₦airaland Forum

YOU ARE AN UNEVOLVED APE. YOU ARE COMPLETE 1DIOT AND A WORTHLESS PIG

SpaceTour:
Hopeless worthless Deaddiamond. Kill yourself.


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F.U.CK YOUR HOPELESS AND USELESS SELF YOU MOR0NIC ORPHAN

SpaceTour:
Fvck yourself hopeless b.astard


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No am not. YOU ARE A USELESS GOAT

SpaceTour:
You are a bug headed fool. I only came to this thread because of abagworo's comments. I care-less about imo state and its people but deranged lunatic like abagworo must be responded to whenever he looks for trouble.


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GOD FORBID !!!! YOU WILL NEVER HAVE CHILDREN AND WILL DIE EARLY AS A POOR MAN


[quote author=Nnewiboi post=40897129]

That would be a very bad idea !! Plot 42 would be ok as it is central and have easy access to both the Irete and estate roads

spyder880:
Yes, size is king but will be too costly for some of us. Besides a good 50x100 will fit a mid sized duplex and 2 cars.

How about replacing plot 77 by merging 51 and 50. This is another good location for the play ground, also centrally located.

IMO STATE THE JOY, BEAUTY AND PRIDE OF AFRICA ALA IMO STATE WU OKE MBA !!!

Can someone buy and leave the land until there is money to build what one wants ?

spyder880:
My preliminary calculations show that a square meter of land here will cost about N1,650.00 each.

This will mean that you will multiply N1650 x the plot size you have in mind to determine what the price per plot is.

This price covers everything like.

1. Cost of your plot
2. Your title deeds, on your own name (prepared by a lawyer)
3. Your survey plans, on your own name (prepared by a registered surveyor)
4. Cost of building a perimeter fence around the land and a gate with estate office/security office
5. Cost of getting the completed documents to your doorstep, anywhere in Nigeria.
6. Cost of planting royal palm trees along all the roads and all around this planned estate.
7. Cost of bulldozing this land to create all roads as planned in the layout.

More comments are welcome.

Igbo Land is Great

Gov Chime commissions revitalized Enugu Sunrise Flour Mills
10th May 2015

The Enugu State Government-owned Sunrise Flour Mills which stopped production since 20 years ago, was commissioned by Governor Sullivan Chime on Saturday after it was revitalized through a partnership with a Vietnamese company.

The industry, which last functioned during Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo administration, had remained moribund for the past 20 years as successive administrations failed to revitalize it.

But the Sullivan Chime administration, determined to get the industry back on stream, signed an agreement with a Vietnamese company, DAO-VTV International Trading Services and Investment Ltd in 2013 to take over the moribund Flour Mill for a period of 30 years.

Speaking shortly after re-opening the industry, Chime, represented by the State’s Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Jude Akubuilo described the re-opening of the Mills as a milestone in one of his administration’s many policies aimed at giving the State’s economy a new direction.
Sunrise Flour

Chief Executive Officer, DAO-VTV International Trading Services and Investment Ltd, Phoenix Huynh speaking during the commissioning of Sunrise Flour Mills, Emene, Enugu on Saturday

Akubuilo, who embarked on a comprehensive tour of the facility said, what we are seeing today is the under-celebrated aspect of the Sullivan Chime’s administration, the total re-engineering of the economic sector, that’s what you are seeing today, the re-opening of this moribund, sleeping sunrise flour mill, it has been sleeping for several years but today it is very very much awake; this is possible because of the determination, the doggedness of the governor”.

He further stated that “Chime has transformed Enugu State from a sleeping civil service economy to a wonderful economic powerhouse; it is becoming the economic hub of the South-East.

“Some of you may know that President Jonathan has now formerly approved the Enugu free trade zone; his excellency will not let him be, begged him, cajoled him until this formal approval was made, and today we hear that the flag off of the ground-breaking ceremony of this all important trade zone will take place on May 21, 2015”.

“So, you can see the economic turn-around of the state, the re-opening of the ANAMCO, which today is now assembling trucks and we are believing that others will soon follow; the construction of park and shop going on beside the Enugu State House of Assembly, many industries are clamouring to come into Enugu State, courtesy of what Chime had done to re-engineer the economy of the State”.

The commissioner lauded the Vietnamese company, DAO-VTV International Trading Services and Investment Ltd, for the quality reconstruction work at the industry.

He expressed hope that “as the CEO said, we know that this will capture the market share in terms of flour, noodles and other products, not only in the Eastern NIgeria, but across the country and beyond; we want you to continue the good work you are doing, you have the assurance of the Governor that in and out of government, he will continue to support and of course you know that this company will feature prominently in his hand-over note so that the incoming administration will continue this good work.”

Earlier, the CEO of DAO-VTV International Trading Services and Investment Ltd, Phoenix Huynh, while commending the Enugu State Government for its support, pledged the determination of the company to meet the expectations of the people.

According to the CEO, the sleeping industry had been reawaken and now ready to commence full scale production.

She said, “We thank the Governor because he helped us a lot; we shall try to make our products of very high quality for the customers in Enugu and beyond”, adding that “in the future, we shall go beyond flour and do noodles, cashew, others and we look forward for many investors”.

“In our plans for expansion, we have need for employment here- people with very high technological experience. I think this is a very first good step to make the place much more developed in the future”.

