FRSC officials at a scene of an accident

By Stanley Nwanosike

Five persons were killed in an auto crash on the Enugu-Awka-Onitsha Road on Thursday.

Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Enugu State, Mr Joseph Toby told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu that 15 persons 10 males and five females were seriously injured in the accident.

He said the two vehicles involved in the crash had a head-on collision while using a single lane.

Twenty persons were in the two commercial vehicles; the five that died were three male and two female occupants, he said.

He added that the injured were taken to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu and to a private hospital on the Enugu-Awka-Onitsha Expressway.

Toby said corpses of the deceased were deposited at the Colliery Hospital mortuary in Enugu.

He blamed the accident on lack of lane discipline, over-speeding and brake failure.

Eyewitnesses, however, blamed the accident on the poor state of the road which compelled many motorists to drive against traffic rather than use the failed lane of the dual-carriage way. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maureen Ojinaka/Alli Hakeem

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja expressed sympathy over the accident involving a train and a Lagos State BRT staff bus at Shogunle area of Ikeja.

He said in a statement issued by his media aide, Malam Garba Shehu, that the accident was distressing and extremely sad.

The accident at the level crossing involving the train and the BRT staff bus is distressing and extremely sad. I pray for the souls of the deceased and quick recovery of the many who were injured, he said in the statement.

The president commended the Lagos State authorities and Federal Government agencies for promptly getting involved in relief work.

A train and a bus conveying workers to their work places in Lagos collided onThursday morning, killing about six persons and leaving many injured.

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State declared three days mourning of victims of the accident on Thursday. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Alli Hakeem

Source: NAN News

Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Prof. Muhammad Haruna, during a visit to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya at Army headquarters in Abuja on Thursday (9/3/23)

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) says it is awaiting presidential intervention to mass produce guns and other weapons for the Nigerian Armed Forces.

The Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Prof. Muhammad Haruna, said this during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya at Army headquarters on Thursday in Abuja.

Haruna said that NASENI was currently collaborating with some indigenous research Institutions and industries, such as the Nigerian Machine Tools (NMT) Osogbo.

According to him, NASENI, NMT and Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers have jointly produced the 12.7mm AA Gun through reverse engineering.

On the international scene, NASENI has identified some potential partners in the development and production of small arms and light weapons, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), Airboat, MRAPS, APCS and light aircraft.

We are doing certain things already and this has Presidential Order and Institutional framework, to ensure this is well coordinated and presented.

The Nigerian Army has seen what we have produced for them before, tested and commented.

With the presidential directive that their requirement, as much as possible should come from the country, we are hopeful of a Presidential intervention to mass produce the guns for the Armed Forces, he said.

Haruna said the agency and the army should revisit their discussions on local production of weapons and MRAPs.

He said this was necessary in view of the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari for the defence sector to look inward for its military equipment, components and accessories.

According to him, armed forces of other countries leverage on their institutions to produce what they need.

The military complex across the globe is made up of so many parts and components that even come from civilian industries, Haruna said.

The executive vice chairman assured that NASENI would help cover a lot of distance for the army in terms of military hardware.

NASENI is also partnering with private sector, locally and internationally, to enhance capacity, so that the products that are coming out of this collaboration are of international standard, he added.

In his remarks, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya expressed support for the collaboration with NASENI towards developing and producing military hardware in the country.

Yahaya said procuring weapons and equipment abroad usually took a lot of time to manufacture, ship and clear from the ports after arrival.

If we are producing them ourselves, we can produce mission-specific equipment and weaponry that is suitable to our weather,environment and terrain.

There is no alternative to local production because even with your money, not everything is for sale and sometimes, politics will come into it.

Apart from that, it creates opportunity for employment, development and building technological capacity.

So this is a step in the right direction, the process is on and we will support and encourage you.

What we can do is to help you fast-track it as we are thinking of making our base in Bauchi for the Special Vehicle Plant, and also DICON in Kaduna, he said. (NAN) ()

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

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Source: NAN News

Participants at a ta two-day workshop geared towards advancing genome editing technology, in Abuja on Thursday

By Sylvester Thompson

The African Union Development Agency(AUDA-NEPAD) Centre of Excellence in STI, hosted a two-day workshop geared towards advancing genome editing technology as a tool to drive agricultural productivity in Nigeria.

The workshop organised for Chief Executives and Experts in Research and Academic Institutions, declared open by Dr Adeleke Mamora, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), ended in Abuja on Thursday.

Mamora said Nigerias agricultural sector was facing many challenges such as poor land tenure system, low level of irrigation farming, climate change and land degradation, among others, impacted on its productivity.

All these challenges have stifled agricultural productivity and affected the sectors contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), he said.

Represented by Mrs Monilola Udoh, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mamora stated that genome editing technology had the potential to revitalise agricultural productivity, promote food security and sustainable environment in Nigeria.

He said that the AUDA-NEPAD initiative on genome editing technology focused on innovation, building research and development capacities towards commercialisation of genome edited agricultural products for improved livelihood was timely.

The hosting of an AUDA-NEPAD genome editing research project in NABDA will position Nigeria to take a leading role in driving the technology while building required manpower and infrastructure, the minister said.

Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, Director-General of the National Biotechnology Development Agency(NABDA), said the workshop was another important step by the centre in addressing the problems of different sectors of the economy particularly agriculture.

Mustapha said: As you may be aware, AUDA-NEPAD Centre of Excellence in STI (CoE-STI), had embarked on awakening the consciousness of the continent to the latent potential of this revolutionary tool in the last few months.

He disclosed that precisely, formal engagements with NABDA started in Oct. 2022 and that the agency was pleased with the level of engagement and commitment of AUDA-NEPAD in STI in Nigeria and across the continent.

The NABDA D-G said that as Captains of various institutions, the meeting would afford the opportunity to share experiences and compare notes, appreciate strengths and challenges in order to chart a clear road map.

Mrs Florence Nazare, acting Director of Knowledge Management and Programme of the AUDA-NEPAD, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the workshop, said research and development required adequate resources.

She said the project basically looked at a sustainable financing model, urging that governments should commit more resources from their budgets to drive research and development.

Nazare said that it was important for Africa to domesticate genome editing technology which was important for industralisation and improved livelihoods of African citizenry.

The Director added that apart from government and scientists, they were also working with the private sector and also looking at the model of carrying out research on products of national interest.

She said synergy as the core contract for good and collaborative partnership between the states, private sector, research institutions and scientists was very important.

Nazare said though the AUDA-NEPAD was advancing biotechnology, but safety of the product was also their concern, hence the issue of bio-security and bio-safety was primary.

We also need our scientists that work in the regulatory space to be capacitated to be able to ensure that we can guarantee safety for African citizens, she said.

Prof. Olalekan Akinbo, Supervisor at the Centre of Excellence in STI, AUDA-NEPAD, also in an interview, said that the African Union was working on Agenda 2063 and the focal point was zero-hunger.

He said genome editing technology was an innovation that helped in precision agriculture, adding that the benefits included among others, reduction in time frame to grow or bring up a product.

According to him, genome editing has the ability to address challenges that could not be addressed in conventional breeding, by way of improving agriculture.

Akinbo assured that the technology could provide solution that would meet the teeming population of people, offering benefits that would enhance and get the product to farmers within the shortest time.

Dr Shakirat Ajenifujah-Solebo, acting Director, Genetics and Bioinformatics Department of the NABDA and Desk Officer for the AUDA-NEPAD project, said the workshop afforded CEOs and experts opportunity to define their terms of engagement.

She said this had to do with how they intended to work together in order to ensure that Nigeria benefits from this technology.

Its very important that we come together under the platform of the AUDA-NEPAD project which is not only for genome editing in Nigeria but also for the African continent, Solebo said.

The two-day workshop witnessed presentations by various Chief Executives and Experts in Research and academic Institutions. .(NAN)()

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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

Inclusiveness

By Stellamaris Ashinze

Prof. Enase Okonedo, the Vice-Chancellor of Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, on Thursday said that inclusiveness would boost productivity in workplaces and the society in general.

Okonedo made the assertion at the second edition of theSociety for Corporate Governance Nigeria (SCGN) International Womens Day Roundtable, in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the roundtable had the theme: The Board-Ready Female: Modelling Ethical Leadership and Driving Transformation.

According to the vice-chancellor, when an organisation inclusive opportunities, it increases productivity and brings out the best from workers.

Inclusion boostcompanys reputation,consumers trust and a mixed gender board have fewer incidences of fraud.

Women in the board could prevent risky-over-investment policy, be fast to apply caution and moderate the over confidence of male chief executive officers, she said.

She added that board-ready females would think out of the box, lead by example and have the duty of care and loyalty.

She said that such females should be able to communicate openly, seek information, ask questions, display values, stand on moral grounds and be fair.

The Chairman, GlaxoSmithkline Consumer Nig. Plc., Mr Edmund Onuzo, said that female representation in Nigerias private and public sectors was still low.

He said that there were many women as qualified as men for jobs.

According to him, women are generally disadvantaged because the society was male-dominated.

We live in a male-dominated society where women are expected to be submissive, sadly and strangely, even in workplaces.

Gender diversity is not easy to achieve because it is a male-dominated world; so, any female aspiring to be a board member should be board-ready, must be of good behaviour and must be transformational, he said.

He urged women to embrace digital literacy and networking for greater efficiency.

The Chief Executive Officer of Acccestra Ltd., Mr Isaac Orolugbagbe, said that cultural perspectives were affecting female board membership.

According to Orolugbagbe, 50 per cent of the population are women and cannot be kept away if the country should record the desired impact.

The Company Secretary, First Bank of Nigeria, Ms Irene Netimah, said that tech women had not been given enough opportunities.

She said that there were many competent women ready to make impacts.

Decision makers have to deliberate on some certainissues so that women are not dropped off at the peak of their careers, she said.

A Partner at IA

rs Liang Huili, Wife of the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, has emphasized the need for redoubled efforts to promote gender equality and advance the global cause of womens development.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event is with the theme The Women in Culture showcased over 50 paintings by Female Artists to depict Nigerias vibrant culture.

According to Liang, it is Important to redouble the cause of promoting gender equality and womens development, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic which took a heavy toll on economy, with greater challenges to women

The female artists association of Nigeria was formed in 2001 to give the women the voice to

female rights against against gender-based violence, rape use our a to celebrate women in in every aspect of life.

So the theme of this

Bringing women into technology will result in more creative solutions and they will have greater potential for innovations that will meet women needs and promote gender equality.

This exhibition titled women in cultural showcases over 50 paintings by 20 women and a mguest artist depicting different cultural themes in vibrant colours, and good finishing.

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Lizzy Okoji
The Federal Government of Nigeria Women Ambassadors Network (FWAN-NET) has urged the incoming administration to beat the 35 per cent affirmative action of women representation to 40 per cent women inclusion in its cabinet.

Dr Eniola Ajayi, the Chairperson, FWASN-NE and Nigerias Ambassador to the Netherlands made the call on Wednesday in Abuja during an event organised by the network to mark the 2023 International Womens Day (IWD).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the women ambassadors celebrated the event in line with the global theme of the 2023 IWD Digital Innovation and technology for Gender Equality.

Speaking to journalist at the event, Ajayi said that the Nigerian women were the bedrock and major contributors to Nigerias economy, hence the reason they must be fully involved in all sectors of governance.

The Nigerian woman has a lot to be happy about not because of any affirmation but because we are the bedrock of the society.

When you look at Nigeria and the kind of economy that we have, the reason our economy keeps bouncing out of recession is because of the strength of our informal sector, which is largely dominated by women.

The Nigerian women are very resilience, very powerful, very resourceful, very successful so there is a lot to celebrate about.

Affirmative action is like 33, 35 per cent. The Nigerian government that is going to take over should be looking at 40 per cent of women in governance.

Because the women are very empathic people, we reach out in leadership through team work, we do not have ego issues, we collaborate, we represent and we produce.

That is the kind of women that we have in Nigeria and there is a lot of them all over this country who can make a huge difference in governance.

So, I am looking forward not to 35 per cent but 40 per cent of women representation in the next government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ajayi said.

Ajayi said that the Nigerian women ambassadors had stood out among their male counterparts and that is why the network is driving the message of encouraging younger girls, especially in the digital and technology sectors.

That is why some of us who have found ourselves in this position thought it fit to do this because the motto of our association is For Advancement in Leadership and Diplomacy.

We want Nigerian women to feel empowered and supported, to take their place among the committee of nations.

And I am glad that our male colleagues, knowing the kind of women we are, they came to support us at this event, Ajayi added.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada lauded the women ambassadors on their initiative, noting that the theme for this event is apt, especially as the world keeps becoming more complex and competitive.

Dada said that digital economy had become an integral part of daily lives, as it also served as a powerful tool to advancing gender equality.

Dada said that he was optimistic that the FGN Women Ambassadors Network would offer the necessary support and opportunities for young females to enable them accomplish their potential as diplomats.

With digital technology, women how have access to resources that were hitherto inaccessible or too costly.

Digital economy has enabled women to bring down barriers and access education, and opportunities to start businesses and participate in the global economy.

It has also given them a platform to share their stories and experiences and make their voices heard in matters of policies and advocacies.

Leading to their visibility and recognition in their respective fields, as well as allowing access to financial independence, Dada said

British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Liang said that the Women Ambassadors Network initiative is a sure way to achieving 50/50 women representation in governance.

To my Nigerian colleague who set up your own female ambassadors network, it is a great initiative and one that will really help you to achieve your objective to get to 50/50.

I want to share a couple of lessons from the UK and what we have managed to achieve. We have achieved more that 50/50 for our top ambassadors.

We now have female ambassadors to the U.S., the United Nations, to France, to German, Moscow, Beijing, to Brasilia, and Abuja.

Our foreign secretary one thing he did, he designated ambassadors, high commissioners roles that have not yet been filled by women.

And it was to encourage young women to look at the mirror and see themselves in these roles. Very inspiring. Laing said.

NAN reports the Meta (Facebook), and Microsoft were key supporters of the event. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

LIZ/GY

Edited by Grace Yussuf

Source: NAN News

By Deji Abdulwahab

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on Nigerians to shun electoral violence and voter apathy that are capable of disrupting electoral process during the March 11 governorship and state House of Assembly elections.

Mrs Theresa Nnalue, NOA Director in charge of Orientation and Behaviour Modification, gave the advice on Wednesday at a -Day Motorised Voters Education in Suleja, Niger State.

The campaign is titled Say No to Violence with the theme Embrace Peaceful Credible Election.

Nnalue, who said that the campaign was to enlighten the citizens on the need for peaceful and violence free elections, urged Nigerians to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner during the March 11 poll.

We are here to sensitise the people about the March 11 governorship and state House of Assembly elections and to encourage them to come out en mass to cast their votes in a peaceful manner.

Our message is that let them shun violence, voter apathy and come out and participate in the March 11 governorship and state House of Assembly. Once there is no violence, votes will count.

There is also need for them to vote the right person they believe he or she will cater for their needs and provide them good governance, she said.

According to her, aggrieved parties should not take law into their hands and follow the right process by going to court to get back their mandate.

Nnalue also urged parents to caution their children to make peace and shun violence and trouble making while casting ballots.

According to her, peace is imperative because without peace, there will be no national development. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Ibironke Ariyo

The Journalists International Forum For Migration (JIFORM) has called for partnership with the Chinese embassy in Nigeria to promote trade facilitation and migration matters through media education.

A statement on Wednesday by Dr Ajibola Abayomi, President, JIFORM, said that the call was made during his visit to the Lagos office of the embassy.

He asked for support on capacity building for journalists covering migration, with a view to achieving better understanding of the trade opportunities in China and on migration reportage.

The JIFORM has been promoting purposeful migration of Nigerians to China and several countries over the years.

We are here to seek your support regarding knowledge sharing to improve the capacity of the JIFORM members in the reportage of economic and migration policies involving China.

We are also open to collaboration that will encourage regular migration to strengthen the relationship between us and your embassy as well as promoting better working relationships with the Nigerian government on foreign policies, Ajibola said.

Responding, Jin Ming Yu, the Deputy Consul General, lauded JIFORM for the visit and pledged to review proposals to support media capacity building.

Yu said that many Nigerians over the years have established businesses in China while Chinese nationals had also played important roles in the Nigerian technology and construction sectors.

He reiterated the desire to work with JIFORM to promote quality information about trade and investment opportunities between China and Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that JIFORM is a non-profit body of over 300 journalists and other volunteers across Africa covering migration matters. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Deborah Coker/Maharazu Ahmed

Source: NAN News

By Fabian Ekeruche

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says two bodies have been recovered at the scene of an accident involving a train and a staff bus in Sogunle area of Lagos on Thursday morning.

Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, Lagos Territorial Coordinator, NEMA, told newsmen in Lagos that the deceased were members of staff of the Lagos State Government

Farinloye said that the state government staff bus was trying to cross the PWD/Sogunle rail crossing while the train, on the rail, was coming into Lagos from Abeokuta.

He said that several other persons injured had been evacuated for proper medical care.

He said that the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) flag Officers were reported to have tried to stop the driver of the bus from crossing before the accident.

Emergency responders at the event are the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), NEMA, Police, FRSC, Civil defense , and the Nigerian Railway Corporation team. (NAN)(www nannews.ng)

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

Source: NAN News