Cross River State House of Assembly Speaker, John Gaul Lebo said, the revenue drive of the Department of Public Transport (DOPT) and Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency (CTRA) is not their core mandate.
The Speaker, Lebo stated this when he hosted a delegation of the Unified Taxi Drivers Association of Cross River State, UTDA-CRS, led by chairman, Pastor Bassey Okon saying “It is unfortunate that both CTRA and DOPT have now turned themselves into revenue generating agencies rather than the regulatory agencies that they were created to be.”
According to crossriverwatch.com, the speaker also disclosed that the 8th assembly of the state was poised to reposition the transport sector in the state as one of its core mandate is to carry out a transport sector reform that will consider the divergent views in the industry to develop a transport system that is both convenient and comfortable to all.
Meanwhile, Pastor Okon had earlier called on the assembly to aid in the arrest of issues faced by commercial drivers which includes multiple taxation and alleged harassment by government agencies in Cross River State.
Okon also clearly stated that the harassment has become a daily routine and they have been left in the mercy of revenue generating agencies and departments whose operations have been marred with irregularities and complaints and called for drastic action to be taken as “Our source of livelihood is been threatened especially by military personnel driving ‘off colour’ taxis.”
Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, on the 2nd September, 2016 flagged off the Central Bank of Nigeria – Cross River State Government, CBN-CRSG ANCHOR BORROWERS’ PROGRAMME FOR RICE VALUE CHAIN in Odukpani LGA.
According to Governor Ayade, it is a collaborative effort between the Federal Government and Cross River State to encourage and support rice farmers in the state.
Whilst flagging off the programme, Ayade urged Cross Riverians to embrace agriculture, especially in the aspect of rice farming, for this will in turn yield more returns to State and local government respectively. He spoke of the reasons why he spent three days in Thailand and also thank President Muhammadu Buhari for this dream come true.
The Governor also assured farmers of instant loan to help bolster their zeal towards rice farming as FG partners the state in the programme.
There was a lot of merriment during the flagging off, as a lot of people turned up with the Governor expressing himself while dancing with the Efik traditional dancers.
Watch photos and videos from the event below…
Watch Video Extract of Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, today while flagging off the: CBN-CRSG ANCHOR BORROWERS’ PROGRAMME FOR RICE VALUE CHAIN IN Odukpani LGA of Cross River State below…..
Cross River State governor, Senator Ben Ayade, yesterday sanctioned the immediate engagement of about 300 shortlisted applicants as employees of the newly built state-owned Calabar Garment Factory.
The lucky beneficiaries were at the garment factory for the final screening exercise for employment, which is in three batches for applicants from each of the three senatorial districts in the state.
Speaking during the exercise for applicants from the southern senatorial districts, Ayade directed that every applicant at the event be given automatic employment.
He told the cheering crowd that “When we set up this factory, the intension was not just to create jobs but to guarantee that young men and women who have been challenged by circumstances of their births have the opportunity to better their lots.
“I’m so excited at what I am seeing here today, the number of people and their energy and it is an indication that our factory has taken off. Remember, the factory has the capacity to create 3,000 jobs.
“Truly, if you call yourself a leader, your focus should be on the vulnerable and the weakest that we are engaging today. We will guarantee you good salaries, food and proper transportation.”
According to the governor, “This is a lifesaving opportunity for the vulnerable. These women constitute the basis of the family, but unfortunately, because of the nature of our society, things have become very difficult for them.”
Ayade described the factory as a new horizon for the employees to realize their true skills, potentials and manifestation of that which God has endowed them with.
Ayade further noted: “We want to show to the world that we have skills, great fashion engineers. I call you engineers because you are going to provide the skills that we have not seen before.”
Also speaking, president and founder of Africa Young Entrepreneurs (AYE), Oluwa Summy Francis, who was in company of other entrepreneurs from other parts of Africa, described the establishment of Calabar Garment Factory by Governor Ayade as a demonstration of true leadership in action.
Francis who was overwhelmed by the sheer size and capacity of the factory said: “What I am seeing here is something far from Nigeria, this is not just an opportunity but something that will create Africa.”
He further testified: “This is what happens when a youth becomes a governor, someone who truly has everything on his side like age, exposure, connections and commitment. When you have youth in the saddle, we should expect things like this.
“From our interactions with the governor, we are made to understand that the garment factory is the least of his lofty dreams for the people of Cross River. So, if this amazes you, then be ready for something that will blow your mind.
“Here is a man that does not only believe in the growth Cross River and Nigeria but that of Africa and I am really overwhelmed by this innovation and mind blowing opportunity for Africa in terms of job creation as well as attracting investors and investments back to Africa,” the President added.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Mr. Peter Egba, explained that the flag off of the training exercise was a testimony to the industrialization programme of Governor Ayade aimed at reducing employment among the citizenry with 80 percent focused on women, particularly widows.
He hinted that as part of efforts to diversify the economy, the state government was repositioning agriculture in the area of value chain addition.
Stressing that as the second largest producer of cocoa in the country, plan was underway to start processing cocoa beans for export, thereby creating more jobs and more revenue into the coffers of government.
He thanked donor agencies and partners for believing in the Ayade vision and transformation agenda of the state.
Photo caption: (R-L) Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, Vice President of African Young Entrepreneurs, Ibada Ahmed, T. Williams, President, AYE, Oluwa Francis during screening of applicants for employment at Calabar Garment Factory in Calabar…
Watch the Video Extract of Governor Ayade flagging off the recruitment process of Cross River State Garment and Textile Factory in Calabar below…
Yesterday, Wednesday, 31st August, 2016, the Vice President (VP) of African Young Entrepreneurs, Ibada Ahmed, and group paid a fruitful visitation and interacted with trainees at the Calabar Garment Factory.
Check out the exclusive photos from their visitation below…
Performance has nothing to do with party politics games playing.
Prof Ayade has distinguished himself in many ways even with relationship with PMB while many APC govs are mere noisemakers and onlookers over 1 year after.
The Cross River State governor took delivery of the electric power plant equipments in Calabar.
The master plan of cross river is about power generation NOT power distribution.
Personally, I think the DisCo will still be very much involve in the distribution of electricity to residential and industrial utilities.
However, discos need the power generated before they can function as utility providers in Cross River State.
If this Cross River State electricity become successful, the existing GenCos will keep generating electricity to national grid to get paid through the existing NBET arrangement.
Achieving true industrialization in Nigeria without steady power supply is unrealistic!
I don’t agree that Nigeria is deficient of brilliant people with worldclass networks and exposures with creative ideas and problem solving skills, the main bane is that only few of such people are allowed to get positions of leadership both at the state and federal levels in Nigeria.
Majority of occupiers of elected public offices in Nigeria today cannot go all the way to deliver innovations that could outlive their tenure in offices.
One key factor we all need to note is that, industrialization promotes local productivity since demand will grow and market availability will then boost productivity. The Cross River Garment Factory will boost the Nigeria Textile industry.
1. Competitive Advantages:
The Calabar Garment Factory is not one of its kind in Nigeria alone but Africa. Africa is a large market to all industrialised nations. For a consuming continent to fear the step of venturing into Production is one blindness that have kept us backward. Competition is a positive boost to business and hence the planners of the Calabar Garment Factory are not blind to it. Being the first, it is a pointer to boost professional and technological Garment making with speed, ease, quality.
2. Cost:
With the same technology, it is far cheaper to produce an American standard Shirt in Nigeria than in America. The China situation is clear for all to study. Given the cheap labour, importing Fabric into a standard Garment Factory in Nigeria to make an American standard Shirt is cheaper in economic or political terms.
3. Patronage:
Nigerians are not fools as some persons take them to be, we can tell the difference between a well made Shirt and a shabby made one. We can tell when even our enemy’s cloth is better made than ours.
We can make better clothes in Calabar Garment Factory like the rest of the world. America and Britain only set standard for products getting into their countries, not that other countries cannot produce qualities of their standard. With right technology Nigeria can produce far better products. Nigeria Cable is rated among the best in the world.
4. Marketing Catching Points:
Nigerian Army, Navy, Police, Airforce Uniforms etc. The paramilitary Uniforms, NYSC Uniform, and many other Government and corporate bodies. What of our Political Campiagns wears? School Unform etc. Most of these contracts are given out and production is done outside this country.
It is therefore sad to hear people say the establishment of the Garment Factory is of no value when it is targeted to one basic need of man.
In as much as some mention the Aba Garment makers as having the knowledge of the Nigeria business environment. What other Garment makers out side Nigeria use to beat our local Garment makers is technology which enhance speed, accuracy, ease and style swift. And that, the Calabar Garment Factory is not establish to send out the Aba Garment makers but to enhance their speed and give them opportunity to compete favourable with foreign garment makers by partnering with the Calabar Garment Factory.
5. Availability of skill manpower:
China today took over the world with one strategy, cheap manpower. If a country of about 170 million people talented and skilled in all arts of live lacks skill manpower for Garment making, then we are not a people. Training can not be more expensive than the cost of building such a structure. The Garment Factory can not lack Skill Manpower, not in my Nigeria. Aba boys will sue any man who dare say such.