She assured that the partnership between the company and Enugu State Government would be rewarding not only to the state but the country at large.

http://theadvocatengr.com/new/chime-commissions-revitalized-enugu-sunrise-flour-mills/

Do you know the range of their school fees in Naira ?

ucheokpara100:
i will advice any one to school here alot of surports and when you finish their is job with their certificate, their school is organized and co-ordinated, u can still ask any question further about their school cos iam going close to them now to improve my english and certificate

what about schooling in South African University

PDP IN ABIA STATE ARE THIEVIES

Imo Govt to establish training centre for farmers
Governor Okorocha addressing officials of the Imo ADP at the launching of the yellow root cassava, plantain, banana, tomato and cucumber farms


The Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has disclosed plans by the State government to give necessary support to farmers in the State through the establishment of training centres for them as well as the provision of storage facilities needed to market the farm produce in the State.

Governor Okorocha made this known while launching the yellow root cassava, plantain, banana, tomato and cucumber farms developed by the Imo ADP recently.

Speaking at Obibi Ihiagwa Agro service Centre, Owerri during the official launch of the crops, the governor regretted that agriculture which accounted for over 75% of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings in the past years was dumped ignorantly for crude oil which paved the way for poverty in the nation.
According to him, if agriculture is given the pride of place in the country, it has the ability to revamp the economy, bring about the needed development, create job opportunities and secure the future for the generation unborn.

He noted that the ‘Rescue Mission’ Administration has recorded tremendous strides in education, massive infrastructural development and roads construction adding that the provision of food for the masses and youth empowerment necessitated the revamping of the Imo Palm Plantation and the Imo Modern Poultry Avutu.

Speaking further at the occasion, Governor Okorocha maintained that with the establishment of the farm project, the State will experience a turn-around in its economy.

He encouraged the youths not to neglect agriculture but to see it as a business that yields profit and can also establish them as employers of labour.

In his address, the Executive Director, Imo State Agricultural development Programme (ADP) Chief Romanus Onye, said that the tomato demonstration project is aimed at stimulating the production of tomato and other vegetable crops such as lettuce, water melon, and cucumber among others and will promote processing, product diversification, utilization and marketing of the end products of tomato and other food crops.
Chief Romanus Onye who said that the Cherry tomato species occupied about 4.5 hectres of land revealed that the project is replicated in the three zones of the State- Okigwe, Orlu and Owerri, and is running concurrently with other projects of ADP such as Oil Palm, Crops, Livestock, Fisheries and others.
He commended the State Governor for his encouragement and support which led to the success story recorded by the Imo ADC.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Agriculture Chief Frank Ibezim said that the State is abundantly blessed with fertile land mass and urged the youths and stakeholders to take up the challenge for a better tomorrow.
Earlier, the spokesman of Obibi and Ihiagwa communities Mr. Okere Kelechukwu commended the Governor for his landmark achievements in the State while he called on the government to fulfill its social responsibilities to the Communities.
The occasion witnessed the decoration of Owelle Rochas Okorocha as the Grand Patron of Young Farmers Club and Commander of Agriculture, as well as the demonstrations of indirect youths empowerment by the governor who gave 5 youths and 5 women tomatoes seeds capable of yielding baskets of tomatoes with additional N20,000 each for facilitation.

http://imostategovernment..com/2014/09/imo-govt-to-establish-training-center.html

Political power should move from Orlu zone to either Okigwe zone or Owerri zone

Abia guber 2015: Why I’m running —Ikpeazu

Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, Deputy General Manager of the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency has just resigned his position to contest for the Abia governorship seat. He is running on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The PhD degree holder in Bio-Chemistry hails from Isiala-Ukwu Mbato in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia South senatorial zone. In this interview with PETER OKORE, Ikpeazu speaks about his dream of building a new Abia. Excerpts:
Posted on October 22, 2014.

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What qualities and experience do you think places you on a better position to be Abia governor?
There are many. I started as the Local Government Transition Committee Chairman for Obingwa in 2002. I was the first Transition Committee Chairman of Obingwa Local Government council for seven months. At that time, it was our responsibility to unify the local government and bring all our people under one umbrella. Indeed, we created sufficient awareness. We also intervened in agriculture by providing fertilizers. We also provided learning aids to primary schools, which were directly under the control of the local government councils. We intervened in electricity projects, water boreholes, amongst other things.


After that I became the Special Adviser on Environment and Sanitation to the then Governor. On that duty post, I decided to do the first enumeration of waste generation in Aba and its environs. We were able to determine waste output per- capita. From this exercise, we were able to use the population census figures to determine the quantity of garbage that comes out of Aba city every day. Besides that, I played a very prominent role in drafting what later turned-out to be ‘the Abia State Basic Environmental Law of 2004′.


After that position, in 2007 I became the General Manager of Abia State Passengers Manifest and Safety Scheme (ASPIMSS). On this duty post, my challenge was to provide an integrated healthcare system for accident victims. I started with medical ambulances on the Highways, which we called Abia State Accident Intervention Scheme. Those ambulances were stationed on the highways to rescue accident victims, and take them to some designated hospitals we had created some relationships with along the major highways. They included the Annunciation Hospital at Enugu, Chionye Hospital at Owerrenta and the Abia State Teaching Hospital in Aba.


On my second return to ASPINS as the GM, a position I held till 2013, I decided to take that intervention scheme to the next level by conceptualizing and building a Trauma Centre; a specialized hospital for those accident victims who had trauma. This is funded by the state government so that accident victims who are helpless can be taken to the Centre and treated. Work is currently going- on at that hospital and will be completed soon. It is a worthy course.


