An Associate Professor, Efem Ubi, Acting Director of Research and Studies, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), has urged African governments to invest in and support funding of research, in Africa-China relations.

Such investment, according to him, brings closer relationships and information between both parties, to help solve challenges

Ubi made the assertion at the first Nigeria Africa-China Research Group conference, held in collaboration with Faculty of Social Sciences, Lagos State University (LASU), on Tuesday, in Lagos.

The theme of the conference was “Knowledge (re)production and the academe in Africa-China research space”.

“We need to know that all funding for research in this area comes from Western countries and China, hence, the control.

“Research, especially from the African side, should decenter China focus more on the Africa side of the relationship,”Ubi said.

He added that the major problem with researching Africa-China was the lack of access to data and information, especially on China side.

“On the contrary, it is easier for Chinese to access data and information from other countries.

“The lack of information stems from the failure of shared knowledge with the public on both sides vis-à-vis the issues in discuss.

“The result is that the public who have to depend on other sources for their information, more or less from the roadside, are entrenched with misinformation, a situation which has to do with misleading information.

“This is further given impetus by the social media and even some mainstream media,”Ubi said.

Ms Yan Yuqing, Consul General of China, said that the conference was of great significance, aimed to jointly broaden exchanges between Chinese and African academics

Yuqing said that it would also facilitate China and Africa sharing and learning from each other’s successful ways of development, so as to enhance the mutual understanding and friendship between the countries.

“This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

“During the seventy-five years of exploration and practice, China has found a way of development that is suited to its own conditions – the path of Socialism with Chinese characteristics.

“China-Africa relations have been long-lasting and rewarding, again because we have found the right path to cooperation,”she said.

Yuqing said that China supports Africa’s agricultural modernisation, which made it launch the plan for China-Africa cooperation on talent development to support African integration.

“We are more than ever looking forward to the new summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), to be held in Beijing in September.

“It will draw up a new blueprint for promoting the building of a higher level of China-Africa community with shared future.

“We are ready to work with African countries to discuss together, build together, and share the benefits together.

“In the course of China-Africa cooperation, academia should further play a unique role in knowledge reproduction and theory reinvention,”she said.

Dr Mark Obeng, Executive Board, Chinese in Africa and Africans in China(CA/AC) Research Network, called for sustainability of the programme, which brings more collaboration between the two countries.

Obeng, a senior lecturer of Sociology at the University of Ghana, Legon, said that their network mission was to help move the global conversation about China-Africa forward in a critical and constructive way.

“Our primary goals are to facilitate intellectual exchange, promote academic research, and share information about engagements between China and the African continent.

“We have over 10,000 academicians such as lecturers, researchers and even students in our network which helps them get grants for more research works,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that about 60 presentations were delivered from scholars coming from over 34 universities across and outside Nigeria for the conference.

NiACReG is a local network chapter (LNC) of the global Chinese in Africa and Africans in China (CA/AC) Research Network based at the Michigan State University.

Eighty-two candidates living with disabilities on Tuesday sat for their United Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) at the Lagos centre.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Correspondent, who visited the centre at the Distance Learning Institute, University of Lagos, reports that the examination started at exactly 8.00 a.m.

NAN reports that this year at the Lagos Centre, 62 visually-impaired persons; four candidates with Down Syndrome; five with Autism; six with Dyslexia; three with Cerebral Palsy; and two with Ocular Albinism sat for the examination.

NAN reports that the UTME for People With Disabilities (PWDs) began on Monday, April 22 and ended on Tuesday, April 23.

The candidates sat for Use of English which is compulsory and three other subjects of their choice from the range of other subjects.

Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, former Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU) and Coordinator of the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group, Lagos Centre said that the centre was created to cater for the needs of blind students and other special students.

Fagbohun, who is also a Professor of Environmental Law, said that the goal was to guarantee the special students right to equal opportunity in the conduct of the examination irrespective of their disability status.

“We have other centres in Abuja, Ado-Ekiti, Bauchi, Benin, Enugu, Jos, Kano, Kebbi, Lagos, Oyo and Yola, ” he said.

