Map of Abia State, Nigeria

By Leonard Okachie

At least 16 political parties and their Governorship Candidates for the March 18 poll in Abia on Thursday signed a Peace Accord to be of good conduct during the exercise.

The event, organised by the state Police Command, took place at the Officers Mess, near Government House, Umuahia.

It was attended by Chief Ikechi Emenike (APC), Chief Okey Ahiwe (PDP), Chief Enyinnaya Nwafor (YPP), Bishop Sunday Onuoha (ADC), Mr Mascot Uzor-Kalu (APP) and Dr Ukpai Iroh Ukpai (NNPP), amongst others.

The ADD candidate, Onuoha, who spoke on behalf of others shortly after the signing formalities, gave assurance that they would abide by the electoral guidelines and shun violence.

He said: Abia is Gods Own State and we are God-loving people.

We are going to show Abia people, Nigerians and indeed the whole world that Abia will be a reference point for peace.

In an opening remark, the Commissioner of Police, Mustapha Bala, who supervised the signing formalities, commended the political parties for their peaceful disposition during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

He urged them to continue to be peace ambassadors of their parties and see themselves as brothers and sisters, irrespective of party inclinations.

The state police boss assured them that the security agencies would provide a level playing field for all the candidates and their parties in order to ensure a peaceful poll.

Similarly, Mr Clement Oha, the INEC Administrative Secretary promised that the commission would deliver a credible election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 16 political parties signed the accord. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Sam Oditah

Source: NAN News

ECOWAS Heads of State and Government

By Temitope Ponle

Womens Forum of the ECOWAS Court of Justice has described gender balance as not an issue concerning the woman, but an economic one.

President of the forum Mrs Frances Ibanga, said this at the Womens Forum of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice International Womens Day (IWD) celebration which was held on March 8.

She identified advocacy, inclusive mindset, and tangible action as elements needed from all at the sub-regional level.

Framework for the protection and promotion of the rights of women are provided for the ECOWAS vice treaty and annex protocols and convention, she said.

She also said the day was a global one to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.

This day provides a useful opportunity to reinforce the fact that everyone has a role to play in forging a more gender-balanced world and the importance of treating women fairly and equally, without any bias or prejudice.

The theme of the 2023 IWD is Digit All: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality.

She said the theme was carefully selected to celebrate the women who were championing the advancement of transformative technology and digital education.

This theme exploring the impact of the digital gender gap widening economic and social inequalities aims to highlight the importance of protecting the rights of women in digital spaces and the need to address ICT gender-based violence.

Furthermore, technology and innovation are part of our everyday life.

We needed to tackle our daily humanitarian challenges in every sphere of life be it business, education, or entertainment.

As technology advances, we see the wide digital divide between genders, and the divide has become the new face of gender inequality, she added.

Ibanga, however, said the growing inequalities were becoming increasingly evident in the context of digital skills and access to technologies.

She said the United Nations 2020 data revealed that seven per cent of women did not use the internet and were also grossly underrepresented in tech-related fields.

She said the report showed only 22 per cent of positions in artificial intelligence held by women.

She also said 2023 IWD was the day to take the campaign to the next level, re-emphasing gender equality is basically creating the same opportunities to the human perspective agenda.

Let us, therefore, speak in one voice and ask in unison to protect the rights of women and girls in digital spaces as technology empowers women to capitalise on opportunities and express their opinions, she said.

Also speaking, Mrs Pauline Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development said the aim of the IWD celebration at the court was to discuss and raise awareness.

Tallen said the awareness raised was on how to improve access to digital tools for achieving gender equality and empowerment of women and girls.

A gender-responsive approach to innovation in digital education can increase the awareness of women and girls regarding rights and civic engagement.

Advancements in technology offer different opportunities, address development, and humanitarian challenges and achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.

The minister, however, said growing inequalities were becoming increasingly evident in the context of digital skills and access to technologies, with women being left behind.

She said the need for inclusive and transformative technology, and digital education was crucial for a sustainable future.

Also, Beatrice Eyong, United Nations Women Representative to Nigeria said the 2023 IWD theme was allied with the theme of the ongoing 67th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York.

The theme for the CSW 67 is innovation and technology, technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women.

DigitAll also is a call is a clarion call from all stakeholders for the need to invest more in digital solutions and this theme is also reminding us of the importance of innovation and technology for gender equality.

Eyong said there were many studies that had shown the importance of gender equality.