That is not all. I was also the first chairman, Governing Council of Abia State College of Health Technology, Aba. It was under my watch that the former School of Hygiene, Aba became a standard College of Health Management and Technology, one of the best in the country. I also made sure that we had zero tolerance for cult activities. Most importantly, without government subvention, we were able to get accreditation for three of the five proposed courses by the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE. Today, that institution is a Diploma awarding school with full rights and privileges.


In 2013, I was appointed the first Deputy General Manager of ASEPA, in-charge of Aba and environs; comprising seven local Governments. Aba generates close to 5, 000metric tonnes of garbage every day. The operational and existing 13 markets account for this situation in Aba. Most of these markets run two shifts-early morning and late night; all generating refuse in full capacity. The conveyor belt that brings out garbage is perpetually in motion. For the first time, we have designed, crafted and brought to life the first waste management policy for Aba and environs, which has been adopted by the African Development Bank (ADB) as a working document for the assistance they want to render in Aba.


We have also developed a waste management pattern for markets, households and all segments of the society. We have a policy where garbage must be brought only from 5pm and evacuation done in the night. We also tasked the ingenuity of the average Aba person by developing what we called the Keke power-pack, where generators are mounted on Tricycles with lamps for night vision. This facilitates our work.


There is however, room for improvement there. We have not done all we wanted to do in Aba. For instance, there is the need for us to start intervention on the garbage issue from the primary source. What we are presently doing is the secondary and tertiary waste management, which are receptacles as well as the tertiary dump. Though I am no longer there, I know that from what we have put in place there, Aba will never go back to those ugly days of filthy and indiscriminate dumping of garbage.



What is your interest in running for the governorship of Abia state?
In the first place, my interest to run for the governorship of Abia state is because of what the present government has done. At the time the incumbent Governor T.A.Orji took over, being a governor in this state was unattractive because we were sub-zero. But today, Governor Orji has built a solid foundation on many fronts. Talk about civil service, infrastructure, corporate responsibility, image, inter- and intra-state relationship; relationship with the federal government, inter- agency and inter-Government relations etc. These have been greatly improved upon. Education and all facets have been touched.


So I am confident that tomorrow I want to see an Abia state where Aba will be able to generate sufficient revenue to help us develop Arochukwu, Umunneochi, Ikwuano and other centres that have capacity for second degree municipality. I also want a revitalization of the railway system, because Abia is one of the states that enjoy robust reticulation of railway. There is need for us to partner the Federal Government or the necessary agencies, namely, the Nigerian Railway Corporation to see how best we can achieve this. There is no reason why somebody cannot live in Ovim and go to work in Port Harcourt. The movement of goods and farm produce from Nbawsi, from Umuoba etc should be able to come to Aba; go to Port Harcourt, pass through Ovim, Umuahia to Enugu and the rest of Nigeria.


I think, if we invest in this it will reduce the dead- weight on our present roads; which is why we have this problem of road failures every now and then.
Again, I want an Abia state where somebody can come in with his suite case, walk into an office and gets all the information he requires within 24 hours to invest in Abia. I dream for a state where somebody will not be dribbled from one office to the other; and at the end of the day, he regrets ever coming to Abia for business. What these Agboro’s(touts) are doing in Aba, making life difficult for commuters, passers-by and businessmen needs to be rejig. As a member of the state IGR committee, I know how much effort the state governor has made to change or reverse this ugly trend in Aba and Umuahia.


So, all I will do is to build on that and make sure that people will feel free and be happy to come to Abia state and do business. I will also like to make sure that the security rating of Abia is improved to become the first safest state in the country. I will also ensure that the city of Aba is ventilated by building a Ring Road and develop industrial clusters around the town, with special emphasis on Leather works and Textiles. We could have a new Aba. We could have a third bridge across the Aba River. We should dredge the Aba River. We should also do something about our drainage system generally by investing in water treatment plant that will take water and return it to the River in a clean way. This way fish can also be happy with the water we are bringing-in. Not just throw-in rain water straight from the drains with all the rubbish into the Aba River.


The beautiful landscape that has been created in Umuahia is ready to take some industries, especially agro-allied industries. Abia is one of the leading cocoa producing states. There is no reason why we should not have a Beverage producing factory to add value to that cocoa. Selling raw cocoa is akin to throwing away your golden egg, whereas you can turn it to omelets. We need to have such a factory in Abia. Umuahia has become a modern city, no matter where you are coming from. We should be able to attract investors from within and outside Nigeria.


Incidentally, I am looking for a day when people will say: ‘if you don’t own a house in Umuahia or Aba, then you have not started’. We also have a long and wide water front around our border with Port Harcourt. We can tap from what is happening in the Oil and Gas Industry and suck part of it through Ukwa-West as well as make sure that the presence of these Oil companies that are doing business around Owazza is felt in Abia state. As I speak now you will never see any Shell Petroleum Development, SPDC, office anywhere in Abia State, yet they have business to do with Abia. We want to see their flag around.


In terms of education, I see the beautiful Model Schools that are being built here-and-there by this administration. I think time has come also to put inside those beautiful buildings smart desks for our children, so that at the touch of a button, a child can do his/her arithmetic and be able to compete because we are in a global world ruled by ICT now.
The e-Library in Umuahia will take the full benefit of that. Every secondary school should also have a semblance of an e-Library. So that at a touch you can access what information you want. That is the only way it can make meaning.





