million.

FBN Holdings traded 22.83 million shares worth N169.95 million, while United Bank for Africa sold 21.29 million shares valued at N158.88 million in 235 deals.

In all, investors sold 287.04 million shares worth N3.04 billion transacted in 3,578 deals.

This is against 228.12 million shares valued at N2.64 billion exchanged in 3,657 deals on Thursday. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Source: NAN News

By Grace Alegba

The Ikeja Branch, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), on Thursday inaugurated its cooperative multipurpose society to harness financial opportunities for engineers.

Mr Olutosin Ogunmola, Chairman, NSE, Ikeja Branch, during the inauguration at the societys secretariat in Ogba-Agege, Lagos, said the cooperative would empower engineers financially to take up big projects.

Ogunmola said the cooperative was a platform for members to have consistent saving culture to save for either welfare, investments or project execution.

He added that the cooperative society was established to make the Ikeja NSE a centre of value and make its members responsible residents of Lagos State.

Cooperative society fits into the framework for economic empowerment of engineers to take up big projects and contracts, he said.

The chairman promised commitment, transparency, probity and accountability in wealth creation for members, while urging the newly inaugurated executive to ensure the success of the cooperative.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports Miss Fafunwa Onikoyi of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperative, Ifako Ijaiye, inaugurated the cooperative society.

Onikoyi upgraded and ratified the multipurpose cooperative society into a limited liability cooperative while praying for its success.

The society was renamed NSE Ikeja Branch Cooperative Multipurpose Society Ltd. with opportunities to undertake legal businesses according to the laws of Lagos State and Nigeria.

Mr Jacob Adeosun, the newly elected president, NSE Ikeja Branch, Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd. commended the patience and resilience of the protem members and leadership of the ratified organisation.

Adeosun described the inauguration as a breakthrough for wealth creation and capacity building for engineers to impact Nigeria positively.

He listed the goals of his administration to include laying favorable foundations, conducting the affairs of the society in accordance with laws, dedication to the motto of patriotism and loyalty among others.

We need members who would come to build and not destroy the cooperative, together we can fight poverty, stagnation and flourish, he said.

Mr Akintayo Akintola, a past chairman of the branch, said the current chairman broadened the vision of the cooperative society by incorporating more risk management experts to expand its scope leading to the inauguration.

Branch chairmen and engineers from Minna, Delta and other parts of the country who joined virtually took turns to share their thoughts on how to grow the society. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Abiodun Esan

A group, Kwara Youth Unity Forum, has congratulated the Emir of Ilorin, Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, on his 81st birthday.

In a statement signed by its Coordinator, Dr Ismail Alada, in Ilorin on Friday, the group described the emir as a precious gift to the Ilorin Emirate, Kwara and the entire Nigeria

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the emir was 81 years old on Thursday.

The group praised the royal father for achievements for the Ilorin Emirate and the entire Kwara since he ascended the throne.

It also commended the emir for socio-economic transformation, peace and tranquility that had characterised his reign.

According to the group, the achievements were due to the leadership qualities of Sulu-Gambari, a retired Judge of the Court of Appeal.

It prayed God to grant him more years in good health. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, has presented the demands of various unions that had embarked on strike to President Muhammadu Buhari for his possible intervention.

Fielding questions from State House correspondents after the presentation at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Ngige said he briefed the president on the strikes embarked upon by various unions in the country.

According to him, the president directed his Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, and other relevant stakeholders, to ensure that they resolved the problems with the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) so that the ongoing strike could be called off.

I have to brief the President on the labour industrial milieu in the country. You know that we are like in a season of strikes.

We have the strike baton by the resident doctors, actively supported by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA). And we held certain meetings at which we reached some agreements in a conciliation.

And I had to brief him ahead of the efforts we are making in those areas, like we agreed that the hazard allowance should be reviewed.

And as a matter of fact, before they embarked on the strike, my ministry and the Presidential Committee on Salaries, had initiated what we can call a pre-emptive arrangement to make for further discussion by all the stakeholders.

Federal Ministry of Health, Salary, Income and Wages Commission, the health unions, the NMA that is leading National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Association of Dental and Medical consultants, Association of General Duty Doctors, and others, he added.

According to him, JOHESU would lead Nurses and Midwives Association, pharmacists, lab technologists, and other people working in the health sector, under the big umbrella of Medical and Health Workers Union.

That meeting has kick-started. And we know from our initial meetings and the data we have, we have an idea of what amount of money that will be consumed or utilised to effect this change, which is going to be a permanent change.

He said that this would not be like what had happened in 2020 when the government did a special COVID-19 allowance, amounting to N20 billion.

And when we started the payment, it gulped a whopping N32 billion. So, we are working now to make the health workers feel that they are appreciated, and that the efforts are appreciated by government. So, I have briefed him on that too, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured the international community of Nigerias readiness to mobilise relevant stakeholders towards climate action, as well as support for regional, continental and global multilateral initiatives on attaining the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

The Nigerian leader, who gave the assurance at a virtual Leaders Summit on Climate, on Friday, in Abuja, noted that the fight to redress the impact of climate change was the responsibility of all countries and stakeholders.

He, therefore, congratulated President Joe Biden of the United States for his renewed interest in the Paris Agreement.

I would like to express my profound appreciation to the President of the United States, Joe Biden, for convening this Summit at a time the world is experiencing tremendous vulnerability from the COVID-19 pandemic and Climate Change impact, among several other global challenges.

The issue of Climate Change has taken the front burner globally, as its effects can be seen and felt all around us; ranging from increased atmospheric temperature to irregular rainfall patterns, as well as sea level rise, owing to the melting of glacial ice.

Nigeria commends the Biden Administration for the positive decision of returning the United States to the Paris Agreement.

In addition to bringing about abundant green economic opportunities to the US economy, the move further complements the larger transition process of global economies to low carbon development pathways, he said.

The president said the Summit would prove instrumental in mobilizing high-level political support for the implementation of the Paris Agreement and its Katowice Rulebook, as well as inviting more countries and stakeholders to take more climate-oriented responsibilities.

Buhari told world leaders that Nigeria was one of the most vulnerable nations, although it had begun undertaking major environmentally sound and climate-friendly programmes, while treading the path of sustainability.

We are expeditiously implementing programs that would stimulate a gradual transition away from the use of wood stoves to kerosene, Liquefied Natural Gas, biogas and electricity.

The immediate effects include healthy competition among private sector players, leading to higher productivity, employment and faster service delivery.

In the Agriculture production and supply chain sector, we are targeting improved efficiency and productivity through the provision of accurate and timely weather forecasts to farmers, supply of drought tolerant and early maturing crop varieties and promoting empowerment towards the diversification of livelihood sources.

Beyond ending gas flaring by 2030, the oil and gas sector has undertaken steps for diversification; a risk management system; insurance hedging; research and development, and emergency/crisis planning, the president added.

Buhari also said that the overall outcome of the actions taken had translated into food supply sufficiency, improved nutrition, less hunger, increased employment, new job opportunities, better livelihoods, reduced poverty, decreased vulnerability to health challenges and higher quality of life.

Nigeria calls on countries to embrace a Circular Economy and Sustainable Production and Consumption models, in order to expedite the attainment of the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement, he added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News