6. Funding:
The Garment Factory is created under the Public Private Partnership ( PPP). A public private partnership is a legally-binding contract between government and business for the provision of assets and the delivery of services that allocates responsibilities and business risks among the various partners. In a P3 arrangement, government remains actively involved throughout the project’s life cycle. The private sector is responsible for the more commercial functions such as project design, construction, finance and operations.
8. Raw Materials:
Today African fabric is not lacking behind, our people are gradually returning back to our own ways of dressing. Making clothes using our local Fabric in styles and fashion that attracts the world. To show case their creativity, clothes makers organise a lot of Fashion shows and attracts a lot of attention to new styles. The Garment Factory does not only have enough raw materials in the African fabric, but it is going to serve as a vehicle through which African Fabric is about to be show case to the world.
With our tourism potentials, Carnival, pageantry and rich cultural heritage, Nigeria and indeed Africa will stand tall with the patronage of the Calabar Garment Factory.
The basic primary Raw materials resources of a Garment Factory is the Fabric. Just like the basic primary raw material for a Tylor is Fabric.
Returning to the city of Lagos with its Fifth edition, 3 Invest Limited has announced the commencement of Real Estate Unite 2016, the real estate event that unites leading stakeholders and Global investors in Africa’s property market.
Themed ‘filling the G.A.P.S’, the two day event which is scheduled to hold on the 6th and 7th of October 2016 at the prestigious Eko Convention Center Lagos, will host some of world’s biggest brands in the property market across Africa. The annual conference, exhibition and recognition dinner, aims to create a viable platform to harness potentials in the real estate sector.
The event will offer attendees networking opportunities with over 40 global Investors and full participation in its world conference where the future of real estate in Nigeria, Africa and the world will be viewed from a localized perspective. Participants can also showcase on-going or developed projects and capitalize on global industry
innovation, technologies and trends.
Some of the highlights of the event this year is the Exhibition set to attract representatives from real estate related vendors and resources; Education sessions and panel discussions with industry thought leaders and key influencers; Special programs for Women in Real Estate; Networking Events and for the first time ever a Recognition Awards for outstanding talent in the industry. Real Estate Unite has a strong reputation for bringing together top experts from leadership and management thinkers to industry specialist in various sectors such as development, banking, marketing, manufacturing, law, interior design, hospitality, Foreign and Institutional Investors and more. To satisfy the investment market and Real Estate appetite, some Key note speakers expected at the event are Executive Director, Corporate Strategy & Planning, Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company Dr Chii Akporji, Minister, Power, Works & Housing Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and Chief
Executive Officer, Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC) Prof. Charles Inyangete and more.
According to Babatunde Fashola (SAN) – “3invest and its leadership requires good commendation for uniting the real estate industry”.
Speaking on its fifth edition, Spokesperson for the summit Ruth Obih has stated that the summit is geared towards offering direct access to the most active local and international Africa-focused real estate and infrastructure development participants in the world.
In 2016, Real Estate Unite seeks to explore how the Government and Private sector could each play vital roles in further boosting Africa’s real estate sector, thus offering affordable and competitive housing to citizens and enterprises at all levels. This event will provide a rare opportunity to meet the who’s who of the
industry.
ABOUT REAL ESTATE UNITE
Real estate unite is an annual real estate summit whose primary objective to unite players in the real estate sectors whilst opening up the immeasurable potentials in Sub-Sahara’s real estate sector for
sustainable growth. The Real Estate Unite advisory board is an independent body made up of professionals from different sectors chaired by Peter Bankole, Jumoke Akinwunmi, Akin Olawore, Sonnie Ayere, Kunle Omotola and Ruth Obih.
Join the conversations on our social media handles by following
Twitter: @3Invest
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For all Press Related Matters please contact Mrs. Precious Idaewor at precious.idaewor@invicta-africa.com For Sponsorship or Speaking Opportunities please contact Kelechi on 08099991803
SPAR Hypermarket whose philosophy is to work closely with its host communities wherever it exist and play a significant role in its development recently collaborated with Funfizz; a career and entrepreneurial oriented event to host FunFizz 2016.
The event which took place at Calabar Mall, Cross River State hosted a total of 15 Senior Secondary schools to a intensive debate session over Blue Collar and White Collar Jobs and their individual/collective relevance to the present day Nigerian youth.
‘’Often, SPAR experiences serious challenges firstly, recruiting the right candidate with desired skillset and subsequently training them with skills required for retail business. What we usually witness is a shortage of candidates. When it comes to employability candidates usually the required skills for modern retail business.’’ SPAR’s spokesperson Mr. John Goldsmith stated while addressing stakeholders at the event.
