By Thompson Yamput

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has completed configuration of the Bimodal Voter Registration Systems (BVAS) for the conduct of the House of Assembly elections in Kogi on Saturday.

Dr Hale Longpet, Kogi Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) made the declaration in an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that only the House of Assembly election will hold in Kogi on Saturday.

The as governorship election isto hold in November because Gov Yahaya Bellos tenure ends on Jan. 27, 2024.

The commissioner said that the commission had gotten all materials needed, aside ballot papers and result sheets which are being expected through the Central Bank on Thursday.

Just this Monday, we assessed all the materials to see their levels of functionality and some of the BVAS that were either stolen or damaged were replaced.

Although we have not retrieved any (BVAS) that were stolen, we have successfully replaced them for the purpose and successful conduct of the election.

By Thursday, we shall go for the distribution of the materials such as the ballot papers and result sheets at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Zonal Headquarters here in Lokoja.

Its expected that on Friday evening the Electoral Officers (EOs) in all the LGAs would deploy all the Adhoc staff with the necessary materials to the RAs so that by early morning of Saturday they would be at their various polling units to conduct the election, he said

Longpet urged the people of Kogi to come out en-masse to cast their votes without any fear as the security operatives have assured the Commission of their readiness to protect lives and property better than last time.

They (security agents) have assured us that they have stepped up their security apparatus and strategies to ensure the peaceful conduct of house of Assembly elections in Kogi.

The REC said that security agencies have promised to redoubled their Surveillance at the flash points or black spots to checkmate activities of political thugs and trouble shooters.

What we are expecting from the people is for them to just get ready with their PVCs to vote for candidates of their choices and should make sure that their votes count, Longpet said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

Dr Jumoke Oduwole, PEBEC Secretary/Special Adviser to the President

By Lucy Ogalue

The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has urged the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to address charges introduced for National Identification Number (NIN) integration and verification.

Dr Jumoke Oduwole, PEBEC Secretary/Special Adviser to the President, Ease of Doing Business, in a statement said this would enable passport applicants get faster and cheaper access to government services.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NIMC introduced a new charge of N1,000 for NIN integration and verification for each Nigerian passport applicant, with effect from April 1.

Oduwole commended the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) for significantly improving the quality of service, accuracy, and speed of passport services through NIN verification.

She said NISs move was in response to the incessant difficulties Nigerians experienced in verifying their NIN during passport registration process.

She, however, noted that the additional cost for each applicants passport initiated by NIMC was not well received by stakeholders.

Furtherance to the provisions of the Business Facilitation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (BFA), which was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on February 8.

Codifying Executive Order 001 on transparency and efficiency of public service delivery, for the purposes of the One Government directive, where an applicant requires service from a Ministry, Department or Agency (MDA).

The MDA is however mandated to conduct the necessary verification or certification from relevant MDAs, in respect of the applicant, Oduwole said.

On May 18, 2017, Executive Order 001 (EO1) on Transparency and efficiency was issued to strengthen the implementation of business climate reforms.

It was meant to also deepen collaboration among MDAs by instituting a systemic change management process for reforms.

EO1 mandates MDAs to submit monthly reports to the PEBEC Secretariat, the offices of the Head of Service (HOS) of the Federation, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and SERVICOM.

On March 9, PEBEC released its 2022 Executive Order 001 (EO1) Compliance Report, in line with its promise to continuously track and keep the business community updated on the compliance with the Executive Order.

In the last six years, the council has consistently published an EO1 Compliance Report, which captures a periodic empirical analysis of the monthly reports received from MDAs.

The PEBEC, chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, was established in July 2016 by Buhari to remove critical bottlenecks and bureaucratic constraints to doing business in Nigeria. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Source: NAN News

Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, inaugurating the newly-constructed 60-bed ward at Kishi General Hospital in Oyo State on Tuesday (14/3/24)

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, on Tuesday, inaugurated an ultra modern 60-bed ward at the General Hospital, Kishi in Oyo State.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Tuesday, said the project was part of armys civil-military cooperation projects.

Nwachukwu said the health facility which was constructed and fully equipped by the army, contains female, male and children wards, labour room, consulting rooms, nurses station as well as a reception.

Speaking at the inauguration, the COAS described the project as one of his special Intervention Civil-Military Cooperation projects aimed at winning the hearts and minds of Nigerians by complementing existing infrastructure.

Yahaya said the Nigerian army owned it a duty to partner Nigerians at ensuring that the nation was safe and secure, adding that the army belongs to Nigerians.

He thanked President Mohammadu Buhari for his unflinching support for the armed forces and reaffirmed the loyalty of the officers and soldiers to the constitution.

Gov. Sheyi Makinde of Oyo State, who was represented by Mr Lateef Adediran, extolled the Nigerian army for being instrumental to national unity and global peace through its internal security operations and contributions of troops to Peace Support missions.