I understand that the PDP zoning to Abia-South senatorial district is in your favour. What do you have to say on this?
I congratulate the PDP for that wonderful decision to zone. This is the hallmark of democracy; consensus, agreeing inside the room without necessarily making a show of it. I hereby acknowledge my compatriots and friends that they are all eminently qualified and am coming to the table with beautiful agenda and plans. But there is time for every seed. This is the time for the seed from Ngwa or Abia-South. I want them to find some space somewhere in their hearts to be humble enough to respect what the party says: because the party is supreme. But if they decide and feel strongly about running, that is okay. Every experience in politics is equally important. But, they better obey the party. History will credit them with their decisions now for posterity to read.
However, I am not in it just because zoning favours me. I am in it because I have been sufficiently fired-up and determined to serve Abia people. This is primary. That I am favoured by the zoning system now is an added advantage and I welcome it with two hands.





Knowing the background you are coming from, how fit are you to stand the financial stress of your electioneering?
My most important need is people, not money. Human beings are the raw materials for politics, not money. Politics requires money. But there is no direct relationship between how much you have and your capacity to deliver the democratic dividend. It is an advantage for me that I am running from the position and point of middle class. I represent the middle class. I do not represent the high and mighty. I count on the middleclass to see one of their own, because I am wearing that shoe. I know where it pinches. Somebody who is too comfortable cannot solve the problem s of Abia. What we require is one of our own; a home bred middleclass person. That was what elected Barrack Obama in America. I think I will get it done here. But there is nothing that is required in politics, in terms of cash to run this race which God will not avail me with.





What advice will you then give to the electorate?
I urge the electorate to identify with me, because I am coming from their constituency and I represent a generational shift. At all times when countries want to speed up progress, they resort to the younger ones. It happened in America, Korea, England, etc. Some of these people are within my age bracket.
I think I have the requisite qualification and experience. Most importantly, I have the humility to stoop low to ask from Abians wherever they may be, in diaspora, Lagos, Abuja, wherever they may be, to come on-board so that we may work together. Nobody has monopoly of knowledge. What I am coming to the table with is that I have the humility to invite Abians, wherever they maybe to come home. The stage is set for us to move Abia state forward now.



In view of the present PDP zoning formula, how would you assuage the fear of ‘winner takes it all’?
I am a product of Nigeria and a product of Abia. The bulk of my friends reside in Aba. From my background I am not weighed down by ethnic or clannish sentiments. I only define people from true perspectives. Either you are a good man or a bad man. A bad person from Ngwa is a bad person. If you are a good man from Bende or from Imo, Hausa, etc, you are a good man.




Aba and Abia belong to all of us. Even the policies of this present administration speak volumes of that. I am a very diligent student of ‘Ochendoism’. Apart from that I have track records judging from the places I worked. In my last assignment, 61% of those who did that magic (environmental cleanliness) in Aba , are from Old Bende. About 18% come from outside Abia state. The rest are from Ngwa area. What this translates to is that if I want to have a piece of job done, I look for those who can do it. Everybody should be comfortable doing business in Aba and Abia state under my watch. It is my duty and primary responsibility to protect all Nigerians who are either on transit or resident in every part of Abia state; stretching from Arochukwu to Ukwa-West.





Given the army of the unemployed currently roaming the streets, what strategies would you adopt to tackle this problem in Abia state?
We have capacity to generate close to 5,000 jobs in Abia state within one year. I have done it before. In ASPIMSS I had 340 people. When I became the Deputy General Manager of ASEPA, I employed 500 people. I know that if we strengthen our institutions of service we can deploy people to deal with that service and it will rub-off on our IGR.
Road Traffic management is a virgin area for employment. Collection of Taxes and Levies is also a very viable area. What we need to do is to professionalize it by bringing experts who are competent to lead our youths into something that is gainful. We can as well encourage youths to pursue carriers.


Again, agriculture is the greatest employer of labour. It looks unattractive now because people feel farming is just for those who are in the villages. But if we cash on the Ochendo Liberation Farms, replicate it in all the 17 LGA’s, commercial agriculture will begin to blossom. Part of what we need to do is to add value to agric- products. We intend to achieve this by doing something about production, storage, transportation and marketing.





How would you look at forging regional integration for the South-East as a governor?
This is lacking in the South-East and we need it desperately. There is need for people of the South-East to forge a cohesive front; not only in the political dimension. We should not, however, allow political interests to divide us and over-ride other interests. We should have the courage to co-operate culturally, economically and religiously. There is no harm in having a regional market or contributing to have a Seaport here. There is no harm in having a cultural festival that can bring our people together; or having one huge Unity School and one Technical Institution for our children to build themselves. Our people are technically-minded people such institution can give us middle-cadre manpower.


We could also pull funds together and seeking development partners, agencies and non-agencies that can come to the South-East and give us something that is unique to our people. We can also look inwards in terms of business out-look. There is every reason for us to come together and there are so many fronts through which we can come together. The time to do it is now; because the West is marching forward. From what is happening in the North, if they wake up any day, we would be left behind. That would be a huge tragedy.


If elected governor of Abia state I am going to be at the fore-front of this advocacy and I believe that is where our ultimate renaissance and rebirth lie. No one state can do it alone. As long as we continue to sing discordant songs, we will be splintered into fragments, and at the end of the day, we will not be able to achieve anything.

http://www.hallmarknews.com/abia-guber-2015-why-im-running-ikpeazu/

BoI endorses PRODA as cottage fund equipment supplier
November 10, 2014 | Filed under: Real Sector | Author: Editor
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The Bank of Industry (BoI) has endorsed the Projects Development Institute (PRODA) Enugu as one of the technology centres to fabricate and provide equipment to beneficiaries of its N5billion Cottage Agro Processing (CAP) Fund.

CAP Fund was recently launched to provide loans to beneficiaries who wish to establish small scale plants or mini mills to process Nigeria’s agricultural products.

“PRODA is also going to be one of the equipment suppliers to ensure that people who want to process Nigeria’s vast agricultural produce can come, adopt technologies here and ensure that products are processed to final food products or inter-mediate raw materials for industries,” said Rasheed Olaoluwa, managing director, BoI, during a visit to the institute in Enugu, recently.

Olaoluwa, who was conducted round the facilities of the institute by Charles Agulanna, acting director-general of PRODA, said he discovered that PRODA, like FIIRO, had developed a number of technologies over the years, adding that the bank had gone to the workshop, examined some of those technologies and discovered that people were coming to PRODA to take those technologies to set-up businesses in many parts of Nigeria.

He noted, in addition to the agro-processing equipment production, PRODA also had other technologies such as equipment for

producing pencils, which if actually commercialised, would make Nigeria the only country in Africa that produced pencils.

“Nigeria in the past had invested significantly in a lot of research institutes that have done a lot of work and we need to ensure that those works are commercialised and leveraged by the private sector to ensure that we fast-track Nigeria’s industrialisation. And some of these technologies include the cassava processing equipment, corn flour equipment, the palm-kernel cracker and oil extractor among others,” he stressed.

In his response, Agulanna said: “This visit is a window for the Institute to start to impact positively on the economy of the country and we do have a lot of researched product on our shelves and we think with this coming of BoI, we will be well guided in trying to disseminate some of the technologies that we have here and some of the R& products.”

He stressed that an established outfit like the institute would not only provide direct employment, but had the capacity to create indirect employment for others.

http://businessdayonline.com/2014/11/boi-endorses-proda-as-cottage-fund-equipment-supplier/#.VGNT78kjIdU

Chiwude:
Ji si ike Otu nnem! I commend the initiative of ABC transport to site a Truck facility in Enugu. Kudos to Mr Nneji.

This is the kind of patriotism Ala Igbo needs. I read somewhere that Peace Mass Transit is about to set up a vehicle assembly plant also in Enugu.

Brewers Bottling Big Profits in Onitsha
November 4, 2014 - No Comments - News and Articles

Onitsha in Anambra State is home the site of an expansion by SABMiller the international beer brewing giant. SABMiller’s consolidated Africa business was its most rapidly growing region in the six months ended September, 2014.

Nigeria was SABMiller’s to performer with sales jumping 41% in the six months. The Onitsha brewery is one of three breweries owned by the company in Nigeria and they are spending $110m to more than triple its brewing capacity.

While the expansion was not yet complete, the brewery had contributed significantly to the sales growth thanks to capacity increases and the success of SABMiller’s new Hero brand, which is produced at the Onitsha facility, a spokesman said.

SABMiller’s Nigerian subsidiary, Intafact Beverages, is overseeing the expansion of the Onitsha brewery.

The business employed 300 local people before the expansion. It will add an additional 400 direct jobs when construction is completed.

How to Develop the Culture of Technology and Innovation to Drive Economic Growth in South Eastern Nigeria
November 4, 2014 - No Comments - News and Articles



It is worthy to note that the tri-angle of innovation around the world is held together by the cooperative endeavor of the Government, the Academic Community, and the Industries. A deficiency or disconnect in any of these key drivers of innovation will definitely bring an imbalance in the innovation ecosystem. This makes the role of the academic community in driving innovation very critical

The world is waiting for innovations from South Eastern Nigeria,Considering the ingenuity of the people from this region,it is time to pay great attention to ways of driving innovation.The South East region of Nigeria has the potential to lead in this following her huge human and material resources.One key sector that has huge potentials for growth and competitiveness is the Education sector-the application and use of technology in Education, but these potentials remain untapped.

Following the enormous challenges facing our universities and other higher education, such as poor funding of the Universities by government, brain drain, Infrastructural deficiency,skill and knowledge gap, poor ethical standards and different levels of malpractices.We all have come to agree that these problems have hindered technology innovation out of our universities for several years.

Despite these daunting challenges there are growing opportunities inherent in the academic community which need to be properly harnessed to ensure the future and survivability of our region. This calls for urgent need to begin to think of solutions to these problems and finding out the way forward with focus on innovation.

Several approaches and projects have been undertaken by the government to foster innovation, some of them have not yielded any good result and has no justification or bases for their institution. It is time for a new method, it is time to critically look at what other nations like Israel and the US are doing in the area of technology and Innovation.

It is worthy to note that the tri-angle of innovation around the world is held together by the cooperative endeavor of the Government, the Academic Community, and the Technology Industry. A deficiency or disconnect in any of these key drivers of innovation will definitely bring an imbalance in the innovation ecosystem. This makes the role of the academic community in driving innovation very critical.The importance of the collaboration of the academy, the industry and government is crucial for creating a fostering entrepreneurial eco-system. The industry funding experience and networking; the academy human resources and R& capabilities; and the government policy – all combined together creates an effective way of promoting and developing business, education and technology for a successful entrepreneurial eco-system. This type of collaboration is non-existent in the region and that is a major problem hindering innovation here as many nations are maximizing their ivory towers by creating superb technology institutes and centres focused at grooming a generation of innovators for the future.

