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NITDA Assures Creative Kids Training Participants of IT Support

NITDA Assures Creative Kids Training Participants of IT Support

The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi CCIE has assured all participants of the Creative Kids online training programme of the agency’s support to further develop their IT skills.

The DG who was represented by Dr Usman Gambo Abdullahi, Director of IT Infrastructure Solutions, stated this while addressing the participants during the graduation ceremony of the training programme at the weekend, said that what the children have learnt and accomplished in their training shows what they can achieve in the future, because technology is the future.

Mallam Abdullahi advised that there was a need for the children to keep improving on the skills they have learnt and harness such skills for the socio-economic development of the country.”

“We have to ensure that children learn, because, we cannot afford, as a country, to be left behind in technology, noting that “we have highly talented individuals in technology especially in the area of information technology.”

“By showing sustained interest in this field, you are not only going to be improving yourself, you can be problem solvers, inventors, innovators, create job opportunities while contributing your quota in realizing a smarter Nigeria. The opportunities it offers are limitless. Look at the global impact of Microsoft’s Bill Gates and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg as a result of their interest in technology. In Nigeria, we have Mitchell Elegbe, Sim Shagaya, Tayo Oviosu to mention a few doing phenomenal things with technology”, he added.

The NITDA Boss while congratulating the organisers of the training, said, it is impressive what 3logy is doing in training kids to acquire and develop digital literacy skills especially in emerging technologies. The Nigeria government has made a strong policy commitment to making Nigeria a smart Nigeria by the year 2030 and one of the pillars to actualizing that is “digital literacy and skills”. As a nation, it is important that we have a young generation that is equipped with adequate digital skills that will enable them compete favorably in today’s digital age.

Earlier the moderator, Rahinat Muhammad noted that the children were full of so much potentials and needed to have memorable experiences in technology so as to develop further in future. Among the children participants were: Aliyu Bashir Gwandu, won the most determined award, Amina and Abubakar Maida, won the most punctual award and Labeeb Muhammad won the most well behaved award. Some of the participants received awards of passes to more training by the organisers.

In the four-week long training, the children were introduced to robotics, the popular new Python programming for beginners and some other emerging information technologies.

NITDA

AFTER 30 YEARS, PRESIDENT BUHARI SIGNS AMENDED COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS BILL

AFTER 30 YEARS, PRESIDENT BUHARI SIGNS AMENDED COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS BILL

President Muhammadu Buhari Friday in Abuja assented to the Companies and Allied Matters Bill, 2020 recently passed by the National Assembly.

The President’s action on this important piece of legislation, therefore, repealed and replaced the extant Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990, introducing after 30 years, several corporate legal innovations geared toward enhancing ease of doing business in the country.

Such innovations include:

a. Filing fee reductions and other reforms to make it easier and cheaper for small and medium-sized enterprises to register and reform their businesses in Nigeria;

b. Allowing corporate promoters of companies to establish private companies with a single member or shareholder, and creating limited liability partnerships and limited partnerships to give investors and business people alternative forms of carrying out their business in an efficient and flexible way;

c. Innovating processes and procedures to ease the operations of companies, such as introducing Statements of Compliance; replacing “authorised share capital” with minimum share capital to reduce costs of incorporating companies; and providing for electronic filing, electronic share transfers, e-meetings as well as remote general meetings for private companies in response to the disruptions to close contact physical meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic;

d. Requiring the disclosure of persons with significant control of companies in a register of beneficial owners to enhance corporate accountability and transparency; and

e. Enhancing the minority shareholder protection and engagement; introducing enhanced business rescue reforms for insolvent companies; and permitting the merger of Incorporated Trustees for associations that share similar aims and objectives.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)

Sanwo-Olu Moves to Revive Badagry Organic Farm to Boost Food Security

Sanwo-Olu Moves to Revive Badagry Organic Farm to Boost Food Security

•Governor Takes Project Tour To Badagry, To Commission 105-Bed Maternity Hospital

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has beamed a special focus on Badagry, one of the five traditional divisions of the State whose mainstay is agriculture and fishing.

