No fewer than 3000 girls drawn from Senior Secondary Schools across Nigeria have benefitted from a 3-day capacity building initiative on maritime commerce and National Virtual Maritime Quiz powered by Unity Bank Plc.
The bank, said in a statement, that the initiative focused on Information Communication Technology, ICT, maritime transportation and logistics ecosystem, and hosted by Ocean Ambassadors Foundation is to promote the participation of Indigent Girl-Child in maritime commerce.
It is part of the Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives targeted at the education sector and to draw attention to the imperatives of training the girl-child to participate actively in the relevant sectors of the economy, the lender said.
The programme coincided with the International Day of the Girl-Child which was marked to highlight how “the pandemic has accelerated digital platforms for learning, earning and connecting, while also highlighting girls’ diverse digital realities”.
The Managing Director/ chief executive officer of the bank, Tomi Somefun represented by the Chief Customer Service Officer, Titilayo Abraham said “Unity Bank has maintained its commitment to supporting the girl child by supporting several advocacy initiatives and investing in the education sector.
“The National Maritime Quiz is yet another opportunity to contribute to the movement to encourage, educate and empower the Girl-Child to participate in the economy while driving access to education.”
“We commend the Ocean Ambassadors Foundation for their initiatives aimed at bridging the gender gap in the ICT, maritime, transportation, and logistics sectors in Nigeria.”
Unity Bank has in time past demonstrated commitment to supporting the education sector, especially for initiatives targeted at children. One of the Bank’s flagship initiatives – One Minute Genius (OMG) and others such as Unity Bank Spelling B Competition, One Day CEO, are annual educational platforms of the Bank aimed at boosting financial literacy among Nigerian children.
The organisers, Ocean Ambassadors Foundation commended Unity Bank, adding that “the sensitization for the Girl-Child to take advantage of career opportunities in the ICT and maritime cannot be over-emphasized.
According to the Group, this also amplifies the “Global Advocacy of the Sustainable Development Goal’s 4, 5, and 14” stating that “Gender equality and women empowerment require deliberate transformative shifts, new technological solutions and integrated approaches”.
Effective from December 1, the Federal Government has said it would ban workers who fail to show proof of their COVID-19 vaccination from accessing their offices.
The workers are expected to show their vaccination card or a Polymerase Chain Reaction PCR test is done within 72 hours.
Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee, (PSC) on Covid 19, Boss Mustapha, disclosed this at Wednesday’s briefing of the committee.
Mustapha, who is also Secretary to Government of the Federation stated that “With effect from 1st December, 2021, Federal Government employees shall be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result done within 72 hours, to gain access to their offices, in all locations within Nigeria and our Missions.
“An appropriate service wide advisory/circular will be issued to guide the process.”
He pointed out that statistics generated over the last four weeks on testing have shown that the trend of infection is going down in some states while in others, the trajectory is upward.
“The combined total for testing by PCR and RDT now stands at about 3.141, 795 million persons.
“The Aviation authorities in collaboration with the diplomatic sector have made reasonable progress in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Discussions are still on-going with the UAE Authorities to resolve the impasse.”
According to him, the Federal Government has removed South Africa, Turkey and Brazil from the list of countries where high level restriction was placed on travelers from visiting to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
He said the lifting of the restriction was with immediate effect.
The three countries were among the worst hit by the deadly COVID-19 Delta strain that claimed many lives.
Mustapha said the decision to ease the restriction was taken by the PSC during a marathon session on Wednesday after the PSC reviewed the developments in the affected countries.
Indian was removed from the list on September 13 by the Federal Government in response to the improved situation in the country.
The Nigerian Senate has given an indication of passing the 2022 Appropriation Bill before the end of the year, after the bill passed Second Reading in the upper legislative chamber on Wednesday.
The development also comes on the backdrop of the reconstitution of the leadership and membership of some standing and special committees of the Senate.
Ahmad Lawan, the Senate President made the announcement at the end of plenary on Wednesday, saying that “we expect that these Chairmen and Vice Chairman would start their work immediately, especially to work on the budget defense.
Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila earlier promise that the bill will be passed before December, following which it will be transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.
“We expect that before the end of the year, the 2020 budget would have been fully implemented,” Lawan, who is the Chairman of the National Assembly said.
The bill is expected to go to committee stage by next week, sources in the chamber informed the magazine on Thursday.
President Buhari, last week, presented the N16 trillion Proposal to the joint sitting of the National Assembly. Lawan had promised a swift passage.
The bill entitled “A Bill for an Act to authorise the issuance, from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, CRF of the Federation, the total sum of N16.39 trillion of which N768.28 billion is for statutory transfers.”
The Senators who took turns to speak on the bill on Wednesday, said executive arm of government must ensure that the budget is implemented when passed.
Senator Abba Moro representing Benue South said“We must change our implementation strategy and our budget system, so that Nigerians can benefit from this annual ritual called budget.
“We must try as much as possible to block the leakages in our economy, so that we can conserve funds for the development of our infrastructure. I don’t know the place of education in this budget yet we want to enthrone a vibrant population in our country. Poverty is on the rise. Several programmes have been churned out by this administration in all our budgets.
“When the COVID-19 pandemic was on, we heard that N52 billion had been spent on feeding school children when schools were supposed to be closed. We had a rancour with the Ministry of Labour and Productivity recently on the 774 Public Works. Today, Nigerians are characterising that programme as a scam.
“We must change our budget system. The envelope system is a system that duplicates and continues to do one thing all over and over again and we will not expect a new result,” he said
Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Sabi Abdullahi, said more invested in the transportation sector would ensure economic turn-around, urging the federal government not to leave out any part of the country in the ongoing railway project.
Meanwhile, the new committee chairmen as announced by the Senate President on Wednesday, are Sahabi Ya’u – Committee on National Population and National Identity; Adetokunbo Abiru – Committee on Industry; Saidu Alkali – Committee on Trade and Investments; and Kabiru Barkiya – Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs.
The new Vice-Chairmanship and Membership positions are Seriake Dickson – Committee on Interior and member of the committee on Appropriations; Biodun Olujimi – Member, Committee on Appropriations; Tolu Odebiyi – Vice Chairman, Committee on Marine Transport; Lekan Mustapha – Vice Chairman, INEC; and Jarigbe Jarigbe – Vice Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Others are Moses Cleopas – Vice Chairman, National Planning and Economic Affairs; Frank Ibezim – Vice Chairman, Committee on Industry; Nora Daduut – Vice Chairman, Committee on Culture and Tourism; and Degi-Biobarakuma Eremieyo – Member, Committee on Appropriation.
Some of the new appointees replaced some senators who have died. The deceased senators are Sikiru Osinowo, Rose Oko and Ignatius Longjan.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has asked the All Progressives Congress, APC, Federal Government to prepare its handover notes against 2023.
The PDP said in a statement that the APC should save Nigerians from their usual lamentations, as Nigerians now accept that the Party has no capacity to govern Nigeria.
The PDP, was reacting to APC’s statement that it had improved the Electoral process in the country.
In a statement signed by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan, the party said the APC has not only destroyed Nigeria’s Electoral process, but everything else, including the economy and national unity.
Following is the full text of PDP’s statement.
PDP to APC, Save Nigerians Your Lamentations
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to accept their mass failures in party management and governance and stop bothering Nigerians with their regular lamentations.
“Our position is predicated on a statement by the APC in which it claimed to have improved on electoral process in the country, whereas what abounds in our nation is a painful story of how the APC has destroyed our economy, our electoral process and our national unity, to the extent that life has become despondent to the average Nigerian.
“We accept the fact that the APC lacks the capacity for feedback mechanism, however, the PDP wishes to bring to the attention of the APC that all Nigerians today would wish this administration had come to its end.
“Notwithstanding, our party counsel that the APC should begin to prepare their handover notes because Nigerians are not ready to endure this anguish beyond May 29, 2023.
“The PDP urges Nigerians to continue to rally with our party as we collectively prepare to rescue our nation from this incompetent, divisive and thoughtless APC and its administration.”