According to him, the Federal Government of Nigeria through JAMB under the charge of Prof. Ishaq Oloyede is promoting equal and inclusive opportunity for all Nigerians.

“We have been in constant touch with these candidates in the last two months through phone calls, WhatsApp messages and emails, preparing them for the examinations.

“We also notified them of the venue, their free accommodation arrangement for three nights together with their guides from Sunday, April, 21 to Wednesday, April, 24 when they depart,” he said.

Fagbohun added that JAMB made arrangements for their feeding and that of their guides for the entire duration and also paid transport supplementation allowance (for candidates and guides).

“Upon arrival on Sunday, they were given their T-Shirts for easy identification of candidates and guides, and the candidates were all given mark board and stylus (that is their writing materials) as gifts.

“We had medical staff on ground to also attend to them, ” he said.

Fagbohun noted that for this year’s UTME, it used two modes in the conduct of the examination.

“One is the Read Aloud Mode and the other is the Fully Braille Mode.

“We allowed the candidates to make a choice of the mode more than a month ago, and we are flexible in the event a candidate decides to change from one mode to the other,” he said.

One of the visually-impaired candidates, Miss Gabriella Adeboye, said that the centre was perfect and easier for her and her sister which made them finish their examinations.

Adegboye said that she wished other examination bodies could follow this method for people like them, adding that her WAEC result was bad due to lack of assistance.

“This is my first time of writing this examination and I am so satisfied with the way they assisted us with different modules either by reading aloud and the other one.

“I picked University of Lagos as my first choice and I want to study mass communication,” she said.

Another visually-impaired candidate, Abednego Lawrence, said that he had used this centre to write JAMB more than once because he really wanted to study his dream course – mass communication.

Lawrence said that the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group had been very helpful with a lot of things such as good feeding, assistance and support.

“I pray others can do the same because this examination has really helped a lot of us to achieve our dream course.

“My previous JAMB result was good but UNILAG gave me history which made me come back to write another one this year,” Lawrence said.

Bintoo Hotel Limited Responds to Alleged Unauthorized Nighttime Raid by Suspected EFCC Personnel

Bintoo Hotel Limited, a prominent hospitality establishment, has issued a formal response regarding the recent incident involving an unauthorized raid on its premises reportedly carried out by individuals suspected to be personnel from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In an official statement released by the management on Thursday, Bintoo Hotel Limited expressed profound dismay at the events that transpired, which led to what they described as the infringement of guests' fundamental rights and significant damage to property estimated to be worth millions of naira.

The management has assured the public that a comprehensive investigation into the matter is underway as the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyode, has ordered a stop to night raids by men of the agency.

Furthermore, the statement emphasized the hotel's commitment to pursuing all available legal avenues within the framework of Nigerian law to address the grievances arising from the incident.

Bintoo Hotel Limited vowed to rectify any lapses and make amends for any damages resulting from the unfortunate occurrence.

In an effort to reassure patrons and stakeholders, the hotel management affirmed that its operations would continue without interruption.

Additionally, they pledged to implement enhanced security measures aimed at preventing similar incidents from occurring in the future, thereby safeguarding the welfare and interests of all clientele.

The Tin Can Island Port (TCIP) Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Dera Nnadi, mni, has expressed his excitement over the significant strides achieved in the maritime industry under the leadership of key figures such as the Honourable Minister of the Blue and Marine Economy, Prince Adegboyega Oyetola CON, Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) Alhaji Bello Koko, and Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR.

According to an official statement made available to Hybridnews noted that the collaborative efforts among these leaders have resulted in tangible developments, notably the initiation of the 24-hour cargo clearance at Tincan Island port.

Additionally, CAC Nnadi said the improvements in port infrastructure and traffic management along port access roads have been notable achievements.

Nnadi stresed that the Tincan Port Command of Nigeria Customs Service has pledged full support for these initiatives aimed at positioning the Lagos ports as a competitive hub within the subregion. Consequently, he said the Command has undertaken reforms in its operational processes, including the implementation of the CGC approved WCO-Nigeria Time Release Study and automation of the Command bond system. "Moreover, training programs for officers and stakeholders are underway, with an innovative approach of inviting freight forwarder associations to facilitate sessions, enabling them to guide improvements tailored to their needs" he noted.

While acknowledging some stakeholders' hesitancy towards reforms, Nnadi emphasized the Command's commitment to supporting and rewarding those willing to adapt. Efforts to encourage voluntary compliance are being instituted, aiming to establish Standard Operational Procedures for equitable operations.

Nnadi expressed optimism that ongoing automation efforts will further enhance efficiency and address challenges like server downtime, while also urging stakeholders, including the media, to sustain and amplify positive developments in the industry.

With these strides, the maritime industry under the visionary leadership of key figures is poised for transformative growth, setting the stage for enhanced operational efficiency and stakeholder collaboration.

Mr Victor Okhai, Founder, International Film and Broadcast Academy (IFBA), has urged youths in the country to learn skills to achieve self-sustainability.

He said this would reduce the unemployment rate among the youth and develop the national economy as well as enhance self-reliance among them.

Okhai said this on the sideline of the conclusion of a five-day training of 100 up-and-coming photographers on the art of photography.

The training took place at the Academy centre in Surulere and it was sponsored by Access Bank.

He explained that the training would enhance skills of the participants and also help in filling the void of inadequate skills acquisition amongst the youth.

“We are training 100 photographers on the techniques of photography, as this is part of our mandate to offer free training to over 20 million people around the continent.

“Skills acquisition is very important as it plugs different holes and ensures that people can explore and use their skills set to use.

“We have been doing this type of training over the years and we are committed to ensuring that we empower the masses through these means and give people the platform to enhance and put their skills into use,” he said.

Okhia, who is also the President of Director Guild of Nigeria (DGN), revealed that the participants of the training were selected from faith-based organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations and advert placement of Facebook.

He said that 2000 people in each state would be empowered before the half of the year, adding that collaborations with the Federal Government and NGOs will aid in spreading the outreach.

“We plan to spread the outreach to other parts of state as that is part of our mandate. So, collaboration with the government and its agencies would help us do more.

“We remain committed to ensuring that we play our part in ensuring that we impact the lives of the people through empowerment programme as this,” he said.

Mr Michael Adeyinka, one of the participants who is also a person of disability, applauded the training noting that it would help developing a new skill.

Adeyinka who is a Disc Jockey by profession, urged the Federal Government to enlighten people about the impacts on stigmatization on people with disabilities.

“I’m very glad I was able to this training as I was always interested in enhancing my skills in photography so this was a great opportunity for me.

“I learnt a lot of things over the course of the training so I’m glad that I participated in it as I plan to put what I have learnt into practice.

“The government need to enlighten people about the negative effects that stigmatization has on people with disabilities because a lot of people are ignorant about this.

“People with disabilities didn't choose to become this way, it just happened to people so we should be mocked or insulted about it as it is really disheartening.” He said.

Abaji Yahaja, an actress and movie producer said the training would help in improving her photography skills as she has always known the basics about it.

She added that the knowledge gained from the training would help in expanding her photography studio.

“This is a welcome development as I have been looking for ways to enhance my photography skills so this came at a perfect time.

“I also plan to use the skill I have to expand my photo studio and also use it to empower people so the ripple effect of this training is quite positive.” She said.

Actress and fashion IT-Girl Temi Otedola was spotted at London, Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks this past month.

After making a splash during couture week this January, she was back in the fashion capitals of the world to see the new Fall/Winter 2024 Collections.

In London, Temi attended shows including David Koma, Richard Quinn and Erdem.

She was in Milan for a whirlwind 24 hours to attend the coveted Fall Winter 2024 Versace show, with the likes of actress Anne Hathaway and Donatella Versace herself.

In Paris she made an appearance at shows including Casablanca, Giambattista Valli, Lacoste and Stella McCartney.

The 27-year-old looked chic in suited up looks varying from classic Navy to her lime green Versace ensemble. Temi continues to be a fashion week staple representing our Nigerian tastemakers and we are excited to see what she brings next fashion season.