Day: July 2, 2023

Eight workers from Nkor council in Noni sub-division, Bui division have completed an 8-month training on the production of blocks for road and house pavements to develop their community in the near future. At the production unit in Tubah subdivision on June 30, 2023, the trainees displayed their skills to the satisfaction of the Mayor of Nkor Germanus Ndi Nchanji “This initiative will really help us to combat plastic pollution in our municipality… We have four main markets that produce too much plastic waste daily. Also, these council workers have received skills that will help them auto-employ themselves after retirement and curb unemployment as several youths will be taken along,“ he said.

The eco-friendly development project initiated in 2016 by the mayor of Tubah council Martin Tanjong, has helped in the training of council staff from Nkambe in Donga Mantung division as well, with secondary roads in Tubah undergoing transformation “The CCAST street in Bambili is being paved with these eco-friendly blocks, and more is on the pipeline… It is not an easy venture but we must clean our environment and create jobs for our youths,” Tanjong noted.

At first, the production unit provided cement-sand blocks and today, over 500 blocks made of plastic and sand with a 50tons weight each can be produced daily. The supervisor of the project Pierre Kamsouloum, an expert in plastic waste says with this new technic, pollution risks are minimal “We select the plastic that will mix with the sand, and we ensure that it is melted at 250° temperature. I can assure you these plastic-sand blocks are being used in several countries in Central Africa today on roads as they are more solid “

At the moment, some samples have been sent to the National Civil Engineering Laboratory (Labogenie) in Yaounde for confirmation but in the streets of Tubah, several plastic waste points have been built to ease the collection of plastic waste. The Mayor of Tubah has launched a call to other council executives to adopt the project and work in giving the North West a new face.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Malam Shehu Ahmed, the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) says the FCT Administration would demolish all structures on waterways across the nation’s capital.

Ahmed made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

He said some structures were preventing water from flowing freely through its natural course which was responsible for flooding recorded in some parts of the city.

” People are clamoring that we act quickly and take tough decisions to save lives. And this is what we must do. We cannot act as though we don’t see this man-made problem caused by those who violate the Abuja Master Plan.”

” Buildings in Trademore Estate had been severally marked for demolition. Warnings have been given year after year but the occupants of the estate keep risking their lives and those of others.

” By declaring Trademore a disaster zone, we have told the residents there to evacuate. The area is on a low line zone which is not safe. Flooding can come at anytime. They know this and have been experiencing it over the years”.

The executive secretary, who is the chairman, Special Ministerial Task Team on Flood Mitigation, revealed that a Police station in Trademore would be demolished and other buildings.

” We have The Police station in Trademore would be demolished. It will go alongside other buildings. We have engaged the FCT Police command and have provided a suitable place for them to operate from and fight crime.”

The executive secretary pointed out that Trademore Estate did not have FCDA Approved building plan and the continuous flooded areas can best be left as Green areas and not residential.

He explained that the estate was just one of the areas in focus as other areas where structures were built on floodplains would experience removal of illegal structures.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The pioneer Editor-In-Chief of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Prof. Victor Adefela, has advised parents to allow their children to follow their passion in choosing career paths, to help them succeed in life.

The 85-year-old professor gave the advice on Friday while presenting his new book titled “Notes Along The Way” at NAN Media Centre in Iganmu, Lagos.

Adefela, who was accompanied by his wife, Oluyemisi, also spoke on how the COVID-19 lockdown and the attendant boredom of staying indoors, in the U.S., eventually resulted in him putting pen to paper to author the book.

He said passion for journalism drew him into the profession and it had been a wonderful experience since becoming one, with him visiting no fewer than 40 countries across the globe.

According to him, life is interesting and meaningful when people do what they actually like, as against professions imposed by parents for various reasons.

“Whatever your children want to do, let it be and give them the support.

“Let people be what they want to be, that is the only way they can find fulfilment,” he said.

Speaking about his book, he said it was a collective story of his life journey.

He said he spent one tenth of his life in NAN and so devoted one tenth of the over 200-page book to the agency, which impacted his life positively.

“This is not the story of NAN, this is the story of Victor Adefela,” he said.

Adefela, Editor-in-Chief of NAN from 1977 to 1985, said coming to work in the agency was the highpoint and most fulfilling aspect of his career life.

“In all my working years, I think the years in NAN were definitely the most productive and the most satisfying,” he said.

The professor said change is constant and everything, people and institutions evolve and are not static, but only passion endures and remains.

“In whatever you do, it is self fulfilment that matters,” he said.

Adefela said he and his pioneer colleagues were excited working hard to achieve something new and useful for growth of the nation.

He expressed hope that the current staff members in NAN were going to uphold the high standard they met.

Earlier, while introducing the author, the Managing Director of NAN, Mr Buki Ponle, said the book presentation was about “giving honour to whom honour is due”.

He led the staff to sing the popular Christian song, “Count your Blessings”.

He described Adefela as a father, mentor, and an icon, who contributed to what he had become.

Ponle said that Adefela was highly disciplined, and in spite of his rich knowledge, very humble.

He recalled Adefela’s stay in NAN when he (Adefela) stood for excellence and tolerated nothing less from members of staff.

“He meant well for us, he has always been our mentor,” he said.