The UN representative, however, said the world womens levels of internet connectivity were low due to a number of gender-specific barriers, which create a digital gender gap.

Women with internet access are around twice as likely to recall that they were able to find products at a good price.

They were able to open a bank account and they were able to find people to hire to do work for them.

Such examples show the transformative potential of internet access and inclusion in digital technology for women, which contribute to closing the gender gap, advancing gender equality and womens empowerment.

Failing to do so brings significant political, social and cultural costs and in particular economic costs.

She also said there was a digital platform, developed by UN women globally, that enabled women to access information in real-time about the climate of the market of inputs and enabled agricultural extension officers to train women online to monitor farms. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

DD/Website

Don seeks adoption of outcome-based education in engineering

Engineering

By Olatunde Ajayi

Ibadan, March 10, 2023 (NAN) Prof. John Olorunmaiye, the former Vice-Chancellor, Crown-Hill University, has called for the adoption and implementation of the Outcome-Based Education (OBE) to enhance the quality of engineering education in Nigeria.

Olorunmaiye made made the call at the second Prof. Olusoji Ofi Distinguished Academic Lecture 2023 organised by the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE), Ibadan chapter, on Thursday.

He said the adoption of OBE in the training of engineers would make them employable globally.

According to him, OBE emphasises student-centered learning and focuses on output instead of input.

Olorunmaiye, the guest lecturer at the event, listed some of the problems affecting the delivery of high quality engineering education in Nigeria as inadequate number or quality of academic and non-academic staff in many universities.

We also have excessive number of students in some universities especially public universities, lack of modern equipment or inadequate number of equipment in the laboratories, weak or poor industrial training programmes and poorly motivated staff, among others, he said.

Specific and clearly defined outcome must be described to the students to set their own expectations and means to achieve the desired outcome.

If the students trained in the engineering programmes run in Nigerian universities are to compete well with products of similar programmes trained in developed countries, there is a need to enhance the quality of engineering education, he said.

Also speaking, the National Chairman, NIMechE, Dr Olufunmilade Akingbagbohun, said that the lecture was apt as it addressed what the country needs for growth and development.

Akingbagbohun said engineering remains the bedrock of growth and development for any country.

Any nation that aspires to grow or develop requires engineering because the profession is about problem solving, she said.

She said that NIMechE had created many solutions in engineering with professional development and innovation strategic programme.

We have started industry academic parley by taking people from industry to the academia to bridge the huge gap between the classroom and industry, she said.

The celebrant, Prof. Olusoji Ofi, the former Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration, University of Ibadan (UI), said that the guest lecturer who also graduated from UI represented the original design concept of engineering profession of the university.

Ofi, a Fellow of Nigeria Society of Engineers and the inventor of the first instant powdered pounded yam in the world, thanked NIMechE for the recognition of his contributions to the engineering profession.

Earlier, Chairman, NIMechE, Oyo State chapter, Mr Victor Ogunranti, also a Fellow of Nigeria Society of Engineers, said that the lecture was named after the celebrant to give him a long-deserved proper recognition for his humble sacrifice and service as the doyen of Mechanical Engineering. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
TUN/JNC

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Defence Headquarters said on Thursday that a total of 1,332 terrorists and their family members surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai across North East in the last two weeks.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, made this known during the bi-weekly news briefing on the operations of the armed forces in Abuja.

Danmadami said the surrendered terrorists comprised 222 adult males, 411 adult females and 699 children.

He added that while eight terrorists were neutralised during the period, troops also apprehended 35 terrorists logistics suppliers and rescued 19 civilian victims.

Danmadami said the troops recovered 10 AK47 rifles, one LMG, seven rounds of 5.56 ammunition, one LMG link containing 111 rounds of 7.62mm NATO.

Others are 200 rounds of LMG ammunition, 46 rounds of 7.62mm special and 12 rounds of refilled and 7.62mm special.

He added that troops also recovered two dane guns, four AK47 magazines loaded with 102 rounds of 7.62mm special, 24 other AK 47 magazines, 36 hand grenades and one motorcycle.

All recovered items, rescued civilians, and apprehended suspects have been handed over to the appropriate authority for further action while surrendered terrorists and members of their families are being profiled for further action, he said.

Defence spokesman said the air component of Operation Hadin Kai also eliminated scores of terrorists in their enclaves during several air interdiction operations.

According to him, feedback revealed that the airstrike dealt a heavy blow to the terrorists as several terrorists were neutralised with their logistics destroyed.

In North West zone, Danmadami said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji and other operations had continued to sustain their dominance over the menace of terrorists and other criminal activities in the zone.

He said the troops had within the weeks in review, neutralised 13 bandits as well as rescued 23 kidnapped victims.

According to him, troops recovered seven AK47 rifles, 12 AK47 magazines, 158 rounds of 7.62mm special, one locally fabricated weapon, four Improvised Explosive Devices and two dane guns from the bandits.

He said troops also recovered one motorcycle, one handheld radio, nine bicycles, 39 rustled cows, 74 sheep and N10.5 million cash.

Danmadami said that the recent cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), coupled with the sustained effort of the military had led to reduction in incidences of kidnapping. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Ezugu/Ejike Obeta

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Defence Headquarters says the troops of the armed forces, nabbed eight political thugs at Okehi in Okene Local Government Area of Kogi during the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, made this known at the bi-weekly news briefing on the operations of the armed forces on Thursday in Abuja.

Danmadami said the thugs were arrested in an attempt to disrupt the electoral process in the area.

He said the troops recovered three pump action guns, two locally fabricated AK 47 rifles, six locally made assorted guns and two daggers.

Danmadami said the troops of Operation Safe Haven had on Feb. 26, arrested five suspected cattle rustlers and recovered 35 rustled cattle at Lobirin village in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau.

He added that the troops also on March 4, responded to an attack on Angwan Lilu in Royom Local Government Area of Plateau and engaged the criminals in a fire fight.

He said the encounter led to the recovery of several weapons from the criminals who fled.

In Benue, Danmadami said the troops of Operation Whirl Stroke conducted a raid operation to Utange village in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, neutralising two bandits and recovered cache of arms and other sundry items.

In the same vein, troops conducted fighting to within Zaki-Biam town in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area and arrested seven terrorists.

Preliminary investigation revealed that suspects have been involved in criminal activities within the local government area.

Troops also recovered AK47 rifle, 19 locally made pistol, one dane gun, two machetes and four mobile phones from the terrorists.

Accordingly, within the weeks in focus, troops in the North Central Zone recovered five AK47 rifles, three pump action guns,19 locally fabricated pistol and three dane gun, he said.

According to him, six locally made assorted rifles, 163 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 17 empty cases of 7.62mm ammunition, two machetes, two wrist watches, seven mobile phones and 35 rustled cattle were recovered.

Troops also neutralized two terrorists and arrested seven suspected terrorist as well as eight political thugs.

All recovered items, arrested terrorists have been handed over to relevant authority for further action, he said. (NAN) ()

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

PEBEC Secretary, Dr Jumoke Oduwole and other PEBEC staff during a media briefing in Abuja

By Lucy Ogalue

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring Ministries, Departments, and Agencies(MDAs) complied with the Executive Order 001(EO1) on Transparency and Efficiency in the Nigerian Business Environment.

Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Special Adviser to the President, Ease of Doing Business and Secretary, Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), said this on Thursday in Abuja.

Oduwole restated PEBECs promise to continuously track and keep the business community updated on MDAs performance through its Executive Order report.

She said in the PEBECs 2022 EO1 Compliance Report, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) performed the highest with 81.11 per cent.

She said the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council (FCCPC) came second and third with 78.68 per cent and 68.37 per cent respectively.

The PEBEC secretary said Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) came fourth with 64.59 per cent and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) fifth with 63.68 per cent.

According to Oduwole, the codification of EO1 directives in the Business Facilitation Act 2022 is a major development in the efforts to entrench EO1 in the psyche of the Civil Service.

She expressed optimism that the legal provisions enshrined in it would serve as a stimulus for a more transparent and efficient public service delivery in Nigeria.

On penalties for noncompliance, Oduwole said there were penalties for public office holders in the public service rule.

She, however, called on the private sector to report cases of corruption or abuse of the act.

She urged Nigerians to explore the Business Facilitation Act 2022 to ensure the reduction in most bottlenecks encountered in doing business in the country.

The secretary also called on the media to collaborate with PEBEC to create more awareness among the public on the benefits of the Order.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EO1 was issued as the President Muhammadu Buhari administrations first Executive Order on May 18, 2017.

It is meant to strengthen the implementation of business climate reforms and deepen collaboration among MDAs by instituting a systemic change management process for reforms.

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

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

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Ismail AbdulAziz

Source: NAN News

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