Start-up materials given to women entrepreneurs to mark 2023 International Womens Day

By Philomina Attah

The Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN), Abuja Chapter, has empowered 32 widows, single mothers and young girls with relevant start-up materials to be self-employed and eventually employers of labour.

Chairperson of the association, Miss Joy Esu, in Abuja said that the gesture was to also mark the 2023 International Womens Day.

Esu said that the Society had carefully put together the programme to celebrate and empower the women folk on this all-important event focusing on gender equity, embracing diversity and inclusion to help forge an equal world.

She added that the beneficiaries were carefully selected from different sub-urban settlements within the FCT and its environs, adding that every one of them truly deserved the empowerment scheme.

This was made possible through their engagement in skill-acquisition training and we assistance them with start-up capital.

The next phase is a Skill Acquisition Programme for the beneficiaries.

This is with the view of empowering them with relevant skills and seed capital to help them to commence a Business and to be able to sustain themselves and their families economically.

This is planned in anticipation that we will be able to raise the desired financial support from our partners/supporters, she said.

She further explained that the beneficiaries would be train on book keeping, accounting and financial management to help them manage the financial records for their Businesses.

According to her, SWAN is an arm of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), whose membership is open to female members of the Institute.

She explained that the Society served as an integral part of the Institute to meet the yearnings and aspirations of women for recognition, creating opportunities and an enabling environment for the promotion of socio-economic development of women.

We have carried out sensitisation programmes and career talks in six secondary schools within Abuja and its environs.

The aim is to elicit the interest of the young ones to embrace Accountancy as a Career Path and also inculcate in them self-dignity, discipline and integrity.

We have also organized sensitisation lectures to undergraduates in Four Tertiary Institutions within FCT and environs on the Career Path of becoming a chartered accountant, she added.

She further listed other projects executed by the organisation to include medical outreach, orphanage visitation, hospital visitation, prison visitation and anti-corruption advocacy, among others.

Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, the Managing Director, Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) commended SWAN Abuja Chapter for the laudable gesture, urging other states to key into such scheme in order to empower more women in the society.

Adesugba, who was represented by Dr Martins Odeh, Head, Corporate Communication, NEPZA, said that education was very important for a woman, adding that, but if you do not have a formal education skill acquisition like this is very important.

There is no society without assistance and there is no society without a woman because it has been measured that a womans management ability is much more than that of a man.

It is said that when you empower a man, you empowered a family alone but when you empowered a woman you have succeeded in empowering both the family and the entire nation, he said

The managing director urged women to press on and do not look at anything that would distract them from achieving their set goals.

He equally advised the beneficiaries to use the support given to them today judiciously and ensure they extend helping hand to those not opportune to be selected.

Mrs Bright Okorie, responding on behalf of the beneficiaries appreciated SWAN Abuja Chapter for the support given to them.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that items donated to the beneficiaries included, sewing machines, electric irons, hair dryers, baking materials among others.

NAN also reports that the beneficiaries were educated on financial integrity to enable them to operate successful businesses with the items. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

Crude Oil theft in Nigeria

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Niger-Delta Safe Environment Group (NSEG) has lauded the Nigerian military on its increased operations aimed at curbing oil theft in the region.

This is contained in a statement on Monday by Mr Ombo Princewill and Felicia Akpabio, President and Secretary of the group, respectively, in Abuja.

The duo said that long years of illegal oil bunkering had caused severe damage to environment and health of people in the region.

They lamented that several residents were afflicted with illnesses as a result of massive environmental degradation caused by the activities of oil thieves.

The officials, however, said that military onslaught by troops of Operation Delta Safe had weakened the activities of the criminals.

According to them, the activities of the Armed Forces, under the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, have helped to protect the environment and save huge resources for the country.

Just last week, the Defence Headquarters announced that it discovered and destroyed 74 illegal refineries and arrested a total of 71 criminals terrorising the zone.

In addition, the troops have also recovered 209,000 litres of crude oil, 145,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, 4,500 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 27 variety of weapons, 468 assorted ammunition, 2 speed boats, 2 outboard engines, 8 vehicles and 4 motorcycles.

We commend the AFN for operations conducted at the creeks, waterways, high sea, towns and cities of Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, which yielded appreciable results.

For long, misguided elements in our region have put our health at risk in their quest for illegal wealth. Women with pregnancy are affected, there are incidences of lung cancer.

Not to be mentioned is the manner our sources of livelihood, fishing and farming, have been greatly affected, the officials added.

They urged people of the region to cooperate with the military in tackling those degrading the environment, causing health hazards and bleeding the countrys economy. (NAN) ()

Edited by Deborah Coker/Maharazu Ahmed

Source: NAN News

Bola Tinubu

The President, Read and Earn Federation (REF), Prince Abdulsalami Ladigbolu, has called on president-elect Bola Tinubu to plan for the development of local talents for global success.

Ladigbolu made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday, while congratulating Tinubu on his victory at the presidential elections.

He said that Tinubus emergence at this crucial time in Nigerias history was indeed timely, adding that his emergence would be a litmus test that must overcome all the shortcomings, brimstone and negativity that had stained the status of Nigeria.

As a concerned citizen and strong believer and supporter of smart intellectuals, who believe in inter-generational mentorship and solidarity, I put forward to you my opinion about the plight of Nigerian youth and the urgent action that needs to be taken to ensure our youth achieve global success.

I believe that there is no keener revelation of societys soul than the way in which it treats its youth because discouraging them is simultaneously destroying the nations prosperity.

This is because Nigeria at present is caught between a slippery muddy cliff and a distant rocky fall and the ultra-light beam for sustainable development for a nation, starts with the mental acceptance of a working ideology conceived by the nations leadership and its subordinates.

Nigeria is one of the worlds largest producers of crude oil and with an abundance of gas and mineral resources, Nigeria is Africas largest economy.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts that Nigeria could become the ninth-largest economy in the world by 2050 if it mobilises its 200 million population into a nation of entrepreneurs and producers, he said.

According to him, Nigerias population advantage can become its Achilles heel as it currently struggles to overcome rising unemployment, unstable power supply, poor education and poverty.

Ladigbolu said Nigeria had a range of issues ranging from governments fiscal deficit which is expanding above budget, unemployment that is trending upwards and uncertainty around petrol prices all combine to create an atmosphere of economic instability.

This uncertainty means that the West African nation has seen a steady outflow of its most promising young talent to Europe, leaving behind a damaging human capital problem.

With an entrepreneurial deficit, the country is unable to develop the broad-based economy needed to provide employment, competition, and innovation as well as insulation from the global price and demand shocks in its natural resource markets.

Mass unemployment and poverty means that many Nigerians lack the basic amenities of life and are vulnerable to crimes such as human trafficking and modern-day slavery.

Furthermore, Nigerias youth population sits precariously at over 55 per cent of the total population, he said.

Ladigbolu said Nigerias youth population boasts some of the most original creative in the world, saying that if given the right tools and environment, Nigerian youth could compete at the highest levels in various industries and exceed expectations.

He, therefore, called for a meaningful enrichment and sustainable programmes in four identified critical areas among the youth such as intellectual, leadership, economy and digital technology capacity building.

He said this would contribute to and accelerate the provision of such improved competencies and capabilities that would in turn enhance the enlightenment of Nigerian youth about the dynamics of international markets. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Celine Damilola Oyewole/Grace Yussuf

Source: NAN News

Nigerian Senate

By Naomi Sharang

The Senate is to resume plenary on Tuesday (March 21), the Clerk of the Senate, Mr Chinedu Akubueze, has said.

A statement issued by Akubueze on Monday in Abuja said that the plenary had been rescheduled from March 14 to March 21.

He said: This is to inform all Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that the resumption of the Senate in Plenary has been rescheduled from Tuesday, March 14 to Tuesday, March 21.

All senators are by this notice requested to resume sitting in plenary on Tuesday, March 21, by 10 a.m prompt.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Senate had on March 2, suspended plenary to March 14, to enable senators participate in the the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

The election which was slated for March 11 was postponed to March 18 by the Independent National Electoral Commission. (NAN)()

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Source: NAN News

By Yahaya Isah

The Federal Fire Service (FFS) said property valued at more than N23.3 billion were lost to fire outbreaks in the country between October and December, 2022.

This is contained in a statistical report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja by Mr Abraham Paul, the FFS Public Relations Officer.

The report showed that 649 fire outbreaks were recorded within the period under review, while property valued at about N145.4 billion were saved.

It indicated that 28 lives were lost in the fire incidents within the period, while 40 others were rescued.

The report gave the number of properties affected to include 111 public buildings and 230 private ones, 11 educational establishments, 61 shops, 19 factories and banks, nine clubs, hotels and restaurants.

It added that 56 petrol stations, 21 oil and gas facilities, two timber sheds, 63 automobile, 17 markets and 49 others were also destroyed by fire within the period under review.

On the causes of the fire incidents, the report indicated that 122 of the cases were linked to electrical equipment and high voltage, while 16 were due to illegal storage of petroleum products.

According to the report, 32 of the fire incidents were caused by cigarette stub and bush burning,185 by electrical sparks, 37 through gas, 104 due to accidents, arson and automobile incidents.

The statistics further showed that 88 of the fire incidents were due to unknown causes and seven as a result of building collapse.

The report also showed that 17 out of the fire incidents were under investigation.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker/Maharazu Ahmed

Source: NAN News

![Agba felicitates C

Gov. Hope Uzodimma

By Victor Nwachukwu

Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo has sacked his Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Mr Ford Ozumba, over an on-going face-off between the Imo chapter of the NLC and the state government.

This is contained in a statement signed by the governors media aide, Mr Oguwike Nwachuku and made available to newsmen in Owerri, on Saturday.

Gov. Uzodimma has approved the immediate removal of Chief Ford Ozumba, Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, from office.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Declan Emelumba says the governor directed Chief Ozumba to hand over to the Permanent Secretary at the ministry with immediate effect, the statement read.

The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company shut power supply to Imo since Thursday in compliance with NLCs directive. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Benson Iziama/Alli Hakeem

Source: NAN News

Amotekun Corps

By Olajide Idowu

Amotekun Corps, the security network of states in the Southwest geo-political zone arrested a 24-year-old suspected rapist in Iwo, Osun, on Friday.

He was alleged to have been keeping a 16-year-old girl in his room for three days while having carnal knowledge of her.

Commander of the corps in Osun, retired Brig.-Gen. Bashir Adewinmbi, told newsmen in Osogbo on Saturday that the security outfit arrested a 28-year-old herbalist almost in Iwo.

The herbalist allegedly defrauded some persons and was also found to be in possession of fake 100 dollar and N1,000 notes.

The suspects were arrested at different locations in Iwo on Friday after reports were made to Amotekun about their nefarious activities.

Upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crimes and were handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution, Adewinmbi said.

The Amotekun commander urged Osun residents to always assist security agencies with information that could help to prevent crime and apprehend criminals. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Alli Hakeem

Source: NAN News

By Justina Auta

Mr Abubakar Bello, the Managing Director, Nigerian Export and Import Bank (NEXIM), and other stakeholders have stressed the need for gender equity and womens empowerment to improve access to health, education, economic and political opportunities in the country.

They made the call at a family fun weekend, organised by NEXIM Bank, in commemoration of the 2023 international Womens Day (IWD) celebration in Abuja.

The NEXIM Bank boss said women play significant role in every area of human development, hence the need to ensure they had access to opportunities that would further harness their potentials for the development of any nation.

According to Bello, the bank prioritises anything concerning women, adding that women should be celebrated all the time for their immense contribution to the society.

We should not just celebrate women only on womens day or month.

Women should be celebrated everyday. This years theme, which talks about embracing equity, should not be celebrated only on womens day, but all the time as we are talking about moving forward to the future.

Every womens day, we make promises on equal opportunities, equity, amongst others.

I want a feedback from the women from all the promises made in the past, where are we? Are you satisfied with what we have done? he said.

The NEXIM Bank boss further added that the bank prioritises the well being and health of its workforce to ensure maximum productivity.

We take the competence of women seriously, especially when bringing in new staff. Its not a favour that we are doing to the women, it is a favour that we are doing to the agency.

We are happy about the issues discussed by the speakers. One spoke about being focused, another on health and wellbeing.

Another one spoke about motivation and how to remove obstacles and barriers affecting womens development, he said.

He, therefore, stressed the need to accommodate more women so that they can give in their best in any workforce and the society in general.

Mrs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, stressed the need for programes that would bridge the gap for women to become independent and contribute to national development.

On the issue of challenges affecting women in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, Sulaiman-Ibrahim decried its effects on them, calling for more collaboration to address them.

Women are the most hit, they loose their privacy when such things happen and it is hard for them.

They carry a lot of burden because they become the caregivers, heads of households and other challenges for women when displacement and emergency happen.

We must work collectively to address these challenges facing women, she said.

Mrs Maryam Lemu, a motivational speaker, encouraged women to key into the digital world and give in their best to the development of their homes, community and nation at large.

Digital world should be embraced by everyone and stop focusing on the negative.

Let key people who have access make it possible for more women to have access because once a woman has access to knowledge and she learns, she can empower her family, the society and hopefully generation will be better than what she didnt get.

Dont listen to negativity, sometimes it comes from us, we keep making excuses why we cannot do somethings.

But it is just background noise, so reduce the volume on that and focus on what you can do. The possibilities are limitlessness, she said.

Also, Dr Amina Dorayi, Country Director, Pathfinder, encouraged women to prioritise their health, mental well being and eat healthy food and fruits.

This is one of the best thing you can do for your staff work that prioritises your wellbeing. You are the most important person in your life and those around you, so do not joke with your health. Health is life, health is everything, she said.

NAN reports that other highlights of the day were various sporting activities for staff of NEXIM Bank, their family members and other stakeholders. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vincent Obi

Source: NAN News

By Patricia Amogu

A Civil Society Organisation, Global Network for Sustainable Development( GNSD), has called on Civil Society Organisations and other youth platforms to desist from acts of public incitements, describing the calls for the arrest of Enenche as tyrannical.

The National Coordinator ,GNSD, Mr Phil Roberts, made the call in a statement on Friday, in Abuja.

Robert said that such groups were hired to silence the voice of reason and render our nation a tyrannical and dictatorial enclave .

A society where citizens live in perpetual fear and bondage.

It is advised that such groups should stop further acts of public incitements against the person of Dr Paul Enenche, their actions so far are tantamount to a gross abuse of his fundamental human rights as a free citizen

A certain provocative and inconsequential call by a faceless self-acclaimed Civil Society group, Centre for Social and Economic Rights (CSER) for the arrest of Dr Paul Enenche and Pastor Sarah Omakwu is such that threaten national security .

The fact that they make such calls especially regarding the arrest of Dr Paul Enenche in particular, in spite of the fact that he is not the only one calling for electoral probity and justice, makes their motive questionable,Roberts said.

According to him, other renowned clerics from both Islamic and Christian faiths drew the attention of the government to the irregularities that characterised the recent elections, yet these faceless groups are bent on calling for the crucifixion of one man.

The conduct of these groups is antithetical to democracy and freedom of speech, they represent the worst enemy of the Nigerian nation as they are out to sabotage the efforts of both the state and the citizens in building a more tolerant, progressive and inclusive society.

One wonders if these individuals masquerading as a civil society groups understand what civil society advocacy stands for, how can you call yourself civil while you are brazenly advocating for tyranny and dictatorship?

How can you be advocating a civilized society, while at the same time, calling for undemocratic use of force to stifle citizens freedom of speech as in the constitution?, he said.

According to him, how can you be a centre for citizens rights, while openly fighting to deprive them of their fundamental human rights?

How can you address yourself as civil while openly canvassing for illegitimate use of force by agents of the state against her citizens?

How can you be fighting for and against citizens rights at the same time? This is nothing short of bareface hypocrisy and duplicity, it added.

He noted that the country was advancing as a civilised society and they cannot drive us backward in their brazen pursuit of filthy lucre.

They are, therefore, advised to stop further acts of public incitements against the person of Dr Paul Enenche as their actions so far are tantamount to a gross abuse of his fundamental human right as a free citizen.

They have no moral or legal basis to call for the arrest of a law-abiding, responsible and impactful citizen in free expression of his civic and political opinion as guaranteed by the constitution.

It therefore ,stated, that any further incitement by such groups against the person of Paul Enenche would be taken as a deliberate and willful provocation, aggression and assault, he said. (NAN)www.nannews.ng

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News