Day: August 5, 2023

Campaigning for Liberia's presidential and legislative elections kicked off on Saturday, with incumbent George Weah seeking a second six-year term in a country engulfed by huge economic challenges.

High hopes greeted the 2017 election of former football star Weah in the West African nation, which was recovering from an Ebola epidemic and left scarred by civil wars between 1989 and 2003.

The 56-year-old announced in January that he would run again in the October 10 vote, where he will face 19 rivals including former vice president Joseph Boakai, businessman Alexander Cummings and human rights lawyer Taiwan Gongloe.

Liberia's National Elections Commission (NEC) has accredited 46 parties for the polls and more than 2.4 million voters are registered.

In a statement read out on national radio, the NEC officially announced campaigning opened on Saturday and would continue until midnight on October 8.

NEC chair Davidetta Browne Lansanah called on Liberians to "go into the political campaign peacefully".

To win, a candidate must garner at least 50 percent plus one of the votes cast.

If no party reaches that threshold, the two parties with the most votes in the first round proceed to a run-off election, which is won by a simple majority.

The West African nation of around five million people had barely begun recovering from the coronavirus pandemic when the fallout from the war in Ukraine battered its economy.

Around half of Liberians live on less than $1.90 per day, according to the World Bank.

Weah came to power promising to create jobs and invest in education, but critics say he has failed to keep his pledges.

Source: TRTworld.com

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Friday commenced distribution of relief materials to persons affected by windstorm and flood disasters in Abia communities.

Head, NEMA Owerri Operations Office, Mr Ifeanyi Nnaji, said during the flag off in Umuahia, that the disasters occurred in some communities in five local government areas (LGA) in March.

He said that the affected local government areas are Umuahia North, Ikwuano, Arochukwu, Ohafia and Bende.

Nnaji said that a joint team of assessors from his office and Abia State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) carried out an on-the-spot assessment of the damage to determine need analysis of the affected persons.

According to him, the problems with disasters are enormous and aftermaths of it are sorrow, isolation, grief, anguish, hunger and colossal loss of lives and poverties.

Presenting the items to the State Government, Nnaji acknowledged that the affected communities and persons were traumatised psychologically, thereby reducing their participation and contribution to national development.

“You should please note that the relief materials provided to you today are not to pay you back for all that were destroyed by the disaster, but only to cushion the effect of the unfortunate incident.

“I, therefore, on behalf of the Director-General of NEMA, Mustapha Habib Ahmed, formally present these items to the affected persons through your good offices,” he said.

Receiving the materials on behalf of the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, the Executive Secretary of SEMA, Dr Sunday Jackson, thanked the Federal Government for approving the relief assistance to the victims.

He said that it would cushion the effect of the disasters that had ravaged so many homes and displaced so many persons.

Jackson also appreciated the synergy between SEMA and NEMA Owerri office under the leadership of Nnaji.

He assured that the relief materials would be transparently and jointly distributed to affected persons by officials of NEMA, SEMA and representative of the community and other relevant stakeholders.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the materials comprised food and non-food items, including 10-kg bags of rice, beans and garri, sets of cooking pots, stoves, set of buckets, nylon mats, men and women’s wears and others.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Police in Lagos State have arrested three of their extortionist officers, their counterparts of the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority working in cahoots with thugs.

They were arrested around Mile 2 area of the state between Friday and Saturday alongside their collaborative 14 thugs, police spokesman in the state, SP Benjamin Hundeyin stated on Saturday at Ikeja.

Hundeyin stated that the arrests were carried out in an operation led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) in the state, Mr Fatai Tijani

He added that the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Idowu Owohunwa, set up a taskforce, which conducted the operation following reports of incessant extortion of motorists by thugs and some recalcitrant law enforcement officers.

“Determined to check escalating cases of extortion on the highways, CP Idowu Owohunwa, set up an enforcement team, with the mandate of raiding spots that have been identified as notorious for such nefarious activities.

“The enforcement team, which began raids on Friday, was led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) and comprises tactical teams and provost officers from the state headquarters.

“The team was at Mile 2 area of the state, a hotbed of brazen extortions,’’ Hundeyin stated.

He quoted Owohunwa as warning that any law enforcement personnel, irrespective of agency, found complicit in extortion racketeering, would be arrested and dealt with in accordance with the law.

“The CP promises motorists that the enforcement team would sustain the raids and replicate same in other parts of the state until total sanity is restored,’’ Hundeyin also stated.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde, has extolled the exemplary and leadership qualities of Mr Akinjide Adeosun as he celebrates his 55th birthday.

Adeosun, a licensed pharmacist, is the Chairman & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ST.RACHEAL’S™ Pharmaceutical Nigeria Limited and Founder of the Akinjide Adeosun Foundation (AAF).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a Birthday Thanksgiving Service to mark the 55th Birthday of Adeosun was held on Friday at the All Souls’ Church, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

The theme was: Thanksgiving in Triumph’’

Makinde commended the contribution of Adeosun to humanity with evidences shown through AAF and the pharma industry/health sector through St. Racheal’s Pharma.

Makinde said: “The celebrant is a friend I have come to know through Church in Port Harcourt. I met him and the wife about 23 years ago.

“Over the years, the families have become closer and closer. We have shared good and bad times together. We have learned from each other.

“Jide is a very practical person and pragmatic when it comes to leadership. He believes in exemplary life.

“ He works so hard to showcase what he believes in. It is evident in his setting up the St. Racheal’s Pharmaceutical Nigeria and AAF.

“He pushes for the best and he is a bright person and brilliant. He is not a shady person. For him, integrity is not what you can trade for anything.

“He is a God-fearing person, he loves his Psalms, loves worshipping, a good husband and he works hard.

“He is somebody, if you meet, you want to keep the relationship going because he wants to make people better.’’

The Bishop, Ijesa North Diocese, Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Oluyamo, also graced the occasion with his wife.

He commended Adeosun for his love for God and showing same through his works and actions.

Mr Lekan Asuni, MD, LEFAS Pharmaceuticals, and a former MD of GSK described Adeosun as a hardworking person and one full of great ideas and urge to impact humanity.

“He always harps on integrity and thoroughness, and all he does, reflects that’’.

Commending her husband, Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun , a former Secretary to the State Government of Oyo State, described him as dependable, reliable , faithful , loving and having a very strong personality.

“What he believes in, he goes for it. He is very kind, though he might be stubborn to his vision and what he believes in.

“He is in a hurry to make an impact in the world and that is why you can see all the various things he is doing.

“He loves God. He loves his family, both nuclear and extended and he is a man of integrity.

“I wish him a very happy birthday and God’s infinite mercies upon him.

“ I wish him long life and the next 40 years of good health, favour, blessings and prosperity’’.

In his sermon, Evangelist Folayan Adebayo, reading Psalm 100: 4-5 and Lamentation 3: 22-23, emphasised the importance of thanksgiving especially because of the mercies, compassion and faithfulness of God upon our lives.

According to him, this is necessary knowing fully well that all we do in life is neither by our might nor strength.

He reminded the congregation that as creations of God, humanity is to praise the Lord with all “our souls and forget not all his provisions, protection, guidance, among all’’.

Adeosun in his thanksgiving message expressed gratitude to God for allowing him get to clock 55 years.

He rendered the worship song “Ope lo ye o, Baba Olore – You are worthy of praise, gracious Father/You Deserve thanks, Generous Father.

He described himself as a man of destiny and purpose who is determined to touch lives and give back to humanity and society.

He said that the Akinjide Adeosun Foundation (AAF), a non-profit, non religious and non-political organisation, was set up to leave a leadership legacy in Africa by strengthening capabilities in today’s leaders and build a pipeline of ready future leaders by 2035

“Our foundation is aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 of Good Health and Well-being as well as Goal 4 of Quality Education.

“Thousands of people have benefitted from the foundation since launch in 2015.

“We have had leadership discourses are delivered in an admixture of trainings, case studies, projects and shadowing.

We have also had free medical missions executed for indigent patients .

“The foundation is executing a five-year leadership MoU at MeadowHall College in Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria.’’

On the pharma company, he said that the ST.RACHEAL’S™ quest was to improve life expectancy through the availability of top-quality affordable pharmaceuticals in Africa.

“The enterprise is founded on Excellence, Integrity and Empathy values. The organisation is privileged to have Medreich as its manufacturer of high quality drugs.’’

Adeosun took the congregation through the many significant and remarkable times of his life.

He also narrated how the mercies of GOD had shown up for him in several ways and times including his surviving the Delta variant of COVID-19 in 2021 among others.

He urged people to be focused, empathetic, determined, resilient, have leadership attributes, and most importantly to have integrity.

NAN also reports that prior to founding ST.RACHEAL’S™ Pharma in 2016, Adeosun was the Head of Branded Generics and a member of the Africa Leadership Team (ALT) at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Pharma, Africa.

He served meritoriously at various functional and management roles at GSK for over two decades including secondment to South Africa.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on preserving critical evidence at crash sites.

Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony at the LASEMA office in Lagos, the Director-General, NSIB, Mr Akin Olateru, said it was important for agencies and organisations to partner in the interest of the country.

Olateru explained that partnership would further enhance safety and preservation of critical evidence at crash sites in cases of serious incidents and accidents involving any mode of transportation.

The director-general said the bureau had also volunteered to train over 200 staff of LASEMA in accident management.

Olateru explained that NSIB was not the first responder in accident cases, but noted that it was necessary for the agency to partner with first responders such as LASEMA, police, military and other critical organisations.

According to him, the partnership with LASEMA will aid accuracy of accident investigation and prevent recurrence.

Olateru recalled that it had in the past six years made attempts to partner with some government agencies, but failed to achieve this purpose.

He lauded the LASEMA management for agreeing to the MoU within five months of its first proposal.

“We had an initial meeting in March this year, which gave birth to this MoU that we are signing today.

“We have been pursuing some organisations in the last six years and nothing positive has come out of it. Whatever MoU we sign with organisations, it is for the interest of the nation.

“We are not the first responder in cases of accident; we are investigators. The first responders need to know their roles and we need to know ours, too.

“We are happy to train the staff of agencies. This is necessary for them to know what we do and how we go about them.

“Evidence needs to be preserved at crash sites. Partnering with an agency like LASEMA is good for our country. Lagos State is the size of four to five states in Europe.

“We will be deceiving ourselves when we say there will not be disasters. There will be disasters, but we need to partner for it so we can reduce the impact of the disasters.” he said.

The director-general noted that the new NSIB Act 2022 empowered it to investigate serious incidents and accidents in all modes of transportation with the aim of boosting safety.

He said the technical staff of LASEMA would be trained in batches by the Southern California Safety Institute of the United States of America (USA).

Earlier, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, said the authority had signed MoUs with various organisations, including 25 United Nations agencies and a higher institution in the state.

Oke-Osanyintolu said the MoU would further assure the people of Lagos of the agency’s readiness to respond swiftly and manage any emergency.

He said that the State Government had, in recent years, expended billions of naira in the procurement of state-of-the-art ambulance vehicles and training of qualified personnel to equip the agency to manage disasters in the state.

“We also say that disaster management is the responsibility of everyone. We are signing this MoU with NSIB to take care of the airspace in case of an emergency or disaster.

“When the unfortunate aircraft accident happened earlier in the week, we worked together with the officials of NSIB at the crash site and our effort ensured that there was no mortality in the accident.” The permanent secretary said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Federal Government, through the Office of the Vice President (VP), Kashim Shettima, is set to launch a digital hub that will empower one million youths across the country with digital and related skills.

Mr Olusola Abiola, Director, Information, Office of the Vice President, made the disclosure in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

Abiola said the move is in line with President Bola Tinubu administration’s commitment to providing more digital jobs for young Nigerians,

He disclosed that the centres, to be known as FGN/ALAT Digital and SkillNnovation Hub, would open first in Lagos and Borno States with Katsina, Cross River, Anambra, Oyo, and Kano states to follow afterwards.

According to him, the hubs will be run in partnership with a leading financial institution in Nigeria, WEMA Bank.

He stated that the arrangement for the initiative was reached after a recent meeting between representatives of the bank and Vice President Shettima in Abuja.

He explained that the strategic objectives of the programme include: to empower young enterprenuers by providing them with tailored financial products, training and support to enable them build sustainable businesses that will support the growth of Nigeria’s economy.

“Other objectives include: supporting tech-savvy youths with keen interest in digital innovations and aspire to drive technological advancements, by providing them with financial solutions, training and access to strategic partnerships; and empowering young employees to become an integral part of the workforce in Nigeria, especially those deployed through the NYSC.

“FGN/ALAT Digital and SkillNnovation Hub, positioned to serve as a centralised platform to provide cutting-edge digital skills, mentorship and networking opportunities, is targeted at tech-savvy youths and young entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

” The focus is on promoting entrepreneurship, skills development and the integration of young employees in the workforce, particularly getting one million youths employed in the digital economy and upskilling SMEs who can directly add value to the country’s economy.”

Abiola said that one million young adults would be trained in software engineering, product management, business analysis, cloud computing, product design, using a specialized curriculum designed for the FGN/ALAT Digital and SkillNnovation Hub.

“On mentorship, 500,000 SMEs across Nigeria will be mentored by experts while coaches will train and upskill them for business growth and quantum leap.

“Under the scheme, grants will be provided under a collaborative arrangement between the Federal Government and WEMA Bank, setting aside N500 million to be given to SMEs and Techprenuers.”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has officially opened the CARICOM office of the Bank in Barbados, and reaffirmed the US$1.5 billion credit limit made available to support eligible CARICOM States.

Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, in the company of the Hon. Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados presided over the opening on Friday, alongside other dignitaries.

Dr the Hon. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Hon. Phillip Pierre, Prime Minister of St. Lucia and the Hon. Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada, were among the dignitaries.

H.E President Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR), a former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman of the Intra-African Trade Advisory council, and other dignitaries from Africa and the Caribbean community regions also participated in the occasion.

The Afreximbank CARICOM Office will support the implementation of the Partnership Agreement between Afreximbank and CARICOM member states aimed at expanding Africa-Caribbean trade and investment relations, a statement by the bank on Saturday said .

This move cements Afreximbank’s efforts to promote and develop trade between Africa and the Caribbean, in line with its Diaspora Strategy and the African Union’s designation of the African Diaspora as Africa’s sixth region.

Speaking at the event, Oramah said that the establishment of the Afreximbank CARICOM office remained critical to facilitating operations of the Bank in the Caribbean Community.

It will bring Afreximbank’s products and initiatives closer to the business community and ensure that the Bank rapidly ramps-up operations to promote stronger relations with the Governments in the region towards the pursuit of mutually identified priorities.

“With the launch of the CARICOM Office, we can look forward to a smooth implementation of trade and access to finance initiatives, broader business origination across the CARICOM member states and more impactful results from our partnership.

“We also look forward to Afreximbank subsidiaries finding homes in the CARICOM, especially the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), PAPSS and AfrexInsure.

“Over time, CARICOM and African financial systems will become better integrated for the benefit of our people,” he added.

The Prime Minister of Barbados, the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, made some remarks.

She stated that Africa has been a loyal friend to the Caribbean, referencing the assistance offered through the African Medical Supplies Platform during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said that Africa opened its doors to the Caribbean Community and facilitated access to equipment, therapeutics, and ultimately vaccines, with the payment mechanism facilitated through Afreximbank.

Mottley went on to laud the establishment of the Afreximbank CARICOM office, noting that the new office was the culmination of promises made by the Bank during the first AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum held in Barbados in 2022.

“This is not just a proud moment historically, but it is also a move that makes sense.

“That will benefit our regional private sector and our regional state-owned corporations who need access to a more empathetic, reasonable bank and one willing to take risks that would allow our people to move and grow to the next level.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that CARICOM member states include Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, The Bahamas, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.

In December 2022, the Board of Directors of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) approved US$1.5 billion funding to enable member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) that had ratified the Partnership Agreement with Afreximbank to tap into the Bank’s various financial instruments.

As of July 2023, 11 out of the 15 CARICOM member states had signed the Partnership with Afreximbank.

The financing will be targeted at supporting critical economic sectors aimed at boosting the development of trade-enabling infrastructure.

Also, it is aimed at enhancing trade and investments between Africa and the CARICOM member states, while providing support to small and medium enterprises.

The bank has also committed to increase the credit limit to US$3 billion.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Army to supporting and protecting democracy in Nigeria.

Lagbaja said this at the Passing Out Parade and Commissioning/Oath Taking Ceremony for Executive Commission Course 1/2023, on Saturday in Jaji, Kaduna State.

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Saturday in Abuja.

According to Lagbaja, the only thing better than democracy for Nigeria in this modern era, is more democracy.

He said that subordination of the military to constituted authority remains the most fashionable means of promoting military professionalism.

The COAS said that the desire of every Nigerian was to have a flourishing and uninterrupted constitutional democratic governance that promotes national values and the interest of every well-meaning Nigerian, irrespective of ethnic or religious affiliation.

“I therefore charge all Nigerian army personnel to be proud champions of our flourishing democracy and remain apolitical in discharging their constitutional duties.

“The Nigerian army remains committed to ensuring the security of lives and property across the country.

“We are working assiduously to protect the territorial integrity of the nation and support relevant security agencies in ensuring the security of lives and property within the country,” he said.

The Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Maj.-Gen. Oluyemi Olatoye, who superintended the training of the cadets, said that the commissioned officers had been imbued with requisite skills to function as officers.

Olatoye said that the newly commissioned officers had been trained to be loyal, courageous and dedicated in their service to the nation.

According to the statement, Nwachukwu said the COAS, afterwards, conferred Presidential Commission on the Passing out Cadets, to the rank of Lieutenant, after which the Oath of Allegiance was administered to them.

He said the 239 passing out cadets comprising 12 females and 228 males were already in service as soldiers drawn from various corps who were selected for Executive Commissioning, after three months of intensive military training.

According to him, three cadets emerged in flying colours amongst their contemporaries.

Cadet A Saminu came first in order of merit, while Cadet SC Nwokanta came second and Cadet OY Yahaya bagged the third position.

“Highpoint of the event was the presentation of Parchment of Commission to the newly commissioned Officers.

“After the Commissioning ceremony, the COAS paid an empathy visit to officers and soldiers who were wounded in action during operational engagements at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna.”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria