Month: November 2023

Havilla University (HUNI), a privately-owned institution, has partnered New Horizons, an information technology training company, to expand Information and Communications Technology (ICT) related programmes in the school.

The Chancellor of Havilla University, Mr Jones Tangban, made the announcement during a ceremony held to induct the Chief Executive Officer of New Horizons Nigeria, Mr Tim Akano, as a member of the institution’s Governing Council in Lagos.

Tangban said: “We want to leverage on the expertise and resources of New Horizon to establish strategic partnership to enhance the university infrastructure.

“This collaboration will help us update and expand ICT related courses and programmes by ensuring that they remain relevant and aligned with industry best practices,” Tangban said.

He added that it would facilitate scholarship and internship opportunities for Havilla University students at New Horizons Nigeria and provide them with practical experience in the ICT field.

Speaking on Akano’s as a member of the institution’s governing council, he said the Information Technology education expert had been playing a vital role in the lives of many Nigerians, especially youths.

“Akano has shown capacity in giving the best to mankind, particularly the young ones who are thirsty to be the best of Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg.

“We believe in the parameters that qualify you to be a member of Havilla University, and we wish to let the world know that you are now an exquisite member of the institution’s governing council.

”As a man who has engineered the training of hundreds of thousands of Nigerian youths and professionals, we are confident that making this caliber and rare person to be a member of the Governing Council of the university is a privilege,” Tangban said.

In her presentation of Letter of Appointment, the Vice Chancellor, University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi, who was represented by Prof. Peter Okafor, Deputy Vice Chancellor (HUNI), urged the recipient Akano to reciprocate the trust extended to him by Havilla University.

“Going by your antecedents, we strongly believe that your wealth of knowledge and passion will be significantly felt in the institution’s operations. We trust your track record,” she noted.

In his speech, Akano expressed gratitude to Havilla University for the privilege given to him to serve as a Members of Council.

“When I reflected over this call to service, I concluded that this is another opportunity for me to do what I have been doing for the past 20 years- which is about youth mentorship.

“I believe that together with the council will take Havilla University to the next level in Cross River; and the whole world will come to recognise the institution,” Akano said.

Other dignitaries present at the event include Dr John Adeniyi, Board of Trustee member (HUNI); Pastor Gbenga Olufisayo, General Overseer, Fresh Oil Global Impact Church /Secretary, Board of Trustees (HUNI) among others.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Havilla University popularly known as HUNI was established on Nov. 6, 2021 at Nde-Ikom in Cross River State.

The university is known for its dynamic system of teaching and research in a serene environment, aided by cutting-edge equipment, facilities, and structures to aid in the development of world-class graduates who will be competitive in content and character.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The President, Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI), Amb. Emmanuel Okafor, has mourned the passing of the first female Major General in the Nigerian Army, Aderonke Kale.

Okafor, in a statement by the Publicity Secretary of AANI, retired Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, in Abuja, described the late Kale as an outstanding elder stateswoman and member of AANI.

Late retired Maj.-Gen. Kale, a medical doctor, passed on at the age of 84.

He said the late general was a pioneer in the military profession in Nigeria, where she distinguished herself by rising to the top of the profession.

“She was the first female Major General in the Nigerian Army and the first to command the Nigerian Army Medical Corps.

“She trained as a medical doctor at University College, which later became the University of Ibadan. Kale then specialized in psychiatry at the University of London.

“She was inspired to pursue psychiatry by Thomas Adeoye Lambo, Africa’s first professor of psychiatry. She worked briefly in Britain and returned to Nigeria in 1971 and joined the Nigerian army in 1972.

“This was a very rare decision for women in those days, particularly those at such a high professional level.

“Major-.Gen. Kale has been a trailblazer and an achiever. She took up the challenge of aspiring to the top and succeeded in exercising leadership in a world still dominated by men,”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The President and Chair of the Board, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Prof. Benedict Oramah, says the institution is committed to supporting women entrepreneurs and ensuring the growth of their businesses.

Oramah spoke on Saturday at a forum organised by the African Union (AU) to celebrate women as part of the official opening of the Industrialisation Week at the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2023) holding in Cairo, Egypt.

The IATF is organised by Afreximbank in collaboration with the AU and the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat.

Oramah said: “Afreximbank knows the importance of women.

“For those of you here who are in industrialisation, we want to remind you that you have a strong partner in Afreximbank.

“We have a variety of products that are available for you as a business.

“We operate now as a trade and budget finance supermarket for Africa, we have something for everyone.

“We have over the years tried to understand the reasons we are not making progress in industrialisation and in the pursuit of the prosperity we desire.

“So, we decided that as an institution, we should do all we can do to make sure that any business will want something and you can find it.’’

Oramah urged women to avail themselves of the diverse facilities offered by Afreximbank for them to benefit more from intra-African trade as well as get support in the industrialisation of their ventures.

“If you need advisory services, Afreximbank has it.

“If you need equity to complement what you have, so that you are able to borrow more money to support the size of project you want to fund for Export Development in Africa.

“If you are an SME and want to become a company of some size, we also have a venture fund that is managed under the fund for export development in Africa

“Of course, we have a range of wide range of trade and project financing services.’’

He also listed some of the bank’s subsidiary fund intended for small and medium-sized businesses as well as various services to include credit guarantees, investments guarantees and access to insurance.

He restated that the bank recognised the efforts of women who, generally, ensured transformation without having access to financing.

“When women set up a project, the impact is more felt and that is why we must always support them,” Oramah said.

He encouraged the women to go and be onboarded on the MANSA platform which ensures Customers Due Diligence and KYC checks on African entities, in order to get a unique number to aid interactions on Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS).

He said that the ingenuity and resilience of women were unrivalled hence the need to encourage and support those who want to or are building businesses.

A Senior Economist at the Economic Commission for Africa, Mr Souleymane Abdalah, advocated the integration of the gender dimension in strategies to achieve industrialisation in Africa.

Earlier, Ms Ron Omar, Acting Head of Division of Industry for Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining (ETTIM), AU Commission, also stressed on the need to support African women in businesses to bridge gender gaps.

Omar highlighted The African Women in Processing (AWIP) initiative aimed at addressing the gender gaps in the manufacturing sector by providing a forum for African women to exchange experiences, access new opportunities, and establish partnerships.

According to her, a session at the IATF2023 was dedicated to raising awareness about inclusive strategies and policies aimed at empowering women in processing to transition into entrepreneurship.

She said that mechanisms to create a supportive entrepreneurial environment, including tools such as the Gender Equality Seal and the Call to Action for Africa and its Diaspora to invest in the continent were discussed.

The AWIP summit aims to support the AU’s industrialisation agenda and achieve the goals of Agenda 2063 by catalysing and accelerating the transformation of industrial processing led by women.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

OMUTHIYA: The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) leadership has directed its councillors serving on the Omuthiya Town Council to refrain from participating in council activities from 08 November 2023 until further notice.

The decision follows the extended suspension of IPC representative Nghipundilo yaShiindi by Omuthiya Mayor Johannes Ndeutepo on 24 July 2023, for alleged misconduct related to unauthorised meetings with residents of an informal settlement on 02 July 2023.

IPC national general secretary Christine Aochamus in a statement on Thursday noted the party’s concern over the prolonged suspension of YaShiindi.

“Beata Josef and Moses Amukoto who serve on the town council as IPC councillors were restrained in accordance with a code of conduct for members of local authority councils,” stated Aochamus.

She clarified that IPC councillors are prohibited from engaging in any Omuthiya local authority council activities until a directive rescinding the restriction is issued. During this period, they are not authorised to represent the IPC in any council organ, or to perform council duties.

Aochamus further stated that the obligation of the party is to those who elected the party and whom the councillors are representing on behalf of IPC.

She cautioned that any member defying this directive and participating in Omuthiya local authority council activities would be subject to consequences outlined in the Local Authority Act 23 of 1992, possibly leading to expulsion from the IPC.

Contacted for comment, Omuthiya Town Council spokesperson Ottilie Shingenge stated that they had not received any communication from the IPC regarding the matter.

“We are not aware of this incident and we cannot pronounce ourselves on something that we only see on social media,” said Shingenge.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

WINDHOEK: President Hage Geingob on Friday mused that the late Axali Doëseb’s calling was not to be a diplomat or politician but to be a craftsman, specifically in music during the liberation struggle.

Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, on behalf of the president, read his speech during the late Doëseb’s State memorial service at Parliament Gardens.

Geingob noted that Axali’s legacy will forever be defined by his people and his country through forging the national anthem ‘Namibia, Land of the Brave.’

“Axali captured and forever immortalised each Namibian and the future of each Namibian. He belongs to a generation of dedicated citizens of Namibia. Doëseb used his artistic craftmanship to motivate people to join the liberation struggle of the country,” the president said.

Doëseb was Namibia’s first post-independence black conductor of the Namibian National Symphony Orchestra, and in 2014 he was presented a lifetime achievement music award at the Namibian Annual Music Awards.

Simultaneously, founding President Sam Nujoma said: “The national anthem composer Axali Doëseb has left us to join the heavenly choir, his melodies will forever paint beautiful scenery in our minds.”

Swapo Secretary-General Sophia Shaningwa said: “It is because of Axali Doëseb that we have the national anthem today, it is a great loss to Swapo, his family and the country at large to have lost him. We praise him for his dedication to the government. His contribution will be shared by the current and future generations and today we say ‘give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar’, to the late Axali as he deserves this State funeral.”

Amalia Doëses, the widow of Axali Doëseb, compared their romance to a piano, saying the white keys on the piano represent the peace and happiness they shared and at this point, it is the time of the black keys, which is sadness and sorrow.

“He was a mentor, teacher, lawyer and anchor to me and our children. I will never get used to you leaving us,” Doëses said.

On behalf of the family at large, Doëseb’s son Anthony Brown noted that the family wishes to celebrate the life of the Namibian patriarch who single-handedly composed the Namibian national anthem, adding his dad believed deeply in education and made unprecedented sacrifices to ensure that each of his children had the opportunity to have a good education.

Brown said their father never stopped supporting his children, even in their adulthood. He described his late father as a freedom fighter during the liberation struggle and said he was a son of the Land of the Brave and will forever echo in their hearts.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency