THURSDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2022

FG to Punish Airlines Selling Tickets in Dollars Says report of govt spending N14.6bn on Nigeria Air embarrassing, false Stresses only N651m transactional advisory services approved but yet to be disbursed Deji Elumoye in Abuja The federal government has reacted formally to the issue of foreign

airlines selling tickets to Nigerian passengers in dollars, saying such practice was in violation of the nation's extant laws.

The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, who disclosed this to newsmen yesterday, after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC)

meeting, which was presided over

by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, said the Nigerian government would not

hesitate to punish identified erring international airlines selling tickets in hard currency.

He added that Nigerian Civil

Aviation Authority (NCAA) had been instructed to swing into acContinued on page 40

PDP Crisis: Ayu Survives Ouster as Party Announces Campaign Council Today... Page 41 Thursday 8 September, 2022 Vol 27. No 10012. Price: N250

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Tinubu: We're Not Threatened by Fake Statistics Reeled Off By Other Parties... Page 43

DSS: FG Requested Mamu’s Arrest, Extradition Says he has critical questions to answer Identifies intelligence gathering as key to winning terror war Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna

The Department of State Services (DSS), yesterday, said the Nigerian government made the request that

led to the arrest of media consultant to Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, and negotia-

tor for the release of the abducted Abuja-Kaduna train passengers, Tukur Mamu. DSS said Nigeria

made the request through its military, law enforcement, and intelligence community.

Mamu was arrested in Cairo, Continued on page 40

Oil Workers Begin Nationwide Rallies Against Massive Oil Theft Today Vow to declare total strike if menace continues Say security officials now pay to be deployed in Niger Delta Reveal about 300,000 barrels, $1bn lost daily to shut-ins Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Oil workers in Nigeria yesterday declared that they would begin nationwide rallies today in protest against the current massive theft of the country’s crude oil and destruction of oil assets, in a bid to force government to act and halt the menace.

Coming under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), the oil workers noted that having engaged the leadership of the security agencies, the regulatory bodies, as well as captains of industry to find ways of curbing the menace without appreciable results, it became necessary to declare an emergency.

National President of PENGASSAN, Mr. Festus Osifo, who addressed journalists in Abuja, stated that since engaging within the four walls of offices was not giving the desired outcomes, the union would now rework its strategy.

Despite the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries Continued on page 40

CAMARADERIE AT FEC...

L-R: Minister of interior, Rauf Ogbeni Aregbesola; Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari; Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja…yesterday

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Group News Editor: Goddy Egene Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 0803 350 6821, 0809 7777 322, 0807 401 0580

NEWS

ECOWAS MANUFACTURING EXCELLENCE AWARDS CEREMONY...

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, African Consolidated Analytical Limited, Mr. Amadi Ihekwumere; Director,Manufacturing, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Ltd., Mr. John Purchase; Director, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, NBC, Mr.Ekuma Eze; and Group Editor, Daily Independent Newspapers, Sylvester Enoghase, at the ECOWAS Manufacturing excellence awards ceremony where NBC emerged PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT winner in three key categories held in Lagos recently

Local Oil Refiners Seek CBN, NNPC's Intervention to Address Funding, Feedstock Challenge Want all incentives given to Dangote Refinery extended to them Peter Uzoho Indigenous oil refiners under the aegis of Oil Refiners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) have appealed to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to create crude refinery intervention fund similar to the agricultural credit fund or the pharmaceutical fund domiciled at the apex bank to drive effective business operations in the country.

They also called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to consider taking equity or grant loans to modular refineries via the provision of reformer and other requirement units to ensure adequate production of petrol based on agreed offtake conditions.

In fact, they pleaded that the CBN and NNPC should extend all incentives and assistance given to Dangote Refinery to them.

CORAN members led by their Board of Trustee's Chairman, Chief Emmanuel Iheanacho, made the appeal during their visit to the leadership of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in Abuja.

They urged the NNPC, NMDPRA and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to engage with the licenced modular refineries in order to develop an appropriate commercial model that would guarantee reliable feedstock.

According to a statement issued yesterday by CORAN and made available to THISDAY, the meeting with the regulator which was in a bid to interact with all relevant regulatory agencies, was chaired by the NMDPRA's Executive Director, Hydrocarbons Processing Plants, Installation and Transportation Infrastructure, Mr. Francis Ogaree.

The Secretary of CORAN, Mr. Olusegun Ilori, who presented CORAN's position, appealed to the authority to ensure that all incentives that were given to Dangote Refinery are also extended to other refineries.

CORAN also stated that NMDPRA's renewal fee for modular refinery license guidelines be revisited and possibly reduced by way of 50 per cent waiver.

They suggested that such review should be on the company-bycompany assessment, and granted to only companies with credible challenges.

CORAN further suggested that annual monitoring of modular refineries be carried out by the authority to ensure compliance with government policies.

The association requested that the NNPC should consider taking equity or grant loans to modular refineries via the provision of reformer/other requirement units to ensure adequate production of PMS based on agreed offtake conditions.

They equally suggested that the issuance of the import duty waivers

for modular refinery equipment be done by the Federal Ministry of Finance after due certification of the equipment that qualified for waiver was done by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

CORAN said modular refinery owners with evidence of feedstock challenge be given preference in the allocation of NNPC's crude oil.

Additionally, the local refinery owners further suggested that crude oil from the NNPC be sold to modular refinery owners in naira according to prevailing market rate with guarantee that all the refined petrol be sold in naira in line with the market price

in-country.

The statement added, "The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment to collaborate with Ministry of Petroleum Resources on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) with the view of creating a Petroleum refining hub in Nigeria while leveraging on the Agreement; "Quarterly progress reports on modular refinery projects be sent to the Ministry by NMDPRA. "The ministry should liaise with Nigerian Immigration Service to resolve problems associated with issuance of expatriate quota."

Responding to CORAN, the

The Centre for Transparency and Defence of Human Rights has accused the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami of condoning lawlessness, illegality and impunity in the bid process for the concession of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos (MMIA) The organisation in a writ of summon filed before the federal high court in Lagos by its lawyer, Samuel Agweh, alleged that when the attention of the AGF was drawn to the irregularities in a letter dated June 15, 2022, he refused to disqualify the 6th Defendant led Consortium for breaching the

eligibility criteria, verification and disqualification guideline.

Listed as defendants alongside the federal government were the Attorney-General of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Aviation, NAHCO Aviance Plc, Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, TAV Airport Holding Company and GMR Airport Ltd. The plaintiff averred that Tav Airport Holding Company and GMR Airport Ltd which submitted separate bids for MMIA and were shortlisted for the next phase of the concession are owned by same company, Airport De Paris, ADP. According to the plaintiff, the status of the two companies was contrary to the Request for

consultation, some of the CORAN's issues could be raised at economic policy levels, pledged the agency's support for the association.

She assured that her office would create a dialogue for more communication between the refiners and the authority, assuring the association of the government’s economic strategic plan to boost refining in Nigeria from a 0.01per cent to one per cent.

"The Authority will support the association, not only as regulators but as partners for progress of the sector rather to ensure that the refining goal and vision for the country is achieved," she added.

MTEF: NIPOST Laments Dwindling Revenue, Seeks Support to Avoid Liquidation Lawmakers place NITDA on status enquiry, NABTEB demands bailout Udora Orizu in Abuja The Postmaster-General, Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) Dr. Adebayo Adewusi, yesterday lamented that the agency's revenue has dwindled due to the COVID-19 outbreak, calling for an urgent intervention to save the service from winding up.

Adewusi who raised the alarm at the ongoing interaction on the 20232025 Medium Term Expenditure

Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, said the revenue of the agency had been going down since 2020, as a result of COVID-19 which he said affected 60 to 65 per cent of its revenue which comes from exporting of mails.

He said in 2021, NIPOST generated N3.9 billion but could not remit anything to government

Group Alleges Impunity, Illegality in MMIA Concession Wale Igbintade

management of NMDPRA led

by Ogaree and the Executive Director Economic Regulations and Strategic Planning, Dr. Zainab Gobir appreciated the association for coming and assured the team that President, Muhammadu Buhari was committed to see that more refineries are functional.

Ogaree further assured CORAN of the authority’s support and urged them to reach out to the committee that will be set up to work with refineries, and hinted of a database of challenges and progress report on our operations.

On her part, Gobir, who mentioned that with regular

Qualification (RFQ) guidelines set out by the Ministry of Aviation which stipulates that companies owned by same entity cannot submit separate bids for the concession.

The NGO further averred that the actions of the two companies was a demonstration of dishonesty, lack of integrity and deliberate attempt to deceive and hoodwink the contracting authority and hand over the nation's gateway airport to, "persons of questionable character who lacks integrity and repute."

The reliefs sought by the NGO included, "A declaration that the submission of separate bids by TAV Airport Holding (6th defendant) and GMR Airport Ltd (7th defendant) with the impression that they

are separate entities amount to a material misrepresentation, and a breach of Section 2.2 subsection 2.2.1 of the RFQ for the Concession of Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

"A declaration that the submission of separate bids by the 6th and 7th Defendants is not only wrongful but amount to act of dishonesty, deceit and lawlessness.

“An order directing the 3rd Defendant (Ministry of Aviation) to immediately disqualify the 6th Defendant led consortium and the 7th Defendant’s submission as well as ADP as a standalone party from participation in the tender or joining any group in future after Pre-Qualifications results are announced.”

coffers, adding that a couple of products had been developed to advanced stages assuring that when they become fully operational, the agency’s revenue would improve.

He said, "When you take half of our revenue, that you are saying in essence is that we should shut down business. The truth of the matter is that our cost of operation is higher than our revenue. Last year, we had a deficit of about N1.7 billion.

“The way we are today, NIPOST is in comatose, it is just a matter of time before NIPOST dies if no intervention is made."

Reacting, the Deputy Chairman of the Committee Hon. Abdulallhi Saidu said he was aware of the difficulties faced by NIPOST. He said the Finance Act 2020 states that partially funded agencies like NIPOST should pay 50 per cent of their revenue into government coffers.

He recommended that the finance committee, the supervising committee and management of NIPOST should work together, explore their networks to get NIPOST back on its feet again.

Earlier, the Registrar of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), Prof. Ifeoma Isiugo-Abanihe, told the committee that the board was in need of a bailout.

She said compared to WAEC and

NECO, the number of candidates who sit for NABTEB are very few and some state governments who sponsored candidates from their states are owing the agency.

She also said the exams are conducted on credit for the state governments involved out of hardship and the need to encourage them and the students to take the exams.

The registrar added that monies released to run the agency was barely enough for the board to mobilise and organise examinations annually.

According to her, in 2021, N1.5 billion was generated and N1.4 billion was spent, adding that N2.8 billion, N3.20 billion, N3.4 billion has been projected for 2023, 2024 and 2025 respectively.

Meanwhile, the lawmakers resolved to carry out a status inquiry on the accounts of the National Information Technology Agency (NITDA).

The resolution followed discrepancies observed in NITDA records and records made available by the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) on the amount remitted into government coffers by NITDA. The committee directed a reconciliation of accounts between both agencies alongside Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and report back on Monday, September 12.

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BRIEFING THE PRESIDENT ON THE MALI CRISIS...

R-L: President Muhammadu Buhari; Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, and ECOWAS Special Envoy and former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, during a briefing on the Mali crisis at the State House Abuja...yesterday PHOTO: SUNDAY AGHAEZE.

Oil Price Drops to Seven-month Low on China Lockdown, Recession Fears Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Crude oil prices fell yesterday to their lowest since before Russia invaded Ukraine as COVID-19 curbs in top crude importer China and expectations of more interest rate hikes spurred worries of a global economic recession and lower fuel demand.

Brent crude futures fell $1.35, or 1.5 per cent, to $91.48 a barrel earlier , after slipping 3 per cent in the previous session. The contract hit a session low of $91.35, the lowest

since February 18, this year.

Also, the United States West Texas Intermediate crude futures shed $1.55, or 1.8 per cent, to $85.33.

The benchmark fell to a session low of $85.17, the lowest since Jan. 26.

It came 48 hours after the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies cut their October supplies to the global economy by 100,000 barrels per day, underlining concerns over crude prices that are declining amid recession fears.

The international oil cartel also

slashed Nigeria’s production for the month by 4,000 barrels per day, to 1.826 million bpd as against the 1.830 million bpd allocated in September.

OPEC’s decision also wiped off the small increase in oil production agreed upon in September following calls by the United States and other major consumers for more supply.

But Nigeria has even before now been unable to produce all its production allocation, hitting just 1.083 million bpd in the July assessment after it fell to a record

low of 1.024 million bpd the previous month.

China’s stringent zero-COVID policy has kept cities such as Chengdu, with 21.2 million people, under lockdown, curbing people movement and oil demand at the world’s second-largest consumer, Reuters reported.

The country’s exports and imports lost momentum in August with growth significantly missing forecasts. Crude oil imports fell 9.4 per cent in August from a year earlier, customs data showed on

Peter Obi Meets Okonjo-Iweala at WTO The presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi yesterday met with the Director General of World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

The WTO boss disclosed this via her verified Twitter handle.

She wrote: “With Governor @ PeterObi at the @WTO discussing Nigeria’s economic recovery and the role of trade.”

The Labour Party presidential candidate is currently on a foreign tour to meet with his supporters in Canada, Germany, London, Rome, the United States, Switzerland, where it is expected he would raise a substantial amount of the funds needed for the election, through crowdfunding.

Founder of Centre for Values

in Leadership, and one of the leaders of Labour Party (LP), Professor Pat Utomi, recently revealed that the crowdfunding portals Nigerians in the Diaspora planned to launch for Obi, would be unveiled next week.

THISDAY had exclusively reported that in a bid to bolster his chances in the 2023 presidential election, Nigerians in the diaspora had formed groups to launch crowdfunding initiatives for Obi. They planned to unveil crowdfunding portals with a target to raise $150 million from Obi’s supporters in the diaspora and N100 billion from those in Nigeria, THISDAY had reported.

But some senior lawyers have expressed differing views on the legality of the election funding

process.

Obi had in a series of Tweets during one of the meetings urged Nigerians in the diaspora not to despair or become weary in contributing their quota towards nation-building, despite the present state of insecurity in the country and parlous economy.

He pledged that his administration, if elected, would have zero tolerance for corruption and cut cost of governance.

According to him, “Our total commitment to transparency and accountability in government business is the only credible way to achieve limited to zero corruption.

“Africa will remain the centrepiece of our foreign policy. We will improve Nigeria’s

Nigeria May Begin Supply of More Gas to Europe by March 2023, Says Sylva Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja with agency report Nigeria will be able to send more Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to Europe by next winter, Minister of State , Petroleum, Timipre Sylva said on Wednesday at the Gastech conference in Milan, Italy.

Winter 2022 in Northern Hemisphere will begin on 21 December, and end on Monday, 20 March 2023 in Central European Time.

As Europe seeks alternatives to dwindling supplies of Russian gas, the minister said that security issues are delaying deliveries

of more gas at the moment but Nigeria will build a pipeline Nigerian gas through Algeria to Europe.

It's unclear how Nigeria intends to achieve the feat. Despite its intention to raise supply , Nigeria has been unable to do so as a result of declining funding and lack of infrastructure.

Several delegations including the one led by the Deputy Director General, European Union Energy Platform Task Force, Mr Mathew Baldwin, have visited Nigeria in recent times to request more supply to Europe.

But Nigeria will soon take the final decision over the investment to build the infrastructure, the minister said in Italy, adding that the project is likely to cost more than $10 billion.

The Nigerian and Algerian state oil companies will be involved, Sylva said, adding that other private investors have also shown interest, according to a Reuters report. Italian energy group Eni may also be involved in the project, he said without elaborating.

"Everybody is welcome," he added.

diplomatic sphere of influence via peacekeeping, trade, and investment initiatives. We will pursue aggressively modalities for raising the national Internet penetration, as well as increase contribution of ICT to overall economic growth to aid national development.

“We intend to lay special emphasis on critical infrastructure, especially power, to ensure a clear measurable increase of 200 per cent of today’s generation, transmission and distribution within the shortest time possible through public private partnership.

“We will pursue intangible assets of good governance, rule of law, security of lives and properties, through an aggressive increase in personnel and equipment and inclusive training of operatives in our security agencies.

“We will emphasise patriotism, national interest, and national morale, quality of government, political will and character, which are all complimentary to the other assets. We will ensure that we have these assets in place and stress asset optimisation.

“Thinking through 2023 and beyond, we must think seriously about a leadership that is imbued with competence, capacity, credibility and commitment. The 4 Cs will be required to turn Nigeria around. Patriotism cannot be imposed; just like respect, it must be earned through dedication, responsiveness, active engagement, orientation, and prioritising of Nigerians in diaspora. The ripple effect will be rapid and will rub off positively on the country’s economy.”

Wednesday, as outages at state-run refineries and lower operations at independent plants amid weak margins capped buying.

United States crude stockpiles are expected to have fallen for a fourth consecutive week, declining by an estimated 733,000 barrels in the week to September 2.

Crude inventories in the United States Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) fell 7.5 million barrels in the week to September 2 to 442.5 million barrels, their lowest since November 1984, according to data from the Department of Energy.

However, oil prices later fluctuated wildly Wednesday as the market balanced demand worries related to looming recession risks with fears that Russia will halt all

oil and gas supplies.

After session lows not seen since before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Brent crude futures were later up 2 cents, or 0.02 per cent, at $92.85 a barrel while US West Texas Intermediate crude gained 9 cents, or 0.1 per cent, to $86.97.

Oil pared losses after Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to halt all oil and gas supplies if price caps are imposed on Russia's energy resources. The market is also juggling bearish sentiment from the prospect of a global economic recession.

Credit rating agency Fitch on Tuesday said that the halting of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline had increased the likelihood of a recession in the euro zone.

Awolowo Dosumu Denies Speaking on Tinubu/Shettima Ticket

The Executive Director of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation and Chairman, African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Olatokunbo Awolowo Dusumu has asked members of the public to ignore a fake news being circulated in her name on the Bola Tinubu/ Kashim Shettima presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to a statement yesterday, the fake news being circulated online by some news platforms and on social media falsely quoted her as warning Nigerians of a plot to get rid of Tinubu in favour of Shettima if they win the 2023 presidential election.

Dosumu described the report as false, mischievous and wicked, stating that she had not spoken with any journalist in recent times on any matter whatsoever including the 2023 presidential election and the candidates thereof.

"I am not in partisan politics and I have not been in partisan politics for decades. I have neither endorsed nor condemned any candidate or party. I have no intention to do so.

“I refuse to be dragged into a matter I know nothing about.

I advise whoever is behind this wicked lie to make better use of their time for the progress and

development of our country, Nigeria," she said.

Dosumu urged Nigerians and the entire world to assist the country, in every way they can, as we navigate through these trying times and to ignore all confusionists and purveyors of patent falsehood.

Corrigendum

Gov Uzodinma was Misquoted As part of our lead story on Monday, September 5, 2022, we published a rider, “Uzodinma declares Igbo’ll produce president when they find peace with nation,” where the governor was said to have spoken at a lecture in honour of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu’s 80th birthday, in Owerri. We have since found this to be incorrect and therefore withdraw the statement in its entirety and urge the public to disregard it. We apologise for the embarrassment this might have caused him. The mixup is highly regretted.

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TINUBU MEETS APC NATIONAL WORKING COMMITTEE...

L-R: Speaker House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; All Progressives Congress (APC) Vice Presidential candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima and APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola PHOTO: ENOCK REUBEN Ahmed Tinubu, during Tinubu's meeting with APC National Working Committee at party's National Secretariat in Abuja... yesterday

Value of Nigeria’s Logistics Market Estimated at $60bn Annually Chinedu Eze Experts who are into domestic and international freighting of goods and services have projected the logistics market in Nigeria to be about $60 billion annually with huge growth potential if the country would harness agro produce opportunities at its behest.

Speaking during the Chinet Aviacargo Conference in Lagos yesterday, the CEO of Chisco Logistics Limited, Obinna Anyaegbu, said Nigeria has great opportunity to be the number one exporter of agro-produce in Africa because it has the most expansive land with fertile soil from the mangrove to the Sahel and temperate climate that enables the country to grow all kinds of crops for export and local consumption, if only the country is prepared to harness these opportunities.

Anyaegbu who disclosed that his company was into heavy duty haulage, which brings goods from different parts of the country for export through the ports and by air, said, "Chinese people want to eat our bananas, plantain and pineapples. We have one of the most nutritious fruits in the world but demand and supply are not meeting at the moment and that is why Chisco Express wants to bridge this gap.

"We have always made assets available for traders and this is what we have done for the last 40 years. But government and the regulatory bodies have to be involved.

“We have seen aviation investments go bad, so if we have to do this in the aviation sector, we want to ensure we do this correctly with the government parastatals and traders that have contracts for supply in Europe and other parts of the world.”

He explained that there are cargo planes and passenger bellies that go out of Nigeria empty, but there are also rotten fruits in the farm, showing a huge gap to be addressed. And this he said was why Chisco Logistics was trying to consolidate and see how the company as a logistic solution could provide solutions in this regard.

“When you look at the GDP of the country, about 10 to 13 percent is from the Logistics sector because this is about commerce and production. We eat and drink every day and things have to move around.

“We need to pay for logistics.

Nigeria's logistics market is about $60 billion market. If you say our GDP is $500 to $600 billion market, so 10 percent of this will amount to about $60 billion," he explained.

He recalled that two years ago,

Chisco Logistics leased an aircraft for cargo export but did not get cargoes to fill the aircraft.

"We have leased an airplane two years ago, doing Lagos-Accra when our vehicle service was down. Every single day, we move from Lagos to Accra with buses and trucks. But when COVID-19 hit, we leased an airplane but we had no goods to move. It was

a 14 tonne Boing B737 airplane and we were struggling to get two tonnes in a week.

"We observed that the biggest player on the route was DHL and they are bringing about 70 to 80 tonnes of cargo into Nigeria and move it across West Africa.

“So it is mostly imported goods that are moving via the African routes. Kenya is taking out a

Despite the refusal by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise, accept or publish the names of a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio and the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, as senatorial candidates, the ruling party, has insisted that the duo remained candidates of the party in the 2023 elections.

INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Information and Chairman Voter Education, Mr. Festus Okoye, had in a recent statement said, the commission had not recognised the duo.

“For the records, the commission has not recognised either of the two personalities as a senatorial candidate. For clarity, the Form EC9 (submission of names of candidates by political parties) is the form uploaded by parties on the INEC nomination portal.

“This is clearly indicated on the title of the form, which was received on June 17 2022, when the portal closed. What follows is the publication of the personal particulars of nominated candidates, which was done a week later. The forms of the two personalities in question were not published by the commission," he then said.

But the National Publicity

Anambra cargo airport could be fully utilised to move agro-produce.

The Managing Director, Cornerstone Insurance PLC, Ganiyu Musa, who spoke on the topic: 'The Role of Insurance in Growing Aviation and Cargo Business in Nigeria,' said the balance sheets of all insurance companies in Nigeria put together was about $1billion.

Flooding: Jigawa, Lagos Worst Hit as FG Puts States on Red Alert Folalumi Alaran in Abuja The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has called on states and local governments to intensify and step up efforts towards averting flood-related disasters in their domains.

The agency said the call became necessary as the nation was in the peak of flooding season up to early October.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, yesterday, the Director General of the agency, Clement Nze, named Jigawa as the worst hit state with flooding, noting that about 16 local government areas had been affected with more than 50 lives lost, and properties and infrastructure adamaged.

According to him, Lagos is

next with 14 LGAs and many casualties recorded, adding that other flood hit states included, Nasarawa (Keffi), Anambra (Onitsha), Imo (Owerri), Asia (Aba), among others.

He pointed out that virtually all the flood incidents were caused by overflow of silted rivers and poor drainage system as a result of localised rainfall that generated flash/urban flooding in the urban areas and metropolis.

Nze recalled that as early as April this year, some states had begun to experience flooding, noting that as at today, flood disasters have occurred in many states.

He stated: "As at today, both Kainji and Jebba Dams on River Niger are still impounding water

APC Insists Lawan, Akpabio Are Its Senatorial Candidates Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

lot and they have great supply contract. This is because they meet the international standards," the CEO, Chisco Logistics said.

President Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Nigeria, Alex Nwuba, said there are comparative advantages as regards where cargo airports are built which presents opportunities for traders, farmers and airlines, noting that the

Secretary of the party, Felix Morka, told THISDAY yesterday that both Lawan and Akpabio were the known senatorial candidates to the party for Yobe North and Akwa Ibom North-West respectively.

According to him, "The party is the party and the party has conducted its primaries and submitted the list of its candidates to INEC. In the case of Akwa Ibom North West, Godswill Akpabio and in the case of Yobe North, we have Senate President, Ahmad Lawan."

Asked why Machina, who won the Yobe North East was dropped, the APC national Publicity scribe declined further comments as he noted that there was a subsisting

case in Court.

Morka added: "I believe they are in court at the moment, that's the last I heard. They are in Court and I won't speak to it. I have told you that Lawan is our Senatorial candidate, I will like to leave it at that. They are in court and I would not like to be interrogated further on that."

Machina had on Monday denied withdrawing for Lawan or resigning his membership of the ruling party.

Lawan lost the party’s presidential race while Machina had already contested and won the senatorial primary in Yobe North, the zone Lawan is representing at the National Assembly.

into their reservoirs. Shiroro Dam on River Kaduna is equally impounding water. No release of water from any of the Dams within and outside Nigeria.

"Nigeria is located within the River Niger Basin which is occupied by nine countries, namely - Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Chad, Cote D’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Nigeria.

The country is located at the lowest portion of the Basin.

“This means that once the upper catchment of the Basin gets flooded, Nigeria should be prepared to experience flooding incident. The period of flooding in these upstream countries is between August and October of every year.

“The agency is closely monitoring the situation as we are in these critical months. As we speak, the flow of River Niger at Niamey, Niger Republic is within the normal limits."

The NIHSA boss said the agency was also monitoring developments on the River Benue sub-basin and keeping close contact with the Cameroonian authorities with regards to flood scenarios in the upper catchment of the sub-basin.

"It should be noted that at this period of the year, impoundment of water into the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon is still in progress.

Under normal circumstances, it is usually around the seven week of September that the Dam reservoir could approach an elevation of 213m.

“Spillage of water can only take place once the reservoir level approaches 216m. Therefore, no

release of water from Lagdo Dam has taken place as at today. The situation is being closely monitored by the Agency," he said.

Nze highlighted some prevention methods to avert flooding, which according to him included: "Clearing of blocked drainage systems and canals. Removing of refuse, weeds, water hyacinths, and floats on water channels.

"Relocate to higher grounds people living along the waterways and those carrying out socio-economic activities on the flood plains; improved system for flood monitoring, flood forecasting and flood early warning.

"Effective and efficient operational procedure for dams and reservoirs and maintenance of other hydraulic and water infrastructure across the country.

"Construction of dykes, floodwalls, buffer dams, detention basins and water retaining structures. Carrying out River Training activities and maintenance of drainages by the removal of silt and sediment deposits in rivers to improve their conveyance capacities and from dams, lakes and reservoirs to increase their storage capacities for the containment of the incoming floodwaters.”

Some others include construction of weirs, small reservoirs on tributaries of major rivers, streams and rivers for conservation of floodwater to be used during the dry season thereby preventing desert encroachment, increasing irrigation for food crop production, improvement of grassland areas, nomadic settlement, peace and sustainable development.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

POLITICS

Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com (08033025611 SMS ONLY)

Betta: Tinubu as President will Implement 35% Affirmative Action for Women The National Women Leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Betta Edu, in this interview with Emameh Gabriel speaks on the chances of her party winning the presidential election and the realization of 35% affirmative action for women if Asiwaju Bola Tinubu emerges President. Excerpts:

A

to have good will. For you to be able to make changes in government, you must have that political will to be able to even if hundred people’s greed will go down on this, I will do what will favour majority of Nigerians.

Asiwaju is that man with that heart.

s the National Women Leader of the APC, and someone who was in the PDP last year, how easy are you finding it to adapt?

I’m not new in APC. A child who is over a year old cannot be said to be new but the new role as the APC national women leader has been a very interesting and intriguing one. It’s a different ballgame going into core of politics. Of course, I was a technocrat with some level of political exposure as a former Special Adviser to the governor, the commissioner for Health in Cross River State, the chairman of the Commissioners of Health in Nigeria, and of course, a member of the COVID task force. All of them had their own exposure and, of course, now it has risen to the point of being a national women leader.

It’s just simply a bigger platform for me to politically influence the lives of millions of Nigerians positively.

You are probably the youngest women leader across parties in Nigeria today, what inspiration do you think you are to APC women, irrespective of age?

The election that brought me in as the youngest National Women leader in any political party in Africa was symbolic for our party. One, they were making a statement, a very strong statement that we are focusing on the youth and we are interested in giving them a seat at the table. Secondly, we are focusing on women and we want all the different levels of women to be involved in every single thing that we do as a party.

Before, now you have most times very old women and then the younger ones were unable to compete with them. But here you are, I am a middle aged woman that’s like a bridge between the very young ones and the elderly ones. I’m not in my 18, I’m not in my 20s I’m in my 30s. I’m in the middle between the 40s, the 50s, the 60s and the 70s. That is the middle ground bridge building. I think that was part of what they were throwing at the table. And to make it even more symbolic, was the fact that they were bringing a core professional into party politics. I’m a medical doctor by training, a public health specialist. I’m a fellow of public health, the School of Public Health in United Kingdom. This was like bringing in a core professional into the political field so others can look and know that this is not about politics only. It’s not for just about anybody, we are bringing quality representation to the table for women in Nigeria.

How is your relationship with those who contested against you at the convention and women who were in the party before you came?

Definitely we are working as one big team.

The job is enormous. And we cannot do it alone. We need all of them to be fully on board. And thankfully they are my sisters and we have been working together, they’re all happy and they have been working with me to achieve results. So the results you see is not the Betta Edu alone results. It’s a team work and all my sisters are happy with me.

Even some of the people who had interest before it was zoned down to our state, are also on board with us. They’ve gone on different assignments for the party from the conventions, to the primaries, all the way down to the different programmes we have organized under the women’s wing. It has been a collective effort. And my sisters have been also supporting me all the way.

Have you been able to identify with them on mutual ground?

We know them. They’re just a few of them and all of us have been working together as a team.

Betta

What are your targets and goals for APC women and Nigerian women in general in mobilizing women for 2023 elections and victory of your party?

The 2023 elections will be won majorly by women. Our party, the APC is putting one of the best candidates that ever was on a presidential ticket in history of this country. We have put on that ticket a man with proven records.

So we are not saying he will do this when he comes or he will do that, we are showing you people he has built in human capacity and human resources. We are showing you the Lagos before 1999 and the Lagos that you have today. If you can recall, I’m sure you know about the transportation in Lagos.

Of course beyond that, this was a Lagos that used to have as little as N600 million as its revenue and today we are talking about over 60 billion. Today, it is the third largest economy in Africa.

We are talking about a man who was the first to begin this trend of taking a woman as Vice. That means promoting a woman to the level of co-governing a state when

Nigeria has not even come to the exposure that we can put women in government. Today is now a trend. It is happening in Kaduna, it’s happening in Ogun State. Someone was able to take that bold step and said a woman was good enough to be the deputy and even a governor, should anything happen in this state. So, when we see reports or scorecard, we judge a man with his scorecards. What have you done? We know history, we know what he has done in the past. He has a wife.

His wife is a Christian and a pastor. They have not for once had any issue on religion. They have religious tolerance, cohabit together, they live together as man and wife happily for many years as many years as they’ve been married. He has projected her to the highest legislative level in the country. His wife is a serving Senator. He shows that he is a man who promotes women, who pushes women to the limelight, give them a sense of belonging on the table. When you have such a man on the ballot box, why shouldn’t women support him? Asiwaju Tinubu has made people, whether they want to tell the truth or not. There are hundreds of thousands of people rising up everyday saying Asiwaju did this for me, did that for me. Musicians, sportsmen, name it are all out to see that Asiwaju is given that chance to do what he has done for them for Nigeria. I think Nigeria will be better off to have someone with the political will for you to be able to make changes in government. It’s not enough

With the level of contribution to nation building and the speed that women bring to development, 35% is a cheat on them. Tinubu is committed to doing more than 35% and not just 35% in the periphery, I mean 35% of strategic positions that will in turn empower women across the country.

So for us, it is a win win situation for us with Ahmed Bola Tinubu and women will not gamble with it. We have strategies, we have started work already from the grassroots, from the polling units all the way to the national. Women are ready.

We have drawn the map

You have said so much about the impact of women politically, how much effort have you made to push for the proposed legislation for 35% affirmative action?

It is an important issue. I have already tabled it. We have issues around legislation. You might have the best of policies but legislation will make it sustainable.

The legislation is not there, unfortunately it did not pass through but we believe in our next trial and with Asiwaju as our next president, it would go through. We have met him as individuals and have spoken with him. And he said I think 35% is even too small for women.

With the level of contribution to nation building and the speed that women bring to development, 35% is a cheat on them.

Tinubu is committed to doing more than 35% and not just 35% in the periphery, I mean 35% of strategic positions that will in turn empower women across the country.