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has renamed the popular Heroes Square Stadium in the heart of Owerri, the Imo State capital, after the late Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu.
This was disclosed in a Press Statement signed by the Governor’s Media Adviser/Chief Press Secretary, Oguwike Nwachuku.
Admiral Kanu was the first Military Administrator of Old Imo State and Governor Uzodimma said that the late Naval officer’s administration impacted positively on the economy and infrastructure of Imo State.
At a brief ceremony to receive Admiral Kanu’s corpse on Wednesday at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, as part of activities to mark his Lying-in- State and Commendation Service at the Imo State Government House, Governor Uzodimma said the credit for the Owerri Master Plan goes to Admiral Kanu.
The Governor, therefore, proceeded to rename Heroes Square after the deceased officer – Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Heroes square, noting that the decision was reached after due consultation and application of the Executive Order as it applies to his office.
Governor Uzodimma said that Admiral Kanu was a prominent Igbo son who served his people, his State and the country diligently and that he was instrumental to the return of democracy which Nigeria enjoys today following his involvement and other like minds in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).
He said Admiral Kanu will be sorely missed by Imo people, Ndigbo, Nigeria, the Military, particularly the Navy Community, his Civil Society associates and all those who came in contact with him.
The Governor who prayed God for the repose of Admiral Kanu’s soul also commiserated with the family for the loss and asked God to console them.
Earlier when the Military officers took delivery of Admiral Kanu’s corpse which was brought by the Nigeria Air Force Jet, the Commandant, Nigeria Naval College Finance and Logistics, Owerrinta, Navy Capt Usman Masari Bugaje had informed Governor Uzodimma that he had the instructions of his authorities to bring Admiral Kanu’s corpse to the Governor as well as for the family, to confirm that the corpse was his.
Some of the family members who confirmed Admiral Kanu’s body at the Airport include Ms. Simone Nnenna Abiona and Kelly Ndubuisi Kanu.
The top military officers who joined Governor Uzodimma at the Airport to receive Admiral Kanu’s corpse were the Commandant, 34 Artillery Brigage, Obinze, Brig-General S.B. Utsha, the Flag Officer commanding Central Naval Command, Yenegoa, Rear Admiral Kennedy Egbuchulem and the Commandant, Imo State Air Force Command, Group Capt. Idowu Ayo.
Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prof. Placid Njoku, the Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Paul Emeziem, former Governor Ikedi Ohakim, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, Chief Tony Chukwu, among others.
It was rain of eulogies at the Commendation Service at Government House Chapel, Owerri as the Deputy Governor, Prof. Placid Njoku, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Prof. Maurice Iwu, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, and Rev. Dr. Eches Divine Eches, Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria Imo State, took turns to laud the great virtues of the deceased.
“Ndubuisi Kanu is a man who represents heroes past. He is an indelible hero of Igbo extraction. He gave Imo the best of services and developed the best Master Plan for Owerri. Ndubisi Kanu is a humble, simple and a thorough bred gentleman,” Prof Njoku who represented Governor Uzodimma said and asked all to pray for the repose of his soul.
Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu
Explaining that Governor Uzodimma is determined to restore the Owerri Master Plan as conceived by Admiral Kanu, Prof. Njoku announced again that the Governor has renamed the Heroes Square in Owerri after Admiral Kanu.
“It is now to be known and called “Ndubuisi Kanu’s Square.”
In his funeral oration, son of the former First Lady of Imo State, Mr. Kelly Ndubuisi Kanu said their father left a huge shoe difficult for them to fill, noting that they “will try their very best and with God’s guidance not to disappoint” their late father.
He thanked Governor Uzodimma and the people of Imo Abia and Lagos States for honouring his father and for the befitting burial.
Business mogul, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu in his tribute described Admiral Kanu as “one of the greatest things that happened to Igboland.”
“He was a man of courage and valour who served old Imo State, Igboland and Nigeria in general with all his heart.
Kanu was very intelligent, a foundation member and an elder of Imeobi of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,” Iwuanyawu explained.
Former Governor of Imo, Chief Ikedi Ohakim described late Admiral Kanu as an “administrator par excellence and icon, a man of pedigree who gave Imo a befitting foundation.”
To Prof. Maurice Iwu, a former INEC Chairman, “Admiral Kanu was a man of many parts who mean different things to different people.The Master Plan Ndubuisi Kanu drew for Imo State is what the State is using up to today.”
The Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria, Imo State Chapter, Rev. Dr. Eches Divine Eches described him as a “rare gem who believed and trusted God in all he did.”
The Chief of Naval Staff represented by Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Yenogoa, Rear Admiral Kennedy Egbuchulem in his message described Admiral Kanu as one of their finest who left a lot of challenges to the officers following them behind.
He pointed out that in the places Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu served “his left legacies are worthy of emulation.”
The Ahmad Lawan led Senate has passed a Bill for the immediate upgrading of Adeyemi College of Education to a full-fledged University.
The Senate President and his colleagues in the Red Chamber in a Bill said that the Federal Government- owned higher education located in Ondo State, Nigeria, in line with the recommendation of the Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila led House of Representatives had earlier passed the Bill.
Following this development, the institution will now go by the new name, “Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo State.
Lawan, speaking on the passage of the bill, said it has repealed the Act that established Adeyemi College of Education and re-enacted a new one for the establishment of the Adeyemi Federal College of Education.
Before now, it was gathered that the Eighth Assembly had, years back, passed the Bill for the upgrading of the institution to a University, but it was snubbed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Senator Andy Uba Governorship Campaign Organisation, SAUGCO has welcomed the Deputy Governor of Anambra state, Dr. Nkem Okeke into its fold.
Dr. Okeke joined the All Progressives Congress, APC this evening after being presented to President Muhammadu Buhari by Governor Mai Mala Buni, chairman of the APC’s Caretaker and Extra Ordinary Convention Planning Committee, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He was joined by Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo state and Chairman of the National Campaign Council for the Senator Andy Uba Governorship Campaign.
“We heartily welcome our Deputy Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke, an intellectual of no mean standing who has over the years striven to steer the ship of Anambra state from the parochialism and maladministration which his Principal, Governor Willy Obiano has foisted on the state,” Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, Director, Media and Publicity, Senator Andy Uba Governorship Campaign Organisation, SAUGCO said in a statement.
“For several years, Dr. Okeke remained the only sane voice of reason in Government House, Awka, thus before long he was easily sidelined by a Governor Obiano who elevated his wife to the status of co-Governor.
“For taking this patriotic step, in the face of daunting personal discomfort, this generation of ndi Anambra, and indeed Anambra children yet unborn, would remember the name, Dr. Nkem Okeke, as one who rejected the accoutrements of high office and elected to align with the people.”
Justice Abdullahi Mikailu of Niger State High Court in Minna, Niger State, has sacked Alhaji Mohammed Barau Kontagora, as the 7th Emir (Sarkin Sudan) of the Kontagora Emirate.
The Court barred Kontagora from parading himself as the Emir with immediate effect, and ordered that he vacates the throne, following the hearing of an ex parte motion brought before the court by 15 contestants to the throne.
The defendants in the motion were’: the sacked Emir, Mohammed Barau Kontagora, the Attorney General of Niger State; and the Commissioner for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Kontagora was restrained from parading himself as the 7th Emir “pending the hearing and determination of the plaintiff/applicants’ Motion on notice dated and filed on 11/10/2021.”
“An order of interim injunction is hereby made and issued retraining all the defendants/respondents, their agents, privies and/or any other person by whatever name called acting on the authorities or persons claiming and/or parading or presenting or installing the 1st defendant by presenting a staff of office as the 7th Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora pending the hearing and determination of the plaintiffs/applicants’ motion on notice dated and filed on 11/10/2022,” the court ruled.
Counsel for the plaintiffs, W. Y. Mamman Esq, had urged the Court to restrain Barau from parading himself as the 7th Emir. The he case been adjourned till October 20, 2022.
