₦airaland Forum

Oando PLC has set the record straight that the company, Oando, is not involved in the case and ruling made on July 6, 2018 by the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) on the case involving Whitmore Asset Management Limited, a company owned by Jubril Adewale Tinubu and Omamofe Boyo, Ansbury Investments Inc., owned by Gabriele Volpi and Ocean and Oil Development Partners (OODP) BVI Ltd, is owned by all three parties Wale Tinubu, Mofe Boyo and Gabriele Volpi.

Head of Corporate Communications for Oando, Alero Balogun, categorically stated that “the ruling by the LCIA does not involve Oando as Oando was not and has never been party to the arbitration, the ruling states that Whitmore and Ocean and Oil Development Partners are indebted to Ansbury Inc, nowhere is there mention of Oando PLC. It is critical that people understand that not only are we not involved in this dispute, we do not owe money to any of the parties involved. The continued mention of our name in what is a 3rd party dispute is unfortunate and damaging to the brand and shareholder value.”


Sources have indicated that payment terms for the personal debt are being ironed out by both parties whilst payment terms for the $600 million owed by OODP will be determined by the LCIA which is reputed to be one of the world’s leading international institutions for commercial dispute resolution.

The dispute between Gabrielle Volpi and the principals of Oando has been ongoing for over a year and has been a cause of concern for companies and individuals alike who look for investments to grow their business via individuals in the form of equity or debt.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/we-do-not-owe-ansbury-any-money-oando.html

Three years after he dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former President Olusegun Obasanjo, was yesterday offered apologies for what the party leaders described as “bad conduct and mistreatment of him.”
Obasanjo, who was then PDP’s Board of Trustee (BOT) chairman left in 2015, after he publicly ordered that his membership card be torn out of anger.

But, yesterday, the party’s national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, led a 21-man delegation to a breakfast meeting with Obasanjo, where they said they regretted their action and appealed for forgiveness, an appeal which was granted by the former President “ as God preaches forgiveness.“

The meeting, which held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, had in attendance, the BOT Chairman, Walid Jibrin.


In a statement, Obasanjo’s Media Aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, disclosed that other things discussed at the parley included: distressed and prostrate situation of the country, progress of the MoU on grand alliance of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) and appeal to the former President not to be tired of giving leadership to save the country from the throes of mismanagement and shipwreck.

Akinyemi added that Obasanjo advised the PDP leaders to take steps to re-build a party that would “bring back good image, discipline, commitment, leadership and moral commitment.”

“Baba also underlined the pitiable situation of Nigeria today and the inexcusable killings and insecurity almost all over the country, as well as, the unprecedented division of the country, regretting that the current administration seems to have no credible solutions for those challenges,” the statement added.

On the coalition of CUPP being championed by PDP, Obasanjo advised that the coalition should remain an alliance as being projected and not a merger, stressing, “the MOU for grand alliance is what it says, a grand alliance.

It is not a merger nor absorption of any political party by any political party.

“It is clearly for the parties, who agreed to be members of the alliance to work together to achieve one important common objective at the national level for the election of 2019 and where it is appropriate and necessary members may also form alliance and cooperation at the state level,” the statement indicated.

“It is also desirable that in the process of implementing the MOU to achieve the set objectives, solidarity and focus on the objective must be maintained.

Each member political party must be cautious of fake news, rumour, blackmail, and seeds of discord that may be sown among them from external quarters,” Obasanjo was quoted as saying.

Obasanjo, was also said to have told his guests that even though had quit partisan politics, he would continue to make himself available to guide any party that wished to be guided, while giving priority to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Secondus, who spoke to Journalists shortly after the meeting, said the chieftains of the party were in Abeokuta to consult with Obasanjo ahead of the 2019 polls, saying: “The consultation had become necessary to seek direction from Obasanjo and factor in his advice as PDP prepares for the 2019 general elections.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/2019-i-forgive-you-obasanjo-tells-pdp.html

Maurizio Sarri is the new Chelsea head coach, replacing Antonio Conteh. The Italian moves to Stamford Bridge following a three-year spell at Serie A side Napoli.

During his time there, the 59 year-old gaffer, revitalised the fortunes of the club and returned them to the Champions League while playing a scintillating brand of expansive, attacking football.

In his three years at the helm, Napoli recorded two second-place finishes in their domestic league, including last season when they achieved a record points total for a runner-up, and one third place. In 2017, he won the Serie A Coach of the Year award.Sarri, who has signed a three-year contract, said: ‘I am very happy to be coming to Chelsea and the Premier League. It is an exciting new period in my career.

‘I look forward to starting work and meeting the players on Monday ahead of travelling to Australia, where I will be able to get to know the squad and begin our match action.

‘I hope we can provide some entertaining football for our fans, and that we will be competing for trophies at the end of the season, which is what this club deserves.’

Director Marina Granovskaia added: ‘We are delighted to welcome Maurizio and are looking forward to him bringing his football philosophy to Chelsea.

‘Maurizio’s Napoli side played some of the most exciting football in Europe, impressing with their attacking approach and dynamism, and his coaching methods significantly improved the players at his disposal.

‘He has plenty of experience in Serie A and the Champions League and we know he is relishing the chance to work in the Premier League.’

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/breaking-chelsea-sign-napoli-coach.html

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd right), with 11-year old hyperrealist artist, Kareem Waris Olamilekan (2nd left) and his Parents, Mr Mutiu and Mrs Zainab Kareem during Waris visit to the Governor at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, on Thursday.

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday hosted an 11-year old hyper-realist artist, Kareem Waris Olamilekan who drew a stunning portrait of French President, Emmanuel Macron in just two hours on the spot during the President’s visit to the new Afrika Shrine in Lagos.

Ambode, who hosted the artist alongside his parents, teachers and instructor, promised to give him educational support, as well as help to nurture his talent to become a great artist later in life.

The governor also pledged to support Waris’ instructor, Adeniyi Adewole Wasiu, who is said to have an Arts Academy, Ayowole Academy of Arts, where he trains young artists.

Briefing journalists after the governor hosted the artist at Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja, Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Steve Ayorinde said the development was basically to appreciate and encourage the young hyper-realist and as well to assure him of the readiness of the State Government to give him the needed support.

According to Ayorinde, “You would recall that Waris was one of the star attractions during President Macron’s visit to Afrika Shrine. Before painting the President and presenting the portrait to him, Waris had become a household name thanks to the special story done by a media house.

“So, the Governor has invited him and his parents to come and meet him and because the Governor is interested in his education and if you like the welfare of his parents, His Excellency has promised to assist just like he did to the Footprint of David boys who had a special performance at the State House during the Children’s Day.

“So, the Governor is interested in his school. We are happy that Waris is a product of a public school and you could see that the Principal of his school is here and she is happy. The Governor has also acknowledged the contribution of Waris’ mentor, Adewole who is here and because he also has a Arts Academy that inspired and produced Waris, His Excellency the Governor thinks that that Arts Academy should flourish and he is going to also support him, his career and what he is doing,” Ayorinde said.

The Commissioner added that since the works of the young artist became public knowledge, the State Government had taken special interest in his case, saying that the objective of government was to ensure good education and training for Waris to become a great artist later in life.

“The Ministry of education has been involved from day one since the story was reported but our Ministry (Tourism, Arts and Culture) would also be monitoring Waris. He is already in JSS1; he is talented as an artist but then that is not the only subject that he would be taking.

“We want him to be a successful well-rounded student first and foremost and of course as an artist. It is a long haul thing but first good education and let him continue as a good artist,” the Commissioner said.

Responding, Waris said he was extremely thrilled to meet with President Macron and Governor Ambode, saying the development was a life-changing moment for him.

“I am very happy and excited. I thank Governor Ambode for this opportunity. Now, I want to study my arts very well; I want to be a good artist, great artist in the world,” Waris said.

Also speaking, Waris’ parents, Mr and Mrs Mutiu Kareem said the feat attained by their son was a significant turning point in their lives, and thanked the State Government for the huge support they have so far received.

“I thank God for this. What has happened in my life through my son is something I never thought would happen to me but this is a miracle. I am so happy. I want to thank Governor Ambode for all he has done for us and also my son’s instructor who trained him, as well as his teachers and mother,” Kareem said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/ambode-hosts-11-year-old-hyper-realist.html

The Police Command in Kebbi on Thursday confirmed that a suspected herdsman had killed a policeman, Umaru Danladi, at Kaoge in Bagudo Local Government Area of the state.
It said the herder, Babuga Kuaara, had already been arrested for the alleged offence, adding that the policeman was attached to the Kaoje Police Division in Bagudo local government area.

The suspected herdsman was reported to the police division by a farmer in the area that the herder reared his cows to destroy his farm on Wednesday evening.

A witness who craved for anonymity, told newsmen on Thursday that ” a police officer attached to Kaoje police division was ordered to go and arrest the herder who was still wandering with his cattle within the area”.

“The Police officer who came with his riffle, arrested the suspect, but as he was taking him to the waiting patrol vehicle,the herder drew his machete and stabbed the officer on his neck.

“We saw the officer groaning in pains and bleeding but he died before we could apply first aid.

“The herder was overpowered by officers who rushed to the scene,” the witness said.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Mustapha Suleiman, told Journalists that the suspect had been arrested.

” We have arrested the herder, Babuga Kuaara, for killing the officer. He had confessed to the crime and will be prosecuted accordingly, “Suleiman said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/herdsman-kills-policeman-inspector-in.html

Nollywood actor, Chinedu Ikedieze a.k.a Aki, has added another feather to his cap with the honorarium as a distinguished visitor to the city of Miami, Florida.

The actor shared the news on his instagram page @Chineduikedieze with some pictures from the ceremony which took place in Miami, Florida.

Ikedieze was full of thanks to the Mayor of Miami for according to him the renowned title.

He said, ‘’When the world believed in you, believe in yourself also. Have faith in your abilities.

“Without a humble or reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.’-Norman Vincent Peale’’

“From the bottom of my heart I say thank you to Miami-Dade ,country office of the Mayor and the county commissioners for honouring me as a distinguished visitor to the city of Miami, Florida’’.
‘’You have just given me a key to more success in life’’, he said.

The 39 year-old Abia State born actor joined the movie industry in 2000 and rose to fame after starring in the blockbuster movie ‘’Aki na Ukwa’’.

Ikedieze is best known for playing alongside Osita Iheme popularly known as’’Pawpaw’’ and has acted in over 100 movies.

He also plays the role of Efetobore Johnson in the current Television Drama Series- The Johnsons.

In 2007, he received the lifetime achievement award at The African Movie Academy Awards.

Similarly, in 2011 he received a National Award of Member of the Order (MON) .

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/photo-nollywood-actor-chinedu-ikedieze.html

Amidst anxiety, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has expressed the hope that the election will be peaceful.Chairman of the state chapter of the council, Mr. Omotayo Ilesanmi disclosed this yesterday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).He expressed the hope that the election would be free of violence, despite the fears expressed by stakeholders in the election.

According to him, the atmosphere in all parts of the state has been peaceful, with politicians and their supporters conducting their activities without violence.“Even though I hear people talk about tension in Ekiti because of Saturday’s election, I want to say that it is mere rumour.“There is no problem in Ekiti, as everybody is going about his or her business even with the peaking of political activities,” he said.

He explained that what had been witnessed in the state is that the political parties and the candidates have been showing strength with their crowds of supporters. That is clearly politics, and not tension.

According to him, feelers indicate that Ekiti is ready for the election, and “we are optimistic that it would be peaceful, free and fair.”Ilesanmi said IPAC had continuously engaged political parties and candidates on the election and had received the commitment of all to peace.He disclosed that the council also had assurances from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that it would conduct the election without let or hindrance.

“The main focus now should be voters’ education, so that the electorate could participate in the process and make their democratic choice.“At the IPAC, we have been sensitising the people on the need to partake in the election and vote right,” he said.Also speaking, the Chairman of IPAC in Lagos, Mr. Kola Ajayi, urged politicians and their supporters to shun violence before, during and after the election.

He told NAN that it is only when the poll is peaceful that Ekiti people could claim to have freely exercised their democratic right.Ajayi urged the security agencies to provide adequate security during the election to ensure that it was peaceful.“People should conduct themselves peacefully and shun do-or-die politics. We contest elections to govern living people, not those who are dead,” he added.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/ipac-hopeful-of-peaceful-election.html

The National Association of University Students has urged the Federal Government to support entrepreneurship by building technology hubs for graduates and students across the country, where new skills and innovations could be learnt.

The NAUS Chair of Presidents, Solomon Adodo, stated this in Abuja at a press briefing on Friday, noting that the establishment of such technology hubs was an effective way to reduce poverty and unemployment in the country.


Adodo said there must be public-private partnership to drive development in the country, adding that the briefing was also to recognise one of the “country’s most innovative private investors and Managing Director of Jamub Group of Companies, Jacob Momoh.”

The students’ body called on the Federal Government to ensure the revamping of the university system to encourage technology and innovations.

Adodo said, “We want the government to create innovation hubs for our teeming graduates. The hubs must be equipped and must be situated in all the geo-political zones in this country. Such hubs will serve not only the graduates, but also university students. This is where we can fertilise ideas, sharpen skills and drive innovations.

“There cannot be educational advancement until we get to this level. The public and the private sectors must join hands in revitalising and uplifting the standard of education in our country.

“Nigerian students are proud of the entrepreneurial innovations of some private individuals in the country and one of them is Prince Momoh. We want other private investors in the country to toe this line and help to reduce not only illiteracy but also poverty.

“These are the panaceas to the many crises the country is facing at the moment.”

Momoh, in his reactions, noted that a crime-free country could only be achieved through quality education and innovations, urging the students to work towards achieving innovative and entrepreneurship skills.

He added that a scholarship lottery, which would be inaugurated before July, was conceived to raise funds to lessen the burden of pupils who were lacking quality basic education.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/naus-urges-fg-to-build-technology-hubs.html

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has lamented the death of Mallam Adamu Ciroma, who died on Thursday at the age of 84.

Jonathan described the late former Minister of Finance and governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria as a patriot who played historic roles in the country’s development.


In a condolence message to the family of the deceased and the people of Yobe State, the ex-President noted that Ciroma left enviable records while serving Nigeria in various capacities.

A statement by the former President’s media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, quoted Jonathan to have further said Ciroma was a well-respected statesman and committed patriot.

He said, “It is almost impossible to find a man who bestrode and dominated the worlds of journalism and banking as he did. Mallam Ciroma played historic roles in the social and political development of Nigeria and his death is a sad loss to our nation.

“He will be remembered for his sagacity, leadership credentials and worthy contributions to the nation’s growth and development.”

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party has said it is going to immortalise Ciroma; a former Vice-President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme; a former national chairman of the party, Solomon Lar; and other deceased founding fathers of the party.

The National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, said this when he led members of the National Working Committee of the party on a condolence visit to the deceased’s family.

The PDP chairman, who extolled Ciroma’s role in the formation of the party, described him as an honest and disciplined nationalist.

He said of the party’s deceased leaders, “By the grace of God, something will be done to immortalise them. We will consult with other leaders.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/jonathan-mourns-ciroma-as-pdp-plans-to.html

James Louis Okoye is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of JALOU Events, Media and Funeral Undertaking based in, Anambra State. This fast growing funeral undertaker in Anambra and other South Eastern States studied Theatre Arts at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIKIK), Awka. But after a short romance as a movie producer, he left the scene because of frustration meted to him by marketers.
Having quitted film production he moved into event planning where he created a niche for himself within the industrial city of Nnewi and far beyond. To show that he is a man of many parts with creative ideas and knowledge he becomes a funeral undertaker after a period of training in London. He is indeed a jack of all trades and master of all.I understand that businesses most people do are what they jump into apart from what they studied or trained for as a profession or as a course. I started as a movie producer as far back as 2002. I had produced my first movie as an executive producer. I sponsored the film singlehandedly. I still remember the name: Dark Moment.

I came back from Europe then. So we just set up Movie Company. Jalou Film was the business company then. So, after that the experience wasn’t what I expected because the marketers were making money and we the sponsors of the movie would be answering ‘able executive producer’ and he will be making the money. I remember going to Ghana and I saw my films selling in Accra Ghana. But when I go to him (the marketer), in Lagos he would point boxes of CDs in his shop and told me that my films were still there.

After that ugly experience my mind left movie industry. But in 2001 again, after an experience I got from a Government House when I was working for the wife of a Governor. There was this funny stuff that happened, though it happens every where. It became funny because it was in Government House. The eldest sister of the Governor, Bene was there and you have the Governor’s wife.

So, the three people, you know, had misunderstanding. Of course, I took a side. I was by the First Lady’s side because there is no reason one would leave her own matrimonial home and come to the brother’s home to call shots. So, if you watch the movie you see the rest. That one was just like a documentary and I tagged it Government House. That was that.

Coming to your question I have gathered experience of shooting with beautiful cameras, you know to get beautiful pictures. So, when one of my friends did his traditional marriage, Uzo Mbonu, the then importer of Kimco bikes, I went to his house and I was watching the video of the event.

In the event he spent about N7 million. I was watching the movie, I was so disappointed. I said I would have used this camera I bought in London to record this event and the picture would have been far better. That was how Jalou Media started,
I started talking to my big friends to invite me if they want to do something. Even if they do not want to pay immediately, they can wait until we deliver, to come and cover the event.

One or two events then and Jalou Media took over in Nnewi, Anambra, and other parts of South East. I went to London and bought 40 feet crane. I was the first person to use crane to shoot funeral in Nnewi. I was the first person that started live broadcasting by putting projectors and plasmas, may be the event is happening in two compounds I want people to be watching what is happening over there. I started all that.

So, like that, of course so many people began to patronize me and many tried to copy me, to be like me. But I’m happy because at the end of the day my aim was achieved. After two years of Jalou Media people began to see what a picture quality of an event will look like. It was one of those media jobs that I was doing for one Nnewi industrialist when I saw a decoration made by some one for the event. I asked myself does it mean a good decorator could not be engaged instead of messing the whole place up, you know.

And I’m sure that man, the owner of the event, did not notice what I saw. But I believed that if he could pay N400, 000 just for the media, he could equally pay any amount for a good decorator. I made my inquires. It happened that they picked somebody that was available.

I then took interest in decoration. After few months training, I went to Aba bought some materials and the first two places I did decoration around town, people were like no, no. You can’t tell me that this guy is from here. May be they got him from Dubai or Lagos, you know.

That was how events and decoration came in place.
Some few years ago, I started managing events proper. People will call me both private individual and government will call me and say do this do that. I remember very well when Dr Chuba Okadigbo was alive, politically I was South East Youth Co-coordinator for Buhari/Okadigbo Youth Organization.

So, when he died with the way they saw me doing campaign and all that they called me just to co-ordinate. I gathered a whole lot of experience there as well managing, you know, event that attracted crowed, diginitaries. I was able to manage it, ushering people. Atiku Abubakar was then the Vice President. I welcomed him to the venue and introduced him around. Ngige was still the Governor of Anambra State.
So, after that event people started calling me to give me contract to manage their events. I didn’t go to any training for event management. I think Okadigbo’s funeral was the school I went. So, it continued like that.

Next one was Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu’s funeral. When he died both Federal Government and Ojukwu’s family called me jointly and we did wonderfully well. After that it was Professor Dora Akunyili. When she died the federal planning committee that handled Ojukwu’s funeral said, yes, there was this guy we need to call who would give us what we needed. That was how Jalou got the contract as well like many others. The most recent one was Dr Alex Ekwueme’s burial. We were called and we managed the event as well. I have simply narrated to you how it all started.

How did you come into funeral undertaking?

Sometime ago, I went to do a job at a funeral and I saw six young boys throwing casket up and down in the name of undertakers or funeral whatever. I was mad. But what I noticed was that some family members of the deceased like what those boys were doing. I was angry with the whole thing even with the family.
Then when one Chartered Accountant from Nnewi died, the same thing happened. I saw six small boys struggling to carry a foreign casket that is metal. They were just struggling. And when I made an enquiry of the company that sent them, I understood that they (the company) had like twenty funerals to do that day. So, when they don’t have enough workers they will now hire people from outside, give them suits and tell them to just go and do it without any training. It was not my thing but when I go to work for a family I become a member of that family and I would like to see things done aright.

So, I was the only person panicking when they were struggling to put the body in the grave, lower it to the grave, I think I had high blood pressure that day. They were struggling. And I said to myself, who is a funeral director. I entered internet, made some researches. I travelled abroad again just for three months. I went to a funeral home and asked questions. I asked the funeral undertaker I met at South East London. Who a funeral director is. I was trying to tell myself that this is something I can do. So, after that I told myself that I must not own a mortuary to be a funeral director. There are enough morgues around. I said I can open up the outfit where you can get good caskets, clean ambulance and pall-bearers. And that was how it all started again. So, you see, if you look at media, event and funeral, they are all still under event.

Do you think you make it now more than you would have made it in London?

My dear, to be honest with you, everybody knows that I don’t fake and I don’t know how to paint words. Living in London and you are not a professional person maybe a doctor, nurse, engineer and so on, you are just there, and you are not a citizen, my dear you are just there. The only advantage you can talk about is having permanent electricity and good health – care system, apart from that I don’t know what one will be doing in London by now. You get £5,000 and spend £350 as bills. You have to pay for TV license monthly if you have a TV and so on and so forth. So, the best thing that happened to me was to pack my things to come back to Nigeria.
I did Theatre Art at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka but the only thing I did regarding what I studied was being a film producer/director.
Are you ever afraid of handling corpses?
I will spoil some people’s business right here and now so that the general public will know the truth. There is nothing, I would have said that there is nothing like ghost but let me not go that far. There is nothing one needs to do to even be a mortician in terms of spiritual or whatever. In fact mortuary is the most peaceful place, most quiet place. The same thing goes for cemetery.
I see corpses and handle them. But for one day, I have never seen a casket in my dream and I’m not a pastor and I have never been to a native doctor before.

What is your philosophy about success and failure in life?

It is a person who wants to fail will fail. Anyone that wants to succeed in life will just keep on working hard. I was in London for five years and lived in Lagos for three years and I noticed that I was just there like any other Nnewi man. And I remembered those days when I came back home after staying four or five days somebody will ask you, are you still around? Haven’t you gone back? I was feeling shy then. Later I began to tell who asked me such questions that I’m not going back anywhere. My one and half years in Nnewi covered the whole period I stayed in London and Lagos. I have spent now a total of fifteen years doing business in my home town, Nnewi.
Would you like your children to do the same business as you are doing now?
No other business. They can be lawyers, doctors, journalists or anything else. But when you are done with your certificate I will show you my library or achieve where you will drop the certificate and join me.

Do you ever pray for business boom or complain of dull business?

Business boom. It doesn’t pay me when a young person dies. To be honest with you it is a painful experience. I know this is what you mean by that business boom, whether it is my payer for people to die. I know your question is on funeral.
See, I’m very emotional about funeral. In funeral you see me being knocked off. We are all humans. I don’t feel good when a young person dies. Sometimes I wish I’m not contracted. But if it is a man or woman of 95 years and above, I will be very happy if the children have got something to celebrate with. I like to be part of that celebration of life.


Full details at http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/mortuary-is-most-peaceful-place-to-be.html

Elders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State have urged aggrieved members who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to return.



The Chairman of the group and former Governor of the state, Ambassador Fidelis Tapgun, made the call after their meeting in Jos.

He said this was necessary, especially now that the APC’s dam is fast collapsing.


He said: “We note with keen interest the emergence of the reformed All Progressive Congress (rAPC), a splinter group of the ruling APC, with notable figures in government as actors.

“While we watch the unfolding drama and the ‘collapse of the dam,’ we call on all those who left our great party, the PDP to return home, as the umbrella has been rebranded to not only accommodate all, but also achieve greater democratic gains.”

The group also lamented “the incessant butchering of human lives and attendant destruction of homes and properties of ordinary citizens of Nigeria.

“These range from Plateau, Kaduna, Benue, Nassarawa, Taraba, Adamawa, Zamfara, which had been on for too long.

This is as there is no concrete plan, or clear roadmap to suggest that the Federal Government is serious beyond assurances and promises.

According to him, the people need more than assurances and promises from the President Muhammadu Buhari to track down these criminals.

Tapgun stressed that much as these assurances are needed, they have become irrelevant in the face of the continued attacks that have claimed countless lives.

He lamented that communities could be attacked and hundreds of people slaughtered for over 48 hours without any immediate provision of rescue efforts.

He expressed concern that the situation obviously points to the fact that the nation’s security system had been compromised.

The chairman added that government lacks the will and capacity to resolve these challenges and restore peace and security.

“Yet, as clearly provided for in our Constitution, the security and welfare of the people is the primary purpose of government. We also find the mockery of the sanctity of human life totally unacceptable and stands vehemently condemned,” he said.

The group joined similar voices across the country to urge Buhari to use his moral and “constitutional responsibility as President, Commander-in-Chief to protect our people and the land from these ruthless and inhuman attacks.”

The group demanded that perpetrators and sponsors of these heinous crimes against humanity be arrested and brought to justice.

“This is the only full proof guarantee of the people’s safety, and the only way to rebuild confidence in their leader, as one capable of defending them at all times,” he added.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/plateau-pdp-elders-urge-aggrieved.html

The sustained bearish trading at the stock market has led to a decline by two per cent per cent in the past three days.

Specifically, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) fell from 38,278.55 to 37,499.07, while market capitalisation declined from N13.866 trillion to N13.584 trillion.

The bears’ strong grip on the market led to a marginal growth of 0.09 per cent in the first half of the year. And since the second half began on Monday, the market has remained downbeat, leading to 2.0 per cent. Yesterday accounted for 0.30 per cent of the decline as 24 stocks lost value compared with 21 that added value.


Commenting on the market performance, analysts said selling pressure across counters were sustained, as investors continued to sell down on large cap stocks across the market.

“However, the losses were moderated by the buying pressures across the banking sector, as the favoured counters within the sector topped the value and volume charts for the day,” they said.

Forte Oil Plc and MCNichols Plc led the price losers with 10 per cent apiece trailed by Omoluabi Mortgage Bank Plc that shed 9.3 per cent. Conoil Plc went down by 8.3 per cent, just as Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc lost 8.2 per cent.

Market analysts said lack of information from Forte Oil Plc regarding its planned business restructuring was weakening demand for the stock.

According to a stockbroker, after shareholders approved the proposal, nothing has been heard on the issue.

The shareholders had approved the company’s to restructure its business by divesting its upstream services , power generating businesses in Nigeria and downstream business in Ghana.

“This divestment will reduce finance cost in the group significantly and increase distributable earnings for the benefit of the shareholders. The finance cost attributable to the businesses to be divested stood at N2.7 billion and N2.2 billion for the year ended 31st December 2016 and the year ended 31st December 2017 respectively. The proceeds of the divestment initiative will also enable your company to compete more favourably and achieve the planned expansion of the business for increased market share,” Forte Oil had explained.

However, operators said nothing has been heard from the company after the approval by the shareholders in May.

Meanwhile, May & Baker Nigeria Plc led the price gainers with 9.7 per cent, trailed by FCMB Group Plc. Japaul Oil & Maritime Services Plc and Skye Bank Plc chalked up 9.0 per cent each.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/equities-market-sheds-2-in-three-days.html

WAEC
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) released the results of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates on Tuesday with the Head of Nigeria National Office, Mr Olu Adenipekun saying 49.8 per cent recorded credits in five subjects, including English and Mathematics.

The performance of the 1,572,396 candidates from 17,886 schools was lower compared to that of 2017 which was 59.22 per cent and 2016, 52.97 per cent.

Also, more females (396,361) hit the benchmark than males (389,655).

However, Olanipekun said the performance could not necessarily be described as a decline as some candidates might have got relevant credits from other examinations. He said the performance was “fluctuating”.


Of the total number of candidates that sat for the examination, 824,424 were males, while 748,972 were females.

A total of 854,424 candidates (54.59 per cent) made credits in five subjects including English but not mathematics compared to 1,213,244 who made credits in five subjects with or without English and or Mathematics.

A total of 1,328 candidates with special needs took the examination.

Contrary to practice over the years, the HNO did not give the statistics of results withheld as a result of examination malpractice – though he said there were cases.

He however expressed hope that with the Council could reduce the menace using technology.

Olanipekun praised the workers of the examining body for helping it achieve its promise to release the results 45 days after the conclusion of the examination.


“Permit me to use this opportunity to commend and thank the staff of Council, whose sacrifice, dedication and commitment to duty contributed immensely to the success recorded during the conduct, marking, processing, and the release of the results within the period of time the Council promised it’s stakeholders,” he said.

Olanipekun said the results can be accessed from the Council’s website, www.waecdirect.org.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/498-percent-pass-five-credits-in-wassce.html

Nigeria’s Ex-international Emmanuel Amuneke and Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba were named by FIFA today as members of one of the two panels to shortlist candidates for Men’s Footballers and Coaches of the year for the 2017/18 season.

Another panel will do the shortlist for Women’s players and Coaches for the season.

Amuneke is 47 years old and former coach of the Sudanese club, Al Khartoum SC. As a winger, he represented Nigeria at the 1994 World Cup and played for great clubs, such as Barcelona, Sporting CP, Zamalek, Julius Berger and Concord.

The Best FIFA Football Awards is the premier annual awards celebration held by football’s world governing body.

The men’s panel also include legends Ronaldo, Fabio Capello and Frank Lampard, while stars Mia Hamm, Sun Wen and Maia Jackman form part of the women’s panel.The judges will shortlist ten candidates for each category, which will be unveiled on 23 July 2018 – with a public vote opening on the same day. Football fans, national team captains, head coaches and more than 200 media representatives will then cast their votes to decide who will be crowned the best players and coaches in the men’s and women’s games from last season.

With the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ currently showcasing the finest footballing talent on the planet, the race for the Best FIFA Football Awards is even more intense and the showpiece event will take on added significance when it returns to London for a second time on 24 September 2018.

At last year’s awards, Cristiano Ronaldo picked up the Best Men’s Player Award, the Netherlands’ Lieke Martens was crowned Best Women’s Player, French icon Zinédine Zidane was named Best Men’s Coach and the Netherlands’ Sarina Wiegman was Best Women’s Coach.

Separate panels will shortlist candidates for the Best FIFA Goalkeeper Award, the FIFA Puskás Award and the FIFA Fan Award, with the winner of the Best FIFA Goalkeeper Award chosen by a panel of FIFA Legends.

In recognition and celebration of the essential role played by football fans in the game, the FIFA Fan Award, an appreciation of memorable moments created by fans, is voted for by supporters.

The FIFA Puskás Award, handed out to the player judged to have scored the best goal of the year, is also determined by fans’ votes.

The voting process for the men’s and women’s awards will open on 23 July and close on 10 August.

FIFA will announce the final lists of the three nominees for each of the four categories listed above – as well as for the FIFA Puskás Award, the FIFA Fan Award and the Best FIFA Goalkeeper Award – in September.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/amuneke-drogba-in-fifa-panel-to-pick.html

The Deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu has said the Nigerian government does not have enough manpower to fatal clashes in the country, noting that the prevailing insecurity in the country has become an ‘international embarrassment’.

“The fact is, the Federal Government does not have enough manpower to fight these attacks,” he said during the Senate plenary on Tuesday. “This is unfortunate.”

He said the establishment of state police may effectively tackle insecurity in the country.


“I want to thank SP, Bukola Saraki and ask for provision to be made for State Police. We have to come up with initiatives to deal with this”, he said.

“Each state of this Federation needs to have sufficient number of police available to tackle this issue as it has become an international embarrassment.”

Meanwhile, the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, had earlier urged all government structures to shun all political differences and to make the security and welfare of Nigerians a top priority.

The Senate president also pledged to ensure peace nationwide by equipping law enforcement agents to effectively tackle the prevailing insecurity in the country.

The recent clashes between cattle farmers and herders have put pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the violence, as he works to secure a second term in the 2019 presidential polls.

It would be recalled that the Police Command in Plateau on June 24, 2018 confirmed the killing of 86 people in attacks on Razat, Ruku, Nyarr, Kura and Gana-Ropp villages of Gashish District in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/fg-does-not-have-enough-manpower-to-end.html

There are more than 200, 000 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) awaiting collection in Enugu state, according to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mr Emeka Ononamadu.

Ononamadu disclosed in his address of welcome during the stakeholders’ forum between state Traditional Rulers Council and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Enugu.

“Uncollected PVC cards in the state is still on the high side and we have above 200,000 cards uncollected,’’ he said.

Ononamadu, however, noted that the state had recorded huge progress in the ongoing Continue Voter Registration (CVR).

He attributed the success of the exercise to less voters’ apathy due to joint sensitisation embarked upon by the commission, traditional institution in their various communities and other stakeholders.

Meanwhile, traditional rulers in the state have commended INEC Chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood and Ononamadu for the progress made so far in the ongoing CVR in the state.

The traditional rulers gave the commendation in a two-page communiqué they issued after stakeholders’ forum in Enugu and signed by the Chairman of the Traditional Rulers’ Council, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu.

The forum which also involved the state INEC officials noted that the hard work and ingenuity of Mahmood and Ononamadu had translated into to the success of CRV in the state.

They also expressed confidence in the capability of the Mahmood-led IINEC to conduct free, fair and credible election in forthcoming 2019 general elections in Nigeria.

They also lauded Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for providing and promoting peace in the state under which INEC had been able to make tremendous impact in the ongoing CVR.

The communiqué said that INEC and rulers agreed that names of owners of PVCs not yet collected would be displayed in their various wards for their respective traditional rulers to note.

It also noted that the traditional rulers would further sensitise their subjects on the imperative of collecting their PVCs.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/200000-pvcs-await-collection-in-enugu.html

No fewer than five persons have died and 50 others hospitalised over suspected outbreak of cholera in Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Ahmed Abubakar, representing Funtua Local Government Constituency in state House of Assembly, disclosed this at the plenary on Monday in Katsina.

“The victims were alleged to have been drinking contaminated water due to the commencement of rainy season,’’ he said.

Abubakar called on his colleagues to give the matter accelerated deliberation to prevent further loss of lives.

“We have put some temporary measures since the outbreak of the disease last week Friday and some of the victims of cholera have started responding to treatment.

“The matter has been temporarily brought under control as the local government health department deployed its personnel to the affected areas in the local government.


“The areas affected by the cholera outbreak included some parts of the Funtua town, Dikke, Goya and Maska villages,” the lawmaker said.

Abubakar also called on the state Health Management Agency to quickly deploy its experts to the area to checkmate the spread of the disease to other parts of the state.

The Speaker of state House of Assembly, Alhaji Abubakar Kusada, directed the House Committee on Health Matters to investigate the development and report back to the house within one week for action.

Kusada, who was represented by the Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Shehu Tafoki, said that the legislature wants more detail of areas affected in order to take decisive action on the matter.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the outbreak of cholera had become an annual event in the state as residents in rural areas source water from streams, rivers and dams, especially during rainy seasons.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/cholera-kills-five-50-others.html

The National Industrial Court on Monday ordered the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Technical and Recreational Employees (AUPCTRE) and the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC) to explore out-of-court settlement.

Justice Babatunde Adejumo, made the order when suit filed by AUPCTRE against DESOPADEC was brought before him for hearing.

Adejumo also ordered the parties to maintain status quo pending a possible exploration of settlement.

The judge held that the order would subsist pending the determination of the matter.

“The parties are hereby directed and encouraged to meet, dialogue and report back to the court’s division in Yenagoa for either report of settlement or continuation of trial,’’ he said.

AUPCTRE had approached the court over alleged unlawful labour practice against its members by the defendant.

The union is therefore seeking an order compelling the defendant to pay arrears of 30 per cent of salaries owned them since July 2009 to date.

Mr Aduojo Abah, Counsel to the Claimant (AUPCTRE) in the originating summons sought the order court to declare the actions of the defendant unlawful.

AUPCTRE also prayed the court to declare that the refusal of the defendant to address issues of workers welfare constituted unfair labour practice.

The claimant is seeking the order of court to compel the defendant to pay its members an outstanding two years accumulated end-of-year allowance.

The union is also seeking an order compelling the defendant to implement the medical package as stipulated in the defendant’s staff condition of service.

The claimant is also seeking an order of the court to compel the defendant to set aside the queries and suspension issued to some of its members as a result of their union activities.

The counsel averred that the union was also seeking an order to compel the activation of the promotion of its members in line with the provision of the defendant’s conditions of service.

The defendant in its respondent’s brief, however countered all the claimant’s allegations, adding that the agency had not unlawfully treated the union members on its payroll in any way.

No new hearing date was fixed for the matter yet.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/labour-disputes-aupctre-drags-desopadec.html

As part of its corporate social responsibility, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has donated the sum of N50 million to the victims of the recent windstorm in Bauchi which destroyed over 1, 500 houses.

The Group Managing Director (GMD), Dr. Maikanti Baru, announced the donation on Sunday, when he visited the Emir of Bauchi, Dr. Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu, at his palace to commiserate with him over the losses the state suffered a fortnight ago.

Speaking at the palace, the Mr. Baru commiserated with the emir and the people who were affected by the disaster 2 weekends ago.


“My heart bleeds for our brothers and sisters in the state who have suffered such unquantifiable losses. We can’t turn back the hands of time, that’s why we have come to offer the little help we can.

“It is obvious that such a disaster is irreparable, especially when human lives are lost. But we can’t just fold our hands, that’s why we are donating the sum of N50 million to help alleviate the sufferings of the affected people” Mr. Baru said.

Responding, the emir thanked Mr. Baru for the visit, saying that the gesture was a demonstration of his love for the people of the state.

The monarch assured Mr. Baru and his team that the money will get to the victims through the committee set up by the state government.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/nnpc-donates-n50-million-to-victims-of.html

The Federal Government has been urged to increase capitalisation of the nationsí Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), as a way towards achieving the economic diversification objectives and promoting non-oil export.

This is necessary given that the real sector, particularly agriculture, solid minerals and indeed, the export sector, require concessional long-term funds for investment, which are rarely available in the commercial banking system.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive of Nigerian Export-Import Bank, Abba Bello, stated this in a paper delivered recently at the convocation lecture of the Achiever University, Ondo State.


He posited that while economic growth is a component of many variables, one of the key drivers in an open economy is the performance of the export sector.

Discussing on the topic: ìNon-oil exports: Panacea for underachievement of Nigeriaís economic potential, Bello said the low level of growth of non-oil exports sector and its little contribution to yearly export revenues could be attributable to absence of medium/long-term funds since the export sector is perceived as high risk venture by the deposit money banks.

He explained that the absence of suitable trade finance instruments, high cost of operations owing to constraints of power supply and absence of other key production-supporting infrastructure are culpable too.

Bello emphasised that other constraints include logistics related issues and quality standard, noting that they have manifested in low level of credit to the export sector, which accounts for less than 1per cent of total credit by deposit money banks over the years

Given the national income equation, which defines the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as the aggregation of consumption expenditure, investment expenditure, government expenditure and net exports, that is export minus imports, the growth of an economy will be dependent on the value of its exports over and above that of its imports, he said.


According to him, the key characteristics of Nigeriaís non-oil export sector include; the few export destinations with the dominance of limited number of agriculture-related commodities such as; cocoa, rubber, leather, shrimps/fish, sesame, cashew and cotton yearly accounting for over 60 per cent of non-oil exports.

Others areas, he noted include; insignificant contribution of the other agricultural sub-sectors like shea-nut, Ginger, Cassava, Yam, Sweet Potato, Cowpeas and Pineapple to export revenues in spite of Nigeriaís ranking as one of the highest producers of such commodities in the world, low export performance of key sectors like mining that contributes less than three per cent of total non-oil exports and one per cent of GDP yearly, even though Nigeria has over 34 solid minerals in commercial quantities.

He however, stated that the bank is collaborating with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to manage two intervention schemes and improve funding support to the non-oil export sector, under a new philosophy of Produce, Add Value and Export (PAVE)

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/empower-dfis-to-boost-non-oil-export-fg.html

Nigerian pop singer and songwriter Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has been booked for shows for the next three years.

The ‘Soco’ crooner made the announcement on his Twitter handle @wizkidayo, where he wrote, “booked for three years”.

Wizkid has released several hit tracks this year including ‘Soco’, ‘Fake Love’, ‘Manya’ and ‘Nowo’.

‘Soco’, in which he featured Ceeza Mili, Spotless and Terri, is a fast-paced Afro-beat tune that has grown to become the most favourite song for the ‘Shaku Shaku’ dance.

In February 2014, Wizkid became the first ever Nigerian musician to have over 1 million followers on Twitter.

He went on to become the first Afro-beat artiste to appear in the 2018 Guinness World Records, for his contribution to Drake’s hit song ‘One Dance’.

The 27-year- old recently sold out the O2 hall in London; and is set to release a much anticipated album later in 2018.

He started recording music at age 11 and managed to release a collaborative album with the Glorious Five, .

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/wizkid-booked-for-shows-for-next-3-years.html

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki has berated Security Chiefs over the lack of coordination in the face of killings across the country.

Speaking in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, the Senate President said while the security architecture in the country has “failed”, some of the security officials overseeing security in the country do not talk to one another.


Lamenting the persistent crisis, Saraki said the issue was “not something to be politicised” because it affects all Nigerians.

He said, “If somebody is not capable and cannot do what he has to do, let others have the opportunity to do it.

“We have had situations where security officials have told us there is poor coordination. One, A is not talking to B, B is not talking to A. They don’t attend meetings jointly and things need to be done.

“There is no society that continues to see the kind of killings here and think that it should be business as usual. It requires drastic action, it requires a collaboration of all agencies and all arms of government for us to be serious.”


Saraki recalled that the National Assembly had called for a security summit where “we had addressed the issue of security architecture” and also resolved to invite the security chiefs.

“You are all very aware that some service chiefs decided in their own wisdom that there is no need for them to work with the national assembly to address these issues.

“Let us forget the issue of party, these are lives of people. Let’s remove politics. It is not about who is the speaker of the house, who is the president of the senate. It is about Nigeria.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/herdsmen-how-security-chiefs-allowed.html

The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has threatened to begin a nationwide strike over alleged sack of 300 of its members in different oil companies.



The labour union, however, gave seven days ultimatum to the OES Deep-sea Offshore and other companies to reinstate the sacked members who were unlawfully disengaged or face the crisis situation. Chairman of Port Harcourt Zone of the union, Alex Agwanwor, stated this yesterday in Port Harcourt after a meeting of the body.

Agwanwor called on government at all levels and ministry of labour to prevail on OES Deep-sea Offshore and others to recall the sacked workers, stating that the NUPENG would not fail to withdraw its services if the issues is not resolved.


He said, “A seven day ultimatum is hereby issued for unlawfully disengagement of our union members at OES Deepsea Offshore. The company forcefully disengaged over 300 of our members.”

“We will embark of indefinitely strike if these companies do not reinstate these workers.

If by midnight of Monday 9th July these companies do not address the concerns of the union, the union shall have no choice than to embark on an indefinite strike action until our grievances are addressed.

We are directing tanker drivers, drilling workers and pump attendants to withdraw their service if there is no counter notice to this,” he added.

Meanwhile, a group under the ages of Publish What You Pay (PWYP) has called on the National Assembly to fast track the passage of the Petroleum Industry bill (PIB) to create a more functional administrative structure in the oil and gas industry.

Speaking in Abuja, the National Coordinator of the group, Peter Egbule explained that the speedy passage of the PIB would significantly reduce financial leakages, encourage foreign and domestic investments, and provide succor for host communities.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/nupeng-threatens-nationwide-strike-over.html

Total revenue from the solid mineral sector in Nigeria in the past nine years stands at about N262 billion, maintaining a slow rise from N8.1 billion in 2007 to N65.7 billion in 2015.

Analysis of data provided in the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) audit dashboard showed that the country’s revenue from the sector in 2008 stood at N9.5 billion and moved to N19.4 billion in 2009. In 2010, the figure declined to N17.3 billion but moved to N26.9 billion, N31.4 billion, N33.8 billion in 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively. In 2014, the revenue went to N49.6 billion before hitting N65.7 billion in 2015.

However, while the total royalty earned for the period under review stood at N7.4 billion, the total metric tons of solid mineral produced in the country stood at about 330 million metric tons with contributions from limestones hovering at 54.5 per cent of the total production.


According to the report, production of solid mineral reached the peak in 2014, when the country produced about 47 million metric tons of solid mineral while the lowest production was recorded in 2007, when the country produced about 13 million metric tons of solid minerals.

Though Nigeria is blessed with numbers of solid minerals, including coal, lignite and Coke, gold, columbite wolframite and tantalite, bitumen, iron Ore, uranium, mining of minerals only accounts for 0.5 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a situation blamed on the influence of vast oil resources.

Chief Executive Officer, EPINA Technologies Limited, Prof. Eguakhide Oaikhinan, noted that while the sector could add as much as $50 billion (about N15.3 trillion) to the nation’s GDP by climbing from 0.5 per cent to 10 per cent growth, government has been insensitive to the call for the overhaul of the sector.

“Everybody seems to be concerned with oil or the mining of the minerals. In the raw state, these mined minerals sell at very low prices but when characterised and processed, it could have very competitive market value for the country,” he noted.

While the Advisory Partner and Mining Leader at Pricewaterhousecoopers (PwC) Nigeria, Cyril Azobu, told The Guardian that Nigeria is a fast evolving mining jurisdiction, he insisted that the sector could contribute much more given that most of the country’s rich solid minerals endowment remain largely untapped.

He noted that the lack of proper policy in the sector remained a basic challenges there must be tackled if desired objective would be achieved in the sector.

Azobu said: “There has over the years been a preponderance of largely informal operations fraught with the use of crude equipment and extremely dangerous working practices because of the absence of a formal policy on artisanal mining.

“We have a situation where for a very long time the solid minerals sector was neglected by the government. The agriculture sector also suffered from this neglect. Because of this, the sector has remained underdeveloped with no real structures put in place by successive governments to unlock its potential.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/nigerias-solid-mineral-revenue-hits.html

Industrial Training Fund (ITF) will train 13,000 Nigerians in 11 vocational skills in order to achieve the Federal Government’s policy on job and wealth creation, the Director-General, Mr Joseph Ari, has said.

Ari made the plan known during a meeting with managers of ITF Training Centre in Jos, Mr Suleyol Chagu, Head, Public Affairs Unit of ITF, said in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

”In a renewed effort to equip Nigerians with skills in line with its mandate and to ensure the achievement of the Federal Government’s policy on job/wealth creation, the Industrial Training Fund has declared 2018 as a year for training.

”The implementation of the programmes will commence on various dates between July and August and terminate in November,” Ari said.

He said he declaration was informed by the growing realisation that accelerated skills acquisition was the only way to stem unemployment, especially among youths.

According to him, governments all over the world have turned to skills acquisition, which is the universal currency of the 21st century, to arm their citizenry with skills for employment and growth.

Ari listed the skills programmes for implementation to include National Industrial Skills Development Programme, Women Skills Empowerment Programme, Skills Training and Empowerment Programme for the Physically Challenged, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, and Designing and Garment Making.

He said within the period, five other training programmes – Post-Harvest Techniques and Product Development, Aqua-Culture and Fish Farming, Manure Production, Crop Production and Greenhouse Technology and Poultry Farming would be implemented.

He said the programmes aimed at equipping Nigerian farmers with requisite skills for improved farm yield would be implemented using the Galilee International Management Institute Model.

”The emphasis on skills for the agricultural sector was informed by the fact that it is the occupation of majority of Nigerians and a key component of the economic diversification agenda of the Federal Government.

“The programmes, which are mostly targeted at youths, women and the physically challenged, were carefully selected based on projected value addition to the nation’s economy and the individual beneficiaries,” he added.

According to him, other training programmes will be implemented in some selected states.

He called on the states and local governments to collaborate with the fund for a multiplier effect of programmes.

Ari urged state governments and other stakeholders to sponsor additional trainees for the programmes.

He said such stakeholders would be required to cover the monthly stipends of the trainees, provide start-up packs for such additional trainees and also offset any allowances for the master-craftsmen that would be retained as a result of the additional trainees.

He said that in 2017, ITF trained more than 150,000 Nigerians on various trades and crafts and that the beneficiaries were earning sustainable livelihoods either as paid workers or as entrepreneurs employing others.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/itf-targets-13000-nigerians-for-wealth.html[url][/url]

Unified Payments(UP), Wednesday introduced to the Nigerian market a new solution named the ‘UP Hourly Settlement Service’ (UP-HSS), which is expected to boost electronic payment in the country.

The solution was unveiled in collaboration with Access Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank Limited and the United Bank for Africa Plc, while other banks are expected to join the partnership in the coming days. Also, the Artee Group, the promoters of Spar and Park n Shop, was part of the partnership.

The UP-HSS is a unique service that enables merchants to receive monies into their bank accounts hourly for every successful e-payment transactions done at their shops rather than the existing next day settlement after they have parted with goods or services, otherwise known as T+1 or Transaction Day + 1.


Speaking at the launch of the payment solution in Lagos, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, UP, Mr. Agada Apochi, described it as the first of its kind in Nigeria as well as globally, adding that it was the first of its kind to be offered by a multi-bank institution.

“There is no payment solution provider, processor or switch that offers this service anywhere else that we are aware of. Individual banks may, but that is an arrangement that is internal to each bank. But what we seek to offer is at industry level.

“This is a history that is defined by the need to encourage merchants and retailers in Nigeria to adopt electronic payment.

“I will like to say where we are today in terms of electronic payment is less than 10 per cent and the major reason why it is so, is because our attention, resources and time have been devoted more to every other stakeholders but less to the merchants, who are the business owners and retailers.

“But they do matter, and we have come to demonstrate that they matter. That was what led us to this solution,” he explained.

According to Apochi, unlike other instant credit solutions targeted at merchants, the UP-HSS ensures that merchants get their monies hourly with full settlement reports that aids them in reconciling their daily sales.

“It is scheme and option-neutral. This means that the settlement can be done for any merchant irrespective of the card brand used to initiate the transaction or the Processor of the card.

“Any Merchant desirous of benefiting from the service should simply contact any of the participating banks or UP to enjoy the service,” he added.

He explained that UP was inspired to develop this service in order to meet the needs of merchants, especially SMEs, for shorter settlement cycle and recycling of their trading capital.

Other reasons why the solution was developed, he said was to support the Central Bank of Nigeria’s cashless initiative aimed at growing the adoption of electronic payments in the country, which studies have shown all around the world helps to increase GDPs of economies that adopts and encourages electronic payments.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/up-banks-launch-hourly-settlement.html

The Women in Politics Forum (WIPF) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to overhaul the security structure in the country in view of the unending killings ongoing across Nigeria.

The President of the forum, Ms Ebere Ifendu made the call at a press conference following the killing of over 100 people in Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Jos South Local Government Areas of Plateau.

She said that the forum was saddened by the continued killings around the country saying that thousands of lives had been lost in Benue, Taraba, Kaduna and Zamfara.

Ifendu said that the killings were not only condemnable, they were also unacceptable as it was on record that women and children were the most victims.

“We call on the Federal Government to overhaul the security structure of the country, we cannot continue to lose lives and property when is the responsibility of government to protect citizens.

“We demand the immediate arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of this heinous crimes,” she said.

Ifendu said that WIPF was also concerned over the indiscriminate arrest of innocent citizens by security agencies without proper investigations.

The president pointed out the recent arrest of Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe by the Department of State Security (DSS) for a matter in court

She called on President Mohammadu Buhari to direct security agencies in the country to observe the principle of the Rule of Law and respect for human right.

The forum demanded the immediate release of the senator and other detained citizens held without proper investigation.

On women representation in politics, Ifendu said though democracy was a game of numbers, it had not reflected the population of women in Nigeria.

At the federal level, she put women representation in government at five per cent and various degrees at state level with none hitting the 35 per cent affirmative policy.

Ifendu said that in the absence of any legal decument supporting women participation in politics, political parties could bridge the gap.

She said that political parties determines who become candidates, demanding that parties obey legal document setting them up and ensure internal democracy.

The forum commended the Governor and citizens of Rivers for electing 23 women as Vice Chairman and an unprecedented numbers as councilors in the just concluded Local Government elections in the state.

She said that Rivers is one of the six states that has a woman as Deputy Governor, commending Governor Nysom Wike for appointing women into versions top government offices.

The president called on other states to emulate Rivers, canvassing that the gesture be replicated at the federal level in 2019.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/women-in-politics-urge-buhari-to.html

Nigeria Women Association of Georgia (NWAG) has awarded scholarships to 506 female college students and shipped medical supplies worth $2 million to Nigeria.

President of the association, Dr Stella Etta, stated at the 18th Annual Awards Banquet at Atlanta, USA, that the association gave the scholarships since it was founded in 2000.

Etta said NWAG shipped the medical supplies million to Nigerian hospitals.

The association is a group of accomplished Nigerian women residing in the State of Georgia, with the aim of impacting on the lives of Nigerians at the homeland and in the diaspora.

“Currently, NWAG supports 12 orphanages in 11 states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) through the ‘Beacon 100’ campaign.

“We have awarded 506 scholarships to female college students across the 36 states and the FCT and has so far awarded 52 one-time scholarships to high school seniors in Georgia.

“Last year, we increased the number of containers of medical supplies shipped to hospitals in Nigeria to five containers worth over $2 million to 13 community hospitals in 12 states.

“Efforts with our community outreach programmes in Metro Atlanta, help promote the Nigerian culture, change some of the common misconceptions about our home country and narrow the cultural gap between our various cultures,’’ Etta said.

In the USA, she listed the three 2018 Georgia winners of the NWAG’s scholarship to include Chigozie Amaeze, Justin Egbosiuba and Janet Nkwocha.

A cross-section of Nigerian women at the 18th Annual Award Banquet organised by the Nigerian Women Association of Georgia at Atlanta, USA (NAN Photo)

Etta also said the 2018 scholarships and orphanage awards for Nigeria would hold on Oct. 25 in Abuja and would feature 37 female students from the 36 states and the FCT.

“The 37 female students will receive the naira equivalent of $300 each.

“In addition, 12 orphanages will receive the naira equivalent of $700 dollar each for meals and toys.’’

According to her, the orphanages include the Little Saints, Palm Grove, Lagos; Seventh Day Adventist, Edoha, Rivers; Susana Home, Aba; Anamwim Home, Abuja; Zume Memorial, Irrua, Edo; God’s will, Anyigba and Care Peoples Foundation, Ibadan among others.

Etta also said the association had made substantial impacts in Nigeria’s health sector through its annual medical mission’s health care delivery in communities across the country.

In the U.S., she said NWAG “is planning a milestone project – the Nigeria Centre for Arts, Culture and Empowerment in Georgia – to promote Nigeria’s culture and to expand and enrich the organisation’s mission.

Etta said the centre would host lectures on Nigeria and Africa, Nigerian languages, women and children empowerment programmes, library and archiving of Nigerian historical documents and artefacts.

She said the organisation hoped to expand its projects and reach.

She, therefore, called for more support from well-meaning individuals and non-profit organisations. (NAN)

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/500-students-get-us-women-scholarship.html

Pensioners in Cross River State have decried the non-payment of their May entitlements and delisting of over 3,000 of them from pay roll after a controversial verification exercise by the Governor Ben Ayade administration.

Hundreds of the senior citizens yesterday besieged the office of the Accountant General protesting the omissions after claiming to have passed the screening conducted by the state government to update its list of pensioners.

One of the affected retired workers, who craved anonymity, said: “We are state pensioners and we have not been paid for May and June.


We have been asked to write down our names and we have done that but we do not know what will be the result yet. I retired since 2009. We are over 3,000, and some people came on Thursday, Friday, Monday and today (yesterday).

“My appeal to government is that they should pay us. They should not torture us because what they are doing to us now is torture.

Somebody will work for 35 years and retired, yet you are not paid your pension as and when due. Today (yesterday) is June 26 and you have not paid May salary (pension).”

Another retiree, who simply gave her name as Mrs. Effiong said: “I don’t know what is happening.

We went for screening last month at the Ministry of Finance. All my particulars are okay but up till now, I have not received my money. My children and grand children are in the house hungry.

I have children in nursery and secondary schools and the University of Calabar.”

An ailing pensioner, Ferdinand Ugana, who embarked on a seven-hour journey with the help of his son from Yala, struggled to eat bean cake, as his hands trembled.

Speaking later through his kid, he stated: “We went to the bank but there was no money. They said we should come to Calabar for verification and that is why we are here.”

The State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Clarkson Otu, regretted that the screening was “ a deliberate ploy to reduce the pension pay. We will meet hopefully this week and take a position. It is very unfortunate.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/cross-river-pensioners-protest-against.html

President Muhammadu Buhari says the Federal Government is committed to boosting Nigeria’s economy through Agricultural revolution and is already recording progress.

The President made this statement on Tuesday while commissioning the automated rice seed and seedling factory in Cross Rivers State capital, Calabar.

He applauded the Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, over his contribution to Federal Government’s Agricultural revolution.

“When we assumed the reins of leadership of our dear country, this administration launched a zero oil economic roadmap as a way of making our country less dependent on oil while encouraging investment in other sectors of the economy, particularly agriculture.

“Indeed this factory speaks loudly about the giant strides we are making in agriculture as a country. This monumental project for which we are gathered here today is a marvel to behold.”


The automated seed and seedling factory is believed to be the first in Africa and the President is confident that the seedlings from the factory will improve rice production and sufficiency nationwide.

“The factory which is said to be the first in Africa is an automated plant with a capacity to produce high yielding vitaminised and disease resisting rice seedling.

“What we expect is that the seedlings from this factory will improve rice yield from current nation three to four tonnes to about nine to 10 tonnes per hectare to ensure rice sufficiency in the country,” he said.

President Buhari said further Governor Ayade is establishing various people-oriented projects because he has keyed into the Federal Government’s revolutionary vision.

“I must say that visiting the state (Cross River) for the second time within three years in connection with people oriented and the flagship project of Governor Ayade is very welcomed and very satisfying to me.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/president-buhari-inaugurates-rice.html

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to direct his security chiefs to immediately produce quick-response measures aimed at tackling the spate of killings in Nigeria.

Saraki, while responding to the killings in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area in which scores of people were murdered in attacks on some villages, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja on Sunday night.

He stated that it was important for Nigerians to start having the assurances that the government was “decisively responding to the current threat to lives and properties in parts of the country.”

Saraki said, “I am very sad to hear the news of the incident in Plateau State. This is very depressing and giving the impression that the country is not safe. The problem of Boko Haram in the North-East is well known to everybody, but this killing by unknown band of assailants in Benue, Taraba, Plateau and Kaduna states is now giving another dimension to the crisis.


“Coming at the time we are getting ready for elections, we need to respond fast. If the plan is to develop some long-term measures, we also request that the President should mandate the security chiefs to put forward an immediate short-term and quick-response measure which will restore confidence in the system and demonstrate to the criminals behind these killings the capacity of government to tackle the issue.

“We have to immediately device a plan through which the criminals behind the killings and their sponsors can be nabbed and made to face the wrath of the law. We have to also develop plans to mop up illegal fire arms in the hands of dangerous elements while also stopping the influx of these arms into the country.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/senator-saraki-plateau-killings-show.html