So for us, it is a win win situation for us with Ahmed Bola Tinubu and women will not gamble with it. We have strategies, we have started work already from the grassroots, from the polling units all the way to the national.

Women are ready. We have drawn the map.

We have had discussions, we have held engagements and we will be moving into the field as soon as INEC blows the whistle that it’s time for campaigns. But more importantly before the campaign starts, APC women across the country, we are going round for empowerment, we have been carrying out free health outreaches for women and children. We are also going to do a one million Man March in each of those zones to work against electoral violence. Because violence will consume we women, violence will consume children. If violence consume our husbands and brothers, it will leave us at a vulnerable end. We don’t want to be vulnerable people anymore. We don’t want to be termed as vulnerable women and children. We want to be empowered, we want to be at the center and want our men to be with us. So we are marching against electronic volleys, those who planned for it, those who are involved in it, those who want to perpetuate it should be able to know that Nigerian women are ready to say now it will not happen.

What’s the chances of your party winning the 2023 general election with focus specifically on Adamawa State where you have a female governorship candidate?

She’s winning. I can categorically tell you that Senator Binani is the next Governor of Adamawa State by the grace of God. She is winning. She’s a woman who has done a lot of work in Adamawa State. I’m very proud of my party. We are the only party in Nigeria that gave its tickets to a woman to run. So it shows you that we’ve gone beyond the primordial level of politics. We’re playing advanced politics. She would pull through as the first elected female governor in Nigeria.

We are also of the opinion that those who have paired with women too would also get votes from women. We are encouraging our APC women to go all out and support her.

We have special strategy for Adamawa that I will not be releasing here. But take it from me, take it to the bank, Senator Binani is the next governor of Adamawa State.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

POLITICS

Wenenda: Sealing Businesses of Perceived Foes an Act of Vendetta By Wike A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Kingsley Wenenda Wali, in an interview with Blessing Ibunge, speaks on salient issues, particularly the reported shutting down of businesses owned by perceived political foes of Governor Nyesom Wike. Excerpts:

H

ow would you describe politics in Rivers State?

I found it extremely strange when I hear people trying to say that politics in Rivers state is unique. It is a normal type of politics all over the whole places.

The drama is usual, is normal. So there is nothing really strange about Rivers politics that is different from what is obtained from other states.

There has been so much criticism on governance in the state. What is your opinion on this?

I believe that the fundamental responsibility of a government is the security and welfare of the people being governed.

Every politician, those in government will say they have kept to their social contract with the people, while those in opposition will almost always disagree with that position because there is something always to talk about. In Rivers state particular, you have the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led government, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in opposition. The disagreement in politics here have been very profound, the opposition feel that the government has not done enough in terms of employment, social welfare, commerce. I really do not want to dramatise the governance in Rivers state, because I like to look at the areas the government have done well. I am one of those people who believe in the urban renewal effort of the government of Governor Nyesom Wike is something that even if you shut your eyes you will see it. Some have disagreed with the spread in terms of structural development. But I would have loved to see a situation where the hospitals, the schools built by the last administration are equipped and running, unfortunately I don’t know how the government can defend that schools built are abandoned. Yes, the government will say they funded the Rivers State University, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education but again, what have we done at the primary, secondary level, in terms of scholarship because I know the RSSDA that the last administration put in place was to take care of the scholarship issue which is fundamental to educational growth of any society, but this present government have not done anything in that regard instead it shutdown the organisation that is taking care of the indigent.

In terms of agriculture, I don’t know what the government has done. They have done practically nothing because the Songai Farm have been rundown, the Banana Farm in Ogoni area was burnt down, the Fish Farms in Buguma and some other places have been abandoned, and these are things that would have created not just food, but employment, create development of some sort in these areas. Well, the government has done a couple of things but I think there is some continuity in project development but I have problem with linkage. For example, the government have done great things like; Nigerian Law School Campus in Port Harcourt, but I am asking myself could that be taken to Ahoada, Degema, Etche, Bori or somewhere and it has to drive development in those areas. Look at the Law School in Abuja, is in Bwari which is driving development in that part of Abuja. So, I would have expected the governor to replicate the same policy here but unfortunately, everything is still within the same area choking development. Is it about awarding contracts or there is a policy to create a new kind of city. Port Harcourt is choked already; one would have thought that some of these projects would have helped to

Wenenda

spread the town a bit. None of those projects were cited in the Greater Port Harcourt area. So what was that for, it means that it is a useless effort. For me in terms of governance, it is really difficult to draw a line between ego-tripping and policy that is supposed to develop the state.

Recently, Governor Nyesom Wike gave a directive to security operatives to shutdown some business outlets in Port Harcourt city, alleging that the owners were allowing their properties to be used for illicit activities bridging security of the state.

What is your take on that action?

Yeah, I have heard people talk about it that this government has not done anything in trying to create employment opportunities for people rather, they are shutting down businesses.

It is a kind of funny situation that you are unable to create employment. In terms of commerce, the city is almost gone.

You go to Trans-Amadi which

used to be the hub of commerce and industry in this town, all the warehouses have become churches. So, I begin to ask myself, what is the morale behind shutting down businesses all because of political reflexes, what is the government driving at. These are acts of vendetta as far as I’m concerned and impacting very negatively on the people.

When you see the social problems that we have in this town; It is not because by instinct we have criminals in this town who naturally would decide to do criminal activities, but the point is that commerce is dead in the town, when a young man wakes up in the morning there is nowhere to go to. If you don’t create commerce in the state, you don’t create employment, you lack the moral authority whatsoever to do anything in the business that would throw people into the job market again. So I think that there are better ways of getting involved in politics or getting involved in your political battles, but closing down businesses, I’m sorry I might use the word, it’s a bit harsh, is mindless and it cannot be justified.

As APC supporter, how would you describe the happenings in the party, some of the members are resigning

It is a kind of funny situation that you are unable to create employment. In terms of commerce, the city is almost gone. You go to Trans-Amadi which used to be the hub of commerce and industry in this town, all the warehouses have become churches.

So, I begin to ask myself, what is the morale behind shutting down businesses all because of political reflexes, what is the government driving at. These are acts of vendetta as far as I’m concerned and impacting very negatively on the people

for other political parties in search of their preferred political dreams?

That is normal in political parties. Peter Obi, the latest mantra of the youth was a member of the PDP and resigned to join Labour Party. So if anybody resigns from APC and join PDP, it’s normal. The current member of the House of Representatives from Etche, Ephraim Nwizi, came in from PDP. The current House of Representatives member from Oyigbo/ Eleme federal constituency came from PDP to the APC. So is not one way traffic, is over dramatisation of what is happening. I would have wished those who left didn’t leave because everybody has some value that can be added to the political process but they have left, I don’t see how it’s going to impact on me. There are people who will probably defect to PDP and some will probably remain in PDP and still work for the APC candidate or the SDP candidate or the Accord candidate. So it’s not a one way traffic.

It’s even better that people are getting up and leaving, so you know who truly is a member of the party, would rather than people who are angry left, than they remain and be sabotaging the efforts of the party because PDP will now have a taste of what happened to the APC in 2018, 2019 when members of the APC, some people will stay back in APC and ensured that APC was out of the ballot.

I am one of those who think that it is anti democracy for people to strive to remove people from the ballot. The ultimate decision maker when it comes to choices is Nigerian people. Don’t present them with a fake situation where their choices are knocked out through technical noises and you become governor, senator or member of house of representative by default. In that instance, the people’s voice have not been expressed, their choices have not been expressed. So I would like everybody to contest, maybe the government will need to look at it, INEC will look at it and stop all of these blocking of political parties or candidates, not everybody who has an opportunity come up, especially if you have met the fundamental legal requirements. Don’t use technical reasons to knock out people from the electoral process. So what I am saying in a nutshell is that people leaving the APC is not the cause of too much concern for me as an individual. What they have done is that they have created the space for other person that knows what it takes to run a political process.

So it’s not anybody’s will, like I said earlier on, I regretted that they had to leave because some of the people I have dealt with, some of them are people that I know have value. Not everybody that left APC have value. Some people have had their profile enhanced by being members of the APC and being associated with the leaders of APC. What you are saying in essence is that the defection of the key members of the APC pose no challenge to the party ahead of the 2023 in Rivers?

Politics is a game of numbers. If you had 10 people and one person leaves irrespective of how you are able to weigh him, you have lost one person. Your opponent has gained one person. So I would rather that the person did not leave, but if the person leaves it becomes incumbent to work hard enough so that you can make an appropriate replacement. To say that the APC is going to lose their election because some people left the party is a big lie.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

FEATURES

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430

Reinforcing Ingenuity of Young African Minds through Sustainable Innovation For addressing some of the critical contemporary security threat that faces the nation at large, kidnapping and burglary, by producing a ‘Silent Digital Alarming Device' that would aid combatting home and commercial burglary, as well as tackle unauthorised access into designated buildings and kidnappings in the society, a quartet of Igbogbi College students recently emerged winners of Sahara Foundation's STEAMERS Catch Them Young and Curious Initiative. Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that it has reinforced the ingenuity of young African minds

The winning quartet from Igbobi College and Sahara team

W

hen Sahara Foundation launched its STEAMERS "Catch Them Young and Curious” Initiative, the goal was to inspire a young generation of African changemakers to tackle prevalent challenges within their communities by identifying novel approaches and developing innovative solutions to address such local problems.

In line with that commitment to accelerate sustainable development in Africa and beyond, Sahara Foundation, which is the corporate responsibility vehicle of energy and infrastructure conglomerate, Sahara Group, gave 150 students access to deep-dive classroom learning and practical sessions conducted by the program’s implementing partner, STEMCafe, a non-linear learning centre as well as mentors from Sahara Foundation Volunteer Group.

THE PROCESS The “Sahara Foundation STEAMers” Regional competition featured the top three teams that emerged from the National Demo Day competitions that held in Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda.

The regional finalists presented prototype designs of their solutions targeting several sectors including home automation, agriculture, security, energy, health, and transportation.

According to the foundation, the students displayed a profound understanding of embedded systems, additive manufacturing, and the ability to use human-centred design in creating sustainable solutions to prevalent social problems around them, but at the end of the day, a winner would emerge.

WINNING GROUP AND INNOVATIVE "THE WATCHMAN" At the end of the exercise, students from Igbobi College, Lagos, Nigeria, emerged as regional winners of the Sahara Foundation Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Program aimed at giving young African inventors a platform to develop their creativity.

Known as ‘The Watchmen’, the winning group of Njubigbo Onyeka, Ayo’ Mofe Moses, Ayilo John, and Maduanusi Chigozirim produced a remarkable ‘Silent Digital

Alarming Device’ which they named ‘The Watchman.’ The device can help combat home and commercial burglary, as well as tackle unauthorised access into designated buildings and kidnappings in the society.

The students explained that the device enhances security through detection of the crime at the time where the crime begins, and alerts authorised persons through a registered device making them aware that a crime in progress.

The device can also send a phone call to the police station registered on the device. “The device is ready for mass production, and we are confident that it would help increase security and lead to a safer community for all,” they said.

The Watchmen beat eight other groups to emerge overall winner. The team from St Peters, Kampala, Uganda emerged first runner-up with their ‘Plant Watering System’ invention, while the team from Olympic High School, Nairobi, Kenya emerged second runner-up with their ‘Distance Sensor Alarm’ invention.

REINFORCING INGENUITY OF AFRICA'S YOUNG MINDS Echoing their stance, Managing Director, Sahara Group, Emmanuel Magani said: ‘’The Sahara Foundation STEAMers program has again reinforced the ingenuity of Africa’s young minds and to see such array of top-quality inventions targeting key issues in Africa, developed by secondary students, validates Sahara’s commitment to investing in Africa’s next generation

of inventors.”

He further urged the students to stay curious, keep exploring their creativity, deepen their STEAM knowledge further, and continue pushing the boundaries of innovation towards solving challenges around them.

STEMCAFE'S VIABLE PARTNERSHIP For STEMCafe, a non-linear learning centre, its partnership with Sahara Foundation meant it provided classroom learning and practical sessions.

According to Bosun Tijani, Founder, STEMCafe, ‘’the opportunity to expose more young people to STEM through projects that solve real life problems drives our goal of raising a new generation of changemakers across Africa.”

He said the organisation’s partnership with Sahara Foundation had paved the way for taking the “desire to dream” to more young Africans.

IDENTIFYING NEXT GENERATION OF AFRICA'S PROBLEM SOLVERS Director, Sahara Foundation, Pearl Uzokwe commended all participants for being “worthy ambassadors of Africa” and a source of hope for a “sustainably prosperous Africa in which no one will be left behind.”

She said the goal of Sahara Foundation's STEAMers initiative was to identify, train, and empower the next generation of Africa’s smart technologists, creative thinkers, and confident

The Sahara Foundation STEAMers program has again reinforced the ingenuity of Africa’s young minds and to see such array of topquality inventions targeting key issues in Africa, developed by secondary students, validates Sahara’s commitment to investing in Africa’s next generation of inventors

problem solvers.

“Sahara Foundation desires to produce a well-rounded army of youths with the confidence to achieve outstanding feats that will advance Africa’s socio-economic development. We are delighted with this maiden edition and look forward to much more,” she added.

Uzokwe thanked the program’s implementing partner, STEMCafe, the principals and management of all participating schools, as well as other stakeholders that contributed to the success of this year’s program. She announced that plans for the next edition are in progress.

SAHARA GROUP'S COMMITMENT For Sahara Group, its commitment to enabling growth for all is all encompassing given that beyond business, it continues to touch countless lives by placing premium on human resource, all targeted at empowering the society.

To achieve this, the group, through the Sahara Foundation has gone from identifying valuable partnerships that supports innovation across Africa to improving access to quality education as a viable means to achieving sustainable communities.

On its part, the foundation is committed to accelerating sustainable development in Africa and beyond.

CATCH THEM YOUNG AND CURIOUS INITIATIVE The Sahara Foundation's STEAMers “Catch Them Young and Curious” is a Science Technology Engineering, Art and Maths (STEAM) educational program designed in partnership with STEMCafe to create an opportunity for young people to access a deep dive learning experience, get immersed in a practical classroom and have access to world-class maker labs leading them on the journey to becoming technical problem solvers.

The initiative raised 150 student participants with creative confidence, a deep understanding of embedded systems, additive manufacturing, and practical experience in using human-centred design in creating sustainable solutions to business and social problems.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

FEATURES

Fostering Impact through Engagement Schneider Electric’s innovative approach to fostering engagement with partners has continued to create a positive impact for the energy brand, Mary Nnah reports

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ecently, Schneider Electric engaged its partners in Alaba International Market, Lagos. For the energy brand, its innovative approach to fostering engagement with partners has continued to create a positive impact for the energy brand, including its recent activation at the market.

The outreach programme, held recently was aimed at strengthening its relationship with partners and the market community Alaba Market is widely regarded as Nigeria’s leading electrical market, generating billions of Naira for the economy.

The event which began as early as 11 a.m, extended to a full day of conversations and interactivity. The team moved from shops along the electrical lines in Alaba, gathering insights that will enhance their effectiveness in responding to challenges the community has been facing and cater to those needs while maintaining relevance and dominance over their competitors in one of Africa’s largest integrated electrical markets.

It was a movement that served to demonstrate Schneider Electric’s strong understanding of the power of local reach.

The Managing Director, Schneider Electric, Christophe Begat, said Schneider takes partnerships seriously, adding, “It is critical to our success.”

“For our team to be at Alaba Market is our way of saying we value grit, passion and drive and that's the energy at Alaba International. It is our mission to ensure that

L-R: Head, Partner Sales & Building BU, Nurudeen Oyedeji; CFO, Anglophone West Africa, Mounir Fawzy; Sales Engineer, Iyke Nnabugwu; General Manager, Anglophone West Africa, Christophe Jean Paul Begat; and Marketing Communications Manager, Omobolanle Omotayo our partners thrive, by understanding their needs and finding innovative ways to help them work smarter, more efficiently, and more collaboratively with us”, he noted further. , The event attracted a captive audience, where several issues were discussed, to build a solid partnership with stakeholders in Alaba.

“Our goal is to meet people where they are and give them a chance to access

the services they might need,” says Schneider Electric”, Begat added.

Amongst the numerous concerns addressed during the visit was the trade in counterfeit electronic products which often jeopardises consumers' health and safety. Details of the locations of Schneider Electric’s authorized distributors in specific areas in Lagos, including distributors present within the Alaba

market community were given, even as the team emphasized the importance of buying items directly from them and the benefits - i.e discounts - they stand to gain from building a consistent relationship with their distributors. They also tasked the community to report the actions of counterfeiters to put an end to illicit trade.

Also, discussing the challenges of the famous market, the traders spoke about the dilapidating infrastructure in and around the market, especially the access roads which are significantly affecting their businesses. A good road network can potentially increase the volume of sales. Other highlights during the occasion include sharing of marketing materials to boost sales, sign-ups of new partners, and presentations on Schneider's unique selling points, among other interactive features.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke expressed their appreciation, saying that the visit was timely, as they also advocated for its sustainability.

The initiative which began in 2014 has been transformative for both partners and the company. Schneider says it will continue to invest time and resources to improve the welfare of the host community, which significantly contributes to the development, expansion, success and growth of small and medium-scale enterprises in Lagos State. Its commitment to making growth sustainable and equitable for all is derived from the strategy of staying ahead of the curve.

TRIBUTE

Tribute to My Mother, Mama Abigael Omope Ogunmola (Nee Oloketuyi)

President of Scottish Council of African Churches at the burial service, Dr. Festus Ogunmola Dr. Olusanya Festus Ogunmola

I

t was a spiritual revival galore in the last few hours preceding my mother’s exit from this world. Mummy did not show any sign of sickness prior to the sudden onset of the acute condition from which she did not recover. She was always an embodiment of fine physical and mental health--always sharp, sprightly, charming, and vivacious. Indeed, since my childhood days, not once did I see her admitted to a hospital for any kind of ailment until this single and sudden episode that marked her passage to eternity. As she lay in bed, her last words were so powerful that I became more thirsty and more hungry for Christ.

My mother (fondly called Iye Olu) was a woman like no other. She nutured me, taught me, shouted at me, and spanked me --always with love, care, and kindness.

Mom, you are a great inspiration when I look back and remember your show of immeasurable kindness and generosity to the people you met during your sojourn on earth.

You were always a straight talker who spoke your mind freely and was not afraid to call a

Dr. Festus Ogunmola with some community leaders who came to sympathise with him

spade a spade. The joy you brought me will never end! I will treasure the beautiful memories we shared for ever.

An inspiring soul, you were always there for all who came to you with their troubles. You soothed them with kind words and wise advice. Your home was open to everyone and your hospitality made them feel important.

A mother’s heart is the child’s classroom.

I thank God everyday for what you taught me through the years. You were the poster child of a godly mother. Whenever I telephoned to ask after your wellbeing, you would ask me to pray first before anything else.

This tribute to my late mother can’t even express the smallest fraction of the love and gratitude I have for her because words often cannot capture our deepest emotions and our innermost and most profound feelings of affection. Mom taught me to love God and to forgive those that have offended me.

You were abadoned by those you loved and served, yet you remained steadfast in love and forgiveness.

I arrived four days before your passing, and after you had offered a lot of prayers and preached the gospel even in your physically frail state, you made your transition from this terrestrial realm to the celestial realm.

I cannot forget the revival songs you taught me. I fondly remember “Peregede ni yio ye, da to ba gba Jesu gbo, peregede ni yio ye.” (“Those who believe in Jesus Christ will live.”)

“Iye Olu” is a never- ending song in my heart, offering comfort, happiness, and well-being. I may sometimes forget the words, but I will always remember the tune. Every Sunday before I climbed the pulpit, you would call and give me some Bible verses, and you would ask me to pray for you and thereafter pray for me and prophesy that the Lord would use me mightily in many facets. When I almost abadoned my doctorate program, you spoke to me in Pidgin English some words of encouragement: “make you dey do am small small, you go dey pass am well well.”

No matter what age I attain, I will

always need you, Mom. Your pet name for my wife, “ niaf la mo,” means “We only know people that we love, but we don’t know those that love us.” When you explained the deep meaning of this name, I saw in you the wisdom of Solomon, the boldness of Peter, and the faith of Abraham.

Mom, I will not say goodbye to you because wherever you are, you will always be in my heart. I have deeply enjoyed your closeness, and it will never be lost because all that we love becomes part of us.

1 Cor 15:26 : The last enemy that will be destroyed is Death.

I will miss my sweet mother in all aspects.

As I miss you, I know you are with Jesus and those who have gone on before. Thank you for being a great Mom!!

“Youth fades; love droops; the leaves of friendship fall; A mother’s secret hope outlives them all.” - Oliver Wendell Holmes Rest In Peace till that day of resurrection. t:PVS MPWJOH TPO %S 0MVTBOZB 'FTUVT 0HVONPMB 1SFTJEFOU 4DPUUJTI $PVODJM PG "GSJDBO $IVSDIFT

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THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 •T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

23

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

A T

REPO

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

S E P T E M B E R

S & P INDEX

7 , 2 0 2 2

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

11.25%

CALL

10.25%

INDEX LEVEL

613.31%

1/4 TO DATE

-0.85%

N416.86/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

11.50%

1-MONTH

9.56%

1-DAY

0.16%

YEAR TO DATE

7.64%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10.52%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.44%

NCS: FG Must Develop Infrastructure, Create Enabling Environment to Produce Tech Savvy Innovators

Emma Okonji The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), an advocacy group and the umbrella body for all Information Technology (IT) practitioners in the country, has stressed the need for the federal government to develop the right technology infrastructure and the enabling environment that will produce technology savvy innovators who will develop national and global solutions in today’s digital era.

NCS made the call in Lagos during its technology innovation

workshop and bootcamp, where it showcased five selected teams that pitched their technology solutions designed to address specific challenges that cut across energy, education, finance, socio-economic issues, domestic issues and data management.

The business and economic data survey carried out across 200 countries from 2011 to 2021 by the Global Economy, ranked Nigeria’s innovation index very low.

The average value for Nigeria during that period was 23.85 points with a minimum of 20.1 points in

2020 and a maximum of 28.2 points in 2011, which is an indication that technology innovation is still low in the country.

Chairman of the NCS’ Technology Innovation Development Programme, Mr. Chris Uwaje, who frowned at the low level of government support for tech innovation, especially in the area of infrastructure, decried the high rate at which Nigerian youths are leaving the country in search of a better technology enabled environment.

He said: “So much of Nigerian

tech innovators are being harvested by developed countries who understand the power of innovators. Nigerians invest so much in developing the human capacity, but government lacks the will power to invest in technology infrastructure to keep innovators in the country. Any country that does not build technology infrastructure will always lack the productivity layer on which technology innovators can ride on to thrive.”

According to him, the NCS’ Technology Innovation

Development Programme is designed to raise innovators and entrepreneurs and to support them grow to a level where they can use their solutions to address national and global needs of individuals, organisations and societies.

Uwaje explained that the growing youth population of the country had always been a source of strength and comparative advantage for national development, but decried the huge decay at the Tinapa Business Resort Centre in Calabar, Cross River State, that could have served

as an enabling environment for technology incubation of thousands of Nigerian youths from across the country.

“Tinapa could have been a good example of government’s will-power to create conducive environment for the development of talents in technology, but successive governments abandoned the project because they lacked the political will-power to sustain and expand technology investments in the country. I wept for Nigeria each Continued on page 28

Suspension of 5% Excise Duty, Respite for Telecom Subscribers, Says ALTON Emma Okonji The Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has said the recent suspension of the planned imposition of five per cent excise duty on telecom services by the federal government is a great relief for telecom subscribers who have been overburdened with multiple taxes.

Chairman of ALTON, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, who spoke to THISDAY in a telephone interview, said available statistics suggested that if there was further tax on telecom services, it would hamper affordability of services.

“So the decision to suspend the planned five per cent tax on telecom services by the federal government is a welcome development

and government must be commended for that. It shows government is sensitive to the concerns of telecom subscribers who bear the brunt of multiple taxes, because they pay every imposed tax from their meagre salaries. As telecom operators, we see the suspension as a respite for telecom subscribers because it will relieve them of additional burden of taxes that had always reduced the value

of telecom services. We are hoping that the committee set up by the federal government to review the policy on five per cent excise duty on telecom services, will have good reasons to advise government to completely drop the policy,” Adebayo said.

The federal government, through the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, had last month,

notified the telecom sector of the intention of government to introduce five per cent excise duty on telecom operations, in addition to the 7.5 per cent Value Added Tax(VAT) that all sectors of the economy pay for goods and services rendered.

Worried about the proposed plan, industry stakeholders vehemently opposed it and called on the federal

government to rescind such plan, while describing it as another form of tax in addition to existing taxes in the telecom sector.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, who also faulted the timing and process of imposing the five per cent tax on the Continued on page 28

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT W E D N E S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 7 , 2 0 2 2 BILLS

BONDS DESCRIPTION Price ^14.20 14MAR-2024 13.53 23MAR-2025 ^12.50 22JAN-2026 ^16.2884 17MAR-2027 ^13.98 23FEB-2028

Yield

103.50

11.63

101.05

13.03

98.76

12.95

110.83

13.05

104.50

12.81

Change Updated Time (%) -0.01 September 2, 2022 0.08 September 2, 2022 0.00 September 2, 2022 0.00 September 2, 2022 0.00 September 2, 2022

MATURITY NTB 13-Oct22 NTB 10Nov-22 NTB 26-Jan23 NTB 9-Feb23 NTB 9-Mar23

Discount

CPS

9.00

9.09

3.90

3.93

9.80

10.20

10.00

10.46

Change Updated Time (%) 2, 0.00 September 2022 2, 0.00 September 2022 2, 0.00 September 2022 2, 0.00 September 2022

10.60

2, 0.00 September 2022

10.05

Yield

MATURITY NENL CP I 24-OCT-22 FSDH CP VII 27-OCT-22 SIBP CP III 27-OCT-22 DLMG CP IV 11-NOV-22 FDHP CP III 17-MAR-23

Discount Yield 21.18 21.83 15.28 15.64 14.46 14.78 17.87 18.50 12.10 12.94

Change Updated Time (%) 2, -0.03 September 2022 2, -0.03 September 2022 2, -0.03 September 2022 2, -0.06 September 2022 2, -0.01 September 2022

OTC F X F U T U R E S CONTRACT Current TENOR Contract Rate Updated Time ($/₦) (MONTH) NGUS SEP 28 439.60 September 2, 1 2022 2022 September 2, NGUS OCT 26 2 441.81 2022 2022 NGUS OCT 26 444.01 September 2, 3 2022 2022 NGUS DEC 28 446.22 September 2, 4 2022 2022 NGUS JAN 25 440.94 September 2, 5 2023 2022

24 T H I S D AY THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 TR

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& RE A S O

Thursday September 8, 2022 Vol 27. No 10012

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opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

BATTLE FOR BAUCHI GOVERNMENT HOUSE SANI AHMED urges APC to put its house in order

See page 25 HOPE AMID DESOLATION Nigerians should reject the old order by voting wisely in 2023, writes SONNIE EKWOWUSI

See page 25

EDITORIAL MATERNAL MORTALITY IN NIGERIA

See page 26

1

Only decisive steps can check Nigeria’s growing use of illicit drugs, writes MONDAY PHILIPS EKPE

FROM MKPURU MMIRI TO AKUSKURA Especially for persons not familiar with the etymology and morphology of mkpuru mmiri and akuskura, their very sound suggests something demonic, beings designed to torment the souls of humans. But they are indeed substances Nigerians have woken up to in recent times as being highly addictive.

7KH IRUPHU ÀUVW PDGH LWV GHEXW LQ WKH FRXQWU\ not long ago in the south-eastern zone from where it derived its local name.

A Methamphetamine or Crystal Meth original, mkpuru mmiri has a chequered history of its own. Developed in Japan after WKH )LUVW :RUOG :DU PHWK ZDV R΀FLDOO\ DQG XQR΀FLDOO\ DEXVHG LQ WKH FRXUVH RI WKH Second World War when it was administered WR -DSDQHVH VROGLHUV DQG ÀJKWHU SLORWV ZKR were sent on suicidal assignments called Kamikaze. Its relevance continued even after the hostilities as it was used to treat obesity and mental states like depression. As the VLGH HͿHFWV ZHUH EHFRPLQJ WRR DSSDUHQW however, it was gradually side-lined and, later in the 1970s, outlawed altogether. True to the nature of addictions and the volatility of the market forces of hard drugs, the ban could not obliterate the substance. It only went largely underground for some time. The grand re-entry came in the 1990s when Mexican drug cartels picked interest in it and became hugely responsible for the globalisation of its production and trade. It has since been FODVVLÀHG DPRQJ WKH 6FKHGXOH ,, RI GUXJV LQ the International Drug Control Conventions, adequately described as “drugs with a high potential for abuse, with use, potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence.” And to bring the tons of methrelated problems closer home, a laboratory for the manufacturing of the product was reportedly established in Nigeria six years ago.

I had a disturbing encounter two weeks ago in a village in Edo State. A plastic bottle containing some whitish liquid was pierced from the cover with a straw or two on top.

In my ignorance I wondered out loud when people started drinking palm wine that way.

A young man then graciously educated me about mkpuru mmiri, a substance known so far to be consumed mainly by Igbo youths, DQG ZKLFK KDV EHHQ LGHQWLÀHG DV RQH RI WKH major obstacles to arresting the insecurity crisis in that section of the country. It then dawned on me that the patronage of illegitimate consumables cannot be localised or restricted for long. With aggressive marketing, their spread is inevitable. An explanation given last year by Mr Femi Babafemi, Spokesperson of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), is both sobering and concerning.

According to him, “It is a very addictive stimulant that renders the user hyperactive and prone to destructive tendencies, which at the extreme do not exclude suicide or homicide at the slightest provocation and without a feeling of remorse.

“As a stimulant, it has powerful euphoric

HͿHFWV VLPLODU WR WKRVH RI FRFDLQH 0HWK typically keeps users awake, depriving them of sleep. Its use and abuse also carry acute health risks including high blood pressure and cardiovascular-related illness. Aside from being unable to sleep and being violent, users exhibit anti-social behaviours arising from paranoia and hallucination. The drug takes a toll on the physical look of its users. It typically makes them look older and their faces prone to acne. Sometimes, excessive use leads to damaged gum and teeth, commonly called ‘meth mouth.’ What is most frightening is that PHWK DGGLFWLRQ LV RQH RI WKH PRVW GL΀FXOW WR treat because no drug can cure it, except by behavioural therapy, which at the moment is not readily available in the country.”

The woes associated with mkpuru PPLUL RI FRXUVH QRW VSHFLÀF WR LW DQG WKH predicament the nation is faced with as a result are now being compounded by the recent rude announcement (certainly not new entry) of akuskura, a psychoactive drug that poses not only a threat to public health but a unique challenge to drug policy. This is why.

It is in the form of herbs, intricately laced with cannabis and tobacco and is consumed either as liquid or powder. Packaged as a remedy to sundry complaints like catarrh, headaches, weak erection and evil spirits, this substance also known as kuskura, akurkura or kurkura - all derivatives of its Hausa root – is very DͿRUGDEOH DQG DFFHVVLEOH SHGGOHG PRVWO\ E\ herbalists and religious chemists.

The instant appeal it presents to Nigeria’s teeming despondent and increasingly YXOQHUDEOH SRSXODWLRQ LV VLPSO\ WRR GL΀FXOW to ignore. Disabling consequences like unprovoked aggression, acute psychosis, unusual agitation, seizures, violent dispositions, irregular body movement, muscle contraction and dependency prospects have not dissuaded its lovers, many of whom are proud, open users, found mainly in the western and northern regions of the country. When a record consignment of over ERWWOHV RI DNXVNXUD ZDV FRQÀVFDWHG E\ NDLEA along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, the drug was promptly added to the list of enemy opiates. The exorbitant price tags on controlled stimulants like codeine only serve

Disabling consequences like unprovoked aggression, acute psychosis, unusual agitation, seizures, violent dispositions, irregular body movement, muscle contraction and dependency prospects have not dissuaded its lovers, many of whom are proud, open users

as incentives for its continued galloping attractiveness and consumption.

If only these consumers can access the admonition by Frank Tallis, accomplished British author and clinical psychologist. As KH SXW LW ´$W ÀUVW DGGLFWLRQ LV PDLQWDLQHG by pleasure, but the intensity of the pleasure gradually diminishes and the addiction is then maintained by the avoidance of pain.”

0RVW WLPHV LW·V GL΀FXOW WR GHWHUPLQH WKH H[DFW moment the shift from enjoyment to escapism occurs. Anytime it happens, the outcomes and their tolls are immeasurable - at personal, family, organisational and societal levels.

The overview provided by the Africa 5HJLRQDO 2΀FH RI WKH :RUOG +HDOWK Organisation (WHO) on its website on the growing calamity is unnerving and scary: “Substance abuse refers to the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs. One of the key impacts of illicit drug use on society is the negative health consequences experienced by its members. Drug use also puts a heavy ÀQDQFLDO EXUGHQ RQ LQGLYLGXDOV IDPLOLHV DQG society. The evolution of the complex global illicit drug problem is clearly driven by a range of factors. Sociodemographic trends are LQÁXHQWLDO VXFK DV WKH SRSXODWLRQ·V JHQGHU age and the rate of urbanization.