It would be recalled that Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani-Bello of Niger had appointed Alhaji Mohammed Barau Kontagora as the 7th Emir of Kontagora following the demise of 84-year old Sa’idu Namaska in September, but some parties were not satisfied with the appointment leading to legal tussle.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Emmanuel Umar, the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, explained that the selection of the 7th Emir (Sarkin Sudan) of Kontagora was held on September 19, 2021, in Kontagora by the kingmakers of the Kontagora Emirate in line with the Customary Laws and Practice of the Kontagora Emirate.
The Commissioner said after the selection, aggrieved contestants petitioned the Governor, alleging some irregularities in the selection process.
He said in response to the petition, the governor, acting on section 3(2) and 7 of the Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law of Niger State 1989 (as revised), held meetings with the kingmakers and also consulted the State Council of Chiefs.
Umar explained that the Kingmaker, during their interaction with the Governor, affirmed that the selection followed the Customary Law of Kontagora Emirate and their decision was based on their own conviction without any undue influence.
He noted that the Governor, thereafter acted under section 3 subsection (1) of the Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law Chapter 19, Law of Niger State 1989 (as revised) and all other powers conferred on him and appointed Mohammed Barau Kontagora as the 7th Emir of Kontagora.
Less than a month to the November 6 governorship election, Dr Nkem Okeke, Deputy Governor of Anambra State under Governor Wilie Obiano, has decamped to the All Progressives Congress Party, APC.
Okeke dumped the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, his former party, in search of better deals as reports indicate he was not in the best of terms with his boss.
Okeke was presented to President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday at Aso Villa by the Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodinma, and Mai Mala Buni, Chairman of APC National Caretaker Committee, and Governor of Yobe state.
With this, APGA continues to suffer political hemorrhage, even though it is the ruling party in the state.
Will former Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state be the next politician to defect from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC? That, obviously, is the question on the lips of many Nigerians, after he visited APC National Leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his Lagos home.
The opposition party has been bleeding lately after no fewer than three state governors left for APC. Some members of the National Assembly have also changed sides as the hemorrhage in the PDP continued.
Fayose is the latest among politicians who has visited the Bourdillon, Lagos home of the APC stalwart since he returned from a medical trip in the United Kingdom, last week, amidst suggestion that Tinubu nurses presidential ambition. The APC bigwig has yet to make his interest public.
The Ekiti strongman has been speculated to leave the PDP, the party under which he ruled Ekiti state for eight years, following his recent travails in the party, particularly in his state where he’s having a running battle with Senator Abiodun Olujimi and other party leaders over the control of the soul of the party.
His squabble with Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state for the control of the South West PDP leadership has further fueled speculation that his days in PDP were numbered. Earlier in April, Fayose’s candidate for the South West PDP Chairmanship position, eddy Olafeso lost to Makinde’s candidate in the election, Taofeek Arapaja, a former Deputy Governor of Oyo state.
Speaking after visiting Tinubu on Wednesday, the former governor said his action had nothing to do with defection, adding that it was a normal thing for him to pay the politician who has just recovered from a knee injury a visit.
He said such rumour remained in the imagination of those that peddle it because he had no intention of defecting from his party that has given him so much.
According to him, “to those negative political analysts, this visit notwithstanding, I remain an unrepentant PDP leader and key stakeholder.
“Health issues know no political party and in this part of the world, we seldom celebrate people when they are alive,” Fayose said. “Rather, we like to sign condolence registers. To me, that is not the best way to live.”
At the height of his disagreement with Governor Makinde early this year, rumoured spread that the former Ekiti helmsman was prepared to dump his party. He denied.
“I’m over 60. What do I want to become? I was governor at 42. All the opportunities anybody could offer, PDP offered me,” Fayose said on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics in February.
“I will not go to APC. What is missing? Some people choose to be dishonourable. Not me. I will rather go and be the husband of my wife, Feyisetan Fayose, and my son,” Fayose said.
In 2010, the former governor defected to the Labour Party, LP, vowing to chase PDP from the state in the 2011 elections. He returned two years after, going ahead to win the governorship election for a second time in June 2014.
Meanwhile, a former Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun state also paid Tinubu a visit on Wednesday. A former member of the PDP and Director General of Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign in 2019, Daniel dumped his former party for the ruling APC early this year.