Makinde expressed appreciation to the Nigerian army on behalf of the state government and people of the state for choosing Kishi for the execution of the laudable project.

The facilitator of the project, Maj.-Gen. Kunle Adesope, Chief of Defence Accounts and Budgets and an indigene of Kishi, said the choice of the project was premised on needs assessment and consultation with community leaders.

Adesope thanked the COAS for approving and sponsoring the project, adding that it will positively impact on the health of the people. (NAN) ()

Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Vincent Obi

Source: NAN News

Some suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists collaborators apprehended by MNJTF troops

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) says its troops of Sectors 3 and 4 have apprehended more than 900 suspected family members and collaborators of Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgents.

This is contained in a statement on Wednesday by MNJTF, Chief Military Public Information Officer in NDjamena Chad, Lt.-Col. Kamarudeen Adegoke.

Adegoke said that the infighting by the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorist groups, as well as effects of MNJTF and other national operations bombardment, especially effects of the air strikes, had triggered their movement.

He disclosed that there had been continuous movements of large bodies of people from the Sambisa forests to the Lake Chad basin within the last one month.

In a joint coordinated operations between Sectors 3 and 4 of the MNJTF in the Kamadougu Yobe River general area, along the Nigeria/Niger common border areas, more than 900 people, made up of women, children and elderly people suspected to be families and collaborators of the insurgents, have been arrested.

Collaboration with national authorities and subsequent profiling and handing over is ongoing.

Also, troops of Sector 4 conducted a night patrol along Ngagam Djalori Axis where they rescued three women alongside their four children who were fleeing from the fighting between the Boko Haram and ISWAP from Sambisa forest.

In a related encouraging development, on March 8, troops of Sector 3 Nigeria deployed at Damasak, intercepted 70 terrorists family members comprising 43 women and 30 children.

They are currently receiving medical attention and profiling, he said.

Adegoke explained that the emerging situation by the MNJTF troops of Sector 3 Nigeria started on March 5.

He said this followed the arrest of two suspected Boko Haram terrorists logistics suppliers and their collaborators Muhammed Sabo and Sarki Danladi while trying to exit Munguno town to the Tumbuns to link up with the terrorists.

He said that the items recovered from the suspects included two blankets, two fishermen identity cards, three wristwatches, two access passes which were issued by the terrorists, 20 empty sack bags, some personal clothing.

He added that troops on stop and search operation along the Main Supply Route Monguno Kekeno Cross Kauwa- Baga on March 4, arrested two suspects conveying some quantities of wrappers and other logistics to the terrorists.

In the same vein, on March 5, we arrested one Abubakar Usman with First Bank ATM card and an invoice containing the lists of items to procure and possibly deliver to the terrorists.

During the preliminary interrogation, the suspect confessed that he has been involved in the supply of several logistics to the terrorists, he added.

The MNJTF spokesman said that troops had apprehended some key terrorists logistics suppliers in different locations in recent times.

He said that several items such as fishing hooks, fishing threads, corn flower, mosquito nets, cooking pots, clothing as well as cash were recovered from the suspects.

In his massage to the troops, the Force Commander, MNJTF, Maj.-Gen. AbdulKhalifa Ibrahim, commended the efforts of the troops and the commanders for the effective coordination of the operations.

Ibrahim urged them not to relent in their determination at degrading the BHT/ISWAP logistics couriers which would have an overall positive impact on the counter insurgency operations.

He noted that the end of insurgency was in sight, and urged the troops to collectively deal a deadly blow on the insurgents.

He reassured them of the continuous support of the Headquarters MNJTF and called on the people of the Lake Chad Basin to be observant and report any suspicious activity to the security forces. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker/Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

Pauline Tallen

By Justina Auta

The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, has been conferred with an award by the UN Global Women Foundation Advocacy for Change, a global body.

Mr Olujimi Oyetomi, the Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, disclosed this
in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

He stated that the award is for her lifelong commitment toward building strong reach of service throughout the world.

Oyetomi added that the award was presented to the minister during the She Rises Forum on Empowering Women Economic Sustainability Through Entrepreneurship and Leadership holding on the wings of the 67th Session of UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York.

He said this special recognition by the global body adds to many that have been conferred on the Nigerian
Minister of Women Affairs.

It is specially for her lifelong commitment to building strong reach of service throughout the world.

The passion and commitment of Dame Tallen to positively change the lives of women and girls is infectious.

It does not take long for anyone to stay around the Plateau State, Nigeria-born administrator and public
servant to detect her high level and tireless commitment and passion in this regard. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Source: NAN News

Buhari swears-in ICPC Board members

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has sworn in seven members of the Board of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inauguration took place at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

The affected members include retried Justice Adamu Bello (Katsina State); Hannatu Mohammed (Jigawa); Olubukola Balogun (Lagos State); Obiora Igwedibia (Anambra); Dr Abdullahi Saidu (Niger); Yahaya Dauda (Nasarawa State) and Grace Chinda from Rivers.

