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Post Date : August 26, 2022

Soyinka appointed Professor of Theatre in UAE varsity

  Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has been appointed as ‘Arts Professor of Theatre’ by the New York University Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The announcement on the university’s website states that the Laureate will play a key role in building the university’s deep strength within the arts and its growth as a preeminent research and teaching university and a world-class leader in global higher education. Commenting on Mr Soyinka’s appointment, Vice Chancellor Mariët Westermann said, “we are excited to provide a home in the UAE for the beauty and power of Soyinka’s contributions to our understanding of our histories and our humanity.” She said it is a great honour to have Mr Soyinka, a world-renowned artist, academic, and activist, a true citizen of the world and a Nobel laureate join the NYUAD community. According to the university, Mr Soyinka joins the NYUAD Theatre Program as a full-time faculty member. He first became a part of the NYUAD community as a Writer-in-Residence in 2019. His visit then was through a joint invitation from the African Studies, Film and New Media, History, Literature and Creative Writing, and Theatre programs, hosted by the NYUAD Institute and supported by other offices across the university. The university’s Provost, Arlie Petters, said, “Soyinka has built an impressive legacy in his home country of Nigeria as well as Africa and the entire world. The students he has taught and mentored, and the legion of teachers who have translated, developed and extended his ideas, remain the most tangible and long-lasting legacy. Our community is privileged to be part of that journey and his ongoing work that will impact generations to come.” Mr Soyinka, Nigerian playwright, novelist, poet, and essayist was born on 13 July 1934 in Abeokuta. He was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature for “in a wide cultural perspective and with poetic overtones fashioning the drama of existence.” He is the first sub-Saharan African to be honoured in that category. TEXEM Advert Mr Soyinka has published about 90 pieces of intellectual work that often reflect on culture and tradition, creativity and power, activism, and the artistic process. He has held university professorships and lectured at many higher education institutions, including Harvard, Emory, Loyola Marymount, and Yale in the United States. He is also an active member of international, artistic, and human rights organisations.

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Post Date : August 26, 2022

Why Govt Should Fund Political Parties – Moghalu

  Political economist Kingsley Moghalu has recommended that the Federal Government should take over the funding of political parties across the country. According to the former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, government funding of political parties will mitigate corruption within the electoral system. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, Professor Moghalu criticised the current delegate system used for party primaries, noting that most delegates participate for pecuniary benefits. “One of my recommendations is that the government should fund political parties,” he said. “This was done in the time of the SDP and NRC that Babangida set up, a little to the right, a little to the left. “And I think if you look at how much the government spends on other things – we spend N4 trillion on petrol subsidy – do you think we would need to spend N500 billion on funding political parties? It’s a policy and legislative choice. In many countries of the world, in Germany and Canada, the government funds political parties, so that what voters are deciding on are the issues, not who is giving more money.”

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Post Date : August 26, 2022

Former New Nigerian Newspaper MD, Tukur Othman, Is Dead

  Former Managing Director of New Nigerian Newspaper (NNN), Malam Tukur Othman, is dead. He died at Garkuwa Hospital, Kaduna, in the early hours of Friday.   The late NNN MD until his death was the executive editorial adviser of DESERT HERALD, a Kaduna-based Newspaper. Desert Herald”s Publisher and Chairman, Malam Tukur Mamu (Dan-Iyan Fika), announced the former MD’s death in a statement issued on Friday morning. “As we continue to appreciate his patriotic services to us, to Nigeria and the entire Newspaper industry, I wish to condole his entire family and all loved ones on behalf of FUZA Communication Services Ltd. May Allah accept his prolonged sickness as kaffara and grant him Aljanna Firdausi,” he said. He said the funeral prayer will be conducted at Misbahu Mosque Unguwan Rimi, Kadaria, Kaduna, immediately after the Juma’at Prayers. The former MD is survived by two wives and 16 children.

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Post Date : August 26, 2022

Barriers will be broken in 2023 – Abe

  The governorsip candidate of the Social Democratic Party in Rivers State, Senator Magnus Abe, has said the 2023 general election would be a watershed event in the political history of Nigeria. Abe, who said this at the official commissioning of the SDP constituency office in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, also said the general election would be a political tsunami in the state, saying it would break every known barrier. The governorship hopeful in a statement by his Spokesman, Parry Benson, said, “To all of us that are here, I will deliver one important message. “I have said severally that 2023 elections will be a watershed event in the political history of this country. In Rivers State, 2023 elections will be a political tsunami because it will break every known bounds and barrier. “Let me say to all of you that our votes, our support in 2023 will enshrine justice, fairness, equity and progress in this land. “Everybody that wakes up in the morning is looking for progress. Progress is not when the state is rich, progress is when you make money for yourself; that is progress.” Abe further said gone were the days when elections were won and lost along political party lines, noting that a lot of things had happened in the country and people had also learnt their lessons. He said, “Before, Nigerians used to vote on the basis of political party, so this is our party we must support the party, anybody they bring they vote, but things have happened in this country that people must learn as lessons. “Before, when we followed a party you knew what you’d get when you supported that party. If you were in the UPN and your state voted the UPN, you knew you would get free education. “If you were in the NPN, and your state voted the NPN, you knew you would get housing and agriculture, but since after those parties left, Nigerians continue to vote party, but nobody could see what they were getting. “Today if you are in Akwa Ibom, you vote the Peoples Democratic Party, what you get depends on what the governor wants. If you are in Oyo, you vote the PDP what you get depends on what the governor wants. “If you’re in Kano and you vote All Progressives Congress, what you get depends on what the governor wants. If you are in plateau you vote the APC what you get depends on what the governor wants. Nobody checks what the party said or what the party is doing. Earlier, Chikwem Orlu, the candidate of the SDP in Obio/Akpor Constituency two, assured Senator Abe and party members of the people’s commitment to vote the party massively in the 2023 general election. “Your Excellency, the people you are seeing here today are teeming supporters of project the SMA (Senator Magnus Abe). “My business this evening is very simple; it’s just to tell you that this people you are seeing here today, have unanimously agreed that no one vote will go to another party other than the SDP on whose platform you will be the Governor of Rivers State come 2023 by the grace of God,” he said.

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Post Date : August 26, 2022

Nigeria partners with Israeli, Japanese firms on electric motorcycles

  The federal government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Israeli and Japanese companies to commence assembling and manufacturing of environmentally friendly, green, electric and smart automobiles by 2023. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) entered into partnership with the Israeli, Japanese and Nigerian companies on Thursday, in Abuja. Isreali Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, said that the partnership, which he described as a combination of Israeli, Japanese and Nigerian technologies, would help address the many challenges affecting the transport and environmental sectors in Nigeria. “It is a project that is a partnership with Israeli, Japanese and Nigerian companies taking place in Nigeria. “What is special about this project is that it is a timely project that combines Israeli technologies, Japanese technologies, Nigerian entrepreneurship and innovation together to create a project that is going to work fabulously. “We are talking about bringing electronic motorcycles into Nigeria which will be a programme that is green, environmentally friendly. “It offers people a cheap way and safe way of transport and even has a technology to ensure that the motorcycles are only used for legal and appropriate purposes. “When we look at what the problems are in the world and in also in Africa and in Nigeria, we are talking about issues of fuel scarcity, we are talking about green technology, we are talking about the need to provide cleaner, cheaper, easier transport. ‘And here we are, having Israeli and Japanese companies coming together with Nigerian partners to provide cleaner, greener, newer, exciting technology that is expected to move people, population across the country. “I believe that a programme that is going to start in Nigeria will be successful and will go across Africa,” Freeman said. Mohammed Haruna, the executive vice chairman of NASENI, lauded the collaboration which he said had come to stay and would be domesticated in the country. He said with this project, Nigeria would see to the manufacturing of Nigerian made electrical vehicles in the nearest future. “The first attempt to domesticate certain technologies in this country, especially in the automobile industry, has not worked with continuous importation. “NASENI has come into this now with the perfect partners, Japanese and Israeli companies their technologies are proven and known. “But most importantly, Nigeria will not just be consuming this technology, we are here to make sure that we domesticate, produce and manufacture in Nigeria. ‘We are grateful and we are happy with this collaboration and we assure Nigerians that the automobile industry after this collaboration will not be the same again,” Mr Haruna said. Ayal Raz, the representative of the Israeli Company, Peramare Enterprise, said that against some perception, Nigeria was safe to invest. “With this innovative idea, we believe is going to change so many things in the face of Nigeria. “It will bring green energy which means cheaper cost of transport and we all know what that means for our people. “It will give work to the people because it is industry, we are going to put a factory here, we will start with assembling then building. It will give us less pollution and greener air. “Nigeria is safe to do business and by the special grace of God it is going to come during the first quarter of 2023,” Mr Raz said. Sasi Shilo, the chief executive officer of SIXAI, the Japanese partner, said that his company beyond production is keen on supporting the African continent and Nigeria build a sustainable nation with clean and safe technologies. “It is very exciting moment. We have been working in the automobile industry for about half a decade, we have certified plants in 14 different countries. “We really want to contribute to African nation with our technology. What we want to bring is not only to produce but what we want to achieve is to support the African nation to be sustainable. “Through our products with safety and environmentally friendly features in our technology,” Mr Sasi said. The Chairman, PAN Nigeria Limited, Wadada Aliyu, described the initiative as historic and a starting point for technological evolution in Nigeria. “This is historic because Nigeria is conforming with the order of the day which is green environment and memorable because NASENI has set the ball rolling. “This synergy between Israeli, Japan, NASENI and PAN as a facility where the assembling will be done, I think the sky will be a starting point of technological evolution in Nigeria,” Mr Aliyu said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project was facilitated by Nigerian company, LINKSMAN International LTD. The Managing Director of LINKSMAN International LTD, Madisca Haruna, said the project seeks to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, Goal 7, which seeks to enhance international cooperation, facilitate access to clean energy research and technology. (NAN)

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Post Date : August 26, 2022

3 Soldiers, Several Bandits Killed In Zamfara Ambush

  Bandits on Wednesday lay in ambush for soldiers in Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, killing three of them, Daily Trust has learnt. Residents said the armed men ambushed the vehicle of the troops while on their way to repel attacks on Fanda-Haki, Yar Katsina and Karrakkai communities by the criminals. 2023: Be responsible, put Nigeria first, Jonathan tells politicians 2 killed, many injured as hoodlums unleash terror on Lagos community “The soldiers were informed of the impending attack on the communities and they decided to move there to stop the attack but the moving vehicles of the soldiers suddenly came under fire by the armed criminals,” a resident Hussaini Ali said. However, residents said the soldiers fought back and killed several gunmen adding that the heavy gunfire from soldiers forced the assailants to retreat. “Thursday is a market day in Bingi community but traders and buyers have decided to restrict their movements in the area for fear of the unknown. This is because the anger of these armed men might have been provoked because of the casualties they suffered too,” Ali added. The spokesman of the military in the state, Captain Ibrahim Yahaya, could not be reached for comment at the time of filing this report as his mobile line was switched off.

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Post Date : August 26, 2022

CBN unveils USSD code for eNaira transactions

  The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has unveiled the unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) code for the eNaira to enhance financial inclusion in the country. Godwin Emefiele, CBN governor, inaugurated the USSD transaction code on Thursday at a five-day Northern eNaira fair 2022, in Kano. The apex bank had announced plans to introduce a USSD code to improve the adoption of the eNaira. The new code — *997# — was introduced to engender financial inclusion and avail Nigerians opportunities to endless possibilities through financial services.   Emefiele, represented by the Folashodun Adenisi-Shonubi, deputy governor of operations, described the eNaira as a strategic initiative developed in accordance with the bank’s mandate to preserve monetary and financial stability. “It captured the slogan ‘same naira, more possibilities’, and designed to positively impact lives of Nigerians, and transform the economy,” he said. “The eNaira is expected to enhance inclusion, support poverty reduction, enable direct welfare disbursement to citizens, support a resilient payments ecosystem, improve availability and usability of central bank money.”   Emefiele said it would also facilitate diaspora remittances, reduce the cost of processing cash, and improve the efficiency of cross-border payments, among others. According to him, approximately 45 percent of Nigerians do not have bank accounts, while 35.9 percent are excluded from formal financial services. He, however, said that about 81 percent of the adult population in Nigeria representing 86 million of the 106 million, own mobile phones. “In addition, there are 150 million mobile subscribers in Nigeria, according to NCC, June 2022,” he said. “Therefore, eNaira seeks to leverage the huge opportunity mobile telecommunication presents, as a distribution channel, for the offering of digital services to the underserved and unbanked population.” Also speaking at the event, Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano, represented by Sagir Muhammad, special adviser on cabinet affairs, thanked the CBN for the unveiling of the eNaira USSD code in the state. He said his administration would ensure enabling environment for businesses to thrive for the overall social and economic development of the state. Ganduje also said the state government would use the eNaira platform for its empowerment programmes, and urged Nigerians to utilise the opportunity, to boost their businesses.

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Post Date : August 26, 2022

2023: Be Responsible, Put Nigeria First, Jonathan Tells Politicians

  Former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged candidates and other politicians alike to be mindful of the nation’s corporate existence and wellbeing of Nigerians in their campaigns and other electioneering activities for the 2023 general elections. He gave the charge on Thursday in Abuja during the Annual Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Legacy Dialogue. According to him, it is also important for other Nigerians to shun apathy and indifference, but to positively participate in the nation’s democratic processes to choose the right leaders that would make Nigeria better and united. “The forthcoming elections are critical to our national aspirations, shared prosperity and development. I urge our politicians to be mindful of our unity and stability and exercise discipline in their campaigns and other political activities. “To the rest of us, this period does not afford us the luxury of indifference. We must be determined to participate in our democratic processes. It requires that we must mobilise to vote those who will manage the affairs of the country with honesty in order to guarantee peace, justice, unity and progress in our land,” Jonathan who spoke virtually said. Sambo wants issue-based campaigns On his part, former Vice President, Architect Mohammed Namadi Sambo, who was at the event urged candidates and stakeholders of the various political parties to adopt issue-based campaigns for the 2023 general election. According to him, the 2022 dialogue put together by the Ibrahim and Maryam Babangida Presidential Library Foundation with the theme: ‘Issues in Africa’s Democratic Journey’, is unique and apt, especially as it comes ahead of another electioneering process scheduled for 2023 in the country. Sambo, who served as vice president under Jonathan, said political stability in Nigeria’s democracy is as strategic as stability in Africa’s democratic journey. The onetime Kaduna State governor said since the return to democratic rule in 1999, the nation has witnessed six successful elections, describing it as a clear indication of how acceptable democracy has become as the best method of governance in the country. He said democratic institutions have continued to be strengthened, while more Nigerians have continued to participate in the process either seeking to lead or as active participants to elect their leaders at various levels of leadership. Sambo recalled that in December 2020, he led a 90-member delegation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Observer Mission to the Niger Republic to observe presidential and parliamentary elections in the country. He said that the outcome of the elections were not only impressive, but a clear departure from the sit-tight syndrome of some past African leaders who never wanted to cede power through the democratic process. “The recent elections in Kenya and some parts of Africa have also established evidence of Africa’s democratic journey as a continent and how democracy is taking firm root in Africa, but not without peculiar challenges. “As we approach the critical stage towards the 2023 general election in Nigeria, it is important to use this opportunity to call on all political parties and indeed, candidates and other key stakeholders to adopt issue-based campaigns. “We must all shun the use of hate or foul language and mudslinging to avoid overheating the polity. Peaceful, free and fair election next year will definitely mark yet another important milestone in our march towards sustainable democracy, peace and development of our dear nation,” Sambo said. While urging Nigerians to actively get involved in the electoral process by exercising their constitutional rights, Sambo urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure adequate voter education and sufficient preparation for hitch-free elections. He said, “Next year, by the grace of Almighty Allah, we shall witness another transition from one democratically elected government to another, Insha Allah. Nigeria must continue to get it right as a positive example for other countries in West Africa and indeed, beyond.”

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Post Date : August 26, 2022

Insecurity: 137 borders in Nigeria are unguarded, says Irabor

  Lucky Irabor, chief of defence staff, says 137 out of about 261 borders in the north-east and north-west regions of the country are unguarded. He said this on Thursday while delivering a lecture on “security, defence & development in Nigeria” at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Lagos. Irabor said the porous borders accounted for the easy access of terrorists from neigbouring countries into Nigeria to wreak mayhem. “Our borders are largely unmanned. The penetrability of our vast unmanned land areas – the north-east and north-west zones, particularly Borno, Yobe, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina states – with neigbouring countries such as Niger Republic and Chad among others has continued to be a key source of criminality and violent crimes in those parts of the country,” he said.   “The porous nature of the borders has made it easily accessible for terrorists and bandits to enter the country to commit mayhem. For instance, there are about 364 approved international border points in Nigeria with about 261 in the north-east and north-west regions. Out of this 261 only 124 are manned leaving the remaining 137 unmanned by security agencies. Intelligence suggests that violence actors are using some of these normal border points to move freely from countries into Nigeria to cause mayhem.” The defence chief called for the use of technology as a tool in strengthening the Nigerian borders, in addition to the erection of physical structures and an effective management. He said there is a need to have a broad based integrated border management system to be established.   “So I am looking ahead, when we bring technology to bear in the management of our borders, in addition of course, to physical, structures that need to be established across the length of our borders, then we cam contribute to the overall security of our land,” he said. He added that there are actions that are being taken to see that “we move to correct this but the point remains that a good number of borders remain unmanned.” An investigation by TheCable in 2021 had shown how Nigeria porous borders fueled insecurity in the north-west President Muhammadu Buhari had also said only God can effectively supervise the massive border between Nigeria and Niger Republic.

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Post Date : August 26, 2022

ASUU to discipline members for sharing palliatives from Orji Kalu

  Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, MOUAU, chapter, has disowned its members that visited Senator Orji Kalu recently at his Igbere country home. The union, in a statement issued yesterday, in Umuahia, dissociated itself from the said visit, which it said it was not privy to and never authorised. In the statement, jointly signed by the Chairman, Professor Michael Ugwuene, and Secretary, Paul Nwiyi, the branch vowed to probe the said visit and discipline those found culpable. “ASUU MOUAU hereby dissociates itself from the aforementioned visit and the consequent palliative sharing,” the statement said. It further read: “The attention of ASUU MOUAU, has been drawn to reports in the media about the visit by some academic staff of MOUAU to Senator Orji Uzor Kalu at his Igbere home, where according to the reports, the striking lecturers” were given palliatives and enjoined to end the strike. “The public is hereby enjoined to take notice that ASUU MOUAU was not aware of, was not invited, and did not authorize or approve any such visit and did not request for, neither did it receive any palliatives from Senator Orji Uzor Kalu. “ASUU MOUAU, hereby assures the National Executive Council of ASUU that the branch is investigating the visit and the members of the branch found culpable shall be subjected to the disciplinary process of the union.” Meanwhile, the union, in a separate statement, rejected the proposed 35 per cent and 25 per cent salary increase for professors and other ranks, respectively.

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