While many universities around the world are at the centre of innovations, leading the formation of thriving tech ecosystems, our universities are yet to realize how important their role is in driving innovation. It gives me great concern seeing how innovation ecosystems are driven by the intellectual prowess of the academics and the academia.For example,the contribution of Technion-Israel Institute of technology to the technological development of Israel and the world clearly shows how relevant the academic community is in leading innovation in a nation. The story of Israel’s transformation as a Technology giant cannot be complete without mentioning the contributions of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology which has graduated over 67,000 tech entrepreneurs and professionals that are adding great value to the Start-up Nation and the world at large.

As documented in the book Technion Nation, the story of how Technion Graduates are contributing to the development of Israel’s economy, the over 67,000 graduates, holding over 90,000 degrees, indeed became the foundation for Israel’s start-ups, basic research, applied technology, high-tech industry, global management expertise, export sector and economic growth. Specifically, the Technion’s aeronautical engineering department has spurred key breakthroughs for Israel’s defense. Its electrical engineering andComputer science departments have provided the talented graduates who drive Israel’s electronics and software industry, which generates $20billion of Israel’s $40 billion in annual exports. Its architecture and Civil Engineering departments built Israel’s roads and infrastructure. And three of Technion’s talented faculty have won Nobel Prizes in the past eight years. This is just the contribution of one university!.

Harvard University, MIT, Stanford, Geogiatech are a few of the higher education communities that have conquered their environment and are extending their tentacles to other countries and helping them develop innovation around research and development of innovative products and services.

One of the ideas that will help to drive Technology and Innovation is to set up Technology Innovation Institutes and Centres in the Universities focused at driving Innovation and inventions. And then collaborating with some of the successful institutions mentioned above.

A Technology Entrepreneurship Centre in the our universities with the support of the Government, the Technology Industry and the University community will help form a great synergy that will ensure the development of entrepreneurship and impact on the overall economy.

Such centres will serve as an incubation platform for young entrepreneurs who are undergraduates, graduates, researchers and the academic community. The center in its first year of establishment will support the building of at least 100 technology- focused businesses out of the university.. These businesses will focus on using science, Technology and Innovation to solve real problems in our society.

The tech centres will provide business support services and the technology needed, to undergraduates, graduates, researchers and the entire academic community. This support will help them launch, nurture and grow their own businesses thereby reducing the high unemployment rate.

The centres will also help in the commercialization of ideas, inventions, and projects from the academic community – To tap into the potentials of renowned and distinguished professors and other academics to build world class businesses. This will be a catalyst that will drive innovation from the academcis.

It will however provide a platform that will foster collaboration in research and development between Israel, the US and South East Nigeria.

More also,through an exchange program, Entrepreneurs from the center will have opportunity to visit Israel, Silicon Valley and also learn from the culture of entrepreneurship in those countries.

The Technology Innovation centres will be a channel to introduce our young tech entrepreneurs and their businesses to the international market and expose them to Venture Capitalists, Partners etc. that will scale their businesses.

All of these and many more benefits will be achieved if we begin to look at Technology and Innovation in the region and the role the Universities can play.

ABC Transport To Establish Truck Assembly Plant In Nigeria
— September 3, 2014

Damian Duruiheoma, Owerri

Management of the Associated Bus Company, ABC, Transport PLC says it has concluded plans to open a truck assembling plant in Nigeria. It says the plant would commence work in October 2014.

Managing Director/CEO of ABC Transport, Mr Frank Nneji dropped the cheering hint while speaking at the 21st Annual General Meeting, AGM, of the transport firm held in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

He said the arrangement to set up the plant was being carried out by Transit Support Services,TSS, a subsidiary of the ABC Transport in partnership with a Chinese company, Sharkman Trucks and would be located at Enugu.

Nneji disclosed that the subsidiary company holds the franchise of Sharkman Trucks in Nigeria under the new government’s national automotive policy which he said had provided good incentives for local manufacturers of vehicles.

He explained that TSS had agreement with the Chinese company to come and commence assembling of Sharkman trucks in Enugu.

According to him, the company would initially lease facilities in Enugu for the take-off of the assembling of the trucks before going ahead to acquire its own

plant.

He stated that feasibility studies for establishing the plant in Enugu in the next two years was ongoing while proper assembling of the Sharkman Trucks at the leased facility would commence in six weeks time.

Speaking on the Ebola scare in the country, Nneji hinted that it has caused a drop in the volume of passengers as many people are scared to travel to states and countries in the West Coast where Ebola disease is reportedly discovered.

He said that ABC Transport as an outfit had adopted some measures to ensure that passengers were protected on transit and advised Nigerians to shed the Ebola phobia, which he said was almost wrecking the entire system.

Earlier, the chairman of Board of Directors of the company, Prince Olumide Obayomi, in his 2013 annual report and accounts revealed that the robust growth witnessed in the last few years in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2013 with recorded GDP 4.7 per cent from 3.5 per cent in 2012.

The AGM resolved that the authorized share capital of the company be increased from N800million to N1billion by the creation of N400milion ordinary shares of 50kobo each with such new shares, in all respects ranking in relation with the existing ordinary shares in the capital of the company.

The chairman assured that the company would continue to avail itself of suitable technology in its service delivery while continuous innovation would remain the service watchdog of the company. Obayomi said the establishment is also committed to ensuring that it regularly assesses its service delivery platforms to ensure that they are at par with the best global standard in surpassing customers’ expectations.

He said that the Board of Directors was confident that the company’s fortune would improve in the coming years to be able to attain predictable long term stability and build the capacity to ride above the tidal waves of continually value destroying unfriendly operating environment.

http://theunion.com.ng/abc-transport-to-establish-truck-assembly-plant-in-nigeria/

nagoma:
"Empty threats !!" ( in Gowon's voice)

THE SOONER YOU REIN IN ON YOUR TRIBAL BIGOTED, ISLAMIC FANATICAL TERRORISTS AND BROTHERS UP NORTH, THE BETTER FOR US ALL. SOUTHERNERS WOULD NOT ATTACK NORTHERNERS BUT SOUTH WOULD NEVER EVER ALLOW THE NORTH TO BRING THEIR SENSELESS, ANIMALISTIC AND BARBARIC KILLINGS DOWN SOUTH. THE AIMS OF THE MEETINGS ARE NOT TO BREAK UP NIGERIA BUT TO ACT AS CHECKS AND BALANCES TO THE EVIL PLANS OF BIGOTS AND TERRORIST UP NORTH. AS LONG AS SOUTH IS NOT ATTACKED THERE WON'T BE COUNTER MEASURES.

APC Chides FG, PDP Over Poor State Of Roads, As Governor Okorocha Storms Aba
by 247ureports
November 8, 2014

The South East caucus of the All Progressive Congress (APC) led by the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has accused the Federal Government and the PDP leadership of being insensitive to the plight of the masses as the Abia State flank of the Port- Harcourt – Aba Road remains a death trap to motorists.

APC members bared their minds when the South East leadership of the party stormed Aba, the commercial city of Abia State for a campaign rally on Friday, November 8, 2014.

Addressing the mammoth crowth at the Aba Recreation Club, Governor Okorocha observed that the poor state of roads and lack of Federal Government presence in the South East in terms of social infrastructure and political appointments is a clear indication of marginalization of Ndigbo by the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and urged the igbos vote out PDP in 2015.

He said that PDP has failed Nigerians since the 15 years of its dishonest leadership in the country and called on the people to support the All Progressive Congress (APC) which he described as “a brand new party for a new and prosperous Nigeria”.

Owelle Okorocha vouched that APC will guarantee peace and stability in the nation, free and qualitative education, massive infrastructural development as well as give Ndigbo a fair share of federal appointments and projects. Also speaking, Senator Chris Ngige regretted that the Federal Government has neglected most of the roads in the South East as well as failed to give Igbos their rightful position in stake of the nation, and called for the support of an Igbo presidency. “Nigeria will be better when they recognize the fact that the sun rises from East, and return the presidency to the Igbos” he noted.

Senator Ngige further pointed out that the remarkable successes recorded in Imo, Lagos, Rivers State and other APC states is an indication that the party will do well at the centre if given the mandate in 2015.

The former South East zonal chairman of APC and a Governorship aspirant in Abia State, Chief Nyere Anyim said Abia will sing a new song of progress when APC is voted into power in 2015.

Others who spoke at the occasion include, the Speaker Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Benjamin Uwajimogu, a party leader in Anambra State, Chief George Muoghalu, a member of the APC Board of Trustees, Chief Mrs V.N Chukwuani, all affirmed that the party has a vision to transform Nigeria into a leading economy of the world.

http://247ureports.com/apc-chides-fg-pdp-over-poor-state-of-roads-as-governor-okorocha-storms-aba/

Turkish Airlines To Commence Flights To Abuja, Enugu In March 2015

Agency Report
— Nov 7, 2014 | Leave a comment

The government of Turkey said on Friday that Turkish Airlines would commence scheduled flights into the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu in March 2015.

The Turkish ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Mustafa Pulat, made the announcement in Abuja when he paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Aminu Wali.

Pulat said that direct Turkish airlines flights into more cities in Africa were part of a renewed commitment to strengthening Turkey-Africa strategic partnership.

He used the occasion to invite Nigeria to participate in the second meeting of the Turkey-Africa Cooperation Summit, scheduled to hold in Malabo from Nov. 19 to Nov. 21.

“Our president, foreign minister and minister for the economy are going to Malabo and we are doing this with the AU, which has promised to invite African countries, including Nigeria.’’

He said that Turkey was willing to contribute its quota to Africa’s development through strategic partnership.

According to statistics from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, trade volume between Turkey and Africa has increased more than tenfold in 13 years.

The statistics indicated that trade reached $7.5 billion in 2013, up from $742 million in 2000.

The envoy also extended his country’s invitation to Nigeria to participate in the upcoming meeting of the Committee of Social and Economic Cooperation in Istanbul later in November.

The committee is a subsidiary of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

The ambassador also solicited Nigeria’s support for Turkey’s hosting of the 10th conference of the World Trade Organisation, scheduled to hold in 2015.

He expressed delight at the cordial economic and trade relations between both countries.

Pulat, however, called for the conclusion of negotiations and signing of the Promotion and Protection of Investments Agreement between both countries to boost trade ties.

