Month: September 2023

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FG sets up 8-member committee to drive education roadmap

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, has set up a eight-member committee to drive education roadmap in the country.

Mamman, while inaugurating the committee in Abuja on Tuesday, said the committee had four weeks timeframe to come up with plans that would help transform the sector.

He said there was need to kickstart the national assignment as ministers on a clearly defined path, to craft a turn around in the fortunes of the country.

While saying that the event marked a pivotal moment in the nation’s pursuit of educational excellence and societal development, he highlighted the urgency of their mission, emphasising the need for clear direction to transform Nigeria’s fortunes.

The minister, who acknowledged the challenging road ahead, noted that Nigerians eagerly anticipate a quick turnaround in all sectors under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, with education as a cornerstone for positive change.

According to Mamman, President Tinubu’s vision for his administration, focused on improving the lives of Nigerians and fostering compassion, underscores the importance of the education sector in addressing societal issues.

“I must confess that your assignment is not going to be an easy one because Nigerians are looking forward to the administration of President Bola Tinubu GCFR to do a quick turn-around in all sectors of the economy.

“Education is the fulcrum to galvanise the needed changes to make Nigeria hold her own in the comity of nations.

” The president has clearly laid out his vision for his administration and it is anchored on improving the lives of Nigerians in a manner that not just reflects our humanity but encourages compassion towards one another and duly rewards our collective efforts to resolve the social ills that seek to divide us,” he said.

Mamman said that President Tinubu’s commitment to retrain 10.5 million Nigerian out-of-school children with valuable skills places education as a top priority.

He said there was therefore need for a clear roadmap and framework to guide the ministry’s efforts in achieving these ambitious goals.

The minister urged the committee to embrace technology and steer towards a digital future, emphasising that education should not merely exist for its sake but contribute significantly to individual and societal development.

“As Nigeria looks towards having quality education, it is important that the curriculum, from basic to tertiary level, meets the demands of our times and needs of the society.

“I am happy to note that work had commenced at some levels, especially the secondary and tertiary level. What we need to know is to what extent can what we already have met contemporary demands of education globally and if not sufficient, how to address them.

” I do expect that issues of Financial Autonomy in tertiary institutions, access and equity, research and innovation as well as the government-industry-academic nexus, would occupy your thoughts.

“In the same vein, the global competitiveness of our educational system should not escape your scrutiny.

“One thing I must not fail to add is that we must have an education system that embraces technology and move into a digital future where our education responds to the demands of the society,” he said.

The committee comprises Dr Nuhu Yakubu as Chairman while Prof. Ernest Ojukwu, Prof. Sa’ad Umar, Shulamite Paul, Dr Garba Ibrahim, Prof. Ismail Junaidu, Hajia Hindatu Abdullahi and Mr Joseph Achede are members. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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Better Incentives for 2023 Navachab Half-Marathon

Organizers of the Navachab Half Marathon aim to upgrade the event to a World Athletics (WA) bronze-label road-racing competition with increased prize money.

The bronze label is the third-tier level on the prestige classification grid of WA and race organizers must apply for recognition and demonstrate that their race meets several WA criteria.

This year’s edition which is the ninth Navachab Half Marathon is set to take place on Saturday, 16 September 2023, in Karibib and is open to athletes of all genders, aged 16 to 50 or above, and will feature various age categories.

Berthold Karumendu, the event organizer, and senior sport officer in the Erongo region’s Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service (MSYNS) in an interview with Nampa on Tuesday said this year’s event would offer improved incentives.

“We have introduced a 10-kilometre (km) run to the usual half marathon as well as a fun run which is five km. The improved incentives go from N.dollars 7000 in the 21km to N.dollars 10 000 which is still way below the standard that will entice international runners to our shores,” he said.

Karumendu also called on athletes to start registering for the event to avoid disappointment and emphasized the importance of maintaining a professional approach to register their event as a bronze-tier one.

The event’s organiser also said that increasing the budget from N.dollars 7000 to N.dollars 10,000 is a step in the right direction.

“Last year we hosted over 600 athletes in Karibib, and this year we have high expectations of a similar turnout. Although registrations have been slow so far, we’ve already started receiving some. We’re hoping to avoid last-minute registrations like in the past, which can make things difficult,” said Karumendu.

He said athletes who want to participate in the event from other regions can register just like they did in the past, adding that the MSYNS will provide transport from the different areas. In case any athletes are unable to secure accommodation, they will be given a place to stay at the Usakos Youth Hostel in Usakos.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

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LPM replaces Otavi councillor over alleged poor representation

The national leadership of the Landless People’s Movement (LPM), in consultation with the Otavi local organising committee, resolved to recall its local authority councillor at the Otavi Town Council, citing weak representation on the council.

LPM national spokesperson Lifalaza Simataa in a telephonic interview with this news agency on Tuesday afternoon, said the party agreed to replace Bella Utale after some community members of LPM at Otavi complained about weak representation at the town council.

“We therefore concluded to replace her with Martha Naris, and a letter was already written to Naris and she agreed to take over,” said Simataa.

Naris’ swearing-in ceremony is expected to take place once the Otavi Magistrate’s Court decides on a date.

The other six local authority councillors on the Otavi Town Council are from the Swapo Party with five seats, and one from the Independent Patriots for Change.

Utale on Tuesday told Nampa in an interview that she was informed on 29 August 2023 that Immanuel Matsuib or Martha Naris would replace her.

Utale had been a local authority councillor at the town council since December 2019, representing the LPM.

She said her recall was unfair as she was allegedly accused of being absent from some local organising committee meetings at the town.