“Cannabis remains the most widely used illicit substance in the African Region.

The highest prevalence and increase in use are being reported in West and Central Africa with rates between 5.2% and 13.5%.

Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) such as ‘ecstasy’ and methamphetamine now rank as Africa’s second most widely abused drug type.” This gory picture becomes even more worrying in the midst of the hunger and abject poverty that have further subjugated a chunk of the populace.

“Drugs are a waste of time. They destroy your memory and your self-respect and everything that goes along with your selfesteem,” is a statement made by Kurt Cobain, lead vocalist and guitarist of American rock band, Nirvana, who took his own life in 1994 at the age of 27 having lost a prolonged battle with drug addiction and depression. Can there be a better reference point or tragic hero in the RQJRLQJ HͿRUWV WR VWHP WKH WLGH RI UHFNOHVV snowballing abuse of outlawed materials like that young music icon and similar others spread across dispensations and locations?

The assertion in T. S. Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral that people learn little from the experiences of others is not comforting here. %XW ÀJKW RQ ZH PXVW DV WKH DOWHUQDWLYH LV WRR costly. Governments, relevant agencies, nongovernmental institutions, religious bodies, other private entities and well-meaning individuals should break away from lethargy and prioritise the quest to rid the country of the craze to ‘get high’.

Dr Ekpe is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

T H I S D AY

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THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

SANI AHMED urges APC to put its house in order

BATTLE FOR BAUCHI GOVERNMENT HOUSE Recently a news story went viral in the print and online media concerning the $OO 3URJUHVVLYHV &RQJUHVV $3& DQG LWV JRYHUQRUVKLS ÁDJEHDUHU LQ %DXFKL State. According to the reports, a civil society organization, Accountability and 'HPRFUDWLF 3URMHFW $'(3 KDG ZULWWHQ to the Independent National Electoral &RPPLVVLRQ ,1(& UDLVLQJ WKH DODUP on the details of credentials submitted by WKH %DXFKL $3& JRYHUQRUVKLS FDQGLGDWH $90 6DGLTXH $EXEDNDU %DED UWG $FFRUGLQJ WR WKH &62 WKH $3& governorship candidate failed to substantiate claims he made as FRQWDLQHG LQ KLV ,1(& (& IRUP Though he said he was born in Azare

LQ DQG WKDW KH KDG JUDGXDWHG IURP 6W 3DXO 3ULPDU\ 6FKRRO LQ DQG *66 %DXFKL LQ KH KRZHYHU IDLOHG WR DWWDFK D ELUWK FHUWLÀFDWH RU GHFODUDWLRQ of age as well as primary and secondary VFKRRO FHUWLÀFDWHV WKH &62 VWDWHG FLWLQJ WKH FHUWLÀHG WUXH FRS\ RI WKH IRUP “This deliberate omission also keeps us guessing, if Mr Baba has anything he is hiding thus choosing to declare only a part of the credentials necessary to stand as a candidate in the upcoming election,” ADEP noted.

7KH &62 WKHUHIRUH GHVFULEHG WKLV DV D grave disregard for the law and urged ,1(& WR GLVTXDOLI\ WKH $3& FDQGLGDWH With the incomplete information DV LQGLFDWHG LQ WKH SHWLWLRQ WR ,1(& there is the risk of the candidate being GLVTXDOLÀHG This is especially glaring if one considers the judgment of the Supreme &RXUW LQ WKH FDVH RI $FWLRQ &RQJUHVV YV ,1(& ZKLFK VWDWHV DPRQJ RWKHU things that “When a person subscribes WR DQ D΀GDYLW ZKLFK PXVW RI FRXUVH EH done before a person having authority WR DGPLQLVWHU VXFK RDWK RU D΀GDYLW KH is taken to be telling the whole world the truth and nothing but the truth.

“If what he said under oath later turned out to be false, he can be subjected to a punishment under the crime of perjury, which, itself, is committed when a lawful oath is administered in some MXGLFLDO SURFHHGLQJV ZKLFK LQFOXGHV LQ my view, any act capable of ending up LQ D FRXUW RI ODZ DV LV WKH FDVH LQ WKLV matter. ´7KDW LV ZK\ VHFWLRQV DQG were enacted to allow persons with

reasonable grounds that the information JLYHQ E\ WKH FDQGLGDWH LQ WKH D΀GDYLW is false to sue such a candidate before a )HGHUDO RU 6WDWH +LJK &RXUW ´7KDW +LJK &RXUW RQ ÀQGLQJ WKH falsity of the candidate, must issue an order disqualifying such a candidate from contesting the proposed election.”

In another decision in the case of $NSDWDVRQ YV $GMRWR 2UV WKH 6XSUHPH &RXUW KHOG WKDW ¶7KH LPSOLFDWLRQ RU OHJDO HͿHFW RI DQ RDWK LV WR subject the person who took an oath to penalty for perjury in the event that the testimony turns out to be false”. $OVR WKH &RXUW RI $SSHDO H[SUHVVO\ pointed out the implication of such crimes on political candidates in the case RI 6KLQNR YV .'6* ZKHQ LW VWDWHG that “Further, another unfavourable condition to a candidate seeking to contest is where the information JLYHQ E\ KLP LQ WKH D΀GDYLW KH ÀOHG accompany the list submitted to the commission is found to be false…if the court determines that the information is false, the court shall issue an order disqualifying the candidates from contesting the election.”

Given the above position of the court, the alarm bells from ADEP is a good VHUYLFH WR WKH $3& 7KH SDUW\ ZKLFK LV the foregone winner of the forthcoming 2003 Bauchi gubernatorial election FDQQRW DͿRUG WR VTXDQGHU LWV IRUWXQH As a party member, I am concerned DERXW SRVVLELOLW\ RI WKH $3& VTXDQGHULQJ its chance of reclaiming the Bauchi Government House.

It is clear that the incumbent PDP government in Bauchi State has ticked all the traits of a losing party and will surely taste defeat in the forthcoming 2023 elections. Governor Bala Muhammed, who barely managed to scale through LQ WKH HOHFWLRQV KDV VXFFHHGHG LQ ZDVWLQJ WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ RͿHUHG KLP WR serve the good people of Bauchi State.

Instead of concentrating on delivering the dividends of democracy he has created acute disenchantment among the polity by his propensity for burning bridges and poor performance.

Bauchi has always been a radical state DQG VLQFH KDV H[KLELWHG OR\DOW\ to the ideals currently embodied by WKH $OO 3URJUHVVLYHV &RQJUHVV $3& However due to their political maturity and their steadfastness in the pursuit of development Bauchi people can always revolt against an incumbent if he fails to live up to their expectation.

That was why they voted for PDP in 1RW DV D VKRZ RI VXSSRUW IRU %DOD Mohammed but as a protest vote against MA Abubakar.

Now that they are preparing to ditch Bala Mohammed in order to return WR WKHLU QDWXUDO KRPH LQ WKH $3& LW LV WKHUHIRUH LPSHUDWLYH WKDW WKH $3& manage itself to victory through putting its best foot forward and ensuring that its candidate is unblemished to avoid a Pyrric victory; a short-lived success that could be upturned.

Ahmed writes from Wunti Road, Bauchi State

Nigerians should reject the old order by voting wisely in 2023, writes SONNIE EKWOWUSI

HOPE AMID DESOLATION Unmistakably the battle line for 2023 Presidential election has been drawn among three competing groups - the Obi-dients, BAT and Atikulation- even though it appears Atikulation, which is still battling to survive the phenomenal internal squabble threatening its very soul, is yet to throw down the gage. The 2EL GLHQWV D΀UP DJDLQ DQG DJDLQ WKDW WKHLUV LV not a political party: theirs is a mass movement comprising the country’s vibrant young people that constitute the bulk of the Nigerian population. Theirs is a mass movement of the oppressed, university students left to rot at home, ASUU, the hungry, the sick, the dying, WKH VXͿHULQJ SHQVLRQHUV WKH 1LJHULDQ /DERXU &RQJUHVV 1/& PHQ DQG ZRPHQ ZKR DUH LQFUHDVLQJO\ ÀQGLQJ LW GL΀FXOW WR HNH RXW D living in the last seven years. The aforesaid categories of Nigerians come from a variegated bloodstream of Nigerian society. They are united in their resolution and demand for a breakaway from the ruinous pre-existing legal order. They are demanding for a creation of a new Nigerian order where work culture and serviceable public ethics would guarantee hard work, honesty, diligence, meritocracy and KXPDQ ÁRXULVKLQJ Unfortunately we live in a time in which brainlessness and stupidity rule politics.

Most Nigerians have lost faith in the Nigerian project. Walk into a beer parlour, for instance, and say you feel optimistic about the future, and you may be asked to vamoose on account of reveling in an uncommon utopia. That is how bad things have become in Nigeria.

With its separation from reason and noble ideals, the banal politics we play in Nigeria ÀQGV LWVHOI XQDEOH WR GLVWLQJXLVK WKH JRRG IURP WKH XJO\ &HUWDLQO\ D SROLWLFDO FXOWXUH WKDW FUHDWHV SHUHQQLDO ORRSKROHV IRU ÁRXULVKLQJ LQFRPSHWHQFH SDUDVLWLVP R΀FLDO FRUUXSWLRQ graft and conversion of the people’s FRPPRQZHDOWK LQWR SHUVRQDO ÀHIGRP FDOOV IRU an immediate change. Merely casting hope in an empty democracy run by brainless men to provide the much-needed instant miracle to improve the living condition in Nigeria is to live in a fool’s paradise.

The truth is bitter. But the bitterness ingrained in the truth does not alter the truth.

The truth remains the truth even if it is hotly contested. Out of the abundance of the heart WKH PRXWK VSHDNHWK :H VKRXOG UHÁHFW RQ WKH fact that BAT has publicly vowed to continue WKH SHUÀGLRXV OHJDFLHV R΀FLDO FRUUXSWLRQ nepotism, insecurity of lives and property, islamization of Nigeria, incestuous narcissis, and cluelessness-of President Buhari. Ask BAT about national rebirth they would PXPEOH VRPHWKLQJ WR WKH HͿHFW WKDW LW LV WKHLU turn to rule Nigeria or they will throw their RYHUÁRZLQJ DJEDGD DWWLUH KHUH DQG WKHUH ,W beats the imagination that amid the grounding, ambushing, conquest and occupation of Nigeria by the Jihadists, and, of course, amid the endless killing and persecutions of Nigerian &KULVWLDQV %$7 LV UHPRUVHOHVVO\ ÀHOGLQJ D Muslim-Muslim team in the Presidential race.

This is evidence that BAT has no respect for WKH WHHPLQJ SRSXODWLRQ RI 1LJHULDQ &KULVWLDQV Another evidence is that BAT has never condemned the escalating ethno-religious killings in the country. For instance, BAT ÀQGV QRWKLQJ ZURQJ LQ WKH UHFHQW PDVVDFUH of innocent church worshippers at St. Francis &DWKROLF LQ 2ZR 2QGR 6WDWH E\ WHUURULVWV $IWHU Deborah Samuel was murdered by fanatical

Muslim students and the whole country was thrown into mourning, BAT did not condemn the murder. When a member of the Vigilante Group was stoned to death and set ablaze by Muslim extremists for allegedly insulting Prophet Mohammed or an Imam, BAT also kept mum. BAT did not publicly condemn the Abuja-Kaduna-train bombing and abduction which occurred on March 28 2022. Amid complete collapse of state security architecture, the terrorists have laid monumental siege not only in Kaduna State but in Niger, Borno and Nasarawa States murdering, maiming, raping, intimidating, and terrorizing their victims unabated. Yet BAT has not uttered a word in condemnation. Instead BAT is busy saying that it is their turn to be crowned the President of Nigeria. The politics of BAT is not the politics imbued with ideas but the politics of entitlement.

It is obvious that BAT lacks a sense of justice. Electing BAT as President of Nigeria ZRXOG WULJJHU RͿ PRUH ,VODPLF WHUURULVW DWWDFNV LQ GLͿHUHQW SDUWV RI 1LJHULD &DQ you believe what I am about to say now? &DQ \RX EHOLHYH KRZ GHEDVHG WKH SROLWLFDO culture of BAT is? How broken is their politics? How intimidating and barbaric their political campaigns are? Ostensibly unable to match the Obi-dients’ wisdom; Obi-dients’ sustained mass mobilization of the people, Obi-dients’ call to a return to the fundamental values that once made this country a great country, BAT has recently resolved to, among other things, WKUHDWHQ WKH OLYHV RI NH\ 2EL GLHQW ÀJXUHV on social media. Keyamo is already issuing some violent and intimidating statements against political opponents. Also the DSS and security agents are likely to be recruited to go after key members of the Obi-dient movement. They will likely link some Obi-dients with IPOB and thereafter bring trumped up charges against them in order to arrest them and charge them to court, if possible. Many Obi-dients are likely to be arrested and falsely accused of ÀQDQFLQJ ,32% 7KH EXVLQHVVHV RI VRPH Obi-dients and the businesses of their respective family members are likely to be threatened as well. They may recruit the ()&& WR LQWLPDWH WKH GRQRUV WR DQG IXQG raisers of the Obi-dient movement. It is not unlikely that they are also planning to use prominent members of BAT to intensify their false accusations against the Obidients through the electronic, print media and on social media.

Ekwowusi writes from Lagos

26 4

T H I S D AY

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

EDITORIAL

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

MATERNAL MORTALITY IN NIGERIA Government could do more to prevent many of these unnecessary deaths

T

Besides, women who do not have access to he scale of maternal mortality in Nigeria healthcare are prone to unassisted delivery carried has become so alarming that we must out by quack midwives in unhealthy conditions with call on the health authorities to fashion dire consequences for both the mother and foetus. out a blueprint that will extenuate To address this serious public health issue, we must this pressing challenge. “The cases of begin to examine how to mitigate the acute poverty maternal mortality can be attributed that has become the lot of our people, especially in to not being able to reach the hospital. If you add the rural areas. those ones who reached the hospital and are not However, we must put the blame partly on the attended to because of deposit, they are going to state governments and the lack of attention by be between 30 to 40 per cent”, said Health Minister, many of them to primary health care system at the Ehinare who recently indulged himself in the usual grassroots. It is even worse that most of them have ODPHQWDWLRQ DERXW RXU SOLJKW WR ZKLFK R΀FLDOV RI WKH rendered prostrate the current administration local government have become renowned. administration in their “Nigeria has about 512 states, leaving healthcare maternal mortalities We must end the agony and tears of mothers who carry delivery at that level per 100,000 births comatose. The solution now. That’s about the pregnancy for nine months only to die at the point of delivery therefore goes beyond worst in the world. To mere formulation of some make matters worse, policies by the federal COVID-19 has hit the government. There should country in a way that it be a framework where states and local governments T H I S D AY has crippled everything.”

EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU are held accountable for maternal child health care 7KDW ÀYH RI 1LJHULDQ ZRPHQ GLH ZKLOH DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA services in their domains. delivering their babies is frightening. Latest statistics MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO The authorities, at both the federal and the states, from the World Health Organisation (WHO) also DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU VKRXOG DOVR ÀQG ZD\V WR FXVKLRQ WKH HFRQRPLF CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI revealed that Nigeria accounts for over 34 per cent EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN burden on most of the women who dwell in the of global maternal deaths while the lifetime risk of MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI UXUDO DUHDV DV WKDW KDV EHHQ LGHQWLÀHG DV WKH UHDVRQ dying during pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE IRU WKHLU LQDELOLW\ WR DͿRUG TXDOLW\ SUHQDWDO DQG or after an abortion for a Nigerian woman is one in post-natal care. There should be a special focus on 22, compared to one in 4900 in developed countries. maternal, new-born and child health. Hospitals Sadly, many of the rural communities in the 36 states T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D should be equipped with the necessary drugs while of the country lack cottage hospitals and medical EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA their facilities should be renovated. We cannot facilities that will address these challenges. Where GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, continue to put the lives of our women at risk and they exist, there is shortage of manpower while ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI expect to develop as a nation.

DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, medical facilities are obsolete. Instances abound of ANTHONY OGEDENGBE Going forward, there is also a need to go beyond pregnant women who have had to die in the process DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI rhetoric and promises, to actionable plans to address of commuting from their homes to a medical facility.

SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH all the existing gaps in the primary health sector. We Yet, when a pregnant woman avoids prenatal ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI must end the agony and tears of mothers who carry CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI care, she puts herself under the risk of postpartum DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO pregnancy for nine months only to die at the point haemorrhage (PPH), a complication arising from TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com of delivery. childbirth, which can result in a fatal outcome.

Letters to the Editor Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.

LETTERS IN DEFENCE OF MIKHAIL GORBACHEV I have seen many comments berating Mikhail Gorbachev and I will like to write in defence. A lot of the arguments are skewed towards Gorbachev’s decision favoring the West and ending the cold war but I ask should the cold war have continued at the detriment of the people from the Soviet states? When the communist argues against Gorbachev, I laugh because the same revolution started by Lenin and his bolsheviks, which I must add was a bloody revolution against the Russian monarchy; that was what Gorbachev did against the communist because he saw that communism was going to destroy Russia if care wasn’t taken. He saw the poverty and the impoverishment. He opined that only openness and restructuring could help Russia after the communist has set up a system that made the citizens poorer. He released strong dissents like Sakharov and brought about an open society; today Putin has closed that society. The argument is how many communist states enjoyed prosperity?

Further parallels can be seen in the economic context in which Alexander II and Mikhail Gorbachev operated. Both rulers were liberal modernizers with a key element of liberating people’s economic potential from serfdom and the command economy.

While both cases saw a partial introduction of capitalist principles, liberal economic values were not given much interest and

in place was a deep fear of the impact on political stability. The problem with those against Gorbachev was the fear that economic liberalization will bring about political instability, a lot of societies want freedom but fear freedom at the same time.

Hence the coup against Gorbachev and the return of economic power to the state through its cronies in the name of capitalism that brought about oligarchy under Yeltsin. But if you read through Gorbachev ideas you will see that he wanted to bring about a country that was prosperous and will have its own zaibatsu like the Japanese, that would bolster all sectors of production and tap into the rich wealth of the Soviet states.

His reforms were also about tackling the identity problem that reigned in Russia since the time of the Tsars, the idea of Russianness never existed, it was more of a Moscow and Saint Petersburg empire than a Russian empire. Gorbachev allowed the satellite states formed their own identity, the communist were so afraid of the identity question. It must be said economic IUHHGRP OHDGV WR LGHQWLW\ KHQFH 8NUDLQH QRZ ÀJKWV IRU LWV LGHQtity boldly.

This economic liberalization and reforms also lead to ecoQRPLF OLEHUDOL]DWLRQ RI (DVW *HUPDQ\ DQG WKH UHXQLÀFDWLRQ 7KH FRPPXQLVW UHJLPH KDG LPSRYHULVKHG WKH HDVWHUQ ÁDQN RI

*HUPDQ\ DQG WKH UHXQLÀFDWLRQ LQ WKH V KDV EROVWHUHG WKH economic prospects but the east is still struggling to catch up with the western part today. Gorbachev was a man of conviction and his actions were predicated on a better world and not pandering to western pressures as many thought. I dare ask, didn’t peace return to the world after the Berlin Wall fell? Isn’t it sad today that leaders like Putin have taken the world back to the Cold War with his quest for dominance? Aren’t we all suffering the scars today with wars and uncertainty in the world?

Didn’t Gorbachev de- escalate tensions? I think the world owes Gorbachev a debt of gratitude for saving it and truly believing in his convictions for a better world. The sad reality today is that the Cold War has started again because of leaders like Putin, and I must add I will not exonerate the west. The west is also complicit in all the problems of the world. The challenge is how ZH FDQ ÀQG D VROXWLRQ WR WKH ZDUV FOLPDWH FKDQJH LVVXHV FRVW RI living crisis and other issues facing the world. We must remember that we are here to leave a better world to our next generation. We must heal the world and Gorbachev did. He made the world a better place.

Rufai Oseni, rufaioseni@gmail.com

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NEWS

L-R: Head, SME Business, Wema Bank Plc, Arthur Nkemeh; Bus Development Manager, Lawanson Branch, Oluwatosin Oduwole; ED, Lagos Directorate, Oluwole Ajimisinmi; Vice president, Finance and Corporate Services, Ecowas Bank for Investment and Devot, Dr. Mabouba Diagne;, Head, Global Trade and Correspondent Banking, Wema Bank, Adeola Ajai, Head, Treasury Division, (EBID), Dr. Andrews Amankwah and Accountant (EBID), Abacha Babagana Isa during Wema Bank’s visit to Ecowas Bank for Investment and Development in Line, Togo, for partnership on business and investment in the sub region… recently

Expert Harps on Smart City Development, Predicts Nigeria’s Population May Hit 411m in 2050 Emma Okonji Following the United Nation’s estimate of Nigeria’s population hitting 411 million by 2050 and the attendant rural-urban migration challenges, technology expert and Executive Chairman of SmartCity, Demola Aladekomo, has called for the development of Smart Cities in the country by government through Public Private Partnerships (PPP).

The call was made at the 8th edition of the Lagos Chamber

of Commerce and Industry’s (LCCI) 2022 Information Communication Technology and Telecommunication (ICTEL) Expo held in Lagos.

Aladekomo who is the Founder of Chams Plc, spoke on Efficient Digital Infrastructures through Smart Cities, during the expo.

According to him, migration should be seen as a process and not problem. Good management of the migrating population and understanding migration factors can help in utilising the phenomenon

in a productive way without the inherent negative impacts it has on the society, he said.

According to the UN’s Population Migration Division Section, Nigeria’s population is estimated to be about 411 million by 2050 and 794 million by 2100 from the present population of about 211 million. While rural-urban migration is estimate to hit 275 million in 2050 from 76 million in 2017.

Former UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, describes migration

as “an expression of the human aspiration for dignity, safety and a better future. It is part of the social fabric, part of our very make-up as a human family.”

On Smart Cities, Aladekomo said: “A smart city is a place where you live, work and play. A place that enhances the quality of life you live. In it also, you must be well entertained. Furthermore, it has to be environmentally friendly and sustainable. Smart cities generally provide better security and safety.

Most importantly, its infrastructure

apart from been social, physical, institutional/governance and economic, should be centred on the citizen.”

On existing and poorly structured cities, he recommended that they could be converted to smart cities by the use of polycentricity and agglomeration.

“With polycentricity, we can begin to create new decentralised cities and settlements around Lagos for example, and manage them digitally from the beginning by making them technology enabled.

While at the same time these new decentralised cities should be agglomerated in a specialised form as healthcare city, technology city, agricultural city, among others. Agglomeration enhances productivity, commerce and cost optimization, job creation and poverty alleviation.

Smart City Components are; Smart governance, Smart Energy, Smart citizen, Smart healthcare, Smart technology, Smart mobility, Smart building, and Smart infrastructure,” Aladekomo said.

NIMASA Launches e-Platform for Dockworkers’ Registration The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has launched electronic registration platform for maritime labour and issuance of Biometric Identity Cards to Dockworkers.

Director General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh described the e-platform as a major step towards attaining full automation of all its processes adding that it was conceived out of the need to establish an independent, robust, integrated information, verification and communication platform that would serve as a system database generation on maritime labour in Nigeria.

Represented by the agency’s Executive Director, Maritime

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Deputy Business Editor Chinedu Eze Comms/e-Business Editor Emma Okonji Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe Senior Correspondent Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) KayodeTokede(CapitalMarkets) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Reporters Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy) Ugo Aliogo (Development)

Labour and Cabotage Services, Victor Ochei, he stated that the development of automation processes would benefit the industry both in terms of timesaving thereby improving on service delivery, as well as building capacity of the maritime labour workforce.

According to him, “I am particularly delighted about the prospect of eliminating the time consuming process of seafarers

and employers registration which is what the E-Platform would provide. It is further expected that the E-Platform would promote a seamless registration process that will culminate with the issuance of biometric identity cards to seafarers and dockworkers”.

Dr Jamoh went on to state that the Agency remained committed to building up the capacity of Nigerian seafarers and dockworkers in order to improve on the standing of the

country’s maritime sector among the committee of maritime nations stating that: “I wish to reiterate the Agency’s commitment towards actualising its mandate as provided in the enabling Act. Our resolve to make life meaningful to the entire maritime labour remains firm and we intend to achieve this through sustainable efforts in capacity building and improved welfare.

The Agency is also prioritizing

the training of Nigerian seafarers to meet industry needs with emphasis on specialized and advanced trainings”.

The President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, expressed his delight with the automation of maritime labour registration processes

by NIMASA stating that the Agency had proven that it was indeed committed to improving

standards in the Nigerian maritime sector especially in terms of labour practices and capacity development.

Also in attendance at the event were representatives of major maritime stakeholders including; Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Shippers Council, Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Commissioner of Police (Apapa Port), among others.

TD Africa, Classera Set to Boost Virtual Learning Adoption across Nigeria Emma Okonji TD Africa, sub-Saharan Africa’s distributor of tech, services and lifestyle products has partnered with Classera, a globally renowned learning management platform to further expand access to virtual learning for millions of users across Nigeria.

The recently signed partnership will see Classera leverage TD Africa’s growing database, network of resellers/partners as well as its considerable reach across Nigeria to grow adoption of its bouquet of e-learning solutions.

Specifically, through TD Africa, Classera will gain access to and introduce a range of smart learning tools to clients in the education sector, including schools at every level. Also in line to benefit are large corporate organisations, as well as Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) desirous of adopting a digital learning platform to provide training for their employees.

Headquartered in the United States, Classera is driven by a mission to disrupt the education ecosystem, focusing on developing smart e-learning solutions that transform today’s traditional

classrooms into a new educational journey for every learner and the coming generations. At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic which disrupted learning across the world, Classera launched its Learning Never Stops solution to over five million classrooms in less than two weeks. By working day and night with Microsoft, Classera ensured a seamless transition to virtual classrooms at scale during one of the most critical periods in global history.

Consequently, its strategic partnership with TD Africa, arguably the biggest distributor

of Microsoft’s products and services in Nigeria and beyond, will undoubtedly expand the Classera footprint across the Sib-Saharan African market.

This point was further espoused by the Head of Software Business, TD Africa. Ekene Meniru.

According to Meniru, ‘‘We are extremely delighted to have partnered with Classera. This partnership will go a long way in boosting access to virtual learning for many more prospective users across Nigeria. Indeed, the power and relevance of e-learning cannot be understated, especially in

view of current realities and in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. ‘‘Today, a lot of educational institutions across all levels now rely more heavily on virtual learning formats to improve learning and teaching outcomes.

Same goes for businesses which invest significantly in virtual learning to improve employee competencies via training, learning and development. Therefore, we are confident that this partnership with Classera will be of huge benefit for a wide category of potential users in Nigeria and beyond.”

Secured Records Commissions Warehouse to Deepen Operations in Nigeria Emma Okonji Secured Records Management Solutions (SRMS), a provider of end-to-end document management and secured software solutions, has commissioned its second document archiving warehouse in Nigeria.

The warehouse, which is located in Abuja, is positioned to improve its operations and deliver efficient services to customers in the region.

The commissioning of the

700-square feet, state-of-theart warehouse follows the organisation’s promise of delivering specialised and enhanced solutions that maximises productivity for customers as well as expanding SRMS services to both the private and public sector across Nigeria.

Through the expansion, SRMS aims to reinforce its commitment to offering its customers a smart, comprehensive range of services including document warehousing, document management, data

management, workforce automation, Cybersecurity, IT consultancy, data warehousing and visualisation, and software development across Nigeria.

Speaking during the unveiling, Chief Executive Officer, Secured Records Management Solutions, Dr. Sam Nwosu, said, “We are delighted to be launching our new document archiving warehouse in Abuja. From our success in Lagos where we have a similar facility, the

feedback we received from our customers proves that our service is helping them reduce the time spent on locating legacy documents. With our new warehouse, which happens to be one of the best archiving document storage centers in the country, organisations can expect a seamless process of storing, and retrieving documents, with the guaranteed security of documents, and business continuity.”

Nwosu added: “Expanding our services to other parts of the country is part of our strategic initiative to establish our footprint across Nigeria. So far, SRMS has recorded success in safeguarding over 150 million documents for customers across different industries in Nigeria. With our achievements, we believe that this new warehouse would boost our capacity to serve our clients better, especially those within the Northern region of Nigeria.”

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

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BRANDS AND MARKETING

As Nigerian Film Industry Awaits Further Economic Boom With its contribution of 2.3 per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, the Nigerian film industry is indeed evolving but as affirmed by stakeholders at the Nigerian Film and TV Summit (NIFS), held recently, the industry promises more in the years ahead. Raheem Akingbolu reports

B

eyond being a window through which the world is mirrored, the film industry is fast becoming a major sector of the global economy. Last year, the Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila admitted that the film industry contributes 2.3 per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and that over 2,500 movies are produced annually.

He spoke at a two-day leadership master class training for Nollywood Actors organised by the House Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, in Abuja.

A similar position has been upheld at the 2022 edition of Nigerian Film and TV Summit, NIFS. But beyond its economic relevance, the film industry provides mankind the reflective prism to pierce the minds of men to capture history, project the future, and represent monuments and heritage that build civilizations.

Globally, the film industry has become a major fundamental in the trajectory of any nation. It builds economies through foreign direct investments. It builds minds through information and education.

It builds cultures through images that present and represent people and places in time and space.

The film industry in any nation can no longer be ignored; and Nigeria needs to wake up to the global challenge to develop her film and TV industry to compete favourably, in the international visual space. This is the summation of deliberations at the concluded Nigerian Film and TV Summit, NIFS, held recently in Lagos.

PROSPECTS

The participants at the event highlighted the need to project Nigeria and Africa positively through the instrumentality of Film frames, screens, and tubes. They underscored the necessity to improve on telling the African stories, indeed authentic African stories, from the Africans experiences - using authentic African artifacts and backgrounds.

The Founder and Convener of NIFS Ijeoma Onah, in her opening address at the summit, applauded the participants, facilitators, and partners, for their belief in the film industry, and for their commitment to the development of talents and operators in the industry. She said she was impressed by the quality of the panelists who attended the summit from every part of Nigeria, Europe, Asia, America, and the Middle-East.

In her speech Ijeoma Onah reaffirmed her commitment to the development of the film and TV industry in Nigeria. “I want to declare this summit open by stating that we hugely undermine the potentials of the Nigerian Film and TV Industry; but with the NIFS, we remain committed to spotlighting these potentials through the continuous and deliberate convergence of film industry professionals both locally and internationally to ensure that we fully harness these massive commercial potentials.”

She also used the opportunity to announce another industry initiative from the stable of NIFS called UniNigeria. According to her “UniNigeria is a non-profit initiative that will support local distribution companies and help all who are in the business of distribution of content for film or TV to get access, and to participate in all the major international film and TV content markets in Asia, North and south America, Europe, and the Middle-East, and anywhere there is buying and selling of content. UniNigeria will source and secure the needed funding that is required to support local distribution companies for them to consistently push the international distribution of Nigerian content.

Speaking further, the NIFS Founder said that UniNigeria will support and promote local distribution companies that sign up under this industry support initiative with the needed capacity to participate, exhibit, and do international business. “In addition, we hope to build capacity with UniNigeria through periodic training, roundtables, and workshops, on film finance, distribution, marketing, and packaging, as well as content distribution, acquisitions, and licensing for film and TV programs; and most importantly how to navigate and attend international markets.”

EXPERTS’ VIEWS

Onah believes that through the continuous and deliberate efforts of the Nigerian Film and TV Summit, the vision is to begin to raise, train, and mentor a new generation of highly skilled professionals within the business of film and television, and help them to discover new professional career paths,

especially through the activities of UniNigeria.

“It will birth new and young entrepreneurs who will understudy and understand how to run sustainable businesses. We hope to use this international approach to raise and train young entrepreneurs who will take local content to the global stage through the activities of UniNigeria,” she added.

In her keynote speech on ‘Streaming and Convergence: The untapped opportunities for the Nigerian Film Industry,’ the Executive Producer, Red Media, Bola Atta, said that Nigerian movie makers would like to tell the African and Nigerian stories, but are handicapped by lean resources. “We have the talents, but we lack the resources.” She advocated for collaboration amongst the players in the industry, just the same way the players operate in Hollywood. “They collaborate in Hollywood to make it happen,” she said.

Responding to the question about the future of traditional TV, she said that it will likely go extinct. “TV will go extinct. More people are investing more on phones and laptops than on TV screens,” she said.

In his contribution Emmanuel AnyiamOsigwe of BUFF Studios, and UK Delegate and Speaker, agreed with Bola Atta in the area of collaborations in the industry, in order to develop quality movies. “Yes, quality is still an issue. To produce movies that will attract international investment and attention requires a lot of input. Beyond the funding is the issue of quality. We are great at telling stories. But we need the resources to finance the stories, and the knowledge and skill to execute the stories,” Anyiam-Osigwe said.

Leading a keynote discussion on ‘Streaming Wars: The implications on the Future of Content, Monetization on Film and TV Content,’ the Director and Head, WW Major Studio Licensing Strategy, Amazon Prime Video, Ayanna Lonian, was of the view that the company would provide the best quality content that would delight her customers. “We make the most global of local services. Amazon Prime Video works with local producers to bring the best local content to the global community.” Lonian said, adding that there are big opportunities

in the Nigerian Nollywood industry, and “We are supporting the industry to tap these opportunities through collaborations and investment in training and capacity building.” She said that African movies have great storytelling power; but the stories need to have quality, especially so as to be successful in the international market. She advised Nigerian film makers to script authentic stories, and also be authentic in the performance and production of their stories. She added that Amazon Prime Video supports great stories, and great animations that are well written and produced with African authenticity.

In the British Film Institute (BFI) presentation, Anabel Grundy who focused on the UK partnership with British Institute, also raised the issue of quality and authenticity. She spoke about the opportunities available for Nigerian producers if they work in partnership with the British Film Institute; and how local producers through this partnership with the BFI can access funding and navigate the distribution networks of Nigerian movies in the international market.

In exploring the cultural intersection and cocreations in the film industry Hamisha Dayani Ahuja, CEO, Forever 7 Entertainment, in the company of the Indian high Commission to Nigeria, Shri G. Balasubramanian, and the Host, Ijeoma Onah, celebrated Nollywood going to India with the audience. Hamisha expressed the need for collaboration between Nollywood and Bollywood to deepen the cultural intersection of these two friendly countries through movies.

Also, in the spirit of animating a people’s cultural essence through films, the French Embassy in partnership with Animation Nigeria – a group of animation practitioners, stressed the need to focus on the use of animation to tell African stories.

Christophe Pecot, Nigerian French Embassy, highlighted the need for more training in animation, and affirmed the French embassy’s commitment to partner with Animation Nigeria for capacity building and exploitation of the opportunities that abound in the international animation market.

Agnes Soyode-Johnson, Co-Founder/GM, Limitless Studios, and a member of the Animation Nigeria group equally underscored the need for more training and international collaborations with institutions and organizations such as the French embassy.

Leadway Assurance Provides Insurance AfricaPlan Foundation Selects 20 Cover for Cooperative Society Members Graduates for 2022 Hackathon Africa

Ebere Nwoji

Frontline insurer, Leadway Assurance, has achieved a significant milestone in insurance penetration in Nigerian with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Civil Service Staff of Nigeria Cooperative Society Union (FedCoop) to provide over 300,000 civil servants with affordable bespoke insurance coverage.

The MoU between the leading insurer and one of Africa’s largest umbrella bodies of the cooperative societies covers Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in Nigeria, with over 150 registered cooperative societies and over 300,000 members drawn from the 36 states in the country.

The comprehensive plan provides the members of the society with

Group Life Assurance, Personal Accident Plan, and Group Deposit Administration, which guarantee the policyholders or beneficiaries the required compensation in case of accidents, permanent disability, death, all at an affordable premium.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Executive Head, Sales, Leadway Assurance, Mr. Olusola Ajayi, said the insurance plan was a major landmark in entrenching the culture of insurance in Nigeria to deepen insurance intake in the country.

“I am particularly proud about this partnership as it shows we are on the right track towards engendering a positive attitude towards insurance. As we are aware, most people in Nigeria, including the educated, do not appreciate the essence of insurance despite its numerous

benefits, and that is why it is heart-warming to get the buy-in of Africa’s largest Civil Service into this all-too-important financial management tool”, Anahi stated.

Also speaking on the partnership, President, Federal Civil Service Staff of Nigeria Cooperative Society Union (FedCoop), Mr. Onjefu Obe, stated that the partnership echoes the vision and mission of FedCoop, which is to eradicate poverty and provide the required financial support for all the members.

He said the group was ecstatic to partner with a leader in the insurance space, Leadway Assurance, with proven expertise and reliability for decades, and were optimistic that this partnership would indeed lead the way for all the members of the society nationwide.

Emma Okonji AfricaPlan Foundation has selected 20 graduates for 2022 HackathonAfrica, which kicked off last week in Enugu, Southeast Nigeria.

The HackatonAfrica program, a brainchild of the US-based AfricaPlan Foundation, is an intensive software coding bootcamp for fresh graduates aimed at tackling the steep digital skills deficit in the Southeast region and creating opportunities for the enterprising youth to tap into the burgeoning technology industry.

With Nigeria’s unemployment rate at more than 35 per cent, the AfricanPlan Foundation said the HackathonaAfrica provides one of several unique opportunities that must be explored to creatively tackle the unemployment crisis through an inclusive and strategic digital

upskilling program that creates opportunities for the next generation of young Nigerians to play an active part in the digital economy.

The Hackathon attracted massive interest from youths across the region with over 300 applications received, out of which 20 graduates were shortlisted to join the first cohort, which included ten males and ten females, underscoring the Foundation’s strategic commitment to inclusivity and removing biases by granting equal opportunities to both genders.

The fully-funded, residential software coding bootcamp, will last for three months and will encompass intensive hands-on practical training on Fullstack Web Development (MERN) and in the latest and more commonly used software coding programs and databases in tech today.

The founder of the AfricaPlan Foundation, Mr Oni Chukwu, while speaking at the opening ceremony, decried the dearth of digital skills in Africa, which is hampering the ability of the continent to fully tap into the economic opportunities of the technology revolution and its attendant economic empowerment.

He noted that advances in technology, especially in software development have disrupted virtually every industry resulting in a greater disadvantage for any economy without sufficient or commensurate digital skills to meet industry needs. He, therefore, called on policymakers, governments at all levels and concerned individuals to embrace the new reality and put in place deliberate measures that will refocus the energy of the youth and equip them to tap into the technology sector.

federal government, on Monday, suspended the proposed five per cent excise duty on telecom

services and inaugurated a committee chaired by Pantami, to immediately review the policy.

SUSPENSION OF 5% EXCISE DUTY, RESPITE FOR TELECOM SUBSCRIBERS, SAYS ALTON telecom sector, insisted that part of the responsibility of a responsive government was not to increase the problems

of the citizens through all manners of taxes.

Pantami said the policy could have the potential to impact

very negatively on the digital economy sector, and particularly, telecommunication, which is already overburdened with a

plethora of taxes totalling about 41 categories.

In a view to addressing subscribers’ agitation, the

NCS: FG MUST DEVELOP INFRASTRUCTURE, CREATE ENABLING ENVIRONMENT TO PRODUCE TECH SAVVY INNOVATORS time I remembered it, because it has become a colossal loss to the country. Technology innovators do not need government money, what they need is the technology environment that will make them develop innovate solutions that will address local and global challenges,” Uwaje said.

NCS President, Prof. Adesina

Sodiya, in his opening remarks at the bootcamp, said the innovation programme was initiated two years ago to drive technology development in the country and to produce world-class solutions that will benefit all. He assured the participating teams of the support from NCS in the areas of mentorship and financing that

would enable them upscale their solutions to a level where they could compete globally.

The five teams that pitched their solutions at the NCS bootcamp include: Team Gaschek, Team Cashfog, Team Record Digita, Team Thrively and Team UniXP. Team Gaschek solution detects cooking gas leakage and the level

of gas in the cylinder, to enable chef and domestic staff know when they are running out of gas. It comes with a base, an app that can be operated from a mobile phone, and a monitor, where information about the gas level and leakage are displayed on the screen of the monitor. The app sends text messages to a programmed mobile

phone and can also initiate voice call to the mobile phone whenever there is gas leakage.

Cashfog solution addresses the issue of trust in funds transfer, while Record Digita solution addresses data management and archiving in organizations and learning institutes. UniXP takes the ease of campus life to

students by uploading information about a university campus on a mobile app and making such information available to students through the app, while Thrively seeks to address socio-economic challenges of sending money to people and relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in other countries.

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BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Antonov: Businesses in Nigeria Need World-class Payment Solutions The Chief Product Officer, Unlimint and Information Technology (IT) expert, Mr. Alex Antonov, speaks about the need to sustain the growth of e-commerce business in Nigeria with world-class payment solutions and expanded payment system from Unlimint. Emma Okonji presents the excerpts: How will you describe the kind of services offered by Unlimint across the globe and Nigeria in particular, and what has been the impact of your service offerings on Nigeria’s payment industry and the economy? nlimint offers a variety of financial services from payment processing to banking as a service to companies all over the globe. We have a vast portfolio of more than 1000 alternative payment methods and hold local acquiring licenses in most regions of presence. Unlimint’s expansion to the Nigerian market will allow local companies and entrepreneurs to receive world-class payment service that will help them actively develop their businesses, both locally and internationally. We are looking to providing more payment choices for African merchants and customers, with more competitive pricing and additional payment methods, enabling them to focus on the expansion and growth of their businesses. Our solution removes the middleman cost, allowing us to pass the cost savings onto our merchants, and gives them access to unprecedented data analytics and insights into their business. Furthermore, in terms of global expansion, the single integration with Unlimint will allow local merchants to receive payments anywhere globally in their customers’ preferred payment method.

(“Baas”) product as well, called UBC. UBC is the ultimate, configurable BaaS API platform that allows companies globally to launch and embed digital payment products for their customers based.

As a global payment system provider with expansion plans into African markets, how will Unlimint address hiccups in the Nigerian payment industry?

We have been on the global market for more than 13 years now and have launched our solutions worldwide, including regions like Latin America and Asia Pacific. We know what is required for a business to succeed and carry years of financial and payment expertise. On top of that, we have an excellent management, product and tech team in our Lagos office who provide us with local insights and who are true experts in their field.

Can you tell us about yourself and your role at Unlimint?

As the Chief Product Officer at Unlimint, I am responsible for the management and strategic development of all the products in Unlimint’s product portfolio. I create and implement the products’ strategy, define goals and objectives for our development teams. I am an established expert in the IT industry with more than 15 years of experience. During these years, I held senior and executive positions in multiple leading tech companies, including Rambler and Yandex.

U

What is the correlation between SMS messaging, Business Messaging and Instant Messaging and how are these messaging services driving growth and development in the payment industry?

Business Messaging is a form of communication in which a business and a (potential) customer have a two-way exchange of messages (as opposed to advertising, where the business simply reaches out to the customer without the ability to get instant feedback). SMS messaging and Instant Messaging are Business Messaging’s typical communication channels, with Instant Messaging slowly killing off SMS Messaging as the Internet’s penetration increases. In recent years, many companies have felt the need to make deals and trade during the process of Business Messaging. This has led various Instant Messaging providers like WhatsApp and Telegram to add in-app payments to their offering and essentially created a new target audience for payment solution providers, motivating them to actively integrate and partner up with them.

What is Unlimint doing in the area of integration of instant messaging services with payment providers for in-app purchases?

Unlimint already powers direct in-app purchases for Telegram and is planning on integrating with other popular Instant Messaging providers as soon as they start providing integration capabilities (API) How will such integration enhance payment services across different payment platforms?

It will allow us to take a step further toward the creation of a truly omnichannel payment experience.

The end goal is to allow the end customer to pay however they like, from where ever they like, with zero limitations.

What is the impact of emerging technologies on instant messaging services and how is Unlimint leveraging on such technologies to enhance customers’ experience?

There are many ways in which emerging technologies could potentially impact instant messaging: by increasing privacy due to cryptography technologies, increased speed and quality of messaging due to 5G/6G/7G. Additionally, there is a possibility to build sales bots/ consultants/assistants based on AI. As a company that focuses on innovation and prides itself as ‘being ready for tomorrow’, we are constantly monitoring such trends to make sure that we implement the most relevant ones into our offerings and perfect the experience for our clients.

How can small businesses in Nigeria leverage your service offerings to enhance growth and business continuity?

We offer small businesses a simple and quick onboarding process, with all the relevant payment

What is your business market share in Nigeria and how do you intend to grow it amid market competition?

We setup in Nigeria two years ago and are in the final stages of launching our services here. We intend to grow our market share thanks to our excellent customer service, competitive pricing, sophisticated and secure payments technology (all developed in-house over the past 13 years) and clear understanding of the customers’ requirements and needs.

What is your greatest interest in the Nigerian payment market and what are your plans to further grow the market?

Further plans to grow the market include investing in more innovative products, suitable for the Nigerian market. Our Director for Africa and India, Trevor Goott, has been doing business in Nigeria for over 22 years and has seen first-hand the growth in the Nigerian economy and the creativity of the people and the product and services Nigeria produces. The interest in Nigeria stems from Trevor’s passion for the country and his desire to leverage the payment technologies of Unlimint Group for the benefit of Nigeria.

Antonov methods they require in Nigeria, to allow them to reach new markets and retail channels. Further, we can enhance small businesses’ growth by giving them access to a global market, all through their single integration into Unlimint Nigeria. We also have a highly sophisticated and customizable merchant dashboard – meaning that small businesses can get data-driven right into their online purchases.

What is your view about poor infrastructure development in Africa and how is it affecting the payment industry across Africa?

The poor infrastructure is an unfortunate feature of the African landscape. This meant that traditional business tools like landlines or access to banking facilities was not readily available. The advent of mobile technology has allowed for these infrastructure challenges to be addressed: Mobile payments, Mobile Calls, Mobile banking. In certain respects, it has allowed Africa to lead in certain payments categories.

Think of Kenya and Mobile Money, where mPesa is the global standard and benchmark for anything mobile momoney-related.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has identified so much liquidity in the informal sector, despite efforts to make Nigeria a cashless nation. How will Unlimint assist CBN in mopping up cash from the informal sector?

Unlimint has a suite of online payment methods all geared to cashless banking. It will help the CBN in its quest to move to a cashless Nigeria by providing simple and viable payment alternatives for the informal sector. Unlimint is fairly innovative in its product offering and has built an excellent R&D team. In time there will be products that it can launch that will help drive this adoption from cash to cashless.

There has been a global rise in online theft and hacking, which is preventing several people from adopting electronic payment systems.

How can this be addressed?

Awareness is the main factor here. It’s important to raise financial literacy among populations to ensure they are knowledgeable about the principles of operation of information systems and resources, since the main source of abuse is the use of the human factor (ex. phishing).

Also, guaranteeing that the implemented financial solutions are following global security and antifraud standards.

The expansion of e-commerce in Nigeria has increased customers’ demand for better payment service offerings. How will payment service providers like Unlimint address the growing needs of consumers?

Unlimint is a global fintech company with 16 offices all over the world and a customer base consisting of thousands of merchants. We already work with various e-commerce clients and are able to implement our best practices and experience into the Nigerian market. Our boutique approach to each customer allows us to address their financial needs and put together an offering that would uniquely solve their main payment concerns, thus making us easily adaptable to change and our merchants’ requirements.

The globe has gone digital, with the gradual emergence of digital banking. How has Unlimint positioned itself to address the needs of digital banking platforms?

Unlimint actually offers a banking solution of its own, allowing customers to open corporate accounts and issue corporate cards. We have also just recently launched our own Banking as a Service

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Telcos Highlight Importance of RCS in Enhancing Customers’ Engagement Emma Okonji Telecom operators have highlighted the importance of Rich Communication Services (RCS) technology offered by Dotgo, in enhancing business-to-customer communication.

The operators who spoke at a recent media round table in Lagos, organised by Dotgo, said brands could use the RCS technology to effectively engage customers on new products, while leveraging

the next generation Rich Business Messaging (RBM).

The Chief Enterprise Business Officer, MTN Nigeria Plc, Lynda Saint-Nwafor, who gave an insight into how the RCS technology is helping MTN as a brand to engage with customers, said: “Consumers want brands to be accessible anytime, anywhere and businesses constantly look for new and innovative ways to enable this. Many of our enterprise customers in Nigeria are betting

on RCS as a viable way to drive secure, contextual, and personalised consumer conversations at scale.”

The Director, Airtel Business Nigeria, Ogo Ofomata, said: “Enterprises are increasingly turning to chat and messaging platforms to strengthen consumer relationships and engagement. Several of our enterprise customers are in the process of deploying RCS to consistently deliver a richer, more tailored, and interactive experience to thousands of consumers.”

Android Partnerships Lead, West Africa at Google, Ngozi MaduekeDozie, said: “The adoption of RCS business messaging continues to grow rapidly. Brands across the world now want to deliver rich and interactive messages including images, GIFs, videos, carousels, and more to their consumers – RCS makes this possible.”

Speaking about the many benefits of using the RCS technology, the CEO at Dotgo, Dr. Inderpal Singh Mumick, said:

“RBM enables brands to offer a next-gen customer experience with greater interactivity, improved trust, and advanced security.

We are excited to help Nigerian brands reimagine businessto-consumer communication and deliver richer, two-way conversational experiences to millions of their subscribers.”

CEO, Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF), Dario Betti, said: “RCS is a big thing when it comes to rich communication and A2P

messaging. It will redesign use cases, security, and models. We at MEF believe that it holds the potential to transform how enterprises engage with their consumers, helping them leverage Rich Business Messaging (RBM) to make it truly immersive at every level.”

Nigerian businesses can use Rich Business Messaging to reach more consumers and improve customer experience, leading to increased return on investment.

Experts to Discuss On-Boarding SMEs Into Insurance and Pension Space Ebere Nwoji

ENHANCING COMMUNICATION…

L-R: Director, Airtel Business, Nigeria, Ogo Ofomata; EVP, Telecom Business at Gupshup, and CEO, Dotgo, Dr. Inderpal Singh Mumick; Senior Manager, Value Sales, MTN Nigeria, Mopelola Balogun and Head, Android Partnerships Lead, Google West Africa, Ngozi Madueke-Dozie, at the Rich Communication Services (RCS) forum in Lagos… recently

Expert Introduces Tech Solution t o A dd re ss Driving St ress Nosa Alekhuogie To address mobility challenges encountered by car owners due to bad roads and stress, a technology expert has developed a tech solution that will enable car owners find verified drivers that can drive them to specified locations and destinations.

The solution known as QuickGo, which provides car owners with available drivers around them, is an app that allows car owners to find verified drivers whenever they are too tired to drive or whenever they are under the influence of alcohol. The solution also helps car owners to avoid driving on bad and unlit roads that lack maintenance.

Founder/Chief Executive

Officer of QuickGo, Mr. Clinton Osarogie Iguagbonmwen, said: “Most Nigerian roads are bad, leading to fatigue while driving, which could cause serious road accident and fatalities. The solution to such challenges is with QuickGo.” He stated that QuickGo was borne out of years of research and working on different mobility problems, adding that he is in the business of paring car owners with suitable and qualified drivers, who will take them to their designations without stress.

He said the bad conditions of roads in major cities in the country make car owners to lose strength faster when driving.

He explained that 80 per cent of road accidents in the

country were caused by drunk and tired drivers, adding that the service his company is providing will drastically reduce road accidents in the country.

Iguagbonmwen said: “Our mission is to solve everyday mobility problems; we are doing a feature per time. The first feature we are looking at is the designated driver options; 80 percent of the accidents on our roads are either caused or instigated by drunk and tired drivers.

“With QuickGo, situations where a car owner is not able to drive his or her car in cases where the car owner is either tired or because of the effect of consuming alcohol or any substance, the car owner should

be able to go to the platform and get the closest verified driver.”

A lot of persons want to avoid the everyday Lagos traffic on their way to work. With the app, they can have extra time to do some work, as QuickGo pairs you with the closest a QuickGo verified driver to help you handle the driving while you take your time and relax, especially when people can work for their cars and homes.

On finding the suitable drivers that the company will engage, he disclosed that the company has partnered with a startup company that is into verification. He said the partner would verify drivers and their guarantors in order to ensure the safety of clients.

MTN Partners Celebrate Adebiyi’s Leadership Qualities Emma Okonji MTN Partners, a body of distributors of MTN products and services and Agencies responsible for Customer Acquisition, have extolled the outstanding leadership qualities of Adekunle Adebiyi, the immediate past Chief Sales and Distribution Officer of MTN Nigeria.

The group commended Adebiyi’s stellar leadership qualities, which positively contributed to the growth and development of MTN Nigeria over the years.

The ceremony, which took place recently at the Oriental Hotels in Lagos, had former colleagues and associates like the Group Head of Corporate Banking at First Bank, Osahon Ogieva; the Chief Commercial Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Godfrey Efeurhobo; the CEO of ITEX Integrated Services, Ernest Uduje; the Head of Global Transaction Banking at Access Bank, Morenike Ogunwolu; and the Former Sales and Distribution Executive of MTN Nigeria, Tsola Barrow, in attendance.

Commenting on Adebiyi’s remarkable leadership attributes,

Oye Ojo, an MTN Trade Partner, noted he upheld the principles of integrity, fairness, and justice while discharging his duties during his time at MTN Nigeria.

“Adekunle Adebiyi is a boardroom guru who has demonstrated a high level of doggedness, integrity, fairness, and justice while interacting with the entire trade partners of MTN Nigeria. He ensured that our operations complied with the standards of regulatory bodies, including that of MTN Nigeria, while he also afforded us the opportunity to contribute our

own quota to the development of the country’s telecommunications sector through our businessrelated engagement with MTN Nigeria. He has been a thorough-bred business leader who abides by the professional rules of engagement without fearing the challenges ahead, and has been instrumental to the growth of various organisations in Nigeria,” he said.

In addition, Ojo admonished young professionals present at the occasion to demonstrate remarkable qualities that would stand the test of time.

Issues bothering on, “Onboarding Small and Medium Scale Enterprises into Micro Insurance and Pension Space in Nigeria,” will form the thrust of this year’s edition of the annual conference of the National Association of Insurance and Pension Correspondents (NAIPCO) scheduled in Lagos.

The conference is billed to hold Thursday, November 3, 2022 at Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos.

Speaking on the dignitaries that have confirmed their attendance at the conference, Chairperson of NAIPCO, Mrs. Nkechi Naeche-Esezobor said both the Commissioner for Insurance National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) Sunday Olorundare Thomas and the Director General National

Pension Commission (PenCom) Aisha Dahir-Umar have given nod to be the special guests and to lead other professionals to the conference to discuss burning issues in the insurance and pension sectors.

She further said the Conference, which is the seventh in the series, has the Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, (LCCI), Dr. Mrs. Chinyere Almona, as the key note speaker while a front line investor in the financial services industry, Cyril Ejagu will chair the epoch event.

She also said the Chairman, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Mr. Segun Omosehin; Chairman, Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp), Olumide Oyetan; among others; have confirmed their presence at the event.

Cybersafe Founder, Staveley, Inducted Into Forbes Technology Council Emma Okonji The Founder of Cybersafe, Confidence Staveley, has become the first Nigerian female to be inducted into the Forbes Technology Council.

In a letter communicating the decision to Staveley, the Founder of Forbes Technology Council, Scott Gerber said: “We are honoured to welcome Confidence Staveley into the Community. Our Mission with Forbes Technology Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network

that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world.”

In a social media post by Staveley, a cybersecurity expert, appreciated the honour and further explained the process: “I was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of my experience. Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honours.”

ProvidusBank, Mastercard, Interswitch Launch Contactless Payment Solution Emma Okonji In a move to further reduce dependency on cash transactions, stimulate innovation and drive the growth of digital payments in Nigeria, ProvidusBank together with Mastercard, Interswitch and Thales Group, have announced the introduction of a new Tapto-Pay service. The service allows cardholders to make fast, secure, and convenient in-store payments by tapping their NFC enabled smart device at any contactless-enabled payment terminal.

Managing Director/CEO, ProvidusBank,Walter Akpani, said: “Technology has evolved greatly in sub-Saharan Africa in the last decade with the mobile phone technology playing a significant role in that space. As a bank, our collaboration with Mastercard and Interswitch to provide additional

value through the mobile device is a strategy to leverage existing infrastructure, while delivering simplified payment through their advanced digital and tokenisation services.”

Country Manager and Area Business Head, West Africa at Mastercard, Ebehijie Momoh, said: “The convergence of physical and digital commerce is not in the future, it’s happening now. At Mastercard, we understand that consumers want to make digital payments when, where and how they want, with the same protection and security offered with a physical card.”

Managing Director, Interswitch Purepay, Akeem Lawal, said: “With the increasing adoption of digital payments, there has been the corresponding need for players in the payments ecosystem to heighten the safety and security of payment platforms and channels.”

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY Ͷ˜ 2022

IMAGES

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Photo Editor Abiodun Ajala Email abiodun.ajala@thisdaylive.com

L-R: National Sales Director, Dangote Cement, Mrs. Funmi Sanni; Grand Prize winner, Adefusi Noah; and Regional Sales Director, South-south, Dangote Cement, Mr. George Okoro, at the Dangote Cement Bag of Goodies Promo Season 3 winners presentation ceremony in Port Harcourt, Rivers State…recently

L-R: Brands Marketing and Communications Manager, Inlaks, Oladipupo Mohammed (left), receiving the plaque for the ICT Conglomerate of the year 2021 on behalf of Inlaks, from the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, TeleAfrica Communications, Denzel Kentebe (right), at the 10th edition of the Africa Digital Awards held in Lagos...recently

L-R: Area Head, Fiscal, Trade and AIT Engagement, British American Tobacco (BAT), West and Central Africa, Ruth Owojaiye; Deputy President, Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), Mr. Ray Atelly; Director, External Affairs, BAT West and Central Africa, Odiri Erewa-Meggison; and Vice President, NBCC, Mr. Seyi Adeyemi, during a courtesy visit by the NBCC to BAT West and Central Africa regional head office in Ikoyi, Lagos…recently

L-R: Past Region Chairperson, District 404B2 Nigeria, Lion Chief Nana Okuribido; District Governor, 404B2 Nigeria, Lion Olalekan Owolabi; Deputy Governor, Ogun State, Her Excellency Noimot Salako-Oyedele; District 404B2 Nigeria, Leo Programme Chairperson, Lion Blessing Umebali; and a guest, Bashorun Abdulrafiu Adisa, during the fundraising luncheon for Humanitarian Causes and public presentation ceremony held in Lagos… recently

L-R: Director-General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Omojola; Permanent Secretary, state Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Government Relations, Mr. Sesan Tunde Ogundeko; Technical Adviser, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Seun Awojobi; and President, International Facility Management Association (IFMA), Nigeria chapter, Mr. Segun Adebayo, at the sensitisation programme for facility management companies on Risk Management in High Rise Building, organised by the commission in collaboration with IFMA, Nigeria chapter, in Ikeja, Lagos...recently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

L-R: Chairman ODUA Investment Group, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru; the Premier of Ontario, Canada, Doug Ford; and Minister of State or the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Ramatu Tijani Aliyu, during the visit to the Parliament in Ontario, Canada…recently

L-R: Ogun State Labour Party (LP) Gubernatorial Candidate, Chief Kehinde Sogunle; Son in-Law of the deceased, Chief Femi Oye; guests, Mr. Ime Ufot and Dr. Leke Oshunniyi; and Coordinator, Good Governance Group for Peter Obi/representative of LP presidential candidate, Otunba Dolapo Balogun, during the funeral ceremony of Prof Akinlawon Ladipo Mabogunje in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State…recentlyy

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430

Silver Lining for Children with Cleft Lips For the unwavering love of motherhood, concealing their babies born with cleft lips for about four months after birth was the toughest decision to make. Rebecca Ejifoma details the experiences of three mothers who found a lasting solution while encouraging other families to take advantage of the free surgeries as a beam of hope for children with cleft lips and palate to save more lives across the nation MARY OGAR cried so much when I saw my three-month-old baby’s face; he looked so fine and better after the operation.” Those were the words of 34-year-old Mrs Mary Ogar, who could not contain her joy at the sight of her baby.

Indeed, Wednesday, August 10, 2022 will always be a day to remember for Ogar and her husband.

It was the day her despair turned to joy.

Twenty days after, Ogar gleefully cradled her three-month and 21-day-old son, Isaac in her left arm while on an iron single-seater waiting chair in the doorway of the Oral and Maxillofacial Department on the S.O.P. Building at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

Neatly dressed in a white blouse and an Ankara cloth tied around her waist, she recounted, “Since I gave birth to my baby, I had never take him outside or let people see him. I was afraid. But now, my husband and I are taking our baby to church for Thanksgiving on Sunday,” she giggled as she fought back tears.

Ogar – a tall, slim and fair-tone woman with a monosyllabic mannerism – had expected the joy of every mother after delivery. But it was a far cry from it. When she saw the facial expressions of the doctors in the delivery room, their silence printed fear in her mind and her heart began to race.

When her baby was placed peacefully in her arms, she wept. “I cried very well,” the first-time mother conceded. “It hurt my chest so much. That day I delivered, I felt somehow because I have never seen this kind of thing before. How did I give birth to a baby looking like this?”, she recalled she thought aloud, as the gynaecologists at the private maternal clinic at Iyana-Ipaja tried to placate her.

Among the riots of thoughts that filled her mind were “What did I do to have a baby like this? Of all the women that gave birth in that hospital that same day, it was only me that had this kind of baby”.

But there came a beam of comfort. “The doctor who delivered my baby said I shouldn’t worry or cry that they treat it. He said the name os cleft lips.

He then told us to go to Ikeja General Hospital. I was coming every day. They wrote the food that my baby would take. They told me I should feed him very well.

“Even to buy the NAN, the money was too much as it cost N3,500 to buy one tin and my baby eats all the time. The NAN I’ve bought is up to 40 because he couldn’t breastfeed well.”

So, when Ogar visited LUTH following a referral from the general hospital, she let it all out. “I was crying when I entered this place. People were telling me to calm down. They told me to feed my baby very well. And they will repair the baby for me and I won’t recognise him anymore. They encouraged me to look at other mothers who brought their babies with cleft lips, that mine isn’t that much. All the advice made my heart just relax.”

“But again I was worried because I was thinking who will give me the money for the operation. I didn’t believe that these people (Smile Train) will take care of everything. I come to the hospital every day.

Instead of me paying, they are giving me money.”

Astonishingly, she asked, “Can you imagine? They give me money for transport too.”

And finally, that Wednesday, her life-changing moment became real. “When the doctor carried my baby to the theatre for the cleft surgery, I was crying. But my baby was brought to me looking fine. Ah!” she exclaimed, “The cut is not there on his mouth again. I’m so grateful.”

“I

Sola Adepoju: Hope Looms For 35-year-old Mrs Sola Adepoju, a first-time mum like Ogar, her daughter is only three months and a week old. “Till now I have not exposed her to the public. And I didn’t do the naming ceremony either,” she said straight-faced while awaiting her turn at the Oral and Maxillofacial Department at LUTH, where other mothers filed on the waiting chair to treat their babies with cleft lips and palate.

Adepoju had her baby clinging to her back. Her baby girl had a narrow painter’s tape around her mouth ahead of her surgery. Despite being told of the corrective surgery, the make-up artiste was a bit of a doubting Thomas. Hence, she contemplated suicide or homicide. “I decided to commit suicide at first.

Later, another bad thought came to my mind that once I got home after discharge, I would give her something to send her back to where she came from; I wanted to kill her,” she revealed, as she buried her head in the ground.

“I don’t even know how to say how I felt that day.

It was out of this world. I was thinking to myself ‘What is this?’, ‘Where did I get this from?’ ‘Is this my baby or what happened?’, ‘Where will I take this

Mrs Adejoke Ohori and her baby before the cleft surgery baby?’ ‘How will I forge ahead with this child?’

I asked myself a lot of questions,” she recounted in a quavering voice.”

However, after delivery, Adepoju revealed that the doctors allayed her fears. She got a drift of a solution at no cost. “The doctors told me that cleft lips are very correctable, and I won’t even remember.

That gave me hope. Even another doctor told me the same thing. It was then I started accepting the fact that my baby had come to stay; there was nothing I could do.”

During her delivery, Adepoju had no shoulders to cry on. “My husband was not with me then.

And I had my child through CS (Cesarean section).

But the doctors told him immediately. He didn’t react much, probably because, during our National Youth Service (NYSC) days, he has been dealing with children with special needs. He had his PPA in one such school. So, he was supportive from day one.”

As a mother, Adepoju concealed her baby from any stigma or bullying. “I have not exposed my baby to anyone. So many people don’t know she has a cleft. She is three months and a week old now.”

Like Ogar, who encountered some hiccups breastfeeding her son, Adepoju had hitches, too.

“No,” she frowned, “Breastfeeding isn’t working.

I stopped breastfeeding her since. I give her baby formula. During the little time I fed her before I stopped, the milk was coming out of her mouth and it wasn’t easy for her to suck. It was a struggle for her. She wasn’t getting enough milk. If I put her to the breast she would cry so much.”

Although the new mum is eager to return to her beauty business, she is waiting for the surgery.

“This has affected my work as a make-up artiste.

Since I don’t have house help, I can’t leave her at home. That is why I’m hoping we will do this surgery so that I will be able to go about my work.”

Once the orthodontist discharged her daughter, she hinted, the surgery would hold. “The doctor put the masking tape around her mouth because they want the lips to come together before they operate on her. Once the mouth reaches the millimetre they want, then they will discharge us. As for the right weight, which is the second criterion, we have achieved that.”

Inquisitive Adepoju, however, had to ease her conscience. “My husband and I have asked from both our families. No one from this generation we are in now – I don’t know about the ones that are dead – has a cleft. I decided not to think because my husband encouraged me so much.”

Adejoke Ohori: Peace at Last Mrs Adejoke Ohori is another mother. She has five children. She sat peacefully in the Oral and Maxillofacial Department, fully dressed in Ankara from the top down.

The introverted 42-year-old told THISDAY that her fifth baby, Destiny, is the first child born with a cleft lip in her home. He is only six weeks old. “When I gave birth, I felt a bit okay because the doctor told me my baby can be treated,” she narrated briefly in Pidgin English. And because she is among the What-God-cannot-do-does-not-exist people, Ohori believed the doctors’ counsels. “Yes, there is nothing God cannot do. So, I no worry.

That is why I am here.”

So, from the private hospital in the Ayobo area of the state where she had her baby, she was referred to LUTH for free surgery. “My baby will

Mrs Mary Ogar and her baby after the cleft surgery be operated on September 11. I am happy.

And my husband is here with us every time,” pointing at her husband, Mr Bowen Ohori, sitting a hair’s breadth opposite her. “Smile Train people paid for everything.”

Today, Ogar, Adepoju and Ohori have every reason to smile. Hence, they promised to encourage parents whose children have cleft lips and palate to visit LUTH or other facilities.

Generic Factors Arguably, the children of Ogar, Adepoju, and Ohori are among the 540 babies born with cleft lips daily in Nigeria and the 6,186 children born with cleft lips and or palate annually.

According to a Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial and Cleft Surgeon with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof.

Mobalanle Ogunlewe, a cleft is a gap or split in the upper lip and/or roof of the mouth (palate) present from birth.

She also told THISDAY that cleft lips and palate can be generic, which means inherited from either the father or the mother. “Very many missing or altered genes have been identified and a high risk with parents who have a family history of cleft,” says Ogunlewe.

What to Avoid During Pregnancy According to Ogunlewe, popularly called Mama Cleft, pregnant women should avoid alcohol, certain drugs like steroids, herbal concoctions, and thalidomide.

Having been providing comprehensive cleft care using a multidisciplinary team approach for 13 years, she cautioned women to be careful of what they consume when pregnant, especially herbal concoctions. “We haven’t subjected those herbal substances to medical evaluations.”

Intake of Folic Acid During Pregnancy With research showing that consuming folic acid prevents defects in babies during pregnancy, Ogunlewe cautioned, “Folic acid deficiency during the first trimester of pregnancy increases the risk of developing clefts.”

Meanwhile, foods rich in folic acid include bread, pasta, cereals, liver, beans, leafy green vegetables, oranges, fresh fruits, whole grains, and seafood among others.

Effects of Unrepaired Cleft Lip and Palate On the effect of unrepaired cleft lips and palate, Ogunlewe insisted that it attracts social stigmatisation and bullying, difficulty in social interaction, patients face psychosocial issues and often experience low self-esteem.

Hence, she encouraged parents and guardians to save their children from such traumas. The prof listed the procedures for total recovery including feeding and nutrition, surgery, dental care, speech therapy, ENT care, speech services, orthodontics, and counselling and support. “This is all at no cost. Thanks to Smile Train. And that is why we are inviting parents and guardians to bring their wards and children with cleft lips and palate for free surgery,” says Ogunlewe.

Causes of Malnutrition in Children with Cleft Lips, Palate The cleft surgeon noted that the recommended weight for children three to four months old is 4.5 kilograms. The children with a cleft are fed to achieve this size before the surgery. Ogunlewe highlighted that children with cleft lips or palate experience more difficulties with feeding than those without cleft lips.

“They are unable to suck because of the split palate.

The risk of aspirating food is high. Poor feeding can lead to failure to thrive and impaired survival in countries like ours where health resources are suboptimal,” says the expert.

She, however, pointed out that the mental state of nursing mothers whose children have cleft lips and palate must be in a good state to be able to breastfeed.

Taking a cue from the surgeon, Clinical Nutritionist/ Dietitian, Mrs Tijani Bolanle, told THISDAY that when a baby born with a cleft lip cannot latch well onto the breast and feed properly it causes malnutrition.

“When the child is not patiently fed by the caregiver, and when the caregiver did not feed the child the appropriate food for his/her milestone development, then that child will be malnourished,” says the registered dietician nutritionist (RDN).

Research, however, shows that many of these babies born with cleft lips and/ or palate are exposed to malnutrition which often leads to death or robs them of early life-saving surgical intervention.

Accordingly, Smile Train, a cleft-focused organisation has promised to continue to equip, fund and provide resources to empower local medical professionals in over 70 countries. These professionals are to give 100 per cent free comprehensive cleft surgeries and other forms of essential cleft care in their communities.

Hence, it has partnered with 1,100 hospitals across Nigeria and globally to provide this free care.

This is because the organisation estimated that, every three minutes, a baby is born with a cleft lip and or palate, adding that many of these children around the world are living with untreated clefts.

And, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there are over 6,280 patients with clefts in Nigeria. And 28.6 per cent of children with cleft lips were found to be underweight at the time of primary cleft surgery. Says Nutrition Consultant at Smile Train, Dr Barbara Delage in a cross-sectional analysis of a database.

Access to Surgeries Dr Justina Seyi-Olajide, a consultant paediatric surgeon at LUTH, revealed that the LANCET Commission estimated that nine out of 10 people in low-middle-income countries (LMIC) lack access to basic surgical services. To improve the quality of life of the children, the surgeon cited that 143 million additional procedures are needed yearly to fill unmet needs.

Solution to Cleft Lips In the words of Ogunlewe, “Cleft lip and palate is not a life-threatening defect. It is not a curse not evil. It can be repaired. The child can live a normal life.

Care is accessible and free.”

That is why having found the solution to their children’s cleft lips – surgeries – there is no gain in saying then that the children of Ogar, Adepoju and Ohori among other survivors have become hope to thousands of children born with cleft lips and/ or palate across the nation.

And, as mothers, they remain resilient that however the adversary, a mother’s love cannot be conquered.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

FEATURES

OloriJanetAfolabi:TacklingTeenage PregnancyThroughEducationinApomu The growing number of teenage pregnancy in Apomu Kingdom is becoming worrisome and has led to the birth of a new initiative by the Queen of Apomu Kingdom, reports Vanessa Obioha

FERTILITY

With Dr. Kemi AILOJE drkemi@lifelinkfertility.com www.lifelinkfertility.com +2348033083580

Anti-Mullerian Hormone (Amh) On Female Reproduction (Part 2)

H

undreds of students from seven secondary schools in Apomu land, Osun State recently gathered at the Alapomu Palace Hall for the kickoff of the new initiative by Queen of Apomu Kingdom, Janet Afolabi tagged ‘Stop Teenage Pregnancy ‘.

Targeted at female junior and senior secondary school students, the initiative strived to educate young girls on sex education and change their mindset about teenage pregnancy which the award-winning journalist Afolabi said is becoming a norm in the community. One of the contributing factors according to Afolabi is early menstruation.

“In those days, a 10-yearold girl child may not have started menstruating.

Maybe because of changes in the foods we eat today or civilisation, some girls today, at 11 have started menstruating. And once a girl starts seeing her period, she can become a mother even if her reproductive organ is not fully developed to receive and bear the baby. That is why we have Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) because their organ is not fully matured for delivery,” she explained.

Teenage pregnancy is a worrisome trend in Nigeria.

A report published on BioMedCentral website disclosed that the rate of teenage pregnancy in Nigeria stands at 104 per cent. Most of these pregnancies occurred in low-and-middleincome households.

In Osun, a state in the Southwest region, poor parenting and lack of self-care are leading factors in the high rate of teenage pregnancy.

For Afolabi, lack of qualitative education also contributes to the social issue, as many undervalue education in the community. This, she said, is responsible for the high number of dropouts among female students and has truncated many dreams.

“If a 10-year-old girl gets pregnant today, it’s already a challenge and she will drop out of school because of shame and rejection. No school will want to admit a pregnant girl because at that age they are not expected to be married.

“Some of them are trapped.

They can’t go further. A lot of destinies have been wasted because of teenage pregnancy.

In my free tutorials with them, I discovered that the girls are even more eager to learn than the boys. I see great potential in them, to continue in that spirit and pursue a career of gaining a school after secondary school,” explained Afolabi.

“During COVID-19,” she added, “a lot of J.S S. 3 female students could not write their exams because they were already pregnant.”

L

Afolabi She also pointed out the need to change their mindset as many believed that there is no work available after acquiring an education. The ultimate message she preaches is for the girls to be financially independent.

Another contributing factor to the increase in teenage pregnancy according to Afolabi is environmental poverty.

“They are generally poor and many of them are farmers and traders. There are a lot of farmland settlements outside the town. So most of the time the parents go to the farmlands and stay for months and leave the children at home with no adequate money for the children to take care of themselves. The children are hungry, they now look for food from wherever. They cannot pay the school fees and are sometimes sent home because of N2,500. They are flogged so terribly sometimes as if they committed a crime. While the boys look for labourers’ work, the girls do not have anywhere to work and therefore fall victim to ‘Okada’ riders who have daily money to spend.

They can give them as low as N100 and take advantage of them. Sometimes they can be harassed into sleeping with them, other times it can be out of a free will. Because they are naive, they don’t know anything about sex education, they end up pregnant. They have no idea what a condom is or other lifestyle tips.”

Apart from poverty, Afolabi said that most of the girls put in the family way are also wayward. Additionally, social acceptance of teenage pregnancy makes it difficult to curb.

“The women sometimes do not see anything wrong with

teenage pregnancy. Sometimes, they even do aso-ebi and invite their friends, throw elaborate naming ceremonies.

With such acts, other girls are encouraged to toe that path.

Some of them even borrow money to throw these parties.

One of my students, an S.S.3 student, came to tell me asoebi that the girl he is dating had just given birth. This is a boy I’m still teaching.”

With her new initiative, Afolabi plans to have a mental transformation for the young ones in the community. Stakeholders from Apomu Descendants Union, education and health sectors joined Afolabi in inspiring the young girls to dream higher as well as exposing them to the health dangers of teenage pregnancy.

“The irony is that we don’t have Apomu women in high places such as the House of Representatives, and the Senate but other communities around us produce such highly placed women. So this is a step to the journey of Apomu girls becoming women who will be in high places. We want to encourage them to go into business and succeed, go into politics and other professional areas. We may not be able to erode teenage pregnancy totally but we are laying the foundation.”

But to change their mindsets, it has to start with the parents who do not believe in girl-child education. Therefore, Afolabi and her committee will be having a monthly meeting with the parents as well as campaigns in marketplaces and neighbourhoods to enlighten them. There will also be visits to schools to continue educating the students on the dangers of sex education.

ast week, we started a discussion on Anti-Mullerian Hormone on female reproduction. We gave an overview of what anti-mullerian hormone is; discussed its role on babies, female & male gender; and explained its role in female fertility. This week, we will be enlightened about how reproduction occurs in females, the functions of AMH on female reproduction and other hormones that can be used to determine the ovarian reserve.

HOW REPRODUCTION OCCURS IN FEMALES The ova or oocytes are the egg cells produced by the ovaries. The oocytes are transferred directly into the fallopian tube, where they may be fertilized by a sperm.

The fertilized egg is transferred to the uterus, where the uterine lining has expanded as a result of the reproductive cycle’s typical hormones. The fertilized egg can implant into the thicker uterine lining and develop further while inside the uterus. If the egg does not implant, the uterine lining is lost as part of menstrual flow. In addition, the female reproductive system produces female sex hormones that keep the reproductive cycle going.

The female reproductive system gradually ceases to produce the female hormones required for the reproductive cycle to function during menopause. Menstrual cycles may become irregular or cease altogether at this point. The woman is termed menopausal one year after her menstrual cycles stop.

FUNCTION OF AMH ON FEMALE REPRODUCTION If you and your partner are trying to start a family and are concerned about the possibility of decreased fertility, either because of your age or for any other reason, an AMH test may be advantageous. This appears to be a good indicator of the body’s remaining egg follicle reserve. If you have low AMH levels on your AMH blood test, it does not mean you are infertile; rather, it means your fertility has dropped but a high level of AMH means your chances of getting pregnant are higher.

Ovarian reserve can be affected by factors other than age, and in younger women, a low ovarian reserve may not signal poor oocyte quality. AMH levels must decrease with aging until they are undetectable during menopause. In this context, very low AMH is defined as AMH levels of less than 1.05 ng/ml, and undetectably low AMH levels are less than 0.16 ng/ml. A low level of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) can be an additional indicator of a problem with the quantity of a woman’s eggs.

If you have looked through any of the fertility information on the internet, you have probably come across some high FSH low AMH success

stories, and many of them are naturally inspiring and increase hopes for anyone else seeking to conceive. These studies are frequently accompanied by suggestions for naturally increasing AMH and promoting ovarian health through food, herbs, supplements, and enhanced circulation to the reproductive system. These procedures, however, have not been scientifically validated. While there is no doubt that leading a healthy lifestyle that includes nutrition and exercise is beneficial to overall health and hence optimum fertility, reports on how to naturally boost AMH, as well as the different high FSH low AMH success tales, should be regarded with a healthy skepticism.

OTHER HORMONES THAT CAN DETERMINE THE OVARIAN RESERVE Ovarian reserve can be determined in a variety of ways, including the AMH test.

Other hormones that play a role in deciding whether or not you are fertile include: Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): This hormone regulates the menstrual cycle and stimulates egg cell synthesis by acting on the ovarian follicles.

Luteinizing hormone (LH): Follicle maturation is controlled by this hormone.

The ovary responds to an increase in LH levels by releasing one egg cell. The LH test can be used to identify whether a woman has achieved menopause and to assess ovulation.

Oestradiol: This is the most important of the oestrogens. This hormone (also known as E2) can be tested to determine how well your ovaries are working. The test must be performed between the third and fifth days of the menstrual cycle.

Testing the levels of these hormones, in addition to the AMH measurement, aids clinicians in analysing a woman’s level of fertility and the possibility of natural conception. Another important point to remember about AMH testing is that it is a good indicator of the efficacy of assisted reproductive technologies. This is due to the fact that it determines the anticipated ovarian response to hormonal treatment.

This is because it gives an assessment of the likely ovarian response to hormone treatment.

CONCLUSION In conclusion, since the levels of AMH are a determinant in the quantity of the eggs remaining in a woman ovarian reserve, AMH can be regarded as both a pregnancy determinant hormone and as well as a fertility hormone. But we should not also neglect that the quality of your eggs is also important in achieving successful parenthood.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

HEALTH

Fidson Awards Scholarship to Nigerian Mathematics Genius

WHO, Oyo EOC, NAWOJ Train Journalists on COVID-19, Other Diseases Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

L-R: General Manager, Business Development and Strategy, Oshoke Ayabae; Programme Coordinator Astymin School Promo, Yetunde Adesola; General Manager, Commercial, Gbenga Olayemi; Head of Marketing, Friday Enaholo at the 12th edition of the Astymin Brilliance Reward event in Lagos Mary Nnah Leading Healthcare provider in Nigeria, Fidson Healthcare Plc, has awarded a partial scholarship to the Mathematics Genius, Faith Odunsi, as she recently gained admission to the renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA. This was disclosed during the 12th edition of the Astymin Brilliance Reward event, which took place recently at the company’s Head Office in Lagos.

ASTYMIN, the flagship brand of Fidson, sponsoring the Astymin Brilliance Reward (ABR) programme promotes healthy living, physical activity, mental alertness, and improved immunity. According to the product manager, Fisayo Oluwamese, Astymin is a blend of essential amino acids trusted in about 40 countries in the world for its quality and effectiveness.

The video of the formal presentation of the scholarship, which took place earlier in the month, was screened at the hybrid event attended by representatives from the Lagos State Ministry of Education, State Universal Basic Education Board [SUBEB], National Association of Proprietors of Private School [NAPPS], Association for Formidable Education Development [AFED] and selected awardees.

The Founder and Managing Director of the company while presenting the offer letter disclosed that it is an annual grant of 10,000 USD, as a partial scholarship for Faith’s undergraduate studies at MIT. He further explained that the grant is sponsored by the Astymin Brilliance Reward (ABR) programme which is aimed at developing mental and academic performance among students

by rewarding hard work and academic excellence.

The ABR Programme Coordinator, Yetunde Adesola in her speech disclosed that ABR has rewarded close to 4,000 students in both government-owned and private schools across the country since its inception in 2010. “This year, ABR is rewarding 295 students and we believe this will encourage them to be good academically and all other activities they take part in their schools,” she said.

In his opening remarks, the General Manager, Commercial Mr. Gbenga Olayemi stated that Fidson is committed to rewarding excellence because excellence is one of the core values of the organisation.

“We are appreciating these brilliant children today because of the priority we put on education. We believe no society can develop without

quality education.” He added.

Leaders in the Education sector lauded Fidson and the Astymin School programme for their consistent support for education. The General Secretary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Mr. Alaka Lukman shared testimonials of Fidson’s support of the association over the years.

In his remarks, General Manager, Business Development and Strategy, Oshoke Ayebae, congratulated the winners for doing their best and coming out top, noting that education is one of the greatest gifts a parent can give to a child to set him/her up for the future.

He especially appreciated the teachers for doing a good job in managing and training the students.

Hayat Kimya Launches Bebem with Natural Essences Baby Diapers Tosin Clegg Hayat Kimya, one of the world’s leading diaper manufacturers, launches Bebem with Natural Essences Baby Diaper in Nigeria.

The Bebem with Natural Essences Baby Diaper is a baby diaper inspired by nature, the first of its kind in the Nigerian market, made with sustainably sourced Natural bamboo fibres for extra absorbent area and organic cotton with organic cotton extract.

It is totally inspired by nature, health sensitive and free of harmful toxins and chemicals, it’s hypoallergenic, dermatologically tested and ultra-absorbent.

Speaking at the Launch press conference, the Managing Director, Hayat Kimya Nigeria, Doruk Emiroglu, emphasised on customer satisfaction as the centre of innovation for the brand.

“The increasing demand by consumers for more sustainable lifestyle choices informed our decision to launch the Bebem with natural essence baby diaper in the Nigerian market.

“The diaper, which is made with an extract from bamboo fibre and high-quality organic cotton extract, is eco-friendly and assures quality protection of the child”.

The Company’s Marketing

Hayat Kimya team Manager, Roseline Abaraonye, added that the diaper is the first diaper to be eco-friendly in Nigeria and made from bamboo.

She also mentioned, “We are having the very first diaper made from bamboo and first organic pad. In the process of preparing for the launch of this product, we’ve tested consumers and

worked with consumer insights, and we can say categorically that this product is meeting a consumer need.

“It’s a huge investment in Nigeria and it we are here to stay and we will do our best to invest in innovative products.”

Hayat Kimya is excited

about expanding its product offerings in Nigeria and is committed to ensuring the production of innovative and result driven consumer goods across the country. The Bebem with natural essences baby diapers are available in all sizes and can be purchased in all retail stores nationwide.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with the Oyo State Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Oyo State chapter, recently organised a day training program, which focuses on COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination and more importantly Infodemic for journalists in the state.

The training, which attracted participants from print, broadcast and online media houses in the state, was to strengthen and broaden the knowledge of journalists on COVID-19 related issues and other diseases as well as set agenda for the coming days in sensitising the public.

Present at the training include the representative of WHO, Dr. Philip Zorto; the State Epidemiologist, Dr. Akinfemi Akinyode; Incident Manager for COVID-19, Dr Oluwabukola Alawale; Incident Manager for Tuberculosis, Dr. Adeniyi Adeniran; Cluster Consultant, Dr. Oluyinka Dania, and State Liason Officer for NCDC. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Bode Ladipo, who was represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr. Olubunmi Ayinde, thanked the organisers for the initiative, stating that with the increasing cases of Covid-19, tuberculosis and other communicable diseases in the country, all stakeholders must pitch in to put an end to the prevalence of the diseases.

The representative of WHO, Dr. Zorto,, in his remarks, enjoined journalists to rise up to the task of providing adequate information on infectious diseases to members of the public and to always check their facts before putting stories out in the public.

On her part, the Chairperson, Oyo NAWOJ, Comrade Jadesola Ajibola, urged all tiers of government, security agencies and development partners to henceforth recognise journalists as frontline workers during emergencies periods.

She noted that journalists usually play important roles during emergencies such as the outbreak of pandemics like COVID-19, cholera, during wars and crises just like other professionals such as medical workers and security agents, insisting that journalists should be recognised as frontline workers.

She similarly advised that journalists should be given incentives like other professionals because they too played significant roles especially during the heat of COVID-19.

According to her, “We need to recognise journalists as frontline workers during emergencies. We should be seen and addressed as frontline workers and should be given hazard allowances.

“We report and do a lot of sacrifices and work during the

Gladys Adurojaiye Share Secrets on Building a Healthy Skin Beauty Brand Mary Nnah The level of quacks in the skin beauty industry is fast rising. Many Nigerians who patronise them have looked back in regret because of the eventual damage to their skin. Now they know that it’s better, in the long run, to engage the services of professionals even though it may cost more.

Despite the proliferation of quack skin beauticians, you still have a few who have positioned themselves as professionals in the industry.

Gladys Adurojaiye, lead formulator and CEO of Medas Botanics, today, stands tall building a trusted brand in the skin beauty industry in Nigeria.

According to her, Meda Botanics is a natural skincare brand that focuses on enhancing and maintaining the natural complexion of women.

She explained that Meda Botanics has come into the beauty space to make a difference having successfully formulated a wide range of products to help rejuvenate, nourish and keep the skin radiant without bleaching it.

Taking us on a journey of how it all began for her, Adurojaiye noted, “Medas Botanics started with one goal, that is, to deliver healthy glowing skin to individuals who are conscious of the health of their skin.

“I started dreaming of producing plant-based skincare products as far back as 2006. I remember using a product introduced to me by a friend which damaged my skin after about a month of using them.

“The outcome made me lose self-confidence. I lost my self-esteem and I vowed never to try such again.”

She revealed that the unpleasant experience inspired her search for a skincare brand that will enhance her skin without damaging it. Her search led her to birth her beauty brand known as Medas Botanics.

Describing the company’s brand offering, the skin expert notes that Medas Botanics is a safe and affordable skincare brand for everyone, as her range of products targets beauty-conscious individuals of varying age groups as well as has formulated products for children and adults.

Beyond profit, the skin expert says her moment of joy are the privileges of creating employment for many young women as well as helping to reduce quacks.

35

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

NEWS

One Wellness Unveils Fertility Centre in Nigeria for Quality Assisted Reproductive Care Rebecca Ejifoma One Wellness Centre has unveiled its best-in-class fertility care centre with the latest state-of-the-art equipment to provide standard and quality care in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) in Nigeria.

Addressing the media during the tour of the facility in the Victoria Island area of Lagos State, the Practice Manager, One Wellness Centre, Chibuki Aigbe described the facility as worldclass reproduction healthcare that is now accessible in Nigeria.

“We are unique in our offerings. We have invested heavily in technology. And we are offering bespoke and welltailored management protocol and specifically Assisted Reproductive Technology,” she emphasised.

Aigbe further recounted that after Covid, they realised they could manage healthcare. “And we saw that a lot of people always visit other countries for healthcare.”

As a result, the practice manager hinted, One Wellness Centre thought to have something of quality and global health standard with reasonable price for people to have a care in assisted reproduction.

That birthed the One Wellness fertility unit. It is a hyper-modern fertility centre furnished with ultramodern equipment in a welcoming and soothing ambience.

The centre, Aigbe assured reproductive health experts, provides a reliable and comfortable alternative for individuals seeking best-in-class reproductive healthcare.

She added that their specialists and embryologists are trained, certified, and experienced globally.

“They bring years of research and experience (providing reproductive health care solutions) to every consultation. They are committed to replicating the success stories in other countries in Nigeria,” says the practice manager.

Some of the fertility treatments include Obstetrics and Gynaecology Procedures like Assisted Hatching, Assisted Reproductive Technology ART: In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) among others.

The centre also offers Cryogenic Egg and Sperm Storage, Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI), Reproductive

Cells and Embryo Freezing, Antenatal Screening, Anterior Posterior Repair, Colposcopy, Foetal Echocardiography, HighRisk Pregnancy, Hysteroscopy:

Betoke Technique, Labioplasty and Vaginal Rejuvenation, Ovarian Rejuvenation (PRP) and 3D – 4D Ultrasound alongside Stem Cell Collection.

Some of the panellists who encouraged collaboration among reproductive health experts are Gynaecologist and Obstetric Consultant, Dr Joe Khalife;

Dr Jean Nassar, the IVF and Obstetrics and Gynaecology Specialist (OBGYN) One Wellness Centre; and the CEO of Cedacrest Hospital, Dr Felix Ogedengbe.

L-R: Dr Felix Ogedengbe, CEO, Cedarcrest Hospitals; Dr Chibuki Aigbe, Practice Manager, One Wellness Centre; Dr, Joe Khalifeh, Fertility Specialist, One Wellness Center; Hilda Egboh, CEO, Pretty Baubles and Dr Jean Nassar, Fertility Specialist, One Wellness Centre at One Wellness Centre’s breakfast session with its fertility Specialists and unveiling of its state-of-the-art fertility centre on Victoria Island, Lagos ... Wednesday

Rotary Club of Maryland to Rehabilitate School, Build Health Centre Rebecca Ejifoma The 21st Hope President of Rotary Club of Maryland, District 9110, Rotarian Rissy Adebimpe Taiwo, has unveiled her projects to rehabilitate a school in Abeokuta, Ogun State and a primary healthcare centre in Lagos.

Her proposed plans and activities include adopting Moslem Primary School, Imosan Ijebu in Ogun State and building a Child and Maternity Health Centre in the Amuwo-Odofin area Lagos.

This was noted at the Investiture of the 21st Hope President at the weekend in the Ikeja area of Lagos.

She emphasised: “In the year we call the imagine year, the imaginative president, we have a project that is situated at Imosan in Ogun State. We have a dilapidated school that needs complete rehabilitation.

“We have carried out the needs assessment and we have

The newly installed President Rissy Taiwo (in cream colour) flanked by the Chairman and the Rotary Club of Maryland Board of Directors for 2022-2023 year seen what they need. That’s our star project.”

As part of the activities lined up for the year, Taiwo highlighted the WASH programme.

This involves a humanitarian service at the Correction Prison in Ikoyi and another at Abeokuta, Ogun State.

For the Rotary Club of

Maryland, our focus is service to humanity and that is what we are known to do. “Rotary International focuses on polio eradication and this has been

ongoing over the years with the support of us all,” says the president. While the club continues to serve the community and the world, it also impacts

the lives of members through the “We Care” programme.

“In as much as we are doing good for the world, we are doing things for ourselves at the club.

When we do medical outreach for people, we do it for ourselves, too and the community we live in through We Care”, she added.

In her remark, the District Governor, Rotary International District 9110, Rotarian Omotunde Lawson, congratulated the president while urging the members to throw their weight behind her in this journey of service.

“I appeal to every member to support the president for a beautiful year,” she added.

Lawson, however, recalled how the Rotary Club of Maryland won an award as the Best Club in the District in 2021. She, therefore, encouraged members to continue in that line in touching lives so that their works will continue to speak for them.

“To all our members and guests, kindly support the projects for the year and assist the president,” says the district governor.

WBW: Lagos to Provide, Sustain Breastfeeding-friendly Environmental Esther Akinsola The Lagos State government has restated its commitment to provide and sustain a breastfeeding-friendly environment by strengthening the capacity of actors.

The actors include policymakers, healthcare providers, and community influencers to protect, promote and support breastfeeding across different levels of society.

In the words of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Olusegun Ogboye the State Government has mapped out activities to commemorate the Y2022 World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) celebration.

He noted that the ultimate responsibility of the government for this year’s WBW celebration is to inform, educate and empower the actors to provide and sustain breastfeeding-friendly environments. With this year’s theme as “Step Up for Breastfeeding: Educate and Support”, Ogboye said it explains their focus on strengthening the capacity of actors that have to protect, promote and support breastfeeding across different levels of Society.

“These actors make up the warm chain of breastfeeding support, and they include policymakers, healthcare providers, and Influencers in the communities,” says the permanent secretary.

He also admitted that WBW is designed to foster, protect and support exclusive breastfeeding practices from the first hour of birth to six months of life and sustains to two years of age. “This is in addition to the inclusion of appropriate complementary feeding from six months of age for optimal growth and development.”

Some of the main actions planned for the WBW are to inform, anchor, engage and spur support for breastfeeding practice which is key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Lagos State’s action plan is to inform people about their

role in strengthening the warm chain of breastfeeding support; anchor breastfeeding as part of good nutrition, food security and reduction of inequalities.

It is also to engage with individuals and organisations along the warm chain of breastfeeding support and to galvanise actions on strengthening the capacity of actors and systems for transformational change. On the importance of breastfeeding, Ogboye argues that it prevents hunger and malnutrition in all their forms and ensures food security for babies.

This is as he acknowledged that breast milk is readily

available, pure, safe and in the right mixture and adequate for babies.

While defending that Lagos State performs better in breastfeeding data, he outlined the exclusive breastfeeding rate which is 51.8 per cent (NDHS 2018) compared to the National figure of 29 per cent (NDHS 2018).

“However, there is still a lot of work to be done by all of us to get to the National target of 65% by the Year 2025”, the permanent secretary tasked.

He, therefore, called for a collective responsibility for the fight against malnutrition to ensure that all nursing mothers are supported to give the meal that nature has

provided at no cost.

“I, therefore, direct this appeal to all our Executive Chairmen for LGAs/LCDAs, Community and Religious leaders, Market Women Associations, Professional Bodies, Parents, Elite Groups, and Community Based Organizations to actively support our nursing mothers in the community to effectively breastfeed their babies.

“The survival of our children is our collective responsibility, and so this is a clarion call to action. All hands must be on deck to ensure our nursing mothers are supported to give the meal nature has provided to our children”, he concluded.

36

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͷ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

NowNow Raises $13m Seed Funding to Promote Financial Inclusion Across Africa Kayode Tokede Fast-growing Nigerian fintech startup, NowNow Digital Systems has raised $13 million in its seed round to improve financial inclusion across Africa by providing financial services to the unbanked and underbanked in the continent.

The funding round led by NeoVision Ventures Limited, DLF Family Office, and Shadi Abdulhadi heralds NowNow’s plans to scale and expand its service offerings across Africa.

In a statement, it said with the newly secured funds, it will drive financial empowerment as well as introduce new products which will further enhance its already existing consumer banking, agency banking, and merchant payment solutions.

CEO & Co-founder, NowNow, Sahir Berry, shared NowNow’s renewed commitment and vision to include everyone financially.

“Today we announce that we have moved to the next stage of our commitment to drive financial access and empowerment for Africans at the last mile. With the secured funding, we look to not

only provide services that include everyone financially but also upscale our agile ecosystem which ensures that our multidimensional offering remains a market leader. The credit facility will also support our unique strategy to advance financial inclusion and independence through financial education. The interest and backing of our investors will enable us to grow our world-class team as we would be unveiling innovative products and services.”

Managing Partner of Capital V Limited, Gary Peters, said, “One of the key elements that propelled us to invest in NowNow through one of our funds is based on the founders’ tenacity to grow the company to a viable level, as well as overcoming many challenges and market cycles since its inception in 2018. Its core business and vision of digitizing the African region through facilitating daily payment services is also another important element.

Whenever we meet a company founder like Sahir Berry, whose leadership’s vision aligns with Capital V’s fund of funds strategy to back disruptive and high-potential start-ups, especially in emerging

markets like Africa, the decision process becomes easier.”

“NowNow is focused on solving everyday financial challenges by creating the largest fintech ecosystem in Africa as well as supporting the financial inclusion goal in the continent. The innovative fintech platform was recently selected to participate in the Mastercard Start Path Global program created to help later-stage startups innovate and scale.

“Proceeds from NowNow’s seeding round will focus on improving Africa’s financial inclusivity and help bridge the gap between the banked and unbanked in Nigeria. The African B2B and B2C FinTech company, recently partnered with the Lagos Business School’s (LBS) Sustainable Inclusive Digital Financial Services (SIDFS) to initiate a financial education and literacy program aimed at driving Nigeria’s financial inclusion growth.

NowNow will utilize SIDFS’s rich data, library content, and resources to provide financial and digital literacy tools for its customers to ensure smart financial planning, “it stated.

L-R: SSA to the Ogun State Governor on Rural Development, Mr. Akolawole Agemo; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Adetayo Adewale; Commissioner for Rural Development, Hon. Jamiu Odetoogun; Project Coordinator, Rural Access And Agricultural Marketing Project (OG-RAAMP), Muritala Adekunle and Director, Planning, Research and Statistics in the Ministry, Mr. Adekunle Oyesanwe during the maiden working visit of the Commissioner to the project…recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JUNE 2022

FMDQ Approves Johnvents Industries N30bn CP Issuance

Money Supply (M3)

48,865,823.53

Kayode Tokede

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

167,956.2

Money Supply (M2)

48,797,867.32

-- Quasi Money

28,405,330.1

-- Narrow Money (M1)

20,392,537.22

The FMDQ Securities Exchange Limited (FMDQ Exchange) yesterday said it has approved the registration of the Johnvents Industries Limited N30billion Commercial Paper (CP) Programme on its platform.

A statement from the Exchange stated that Johnvents Industries Limited (Johnvents Industries) is a wholly indigenous-owned agribusiness that provides

modern information and communication tools, macroloans, and farm inputs, such as seedlings and fertilisers, to support farmers and finance their businesses in Nigeria, via its subsidiaries – Johnvents Procurements, Johnvents Cocoa Factory and Johnvents AgriTrade.

According to the statement, the CP Programme which is sponsored by United Capital PLC – a Registration Member (Quotations) of FMDQ Exchange, will avail the Issuer, Johnvents

Industries, the opportunity to raise short-term finance from the Nigerian debt markets through CP issuances within the Programme limit.

As Nigeria’s largest securities exchange by market turnover, FMDQ Exchange will continue to provide a liquid, transparent and efficient market geared towards supporting the aspirations of corporates, such as Johnvents Industries, to unlock the required capital to bridge the funding gap in Nigeria’s agriculture sector.

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,722,785.91

---- Demand Deposits

17,669,751.32

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

6,242,394.29

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

42,623,429.24

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

57,267,178.05

---- Credit to Government (Net)

17,996,690.06

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

FrenchTech Startup Launches Redefining Refrigeration System In Nigeria

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

39,270,488

--Other Assets Net

5,566,430

Oluchi Chibuzor

Reserve Money (Base Money

11,320,304

A French tech startup, Koolboks, has launched a redefining refrigeration system in Nigeria aimed at using geospatial technology and solar power to provide sustainable refrigeration in not only Nigeria but Africa.

In view of this, the startup is focused on serving the Nigerian market and making cooling affordable, accessible and therefore means that without public electricity, small business owners and homes have no issue effectively storing and managing their perishable goods.

According to the French based company, the system comes up with solar-powered freezers that

depend less on public power but more on solar energy to power the products.

Speaking recently in Lagos, the co-founder of Koolboks, Mr. Dominic Ayoola, said they basically intend to democratise the way the world experiences cooling.

He noted that their mission is to make cooling affordable and accessible to everyone that needs it in Africa.

According to him, “About 40 percent of food is wasted in emerging markets; also, we have about five out of every ten patients that get to die due to vaccine spoilage. We know that affording a refrigerator is usually expensive and when you

have it, there is no electricity.

“Over 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa today lack access to electricity and therefore lack access to refrigeration.

And when they even have refrigeration, the cost of owning one is usually an uneasy task. Because after getting a refrigerator, they typically have to get a generator and then you start buying fuel to be able to run your refrigerator.

“Most of the refrigerants that are being used are dangerous refrigerants. They have been banned in the West, and these are 80,000 times more dangerous than carbon, but that is what still exists in African countries,” he said.

GCR Upgrades Greenwich Merchant Bank’s Credit Rating to “BBB” With A Stable Outlook Mary Nnah Greenwich Merchant Bank Limited’s Credit Rating has been upgraded from “BBB-“ to “BBB” with a stable outlook by the Global Credit Rating (GCR).

This is in addition to the rating “BBB” assigned by Agusto & Co earlier in the year.

According to GCR, the improved rating “reflects the Bank’s strong capitalization, robust liquidity, and sound risk position. The risk position is well contained as

evidenced by the zero-performing loans. Funding and liquidity are robust and considered appropriate for its current operational scale”.

GCR further highlighted that the Bank’s “Capital Adequacy Ratio is well above the regulatory minimum of 10% with the Core Capital ratio expected to be maintained above 35% over the next 12 to 18 months.”

Commenting on the Rating, the Managing Director, Mr. Bayo Rotimi disclosed that “the current rating, is yet another confirmation of Greenwich Merchant Bank’s

dedication to value creation for her clients and other stakeholders.”

He further emphasized that the rating validates the traction gained by the Bank in terms of deposit mobilization, loan growth and enhanced service delivery.

Greenwich Trust Limited – the precursor to Greenwich Merchant Bank – commenced operations in June 1994. By September 2020, GTL obtained a Merchant Banking license and subsequently commenced Merchant Banking operations in October 2020.

--Currency in Circulation

3,259,269.15

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

11,320,303.72 384,377.56

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

June 2022

Inter-Bank Call Rate

11.10

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

13.00

Treasury Bill Rate

2.45

Savings Deposit Rate

1.38

1 Month Deposit Rate

3.48

3 Months Deposit Rate

4.55

6 Months Deposit Rate

4.97

12 Months Deposit Rate

5.30

Prime Lending rate

12.29

Maximum Lending Rate

27.61

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ˜ ͵

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

37

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͷ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

Flour Mills Shareholders Approve N2.15 Dividend Payout, Demand Bonus Kayode Tokede The shareholders of Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN) yesterday approved the management’s N2.15 dividend payout for 2022 financial, among other resolutions, calling on the management to declare a bonus payout amid improved performance over the years.

Part of the resolutions approved by the shareholders

at the 62nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos was to authorize the directors to raise additional capital for the company to the tune of N200billion.

The National Leader Emeritus, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Sunny Nwosu who joined other shareholders at the company’s AGM, commended the company’s 2022 performance as turnover

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

crossed the N1trillion mark, maintaining that 2015 was the last time the management of FMN awarded investors with bonus payout.

According to him, “the 2022 financial performance of FMN was impressive and we hope it is maintained in coming years. A bonus was paid in last 2015 and it does not cost the management anything to give shareholders bonus.”

The Chairman, Progressive

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Boniface Okezie commended FMN’s 2022 performance despite challenges, urging the management to maximize the opportunity provided by the war between Russia/Ukraine to extend food production in Africa.

Speaking to shareholders at the AGM, the Chairman of FMN, Mr John Coumantaros, who was represented by ViceChairman, Mr. Paul Gbededo,

T R A D E D

VALUE TRADED ( N )

MAIN BOARD

A S

said despite the prevailing challenges around the world especially as global economies struggled to recover amidst supply chain disruptions caused by the prolonged effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and worsened by the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the Group has delivered another impressive performance.

He noted that businesses and consumers in Africa are

O F

0 7

facing significant peculiar and aggregate economic challenges over the increasing volatility of the global economy.

“Our group aims to counteract some of these headwinds by remaining committed to increasing the local content of its inputs and outputs. Undoubtedly, the need to add value further upstream on the supply chain and lessen dependency on imported raw materials has become more crucial.

/ 0 9 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

38

THURSDAY, ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

ʬ

ʬ

ʬ

7 R S 7 U D G H V E \ 9 R OX P H

7 R S * D LQ H U V T ic k er

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

9.00

9.8%

ST ER LN B A N K

26.9

-3.9%

NP FM CRFB K

1.60

4.6%

Z EN IT H B A N K

10.2

0.5%

UA C N

11.40

3.6%

GT C O

9.3

0.0%

A B CTRA NS

0.29

3.6%

ET I

7.6

0.0%

J A P A ULGOLD

0.30

3.4%

F ID ELIT YB K

6.2

-0.9%

WA P IC

0.41

2.5%

UA C N

6.0

3.6%

M A N SA R D

1.84

2.2%

D A N GSUGA R

4.4

0.3%

A F R IP R UD

5.70

1.8%

C OR N ER ST

3.7

-6.1%

N EM

5.25

1.7%

WEM A B A N K

3.6

0.0%

LIVEST OC K

1.20

1.7%

A IIC O

3.1

-1.8%

7 R S 7 U D G H V E \ 9 D OX H

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

CHA M S

0.27

-10.0%

M TNN

495.5

0.0%

FCM B

3.21

-8.0%

Z EN IT H B A N K

205.2

0.5%

M C N IC H OLS

0.62

-7.5%

GT C O

184.5

0.0%

ET I

83.8

0.0%

T ic k er

P ric e C hg %

F T N C OC OA

0.28

-6.7%

C OR N ER ST

0.62

-6.1%

WA P C O

74.3

0.0%

D A N GSUGA R

73.4

0.3%

ST ER LN B A N K

1.48

-3.9%

NA HCO

5.53

-2.8%

UA C N

68.5

3.6%

D A N GC EM

52.0

0.0%

SKYA VN

5.00

-2.0%

OA N D O

5.10

-1.9%

NB

42.2

-0.1%

-1.8%

ST ER LN B A N K

39.6

-3.9%

A IIC O

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

P ric e C hg %

PZ

7 R S / R V H U V

Vo lum e

0.54

Investment Research

Brokerage

Asset Management

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com

Taiwo Ogundipe | togundipe@afrinvest.com

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

Damilare Asimiyu | dasimiyu@afrinvest.com

39

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 • T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 06Sept-2022, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AIICO Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 6.97% Anchoria Equity Fund 138.09 139.65 -0.84% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.18 1.18 3.27% info@anchoriaam.com ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 21.10 21.73 4.01% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 508.59 523.92 12.73% ARM Ethical Fund 42.43 43.71 8.91% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.08 1.08 0.18% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.06 1.06 4.33% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.97% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 90.75 90.75 -6.14% AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Naira 1,095.52 1,095.52 9.55% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 143.61 144.62 7.92% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.89% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) N/A N/A N/A CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalfif@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.01 1.01 5.78% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 10.63% Paramount Equity Fund 19.24 19.59 9.91% Women's Investment Fund 146.57 148.36 2.99% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.72% Cordros Milestone Fund 131.23 132.16 5.47% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 111.04 111.04 5.01% CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.87% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.04 1.04 8.69% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.04 1.04 4.04% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 103.29 103.29 2.12% FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Bond Fund 1498.88 1498.88 11.46% FBN Balanced Fund 193.63 194.96 10.49% FBN Halal Fund 123.17 123.17 10.76% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 10.04% FBN Dollar Fund (Retail) 125.70 125.70 5.96% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 158.71 160.85 5.73% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.47% Legacy Debt Fund 3.71 3.71 -7.28% Legacy Equity Fund 1.88 1.91 7.90% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.24 1.24 2.79% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn

Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

4,050.09 3,614.66 100.00

4,103.63 3,614.66 100.00

5.73% 6.18% 10.74%

FSDH Dollar Fund 1.11 1.11 4.04% GUARANTY TRUST FUND MANAGERS LIMITED enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) N/A N/A N/A Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.61 1.64 13.27% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,167.89 1,167.89 6.37% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: www.meristemwealth.com/funds/; Tel: +2348028496012 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 12.07 12.14 10.76% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 10.75% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 102.36 102.36 9.67% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 11.18% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM EuroBond Fund N/A N/A N/A SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 123.40 125.87 0.05% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.06 1.06 9.24% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,535.53 3,569.44 4.38% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 241.52 241.52 2.53% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.39 1.41 11.11% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 325.70 325.71 4.02% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 258.08 261.97 10.66% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.20% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 11,736.98 11,898.16 7.58% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.34 1.34 3.51% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 119.61 119.61 2.31% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 112.00 112.00 5.29% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 0.95 0.97 7.30% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.34 1.36 2.65% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.12 1.14 8.60% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.08 1.08 4.88% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.91 1.91 4.29% United Capital Eurobond Fund 123.11 123.11 3.90% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.43% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 13.62 13.74 3.23% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 15.58 15.73 6.59% Zenith Income Fund 23.09 23.09 5.17% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.40% VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD funds@vetiva.com Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund 3.76 3.86 -6.27% Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund 6.03 6.13 3.11% Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund 17.95 18.15 1.48% Vetiva Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.38% Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund 17.79 17.99 -10.92% Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund 140.52 142.52 -10.86%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

118.56 51.93

4.66% 2.11%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

14.22 126.92 98.97 16.40 17.10

14.32 130.15 101.13 16.50 17.20

1.64% -0.14% -0.79% -8.42% 15.96%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.59

0.00%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund MERGROWTH ETF MERVALUE ETF

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

40

THURSDAY, ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

FORTY

UNFPA: 20,000 Girls Saved from Child-Marriage in Three Years Osinbajo's wife advocates more action against GBV Deji Elumoye in Abuja The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has disclosed that more than 20,000 adolescent girls have been retained in schools and safe places, while over 5,500 women and girls are living with Obstetrics

fistula in Nigeria. UNFPA's Nigeria Country Representative, Ulla Mueller, revealed this yesterday at the State House, Abuja, during the launch of the National Landscape Analysis Report on Sexual and Gender-based Violence (GBV), Harmful Practices and Obstetrics Fistula in Nigeria.

UNFPA, which highlighted three Nigerian states in its pilot project, also received support from Global Affairs Canada.

Mueller said, “This is a three-year programme and it has seen more than 20,000 adolescent girls retained in school and safe spaces in order

D S S : F G R E Q U E ST E D M A M U ’S A R R E ST, E X T R A D I T I O N Egypt, by Interpol and had since been in the custody of DSS, after he was extradited.

The agency said Mamu had answers to provide to some critical questions relating to ongoing security investigations.

Mamu’s arrest came as DirectorGeneral of DSS, Yusuf Bichi, said effective intelligence gathering and proactive operational strategy by the security agencies would bring an end to the country’s raging security challenges.

The DSS, in a statement by its spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunanya, said it had been inundated with enquires regarding Mamu, and it confirmed the development without much explanations.

The statement said, "This is to confirm that Manu, as a person of interest, was intercepted by Nigeria’s foreign partners at Cairo, Egypt, on September 6, 2022, while on his way to Saudi Arabia. He has since been returned to the country, today, (yesterday), September 7, 2022 and taken into the service’s custody.

"The act followed a request by Nigeria’s military, law enforcement and intelligence community to their foreign partners to bring back Mamu to the country to answer critical questions on ongoing investigations relating to some security matters in parts of the country. The public may wish to note that the law will appropriately take its course."

Bichi, on his part, spoke at the closing ceremony of a two-day workshop held at the headquarters of the DSS in Abuja, themed, "Terrorism Financing Risk (TFR) for Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism/Countering Proliferation Financing (AML/ CFT/CPF)."

The event, hosted by DSS, was attended by representatives of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Nigerian Correctional Service

(NCoS), judges, and other security agencies.

Bichi affirmed that intelligence gathering and effective counterterrorism strategy were key to containing rampaging non-state actors in the country.

He said efforts by the security forces to tackle security challenges would be futile without intelligence, even as he called for synergy among the security agencies to defeat the country's adversaries.

Bichi stated, "There is the need for synergy of security agencies in the fight against terrorism. Equally important is intelligence. Without intelligence, our efforts will be in vain.

"If you want success in counterterrorism, you have to have intelligence.

You have to know yourself and know your enemy. If you don't know yourself and your enemy, chances of success are 50-50.

"It's only through intelligence that you will know the adversary's associates and strategy and prosecute your cases effectively and plan how to fight terrorism.

“Next to intelligence is strategy.

The terrorists are also intelligent people, so with strategy, you can win the war."

He explained that with the current strategy adopted by the armed forces, the war against criminalities would be won.

"We have fought terrorism for over a decade but we are yet to see the end but with current efforts, we are about to bring it to an end," he said.

Mamu was arrested by security operatives in Cairo on his way to Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj with his family members.

According to agency reports, he was detained at the Cairo International Airport for 24 hours before being repatriated back to Nigeria.

Mamu was said to have left Nigeria on Tuesday and after being

investigated by the Egyptian security agencies, nothing incriminating was found in his possession.

Efforts to reach him by telephone failed, while WhatsApp messages sent to him did not deliver.

Mamu had negotiated the release of some victims of the abducted train passengers before he pulled out following alleged attempts to blackmail him.

Those released were said to have paid several millions of naira before the bandits freed them.

When contacted, Sheikh Gumi said somebody told him of the incident, but he did not have the details.

to delay child-marriage.

“It has seen more than 5,500 women and girls living with fistula.

It had reached these women with information and services. We have reached more than 300,000 young people with information through traditional and social media and 900 healthcare workers capacity has been built for female genital mutilation and fistula prevention and response.”

Mueller argued that ending GBV in Nigeria’s “complex” terrain would require understanding and involving the communities and the women in those communities.

She explained, “If I have not learned anything in Nigeria, I have learned that this Giant of Africa is a large and complex nation. It is full of rich diversity, of ethnicity, of religion, of beliefs. And also, when we want to do quality programming, it is absolutely essential that we meaningfully engage and include the communities. Because if we do not understand the communities, we will not be able to change anything.

plained that it was not going to be a one-off activity, but a continuous exercise, until government acts to stop the vandals and oil thieves.

He said shut-ins were becoming very rampant in the industry, and each time a barrel was locked in, $100 was lost. According to him, up to $1 billion worth of oil is shut in on a daily basis.

Osifo stated that even oil companies struggling to produce got as little as two per cent of what they pump in from the other end of the terminals, resulting in only the production of water sometimes.

“So from tomorrow (today), we are going to embark on these rallies. We are going to call government to action,” he stated.

According to him, when there is severe under-production, the first casualties are usually the workers, and PENGASSAN members are losing their jobs nationwide.

“If you are not making money as a producer, most of the monies you push into your capex is impacted and that’s where our members in the oil servicing companies get their pay from,” he explained.

He said today, employment was no longer on the table for many oil firms because they were struggling to pay existing staff and were shutting down production.

He said even the big firms were not spared, including companies like Agip, Addax, Total E&P, which have shut part of their production due to the menace.

Osifo stated, “SPDC is one of the worst hit as at today. A lot of their locations are shut-in.

Gentlemen, this is a real challenge, a crisis that the government of the

what? Advocate for punishment for the crimes, not only for help for the survivors.”

She thanked UNFPA, which is the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency, for its dedication and focus on the cause.

Earlier in his remarks, the Sultan of Sokoto, Mohammadu Abubakar, said enough had been said about the ills of GBV on women and girls, it was time for action.

The monarch said, “We're very worried about what's happening. The documentary you just saw brought up a little part of what's been happening.

I believe so many of us will not be able to sit and watch the numerous negative effects these our women and children go through.

“So much talk about the ills of these vices and effects of the abuses on our women and children. It's time to stop talking. And that's why I'm here standing to assure you that we will do whatever it takes to see the fruition of this report. That it doesn't go to the dust bin like so many others before it in this country.”

FG TO PUNISH AIRLINES SELLING TICKETS IN DOLLARS tion by protecting the interest of Nigerians against reported airlines' operations malpractices, adding that no violator, no matter how highly placed, would be spared.

According to him, findings at government’s disposal, revealed that some of the airlines were refusing payment in naira and charging their ticket fares in dollars in violation of the country's laws, while some others have blocked local travel agencies from accessing their websites for transactions, choosing to release expensive tickets.

His words: "I want to use this opportunity to say that reports are reaching us that some of the airlines are refusing to sell tickets in naira. That is a violation of our local laws, they will not be allowed.

The high and the mighty among them will be sanctioned, if they're caught doing that.

"NCAA had been directed to swing into action and once we find any airline violating this, we will definitely deal with them. Also, they blocked the travel agents from access. They also made only the expensive tickets available and so on so forth.

"Our regulators are not sleeping; we have a very vibrant Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. Once they found any airline guilty, that airline will be dealt with because we need to protect our people. It is according to our agreements, to what we have signed and this is according to international convention.

"So going forward, they should desist from doing things that are outside of the law. They should also desist from writing us and putting things in social media. They should go through diplomatic channels if they want response from federal government."

He disclosed that the foreign airlines made over $1.1 billion from Nigeria in 2016, when the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration cleared the $600 million it inherited from previous government, saying if it was retained in the country through Nigerian official airline, it would have created jobs.

Sirika recalled that the airlines remitted over $600 million to their home countries in 2016, while over $265 million has also been released this year out of about $484 million due to them.

OIL WORKERS BEGIN NATIONWIDE RALLIES AGAINST MASSIVE OIL THEFT TODAY

(OPEC) quota of 1.8 million barrels per day in July, Nigeria barely struggled to produce just over one million barrels per day.

Although a rash of measures, including the renewed deployment of security personnel, real-time monitoring of activities around the pipelines, the whistle-blower strategy, the handing over of a N4 billion monthly surveillance contract to ex-militant, Government Ekpemupolo, among others, have recently been taken, not much success has been recorded.

Osifo stated that it was the first time in years that crude oil prices would be going through the roof. But he lamented that as a country, Nigeria was still broke despite the about $100 oil price per barrel for months.

He stated, “As a country, we are still borrowing to fund our appropriations. This year alone, the Nigerian government has borrowed over N6 trillion to N7 trillion to finance our budget.”

The PENGASSAN president said if there was no crude oil theft and Nigeria was able to produce up to 1.9 million barrels per day, there would be no need to go for external and local borrowings to the extent that the manufacturing sector could no longer borrow from the banks.

He noted that PENGASSAN could no longer fold its arms after the failure of office consultations, adding that rallies would begin nationwide across the four zones today, and they would be tagged, “Chasing Oil Thieves and Vandals Out of Business.”

The PENGASSAN chief ex-

“It is also critical in that process that we include women. Women must be part of the decision-making. And women must be part of the design of the programmes that we make."

Wife of the vice president, Dolapo Osinbajo, said, “There is more work to be done” to mitigate GBV and its devastating effects on women and girls nationwide.

Citing some dismal statistics, Osinbajo said, “GBV is a global pandemic that statistics reveal affects one in three women in their lifetime.

This means 35 per cent of women worldwide have experienced either physical or sexual violence involving a known or unknown person.

“If these statistics are true, then there is work to be done, so LET’S DO THIS! Do what? Save her before she becomes a victim. Speak to him so he is not counted amongst the perpetrators.

“Enlighten on the result of bad choices: sexual harassment at work, school or home. Stand up for the girl that is chased around the office table by her superior at work. Do

day must develop the political will, the muscles to go after the oil thieves.”

PENGASSAN urged all Nigerians to come together, irrespective of party affiliation or political leaning, to tackle the problem because it was already affecting everyone.

Osifo added that since the federation had not been making money from the NNPCL, the only explanation for the funds being shared monthly was that money was being printed for the purpose on a monthly basis.

He quoted the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) as saying during a briefing last week that everyone from the top to the bottom, including security agencies, communities, oil workers, were involved in oil theft.

“So, it’s a total collusion and a total connivance,” Osifo maintained.

He stressed that it was inexplicable that despite the huge military presence in the Niger Delta waterways, oil theft was still taking place massively, insisting that the meagre number of persons arrested is not commensurate with the huge theft going on.

“This is the time for us to act,” he maintained. “The security men and women have become multimillionaires overnight.”

According to the PENGASSAN chief, some security officials now pay to be posted to the Niger Delta, and as far as that is happening, there will be no solution to the crisis.

“The total collusion is there and this collusion must stop,” the oil

workers leader declared.

Osifo said the massive theft of Nigeria’s commonwealth was not the solution to the neglect of the oil-producing areas. He stressed that the problem was also negatively affecting the derivation funds available to the states as well as the funds to be paid to communities under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

He stated, “For us, government must wake up. There must be consequences. You cannot send naval officers, civil defence, army to the creeks of the Niger Delta and you don’t develop a mechanism to hold them accountable. Accountability is key.”

He called on the service chiefs to hold their personnel accountable and be willing to send officers who connive to steal oil to prison, stressing that the routine transfer as punishment is no longer enough.

Osifo said, “After these rallies and there’s no traceable progress, our association may resort to withdraw our workforce from the operating companies because we cannot continuously send crude oil into pipelines and at the end of the day, they are vandalised and stolen.”

He added that when production was stopped due to vandalism and theft, the lives of oil workers were usually threatened.

“We can no longer condone this,” he added, pointing out that the environment has been totally destroyed in the Niger Delta.

“It is not a poor man’s business.

It’s a cartel because the technology needed to breach a pipeline has to be superb,” he said.

He said the government was trying to keep the airlines happy by ensuring that their money does not pile up again, saying while the country needs their services, the airlines need the Nigerian market.

The minister warned them to refrain from using the social media to press home their demands rather than resorting to the diplomatic channels.

Meanwhile, Sirika, has described as irresponsible, embarrassing and lies, a report in a national daily, (not THISDAY), that the federal government’s air project setup had already gulped over N14.6 billion of government’s funds despite having only five per stake in the airline.

He explained that government had only spent N651 million (N352 million and N299 million) for transactional advisory services approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), which he said was yet to be disbursed as the consultants were yet to finish their work.

Sirika, while commenting on Nigeria Air, said, “So Nigeria Air is on course, we are going to come very soon to council for approval of the full business case.

And the activity is a public private partnership, which is guided by the ICRC regulations, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission.

“We have diligently followed that.

And I want to seize the opportunity to say that we have been reading newspaper reports, especially those that I have maximum respect for like the Guardian, which put out a sensational article on the front page that the federal government of Nigeria has spent N14 billion on national carrier and they did nothing.

“This is absurd. This is unbecoming of a paper of that caliber to dish out lies on purpose to mislead the public. The entire amount of money spent on national carrier is around the transaction advisory services.

And we came here with a memo with approval, which we dished out to the press as to the quantum of money to be spent. It was N352 million in today's rate. And another contract of N299 million. That's it.

“I’m very embarrassed with this statement, it is not factual, is the true, is meant to mislead people.

Federal government is committed to establishing this career, we’ve gone very far. We’ve found partner.

We are negotiating, we will come to council and get the full business report approved. And then we will come here declare.”

On alleged secrecy in the project, the minister said: “There's also accusation as to secrecy in what we're doing. Nigeria, I'm very proud to say is the first country and maybe perhaps the only to put up a portal where all public private partnership activities is being uploaded on daily basis.

“People should not be pen lazy, not to research, not to ask questions in view of the Freedom of

Information Act in place.

“Every single query to me on my desk, using Freedom of Information Act, I had always obliged. There's nothing secret about government work anymore. And we're not keeping anything in secrecy.

“If anybody wants anything to do with a national carrier or any other project on civil aviation, you should go to our own website, to the website of ICRC and to the portal, everything is uploaded there.

“We have project delivery team in place by law, Project Steering Committee in place by law, and they're all members of very many ministries and agencies and parastatals including labour.

“The law didn't say we should include labour. But for maximum transparency, for fairness, we included labour in this activity, and they participated fully.

“So there's nothing secret about it. If you want anything come and ask us don't just be pen lazy and go out there and write what you want. It is not accepted by us and by government. And they will deliver this Nigeria Air for the benefit of people.

“Nigeria is 215 million people at the center of Africa, equal distance on own location with traveling public, rising middle class, propensity to fly this high.

Nigeria is certainly the candidate for national carrier, it will happen and it will ease our transport needs, inshallah.”

Stressing the importance of a national airline to the country’s economy as well as that of the continent, the Minister said: “Now, do you understand that the African continent under the AU agenda 2063, is looking for integration and interconnectivity? To go to Niami in Niger Republic, you have to fly to Paris and fly back. That is the case of Africa. We want to integrate Africa; we want to connect Africa.

And certainly we cannot do it by road, by rail, or by sea.

“By sea, most of the countries are landlocked. By rail, the quantum amount of money to spend to interconnect Africa and to maintain it is huge, and prohibitive. It can happen but much later. By road is also worse.

“So the easiest, the fastest, the most efficient way to do it is to develop civil aviation, of which we are doing. And that's why we're working on the single African Air Transport market in Africa. And so therefore, Nigeria was there before we started the Yamoussoukro decision and declaration and it rose through Single Africa Air Transport market to boost civil aviation.

“The key thing there is to have a very robust carrier, private, nonprofit, whatever kind of carrier that can match the kinds of carriers that come into Nigeria. 95% of the airlines that do activity in Africa, are not African, we are exporting the money out there.”

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INTERACTIVE MEETING...

L-R: Vice Chairman, Delta State Chapter of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Maikpobi Okareme; Chairman, Mr. Ken Robinson; Presidential candidate of Social Democratic Party, Adewole Adedayo, and PHOTO: KINGSLEY ADEBOYE Former Minister of Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung, during an interactive meeting with the presidential candidate of SDP in Abuja... recently

PDP Crisis: Ayu Survives Ouster as Party Announces Campaign Council Today Chairman’s case splits NWC, crisis gets messier Some ex-presidential aspirants absent at meeting with Atiku Party’s candidate meets Gana, Niger stakeholders Nobody can stop our stand against injustice, Wike, Makinde Insist Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, presided the party’s national caucus meeting last night in Abuja, an indication that the dark cloud hanging over his job might have been lifted, at least for now.

There had been moves for Ayu’s removal of late.

But the embattled PDP chair was seen walking with the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and laughing after the meeting held at Akwa Ibom Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.

A few protesters outside the venue of the caucus meeting carried anti-Ayu placards and chanted, "Ayu must go. There must be justice in PDP.” Details of the engagement were not known at the time of filing this report.

However, briefing newsmen after the meeting, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said, "We are ready to go. Members of the campaign council will be announced on Thursday (today), after the NEC meeting.”

On why most of the governors were absent at the caucus meeting, Ologunagba said, "Some of them were on holiday, outside the country.

They were represented by their deputies.”

The plot to remove Ayu by some southern members of the party had thickened before the caucus meeting, compounding the discontent within the main opposition party.

The intrigues, which continued ahead of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party today, had also factionalised the National Working Committee (NWC) of PDP along the north and south divides.

Many of the former presidential aspirants of the party did not turn up for a meeting with Atiku. Though, the former vice president later met with former Minister of Information, Jerry Gana, and Niger State PDP stakeholders.

Nonetheless, the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, and his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde, yesterday, insisted that no one could stop them from demanding justice in the party.

At the PDP NWC meeting yesterday, where some of the items on the agenda for the NEC and national caucus meetings were prepared, it

was learnt that the NWC members from the south moved against Ayu and insisted he must resign.

But Ologunagba quickly debunked the story, and said there was no time during the meeting that Ayu was asked to resign, "It never took place."

Rather, he said, the NWC resolved to get involved in the resolution of the crisis.

However, THISDAY was reliably informed that at the pre-NEC meeting, held at the national headquarters of the party, the NWC members from the south asked Ayu to resign as they had lost confidence in his leadership.

On Tuesday night, southern members of the NWC, led by Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, held a meeting at his residence, where they insisted that Ayu must be removed.

The same Tuesday, Deputy National Chairman (North) of the party, Umar Damagum, allegedly, met with some members at Wadata Plaza, where they, allegedly, countered the plot to remove Ayu. The outcome of the two meetings had led to yesterday's meeting of the northern and southern members of the NWC to finalise their position on Ayu, which would either be a vote of no confidence or a vote of confidence on him.

A PDP governor from the Northeast, as Atiku, was alleged to be financing the move to remove Ayu. But Atiku had yet to show interest in Ayu’s removal, and had been protecting him, a source said, adding that Atiku has developed cold feet on the matter.

The NEC and national caucus meetings had main two agenda. First, was to debate Ayu’s continued stay in office and, second, the ratification of the party's national campaign council.

The national caucus comprises all PDP governors, all members who are former presidents, former vice presidents, ex-senate presidents, and other presiding officers of the National Assembly, former national chairmen of the party as well as members of the NWC. It is an important organ of the party, as most decisions reached at the caucus meeting are merely ratified at the NEC meeting, which will hold today.

The national caucus is chaired by the incumbent national chairman of the party. But some governors and stakeholders had objected to

Ayu chairing the meeting. In his place, they wanted the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku, the national leader of PDP, to preside.

A series of meetings were held earlier to decide whether Ayu should be allowed to preside. If he had not been allowed to preside, then, it would be assumed that he had lost his position to the removal plot. He survived, however, having presided.

Those at the national caucus meeting, which started about 7.20pm, were former Deputy National chairman, Chief Bode George; Atiku and Nnamadi Sambo; Ayu; Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin and former Senate President Adolphus Wabara.

Others were former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido; deputy governors of Edo and Adamawa states, Philip Shaibu and Professor Kalatepwa Farauta, respectively, former governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi; former Minister of Police Affairs, Maina Waziri; Governor of Sokoto, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri; Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed; and National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Debo Ologunagba; Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu; former Imo State governor, Emeka Ihedioha; and Stella Omu, among others.

The host governor, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State,

was not in attendance. Other PDP governors, who could not make the meeting, were Wike, Makinde, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, and the governor of Taraba State, Daruus Ishiaku.

The governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, was in town but sent his deputy to represent him.

The deputy governors of Edo and Benue represented their governors.

In continuation of his consultations ahead of next year’s presidential election, Atiku, yesterday, met with former presidential aspirants of the party.

The meeting was attended by Mohammed Hayatudeen, Dania Olivia, Charles Ndukwe, and Dele Momodu. Those absent included the governors of Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanuel; Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; former Senate Presidents, Anyim Pius Anyim; and ex-senate president, Bukola Saraki, among others.

Meanwhile, Atiku wrote on his Twitter handle that he had a meeting with a delegation from Niger State, led by Gana.

He wrote, "It was my pleasure to host a delegation of PDP stakeholders from Niger State led by Professor Jerry Gana. We discussed issues of interest in promoting the growth of our party and ensuring that the PDP records a resounding success in the next year’s general election."

Nobody Can Stop Our Stand Against Injustice, Wike, Makinde Insist

Despite moves by no fewer than 17 governorship candidates of the PDP to resolve the crisis rocking the party Tuesday night, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike insisted that nobody could silence his demand for justice in the party.

Similarly, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde said he would continue to fight for the right things to be done in the party.

Wike spoke yesterday at the inauguration of Emohua campus of Rivers State University, and the flag-off of staff quarters, performed

by Makinde. The governor said the time of reckoning was coming for those, who continued to insist that they could take everything to themselves in PDP, saying such persons would definitely account for every wrong thing they had done.

Wike said, "That is why I am telling the people there, look, it cannot work. You can't take everything. If you take everything, it will purge you. So, better do the right thing now.

"Don't sit there and think that you can muzzle me and you can do everything, you can manipulate anything. You can think you have the number to make sure you take everything, but the time is coming

when you will account for it.

“If any PDP state is not doing well, don't think you will be voted for because APC is not doing well.

If a PDP state, for example, if in Rivers State we didn't do well, then you'll say because APC did not do well at the national, then the people will vote for us.

“They will tell you PDP didn't do well in Rivers State. People don't understand that. And that is why the party should respect us and know that we are the ones campaigning for the party, because we have what to use to campaign.”

Makinde, while performing the inauguration of the campus and flagoff of the staff quarters, stated that such multi-campus of a university would promote quality education, expand the scope of learning, and open up access to tertiary education.

Makinde noted the efforts by Wike as evidence of his vision and commitment to the good of the people of Rivers State. He said, "If children are doing all of these, I think what Nigeria needs are children. So, my brother (Wike) you can rest assured that Nigeria appreciates you.

"Even the fight that we lost, we did not lose with our heads bowed. We stood for the truth and for what is good for the country.

We will continue to fight for our Continued on page 42

Lagos State Insists Use of Setbacks as Parking Lot, Levies Legal Segun James Lagos state government yesterday said its decision to levy users of setbacks for parking lots was legal and that it was not out to extort residents in the state.

The State Commissioner for Transportation, Frederic Oladeinde’s clarification followed a government circular circulating on social media, in which the Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA) had issued a letter signed by its General Manager, levying a Lekki-based company the total sum of N290,000 for a parking lot outside their premises.

The Commissioner explained that contrary to claims, LASPA, the government was empowered by law to collect park levies.

He pointed out that the agency

was created to find lasting solutions to the issues of indiscriminate and illegal parking across the state.

Oladeinde said the operation of LASPA would aid in the prompt reduction of traffic gridlock experienced by residents, even as he urged Lagosians to cooperate with the agency and other similar stakeholders.

"As it is usually the case, especially in a political season, political jobbers and people with limited knowledge on the constitutional mandates of LASPA have tried fruitlessly to exaggerate the issue by playing to the gallery.

"LASPA was created to find lasting solution to the issues of indiscriminate and illegal parking across the state. This will aid in the prompt reduction of traffic gridlock experienced by everyone.

We, thus, enjoin Lagosians to cooperate with the agency and other similar stakeholders in carrying out its laudable mandate.

"The agency was established, among others, to promote parking policies tailored to suit the peculiarity of the State in line with modern international standards towards achieving a smart city.

"LASPA is also empowered to remove all impediments arising from indiscriminate parking on carriageways, thereby increasing the carriageway capacity on the roads, improving the flow of traffic, and reducing travel time.

"First our mandate is to improve the parking culture. We also believe that the establishment of the Authority also enables employment opportunities for the youths. In doing so, it is expected that revenue

generation will come naturally.”

Speaking further, he said: "We have the mandate to charge fees on private commercial parks, non-commercial parks, and other parking lots on any facility provided by the Authority.

"Let me emphasise that most private commercial parks charge Lagosians between N500 to N1,000 parking dues per hour and each person parking at these respective parks can have four stops over which sums up to N2,000 or N4,000 daily.

"At the end of the year, the commercial park owner will realise over N182,500 or N365,000 if charge is per hour or gain a total N730,000 or N1,460,000 for 4 stopovers. This is the price most Lagosians pay to commercial park owners.”

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COURTESY VISIT...

L-R: Commissioner representing Taraba State, Alhaji Armaya'u Abubakar; Acting Corps Marshal, FRSC, Dauda Ali Biu; Executive Chairman, Federal Character Commission, Muheeba Dankaka, and Corps Public Education Officer, FRSC, Bisi Kazeem, during the Acting Corps Marshal's courtesy visit to Federal Character Commission in Abuja... yesterday

ADC Crisis Deepens as Nwosu-led NWC Suspends 17 State Chairmen Alleges caretaker committee constituted was illegal Appoints new BoT chairman Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) got messier yesterday when the Ralph Nwosu-led National Working Committee (NWC) suspended 17 state chairmen and some other members of the party for constituting an interim caretaker committee to pilot the affairs of the party.

He described the caretaker committee constituted as illegal.

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of ADC, of which the state chairmen are members had on Monday constituted an eight-man caretaker committee to pilot the affairs of the party following the expiration of Nwosu-led exco. The NEC had at the weekend announced Nwosu’s suspension.

The newly appointed caretaker committee was chaired by Senator Patricia Akwashiki, who is the current chairman of the Board of Trustees, while Hon. Kennedy Odion is to act as Secretary.

Other members of the new interim national leadership of the ADC include, Ms. Angela Johnson, Prof. Kabiru Dangogo, Manzo Ibrahim, Hon. Lesanmi Omolayo, Hon Kingsley Temitope Ogga and Barr. Emma Dibia as legal Adviser.

But in a counter move, the Nwosu-led NWC party said all members of the, “illegal caretaker

committee have been suspended by the party.”

In a statement jointly signed by its National Chairman, Nwosu, and National Secretary, Mr. Said Abdullahi also suspended the former National Vice Chairman, North-east, Alhaji Ibrahim Manzo from the party.

The suspended state chairmen as announced by Nwosu were: Mr. Kingsley Temitope Oggah (Kogi State); Mr. Kennedy Odion (Edo State); Alhaji Auwal Abba Barde (Gombe State); Mr. Leader Sampson (Rivers State); Mr. Johnny Tovie Derek (Bayelsa State); Mr. Elias Adikwu (Benue State); Alhaji Bello Isiyaku (Sokoto State); Mallam

Muhammed Khala Jidda (Borno State).

Others were: Mr. Ilesanmi Omolayo Joel (Ekiti State); Mr. Kabiru Hussaini (Jigawa State) Mr. Patrick Ambut (Kaduna State); Barr. Emmanuel Dibia (Delta State); Clement Ehigiator (FCT); Alhaji Musa Hassan (Niger State); Alaka Godwin William (Nassarawa State); Hon. Samuel Gyang (Plateau State); and Mr. Bala Suffiayanu (Kebbi State).

The party stressed that the replacements of the suspended chairmen would be announced in due course.

The embattled Nwosu-led NWC also announced that the former

party.

“That Alhaji Ibrahim Manzo, former National Vice Chairman, North East is hereby suspended from the party.

"That due to the anti-party activities, act(s)/conducts and utterances aimed to bring the Party into disrepute, attempts to destabilise our great party and undue negative publicity, and various other activities in contravention of Article 15 of our party constitution, the following state chairmen are hereby suspended from the party."

The Nwosu faction also announced the expulsion of the former Abia State Chairman, Mr.

Don Norman from the party.

The party also urged all Wards, LGAs and States Executives to continue structuring the party at the grassroots for campaign take-off.

It also encouraged all candidates not to be distracted by the rather unfortunate activities of the agents trying to distract the party, but focus on the planning, contact and mobilisation and structuring of their electioneering campaign.

The party also invited all National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) Candidates to the party Headquarter for the collection of their certificates of return on Monday, 12th September, 2022.

ASUU Strike: FG Will Not Rescind ‘No Work, No Pay,’ Says Minister Reveals Nigeria loses N28.65bn to education tourism Kuni Tyessi in Abuja and Uche Nnaike in Lagos The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu yesterday maintained that the offer made to the university lecturers under the umbrella of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) that are presently on strike was sustainable.

He said the offer was reached

considering available resources, even as he maintained that the government’s position on ‘no work, no pay’ stands.

The minister who spoke yesterday during an interview on Channels Television, said the offer made by the present administration could not be compared with that of the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan when the sum of N1.3

PDP CRISIS: AYU SURVIVES OUSTER AS PARTY ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN COUNCIL TODAY space within PDP. We will fight for what is good for our people."

How PDP Guber Candidates Tried to Resolve Atiku, Wike Feud Seventeen governorship candidates of PDP said they were in Rivers State, yesterday, to try to resolve the feud between Atiku and Wike.

The Kaduna State PDP governorship candidate, Isa Mohammed Bashiru, spoke to journalists at the end of their closed-door meeting with Wike at his private residence at Rumuepirikom, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

Bashiru, who spoke on behalf of the other candidates, said they were hopeful of a positive outcome.

He said they had earlier met with Atiku .

Bashiru revealed that they would meet with the NWC before taking a decision on the matter.

He stated, "The talk was fruitful, open discussion with all sincerity.

And we are home and dry. We met and discussedd issues that bordered

presidential candidate of the party, Dr. Mani Ahmed has been appointed as the new Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman.

The statement read: "At the emergency NWC and Critical Stakeholders’ Meeting, held at the Global Campus and Transformation Center of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, on Tuesday, 6th September, 2022, the following resolutions were proposed and adopted: “That Dr. Mani Ibrahim Ahmed, the 2015 Presidential Candidate and 2023 Presidential Aspirant of ADC, has been appointed the new Board of Trustees (BOT) Chairman of the

on the situation within the party.

An internal matter is not for you to get details into. But, we are through.

"We have discussed with the presidential candidate (Atiku). We are here with our brother and friend (Wike). And issues that border on what has happened have been sorted out. The issue is being resolved as far as I am concerned. We have heard from both sides and we are going to meet with the National Working Committee to take a decision."

Rivers PDP Chief Blames Atiku for Party's Internal Crisis

A PDP chieftain in Rivers State, Princewill Dike, blamed Atiku and the national leadership of the party for mismanaging an internal crisis that should have been handled better and not allowed to escalate to the current level.

Dike, a Port Harcourt-based lawyer, said Wike was fighting for justice, inclusiveness and equity and

had the sympathies of many of his colleagues, party leaders and many Nigerians, stressing that to avoid embarrassment at the 2023, Atiku should consider the demands of Wike and his camp.

Describing Wike as a force, a performer, and great mobiliser, Dike said the Rivers State governor remained the backbone of PDP. He said any attempt to call his bluff would spell doom to the party's moves to reclaim the centre.

Dike said it was inconceivable that all key positions in the party, such as national chairman, presidential candidate, and chairman of the Board of Trustees were occupied by the north, to the detriment of the south, which had sustained the party.

The PDP chieftain said Atiku and the PDP would be playing God if they decided to go into a crucial election in 2023 with a flawed and northernised PDP structure.

Continued online

trillion was promised the union and to be paid in the spread of six years.

He said the Jonathan’s administration agreement was not feasible and could not be realisable due to resources that were not available.

In reaction to the sum of N28.65 billion that the country had lost to education tourism from 1998- 2018, due to the incessant industrial action and how it continues to put pressure on the forex market, the minister said going out of the country for studies was not a bad idea after all.

"It is not bad to go out and study. I still remember when the Chinese government wanted to neutralise persons from other countries and 100,000 Nigerian students were sent out, and there was also another batch of 100,000 that were sent there.

“This was done twice. Nigerian universities should try to attract students and this will attract education tourism. So, it's not a bad thing."

Speaking further, the minister said public universities would not be privatised but would be encouraged to source for funding, adding that "We have to look for ways to fund the education system with the help of the private sector.

Funding is the biggest problem.

When you talk of funding, you must also talk of corruption which is endemic."

He said the decision reached

on the issue of "no work, no pay," which had also been in contention between the government and the union, Adamu stated that the decision was not punitive. He, however, said it was unlikely that the government would rescind its decision, noting that "greatness is made with sacrifices. No sacrifice, no price."

On President Muhammadu Buhari's perceived body language of nonchalance to the situation, the minister said "I don't allow body language to make me reach a conclusion. No government in recent past has made access to higher education like the Buhari’s administration.

"Despite the offer, the union is yet to call off the strike. The solution towards ending the strike which the Buhari- led administration is putting out is sustainable. It's a one-off thing and not like that of the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. The money was just not there and I don't think they had the mind to do so.

"We are trying to resolve issues before the next government comes in. Once ASUU takes the offer, then the strike will be over.

"The federal government has made their offer and it is what government can take. Since we started the negotiation, the offer has been there. Most people make the mistake of thinking that it's when strike is on that negotiation takes place. There's a committee

in that since I became minister.”

He added: "I empathise with the students and their parents in which I am one. Time has been lost and it's very unfortunate for a teacher to say that time lost will not be revisited and covered in syllabus.

“If the federal government was a person, it has made enough sacrifices that it can make. Time has been lost and that's sad.

"The level of education in Nigeria at the moment is not a failure, but can be better. I am very proud of the private universities and what they are doing, but they are only 2 percent of the Nigerian population."

Adamu assured Nigerians that he would do his best to end the strike.

“Fellow Nigerians, I sit here promising you that I will do the best I can to see that the ASUU strike is called off, and even without making this pledge to you, my intention is immediately after this interview, I am going to meet the president of ASUU and it is not going to be a social visit. It is just in continuation of what we have been doing before.

“I do not have the words to tell the nation the weight I feel of this strike on my shoulders and I will do the best I can to end it.

The agreement we reached or the position that I offered is something government can pay if they say they will agree,” he said.

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CELEBRATING EVENING MASS...

L-R: Chaplain, Imo State Government House, Rev. Fr. Dr. Gilbert Alaribe, wife of the Governor of Imo State, Barr (Mrs.) Chioma Uzodimma, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and His Eminence, Peter Cardinal Okpaleke when the latter came to celebrate evening Mass at the Chapel...Tuesday.

Tinubu: We're Not Threatened by Fake Statistics Reeled Off By Other Parties Says no rift between him and Adamu Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday, said he was confident and not threatened by fake statistics and wrong figures being reeled off by other political parties ahead of the 2023 elections.

He also said there was no rift between him and the National Chairman of the party, Senator

Abdullahi Adamu, contrary to some media reports.

Tinubu stated this while addressing members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party at their national secretariat in Abuja.

He had a meeting with Adamu for about one hour behind closeddoors before meeting with other NWC members, which lasted more than two hours.

Tinubu, who arrived at the

secretariat at exactly 2:47pm was in company with APC Director General of campaign and Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong; the Secretary, Hon. James Faleke; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and the Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, among others.

Tinubu, who visited the party headquarters for the first time after he emerged the presidential standard bearer for the 2023 elec-

tions, said his meeting with NWC members was to consult further on the organisation and structure for the campaign.

His words: "Yes! I admit that democracy is challenging, very hard and difficult a system to manage.

We have seen challenges left and right. But we are determined to ensure that we democratise Nigeria fully and remain a beacon of democracy as the largest nation of black race in the world."

Tinubu, who thanked the NWC members for the good work they have been doing, also appreciated Adamu for cooperation and collaboration particularly, and for various wisdom and interactions that they have been having together.

He added: "To the rumour manufacturers, I read in some papers about disagreement between myself and the chairman and that was a very big lie. They didn't know that we have come a long way.

Aniagwu: Atiku Already Working on Anti-corruption Bill Says Obasanjo not opposed to his presidential bid Wike remains eminent PDP chieftain Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba One of the spokesperson of the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign, Charles Aniagwu, yesterday, at his maiden press conference, in Asaba, disclosed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has already begun to work on an anti-corruption bill, in anticipation of his victory.

Aniagwu, who said the bill was one of the strategic executive bills being prepared by Atiku ahead of 2023, added that such a move was sufficient proof that the PDP candidate planned to hit the ground running on May 29, 2023.

He said Atiku would not be a reluctant leader if he won the 2023 election as he was prepared to hit the ground running in rescuing Nigeria from mismanagement and to restore hope for the citizens through a comprehensive blueprint to address the critical issues in the country, including corruption.

Moreover, the list of ministerial nominees would be in the public domain even before he is sworn in as the president to enable Nigerian subject the nominees to proper scrutiny, and before they could appear for the statutory scrutiny and clearance at the National Assembly.

Rather than dissipate energy on talking about the numerous problems confronting the nation, he said the PDP standard-bearer has decided that the Atiku-Okowa ticket must be issue-based and solution driven all through, pointing out that presidential hopeful rather "wants to walk the talk."

His words: "As I speak to you, I can challenge every other candidate, none has anything codified as a

book. Atiku already has what he called 'My Covenant with Nigeria'.

"I challenge any other candidate running in this election to tell you what they want to do, in a much more assembled form; not only to identify the problems but also how to solve the problems.

"The best thing we can do to this country is to I proffer solutions and to proceed, after winning the election by God's grace, to ensure that those solutions are tailor-made to tackle those challenges that confront us today as a country."

On the perceived no-lovelost situation between the PDP candidate and former president

Olusegun Obasanjo, Aniagwu said Obasanjo was definitely not opposed to his former presidential deputy of eight years, saying he was confident that elder statesman would eventually throw his weight behind the Atiku-Okowa 2023 ticket in line with his famous patriotic disposition.

He noted that despite their perceived differences in the past, Atiku could be said to be Obasanjo's candidate in 2019, because he did not hide his preference for his former deputy, who was then PDP candidate.

According to Aniagwu, who is also Delta State Commissioner for

Information, being a detribalised Nigerian was one of the features that advised Obasanjo's choice of Atiku in 1999, at a time the latter was set to be governor.

He said Atiku did not disappoint Obasanjo as the vice-president, using his local business and international influence to work with his principal to attract prominent technocrats, men and women, who were not politicians, into the administration, including Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Dr Olusegun Aganga and Prof Charles Soludo.

He used the opportunity to debunk claims in some quarters

that the former vice-president planned to hands off the operation of all federal government owned universities if he won the presidency next year, saying he was misunderstood as his proposed policies towards quality education in the country were clearly spelt out in his pre-2023 election agenda He allayed fears that the lingering feud with the Governor of Rivers State, Nwesom Wike, could negatively affect the electoral fortunes of the party in 2023, stressing that Wike remained a formidable force in the party, who was poised to swing victory for PDP in that state next year.

The big masquerade dances not in the cage but in the market square.

"And that is what Adamu used to be, full of wisdom. We were governors together, before God put us together on this project again. He is going to deliver as the chairman of the party for me to become the president of Nigeria.

And I am very confident of that.

"They can say whatever they want to say, throw all the jabs that they want, we are a party strongly determined to fulfil our dreams of turning Nigeria to a very progressive, highly developed, prosperous country."

While addressing journalists after the meeting, he was asked if he was not threatened with what he has seen about how other political parties are strategising, Tinubu said APC was committed to democratic principles and values.

"We are not threatened. We are confident and we are very proud of ourselves, we are in orderly manner, we are committed to democratic principles and value; we are not bickering in any way and you know that. Can you say that of the other parties? We are not spewing out fake statistics and wrong figures, can you say that of any other parties? Well, we are what we are, a progressive party."

Earlier, Adamu said since Tinubu's nomination, yesterday was the first time he would visit the party secretariat.

Ekiti, World Bank Donate N300m to Technical Schools Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

Three Technical Colleges in Ekiti State have benefitted from the World Bank assisted IDEAS project to the tune of N300 million.

The funding is to enhance skills and manpower development for the formal and informal sectors.

Presenting the cheques to the benefitting colleges at a ceremony in Ado-Ekiti, Governor Kayode Fayemi, implored everyone to embrace it and partake in the activities so that many people can benefit from the intervention.

The benefitting colleges were Government Technical Colleges, Otun, Government Technical College, Ijero and Government technical College, Igbara Odo. They got $250,000 each.

The Governor who made the presentation further assured the people that his administration was more

committed to providing enabling environment for developmental projects in the state and charged all partakers to adhere strictly to all bank’s guidelines in the course of project implementation.

Fayemi who was elated at the World Bank IDEAS project which he said would assist his government to accelerate programmes targeted at youth empowerment, said the project would focus on collaborating with the state in the training of teachers to impact technical education knowledge which he said could not be driven by government alone but through collaboration with the private sector.

While reassuring the people of the state that he would live the state better than he met it in 2018, Fayemi said he was glad that enrolment in all the six technical colleges in the state, which was barely 700 in 2018, is currently at about 2,500.

This, he said was achieved through constant sensitisation and all round improvement in the colleges.

He also noted that the state would continue to promote sustainable development through the use of, “our brilliant hands to keep pace with the dynamic technological trend in the world by helping to reduce the saturated labour market and escalated poverty rate of citizens.”

The governor expressed appreciation to officials of the World Bank and the federal government for their developmental projects from which Ekiti State had always been a prime beneficiary.

Ekiti was one of the six states in Nigeria and the only state in the Southwest that is participating in the project.

“IDEAS is a World Bank assisted project that is designed to fill skill gaps at both the public and private

sectors. Ekiti State is one of the six benefitting states.

“The facilities at the Government Technical Colleges at Igbara Odo, Ijero and Otun will be upgraded and modernised. In addition, all the teachers and instructors will be adequately trained, so also in the private sector, skills of Master Craft Persons and their apprentices will be enhanced.

“Many will recall that we launched the concept of Life Academics during my first term in office. We started the revamping of the Technical Colleges with the total reconstruction and equipping of the Government Technical College, Ado-Ekiti.

“In a bid to improve the state technical colleges, Ekiti State Government recruited 70 teaching staff and 55 non-teaching staff to improve productivity. Perimeter fencing of the colleges is ongoing.

“Attention must be drawn to the fact that the state has experienced over 300 per cent increase in students’ enrolment into our technical colleges; from 700 in 2018 to 2505 in 2022. This was made possible through constant sensitisation and motivational programmes of the government.

“In fulfilment of the promise I made to Ekiti-kete at the beginning of this year, precisely on January 1, that I will work for you till the last day of this administration. I am keeping faith with that sacred pact, even with renewed vigour.

“From now till October 16, when I gracefully hand over the baton to our governor-elect, events like this will be commonplace as we continue in our quest to make life better for the generality of our people, and bequeath a formidable foundation for our growth and economic stability,” the governor said.

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PRESENTATION OF CHEUQE TO WOMEN AT RISK...

L-R: Head of Desk, Human Interest News Legit.ng, Rahamon Abiola; Public Relations Manager, Human Interest News Legit.ng, Catherine Toneson; Head of Communications, Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN Boluwatito Awe; and Clinical Head/Centre Manager (WARIF), Aniekan Makanjuola at the presentation of Cheuqe to Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), in Lagos…yesterday

FG: Media Trial of INEC REC Nominees Unfair Calls for patience for process to be exhausted

Deji Elumoye in Abuja The federal government has reacted to the criticism that heralded the nomination of some individuals

by President Muhammadu Buhari to serve as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), calling for patience for the process to be exhausted.

Some civil society organisations including the Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), YIAGA Africa, the Kukah Centre, International Press Centre (IPC), Centre for Media and Society, The Albino Foundation, Elect Her, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Partners for Electoral Reform and Inclusive Friends Association, among others, had alleged that some of the nominees, whose names Buhari passed on to the Senate, were card-carrying members of political parties and others standing trial on corruption charges.

Reacting to the allegation and demand for the president to withdraw those alleged to have been affected, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, pointed out that it would be premature to expect the president to act on yet to be proven allegations, noting that media trial of nominees was unfair.

Responding to a question on the demand by the organisations, Mohammed who spoke with newsmen after the weekly Federal

Executive Council Meeting, at the StateHouse, Abuja, said electioneering had changed under Buhari.

The minister, who pointed out that the electoral process had greatly improved under Buhari’s watch, however, further assured Nigerians, especially those still suspicious of the president’s actions and motives.

“I think you are going to be very fair to Mr. President. Over the last couple of years, you had very transparent, free and fair elections.

We all know what used to obtain before we came. Before we came, it was quite almost impossible for a ruling party to lose any election in any state, maybe governorship.

“We've witnessed, whether in Anambra, whether in Osun, that Mr. President has lived up to his commitment to free and fair elections and I'm sure the same will apply come 2023.

“As to the nominees that are being challenged by social media warriors and by some critics, I don't think it is the business of the President to immediately throw out the nominees, based on allegations which have not been proven.

“I think the whole idea is that these people will go for confirmation in the National Assembly, the same questions that are being raised in the public domain will be asked there.

“I think this media trial is quite worrisome because even when these people are cleared of any wrong doings, nobody comes back to apologise to them. So, my advice

is, yes, there'll be allegations against anybody. It does not mean that that fellow is guilty. Let's wait for the process to be completed,” he said.

Mohammed also spoke on the issue of fuel queues developing in and around Abuja, describing it as a local matter, which was being resolve.

“I'm aware of the queue in some parts of Abuja, but my investigations showed that is rather a local matter and I think it will be resolved very soon.

“With respect to the Orosanye Report, I think what Mr. President said was that the Presidency will review that report and act upon

Urges INEC, supreme court to respect will of Nigerians in 2023 general election Peter Uzoho The Prelate of the Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church (Worldwide), Dr. David Bob-Manuel, has expressed concern over the spate of insecurity across Nigeria, the ongoing strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the inability of the government and other state actors to contain the challenges.

The cleric also called on the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deliver a free, fair and credible election come 2023, while also urging the Supreme Court to take a cue from its Kenyan counterpart and ensure it respects the will of the people when looking into the post-election petitions.

Bob-Manuel stated this yesterday, during a world press conference held at the church's headquarters in Lagos, which marked the com-

mencement of his fifth induction anniversary as the prelate of the church.

Noting that security of life and properties were the primary objectives of every government all over the world, he said the spate of insecurity in Nigeria was increasing exponentially in an alarming rate as each day passes bye.

The prelate said, "No part of the country is spared — from the North to East, the South to West, and no one is safe. There is banditry, insurgency, terrorist incursions, secessionist agitations and kidnappings resulting in loss of life and destruction of properties.

"Everyone is burdened daily with emotional and psychological trauma as a result of gruesome murder of loved ones, payment of ransom on loved ones and the general populace living in fear of the unknown.

"Our dear country, Nigeria, would have been plunged into

FEC approves N829m for road linking Anambra to Enugu The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) Establishment Bill, 2022.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, who made this known to newsmen after the weekly FEC meeting, at the State House, Abuja, explained that the NSIP Establishment Bill is an Executive Bill, aimed at giving legal backing to the social investment programme, establish it as an

institution in line with President Buhari’s agenda, to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2030.

She also stated that the Council approved the National Flood Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan for Nigeria; to enable more resilient and effective response-measures to tackle flooding in the country.

According to her, the plan is going to be multi-sectorial and multi stakeholders plan which sets out clear roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder involved in flood preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery.

development on it, but please let me find out and ask.

“Secondly, what is the prove, what is the evidence that the federal government ordered it, but like I said, it will be a bit unfair to expect me to react to a story that broke while I was in Council,” he said.

Prelate Laments Rising Insecurity, Protracted ASUU Strike, Others

FG Okays 2022 NSIP Establishment Bill to Institutionalise Measures to Reduce Poverty Deji Elumoye in Abuja

it”, he said.

Asked to react to the reported arrest of the negotiator with terrorists, Tukur Mamu, on federal government’s orders, the minister said, “on a more serious note, what I’m saying is that if a story broke while we were in Council, there’s no way I can give you any

Also Wednesday, FEC approved the sum of N829.8 million as augmentation for the revised estimated cost for the rehabilitation of a road in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria, linking Anambra and Enugu States.

Minister of State for Works and Housing, Umar El-Yakub, who disclosed this to newsmen stressed that "the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing presented a memorandum seeking Council’s approval for the revised estimated total cost of contract for the rehabilitation of Nkwo-Inyi-Akwegoze road in Anambra State’s border

with Enugu State.

“The purpose of the memo was to seek Council’s approval for an augmentation of the cost of the project, to the tune of N829, 888, 825.53 with a completion period of six months. One of the essences of this augmentation is not only revising the rate but to ensure more longevity for the road, using asphaltic concrete binder”.

According to him, the contract was originally awarded in 2018 is a strategic inter-state road that has a heavy traffic and its completion would ease the traffic.

religious and ethnic wars were it not only for the grace of God Almighty through the continuous prayers of the elects."

Imploring the present leadership to find a lasting solution to the continuing siege and nightmare which the challenge of insecurity constitutes to the nation and its people, Bob-Manuel urged the government to continue to invest in effective modern methodology, security technologies and manpower.

He said they should listen to the yearnings of the people for restructuring and state police, which he said would be of great impact in solving this issue of insecurity.

Apart from the insecurity, the cleric said the on-going strike by ASUU was one of the most burning issues in Nigeria, pointing out that the university lectures had been on strike since February 2022, over six months ago.

He said such prolonged interruption of university education undermines development of human capital and makes the certificates obtained from the affected tertiary institutions of little or no value.

Describing the advancement of quality education as the bedrock of technological development of any country, he noted that public universities, which were the delight of all parents had been brought to its lowest ebb.

According to him, it should be unacceptable for any nation to allow her youths to be out of school for so long, roaming about the streets and left with the vagaries of life.

He, therefore, urged the federal government, ASUU and all stakeholders in the educational sector to resolve the lingering strike with the urgency it demands in order to save the sector from total collapse.

Bob-Manuel said the effect of immediate resolution of the conflict would positively resonate in the education sector and enhance

qualitative learning.

Commenting on the forthcoming 2023 general elections, the prelate said the regulatory body charged with the conduct of the election must be committed to conducting free, fair and credible elections for the sustainability of democracy in Nigeria.

"It (INEC) must carry out its duties independently, free from external forces and guided by best international practices and standards," he added.

He also urged the Supreme Court, which he described as the last hope of the common man to ensure it respects the will of the people when looking into the post-2023 election petitions.

As Nigerians look forward to the 2023 general election, Bob-Manuel maintained that it was expedient for all the citizens to choose a leader who has the solution to the perennial socio-economic and security problems confronting the nation.

"All Nigerians who are of voting age must play their roles as stakeholders by discharging their civic duties by voting for the candidates of their choice. We all must be part of the democratic process in order to ensure peaceful transition to a new dawn.

"The youths must not allow themselves to be used as any political thugs and hoodlums to disrupt the electoral process. It is my candid advice for all voters to reject Greek gifts offered by the politicians to cause mayhem during and after the elections or given to mortgage their future.

"I passionately urge all Nigerians to prayerfully choose their leaders, more so, I encourage all members of this Holy Order who have gotten to the voting age to get their Permanent Voters Card and effectively participate by voting for candidates of their choice," the prelate added.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2022˾ T H I S D AY

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ONE WELLNESS FERTILITY CENTRE…

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Cedarcrest Hospitals, Dr Felix Ogedengbe; Practice Manager, One Wellness Centre, Dr Chibuki Aigbe; Fertility Specialist, One Wellness Centre, Dr. Joe Khalifeh; Chief Executive Officer, Pretty Baubles, Hilda Egboh, and Fertility Specialist, One Wellness Centre, Dr Jean Nassar, at the unveiling of One Wellness’ fertility centre in Victoria, Lagos…yesterday

Akeredolu: Allow Amotekun Carry Sophisticated Weapons to Defend our People Amotekun arrests 22 roberry suspects

Fidelis DavidinAkure

Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) yesterday asked the federal government to allow Amotekun and other state security outfits bear sophisticated arms to protect the people. The governor

made the call just as operatives of Amotekun arrested 22 suspects for various criminal offences ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery, stealing, snatching of motorbikes among others in Ondo State.

The governor also clarified his position on the Oil Pipeline

Surveillance contract awarded to private individuals and organisations, saying his position was to allow Amotekun bear heavy arms like the non-state actors who were engaged to protect the oil pipelines.

Governor Akeredolu spoke at the inauguration of the newly reconstructed office complex at the Ondo State Oil Producing

Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC) in Oba-Ile, Akure North Local Government Area.

Decrying the precarious security situation in the country, Akeredolu vowed that he will continue to take the bull by the horn to protect the people of the state.

He said: “Most of the people and even some of my colleagues didn’t

really understand my position on the oil pipeline surveillance contract.

I have no issue with the federal government awarding surveillance contract to anybody. It is federal government’s money. They can use it anyhow they want.

“Here, we are spending our money on Amotekun. And what I said in my statement titled “Who

Actually Needs Weapon” was that the federal government should allow Amotekun carry sophisticated weapon like those whom they awarded pipelines surveillance contract. If you can allow individuals to carry heavy arms to protect pipelines, why won’t you allow Amotekun to carry sophisticated weapon to protect the people.”

YinkaKolawoleinOsogbo

“Okada” riders always sleep with their wives and if care is not taken they would eventually marry their wives. The special constables had stormed Oke-Fia and marched down to the popular Olaiya Flyover, Osogbo, in protest, alleging that the government has owed them for 18 months.

The protesters complained that they have not been paid any salary

since the completion of their training in May 2021.Some of the protesters rode on motorcycles carrying three passengers each while others who dressed in black police uniform armed themselves with placards with various inscription such as “Pay our salary now,” “Okada rider are sleeping with our wives,” etc.

The aggrieved police constabularies lamented that tricycle and bike riders

have snatched their wives due to their inability to take care of them and their children.

Speaking with reporters in Osogbo yesterday, Constable Tijani Adewale, said that despite the fact that they have not been paid they were really committed to their duties, saying that no fewer than three constabularies have lost their lives in the course of discharging their duties.

Medic West Africa Facilitates Collaborations to Transform Police Constabularies Protest Non-payment of Salaries in Osun Healthcare Infrastructure Amogh Wadwalkar, this event Rebecca Ejioma The Medic West Africa Exhibition and Conference are connecting leading players across the healthcare sector to a solid platform for strategic collaborations and knowledge sharing to transform the healthcare infrastructure.

The company is doing this through the ongoing exhibition, which started yesterday and will end tomorrow, September 9, at the Landmark Centre, Lagos.

At the exhibition stakeholders are across the sector are exploring the latest technological advancement in healthcare equipment and solutions.

According to the Exhibition Manager, Medic West Africa,

serves as a one-stop shop for all healthcare sourcing and procurement needs in the region.

It is currently featuring leading local and international industry players as scheduled exhibitors while hosting several interactive sessions.

With over 150 exhibiting companies representing 32 countries and an expected over 5,000 attendees, Medic West Africa offers an exceptional networking and business hub for key parties in the healthcare ecosystem.

It is also driving discourse on key challenges affecting the regional healthcare systems to unearth sustainable solutions.

No fewer than 480 youths recruited as constabularies into the Nigeria Police Force to complement the police in maintaining security in Osun State, yesterday staged a protest in Osogbo, Osun State capital, due to non-payment of their 18 months’ salary.

The protesters also alleged that

You Lack Jurisdiction to Handle Oni’s Petition,Oyebanji Tells Tribunal Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-man Election Petitions Tribunal began sitting in Ado Ekiti yesterday, as the Governorelect, Biodun Oyebanji and the All Progressives Congress (APC) filed preliminary objections against

the case instituted by Mr. Segun Oni of the Social Democratic Party.

The preliminary objections, which was dated September 1, 2022, and filed by Oyebanji’s Lead Counsel, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), contended that the tribunal lacked the jurisdictional power to handle the case, saying that

only a High Court could handle a pre-election matter.

Oni, through his Lawyer, Obafemi Adewale (SAN), was contending the propriety of the Yobe State Governor, Mr. Mai Mala Buni, to hold sway as a governor and Chairman, APC Caretaker Committee that organised the

primary that produced Oyebanji as governorship candidate.

Oni posited that it was an act of illegality for Buni to hold such position while also presiding as Yobe State’s governor, saying this contradicted the APC’s constitution that forbids elected officials from holding party positions.

Killed as Robbers Attack Three Banks in Kogi Kebbi Gov Dissolves Executive Council Five Relation Officer, Mr. William Ayah, Sources told THISDAY that the the robbers.

Ibrahim OyewaleinLokoja Ismail Adebayo in Birnin Kebbi

The Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, has dissolved the State Executive Council (SEC), with effect from yesterday, September 7, 2022.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Babale Umar Yauri, and made available to newsmen.

The statement said that the governor sincerely appreciated the individual contributions of

each member of the cabinet and thanked them for their dedication to duty and ensuring peace and steady development of the state during their respective tenure in office.

Bagudu further commended all the members of the dissolved council for their performance while a reconstituted SEC would be announced soon.

The statement indicated that some of the members of the dissolved council may be reappointed as well as others from outside.

Presbyterian Church Holds Maiden Triennial Conference in Abuja

Rebecca Ejifoma

The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria (Abuja Central Presbyterian Women’s Guild) is set to hold its maiden triennial conference today, September 8, at 5 Boke Close, Wuse II in Abuja beginning from at 9 am.

With the theme, “A Royal Priesthood” and a sub-theme,

“Women of Royalties”, the programme will run from Thursday, September 8 to Saturday, September 10th this year.

Among the speakers are the moderator and ACP/Coordinator ACPWG, (Rt.) Rev. Eunice O. Kalu; the guest ministers, Prophet Jellyson Bassey and Rev (Evang) Martins Ukaba.

No fewer than five persons have allegedly been killed by the dare devil robbers who attacked three commercial banks in Ankpa, Kogi State.

The robbery incidents occurred simultaneously at about 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday’s afternoon.

hoodlums stormed the town with dangerous weapons to carry the dastardly acts.

It was gathered that at least two females and three other persons were killed and one of them was said to have been deposited at Grace Hospital while another female, Ummi, was also hit by bullet of

The sources, however, hinted that a call was put to the public to come and identify the corpses after the incidents.

The Kogi State Police Command has also confirmed the robbery attacks on the three commercial banks in a press statement issued by the command’s Police Public

in Lokoja yesterday.

The statement reads: “Consequent upon the robbery attack on the banks in Ankpa simultaneously, the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Police Command, CP. Edward Egbuka, immediately led a team of tactical operatives to the scenes for on-the-spot assessment.

Zulum Shares N400m, Food, Textiles to Bama Residents More than 90,000 vulnerable male and female residents as well as community groups in Bama yesterday received N400 million cash, bags of food and textiles as humanitarian support from Borno Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum.

Zulum arrived Bama on Monday as he approaches

his third day of undertaking humanitarian and developmental activities.

According to a 2016 assessment report co-authored by the World Bank, the EU, United Nations and Nigerian Government, Bama is identified as the worst affected

by Boko Haram’s destructions and displacement, hence Borno

Government’s special attention on areas of reconstruction and humanitarian aid.

Zulum, from early morning yesterday flagged off the distribution and more than 60,000 male residents each received two bags of rice and maize while 30,000 female residents each received a wrapper and N5,000 cash.

Governor Zulum was said to be directly involved in coordinating the aid distribution to ensure substantial reach and transparency.

The governor also met and approved cash and food support to numerous groups including those of volunteers, elders, different levels of traditional rulers who help in intelligence gathering.

Gunmen Kidnap Local Government Chairman in Plateau Seriki Adinoyi in Jos The Executive Chairman of Kanke Local Government Council in Plateau State, Mr. Henry Gotip, has been kidnapped from his residence in Jos by gunmen.

A source close to his residence

said that the gunmen stormed his residence at Kwang in Jos South Local Government Council of the state in the early hours of yesterday, shot sporadically into the air and abducted Gotip, who is also the state secretary of ALGON, to an unknown destination.

THISDAY gathered that the gunmen who took Gotip away after operating for about one hour in the area have not yet contacted his family for negotiation on payment of ransom.

Spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Mr. Alabo

Alfred, confirmed the incident.

Alabo noted that upon receipt of the report of the kidnapp, the Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr. Bartholomew Onyeka, directed his men to track the kidnappers and get the man released.

46

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

NBA SECTION ON BUSINESS LAW HOLDS AGM…

L-R: Adeleke Aalex-Adedipe; Perenami Momodu; Stella Duru; Funmi Otsemobor; Aisha Rimi; Vice Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Business Law (SBL) Ayuli Jemide; former Chairman, NBA SBL, Dr. Adeoye Adefulu; Chairman NBA SBL,Oyeyemi Aderigbigbe; Chinasa Unaegbunam, and Kehinde Daudu, during the NBA SBL Annual General Meeting in Lagos… recently

Yahaya Bello’s Inciting Video, an Act of Terrorism, Says PDP Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised the alarm over the disturbing video of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, where he was inciting his supporters, threatening to burn and unleash maximum

violence on Nigerians during the 2023 general elections.

According to the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, “In the video, Governor Bello was heard issuing terrorism threats, saying: “I will personally light a fierce fire in my hand whoever want

it we shall use it to burn them, whoever survives it will thank God… Whoever is against us we will make him or her join my mother and lie with her (my mother) in grave.”

The PDP spokesman said that “By FBI definition, terrorism is the “unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce

a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives”.

He explained that this brazen threat by Governor Bello raises apprehensions in the public space of the existence of a killer squad established to inflict violence on Nigerians ahead of the 2023 general

elections just because they have rejected the corrupt, divisive and rudderless All Progressives Congress (APC), which failure is most manifest by Yahaya Bello’s abysmal performance in Kogi State.

According to a statement, “From his outburst, Nigerians now know the individuals who engineered the gruesome

killing of many of our citizens including the PDP Woman Leader in Kogi State, Mrs. Salome Abu, who was burnt alive in her house in 2019, “Also, Nigerians now have more insight into the disappearance of Hon. Adelabu Musa, the PDP Chairman in Okene Local Government Area for over three years now.”

Victor OgunjeinAdoEkiti

Area of Ekiti State.

Subsequently, the kidnappers, on Sunday called the family to demand N30 million, but later reduced it to N10 million.

The gunmen later reduced it to N5 million on Tuesday evening following pleas by the family.

A source within the family, who said that the three persons - younger brother to the killed NSCDC officer, his five and an

11 years old children, were released at about 5pm yesterday, at the bush in the Ayede axis in Oye Local Government area.

“They were released this evening after the family paid about N5 million in the bush in Ayede axis.

Apart from that, they collected N100,000 for recharge cards, sachets of milk and alcoholic drinks.

They added these on Tuesday as conditions for their release.

“They are being been taken to hospital for medical attention as I speak. We are happy we did not lose them as the gunmen killed the NSCDC officer,” the family source said.

The Regent of Oke Ako, Princess Tinuade Ogunbiyi confirmed that the three persons had been released, saying, “My people have called to inform me that they have been released.”

Rivers PDP Chieftain Blames Atiku for Mismanaging Killers Get N5m to Free Kidnapped Relatives of Slain NSCDC Officer Party’s Internal Crisis Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Princewill Dike, has blamed the presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and the national party for mismanaging the internal crisis in the party, which he said should have been handled maturely and not escalate to the level it is presently.

Dike, a Port Harcourt-based lawyer, said the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, was fighting for justice, inclusiveness and equity, and had the sympathies of many of his colleagues, party leaders and many Nigerians.

He stressed that to avoid embarrassment in the 2023 genera election, Atiku should consider the demands of Wike and his camp.

Describing Wike as a force, a

performer, and great mobiliser, Killers of an officer of the Nigeria Dike said the governor Security and Civil Defence Corps, remained the backbone of the Segun Ayebulu, have collected the PDP, noting that any attempt sum of N5 million to free the to call his bluff would spell abducted relatives of the slain a doom to the party’s moves operative. to reclaim the centre.He said Ayebulu, who worked with it was inconceivable that all the Ekiti command, was killed on key positions in the party such Saturday, along Oke Ako Road in as the national chairmanship, Ajoni Local Council Development presidential candidacy and chairmanship of the Board of Trustees (BoT) are occupied by the North to the detriment of The Nigeria Deposit Insurance the South, ‘which has sustained Corporation (NDIC) has been the party’. presented with the federal The party chieftain said Atiku government’s Level Five and the PDP would be playing Platinum Level award for God if they decided to go into outstanding performance in a crucial election in 2023 with a corporate governance and flawed and northernised PDP accountability by the Bureau structure. of Public Service Reforms (BPSR).

Dike said the current The award was based on the structure of the PDP at the national level vitiated the party’s constitution, which provides for fair distribution Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki of offices to give all zones a sense of belonging.

The Ebonyi State chapter of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has accused Ebubeagu security operatives of destroying billboards of the governorship candidate of the The Bayelsa State chapter of party, Prof. Ben Odoh, in the the All Progressive Congress state.

(APC) Integrity Group had called on Dickson and the state Governor, Douye Diri, to explain their role in the collapse of the Laleye Dipo in Minna multi-billion naira Diagnostic Centre.

The Niger State House of The group in a statement Assembly has suspended 15 issued by its Chairman, Preye local government area chairmen Perez, alleged that Dickson set over the “illegal collection and up the facility to fail and to spending of N5billion loan.” temporarily satisfy himself and This is even as the Economic some selfish interests. and Financial Crimes They enjoined members of Commission (EFCC) has the public to compel Dickson to begun a hunt for one of the explain the circumstances behind the closure of the facility and also called on anti-corruption agencies to carry out a discreet David-Chyddy Eleke inAwka investigation.

At inception in 2016, Anambra State Commissioner for Concessionaire was given Information, Mr. Paul Nwosu, has the mandate to maintain the advised journalists to step up their world class equipment, provide game of information gathering international skilled personnel and dissemination in order to for the Centre with the task of beat social media users.

Nwosu stated this when managing it.

Concessionaire: Why Bayelsa Diagnostics Centre Was Shut Down Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa The Concessionaire of the Bayelsa State Diagnostic Centre, TrigenCraton Limited, have exonerated former state Governor, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, of allegations by an amorphous group that he established the world class medical facility with the intent to destroy it at the end of his administration.

The Operations Manager of Trigen-Craton Ltd, Malcom Okiebai said in a statement on Tuesday that there was no iota of truth in the allegations involving the equipment at the Centre.

Okiebai said all the equipment procured by the state government under Dickson are in good condition and safe.

He called on the public to discountenance the claim that equipment worth billions of naira were taken away from the Centre.

NDIC Wins FG’s Award for Outstanding Performance in Corporate Governance, Service Delivery corporation’s outstanding score of 93% in the BPSR Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) that was deployed to Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to assess and enhance service delivery.

Presenting the award to the corporation, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha

represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Dr. Habiba Lawal congratulated the Board, Management and Staff of the NDIC for the courage and commitment during the exercise.

She added that the corporation’s exceptional

achievement serves as an impetus for other government agencies to take the opportunity of the BPSR Self-Assessment Tool to assess their strengths and weaknesses, and employ the outcome of the self-evaluation to achieve the federal government’s objectives of effective service delivery to the citizenry.

APGA Accuses Ebubeagu of Destroying Campaign Billboards in Ebonyi In a statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the state APGA governorship candidate, Mr. Charles Otu, he alleged that seven persons who dressed in Ebubeagu attire stormed Okposi and Ugwulangwu communities in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and pulled

down all APGA billboards in the area.

“Barely two weeks after the destruction of billboards belonging to APGA governorship and deputy governorship candidates for the 2023 elections, Odoh and Dr. Nkata Nwani Chukwu respectively in the Abakaliki

urban metropolis, the state government’s armed militia, who disguised as members of the Ebubeagu Security outfit at about 7:30 p.m. on September 5, launched fresh attacks on APGA billboards in Okposi and Ugwulangwu communities in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

N5bn Loan: Niger House of Assembly Suspends 15 LG Chairmen council chairmen over another N350million loan.

The suspension of the council chairmen followed the adoption of the report of the state House of Assembly committee headed by member representing Bosso constituency, Alhaji Malik Madaki Bosso.

The council chairmen suspended are those of Mokwa,

Gbako, Suleja, Gurara, Tafa, Paikoro, Bosso, Agwara, Borgu, Kontagora, Wushishi, Magama, Mariga, Mashegu and Rijau LGAs The committee investigating the acquisition of the loan in an interim report submitted at plenary and adopted yesterday recommended the suspension of the chairmen for allegedly

obstructing the panel members in the performance of their duties.

Apart from refusing to open their books of accounts to the committee, it was reported that the said chairmen directed the ‘contractors’ handling the projects being executed not to appear before the panel, an indication that they have something to hide.”

Don’t Let Social Media Take Your Jobs, Anambra Commissioner Tells Journalists he hosted journalists from the job are journalists, and the only journalists.

Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council, in his office yesterday.

He said the advent of social media seems to be over shadowing regular journalism practice, but insisted that the owners of the

way to source credible news is to read articles by trained journalists.

The commissioner said: “Social media has not mitigated what you do in the mainstream media.

The social media people call themselves journalists but we know those who are the real

“You people are the real journalists. You are trained; and you have ethics that guide your practice. There are doctrines and ethics that you abide by. Social media throws all that away, and they are not the journalists that we have always known.

47

THURSDAY, ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Osimhen Misses Penalty, Injured as Napoli Hammer Liverpool 4-1 Lewandowski grabs hat trick in first UCL match for Barcelona Duro Ikhazuagbe Nigeria and Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen, missed a penalty as the Italian Serie A leaders hammered Liverpool 4-1 in a UEFA Champions League clash in Naples last night.

Osimhen missed the spot kick clumsily in the 18th minute. That kick would have added to Napoli's lead after Piotr Zielinski had given the Italian side the lead in the fifth minute.

Andre Frank Anguissa (31), Giovanni Simeone (44) and Zielinski (47) contributed the other three goals that have now raised fears in football circles that Jurgen Klopp may become the next topflight manager to be fired.

RESULTS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Ajax 4-0 Rangers Napoli 4-1 Liverpool Atletico 2-1 FC Porto C’Brugge 1-0 Leverkusen Barcelona 5-1 V’Plzen Inter 0-2 Bayern Munich E’Frankfurt 0-3 Sporting Tottenham 2-0 Marseille

Lewandowski (second, right)...grabbed his first Champions League hat trick in Barcelona colours last night

President/LMC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko and; current Chairman of Chairmen, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, who have all obtained forms to contest for the highest seat in Nigeria football at the NFF Elective General Assembly scheduled for Benin City on September 30.

The FIFA Council member told the trio to seek for votes in a most decent and respectable manner, and not invoke the spirit of do-or-die

GAC Motors, Pepsi, Others Back FGDC on International Pairs 2022 Falcon Golf Development Company (FGDC), the organisers of the annual International Pairs Golf Championship have praised corporate Nigeria for the sponsorship the event has enjoyed.

The tournament is scheduled to hold at the golf section of Ikoyi Club 1938 from Friday, September 9th to 11th, 2022.

The Chief Executive Officer of FGDC, Remi Olukoya, revealed that amongst some of the Corporate Nigeria that have enlisted to help the organisers include; fast-growing automobile firm, GAC Motors, Real Estate giants - Dradrock, Iwosan Lagoon Hospital, Gree Air-conditioners, Meristem, and Pepsi.

Speaking in a chat with newsmen during the week, Olukoya said: “The involvement of these corporate outfits highlight that the future of golf development in Nigeria is guaranteed.” While Pepsi will refresh golfers throughout the tournament, Iwosan Lagoon Hospital has offered free medical

consultation to all participants in the competition.

GAC Motors, the newest entrant to the famed International Pairs support lineup is heating up the tournament with a special Holein-One prize.

GAC Motors is also giving a special discount for the purchase of any of their brands displayed throughout the three-day competition. Gree Air-conditioners will also be awarding several products as prizes in the three-day tournament.

Olukoya said FGDC will continue to work for the development of the game of golf in Nigeria through organising quality tournaments – like the World Corporate Golf Challenge and the International Pairs tournament scheduled for this weekend – and youth development events such as the ‘Catch Them Young’ programme which started last year.

Since its return to the Nigerian golf calendar, International Pairs has been played in Uyo, Abuja, and Lagos.

for the race.

“I have called this meeting to assure you all that I do not have a candidate in this race. Each and every one of you is my candidate because we worked and walked together in the past eight years, seeking the best for Nigeria football. I believe that you are all aiming for the position in order to be able to consolidate on the little gains that we were able to make and to preserve or even surpass our legacies.

“I urge you all to go about the campaigns with utmost decency, avoid any form of acerbic outpourings and remember that we are all belong to the same family that worked for the best interests of Nigeria football for the past eight years. I wish each and everyone of you the very best with the voting college,” observed Pinnick who is not seeking reelection at the Benin polls.

Akinwunmi is up against Gusau and Dikko, as well as a number of other aspirants including former

Three others: Domenico (Leipzig); Lopetegui (Sevilla); Bologna (Mihajlovic) also fired

Chelsea are set to hold talks with Brighton boss Graham Potter about replacing the sacked Thomas Tuchel.

Tuchel, who won three trophies in 20 months at Stamford Bridge was sacked by the Blues yesterday.

Three other managers lost their jobs in the last 24 hours. They include; German RB Leipzig sacked Domenico Tedesco; La Liga’s Sevilla

international player, Idah Peterside, CAF’s Head of Safety and Security, Christian Emeruwa and former Chairman of Kano Pillars, Abba Abdullahi Yola.

“The desire to serve should never be a do-or-die affair. We remain one indivisible family committed to the growth of Nigeria football. I will still be there to provide support and encouragement to whoever wins.

As a Member of FIFA and CAF’s highest bodies, I am still a principal stakeholder in Nigeria football."

also gave Coach Julen Lopetegui the chop while Italian Serie A club, Bologna similarly disengaged Sinisa Mihajlovic in the last 24 hours.

Chelsea plan to make a swift appointment and Potter was among the bookmakers' favourites to take over, along with former Spurs and Paris St-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino, former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane and current Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers.

Ex-Swansea and Ostersunds FK coach Potter, 47, has been given permission by the Seagulls to talk with Chelsea.

Tuchel was dismissed after losing the confidence of Chelsea's players and the new ownership who took over at the club in May. Potter, who has been tipped as a future England boss, has led Brighton to fourth in the table this season after winning four and drawing one of their six Premier League games.

He was appointed in May 2019 and has led the club to 15th, 16th and ninth-place finishes in his three seasons in charge.

But his brand of attacking and tactically flexible football has brought him many admirers in

Thomas Tuchel the game.

Chelsea's new ownership oversaw a £255.3m spending spree in the summer window, bringing in eight new players.

They were sixth in the Premier League after three wins, one draw and two defeats when they parted company with Tuchel.

The decision to sack the German would have been taken regardless of their 1-0 defeat in their opening Champions League game at Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday, BBC Sport learnt.

Lalong Urges NGF to Organise Regular Golf Summits Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Plateau State Governor, Rt Hon. Simon Lalong, has enjoined the Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) to organise on regular basis programmes like the National Summit on Golf to enable club captains, the

Arsenal, Others Begin Europa League Quest on DStv, GOtv Arsenal will be travelling to Switzerland to challenge Zurich FC, as the Gunners begin their quest for European glory after a one-year absence. The match will be broadcast live on SuperSport Premier League (channel 202) and GO Football (channel 31) at 5:45pm.

Similarly, Manchester United will begin their Europa League challenge this evening against Real Sociedad at the Old Trafford Stadium for their opening game of

Speaking on social media last night, Osimhen dismissed fears that he may not be available for Nigeria's friendly games due to the injury that forced him to be substituted almost at the tail end of the first half.

He admitted going out of the game just for precautionary reasons.

Osimhen said he didn’t pull his hamstring either. This explains why he could walk when substituted.

The Napoli talisman promised to be back at the most in two weeks.

Elsewhere on the night, Robert Lewandowski warmed up for next week's meeting with former

club Bayern Munich by scoring a magnificent hat-trick in Barcelona's crushing Champions League win over Viktoria Plzen.

The 34-year-old Poland forward demonstrated his value by making it eight goals in five games since leaving Bayern in July.

Lewandowski, who helped Bayern win the competition in 2019-20, marked his first Champions League appearance for Barca with a clinical finish which doubled the lead after Franck Kessie had headed the hosts ahead.

He then made it 3-1 on the stroke of half-time with a header after Ousmane Dembele did well to win back possession before producing a fine cross.

Potter Set to Take over at Chelsea after Tuchel’s Sack

Pinnick Calls for Peaceful Campaigns ahead of NFF Elections President of the Nigeria Football Federation and FIFA Council Member, Amaju Pinnick, has charged frontline candidates for this month’s NFF Presidential election to conduct rancour-free, exemplary electioneering campaigns even as they seek the highest football-administration seat in the land.

Yesterday, Pinnick met with current NFF 1st Vice President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi; current 2nd Vice

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

the 2022/23 group stage matches.

The clash will air on SuperSport Premier League (channel 202) and GO Football (channel 31) at 8:00pm.

Other Europa League matches to look out for include Ludogrets vs Roma showing on SuperSport La Liga (channel 32) at 5:45pm, Lazio vs Feyenoord showing on SuperSport La Liga (channel 32) at 8:00pm and Nantes vs Olympiacos showing on SuperSelect 2 (channel 33) at 8:00pm.

members of the NGF and other stakeholders to interact, identify and develop young talents and recruit more members into golf.

Lalong, made the appeal in his goodwill message to the stakeholders at the maiden edition of the National Summit on Golf held at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.

He called on captains of various golf clubs to develop Peer Review Mechanism and work together in the interest of uniformity and standardization of the game. Lalong reiterated that more than being a mere sporting activity, golf is a huge economic venture.

The governor called on NGF to work hard to demystify the notion that golf is exclusively for the elites, while urging government and all relevant authorities to give full support to golf both in policy matters as well as in funding.

The Chairman Northern Governors’ Forum, who plays golf off 16 handicap, also directed that the Nigeria Open Golf Championship last held in 1999 should be restored.

While welcoming the participants to the summit, the President of NGF,

Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, said that the summit was informed by the need for golf captains and stakeholders in Nigeria to interact, exchange views and opinions with a view to developing a roadmap for the development of the game of golf in the country.

Runsewe, said that golf can no longer be seen only as a sporting event, but also as a serious socioeconomic activity with far reaching health benefits.

He said immense opportunities abound in golf which when fully developed, could stabilise the nation socially and economically, thereby driving sustainable national development. He stressed the need for golfers in Nigeria to take the game to the next level.

Stating that the summit signifies the beginning of a new dawn in the history of golf development in Nigeria, Runsewe also expressed appreciation to the sponsors/partners of the golf summit that include; Polaris Bank, Anchor Insurance, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and African Independent Television (AIT).

Thursday, September 8, 2022

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Price: N250

MISSILE

Ben Akabueze to Nigerians Essentially, there are two ways countries end up with the IMF. One is voluntary when they ask IMF for help, or when things get to the grind where they simply have no other option. I don’t see Nigeria going to the IMF voluntarily. But the honest truth is that if we don’t address our fiscal challenges in a sensible and sustainable manner, we may end up unwillingly with the IMF — Director General, Budget Office of the Federation (BoF), on the economy

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Killers,Victims and Identities S o much has been said about the many virtues of late Sheikh Goni Aisami Gashua, a popular Islamic cleric in Gashua, Yobe State. His murder by a soldier he was trying to help along the road is most reprehensible. The main suspect, Lance Corporal John Gabriel and accomplice, Lance Corporal Adamu Gideon (both of 241 Recce Model Battalion, Nguru) have been arrested and, according to the police, confessed to the crime. “My father Sheikh Goni Aisami was driving between Kano and Gashua in the Northeastern Yobe region when the soldier he gave a ride killed him and stole his Honda Accord 2006 model,” said a son of the deceased.

I commiserate with the family of the late Sheikh and call on authorities to bring the culprits to justice. We must also ensure that we work to sanitise our armed/security services by ridding them of potential criminals. I am particularly pleased that the suspects were caught with the stolen vehicle of the deceased and there is no attempt at cover-up by the military. “Let me tell you that at the end of the investigation, the soldiers will be made to face the full wrath of both military and civil laws,” Captain Kennedy Anyanwu, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations Headquarters Sector 2 Operation Hadin Kai, told Leadership newspaper. “This incident is highly regrettable given the sector’s disposition and zero tolerance for violation of code of conduct and rules of engagement for troops.”

Unfortunately, the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has introduced a dangerous dimension to the tragedy in a manner that is detrimental to our national security. In an advert published in Daily Trust on Monday titled, ‘Sheikh Aisami’s Murder: One Too Many’, the narrative is no longer about a criminally minded soldier who coveted the Sheikh’s vehicle and resorted to murder but rather that Christian zealots killed him on behalf of some of us. That is the impression created by the authors of the advert, who gave a religious slant to the cleric’s murder.

After narrating the circumstances of the Sheikh’s murder, which is not different from the official account by the police, the SCSN then wrote: “…the gruesome murder of Aisami is one of the too many killings of Muslims

by Christians Militia and a clear depiction of the level of enmity inculcated by some extremist Christian clergy in churches against Muslims and Islam through hate speeches and brainwashing preaching. This tragic event reinforces our earlier calls for justice for the brutal killings and kidnappings of Muslims, including women and children, by Christians across the country over the decades.

These premeditated and well-coordinated attacks on Muslims will never be forgotten nor forgiven…”

As sad as the advert may be, there is a paragraph towards the end which, I believe, might have been the trigger: “The council observed the monumental display of unprofessional, biased reporting, and the hypocritical nature of the media in reporting such unfortunate cases when the plight of Muslim is involved. It’s ironic to imagine if Sheikh Aisami was a Christian cleric and the killer soldiers were Muslims, how the media will flood the news headlines with

late Sheikh Goni Aisami Gashua sensational captions. These deliberate attitudes and the propaganda tactics of the Christian Association of Nigeria deceived some Western nations to believing the blatant lies against Nigerian Muslims. Unfortunately, these lies led to the United States Embassy recently granting visas to some Christian Clergies to address a ‘powerful’ forum with the ridiculous story that Muslims have been killing Christians in Nigeria.”

I understand the point made by the Shari’ah Council because the media is not blameless on this issue, particularly when it comes to framing. And this is something we need to deal with as professionals. In their research paper in the American Pepperdine University Journal of Communication Research on ‘The Role of Media Framing in Crime Reports’, the trio of Kelsey Foreman, Cecilia Arteaga and Aushawna Collins speak to the issue of stereotyping, which can be used to generalize in order to make sense of a complicated environment. “However, the problem arises when stereotypes are negative and are used to create false perceptions of an entire race or group of people that others perceive as true. When the media frames a story in a way that upholds harmful and discriminatory stereotypes, there is a greater chance that the viewer will apply those to entire groups of people.”

By emphasizing differences, a number of media practitioners in Nigeria have over the years helped to promote crowd mentality that has in turn created deadly stereotypes in our communities. We are already witnessing the ugly consequences. So, as unhelpful as the statement by the Shari’ah Council may seem, the accusation is not without foundation. One can also see an element of attack being the best defence in it. Indeed, to better situate the SCSC advert, one may also need to read the executive summary of events in Nigeria

in the first half of this year as captured by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law which reported on the ‘egregious and industrial scale’ massacre of Christians between January and June 2022, including by members of the security forces. According to the report, “no fewer than 2,543 defenseless Christians have been killed in the past six months by the country’s Jihadists and their partners in crime within the country’s security forces.”

While 915 of these Christians were killed in the first quarter of the year, according to Intersociety, 1,628 were murdered between April and June 2022. “The breakdown shows that the military and other security forces accounted for 300 deaths and 50 permanent disappearances while the country’s Jihadists accounted for 2,193 others. Among the dead were 140 abducted citizens, representing 10% of the total number of abducted Christians in the past six months estimated at 1,401.

Added to total number of the slain Christians were 100 deaths representing the ‘dark figures of crime’ or those killed but not statistically captured or recorded.”

It is tragic that our national security challenge is now being framed around religious identity.

Outside the Northeast where the military have been battling insurgents who claim to be fighting for God, the perpetrators of other heinous crimes we see all over the country should be called out for who they are without attaching religion. But having failed to forge a nation out of our diversity, and with a penchant for mismanaging enormous human and material resources, resorting to manufacturing, manipulating and magnifying artificial differences is also typical. Sadly, it can only compound our problems. When you bring identity-based division to the arena of criminal justice administration by creating a ‘We-Versus-Them’ scenario, it is the entire society that suffers.

As the late Russian author of the famous ‘The Gulag Achipelago’ and Nobel Prize winner in Literature, Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn once reminded us, the line separating good and evil passes not through the artificial differences created by identities but rather “through every human heart.” Whatever may therefore be the religious affiliation they claim or the ethnic group they belong, criminals should be isolated and dealt with according to the law. Besides, in a plural society such as ours, cheap resort to profiling in matters of law and order not only creates and perpetuates a poisonous social environment, but it also makes peaceful co-existence very difficult.

It becomes even more dangerous when the profiling is associated with a crime as heinous as homicide.

In a milieu where bandits now ‘arrest’ thieves for the police, it is evident that we are in a serious crisis of national security.

And to that extent, the killing of Sheikh Aisami by soldiers who ordinarily should hold criminals to account deserves a more rigorous investigation because it presupposes that we have enlisted hardened criminals into our armed forces. But by resorting to emotional hysteria, we run the risk of turning it into a battle between adherents of the two dominant religions. Narratives about the identity of criminals across religious

divides are not only dangerous, they explain why mutual tolerance is withering in our country today.

More troubling is that joining such groupthink defines daily living in Nigeria.

In a bid to pull down the “others” who have been created as a result of the mismanagement of our diversity, you stand the risk of being attacked by the mob, if you stay out of the fray. That reality is reflected in the political narratives to which we are daily inundated, especially on social media as we inch towards the crucial 2023 general election. But one thing is sure: Whether it is about religion or ethnicity, those who promote identity politics to justify criminality are not interested in our commonalities nor do they place premiums on universal experiences or distinct variations of individual citizens.

Meanwhile, to the extent that religion plays a crucial part in forming identity and values, the fact that the majority of Nigerians are either Christian or Muslim is ordinarily a good thing. If only a tenth of the number of fanatical adherents of these faiths who populate our public space stay true to their preachments, Nigeria could be a better country.

The challenge is that this profession of faith is not reflected in our national character or for that matter the behaviour of individual citizens. I once recounted the story of armed robbery suspects who in September 2014 were paraded in Lagos. They claimed to be Christians and Muslims. Asked whether they ever used charms, one of them replied: “We don’t use charms but what we do before any operation is serious prayers to God. During such a prayer session, we usually ask God to protect us and ensure that the only people we rob are sinners.”

It is that sort of warped mindset that explains why, despite the fact that no public or private business is ever conducted in our country without supplication to God to “take control”, personal gains as opposed to public good still drive most outcomes. And, as I also once argued on this page, notwithstanding the mutual antagonism by adherents of the two foremost religions, when it comes to looting public treasuries, there is usually collaboration between and among public officials who profess both faiths.

Whatever may be the real or perceived provocation from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) or the perception of partiality in media framing, the religious identity of the killers of Sheikh Aisami should not be an issue. What is more important is to bring them to justice and ensure that such undesirable elements no longer find their way into our armed forces. In the interest of peaceful co-existence, we need to return Sheikh Aisami’s murder and the several other killings to the domain of the crisis of insecurity and the rule of law in Nigeria.

Only in that context does it have broader meaning. If such a prominent citizen can be so casually murdered on a highway by someone he was trying to help, one can then imagine the fate of the ordinary Nigerian whose death in similar circumstances is not even likely to be reported.

That precisely is the national security challenge that we must all come to terms with, regardless of the faith we profess.

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