The event preceded the commencement of the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

Those at the FEC meeting include Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and the National Security Adviser, retired Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno.

Others are Ministers of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, Aviation, Hadi Sirika, Finance, Zainab Ahmed, Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen and that of the Federal capital Territory, Mohammed Bello among others. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

Source: NAN News

By Taiye Olayemi

The Chinese Community in Nigeria in collaboration with Hua Xing Arts Troupe, Nigeria, has organised a symposium in celebration of the 2023 International Womens Day.

The symposium with the theme, Dedication to the Society and Embrace Equity, was aimed at celebrating womens achievements, raising awareness and creating opportunities that drive gender disparity.

This was done in collaboration with Harmony culture office of China General Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria.

In his welcome address, Chairman, Chinese Industrial and Commercial Enterprise Association, Dr Eric Ni, said that women are special creatures whose resilience and work must be continually celebrated.

Ni said, Today is a special day for us as Chinese Community in Nigeria, as we honour our women for their hard work and dedication.

Women are powerful and beautiful creatures but they are regarded as weaker than men, while they are blessed with power of creating life.

Let us accelerate equality initiative in all we do, let us also work towards creating a world where all women can thrive and fulfil their potential, and ensure gender equality and empowerment remains a priority, he said.

Zheng Yong, Director of the Office of the Chinese Consulate General in Lagos, congratulated all women on the celebration of the International Womens Day.

He encouraged all to embrace equity and work toward a future where women become more valued and respected.

Also speaking at the event, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Chioma Ajunwa, also Nigerias first Olympic gold medalist, urged women not to relent in their quest to transform the society.

Ajunwa said taking a critical look at the sports industry, women have truly blazed the trail and such achievements must be upheld and consciously built on.

She urged the men and government at all levels to give full support to women to further contribute to nation-building.

According to her, deliberate efforts must also be taken to celebrate women.

Men do not really celebrate their women well enough, they feel threatened by the achievements of the women but this should not be, we all should be able to have healthy relationships while contributing our quota to nation-building, she said.

Mrs Nneka Isaac-Moses, Managing Director, Goge Africa, who identified the strategic roles women had played in the society, advised the Federal Government to further encourage women participation in leadership positions.

Isaac-Moses said that if the society must be truly developed, women must not be sidelined but rather given equal opportunity as men, to contribute their quota in nation-building.

We observed that women are not given equal opportunities as the men, deliberately to guide against women taking over in virtually all aspects of human endeavour because the potential of the women have been noticed.

This is the time and age when we should jettison all forms of bias and allow women to engage their God-given potential to nurture and develop the society.

As women, we should consciously engage in training and retraining in all aspects of human endeavour to allow us contribute maximally to the growth of the nation, she said.

Also, the Vice Chairperson of the Chinese Women Association in Nigeria, Loi Eng-Koon, advocated innovative solutions to help women unleash their human capital.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chinese Community donated N500,000 as scholarship to the Bethesda Home for the Blind.

No fewer than 100 Chinese and Nigerian women were in attendance, while there were colourful cultural presentations by the Chinese community like the Lion and Waist dance.(NAN) (nannews.ng)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran

Source: NAN News

Chief Executive, NMC, Prof. promise Mebine inspecting Students during a mathematics competition

By Jacinta Nwachukwu

Prof. Promise Mebine, the Director/Chief Executive, National Mathematical Centre (NMC), has called on mathematics stakeholders to intensify efforts towards ensuring quality teaching and learning of the subject in schools.

Mebine made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja in commemoration of the International Day of Mathematics (IDM).

He says that Mathematics has proven to be a powerful tool for understanding the environment.

It helps us to understand patterns, quantify relationships, predict the future, predict profit, and study exponential growth and decay (the rate at which things grow and die) within the context of population growth, Mebine said.

According to him, mathematics is incredibly important in human lives and is used in many professions.

Every sane person does and uses mathematics, though many do not realise that. The theme for this years celebration is Mathematics for Everyone.

Truly, Mathematics is for everyone, though many people developed a phobia for it because of the general belief that it is abstract and difficult.

It is a statement of fact that mathematics is incredibly important in human lives and is used in many professions. Every sane person does and uses Mathematics, though many dont realise that, Mebine
said.

He said Mathematics is involved when people cross the road too.

For instance, when you want to cross a road and there is an oncoming vehicle, what do you do? You take the following into consideration: estimate the distance between you and the vehicle.

The speed of the on-coming vehicle, the time it will take the vehicle to reach your crossing line and the time it will take you to cross. All these must be calculated and analysed, though mentally before crossing the road.

A good cook who wants to prepare food must take into consideration the number of people to be fed, the quantity of what he or she wants to cook, the size of the pot to use, and quantities of ingredients and water to make food tasty, Mebine said.

The director said these were some of the things people do in their everyday life without knowing they were practising mathematics.

He said that the importance of mathematics in everyones life cannot be over-emphasized, hence the need to make IDM worth looking forward to every year in the country.

Mebine said for this to be achieved, the celebration should not be left in the hand of NMC and a few organisations but all lovers and users of mathematics should include it in their annual programme.

March 14 of every year is set aside for all countries of the world to participate in the celebration of the beauty and importance of mathematics and its essential role in everyones life. (NAN)(www.nanews.ng)

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Edited by Razak Owolabi

Source: NAN News

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says Nigerias technology ecosystem accounts for almost 30 per cent of Africas funded ventures with no fewer than 180 startups.

Osinbajo said this at the Official Inauguration of the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) Programme and Unveiling of iDICE logo on Tuesday at the State House Banquet Hall.

The vice president said that the iDICE is a government initiative to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the digital tech and creative industries, especially targeted at job creation.

According to him, the total fund is 618 million dollars, out of which the AFDB provides 170 million dollars, the Agence Francaise de Development, 100 million dollars and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), 70 million dollars in co-financing.

The Bank of Industry (BOI) will provide 45 million dollars as Federal Governments counterpart contribution to be availed through loans for qualifying startups.

We expect another 271 million dollars from private sector and institutional investors.

I think it is important to mention that private capital has usually been ahead of government effort, the last few years have seen a consistent rise in venture capital investments in Nigerias technology ecosystem.

According to Disrupt Africas 2022 Tech Funding Report, Nigeria was the best-funded country in Africa for the second year running, with a minimum of 180 startups.

Making up approximately 30 per cent of Africas funded ventures, raising approximately one billion dollars substantially ahead of all other countries on the continent on both counts.

This influx of private capital has enabled startups to expand operations and create new jobs while contributing significantly toward overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of the country.

There are of course thousands of startups that have used private funds or debt that goes unrecorded.

He said it had become imperative to commence a coordinated approach toward innovation on the continent, bringing together all stakeholders to coordinate efforts at scaling up investments and building programmes that support innovation.

Osinbajo said that the government must provide more support for startups and small businesses while investors must provide more funding.

This is why the iDICE is important, it brings together the public sector, and our development partners the AfDB, IDB, and French Development Agency.

To design a Programme that supports innovation across very critical pillars including policy, infrastructure, access to finance and talent.

These pillars have been identified as very critical to the growth and sustenance of innovation on the continent.

As a government, we have consistently provided support to the innovation ecosystem over the last eight years, he said.

He said that in 2028, the Technology and Creativity Advisory Group was set up.

The vice president said that the group brought together stakeholders in the technology and creative industries, to contribute directly to policy formulation, articulation and the design of the technology and creative sectors of our economy.

He said that in Oct; 2022, President Muhammadu Buhari signed Nigerias Startup Bill into law, making it the Nigeria Startup Act.

Osinbajo said that the Act would provide a legal and institutional framework for the development of startups in Nigeria, and provide an enabling environment for growth of startups in the country.

On his part, AFDBs President, Akinwumi Adesina, said that the digital trends held great promise to help create massive number of jobs.

According to him, estimates by Endeavor (2022) show that expanding digital infrastructure by 10 per cent will lead to a 2.5 per cent annual growth in GDP in Africa.

Furthermore, expanding access to the internet in Africa from the current 33 per cent to 75 per cent can help create 44 million jobs, including three million jobs in online services by 2025.

We are already witnessing in Nigeria the power of digital technologies, tools, and platforms. Nigeria currently has five out of the 11 digital companies that have reached the status of unicorn with market valuation of one billion dollars.

Names that come to mind include Jumia, Interswitch, Opay, Flutterwave and Andela, mainly in the fintech space, he said.

In his remarks, Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, said that Nigerias creative industry was not about music and film.

He said the industry comprised other sectors such as advertising, hospitality, writing, comedy, photography, hair and beauty among others.

According to him, the industry employs millions of Nigerians.

While the music and film industry have combined to put Nigeria on the world map, in terms of revenue generation, fashion generates N2 trillion against musics N200 billion, hair and beauty generates N1.52 trillion against films N140 billion.

So, I hope that when we start administering these funds, we will look at these figures and we are very glad to share this report with the advisory council, he said.

Other speakers at the event included Niyi Adebayo, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Zainab Ahmed, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning and representative of Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami.

Olukayode Pitan, the Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BoI), and representatives of French Development Agency and IsDB also spoke at the event. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Source: NAN News

Mrs Zainab Marwa (middle) with other dignitaries at the unveiling of 101 Nigerian Women of Impact in New York

Source: NAN News