By Rukayat Moisemhe

Captains of industry on Wednesday charged Nigerians to imbibe principles of integrity, trust, high moral and leadership values, among others, for better societal outcomes.

The professionals spoke at the physical and virtual launch of a book titled A Journey In Leadership by Alhaji Tijjani Borodo, second Vice President, Institute of Directors (IoD).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 180-page seminal autobiography showcases the life and times of Borodo in his eventful and celebratory career in the public and private sectors.

Mrs Ibukun Awosika, Chairperson, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, outlined character, professionalism, and guidance in leadership as values necessary to build a better country.

Awosika stated that her interactions with Borodo, a former CompanySecretary of FBN Holdings, provided her with the necessary guidance and information she needed to settle down as chairperson.

Borodos gentle nature and ability to build bridges presents him as one of the mostdetrabilised Nigerians.

He is a strong family and relationship man, and interactions with him would have you building stronger family relationships.

I am comfortable and confident going back to Borodo to seek his guidance and counsel over a matter that he is capable of.

He is a leader that has the humility of spirit to encourage others, and can collaborate to contribute and nurture generations for a greater good.

I am certain that every person that would read the book now and in the future would get many valuable lessons, she said.

Also, Oba Otudeko, Chairman, Honeywell Flour Mills, stressed the need for all leaders, no matter how seasoned, to note their positions as students in the journey of life.

Otudeko said the publication was timely and would serve as a signpost as people journeyed through life.

Borodos leadership style became more clearer as he took up more responsibilities as company secretary, First Bank Holdings.

He is a sound leader, a great inspiration and an impact we need as a country, and has demonstrated it excellently as we worked together for over 20 years.

A Journey in Leadership offers insights into a better life, as the leaders mandate is to render services that would ease the burdens of the people, he said.

Chief Chris Okunowo, President, IoD, said the author demonstrated values of integrity and enterprise; principles notable to the Institute.

Okunowo urged young Nigerians to learn from people like Borodo and encourage participation of more people like him in the nations quest to move forward.

There is no doubt that he has imbibed the qualities of leadership from a very young age, as he learnt from his father and has displayed same in his day to day activities both in family life and the corporate space, he said.

Alhaji Adamu Muazu, former governor of Bauchi, commended the author for producing a well-written book that was inspiring.

He said it was one that could help and inspire everyone, particularly the younger generation, to educate and enlighten themselves for the benefit of humanity.

Responding to the encomiums, Borodo urged parents to be watchful and actively involved in the daily activities of their children, to tackle societal ills.

Borodo, stressing the importance of education, said that proceeds of the book launch would be used to fund a foundation by his mother, Hajiya Safiya Borodo.

According to him, the foundation aims to provide education and medical support to indigent children.

Education is key in any society and that is what we need to inculcate in this country, as an educated society is a successful society.

My advice to parents today is that they should put an eye on their children and be watchful of what they do, where they are and who they are with.

My father, every evening, made sure that every child was home for prayers, and that act informed the importance of togetherness and prayers.

Once that is taken care of, a lot of societal ills would be addressed for better national outcome, he said.

NAN also reports that Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, former Chairman, First Bank Limited, and Mr Fabian Ajogwu, Founding Partner of Kenna Partners, who read the book review, were among many other dignitaries at the book launch. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Harrison Arubu

Nigerian security forces fired shots into the air to disperse #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos on Oct. 20, according to the U.S. Department of State.

This assessment is contained in the 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices on Nigeria released by the department on Tuesday.

It contradicts claims by media reports and persons claiming to be witnesses that soldiers fired live bullets at the protesters.

Although Amnesty International reported that 10 persons died during the incident, the reports says there is no accurate information on the fatalities.

It says: On Oct. 20, members of the security forces enforced curfew by firing shots into the air to disperse protesters, who had gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos to protest abusive practices by the Nigerian Police Forces Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Accurate information on fatalities resulting from the shooting was not available at years end.

Amnesty International reported 10 persons died during the event, but the government disputed Amnestys report, and no other organisation was able to verify the claim.

The government reported two deaths connected to the event. One body from the toll gate showed signs of blunt force trauma.

A second body from another location in Lagos State had bullet wounds. The government acknowledged that soldiers armed with live ammunition were present at the Lekki Toll Gate, part of the report stated. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday approved about 26million dollars for various power projects in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, made this known to State House correspondents at the end of the Council meeting in Abuja.