“Based on this accusation, I am so disappointed in the leadership of LPM for believing the lies which were made up here at Otavi by those who did not like me,” said Utale.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

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Namibia, Botswana and South Africa inaugurate TKC headquarters

Ministers of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa of Namibia, Eric Molale of Botswana and Sindisiwe Chikunga of South Africa at the end of August inaugurated the Trans-Kalahari Corridor (TKC) headquarters.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, TKC Secretariat Executive Director, Leslie Mpofu, stated that the ministers noted that the year 2023 marked 20 years since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the development and management of the TKC.

“The ministers noted the following achievements: the establishments of a permanent secretariat that is headquartered in Windhoek, Namibia; yearly audited financial reports; the introduction of the single customs administration document; harmonisation of key transport regulations; development of the dangerous goods model law and its domestication by member states, and development and enactment of the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) Act by Botswana and Namibia,” the executive director said.

Mpofu said the meeting applauded the Republics of Botswana and Namibia for signing the One Stop Post Agreement, on 09 September 2022, as well as launching the 24-hour operation at Mamuno/Trans-Kalahari Border Post on 01 April 2023 and that Namibia and Botswana reiterated their commitment to the OSBP launch by 2024.

Furthermore, the ministers congratulated the Republic of Namibia and the Republic of Botswana for introducing the use of identity cards (IDs) as travel documents for its citizenry, he said.

The ministers agreed to the introduction of a vehicle cargo tracking system in order to enable real time visibility, reduce irregularities while improving tax revenue collections, and further approved the establishment of a task team to develop the TKC model law on abnormal loads, Mpofu said.

Moreover, the ministers noted that Namibia and South Africa have developed a road safety strategy in line with the second decade of action for road safety (2021-2030), however Botswana is in the process of developing the strategy, he said.

The ED stated that while reiterating the different governments’ commitment to the TKC, the ministers expressed satisfaction at the work done by the TKCMC (Trans-Kalahari Corridor Management Committee), the TKCS (Trans-Kalahari Corridor Secretariat), together with other stakeholders.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

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Team Namibia aims for Olympic berths in Dakar

Amateur boxer, Tryagain Ndevelo will be leading the Namibian team to the Senegalese capital, Dakar, where they aim to grab slots for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

With 18 Olympic quota spots up for grabs, the Paris 2024 Boxing Africa Olympic qualifier tournament will be held in Dakar from 09 to 15 September 2023.

The Africa qualifier will see the different boxing categories in the men’s division exchanging leather for one quota berth available in each of the seven classes, while two quota spots will be up for grabs in each women’s weight class apart from the 75kg, which only has one spot.

In an interview with Nampa on Tuesday, Joseph Titus Muunda, the team’s manager said they have a good group of boxers and are confident of winning slots for the country at the championships.

“We have trust in the team that we are travelling with. Tryagain (Ndevelo) has been in the game for a while and has competed at the Commonwealth Games and African Games, therefore we are hopeful of winning some slots,” he said.

He added that for the first time, Team Namibia will be accompanied by a female boxer who will be fighting in the 50kg category.

“Our team has prepared well, and we chose the right woman to represent the country. We hope she will give it her all and make the nation proud,” said Muunda, who added that they have an experienced coach that is accompanying the team and will help keep the athletes fit as well as focused for their fights.

The upcoming qualifiers are the second qualifier for Paris after June’s European Games, which saw 44 boxers obtain quota places for their National Olympic Committees (NOCs).

Boxers who fail to earn quota spots in Dakar, will have further opportunities at the two world qualification tournaments; one in Busto Arsizio, Italy, from 29 February to 12 March 2024, as well as Bangkok, Thailand, from 23 May to 03 June 2024.

The Namibia team departed for Senegal on Tuesday afternoon for the Boxing Africa Olympic qualifier tournament with a team comprising of Tsamaseb Albertus (head coach), Muunda (team manager), while the male boxers are Johannes Trofimus (51kg), Tryagain Morning Ndevelo (57kg) and Ipinge Gerhard (80kg). Ndapandula Peyehafo (50kg) is the solitary female boxer in the team.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

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Namibia exports stand at N.dollars 8.3 billion in July

Namibia has exported goods valued at N.dollars 8.3 billion and imported N.dollars 11.9 billion worth of goods, resulting in the country’s trade deficit of N.dollars 3.7 billion in July 2023.

The Namibian Merchandise Trade Statistics Bulletin for July 2023, issued by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) on Tuesday, said the country’s export earnings decreased by 3.8 per cent from N.dollars 8.6 billion recorded in the previous month to N.dollars 8.3 billion.

The report indicated that the imports for the month under review increased by 17.8 per cent when compared to the value recorded in June 2023, and by 12.5 per cent compared to its value of N.dollars 10.6 billion recorded in July 2022.

It further revealed that diamonds had the largest share of 30.5 per cent of Namibia’s total exports, ahead of uranium with 15.2 per cent and fish with a share of 13.7 per cent, whilst non-monetary gold accounted for 11.0 per cent in fourth position and petroleum oils came in fifth position, contributing 4.4 per cent.

The report further indicated that petroleum oils were the highest valued commodity with a share of 15.3 per cent of total imports, followed by copper ores and concentrates with a share of 11.7 per cent, while motor vehicles for the transport of goods came third with a share of 4.0 per cent. Civil engineering and contractors’ equipment and motor vehicles for the transport of persons contributed 3.4 per cent and 2.7 per cent respectively.

It noted that Botswana emerged as the country’s largest export destination, with a share of 23.3 per cent of all goods exported, followed by South Africa with a share of 19.6 per cent, then China, Zambia and Spain as Namibia’s top five export markets.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency