Nigeria In Need Of Selfless Citizens For The Change

August 9, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigeria as a nation is in need of selfless citizens to change Nigeria for the better.

In a tribute to the pioneer Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Major General Timothy Babatunde Ogundeko, the President said that Nigeria needed such nationalist as a pacesetter in strategic leadership training.

He said that as General Ogundeko’s remains are laid to rest this weekend, he is of the belief that he will be long remembered for his towering role as an educationist and public administrator, who immensely contributed to the procedure and processes of training potential leaders in the security and socio-political environment of Nigeria.

The President said that with his tireless efforts and foresight, General Ogundeko transformed the Nigerian Army Education Corps for the benefit of the Service and the nation; and his legendary role in the establishment of Command Secondary Schools is well appreciated.

He said that the vision of the deceased for a united and prosperous Nigeria will be honoured by all who mourn him even as he extends heartfelt condolences to the family of the General as well as the government and people of Ogun State. [myad]

Train Rams Into Vehicle In Port Harcourt, 2 Injured, By Gladys Nweke

Greenbarge Reporters

August 9, 2016

A passenger train, on Monday, rammed into a hilux vehicle at Woji railway junction, Rumurolu, Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital. Two persons were said to have sustained some degree of injuries in the accident.

The state Police spokesman, Mr. Omoni Nnamdi, who confirmed the accident, said that the injured are currently receiving medical attention in the hospital.

He attributed the accident to the traffic gridlock and that the road has since been cleared of such traffic.

“The Command is on top of the situation and we promise to make the state suitable for all to live in,” Nnamdi added. [myad]

Union Bank Wins ITF Award For Human Capital Development

Greenbarge Reporters

August 9, 2016

The Industrial Training Fund of Nigeria (ITF) has announced Union Bank of Nigeria Plc as the “Overall Best Contributing Employer in Human Resources” for the year 2015. The innovative financial institution was presented with the award by the Deputy Director, ITF on Monday.
Selected over 8,000 contributing employers in the Lagos Island Area, Union Bank spends an average of 200 million yearly to train its employees in addition to consistent intake of interns and students on
industrial training. The financial institution also carries out regular safety training for its people with accordance to the ITF training standards.
“Union Bank started its transformation drive 3 years ago and an integral part of that transformation is looking after our people.
Training is definitely a critical part of the wellbeing of the employees of any organization and therefore, we ensure to invest a lot in the development of our people so it is great to be recognized for the effort we put in.” said Kandolo Kasongo, Executive Director and Chief Risk Officer, Union Bank.
Congratulating Union Bank on its effort, Mrs. Dorothy Aroloye, Deputy Director and Area Manager, Lagos Island, Industrial Training Fund, said “For about 3 years of being the Lagos Island Area Manager, Union Bank has shown consistent interest in the development of its workers.

The Bank has contributed 6 solid training programs that generated over 6 million Naira to the Industrial Training Fund alone. I salute the training arm of the Bank for their dedication and ITF remains committed to helping Union Bank in the most positive way to further develop their Human Resource.
“We appreciate ITF immensely for this honour, this is indeed evidence that the Bank’s transformation is working. Usually, when the economy gets tough, employers are quick to discontinue training, but that is not what we do here at Union Bank because we believe that the human capital of the bank is the backbone of our success.” said Oyinkansade Adewale, Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer, Union Bank. “We promise to continue to partner with Industrial Training Fund to take both
Nigeria and the Bank to greater heights through the development of its people.”
Also commenting on Union Bank’s human development strategy, Miyen Swomen, Head of Human Resources Union Bank, said “Continuous Learning and Career Management are the two key elements of our employee value proposition. We are passionate to work with ITF to continue to train our
employees because we believe that what makes an organization successful is what its people know and how it is developed to enable growth.”
Established in 1971, ITF is responsible for raising training consciousness in the economy. It has generated a corps of skilled indigenous manpower which is responsible for managing various sectors of the economy. [myad]

Airlift Of Intending Muslim Pilgrims Commences In Sokoto

Greenbarge Reporters

August 8, 2016

The airlift of Muslim pilgrims from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia for the 2016 Hajj commenced on Monday, with the inaugural flight from the Sultan Abubakar III airport, Sokoto.
Director in the Ministry of Transport and Chairman of the Aviation Monitoring Committee, Adamu Wakil said at the departure that about 80,000 pilgrims will be airlifted in the next five weeks through flight operations from 17 airports across the country.
Wakil assured that safety and security infrastructure would be given priority in all airports to ensure seamless passenger facilitation in the exercise.
Earlier, the Directors from FAAN, Engr. Olufemi Ogunode and Captain Henry Omeogu, led various technical teams to supervise preparations for the exercise.
The inaugural flight was preceded by an airport ceremony attended by Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State; Governor Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari of Zamfara State; the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III and other dignitaries who gave goodwill messages.
Pilgrims from Sokoto and Zamfara States were amongst those that were airlifted on the inaugural flight amidst light showers.
In his welcome remarks, the Chairman of National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), Abdullahi Muktar Mohammed, asked pilgrims to be good ambassadors of the country and shun acts that will bring dishonour to their faith and country.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria is providing security and safety oversight to all airports, including State-owned airports, participating in the airlift. [myad]

Gov El-Rufai Bans Senior Civil Servants From Sending Kids To Private Schools

Greenbarge Reporters

August 8, 2016

Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State has banned senior civil servants in the state from sending their children and wards to private schools, with effect from the next academic session.
As part of the move to implement the new system, the senior servants whose children are currently in such schools have been directed to withdraw them from private schools and prepare them for admission into the public schools.
In an interview, the state Commissioner for Education, Professor Andrew Nock, said that plans have been concluded by the state government to restore public schools to their past glory.
“The state government has given order to all directors to withdraw their children from private schools to our own schools with a view to improving teaching and learning in the schools.”
On the failed attempts by successive administrations to implement similar policy, Nock said: “our government is not like the previous ones. What we will do is to monitor it to ensure that this order is carried to the letter.”
The commissioner said that as part of the efforts to revamp education in the state, 15 public secondary schools have been converted to boarding schools with effect from the next session.
He named the schools as Queen Amina College, Kaduna; Government Girls Secondary School, Kawo; Government Technical College, Malali; Barewa College, Zaria; Girls Science Secondary School, Kwoai; Government College, Kagoro; Government Girls Secondary School, Soba; Government College, Saminaka; Rimi College, Government College, Kaduna, Government Secondary School, Kachia; Government Girls’ College, Zonkwa and Government Secondary School, Giwa.
Nock recalled that some of the schools were originally boarding institutions before they were converted to Day Schools.
“Plans are underway to renovate and upgrade the hostels, library, clinics facilities and total landscaping of the schools to give them an aura of academic environment.” [myad]

Meteorological Agency Warns Of Severe Flood In 11 Nigerian States

Greenbarge Reporters

August 8, 2016

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has placed 11 states in Nigeria on danger list regarding severe flood which will occur between August and October this year.
The states according to the Agency’s report on Rainfall Situation are Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Kaduna, Kwara, Nasarawa, Yobe and Zamfara.
The report said that the saturation of soil moisture in the affected states was due to cumulative high intensity rainfall in June and July.
“After thorough analyses of rainfall data from our observatories nationwide for June and July, we wish to provide the following information and advisories to the public, especially those in the affected areas. Soil moisture has either reached saturation, or near saturation levels due to cumulative high intensity rainfall in some parts of the country in June and July.”
The Agency said that soil in the affected states is no longer able to absorb more rainwater in the coming weeks which coincide with the peak rainy season.
The agency in its 2016 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction, had said that while many parts of Nigeria would experience lower than-normal total rainfall due to the effect of El Nino, flooding could still be experienced in such areas, particularly those that were naturally prone to it.
The SRP identified parts of the North-West, South-West and low-lying areas, as particularly vulnerable to flooding during 2016 rainy season.
These observations and projections were also in agreement with the 2016 Annual Flood Outlook that was released by the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency.
NIMet advised governments, communities and individuals in these vulnerable parts of the country to take proactive actions such as clearing water channels and drainage, and also avoid activities that could block the free flow of flood water. [myad]

PDP Trustee Sets Up 18 Member Committee To Reconcile Sheriff, Makarfi

Greenbarge Reporters

August 8, 2016

The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has set up an 18-member committee to reconcile the Ali Modu Sheriff camp with the Ahmed Makarfi led Caretaker Committee.
The committee, chaired by a former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, is coming as last minute effort to save the upcoming national convention of the party.
Chairman of the party’s BoT, Senator Walid Jibrin, who inaugurated the committee on Monday, said that the Trustees would not sit by and watch the party destroyed by the lingering leadership crisis.
He expressed dismay that there are about 15 different court cases instituted by the various contending groups within the party, stressing the urgent need for a politician solution to the crisis.
He warned that allowing the cases to go on might leave the party in a permanent state of crisis.
He appealed to the litigants to withdraw their court cases and allow the reconciliation committee to resolve the differences so that the August 17 convention could hold.
Speaking shortly after the inauguration, Professor Gana assured that the committee would discharge its functions with every sense of responsibility, justice and fairness.
He pleaded with the Sheriff camp to allow the committee to resolve the crisis by making himself available for discussions. He hoped that at the end of the day, the party would go into the convention united.
Other members of the committee are Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedokun, Senator Ibrahim Ida, Hajia Inna Ciroma, Senator Biodun Olujimi and retired Air Commodore Dan Suleiman, among others. [myad]

Ex Militant Heads Waterway Security Taskforce In Bayselsa

Greenbarge Reporters

August 8, 2016

Former Niger Delta militant leader, Mr. Africanus Ukparasia, popularly known as ‘General’ Africa, has been appointed to chair the Bayelsa state Waterway Security Taskforce.
The Taskforce, according to the state governor, Seriake Dickson, is a new strategy to end the menaces of militancy, pipeline vandalism, pirate attacks, kidnapping and other criminal activities along the waterways and creeks of the state.
Inaugurating the Taskforce at the Banquet Hall of the government House in Yenagoa, governor Dickson mandated the taskforce to provide security agencies with required intelligence to deal with criminals.
The ceremony attracted youths and leaders from different parts of the state, including the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Tiwe Oruminighe and the state Secretary of the party, Mr. Marlin Daniel.
The chairman of the Taskforce assured the government of adequate security and intelligence gathering along the waterways of the state.
He said that criminals would no longer be allowed to take over the waterways to kill innocent people and subject travellers and traders to untold hardship.
He warned sea robbers and other criminals operating in the state to leave the creeks or face tough times.
Speaking on the choice of Africa, Oruminighe hailed Dickson for the appointment and said though the ex-militant leader is a member of APC, security is for everybody.
He said that governor Dickson, though a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), recently visited President Muhammadu Buhari to seek ways of solving the Niger Delta problem. [myad]

Rio 2016: Nigeria Should Not clap For Good Preparation But Luck – Fan

Greenbarge Reporters

August 8, 2016

A Nigeria sports enthusiast, Eze Onwuka has attributed the victory so far achieved by Team Nigerian in the ongoing Rio Olympic to share luck and divine intervention rather than good preparations for the games.
He emphasised that the victories so far were not because of the good preparation but the determination of the Samson Siasia-led team whom, he noted, wanted to make a mark for themselves.
Onwuka who spoke in an interview in Awka, the Anambra state capital commended the singular efforts of Dream Team V1 in the male soccer for defeating both the Japan and Sweden in spite of the poor arrangement
The enthusiast who is Managing Director, Rojenny Games Village, Oba, Anambra state, said that the Dream Team’s securing of a quarter-final ticket is a morale booster for the team that had turbulent build-up to the Games in Brazil.
Onwuka said that he was too excited about the ability of Team Nigeria to surpass their former performances even when it was clear that the athletes were not properly prepared for the global challenge.
“Our U-23 soccer team are doing well; I am happy with them after all the difficulties.
“Nigeria did not prepare for the Olympics; any country that goes to the Olympics for real business prepares for it in four or more years.
“And not to gather athletes for two months and send them to compete with the world’s best. “Luck gave us some fortunes in Atlanta 1996 but as a man who has invested in sports than any state government in Nigeria, l can tell you that we are not proactive.
“Our facilities are idle and no plans to prepare the athletes for victory, so it is still a trial and error thing,’’ he said.
Ezeowuka, who decried poor investment in sports in spite of its unifying factor, noted that sports rather than religion had kept the country together and should enjoy government’s attention.
“We have never invested in sports development as we should; the unity we are looking for in Nigeria can be got from sports.
“I think religion divides us but sports unite us.
“So, if there is any sector that should enjoy waver or subsidy, it should be sports not religion because it lifts more people especially the youths out of poverty.”
The U-23 male soccer team secured their quarter-finals berth after beating Japan 5-4 on Wednesday and Sweden 1-0 on Sunday. The team will play Colombia on August 10 in their final group game. [myad]

Ex Education Minister, Adeniran Eyes PDP Chairmanship

Greenbarge Reporters

August 8, 2016

Former Nigeria Minister of Education, Professor Tunde Adeniran has indicated interest in and picked nomination form for the chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the national secretariat in Abuja.
The Ahmed Makarfi’s faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has scheduled its National Convention for the next week’s national convention of the
Professor Adeniran who was also one time former Ambassador to Germany said his commitment to repositioning the party towards greatness and redirect it in actualising the dreams of the founding fathers informed his decision to seek the mandate of the delegates to the national convention.
“I want to assure all our party members and Nigerians at large that my venture into the chairmanship position of our great party has no other motive than to re-position, rebrand and put the party on the path of greatness. As a founding member, who has remained with the party in thick and thin and served in various frontline capacities, I possess the fortitude and experience to help the party achieve its objectives.”
Adeniran, who is a Professor of Political Science, picked the nomination form in the presence of party stakeholders and prominent stalwarts, including Hon. Oke Olusola Babatunde from Ekiti State, Hon Oluwole Oke from Kwara State, Engr. Chinedum Ekeh from Abia State, and Hon. Temitope Atte from Kogi State, urged the delegates and leaders of the party to entrust him with the responsibility of being the National Chairman in order to ensure its rebirth and the enthronement of good governance in the country.
“At this crucial period of our party and national polity, we need someone who has genuine interest of the party and is acceptable across boards; someone that has no integrity issue. I believe our delegates will appreciate the great need of the party for the personality I represent.”
Professor Adeniran was Minister of Education from June 1989 to January 2001, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany between May 2004 and January 2007, Chairman of the Governing Board of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) between 2009 and 2011, and Chairman and Director of the Directorate for Social Mobilisation (MAMSER) from 1987 to 1992. [myad]

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