The envoy said the agreement on double taxation was still pending and acknowledged that his mission had received a new draft from the Nigerian side.

He told Wali that Istanbul was currently considering the draft of the agreement.

According to him, several Turkish companies are willing to invest in the energy, aviation and housing sectors in Nigeria.

Pulat commended Nigeria for containing the spread of Ebola but expressed surprise that his country was mentioned as one of the countries that were discriminating against travellers from Nigeria.

He said there were few isolated cases when travellers from Nigeria were subjected to medical examination over concerns for symptoms of the Ebola virus disease.

Wali thanked the Turkish Government for extending its national carrier to Kano, his home town and for opening more routes in Nigeria.

He pledged that the ministry would continue to encourage the signing of more Bilateral Air Services Agreement as a springboard to encouraging more direct investment into Nigeria.

The minister acknowledged that Turkish investments in Nigeria were visible in the tourism, power, education and health sectors, among others.

He pledged Nigeria’s support to Turkey’s hosting of the WTO conference and assured the ambassador of Nigeria’s participation in the event.

Wali also welcomed Turkey’s offer of defence and military cooperation with Nigeria in the fight against terror and insurgency.

http://leadership.ng/news/389644/turkish-airlines-commence-flights-abuja-enugu-march

Obiano repositions Anambra as investment hub, attracts $520m in one week
1
By Our Reporter on November 10, 2014 COVER

By JAMES EZE

The efforts of Gover­nor Willie Obiano to reposition Anambra State as the new in­vestment hub in West Africa are beginning to yield amaz­ing results as the state at­tracted $520 million invest­ment last week.

The investments came largely into the two key areas that make up the governor’s Four Pillars of Development, namely Agricul­ture, Trade and Commerce. The other two Pillars are Industrial­ization and Oil and Gas.

What is currently looking like Anambra’s day in the invest­ment began at midweek with a tripartite agreement which the state government signed with the management of Delfarm Limited and Songhai Regional Centre from Benin Republic for specific agricultural projects val­ued at $200 million (about N32 billion). This was followed up at the weekend with another agree­ment with a consortium known as the West Africa Interconti­nental Trade Centre Ltd., which signed for the construction of an International Modern Market to be located in Ogbunike, Oyi Local Government Area at an estimated value of $320 million for the first phase of the project.

These two agreements have moved the government very close to its projected investment inflow of $1.9 billion before the end of this year. So far, Anam­bra has attracted almost $1 bil­lion in investments in the last six months averaging $167 million investment per month. These investments justify, in concrete terms, Governor Willie Obia­no’s reputation as an entrepre­neurial banker and a technocrat of note who understands the ter­rain of high-wired business and the best steps to bring the invest­ment world to his doorsteps.

In real terms, the Delfarm Limited/Songhai Farms project is expected to generate 150,000 jobs and cut down the rate of unemployment in Anambra and the neighbouring states. The agricultural project is a fully integrated framework that combines agriculture, technol­ogy, industry and services with a sustainable working system and seeks to create training and empowerment centres for the youths. On the other hand, the proposed International Market in Ogbunike is designed to ac­commodate an ultra-modern shopping mall, an industrial park, education and medical fa­cilities as well as a modern en­tertainment centre. The project will be executed in phases with the first phase creating about 6,000 jobs and 12,000 indirect jobs.

Anambra’s rising profile as the haven for investments in sub-Saharan Africa actually began in May this year when the Coscharis Group made a massive entry into the state’s agricultural sector with $200 million investment in a farm settlement, (the Coched Farms Project) in Anakau, Ayamelum Local Government Area. Since then, Anambra has continued to attract investors as the Obiano administration digs in to force through its reform programmes that are intended to lift the state up to its rightful position as the home of entrepreneurship in sub-Saharan Africa.

Since the arrival of Coched Farms, other agro-investors have followed suit. Joseph Agro Limited, Ekcel Farms Limited had penned down a $150 million agreement to take over the lucrative Omor Rice Mill and farm settlement, while Ekcel Farms had signed $100 million for the produc­tion of cassava and tomato in the state. Grains and Silos Limited has also signed another MoU valued at $11 million for a Silos project and finally, Del­farm/Songhai Farms have also moved in. Other investors like Royal Farms and a host of oth­ers are all in line to move into Anambra. There are also talks about a high-level collabora­tion between the Anambra State Government and some agricul­tural authorities in Bangkok, Thailand, that will finally divvy up Governor Obiano’s prom­ised agricultural revolution in Anambra State. The state has also attracted investments in the area of tourism with Cardinal Developers and Trust Limited leading the charge in that sec­tor with a considerable financial outlay.

Right at the heart of the in­vestment revolution in Anam­bra State is the pivotal role of the Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA), which is staffed with seasoned invest­ment bankers and financial experts. This agency has made the process of documentation and other otherwise tedious processes of doing business in Anambra State look like a walk in the park. This has encouraged prospective investors who are familiar with the huge markets and great human capital that Anambra has in abundance.

It would be recalled that flagging off this year’s farming season in a ceremony at Nteje, Oyi Local Government Area in May this year, Governor Obi­ano had firmly set the agenda for his agricultural revolution. Underscoring the importance of agriculture to Ndigbo in his speech at the event, Obiano had recalled: “From time imme­morial, our ancestors judged a man by the strength of his arm. A man who could not feed his family was regarded as an eful­efu! A failure! That tells us how important farming and agricul­ture in general was and will al­ways be to our people.”

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=90139