Month: September 2023

Petrofund Chief executive officer, Nillian Mulemi, said that Namibia has a very strong talent base that may be used as a bridge to more advanced training for the oil and gas industry.

Mulemi said during an information session at Parliament in the capital on Thursday that over 8,000 Namibians have prerequisite training and can be further trained to work in the oil and gas industry.

“We are happy to report that Namibia indeed has a very good base of skills we can use to transition to further training for the oil and gas industry,” she said.

With the oil discoveries offshore Namibia, the oil and gas sector is poised to become a lucrative business industry in Namibia, but there has been concern about the local capacity in terms of skills and training.

Mulemi noted that Petrofund had been developing the country’s skill base before the commercial oil discoveries.

The fund was established in 1993 in terms of Section 14 of the Exploration and Production Act to offer training in the fields of science and information technology through scholarships.

The fund has since trained 368 Namibians, who are now working in various sectors in the country.

“We are also pleased to report that we recognised that there will be a need for specialised skills for the oil and gas industry. We started about six years ago allowing our graduates to acquire specialised training for the oil and gas industry,” she said.

As a result, she said the fund has assisted 63 Namibians to acquire specialised training in the oil and gas sector.

Mulemi said the fund is planning to provide scholarships to about 70 students for further training and is in the process of launching a TVET oil and gas scholarship programme.

“I want to emphasise that the training of skills for the oil and gas industry requires that you appreciate where the stage of development is. We have predominantly been in the exploration stage.

“Therefore, the skills we were training were responding to the fact that we were exploring. As we move towards appraisal, field development and possibly production, we are now gearing the country to be ready for that phase of the industry,’ she added.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

No fewer than 29 countries and states have arrived Abuja for the 16th edition of the International Arts and Craft Expo (INAC).

Chief Olusegun Runsewe, Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), organisers of INAC, disclosed this on Thursday during the opening ceremony.

The theme for the expo is “Networking Nigerian Craft to the World”.

Runsewe said that the platform was deliberately created to market Nigerian arts and crafts to the world as well as unite individuals across cultural divide.

“INAC is a platform we consciously designed to market our crafts and arts to the world, as you can see the number of states and countries in attendance.

“We have 29 countries,16 states and 21 non-governmental organisations already at the opening. This is for everyone regardless of their country to network, collaborate and make fortune from the platform.

“For me, the sector is key to uniting Nigerians and the world, we must continue to put Nigeria together in all we do.

“The international communities are the biggest informants to the world, this platform tells the world that there is peace in Nigeria and it is a place for investment,” Runsewe said.

According to him, the expo is getting bigger and better as over 50 Nigerians have been helped to travel out of the country.

He said countries kept inviting Nigerians for different forms of business deals through contacts developed on the platform.

“For us, this is getting bigger every year.

“A cultural troupe that performed last year was invited by the Indian embassy to perform in New Delhi, similar opportunities abound.

The director-general said that the expo would be loaded with lots of entertainment as renowned artistes had been scheduled to thrill guests in the course of the expo.

He informed the audience that free skill acquisition programmes were also ongoing, urging interested persons to take advantage of the opportunity.

Also speaking, Masudur Rahman, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Nigeria, identified Nigeria as the centre of cultural gravity of Africa as the country is endowed with enormous tourism and cultural potential.

“It is a big opportunity for Bangladesh to partner with you since 2016 when we started our mission here.

“It is time to celebrate the strength of the world through Nigerian culture,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that some of the countries in attendance were: Iran, Philippines, Bulgaria, Venezuela, Syria, Malaysia, Trinidad and Tobago, China, Cuba, Indonesia, Columba, Korea, Burkina Faso, Lebanon, Mexico, Bangladesh, Iraq.

Also in attendance were states like Taraba, Lagos, Enugu, Borno, Katsina, Anambra, Rivers, Adamawa, Abia, Kaduna, Ogun, Yobe have mounted their exhibition booths. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Dr Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for Environment and Ecological Management, has said that Africa is determined to deliver a sustainable economic future for Africans by tackling climate change.

Salako made the assertion at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) on Thursday in Abuja while addressing aviation correspondents.

The minister was returning from Africa Climate Summit (ACS ) of high level African leaders held in Nairobi, Kenya on Tuesday.

Salako said that addressing climate change would encourage more investment that would advance annual climate finance flows to Africa .

According to him, the summit occurred at a pivotal juncture, offering the region an exclusive stage to spotlight the continent`s priorities, solutions and needs regarding climate action to the global community.

“ As a continent, it is critical that climate action spurs socioeconomic development for us. We know that with robust planning and increased investments in the region, this is achievable.

“ Africa is already bearing the brunt of a climate crisis it did not cause but our continent, with our significant renewable energy resources, critical minerals, vast carbon sinks, and growing population, can be a strong solution center.

“ In Nigeria, we have articulated our unchanging position to advance climate action without jeopardizing economic development, ‘’ he said.

According to him, the Nigeria has designed an ambitious energy transition plan to achieve universal access to energy by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2060 while prioritising industrialization, job creation, and economic growth.

He said the nation had started establishing partnerships with both public and private sector players, driving innovative policy changes, advancing renewable energy projects including on-grid solar and electric vehicle deployment.

The minister further said that the nation had started exploring innovative financing mechanisms like carbon trading to lay the foundation for an all-encompassing transition.

According to him, climate action and environmental sustainability are central to achieve food security, poverty eradication, sustainable job creation and security.

Salako said the ASC was organised to position Africa well in its decisions and requests during 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference to be held from Nov.30 to Dec. 12 at the Expo City, Dubai. (NAN) (www.newsnan.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Tremma Agro Services, an agro-ecosystem firm in Africa, is poised to inaugurate an “incubator hub” in Nigeria, a project designed for agro-entrepreneurs and viable innovators ready to kick start businesses.

The agro-ecosystem is aimed at supporting the food production systems in farms and gardens.

Dr Emmanuel Abuhson, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organisation disclosed this at a media parley in Abuja on Thursday.

Abuhson told journalists that the inauguration of the programme is scheduled to hold in September and will develop and build up practical skills, and nurture entrepreneurial ideas among young people.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the main objective of the project is to nurture, equip, and support agro-entrepreneurs as well as strengthen youth participation in agriculture.

The project is also aimed at making Africa a hub for agro-business to thrive.

“Less than five per cent of investments in Africa go to agriculture due to the risk factors in the business.

“Agriculture should be youth-driven to ensure food security in Africa, especially in Nigeria.

“Again, the rate of failure of investments in agro-businesses is another gap that needs to be bridged, hence the need to curtail it.

“We can build agro-businesses to become profitable and viable. This way youths can drive the sector.

“One thing that stands out for us at the “incubator hub” is changing the narrative. We want to see young educated people with good agro-business initiatives empowered to start, nurture, and grow their businesses and become empowered to kick-start viable businesses and make profit.

“When youths are driving the agri-business sector, we will no longer struggle with food security, food crisis, and under-capitalisation in the agro eco-system.

“Educated youths can conveniently run lucrative agro-businesses” he said.

He maintained that the project which is scheduled to last two months, is aimed at grooming young people between 18 and 38 years of age on agro-business within an eight-week incubation period.

“After the incubation period, the participants will face judges, who will determine the winner of the most outstanding and viable innovation award using a set of criteria and guidelines.

The winner, he said. will win a seed capital of one million naira. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Dr Obafemi Hamzat, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, has said that the President Bola Tinubu administration has performed well as he marks his 100 days in office.

Hamzat made the remarks during a special prayer to commemorate 100 days in office of President Bola Tinubu, held on Thursday at the Lagos Central Mosque, Lagos Island.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tinubu was inaugurated as the 16th President of Nigeria on May 29.

According to him, the past 100 days of this government have been very encouraging as different achievements and various initiatives are put in place by the Federal Government.

Speaking on the achievements of the Federal Government so far, the deputy governor stated that the administration had performed well.

“The first 100 days had been about economic reforms and enactment of laws than infrastructures.

“We can see judiciary reform, tax reform, education upgrade, which are part of the many things this administration has done,” he said.

Justifying the petrol subsidy removal, Hamzat said 93 per cent of the nation’s revenue was used for debt payment on fuel subsidy and the country was almost bankrupt.

“The fuel subsidy consumed more money than the Ministry of Works and Education put together and government is saying it is not sustainable as a nation,” he said.

Similarly, the deputy governor said that Nigerians have cause to give thanks to God for sustaining the country as there are many countries going through worse challenges.

Hamzat added that Nigerians have reasons to thank God for the peaceful moments the country had enjoyed in spite of the challenges witnessed.

According to him, every nation has challenges but it is the responsibility of the government to face those challenges and tackle them.

He cited examples of Sweden, Libya, Iraq and some other countries that are currently undergoing different challenges.

On Lagos State Government achievements since assumption of office for the second tenure, the deputy governor noted that a lot of initiatives had been put in place, which include the commencement of Blue Line Rail for commercial purposes.

“Lagos State Government is the only sub-sovereign that is funding rail from its balance sheet, no other sub-sovereign has done it anywhere in the world and this took a lot of financial engineering for us to build,” he said.

He disclosed that the red line would soon commence service.

Hamzat noted that the project is massive and would convey passengers from Agege through Ejigbo and Yaba within ten-minute interval.

Earlier, the Baba Adinni of Lagos, Sheikh Abdul Abou, who was represented by the Bashorun of Lagos, Alhaji Sikiru Alabi-Macfoy said the country had witnessed a lot of transformation and policy reviews in the last 100 days of the Tinubu administration.

Abou was optimistic that the transformation would yield positive results for citizens and the country in due course.

He charged Nigerians to continue to pray for the president to come up with policies and reforms that would be in the best interest of Nigerians.

The sheik also commended the Gov. Sanwo-Olu Babajide administration for the successes recorded so far in the state in the last 100 days.

According bto him, the governor has been able to put measures in place to alleviate the pains experienced due to fuel subsidy removal by sharing palliatives to the most vulnerable in the state.

“Also, the recent commencement of the commercial Blue Rail Line will reduce traffic in the state,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria