By Monday Ajogun

Edo governor Godwin Obaseki says he has so far created 157,000 jobs out of the 200,000 he promised the state.

Obaseki made the disclosure in his speech at the 2019 Alaghodaro Youth Summit in Benin on Monday.

I have done what many politicians will not do; during my campaign, I promised to create a minimum 200,000 jobs within my first term, through the Edo Skills Development Agency (Edojobs).

Politicians wont give themselves such targets in case they dont meet it.

If government gives the youths the needed support, you will see that 200,000 jobs will be a piece of cake.

Today, I am glad and happy that at the last count, we have created 157,000 jobs in Edo, he said.

The governor said that facts about the jobs were available for anyone to verify.

It is not just me saying it; you can find this in a publication Business Day.

They undertook an independent evaluation and told me that the skills development agency was able to create 45, 000 through job tracking.

From the records, 3,500 jobs were created through jobs matching and placement, 23,000 jobs through Edo Innovation Jobs, 1,300 jobs from Edo food and agricculture cluster, and 15,000 jobs from Edo Production Centre.

We have also created 12,000 jobs from the National Social Investment Programme, 10,000 from the Ministry of Wealth Creation, and 32,000 indirect jobs. The data is all there and you can verify them, he said.

The governor said that his administration was out to change the narrative and mindset that education was all about certificate.

The introduction of Edojobs was to help the youth to retrace their direction in life, he said.

Obaseki assured the people that government was keen on improving their standards of living, adding that human development had remained the focus because that was key to growth and prosperity.

Source: NAN

By Segun Giwa

A member representing Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency, Mr Tajudeen Adefisoye has condemned the setting ablaze of the secretariat of the Social Democratic Party in Lokoja, Kogi State Capital, by suspected political thugs.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Oluyemi Fasipe on Monday in Akure, Adefisoye condemned the incessant attacks on SDP Secretariat and its members in Kogi.

He said that barely five days to the governorship election in the state in the early hours of Monday, unknown hoodlums set the SDP secretariat in Lokoja on fire.

The lawmaker, who is the only SDP member in the National Assembly, rued the culture of political intolerance and do or die brand of politics being practised in Kogi State and said this should be condemned by every right-thinking Nigerian.

This attack on our party secretariat and members of the party in Lokoja is condemnable and those in charge of the states security architecture must get to the root of it.

This same secretariat was attacked on Sunday and its doors and windows were shattered, while campaign materials, posters and banners were also destroyed.

It is most unfortunate that the failure of security agents to act was what emboldened the political thugs to set the whole secretariat ablaze early on Monday morning.

We are only preparing for an election and not a war. Those trying to create an atmosphere of war in the run-up to the Nov. 16 governorship election in Kogi State should be reined in as a matter of urgency, he said.

Meanwhile, Adefisoye urged all the supporters of SDP gubernatorial candidate in Kogi State, Mrs Natasha Akpoti to remain law-abiding and not to contemplate avenging the attacks so far launched on the party by sponsored political thugs.

Source: NAN

The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mabushi, Abuja in collaboration with Jiadnis Consultancy Services Limited is inviting applications from new entrants, artisans and craftsmen in the Building industry for core skills training program in Lagos and Abuja.

Applications are invited for:

Federal Ministry of Works and Housing Anchorship Skills Training Program for Artisans and Craftsmen

Description

• The training package is aimed at giving the participants the knowledge and approaches needed to ensure effective delivery of their Trades relevant to the Building Industry.

Scope of Training
A total of 240 participants will be trained in 2 Locations for 4 weeks (Lagos and Abuja) for the following Trades:

• Painting and POP Design
• Plumbing
• Carpentry/Furniture/Woodwork
• Masonry/Concreting
• Tiling and sub-divided into 2 segments:
  • Course 1 For New Entrants
  • Course 2 For Craftsmen and Artisans

Certification

• Professional Certificates will be issued to participants atter relevant evaluations.

Eligibility Requirements and Entry Qualifications
Interested Participants are to submit copies of their Identity Card alongside their certificates:

Course 1 Minimum of:

• Secondary School Modern III Certificate
• Trade Test III.
• WAEC S.75 Certificate
• JSS III Certificate

Course 2 Minimum of:

• WAEC Technical Certificate
• C&G Certificate Part 1 or intermediate
• Craft Training School Certificate
• Trade Test I and II.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates are to submit 2 hard copies of their credentials in sealed envelope clearly marked as “Course 1” or “Course 2” and addressed to:
The Principal,
Building Crafts Training School,
Harvey Road,
Yaba, Lagos State.
Or
The Principal,
Architectural Technicians and Building Crafts Training School,
Kuje, Abuja.

Furthermore, the reverse of each sealed envelope should have the name, address, phone number and email of the Participant.

General Information

• Applicants cannot apply for more than one course

• All submission costs will be borne by the participants

• Documents submitted after the deadline will be returned unopened

• All shortlisted candidates will be contacted at a later date for details of Training.

Application Deadline: 2:00 pm, 18th October, 2019.

Students, who are wishing to apply for a study fund inSouth African, may apply for the Orange Tulip programme which is offers by the University Medical Centre of the University of Groningen.

This study program is open for qualified candidates in its research Masters Molecular Medicine and Innovative Treatment, and Clinical andPsychosocialEpidemiology.

Course Level:Masters Program

Award:100% (full tuition fee)

Access Mode:Online

Number of Awards:Varies

Nationality:Non-EU students

The award can be taken intheNetherlands

Eligibility

Eligible Countries:Non-EU students applications are particularly welcome.

Acceptable Course or Subjects:The sponsorship will be awarded in Molecular Medicine and Innovative Treatment, Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology, Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology track Health Systems and Prevention Masters degree subjects offered by the university.

Admissible Criteria: Non-EU students are eligible to apply for this application program.

How to Apply:If you wish to participate, candidates need to fulfill the Orange Tulip ScholarshipApplication Form.

• Admission Requirements:When you are ready to prepare your application, you will need to submit the Bachelors degree, TOEFL 92 (iBT), IELTS 6.5.
• Language Requirements: In order to be eligible applicants must be able to speak and understand English to a level sufficient to function in a research role.

Benefits:At the university, students will receive a 100% full tuition fee through this application program.

Application Deadline: 1 March 2020

Source: Scholarships And Aid

If you would like to apply for postgraduate study in South Africa you may wish to consider thePostgraduateFunding Opportunities at Nelson Mandela University for the academic year 2020-2021.

Whether applicants are fromSouth Africa, other parts of Africa or overseas, and also in any discipline is eligible to apply for this funded education.

Course Level:Postgraduate Honors, Masters or Doctoral degree

Award:Varying from R 1,500 to R700,000

Access Mode:Online

Number of Awards:Varies

Nationality:Domestic and International Students

The award can be taken inSouth Africa

Eligibility

Eligible Countries:Domestic and International Students are particularly welcome.

Acceptable Course or Subjects:The studentships are available for Postgraduate Honors,MastersorDoctoraldegree candidates into the various programs offered by the university.

Admissible Criteria: The grant is available to applicants who are from South Africa, other parts of Africa or abroad and also wish to obtain a postgraduate Honors, Masters or Doctorate degree in any discipline.

How to Apply:To take advantage of this program, aspirants must have to apply foradmissionto this university. After taking admission applicants have to meet the generalentry requirementsof the university and apply for bursary/scholarship opportunities.

• Admission Requirements:When you are ready to prepare your application, you will need to check out theadmission requirements page.
• Supporting Documents:For external bursary/applications, an official academic record (on Nelson Mandela University letterhead) must be attached. Should any qualification have been obtained at another university, the relevant academic records must accompany the application form.
• Language Requirements: Applicants whose first language is not English are usually required to provide evidence of proficiency in English at the higher level required by the University.

Benefits:The Nelson Mandela University provides a varying award amount from R 1,500 to R700,000.

Application Deadline:Open for 2020-2021

Source: Scholarships And Aid

The aim of this Merit Award (PMA) is to assist graduates to complete Honors,MastersorPhDdegrees by research or by a combination of course work and research on both a full-time and part-time or Block release basis.

Course Level:Undergraduate, Postgraduate Honors, Masters degree

Award:Tuition fees

Access Mode:Online

Number of Awards:Varies

Nationality:South Africa citizens

The award can be taken inSouth Africa

Eligibility Criteria:

Eligible Countries:South Africa citizens are particularly welcome.

Acceptable Course or Subjects:The studentships are available for Undergraduate, Postgraduate Honors, and Masters degree candidates into the various programs offered by the university.

Admissible Criteria: The grant is available to applicants who are from South Africa and who wish to obtain an Undergraduate, Postgraduate Honors, and Masters degree in any discipline.

Method of Application: To take advantage of this program, aspirants must have to apply foradmissionto this university. After taking admission applicants must fulfill theapplication form.

• Admission Requirements:When you are ready to prepare your application, you will need to check out theadmission requirements page.
• Supporting Documents:for the opportunity applications, applicants need to provide certified copies of academic transcripts and degree certificates, certified Key to grades in percentages.
• Language Requirements: The candidate should have a very good command of the English language. Therefore, the application should be written in English.

Benefits:The University of Witwatersrand is providing tuition fees to a maximum of R51 200 will be awarded to students who qualify. This award is based purely on academic merit.

Scholarship Application Deadline:30th of April 2020

Source: Scholarships And Aid

The Edith Cowan University is now accepting applications for Executive Deans Master of Business Scholarship. The award is open for international students for the academic year 2019-2020.

The program provides an opportunity to re-organize the way higher education is delivered in a specific and inspiring campus environment.

Course Level: MBA

Award: 20% reduction in tuition fees

Access Mode: Online

Number of Awards: Not known

Nationality: International

The award can be taken inAustralia

Eligibility

• Eligible Countries: International students (except New Zealand) are eligible to apply for the opportunity .
• Acceptable Course or Subjects: MBA degree coursework in any subject offered by the university.
• Admissible Criteria: To be eligible, the candidates must meet all the followingcriteria:
• Be an International student, not an Australian Citizen, Australian Permanent Resident, or New Zealand Citizen.
• Not be in receipt of a government award or industry sponsorship.
• Be issued an offer to study the Masters of Business Administration course.

How to Apply:If university approves your ECU course application youll automatically be assessed for this application by our Admissions Office. No separate application is required. Candidates invited to apply through any one ofECUs Authorised Agents. They can also apply online viatheECU Online Application Portal. Please note that if youre a citizen of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh or Nigeria you must apply through an ECU Authorised Agent.

• Supporting Documents:Not given
• Admission Requirements:The minimum requirements include a Bachelors degree or equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional (work) experience. You will also need to meet Course Specificrequirements.
• Language Requirement:Applicants will need to demonstrate your English competency to enter any of our courses. Minimum English competencyrequirementscan change, depending on the course youre interested in, and whether its an undergraduate or postgraduate course.

The scholarship offers a 20 percent reduction in tuition fees for the duration of the course at ECU.

Application Deadline: July 31, 2020

Source: Scholarships And Aid

By Temitope Ponle

The House of Representatives has directed its Committee on Capital Market and Institutions to investigate unclaimed share dividends in the capital market, valued at over N126.03 billion.

This followed the unanimous adoption of a motion moved by Rep. Babangida Ibrahim at the plenary, on Wednesday.

The motion was tagged Need to Investigate the Rising Value of Unclaimed Dividends, Unremitted Withholding Tax on Dividends and their Attendant Effects on the Nations Economy.

Ibrahim said unclaimed dividends had continued to increase over the years, thus increasing the unremitted withholding tax on dividends in the country.

The lawmaker said that the value of unclaimed dividends rose from N5.1 billion to N103.1 billion between 2002 and Nov. 2016, compared with the value of N2.09 billion in 1999.

He added that the value of unclaimed dividends as of March 2019 stood at N126.03 billion, almost three years after the 8th Houses intervention.

The House is aware of the mechanisms put in place to address the issue of rising value of unclaimed dividends.

These include adoption of electronic dividend payment method, dematerialisation of share certificates, acceptance of dividend warrants in both savings and current accounts.

Others were the need for consolidation of accounts by the Central Securities Clearing System and Registrars and the need to resuscitate publication of names of owners of unclaimed dividends by companies, all of which had been applied with no significant positive outcome, he said.

Ibrahim listed the implications of large value of unclaimed dividends on the economic development of Nigeria to include adverse investors confidence, decrease in availability of long-term capital for economic development and the likely volatility in the regulation of the capital market.

The House, therefore, mandated the committee to investigate the rising value of unclaimed dividends and unremitted withholding tax on dividend and their attendant effects on the nations economy.

It directed the committee to report back within six weeks for further legislative action. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Ariwodola Idowu

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti has hailed Wednesdays Appeal Court judgment which upheld the Tribunal verdict that sacked Sen. Dayo Adeyeye of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in favour of Mrs Abiodun Olujimi.

This is just as the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC) in its reaction rejected the judgment, describing it as a rape on the mandate freely given by Ekiti electorate to the APC Senator.

The PDP made the commendation in a statement in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday by its Publicity Secretary in the State, Mr Jackson Adebayo.

Adebayo commended the judiciary for upholding the victory of the partys candidate, Sen. Abiodun Olujimi, representing Ekiti South Senatorial District, in the Feb. 23 election.

He said that the judgment of both the lower tribunal and the Appeal court in Kaduna did not come to the party as a surprise

The PDP spokesman said that this was because the result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not reflect the true votes cast in the first instance.

He therefore hailed the judiciary for righting the wrong appropriately by declaring Sen. Olujimi of PDP as the authentic winner of the National Assembly election.

We congratulate all members of our party in the state and particularly congratulate Sen. Biodun Olujimi for her courage to fight the battle to a victorious, logical conclusion, Adebayo said.

He urged all the leaders as well as members of the party to see the victory as an act of God; hence the need to cooperate to move the party forward.

We want to assure all our members that with the victory of Sen. Olujimi there is a great future for the Party. What we just need is to walk in unison towards subsequent elections in the State, Adebayo said

However, the ruling APC in Ekiti state, in a statement rejected the Court of Appeal judgment which sacked the spokesman of the Senate, Dayo Adeyeye.

The APC in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Mr Sam Oluwalana, said the verdict did not reflect the wishes of people of the Ekiti South Senatorial District.

The judgment, delivered earlier today can best be described as a travesty of Justice and robbing Peter to pay Paul, he declared.

According to Oluwalana, the short period spent by Sen Adeyeye at the red chamber was indelible and remarkable for the people of Ekiti South and the state in general.

Oluwalana, who is also the Senior Special Assistant, Media, Party Matters to the state governor, stated that Adeyeye exhibited exemplary traits while in the upper chambers.

We commend Prince Dayo Adeyeye, who was highly-revered by his colleagues in the upper chambers, for the exemplary leadership, which he exhibited within the short period he spent in the Senate

We are proud of his achievements during the period, as he was able to manage information outflow without any scandal in the Senate, he said.

The PDP spokesman appealed to the people to go about their normal businesses rather than taking the laws into their hand over the judgment.

Oluwalana also counselled the people not to be discouraged by the court judgment.

He said they should rather continue to support the APC in the state in its quest to turn around the mismanaged economy of the state by immediate past regime.

Meanwhile, residents of Omuo Ekiti, headquarters of Ekiti East Local Government Area, have been celebrating the victory of Olujimi, an indigene of the town.

Many of the residents abandoned party affiliatio and trooped to the streets to celebrate Olujimis final victory.

Some residents said the fact that their town had now succeeded in producing Femi Bamisile of APC as a member of the House of Representatives, and also produced a PDP Senator in Abiodun Olujimi, though from different parties, ordinarily called for celebration.(NAN)

Source: NAN

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tried to fire up supporters with a Brexit rallying cry on Wednesday after the first day of his election campaign was marred by a ministerial resignation, a gaffe about a deadly tower blaze and a doctored video advert.

Johnson has called a snap Dec. 12 election in a bid to break the Brexit deadlock that he says has paralyzed Britain for more than three years and had started to undermine confidence in the worlds fifth-largest economy.

But just an hour after Johnson met with Queen Elizabeth to formally begin the campaign, Johnsons minister for Wales, Alun Cairns, resigned after being accused of lying about his knowledge about an aide who allegedly sabotaged a rape trial.

At the start of the campaign, Johnsons Conservatives enjoy a lead over the opposition Labour Party of between 7 and 17 percentage points, though pollsters warn that their models are wilting beside the Brexit furnace.

Johnson held a rally in Birmingham, casting the election as the most important in a generation and setting out the campaign message he will take across the country.

Lets get Brexit done, my friends, and get on with our project of sensible, moderate, but tax-cutting one-nation Conservatism, he said to loud cheers from party supporters waving banners promoting health, education and policing reforms.

Johnson said Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn hated wealth and was thus like Soviet leader Josef Stalin who sent millions to their deaths in labour camps. Corbyn said such remarks were nonsense that the super-rich came up with to avoid paying more tax.

Earlier, Conservative Party chairman James Cleverly spent the morning defending distributing a doctored video clip of a rival Labour politician instead of touting Johnsons election campaign launch.

Another prominent Conservative, Jacob Rees-Mogg, apologized on Tuesday after he suggested that victims of the 2017 blaze at Londons Grenfell Tower should have used common sense to ignore firefighters instructions to stay in the burning building.

Johnson, 55, hopes he will win a big enough majority in parliament to get the Brexit deal he agreed with Brussels last month ratified and lead Britain out of the European Union in January.

He said the alternative was an unstable coalition led by Corbyn that would bring a horror show year in 2020 of fresh referendums on EU membership and Scottish independence.

Johnson painted Labours Corbyn as a socialist wrecker determined to usher in yet more political crisis.

They pretend that their hatred is directed only at certain billionaires and they point their fingers at individuals with a relish and a vindictiveness not seen since Stalin persecuted the kulaks, Johnson wrote in an article for the Daily Telegraph newspaper. They would destroy the very basis of this countrys prosperity.

Millions of people were executed under Stalin and many more perished from abuse and disease in a vast network of prison camps, known as the Gulags. Relatively affluent farmers, known as kulaks, were among the groups targeted.

Corbyn, speaking at a campaign event in the English town of Telford, said Labour would deliver real change and share power and wealth with people who dont have friends in high places.

He also cautioned against believing the consensus view that Johnson was assured of victory, citing the 2017 election when Johnsons predecessor, Theresa May, bet on calling a snap election when also far ahead in the polls but lost her majority.

In the 2017 election, there were queues of experts lining up at the beginning of the campaign to write off the Labour Party, and what happened then? Corbyn said.

Source: NAN