The Governor’s pilot agriculture scheme – Lagos Food Production Park – is to take off in Badagry, prompting Sanwo-Olu’s six-hour visit to the town on Friday.

The Governor took a tour of a 279-hectare Avia-Igborosun Organic Farm, which was acquired by the State Government in 2012 for commercial agricultural project. He said the Government was ready to revive the abandoned farmland for the take-off of the State’s Food Production Park project.

The Governor disclosed that the State would be engaging private sector to secure an investment into the project, which, when completed, he said, would create thousands of direct jobs and improve the wellbeing of the residents.

Sanwo-Olu said: “I have been fully briefed about this project but I considered it necessary to personally embark on this journey to Badagry in order to take assessment and see what exactly we need to do in terms of intervention. After taking a tour of the project site, what I observed is that the entire project looks more as a job that has not been completed. Therefore, we need to improve on the interventions to the Ministry of Agriculture.

“With very minimal resources, we have seen what the Ministry has done to keep the project afloat. Government will raise the resources and turn around this project to the level it should be. We will need to deploy more resources to revive and scale up all the machinery and systems put already in place. We will complete the project and open it for commercial production.”

The Governor said the revival of the Badagry Organic Farm and creation of more food production parks across the State were part of the strategy designed by his Government to increase food security level from 20 per cent to 50 per cent, thereby raising Lagos’ food sufficiency.

He added that the project would give rise to similar agro-allied businesses that would open up Badagry’s economy for more growth, while also boosting its tourism business.

He said: “Lagos is a big State in terms of population, but we also can intervene in our food production value chain. What we are also trying to do with the revival of the project is that, we want to produce various agricultural products we can consume internally in order to reduce our dependence on external food sources. The Food Production Park, which we are creating across the State, will be a trigger to other value-added agricultural production our citizens can provide.”

As part of the move to turn around the Organic Farm, Sanwo-Olu promised a total rehabilitation of Igborosun Road that leads to the farm.

Some of the agricultural projects to be developed for commercial production in the Organic Farm include fishing, poultry, piggery and agro-forestry, among others.

Gov. Sanwo-Olu also inspected a 105-bed Mother and Child Care (MCC) recently completed by the State Government in the premises of Badagry General Hospital. The MCC will be commissioned in September, the Governor promised.

During a tour of the hospital, Sanwo-Olu proposed an expansion of the Accident and Emergency Department. The project, he said, will take off in the next nine months.

The Governor also stopped at Marina area of the Badagry town, where the State Government will be building a modern jetty. The project, Sanwo-Olu said, is part of his administration’s blueprint to promote waterways transportation across the State.

LASG

AGRICULTURE REMAINS KEY TO OUR SURVIVAL AS A PEOPLE AND AS A NATION – OKEZIE IKPEAZU

AGRICULTURE REMAINS KEY TO OUR SURVIVAL AS A PEOPLE AND AS A NATION – OKEZIE IKPEAZU

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu says he is determined to reducing rural -urban drift by making the rural areas more conducive and economically viable.

Governor Ikpeazu who was speaking when he received in audience a delegation of the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Prince Paul Ikonne at Government House, Umuahia noted that his administration had on assumption of office mainstreamed Agriculture as an alternative source of income as it provides industrial raw materials and capable of providing job opportunities.

The Governor while also describing Agriculture as as key for the survival of any society, regretted that if not for the ravaging covid 19 pandemic, his vision of establishing Cottage Industries in some parts of the state would have been realized. He stated that his administration had placed orders and paid for machinery for the establishment of some cottage agro industries from Tiny Tech Corporation of India but the movement of the equipment was hampered by the advent COVID-19.

He urged Prince Paul Ikonne to approach his new position from a multi -sectorial angle and look for a possible way of assisting in addressing the menace of soil and gulley erosion ravaging various parts of the state and requested a letter from the people of Ukwa West supporting the possible hand over of the Ogwe Golden Chicken Company to NALDA for resuscitation.

The State Chief Executive expressed the preparedness of the State Government in providing necessary support for the success of the pilot stage of the National Youth Farmers Scheme for which Abia has been selected to be participating in the pilot stage.


Describing the visit as a home coming, the Governor described Prince Paul Ikonne as a worthy and proud son of Abia State who has also served the people of the State in various capacities. He thanked Mr President for finding him worthy of such high elevation and expressed confidence that with his known passion for hardwork, he was confident that the new Executive Secretary will deliver on his assignment.

Speaking earlier, the Leader of the delegation and Executive Secretary National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) Prince Paul Ikonne said that NALDA has been revived by President Muhammadu Buhari as a result of his passion ensure food security across the country.

Prince Ikonne said that they have designed some programmes including Back to Farm, the National Young Farmers Scheme towards driving young youths to farm with a view to creating jobs.

He noted that two processing centres are to be cited in the state by the agency and expressed satisfaction that many communities in the state have started donating lands for various Agricultural value chains of the Federal Government.
He also informed the Governor that prominent indigenes of Ukwa West LGA had approached his agency with a request to help resuscitate the Golden Chicken Farms at Ogwe, and that once the State Government approves, NALDA will take further steps in this direction.

Deputy Governor Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, some members of the State Executive Council including the Commissioners for Lands and Information, Barrister Suleman Ukandu and Chief John Okiyi Kalu respectively, the State Coordinator of the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises, Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), Dr. Uchenna Onyeizu and other stakeholders in land and agriculture were part of the event.

Sir Onyebuchi Ememanka
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

ACCOUNTABILITY: ORTOM SIGNS FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, THREE OTHER LAWS

ACCOUNTABILITY: ORTOM SIGNS FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, THREE OTHER LAWS

By Jimin Geoffrey

In fulfillment of his promise to ensure transparency and accountability in government, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom today assented to laws to establish the state Commission on Fiscal Responsibility as well as a Council on Public Procurement.

The Governor also signed a law for the establishment of Debt Management Office and a law to amend the Internal Revenue Administration Law of 2015.

Governor Ortom said the laws on Fiscal Responsibility, Public Procurement and Debt Management Office would stipulate standards similar or higher than those advised by the United Nations in the management of public resources.

He stated that transparent and accountable management of public resources had been a cardinal policy objective of his administration, stressing that it is not just a slogan but a deliberate resolve of his administration.

Governor Ortom stated that written laws were needed to provide clear guidance for everyone to be fully advised on acceptable practices in public offices.

He enjoined those charged with the responsibility of implementing the laws to take the task seriously while also urging the public to cooperate with them in order to institutionalize a new culture of transparency and accountability in the management of public finances in the state.

Gov Bagudu sets up Cttee to refund 2020 Hajj deposits to intending pilgrims

Gov Bagudu sets up Cttee to refund 2020 Hajj deposits to intending pilgrims

The Kebbi State Governor, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, has approved the setting up of a Committee to refund Hajj deposits to the affected intending pilgrims, who could not travel to the Holyland of Saudi Arabia for the exercise.

This followed the cancellation of the 2020 Hajj excercise by the Saudi Arabian Government, due to the Covid – 19 Pandemic.

This is contained in a document Signed and released by the Secretary to the State Government, Babale Umar Yauri, dated Thursday, August 6, 2020.

The committee’s terms of reference include: To ensure the refund of the money collected from intending pilgrims, who were unable to perform the year 2020 Hajj excercise due to Covid-19 pandemic.

It will also ensure the refund of money deposited to National Hajj Commission of Nigeria( NAHCON),by the State Pilgrims Welfare Agency.

The Committee has two weeks within which to complete its assignment,as well as submit its report to the State Government.

Alhaji Haruna Abubakar Maitandu will serve as the Chairman of the committee, while Garba Salis Hamis, Liman Usman Suru, Lawal Mai Kwalla, Abubakar Atiku Alaramma and Zayyanu Shehu Sanka, Chairman, Hajj Guides are members.

Other members of the committee are : SP Aminu Sadiq, representative of the Kebbi State Police Command, Fahad Muktar, representative of SSS, while Kabiru Hassan Wasagu , the Acting Director, Exco will serve as its Secretary.

Signed:

YAHAYA SARKI
Special Adviser SA Media to Kebbi State Governor

THE SADNESS AND PATHETIC NATURE OF OUR EDUCATION STANDARDS, MY EXPERIENCE

THE SADNESS AND PATHETIC NATURE OF OUR EDUCATION STANDARDS, MY EXPERIENCE

A few weeks ago I was contacted sit in an interview panel for an international development agency. I was surprised they were hiring but was told the recruitment process started before the Covid-19 outbreak.

I knew that they had completed the shortlisting process and conducted online written test. The test was to ascertain the candidates writing and analytical skills as well as grasp of the subject matter. I participated in the grading of the papers. And I was shocked, totally flummoxed! I got paid for my work and forgot about the whole thing believing that the process died with COVID-19.

So I was surprised when I got an email asking if I would participate in the interviewing process via zoom ! They reduced the eligible candidates to fifteen and they needed five!

Each candidate was given the link and time to log in to be interviewed. I agreed to participate since that’s another additional income for me. But I also wanted this Organisation to get the best candidates for the job. The written test didn’t give me much joy and hope. I prayed the interview would be better.

Among the fifteen were five Nigerians. The rest came from other countries. My concern is with my fellow Nigerians. I heard all five didn’t make it when the total scores were collated. I knew without being told that the three ladies and two boys from Nigeria wouldn’t make it.

Keep sleeping with lecturers and keep watching bbnaija and group chatting and silly Nollywood movies with terrible contents and bad grammar.

One simple question my Nigerian brothers and sisters couldn’t answer was to name one book they have read since leaving school that dealt on this aspect of development! None ever read any book. None ever mentioned one. None even recognized prominent authors in this area when prodded further including naming the husband and wife that recently won the Nobel prize for their work in creating an “experimental approach to alleviating Global Poverty” in 2019.

None could even speak like an economist with understanding of poverty issues. Yet all of them possess MSc in Economics.

I am weeping. Let me go watch bbnaija jooor. After all, there are many ways of earring a living. Still I hold out hope for those other Nigerians who out from nowhere show amazing brilliance that sets the country apart.

Charles Chidi Achodo

CHINESE LOAN & NIGERIA’S SOVEREIGNTY, FANI KAYODE SPEAKS

CHINESE LOAN & NIGERIA’S SOVEREIGNTY, FANI KAYODE SPEAKS

People say China will take over Nigeria’s sovereignty if we fail to pay back their loans. China has denied this but even if they wanted to do so it can NEVER happen. Seizing assets for non-repayment of loans is one thing but taking over a nation’s sovereignty is quite another.

You cannot take over another country’s sovereignty without a war.They would have to kill us all first before they can take over our nations sovereignty and independence. They would have to come here, conquer us by the force of arms, pull down our flag and hoist theirs over our territory.

I repeat this will NEVER happen. We may not have their wealth, strength, technology or military fire power but we have GOD and those of us that are decent & patriotic enough would DIE fighting for our nation, our dignity, our self-respect, our people and our motherland.

No nation can take over another’s sovereignty without a fight, no lion can take over another’s territory and pride without a bitter and ferocious struggle and no man can take over another’s house or home without a bloody and cataclysmic conflict.

We may not be perfect and we may have many problems as a people but we must never forget that we are still a nation of 200 million citizens who are bold, resilient, strong-willed and irrepressible. No nation, no matter how big or powerful, can intimidate us. We are far too big for that.

I am not a supporter of the taking of loans from China and I have always opposed it. I have consistently called on the Buhari administration to stop taking such loans and the fact that they went ahead and did so on several occasions is disturbing and unacceptable. However that does not mean that our nation will lose her sovereignty if we fail to pay back.

No matter what Nigeria will always be free and we will NEVER lose our sovereignty to a foreign power. Let the whole world burn to cinders and ashes first!

Femi Fani KAYODE

HOW A SMART MOTHER CAN GET HER DAUGHTER GET MARRIED MUCH EARLIER THAN HER MATES

HOW A SMART MOTHER CAN GET HER DAUGHTER GET MARRIED MUCH EARLIER THAN HER MATES

I have been a salesman all my life to know why some products sell and others don’t.

Asides what we have been taught in the holy books about marriage, I have come to a conclusion that good grooming and packaging amongst other salient values are today’s best qualities any lady should have to attract a good long lasting husband, a real man.

My conviction is further reinforced by the failure of marriages of very spiritual couples and marriage counsellors. They knew what to do but could not do what they needed to do and the cookie crumbled.

Every perceptive mother should refocus their daughters to easily recognize the qualities of a man that will ultimately make good husband and in whom you would be pleased.

A guy that is focused takes good care of the mother and sisters; he is a guy that believes in the work he does and has a demonstrable notch progress; that guy that respects women and believes that only weak men beat their wives is the real deal.

Any guy that does not dress to impress, who is confident of his background and people, who makes success of his assignments and would not drop names to boost his ego is the real man.

The guy’s ambition should be estimated from the type of friends he keeps, how forward looking his friends are and how he understands his environment. If he is queer, he has something to hide.

The current crop of good husbands would want their future wives to be partners rather than parasites. Therefore, a daughter must be made to have ambition to succeed without betraying a trait of competition with the menfolk. Many men are fickle minded.

A smart lady should dress for occasion and should talk softly and kindly. A charismatic lady’s voice is not supposed to be heard where she is not seen. When she appears, all heads turn to behold a queen of hearts. Grooming school helps achieve these.

Yes, the way she talks, smiles and walks indicates how well groomed she is. Men see these as tell tale signs.

Real men know that a snake must give birth to a long slender offspring. So, a mother’s known reputation is an enough advertisement and is indicative of how the daughters would turn out.

So Mama, be careful not to fight your husband, retort, abuse him or display any act of domestic violence before your daughters. They may think it is normal.

Today’s suitors are looking for women who would complement them or add value to their lives because of the present harsh economic conditions. A wife married to a young man should at least buy her essential needs at the start.

Read the weather and ensure that you guide your daughters towards professions that will make them independent.

Tell your daughters not to measure love by expensive gifts. In fact, they should return any gift from a man which you, her parents, cannot afford. Men value this crop of girls and tend to think that they are real.

A girl must cook well. It’s an irreducible value.

She must be seen as clean. You will be surprised to know that some men peep to see the state of the clothes a lady leaves out to dry or those in the laundry bags. They are indicative of things unseen.

The smartest guy would on a visit ask to use the toilet to ascertain how clean the girl or her family is.

Tell your daughters never to openly say that they hate mothers-in-law or sisters-in-law. They by so doing turn the real men off.

Good men are family-centered. They give all family members their due share of love and care. We are Africans.

Funnily enough, non-religious girls with good grooming and inviting credentials marry faster than the godly ones. Perhaps you think that the devil is at work. No! You sell what you produce.

Your daughters’ marriage may be faster if you groom and package them well. It’s all about coincidence of wants. Men buy value these days.

Check out a daughter nearby who is said to be ripe but not yet harvested and you would see many unattractive features or behaviours that discourage men who want peace of mind in a permanent relationship. Many of the yet to marry ladies should have been the suitors. They are wired that way but are not utusified or phallused. They have all it takes to marry but no man or recommender trusts a serious engagement with them.

I might be wrong but this is how I see it for now.

ANAYO NWOSU

THE CLASSIC CASE OF HOW A MARRIAGE IS CONDUCTED IN NNEWI AND ANAMBRA STATE

THE CLASSIC CASE OF HOW A MARRIAGE IS CONDUCTED IN NNEWI AND ANAMBRA STATE

Chief Joseph Nwosu, who retired in 1924 as the highest ranking Nnewi man in the rested Royal Niger Company (later to be known as United African Company, UAC) rightly believed that his late brother’s son who had just returned from the Second World War in Burma and had just been employed by John Holt West Africa as a store manager in Zaria was ripe for marriage. It was his duty to get a befitting wife for his nephew who not only should have a good upbringing but also should have a good understanding of the mentality of an ex-serviceman. He set out to accomplish his traditional and fatherly role. He had hinted his nephew of his intentions to find a wife for him just for information sake, a hint the groom needed to make his abode ready for matrimonial activities.

A search began and the lot fell on a lady called Uzonicha, so named as her mother went into labour and was delivered on her way by foot, from Nnewi to Otu Onitsha market to sell her wares. The father, Mr. Charles Enumah who, as at 1938, was a constable (and the second highest ranking police officer from Nnewi after Sergeant Anuligo) was so elated that her daughter was the choice of the Nwosu’s from the great Ezeoguine Royal family in Otolo Nnewi. His background check on the prospective groom was positive hence he gave a green light for further discussions.

On one sunny evening in 1948, Chief Nwosu met Corporal Enumah at his home in Okpuno Nnewichi, Nnewi and both agreed that Mr. Francis Nwosu, the ex-serviceman, resident in Zaria was the best fit for Miss Uzonicha who was in school in Enugu. The traditional marriage ceremonies were conducted for the couple in absentia as marriage in Igbo land is actually between families. Even when present, the groom is not allowed to participate in negotiations and payment of the bride price. He is only allowed to represent the his kinsmen in husbanding the wife.

Miss Uzonicha Enumah was brought home from Enugu by her elated mother a day before the Nwosu family paid the bride price. She was told about the family and man she was to marry. She was enjoined to be a good ambassador of her mum and Enumah family in her husband’s place. All ceremonies concluded, she followed Chief Joseph Nwosu and his entourage home.

The new bride was assigned to Chief Nwosu’s eldest wife for tutelage on how to live and manage a man especially an ex-serviceman. She was briefed on and was taught how to prepare the husband’s best delicacies and how to forever endear herself to her man in and out of bedroom. After six months, she was sent to Aba in the present day Abia State, to the home of the future husband’s sister, Mrs Janet Egwuonwu to learn modern homemaking, sowing and other husband-thrilling skills.

One evening in March 1948, satisfied with the readiness of the bride to assuming her prepared duties, Mrs Egwuonwu call Uzonicha to her room and told her that she would be traveling to Zaria in two days’ time to meet and stay with her husband. The news filled Uzonicha with happiness and anxiety in equal measures. Clearly, she was ready to practice all she had learnt.

Mr. Francis Obiukwu Nwosu, had received a telegram from his sister about the arrival of his bride from Aba by rail. He was at the popular Zaria train terminus 2 hours before the arrival of the most important visitor. With placard bearing “Uzonicha Enumah “, he waved to any Igbo-looking girl, smiling from both sides of the teeth.

His heart nearly cut when he saw a tall, dark, slim, beautiful and breastfull lady approach him asking if he was Mr. Nwosu and gently announcing who she was in an angelic but mellifluous voice. He created a scene at the station warranting his friend Humphrey, to admonish him that “there was no need for someone to pinch one’s parcel with a nail at the post office when there’s enough time to open same all alone at home”.

A christian wedding was done a week after and the couple began their marital life as man and wife till June 8, 1978 when Mr. Francis Nwosu, my father, died at the age of 64 while his wife Uzonicha, my mother died 40 years after in 2018.

Many marriages in Nnewi, Anambra state, South East Nigeria were contracted in a similar manner as my parents’. The relations of the groom knowing his traits would search to find a bride that would complement him to ensure a harmonious home. Most marriages organized through this method hardly end up in divorce.

My mum, Mrs. Uzonicha Nwosu, testified to the efficacy of match-making and the need for pre-marital training by experienced and intelligent elderly women. She believed that the information gathered, in advance, about my dad from the people that watched him grow into a man especially his behaviour, temperament and choice of delicious foods helped her to make her marriage exemplary.

In memory of a blissful marriage she had with my dad and how loving my dad was to her, my mum would want her daughters-in-law enjoy same. In a clear demonstration of feminine bias, my mum on my wedding night, placed a curse on me, should I ever beat my wife. I have been asking her to lift this curse as it has vitiated my manliness at home.

When I bark, my wife laughs it off since she knows that I have been made toothless by my mother’s curse. The nostalgia of her happy marriage has become my cross.

Many people here would term this practice anachronistic or ancient while holding anew similar stories in the Bible.

Anayo Nwosu