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Tag: Abuja

  • Nigerian Youth League confers award of Excellence on C’River-born Real Estate Czar

    Nigerian Youth League confers award of Excellence on C’River-born Real Estate Czar

     

    An illustrious son of Cross River State who is based in Abuja has been recognized and conferred an award of excellence by the Nigerian Youth League.

    Mr Efenji Nicholas, a real estate mogul and Chief Executive Officer of Efenji Homes & Properties, was on Thursday honoured as an ‘Achiever Par Excellence’ in his office in Abuja by the youth body.

    The award was presented in recognition and appreciation of his outstanding contributions and excellent service to humanity and the Nigerian nation.

    Hails from Bekwara local government area, Efenji Nicolas is one of the founding members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State. He has made significant mark in the real estate sector, and his humanitarian deeds have made him stand out among his contemporaries.

    He is a seasoned politician from prestigious political background. Efenji Nicolas is a young man with high cerebral value. His exceptional performance in the highly competitive real estate sector, shines the light on his leadership dexterity and acumen. He is a leader in his own right.

    Efenji Nicolas is happily married.

  • National Cash Transfer Office Committed To Effective Program Delivery, Holds Orientation For National, State Officers

    National Cash Transfer Office Committed To Effective Program Delivery, Holds Orientation For National, State Officers

    The National Cash Transfer Office recently held an orientation/training  for State and National Officers on  effective programme delivery and implementation of the “National Social Safety Nets Project Scale Up” for the vulnerable, in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

    Declaring the event open, the National Coordinator of National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), Dr Akindele Egbuwalo welcomed the participants and reiterated the Federal Government’s Commitment to reach 75 million households in the Scale-Up Conditional Cash Transfer, to boost the  economic needs of the vulnerable across the 36 states of the country and the FCT.

    He highlighted other social investment programmes, such as the Home Grown School Feeding Programme, GEEP etc, that the Federal Government will be using to reach more vulnerable people in the country and encouraged Nigerians to continue to support the Federal Government.

    He also congratulated the National Cash Transfer Office on the successes recorded in the first phase of the exercise; applauding the leadership and all staff who worked tirelessly for the nation’s gain.

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    Also speaking, the National Coordinator of NCTO, Dr Michael Ajuluchuku said the national orientation/training for State and National Officers was to build their capacity to ensure effective programme implementation. He also said that the need to step up the programme became imperative to cushion the recent petrol subsidy removal, electricity hike, as well as various natural and human disasters.
    Dr Ajuluchuku also tasked the National and State Officers to ensure optimal service delivery across the country.

    In her welcome address, the Deputy National Coordinator (DNC), National Cash Transfer Office, Dr Janet Ekpenyong, applauded the states team for quality representation and management of the programme which recorded satisfactory success in the previous phase of the NASSP programme.

    She noted that without the corporation of the State Officers, the programme would have suffered under performance due to influences from groups which may have resulted into poor enumeration, capturing and funds disbursement to deserving individuals and households and other challenges.

    Dr Ekpenyong encouraged improved and sustained stakeholders engagement at the Federal and State levels to foster strong collaboration and improved service delivery. She also advocated for proper information dissemination to beneficiaries, noting that the success of the programme is not just in the disbursement of funds but the ultimate utilisation of the said funds for the shared prosperity of all.

    The DNC thanked the World Bank team and other stakeholders for their commitment and unflinching support in complementing the Federal Government’s effort to alleviate millions of Nigerians out of poverty in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.

    The Deputy Director Planning, who spoke on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Alhaji Musa Balla Tefida, said the President is committed to lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty in record time, hence the need to tirelessly work towards achieving set goals.

    Speaking after the programme, some of the states representatives thanked the leadership of the National Cash Transfer Office for organising the programme to keep them updated on the essence of the NASSP Scale-Up and ways of effectively delivering their duties in their various states.

    The orientation exercise had in attendance Communications Officers, Monitoring and Evaluation experts, as well as Grievance Redress Mechanism Officers, MIS, Operations Officers, Heads of Units and National NCTO Officers.

    At the end of the three day orientation,  it is expected that all participants are abreast of the technicalities in translating the FG Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer programme as envisaged by Mr president, His Excellently, Ahmed Bola Tinubu into a working reality, as well as passing the knowledge to their subordinates in the local government and community levels.

  • Dr Janet Ekpenyong Joins Nigerians In Celebrating 25 Years Of Uninterrupted Democracy

    Dr Janet Ekpenyong Joins Nigerians In Celebrating 25 Years Of Uninterrupted Democracy

    Nigeria, the World’s most populated black country, has enjoyed a Quarter of a Century uninterrupted civilian rule and Democratic transitions, cementing its place as the Giant of Africa.

    With June 12th recently recognized as Nigeria’s Democracy Day, millions have joined Nigerians in celebrating this feat.

    In a message to celebrate the day, Dr Janet Ekpenyong, the Deputy National Coordinator, National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO) called on all Nigerians to remain patriotic and rise in defense of the sovereignty, integrity, and liberty of the Nation, for optimal productivity and greatness.

    She praised all the heros of Democracy including the Incumbent President, Ahmed Bola Tinubu who through his heroism and activism, altered the military rule and set the pace for building the Peace, Tranquility and Agenda of a new Nation devoid of bigotry, ethnic and religious sentiments.

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    “Today, we honour the resilience of our great nation and the enduring spirit of Democracy. Let us continue to strive for the unity in our Renewed Hope , justice and the progress as we celebrate 25 years of unhindered Democracy in Nigeria.”

    She prayed God to continually uphold the Nation with visionary leadership, which will protect and preserve the territorial integrity and dignity of the Nation.

  • Newly Appointed NOSDRA DG/CEO, Engr. Emeka Woke, Pledges to Refocus Agency on President’s Renewed Hope Agenda

    Newly Appointed NOSDRA DG/CEO, Engr. Emeka Woke, Pledges to Refocus Agency on President’s Renewed Hope Agenda

    Engr. Emeka Woke, the newly appointed Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Oil Spillage, Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), has reiterated his commitment to align the agency with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. During a meeting with management staff at the agency’s headquarters, Engr. Woke emphasized his mandate to refocus, redirect, and revitalize NOSDRA to positively impact communities affected by oil spills.

    Engr. Woke commended the Management Staff for their warm reception and charged them to continue performing their duties diligently. He also promised to address the immediate challenges faced by staff, including regular and alternative power supply. The new DG emphasized the need for all staff to key into the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, warning that those who fail to align with the new vision may be shown the way out.

    The  leader of the Management team,  Mrs Adesiba, in her speech thanked the new DG/CEO and promised to ensure he gets maximum cooperation by every  member of Staff of the Agency.

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    The meeting was attended by the top management staff.

    With this new leadership, NOSDRA is poised to embark on a transformative journey, prioritizing the welfare of communities affected by oil spills and aligning with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

  • IGAD Ends 4-Day Learning Mission To ECOWAS Commission

    IGAD Ends 4-Day Learning Mission To ECOWAS Commission

    By  Nsan Ndoma-Neji

    As part of the effort to strengthen cooperation between African sub-regional institutions, officials from intergovernmental Authority on Development have rounded off four days learning mission to Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission.

    At the flag-off ceremony that took place in Abuja Nigeria, on Monday, Vice President, ECOWAS Commission, Damien Tchintchidja, who spoke on the importance of the programme, urged participants to be focused, and ensure that the issues raised during the learning session are taken seriously.

    Speaking on topic “Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on a learning mission to ECOWAS on the implementation of free movement of persons regimes and migration management”, the vice president  averred that the learning exercise is going to assist participants with opportunity to share the experience gained in the area of free movement regime and enhancement of migration statistics.

    Tchintchidja stressed that upon completion of the programme, participants would have equipped themselves with knowledge on movement of person’s regime within  the region by examining the legislation, policies, regulations, procedures and instruments that brought success, as well as procedures and instruments that made the regime an effective tool for peace, development and cooperation in the region.

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    She stated that Programme of this nature would encourage regional integration and collaboration among member states, calling on all hands to be on deck so that knowledge gained at tbe learning programme can be put into use for the betterment of the region.

    The vice president commended  ECOWAS experts for drafting the IGAD Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons which according to her would foster peace, unity and economic growth in the region.

    She acknowledged the support of international partners, including the European Union, IOM and GIZ, and expressed appreciation for their support for ECOWAS initiatives.

    On behalf of Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, IGAD Executive Secretary, the IGAD Permanent Representative to the AU and Head of the IGAD delegation, Ambassador Maureen Achieng, expressed appreciation for the leadership of ECOWAS and the Nigerian government for facilitation of the meeting.

    The Ambassador also highlighted IGAD’s achievements in developing protocols for the free movement of people and trans humans.

    “Our cooperation with ECOWAS on these protocols is aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and establishes a framework for economic and social prosperity in our regions,”  Achieng maintained.

    In his remarks, director, External Relations, ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Jerome Boa, while expressing gratitude to IGAD delegation for its cooperation, highlighted  the common objectives and challenges faced by  the two regions called for mutual cooperation among member states  stressing that with unity and cooperation the  region and the continent  of Africa as a whole stands  the chance of catarpulting  itself to greatness.

    He assured participants of willingness of both organisations to strengthen  inter-regional ties, enhanced economic opportunities to ensure the well-being of their populations through cooperation initiatives.

    The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is a regional economic community comprising the countries of the Horn of Africa, including Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya and Uganda. Its mission is to develop and accelerate regional integration and cooperation between Member States.

  • Husband scarcity looms as National Bureau of Statistics projects 51.6% Nigerian males may leave the country

    Husband scarcity looms as National Bureau of Statistics projects 51.6% Nigerian males may leave the country

    A National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, survey report showed that the socio economic problems in the country might push 51.6 percent males to migrate.

    According to the 2023 survey report titled: “Awareness and perception of intending and returned migrants on the dangers of irregular migration” the tendency to migrate is less in females than in male as the former has a 48.6 percent prevalence to migrate.

    The Bureau also noted that the survey took place in 10 states namely; Anambra, Edo, Lagos, Benue, Gombe, Kano, Delta, Yobe, Ogun and FCT, as against the six states covered in the 2022 survey.

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  • Sports Minister Partners Yucateco to Develop Boxing, Says Nigeria is Due for an Olympic Gold Medal in Boxing

    Sports Minister Partners Yucateco to Develop Boxing, Says Nigeria is Due for an Olympic Gold Medal in Boxing

    _Commends YBP, Sues for Establishment of National Boxing championship

    The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has reiterated the Ministry’s determination to nurturing boxing talent at both grassroots and national levels. This dedication was underscored as the Ministry forged a new partnership with Yucateco Boxing Promotion (YBP) aimed at promoting the sport throughout Nigeria.

    Senator Enoh facilitated the partnership as he hosted the YBP team, led by Omolei Y. Imadu, at the Ministry on Thursday. The collaborative effort signals a significant step forward in enhancing the visibility and support for boxing within the country.

    “The cornerstone and future of our sports resides at the grassroots level thus I am excited to engage with individuals who work at the grassroots level,” remarked Senator Enoh. “Our country has a glorious past in boxing, but it is gradually losing that glory.  Nigerians have the innate ability to excel in any sports, including boxing. Having won Olympic gold medals in long jump and football we should win a gold medal in boxing.”

    “Through strategic partnerships such as this with Yucateco Boxing Promotion, we aim to tap into the vast talent pool within our nation and provide avenues for aspiring boxers to excel on both national and international platforms.”

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    The partnership between the Ministry of Sports Development and Yucateco Boxing Promotion is expected to yield a range of initiatives aimed at nurturing talent, organizing competitions, and providing necessary support structures for athletes across Nigeria. By leveraging the expertise and resources of YBP, the Ministry will foster a thriving boxing ecosystem that empowers athletes and contributes to the overall development of sports in the country.

    Furthermore, Senator Enoh emphasized the urgent need for the establishment of a national boxing championship as a means to sustainably promote and develop the sport across Nigeria. He stressed that such a league would not only provide a structured platform for competition but also serve as a catalyst for identifying and nurturing emerging talent.

    “Nigeria has a rich history in boxing, and it’s time for us to reclaim our position on the global stage,” stated Senator Enoh. “While people like you work on the grassroots level, you can upscale and work on the national level, for example by organizing a national boxing championship. With the establishment of a national boxing championship, we can provide consistent opportunities for our boxers to hone their skills, compete at a high level, and ultimately strive for Olympic glory.”

    The Honourable Minister urged stakeholders within the sports community, including government agencies, corporate bodies, and sports enthusiasts, to rally behind efforts to revitalize boxing in Nigeria. He emphasized that by working together, Nigeria can fulfill its potential and secure its place among the world’s boxing elite.

    He thanked Mr. Omolei Imadu  for his dedication to promoting and incentivizing amateur boxing at the grassroot level through the Yucateco boxing tournament and encouraged  similar efforts across different well meaning individuals.

    “We do not need just passion from those who seek to run sports at the national level, we need people who can go all out like Mr Imadu has”.

    As Nigeria sets its sights on future Olympic competitions, Senator Enoh expressed confidence that with the right support and investment, Nigerian boxers are capable of achieving greatness and bringing home coveted Olympic gold medals.

    SIGNED:

    Diana-Mary Nsan,
    S.A. Media
    To the Honourable Minister of Sports Development
    23-02-2024

  • APC publicity secretaries condemn killing of Plateau state colleague, demand justice

    APC publicity secretaries condemn killing of Plateau state colleague, demand justice

    By Ovat Abeng

    The Conference of State Publicity Secretaries of the All Progressives Congress (CAPS), has condemned in the strongest terms, the assassination of the Plateaus State Publicity Secretary of APC, Chief Sylvanus Namang, which occurred over the weekend.

    In a press statement released in Abuja on Tuesday and signed by its Chairman, Engineer Usman Adaji, the body described the death of Namang, as “a big blow, not only to the association  but also to the entire progressive family; and a death, which must not be swept under the carpet”.

    The statement described the late  Namang  as a versatile veteran journalist, who served the party, Plateau State and the nation selflessly.

    The statement read in part: “In more than four decades of his illustrious career as a journalist, Chief Namang had  served as Editor-in-Chief and later General Manager of the Plateau Publishing Company; Commissioner of Information, Plateau State; Zonal Director of Federal Radio Corporation in charge of North Central; and the founding director of the defunct Details Newspaper.

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    “He was also a special adviser to the late Plateau State political leader, Chief Solomon Lar. Until his unfortunate death last Saturday, Chief Namang was Publicity Secretary of APC in Plateau State as well as the former Chairman of the Media Committee of the defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council, for Plateau State.

    “We urge the Inspector General of Police to ensure that those behind the gruesome murder are quickly arrested and brought to book. No stone should be left unturned in the police investigation as we have information at our disposal that the deceased received about twenty threats to his life.

    CAPS, is deeply saddened on the unfortunate incident that has left us utterly bereaved and astonished. We  convey our deep condolences to the family of Chief Sylvanus Namang, the APC in Plateau State, and the national body. We  pray that God will grant him eternal rest and the family and associates, the fortitude to bear the loss”, the statement concluded.

  • House of Reps moves to ban sports betting in Nigeria

    House of Reps moves to ban sports betting in Nigeria

     

    The House of Representatives has resolved to stop sports betting in the country and urged the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) to comply with the Lottery Regulatory Commission Act, 2005.

    The resolution followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Kelechi Nwogu (PDP-Rivers) at plenary in Abuja on Thursday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had earlier reported that approximately 60 million Nigerians aged between 18 and 40 engage in sports betting.

    According to him, weak or neglected regulations of sports betting have given rise to mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and addiction.

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    Nwogu added that it had also led to strain or broken relationships due to lying or stealing from friends and family, financial problems, legal issues, and job loss due to excessive loss or debt.

    “Betting has given rise to an increased crime rate and eventual suicide,” he said.

    He harped on the need for campaigns to prevent the negative social impact of lottery and underage participation.

    Adopting the motion, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation to conduct a comprehensive nationwide campaign to raise public awareness about the negative impact of youth participation in sports betting.

    The House also mandated the Committee on Inter-governmental Affairs to conduct a public hearing on the dangerous effects of sports betting in Nigeria.

    It urged the committee to report back to it within four weeks for further legislative action.

    NAN reports that data from the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF) has revealed that over 65 million Nigerians actively engage in betting, spending an average of 15 dollars daily.

    NAN reports that Nigerians spend an estimated 975 million dollars daily on online sports betting, which amounts to about 356 billion dollars annually.

    (NAN)

  • NSIPA: Minister’s Refusal To Compromise Helped In Exposing N44bn Fraud — Ugochinyere Hails EFCC Over Probe

    NSIPA: Minister’s Refusal To Compromise Helped In Exposing N44bn Fraud — Ugochinyere Hails EFCC Over Probe

    A member of the House of Representatives, representing Ideato North/South federal constituency, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu, has said that the refusal of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, to compromise on her principles has helped in exposing the alleged N44 billion fraud at the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).

    Recall that on Tuesday, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) flooded the Maitama office of NSIPA shortly after reports of the suspension of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and National Coordinator of the agency, Halima Shehu, over alleged financial malfeasance.

    The EFCC is currently investigating ₦44billion allegedly moved from NSIPA’s accounts into private and corporate accounts linked to persons suspected as fronts.

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    Ugochinyere, in a statement, hailed the anti-graft agency’s ongoing efforts to ensure that the culprits were caught, tasking the EFCC to ensure that those found guilty are prosecuted.

    The federal lawmaker also commended the Minister, Betta Edu, for leading reforms in the ministry within a short period.

    He described spurious allegations of involvement of the minister in the alleged N3 billion NSIPA fraud, saying that it was rather her stance not to compromise on her principles that helped in exposing the alleged N44 billion fraud at NSIPA.