He said the .62million of the amount (m) was the payment of the claims and the variation of onshore and offshore cost of the existing contract for the construction of 11 50 MBA three 31, 32, 33 KV sub-stations at Damaturu and 1330 KV land by extension at Gombi, Adamawa.

He revealed that an additional N102.9million was approved for the affected project.

The minister also disclosed that the remaining .38million of the total approval was meant for the design, manufacturing and supply of four fabricated sub-stations of 2100 MBA 132 33 KV power transformers with complete accessories for deployment to Damaturu, Potiskum, Biu, and Maiduguri.

He said: Today, the Federal Executive Council has graciously approved two memos from the Federal Ministry of Power.

One, it approved the payment of the claims and the variation of onshore and offshore cost of the existing contract for the construction of 11 50 MBA three 31, 32, 33 KV sub-stations at Damaturu and 1330 KV land by extension at Gombi in favour Msssr Kadlak International Limited in the sum of ,621,423.88 cents plus N102,905,606.07.

The other one is the approval of the contract for the design, manufacturing and supply of four fabricated sub-stations of 2100 MBA 132 33 KV power transformers with complete accessories for deployment to Damaturu, Potiskum, Biu, and Maiduguri for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in favour of Msssr Kidon T Good Electric Company Limited and Incomtel Engineering Limited in the sum of ,387,850.22 cents plus N1,475,204,584.34.

Altogether, it is N10,730,393,742.82.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr Zainab Ahmed, also told the correspondents that the Federal Government had budgeted N396 billion for the provision of COVID-19 vaccine in the 2022 Appropriation.

She said: Sometime in January, the President has, based on the request by the Ministry of Health, given in principle approval for the Ministry of Health to work with the Ministry of Finance, budget and National Planning to prepare and take to the National Assembly a supplementary budget for COVID-19 vaccination.

The submission that was made to Mr. President at that time was in the sum of N399 billion, but included in this N399 billion was a N103 billion for building of primary healthcare centres.

So we have worked with that and met several times with the ministry, we have agreed to back out from this building of primary health care centres, that can wait till later.

So there is still a provision of 396 billion for COVID-19 vaccinations for 2021 and 2022.

The minister explained that the delay in the submission of the supplementary budget on COVID-19 was because the government wanted to confirm the vaccines donation that Nigeria was expecting from donors.

There have been some delays because we expected the ministry to confirm the vaccines donation that Nigeria is expecting. We are expecting a total of not less than 43 million doses of vaccines.

So they are supposed to find out when those ones will come. Because, if we are going to get back the donated vaccines, and at the speed of the current rollout, we have to slow down on what we are buying ourselves.

So the ministry is working with partners that are donating these vaccines.

We see the timelines of the donations and see the gap that the government needs to fill in 2021, but we have already provided to the ministry funds to enable them roll out the four million vaccines that have been brought already into the country, and the vaccination process is ongoing.

So for us, it is still work in progress. We hope in the next couple of days, we will have clarity on the schedule of vaccines expected from donors, and then we will now be able to firm up what government has to provide for in 2021. And therefore the 2021 component we will provide it during the 2022 appropriations.

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the National Assembly led by the Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila met on Tuesday and agreed on supplementary budget for COVID19 vaccination and procurement of military hardware. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Philomina Attah

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says it will soon start the issuance of its enhanced 10 years validity passports in London and Atlanta, U.S.

The Controller-General of the Service, Mr Muhammad Babandede, disclosed this at a briefing with newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday.

Babandede said that the new enhanced passport would solve a lot of issues related to passport renewal by Nigerians in diaspora.

He said one of the challenges facing the agency was the none availability of passport booklets, adding that efforts were ongoing to address the problems.

He also added that the service was working at deploying more machines and personnel to Nigeria Foriegn missions abroad to clear the backlogs of passports for those who had registered.

The new enhanced passport is intended to solve many problems especially the number of times Nigerians need to come and renew their passports.

The idea is to also link the identity of Nigerians to their National Identification Number (NIN), which means we are reducing identity theft in the country, he said.

He said that while the service was affected by COVID-19 outbreak, it was taking advantage of the pandemic to improve on its services delivery and efficiency.

He added that the NIS had developed a website for such Nigerians who would want to return to apply and get clearance to board flight with their expired passports and on arrival in Nigeria get a new one.

With the closure of admissions due to COVID-19 policy in some countries, a lot of Nigerians are now holding expired passports.

Nigerians in such countries can now board an aircraft after applying to the C-G for approval and clearance recieved, can proceed to the airport for their onward journey to Nigeria.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has graciously approved it for the purpose of mitigating the problem with the opening of three front offices at our International Airports.

The airports are Nnamdi azikwe International Airport, Abuja, Aminu International Airport, Kano, and Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos.

This is to attend to passport needs of Nigerians on arrival before entrying into the country.

He, however, denied reports that the service was producing passport booklets in Malaysia, saying that the production was contracted to IRIS SmRt Technology Ltd., a company 100 per cent owned by Nigerians.

He added that the Minister of Interior, the Minister of justice, and the service were working on domestication of production of passport booklets in Nigeria to address the challenges of its non-availability. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Nicholas Obisike

Enugu State Government on Wednesday launched the COVID-19 Heroes and Heroines Campaign to celebrate survivors of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the celebration followed by the stat

The Deputy Governor, Mrs Cecelia Ezeilo, said that the event was to bring to the fore the dangers of contracting the virus and to reinforce the call for strict adherence to the safety protocols.

Ezeilo said that out of the 2, 287 confirmed cases in the state, 1, 923 patients had recovered and discharged with 285 cases still active.

Unfortunately, we have lost 29 patients as a result of complications of COVID-19. However, before us are survivors of the pandemic, she said.

The deputy governor said that the survivors were able to pull through in spite of the rumours and misinformation surrounding the scourge and the general hardship in the country.

She said that the survivors comprised citizens from different walks of life who were either treated at home or at the isolation centreby experienced physicians.

Ezeilo appealed to residents of the state to continue to adhere to the preventive measures put in place to check the spread of the virus.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Enugu State Ministry of Health, Dr Ifeanyi Akujiobi, said that the survivors needed to be celebrated to prove that contracting the virus was not a death sentence.

Akujiobi praised the survivors for using the public health facilities and isolation centres in the state even amidst stigmatisation.

He commended the state government for its efforts at ensuring that health facilities were on ground for the treatment of the virus and thanked the medical experts for their selfless services.

The Coordinator, Park Lane Isolation Centre, Enugu State University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital, Dr Okechukwu Ogbodo encouraged residents of the state to get vaccinated.

The representative of World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Ada Erinne, saidthat over 127 million cases had been confirmed globally as at March 30, 2021.

Erinne said that 2.7 million deaths had been reported to the WHO while 520 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered globally within the same time. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

The President, Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Victor Okhai, on Tuesday vowed to restore the dignity of directors in Nigerias movie industry.

Okhai said this during his inauguration as the new President of DGN at the guilds secretariat in Lagos.

He said that it was a new dawn for the guild and that every member, non-member and stakeholders in the entertainment industry, would witness the positive development in the making.

It is a new dawn and a whole new chapter has been opened. My first assignment is to change the motto of DGN.

You will agree with me that in production, the first among all equal, what we call primus inter pares, is the director.

We have lost our glory down the years and it is time to restore the glory of the directors and so the new motto is primus inter pares, which translates to first among the rest.

It, therefore, means that wherever we are, especially in production, the director is number one. He is first among the rest, he said.

Okhai said that it was time to restore the dignity of the DGN so that it can take its proper place locally and globally.

He added that his intention wasto take the guild to the promise land, by the grace of God.

Okhai said it behoved on the new executives to ensure capacity building for members, adding it would go a long way in restoring the dignity of the director.

He said that aside capacity building, the welfare of members was important.

Okhai said that the situation where members and colleagues found it difficult to take care of themselves without support from the guild would no longer be there.

We will engage the government and stakeholders, home and abroad, and most importantly, we will encourage unity among members which is key in the progress of this guild.

When we started this guild about 23 years ago, we didnt realise we would be here for a time like this. We, as young men then, just did what we did.

To the glory of God, we are here and the mandate has fallen on me to take it to another level.

I want to thank the outgoing president and the past presidents who have kept the guild alive until now. I thank members of the Board of Trustees, colleagues and may the souls of the departed rest in peace.

I want to thank you for the mandate that you have given me and I assure you that I will hold this mandate dearly and I will execute what you have given me to do with the best of my ability, he said.

The outgoing president, Fred Amata, urged the new president to ensure continuity in the positive governance of the guild.

According to him, the vision for a guild such as DGN must include the need to ensure members protection, welfare and development.

He said that the new regime needed to enhance the visibility, prestige and integrity of a guild to compete in a changing environment which had become increasingly expedient.

Today, we are proud to handover a guild that still dominates in practices within the movie industry. DGN is still the custodian of film art in Nigeria.

This handover note is prepared to ensure that there is continuity in the governance of our great guild.

I will like to congratulate the incoming President, Mr Victor Okhai. I pray the Almighty God give you great wisdom and great success as the sixth president of the Directors Guild of Nigeria. he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Deji Abdulwahab

The General Manager of the National Theatre, Prof. Sunday Ododo, says all arrangements have been put in place to establish a National Theatre Academy.

Ododo, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said the academy would hunt for talents as well as train and retrain practitioners in the creative industry.

We are coming up with the National Theatre Academy to hunt for talents as well as train and retrain those that are already in practice.

This National Theatre Academy will be for film and performing and allied arts.

The finest in the creative industry is what we want to produce.

I must add that we dont have all the money to do this, but to work in partnership with other stakeholders to drive this,he said.

The general manager recalled that barely two and half months in office, he had engaged relevant stakeholders through partnership.

This, he said, had helped his management to reduce cost.

So, that is what partnership can do. What I dont have but you have, you have to collaborate to make it happen.

We will rely on this to ensure that our dream to change the cultural landscape of Nigeria especially for creative and performing artists in Nigeria comes to stay,he said.

Ododo also said that his vision for the National theatre was to key intothe mandate of the Act that created it.

He said that he would run the theatre as a viable commercial project as well as preserve and protect the cultural heritage of the country.

Going forward, we want to give mobility for this mandate. The National Theatre to us is not just a structure, but a concept that envelopes the entire nation.

So, we cannot be left alone to project our national culture, we have to move round to the nooks and crannies of this nation.

At the moment, we have three operational stations outside Lagos. We have one in Jos, Kano and Calabar and of course, a liaison office in Abuja.

So, my vision is to discover more talents and give platform to the creativity industry in Nigeria to make gains and ensure that it puts food on their table,Ododo said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Deji Abdulwahab
The General Manager of the National Theatre, Prof. Sunday Ododo, says all arrangements have been put in place to establish a National Theatre Academy.

Ododo, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said the academy would hunt for talents as well as train and retrain practitioners in the creative industry.

We are coming up with the National Theatre Academy to hunt for talents as well as train and retrain those that are already in practice.

This National Theatre Academy will be for film and performing and allied arts.

The finest in the creative industry is what we want to produce.

I must add that we dont have all the money to do this, but to work in partnership with other stakeholders to drive this,he said.

The general manager recalled that barely two and half months in office, he had engaged relevant stakeholders through partnership.

This, he said, had helped his management to reduce cost.

So, that is what partnership can do. What I dont have but you have, you have to collaborate to make it happen.

We will rely on this to ensure that our dream to change the cultural landscape of Nigeria especially for creative and performing artists in Nigeria comes to stay,he said.

Ododo also said that his vision for the National theatre was to key into the mandate of the Act that created it.

He said that he would run the theatre as a viable commercial project as well as preserve and protect the cultural heritage of the country.

Going forward, we want to give mobility for this mandate. The National Theatre to us is not just a structure, but a concept that envelopes the entire nation.

So, we cannot be left alone to project our national culture, we have to move round to the nooks and crannies of this nation.

At the moment, we have three operational stations outside Lagos. We have one in Jos, Kano and Calabar and of course, a liaison office in Abuja.

So, my vision is to discover more talents and give platform to the creativity industry in Nigeria to make gains and ensure that it puts food on their table,Ododo said.

Source: NAN News

By Deji Abdulwahab
Prof. Sunday Ododo, General Manager, National Theatre, says the ongoing facelift of the theatre will provide job opportunities and creative hubs in the entertainment industry.

Ododo said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday during a visit to NAN Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.

The Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as well as Bankers Committee on Feb. 15 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to renovate the National Arts Theatre, Lagos.

According to Ododo, the ongoing facelift of the National Theatre is a total renovation of the entire structure and part of fallow land of the National Theatre.

You know very well that National Theatre is over 44 years old and no urgent intervention has been made on the iconic edifice that defines the cultural space of Africa.

The Bankers Committee with the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture came to the understanding to invest N21.8 billion to revamp and restore the iconic building.

What are the facilities in this building that will make meaning to economic gains for Nigeria and her people?

We have a main bowl that can seat 5,000 people at a go. We have two cinema houses that can seat 200 people and more.

We have a banquet hall that can be used to host occasions. We have two exhibition halls that can be used to host cultural exhibition, art gallery and so on.

We have a VIP Lounge and rooftop garden that can also host some meaningful entertainment and events and of course we have parks around the edifice, the theatre boss said.

According to him, by the time its fully fixed, it means expansion in terms of jobs creation for the youths because all of these spaces, facilities have to be managed.

Take for instance, to clean these facilities to make it conducive for users, you will need nothing less than 200 cleaners that will be working on a daily basis. So, that is job for Nigerians.

On the MoU that has just been signed, a company is going to be assigned to maintain the facilities on a constant basis.

Beyond these, when activities begin to happen, there are vendors as service providers that will gain from the activities of the National Theatre.

Because when we begin to host that kind of events, audiences are expected.

If you want to host an event that last two weeks, imagine that the people will come to that event will have access to such businesses that people around provide, Ododo said.

He said that the ongoing renovation of the theatre would provide four creative hubs in Information Communication Technology (ICT), Nollywood Movies, music and fashion.

We also have as part of these packages, provision of four creative hubs by the Bankers Committee through the Lagos State government.

Creative hubs in ICT, one in Nollywood Movies, one in music and another in fashion; so creative hub is to develop creative abilities of our children.

In fashion, they will come there and learn and go and set up their own. Those that have already established can come there to get some designed stuff and others.

Most of the things we take abroad today in movie production will be realisable in the National Theatre Creative hub.

And the biggest of all is the Information Technology (IT) because it is going to provide room for children that are to create packages, programmes, he said.

According to him, this can turn things around for the National economy.

We have confidence that Nigerians have people with creative abilities to create even something better.

So, the hub on ICT is going to provide that opportunity for our children. Today, Nigerian Music rules the world. There are many Davidos, Wizkids that have not met.

This is going to provide a platform for little or unknown creative artists in Nigeria to showcase their talents and become great.

So, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is very concerned about social inclusion to reduce poverty, Ododo said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Mufutau Ojo
The General Manager of the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, Prof. Sunday Ododo, shed more light on the ongoing restoration project at the theatre, describing the master plan of the edifice as massive and futuristic.

Ododo spoke in Abuja on Wednesday, when he paid a courtesy visit on the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Buki Ponle.

The Central Bank of Nigeria and the Bankers Committee have launched a N21.3 billion initiative to renovate the National Theatre and make it a world-class entertainment centre.

Ododo said that a new National Theatre would be showcased at the end of the restoration initiative.

The National Theatre is going through very radical restoration, revamping and renovation.

In the next 15 to 20 months or so, the nation is going to have a new National Theatre that can compete with any of its type in the world.

The masterplan is massive and futuristic. What I thought I was bringing were already there in the masterplan.

All we had to do was to give it a modern touch.

By the time it is fixed, we will be able to host world-class events like those of the UN, African Union and the Economic Community of West African States), Ododo said.

In his remarks, Ponle commended the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture for spear-heading the linkage between the National Theatre and the private sector that resulted in the restoration effort.

Ponle expressed his optimism that the current renovation would restore the glory of the National Theatre and change the face of the Nigerian entertainment industry for good.

He also gave an assurance on the determination of NAN management to partner with the National Theatre management.

The managing director, who recalled the age-long relationship between NAN and the National Theatre, pledged that NAN would continue to give media support to the activities of the management of the National Theatre.

We will ensure that all aspects of your programme are covered by NAN.

We will also go the extra-mile to ensure that you are given special publicity in the execution of your programmes.

We hope you would also reciprocate by buying into our bouquet of services, Ponle said.

Source: NAN News