The managing director thanked him for donating 50 books to his fellow retirees.

He said that the book, written by an 85-year-old man, had challenged him to also write a book.

The book reviewer, Mr Segun Adeyemi, was represented by a retired staff, Dr Kingsley Kubeyinje, who joined NAN in 1984.

Adeyemi is a former New York Correspondent, NAN, and former Special Adviser to the immediate-past Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

He said the book captured the reality of the life of the reputable journalist and academician.

He said that 22 of the pages were dedicated to his times in NAN, adding that, it also captured his early adventurous childhood which had many turns and twists.

He said it captured the “life story of a boy who was born in Lagos, grew up partly in Igbara-Oke and Ile-Ife, went to school in both, as well as in Ibadan and the United States, and then became a world citizen, a renowned Journalist, a global Consultant and a University Teacher who has visited 40 countries in three continents!

“What many readers, especially from the NAN family, will look forward to in the memoir is his notes on the time he spent in the agency, especially because he was the very first journalist to be employed in NAN, and the agency’s pioneer Editor-in-Chief who largely charted its editorial pathway.

“Only 22 of the 274 pages in the book were dedicated to the eight years he spent in NAN, but so much was packed into those pages that I do not think he left much untouched.

“Find out why the story of NAN will be incomplete without this man,” he said.

Also, a former editor-in-chief, Mr Isaac Ighure and others took turns to relish exciting moments.

Ighure said he met “an organised and sweet NAN to work in” because Adefela laid the right foundation.

“We were breaking the news and the others were following us,” Ighure said.

He recommended the book for those seeking growth and better understanding.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Prof. Suleiman Ambali, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Management Services, University of Ilorin, has called on Alumni Association of the Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU) Zaria, to re-brand the institution to its former glory.

Ambali made the call in Ilorin while delivering a lecture during a Cocktail Party for Achievers, organised by ABU Alumni Association, Kwara Branch.

He stated that it was necessary for alumni to remember and give back to their alma mater, for its development and promotion of national values.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ABU, Zaria was established in 1962 as the University of Northern Nigeria.

It was founded and named after Ahmadu Bello, first premier of Northern Nigeria.

Ambali emphasised the need to give back to the alma mater, saying that it would foster a sense of duty, feeling a sense of home and pride.

He explained that since the world is already a global village, alumni’s philanthropic support provides the chance to continue affiliation and improve their alma mater.

The don commended the association for bringing about unity and ensuring that members pull in resources to help the less-privileged in the society.

Earlier in his welcome address, Alhaji AbdulRahman Olawale-Solagberu, the Chairman of the association in Kwara explained that the association had fostered togetherness and unity amongst members.

He added that the goal of the members goal is to help in various disciplines and also assist in furthering the mandate of their alma mater.

Olawale-Solagberu who described ABU as “naturally ahead”, said their vision is to see products of the institution continue to impact the nation positively.

He also appealed for funding in establishing a beffiting secretariat for the association.

According to him, the association is exploring ways to offer assistance to retired members and cover health insurance as well as further education of members.

NAN reports that sidelines of the activities included awards of excellence to some members who have distinguished themselves in their various fields.

Some of the awardees included Sen. Sadiq Suleiman, representing Kwara North senatorial district, Prof Shuaib Oba, Former Vice-Chancellor of University of Ilorin.

Others are: Prof. Aishat Gobir, the Pioneer Provost of the College of Medicine, Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun, Osun and Isa Manzuma, the former NBA Chairman, llorin Branch.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

A legal practitioner, Mr Tunde Afe-Babalola, SAN, says his father’s disciplinary approach contributed tremendously to his success in his endeavour.

Tunde, son of the legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, made this known on Sunday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja

The lawyer, who recalled that his father would be celebrating his 60th anniversary of his call to Bar on July 9, said the legal giant’s attributes had helped him to grow in the profession.

“My father’s attributes include hard work, dedication, generosity, sacrifice, resilience, trust, fear of God, love for mankind, etc.

“These same attributes which he has, are the same things that have helped me over the years.

“Really, the way he disciplined us contributed tremendously to my success today.

“Victor Devlin said, ‘Listen, there is no way any true man is going to let children live around him in his home and not discipline and teach, fight and mould them until they know all he knows. His goal is to make them better than he is. Being their friend is a distant second to this.”

“Barack Obama said, ‘Someone once said that every man is trying to live up to his father’s expectations or make up for their father’s mistakes….’

“In his case, I emulate his great attributes and wonderful achievements,” he said.

He described his father as a simple man despite all the international awards and achievements.

“He is a loving, generous and supportive father,” he added.

Afe-Babalola said his father’s genuine love for the people and the desire to positively impact the society kept him going in the legal profession.

“Absolutely, he is my mentor and I am what I am today because of the Grace of God and my father. I cannot pray for a better father,” he said.

He congratulated his father on his 60 years of law practice.

“Dad, you are a winner, a goal getter and a worthy example to all of us. Indeed, we are so proud of having you among us over these 60 years in the legal profession.

“Your dedication to work is beyond admiration. Having produced innumerable SANs, several judges up to the appellate levels, several Attorney Generals at the federal and state levels, leaders of industry, etc.

“We pray that God will give you many more years of sound health and further impactful contribution to the legal profession worldwide,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria