Ikuru Lizzy

The Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has threatened to embark on a warning strike if the Federal Government continued to delay the implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary.

Mr Nwachukwu Anthony, Rivers Chairman of JUSUN, told newsmen on Wednesday in Port Harcourt that the union had decided to embark on the warning strike as soon as the 21-day ultimatum issued to the government lapsed on March 15.

He alleged that the executive arm of the Federal and State Governments had over the years refused to grant financial autonomy to the judiciary, which is the third arm of the government.

This refusal is clearly a way of enslaving the staff and making them subservient.

Our major demand is that if financial autonomy is not implemented it will lead to a total shutdown of all judicial facilities across the country, Nwachukwu said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that about three years ago, the Federal Government promised to negotiate with judicial staff on a better welfare package. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By George Odok
Obong of Calabar Ekpo-Okon Otu V has commended the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi for enhancing the relationship between the university and host communities.

Otu gave the commendation on Wednesday in Calabar when Obi and her management team visited the palace to invite him to the 34th convocation of the institution on March 27.

The Obong said that since the VC assumed office in Dec. 1, 2020, she has continued to involve the host communities in all activities in the institution.

He maintained that such harmonious relationship promotes peaceful co-existence and good image of the university.

I am particularly happy that the current VC is promoting the corporate image of the university by carrying all stakeholders along, especially the host communities.

We have had closer interactions with her; I must say that she is very straightforward and upright.

I want to assure you that the Palace will continue to give you the support that you need, he said.

He assured the VC that he was going to lead members of his cabinet to attend the convocation.

Speaking earlier, the VC extolled the virtues of the Obong and his cabinet members, saying that the Palace has given the institution the support it needs.

On behalf of the Senate of the university of Calabar, we are here today to invite the Obong of Calabar and members of his Palace to the 34th convocation ceremony of the institution scheduled for March 27.

Let me use this opportunity once again to thank the Obong of Calabar for all his advice, contributions and suggestions toward the growth of the university, she said.

The VC also visited the Paramount Rulers of Calabar South, Prof. Itam Hogan and that of Calabar Municipality, Eta Eteta III, to invite them for the convocation.

Both Paramount Rulers commended her for always carrying them along in the activities of the institution and assured her of their presence during the convocation.

Source: NAN News

By Deborah Coker
The Victim Support Fund (VSF) Emergency Taskforce on COVID-19 on Wednesday took donated items to three schools in Edo to curb the spread of the disease.

This was part of its third phase of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project following the successful implementation of the first and second phases of the intervention in curtailing the virus.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the three benefiting schools were each given a solar powered borehole, four hand wash stations and 2,000 pieces of reusable facemasks.

Other items are five pieces of four litre hand sanitizers, 120 bottles of 500ml liquid hand wash and five cartons of bleach.

The benefiting schools include Anglican Girls Grammar School (AGGS) and Itohan Girls Grammar School in Benin and Ewohimi Secondary School, Ikeken Ewohimi Esan South East Local Government Area.

Mrs Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, Chairman of the VSF taskforce disclosed that the hand-wash stations have been set up and the schools supplied with liquid hand-wash, sanitisers and bleach.

Akerele-Ogunsiji said that VSF would continue to provide succour to vulnerable Nigerians as well as give institutional support to agencies involved in the fight against COVID-19.

She urged the management of the benefiting schools to maintain the facility for the overall improvement of health of students and staff.

Mrs Betsy Obaseki, wife of the Edo Governor, while inaugurating the facilities, commended the quality of work, adding that the solar powered boreholes would have no challenge of light.

She also commended the complementary role of VSF in assisting government achieve its goal protecting residents.

Mrs Veronica Egbon, principal, AGGS, Senior Secondary, said the facilities donated would help eradicate COVID-19 in the school.

She appealed to the Edo Government to help in the electrification of the school in order to power the automated hand wash.

Source: NAN News

By Priscilla Osaje

Nollywood actress, Stephanie Okereke-Linus, has released a new short film, The Student, which creates awareness against sexual and gender-based violence (GBV).

The renowned actress, who frown at sexual and GBV issues that have become a thing of concern, took to her instagram handle @stephanielinus in a video clip, to announce the movie to fans and Nigerians, where she condemned the act in tertiary institutions.

There is help available! The prevalence of sexual harassment of female students in tertiary institutions is worrisome.

Many students are threatened with exam failure or other disturbing consequences if they refuse to succumb.

In this short film, we attempt to capture a scenario of how a young girl was able to get out of the trap of harassment.

Sexual harassment thrives when perpetrators are able to subject their victims into silence.

I would like to say to every young girl who might be experiencing this in one form or the other you have a voice, and it is time to use it!

Click on the link above to watch the short film and lets have a conversation about your thoughts in the comment section, she wrote.

The Student, a movie that called to action short film created by Linus and scripted by Adeola Adeyemo, followed the story of Jumi.

Jumi, a high-flying student, who fell victim to a lecturer with a history of sexual harassment.

The movie, which was directed by Chinedu Ben, also featured some film stars like Mary Agholor, Samuel Abah and Beshel Francis, among others.

The Student movie project, which was supported by @UNFPA, happens to be the second project of Linus productions for UNFPAs campaign on sexual and GBV.

The movie followed her Hey Woman monologue which debuted on March 1, celebrating International womens day.

Stephanie Okereke-Linus is a Nigerian actress, film maker and entrepreneur.

She is the Executive Director of Extended Hands Foundation, a non-governmental organisation which helps to facilitate free treatment for women and girls with obstetric fistula.

Her natural acting abilities and tenacity have earned her the reputation of one of the best actresses in Nollywood and African continent at large.

The renowned actress career rocketed ever since she debuted as an actress in the 1997 Nigerian movies, Compromise 1

By Bayo Olawunmi

Twelve Nigerians have been accredited to officiate in the 2021/2023 international basketball window.

Afolabi Oni, the Media Coordinator of Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

He said this followed the conclusion of the 2021 Federation International Basketball Association (FIBA) Commissioner and Referees examinations on Monday.

Oni added that current Technical Representative on the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) board, Adamu Janlong, was retained as Match Commissioner alongside Adeola Oboro and Akinsehinde Ishola.

Also, Lai Alimi made a return to the continent as a certified referee alongside renowned FIBA referee Kingsley Ojeaburu.

Others are Lagos-based Samuel Shofoluwe, Ayodeji Oladeji from Ibadan, Afolabi Ikuomola from Lagos, Opeyemi Ogunleye from Abuja and Gambo Musa from Jigawa.

New entrant Fatima Ibrahim from Abuja is the only female that passed the exam and physical test.

She is set to make her debut on the continent alongside Samuel Nuhu from Abuja who completed the 12-man list, he stated.

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Afonne

Mr Paul Edeh, Chairman, Naija Ratels football club of Abuja, has said that the love for the girl-child and not money propelled him into establishing two female football outfits.

Edeh, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Wednesday also said that he was moved by the huge gaps in the financial benefits between the male and female football players.

You discover that the transfer fees for the male cadre is huge compared to the female category.

In view of this, I thought it was an opportunity to make the difference because people dont like to venture into it, he said.

The Naija Ratels Chairman further said that the rate of neglect of the girl-child in the society and disparity in monetary gains in various government owned clubs necessitated his action.

Another reason which propelled me to venture into this is the rate at which the government has paid less attention to female players in various football clubs.

You will see that opportunities are given more to the male folk in almost every sector of the society, including football.

There is disparity in terms of players remuneration in government owned clubs to the extent I felt, perhaps, maybe because they didnt have the opportunity of becoming medical doctors or lawyers as every other person.

I see this as an opportunity to help them make a career out of football since they have chosen it as a trade hoping that it will provide them the platform to excel in life.

I could have been discouraged when we started in Benue because we did badly in all the games we played having lost 0-5 and 0-7 to the national under-17 and under-20 female teams respectively.

We also went to the amateur playoffs and finished the tournament on the last spot.

This could have discouraged us but what we were doing wasnt about money or what we stand to gain, but for the girl-child, Edeh said.

He noted that the team had improved tremendously following aggressive recruitments they did from the grassroots.

He further said that over N100 million had been spent to pay salaries of his players and officials as well as registration for the NECO and WAEC examinations of those in secondary school.

Edeh added: We have spent our money on scholarships for our players; the scholarships are 100 per cent and some are in the university.

We have paid WAEC fees for 15 players who are in secondary school and we are paying for another 20 players who are to write NECO.

This gesture is for the players of Naija Ratels, a team based in Abuja, and its sister club Honey Badgers, based in Makurdi, Benue.

NAN reports that Niaja Ratels are among the nine female clubs in the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), Championship Division, also known as Division One.

Others clubs in the division are Kwara Ladies FC, Ubakala Queens FC, Kaduna Queens FC, Invincible Angels FC, Moje Queens FC, Female Machine FC, Omidiran Babes FC and Beautiful Tours Angels FC. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Afonne

President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to virtually declare open the 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) scheduled to commence in Edo on April 2.

Musa Ebomhiana, Head of Media and Communications, Local Organising Committee (LOC), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that President Buhari would virtually declare the fiesta officially open on April 6, four days after its commencement.

Ebomhiana said the April 2 commencement date for the event was sacrosanct and remained unchanged among parties, unlike the previous times when they were later changed.

The presidency has graciously agreed to declare the Games open on April 6, after the Easter holiday, he said.

Ebomhiana, who is also the Chief Press Secretary to the Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, noted that the state had been ready for the games since March 2020.

He said the state had all the equipment and facilities on ground preparatory for the commencement of the games before the coronavirus pandemic struck and then the lockdown.

According to Ebomhiana, the NSF will witness few changes in its format following the drastic reduction in the number of athletes and officials expected at the games.

The two-phase plan will no longer hold because the number of athletes and officials has reduced from 14,000 to 8,000; this reduction is almost half the initial expected number.

So, there might be no need for the two-phase arrangement, but we have insisted on the production of COVID-19 vaccination certificates by all the athletes and officials coming from the 36 states and the FCT.

They must present these certificates before they can be allowed to enter the Games Villages.

Aside showing the certificate of COVID-19 vaccination, there must be evidence of athletes and officials taking the vaccine at least 12 days to their arrival in Edo.

All other protocols put in place must be observed too, Ebomhiana said.

He added that the Main Organising Committee (MOC) had since last week Friday officially communicated the necessary information to the 36 states and the FCT.

The NSF LOC official also added that the Edo Deputy Governor, who doubles as LOC Chairman, had also issued a statement on the information.

Ebomhiana explained that the information, especially as it concerned COVID-19 guidelines, were communicated to state contingents as officials of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and PTF on COVID-19 would be on ground to enforce the protocols.

He further explained the NCDC and PTF officials would arrive in the state four days to the arrival of officials and delegates to ensure the COVID-19 guidelines were adhered to.

There wont be any opportunity of anybody being vaccinated at the venue; one must have been vaccinated at least 12 days before coming, and certificates presented, if not, we wont allow the person or team into our Games villages. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Rita Iliya

The Niger Government has announced the outbreak of avian influenza (flu) in a cluster of poultry farms in the state.

The Information Officer, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Mr Abubakar Kuta, stated this in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Minna.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that poultry in the state were being infected by type A flu.

The statement disclosed that thousands of birds in the state, worth millions of naira, had been lost to the flu.

It advised poultry farmers to be vigilant and to report any incident of sudden high mortality of their birds to the ministry.

The statement advised farmers to maintain strict farm hygiene, restrict movement of vehicles and people into their farms.

It also advised them to disinfect farm premises and utensils to check the transmission of the virus.

It also cautioned farmers against the exchange of egg crates and other equipment from other farms.

The statement advised the public and livestock marketers to minimise contacts with sick and dead birds.

Source: NAN News

By Ikenna Osuoha

Imo Young Professionals, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) of Imo citizens, has expressed displeasure with the spate of insecurity and unemployment in the state in recent times.

Mr Chris Anyanwu, Lead Convener of the group, said this in a news conference in Abuja.

Anyanwu said that insecurity and unemployment had increased beyond the imagination of Imo people.

Anyanwu urged Gov. Hope Uzodinma to present to the people a workable blueprint on how to tackle problem of unemployment and insecurity in the state.

We have said it before and we are restating it today, that we challenge the government of Imo to present to the people a workable blueprint on how the government intends to tackle the problem of unemployment in the state.

This is with the view to prospectively rechanneling the enormous human capital resources that abound in the state, he said.

Anyanwu, who reiterated the concern of his group about the spate of insecurity, said that the state was gradually degenerating to theatre of slaughter.

He said that there was general sense of civil unrest in the state with various degrees of assassinations.

Last month a 64-year-old lawyer and former chairperson of Imo branch of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ndionyeoma Nwankwo, was murdered in cold blood right in his office at 43 School Road, Owerri.

Just last week, a young man by name Ukachukwu Amadigwe, was gunned down in his prime in Umunnoha Autonomous community, Mbaitoli LGA, on account of frivolous Ezeship tussle.

The Convener, who called on the governor to shun political showmanship, said it was time to rise to his responsibilities of protecting lives and property.

Anyanwu said that in the last one year, the state had maintained the status of Nigerias unemployment capital with the latest National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report.

According to him, cybercrime, otherwise called yahoo yahoo, is on the increase in the state because education is de-emphasised.

Anyanwu, however, called for a collaboration of all Imo people to drive development in the state by urging the governor to galvanise policies that would rescue the state from the doldrums of food and physical insecurity. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismail Abdulaziz
Africas largest cement producer, Dangote Cement Plc has remained a major contributor to the economy with a tax charge of N97 billion for the financial year ended Dec. 31, 2020, even as it proposed a dividend of N16 per share.

According to the cement groups audited results released on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the tax charge represents an increase over the sum of N50 billion recorded in 2019.

Dangote Cements Nigerian operations during the period sold 15.9Mt for the full year 2020, compared to 14.1Mt in 2019, which includes both cement and clinker sales.

Looking at the domestic sales alone, Nigerian operations sold 15.6Mt.

Revenues for the Nigerian operations came in at 720.0 billion, owing to demand in the domestic market.

This volume growth was enhanced by a successful innovative national consumer promotion Bag of Goodies Season 2 and lower rains in the third quarter compared to the previous year.

Dangote Cement posted a record high Pan-African Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of 71.3 billion.

Within the period under review, the cement group commissioned its gas power plant in Tanzania; Group earnings per share was 16.14.

Dangote Cement recorded strong performance not only at the top line but also at the bottom line, owing to cost saving measures.

In spite of inflationary pressures and foreign exchange volatility, disciplined cost control measures enabled the company to maintain a relatively flat cash cost per tonne.

The cost control measures include improved plant efficiency, better fuel mix and general overhead optimisation.

Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Cement Plc, Michel Puchercos, in his comments on the results, said: 2020 was a good year for Dangote Cement across board. Several firsts made 2020 a productive year such as our maiden clinker shipment, maiden bond issuance and successful buyback programme.

We increased our capacity by 3Mt in Nigeria, commissioned our two export terminals and commissioned our gas power plant in Tanzania. All these were achieved whilst we focused on protecting our people, customers and communities from the impact of the pandemic.

Looking ahead, we have strengthened our Alternative Fuel initiative which focuses on leveraging the circular economy business model and reducing exposure of our cost base to foreign currencies fluctuations. We continue to embed Dangote Cements 7 sustainability pillars into every aspect of our operation and culture.

We remain committed to keeping safe our staff and communities by being fully compliant with health and safety measures in all our territories of operation. We are focused on adapting to the rapidly evolving markets in which we operate.

Dangote Cement Plc is sub-Saharan Africas largest cement producer with an installed capacity of 45.6Mt across 10 African countries and operates a fully integrated quarry-to-customer business with activities covering manufacturing, sales and distribution of cement.

Dangote Cement has a long-term credit rating of AA by GCR and Aa2.ng by Moodys due to its market leading position, significant operational scale and strong financial profile.

These are evidenced by the companys robust operating and net profit margins relative to regional and global peers, adequate working capital, satisfactory cash flow and low leverage.

Dangote Cement is a subsidiary of Dangote Industries Limited, a diversified and fully integrated conglomerate as well as a leading brand across Africa in businesses such as cement, sugar, salt, beverages, and real estate.

It also has new multi-billion dollar projects underway in the oil and gas, petrochemical, fertiliser and agricultural sectors.

Source: NAN News