Schools in attendance include Hope Wadell College, Federal Government Girls College, Unical demonstration secondary school, Limelight secondary school, St Patrick’s college, Holy child secondary school and several others. The CEO of LASHAKARA wears, ace comedian the Last Prophet and other media influencers were present to address and motivate participants.
According its organizers, FUNFIZZ was birthed out of the need to reach out to the Nigerian youths, impacting them from a very impressionable stage in life. The central objective of FUNFIZZ is to impact youths; building their entrepreneurial minds and widening their scope of career choice. The initiative seeks to empower young people to follow their dreams with a mindset of impacting their community and their country as a whole thus pushing them to explore new dimensions in their chosen fields of study.
For any business expansion, apart from resources like Finance, Technical knowhow etc, Manpower plays a very critical role both from setup and continuity aspect. SPAR seeks to work closely with the community and the country at large to develop Human Capital. As the economy evolves, many new opportunities will open up for today’s youth. The youth needs to be guided in building their aspirations and picking up right career choice to increase their employability.
While we were constructing the Calabar mall, we saw that lots of skilled labours engaged by the construction companies, who worked on the project were from outside Calabar, indicating that there another need gap when it comes to skilled jobs like Plumbing, Electrical, Welding, Aluminum Work etc.
Today’s youth should broaden their horizon and look at developing skills which can lead them to become entrepreneurs. There are so many field to explore catering/ baking, fashion designing, welding, plumbing /aluminum works, makeup artistry/ beauty enhancement, agriculture / animal husbandry, fish farming, poultry farming, pig rearing, bee rearing and the list goes on.
About SPAR
SPAR in Nigeria is a part of the Dutch multinational retail chain; SPAR International which is present in 43 countries across 4 continents with over 12,500 stores. Apart from Nigeria, SPAR is in Angola, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Mauritius, Mozambique. Namibia, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United kingdom, Zambia, Zimbabwe and several others.
The Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige was yesterday stunned by the sheer size and sophistication of the Calabar Garment Factory.
Ngige who visited the factory along with the state governor, Senator Ayade, while in Calabar to commission the South South zonal Skills Acquisition Centre, said he was dumbfounded by what he saw.
His words: “I am in this Calabar Garment Factory and the word to use is dumbfounded. I am indeed dumbfounded by what I see here. For a state that receives the least allocation, only second to Osun State from the federation account, to achieve this is amazing.
“It is pure financial engineering by Governor Ben Ayade to have successfully built and completed this giant garment factory.”
According to the former governor of Anambra State, “This factory is an employment centre, so to say, because at each shift, at least one thousand persons are engaged out of three shifts in a given day. For three thousand persons to be taken out of the army of unemployed is a startling number accounting for garment and textile sector. This is besides the humongous number that will be engaged in cotton farm located in the Ogoja and Obudu axis from what I saw in the work plan.”
The Minister who said Governor Ayade is steadily implementing what the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has been preaching noted: “This is actually what the APC-led administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is preaching, which is backward integration. We do not need to be importing everything into the country anymore, because of the scarce foreign exchange.”
While lauding what he described as Ayade’s economic wizardry, Senator Ngige said: “We cannot take it away from Governor Ayade. He has done pretty well. I must commend him and at the same time recommend his style and zeal to other governors. He does not come to Abuja cap in hand like most of his colleagues are doing.”
Continuing, the Minister enjoined: “We can put an end to the cap in hand or what I call ‘feeding bottle’ syndrome which other governors have reduced themselves to if they can imbibe the Ayade example. We want that to stop. He has also proved himself to be workers’ friendly too because apart from paying workers’ salary every month, he pays promptly too. From what I have heard from the workers’ here, he has not exposed me to be going to negotiate for three working days in a week work with workers.”
On partnership with the state government on the garment factory, Ngige said: “From what I have seen here, all our skills trainees of our Skills Development Programme will be brought here for training. This garment factory will now be used as an apprenticeship centre for our skills trainees. And because the South South Zonal centre of the National Directorate of Employment is in Calabar, both Cross Riverians and trainees from other states of the zone will be trained here. There will also be funds to support the factory.”
Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade was pictured receiving a gift from the Chairman of Wuhan Longfecund Agriculture Development Company Limited after an interactive business meeting in Governors office, Calabar on Monday 22nd August, 2016.
Photo caption:
(L) Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade with Chairman of Wuhan Longfecund Agriculture Development Company Limited, Mr. Yongsheng Cao, during an interactive meeting in the Governors office in Calabar. Monday
(M) Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade with (R) Chairman of Wuhan Longfecund Agriculture Development Company Limited, Mr. Yongsheng Cao, and (L) Cross River State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Eneji Egrinya during an interactive meeting in Governors office, Calabar. Monday in Calaar.
