Day: May 16, 2024

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), has conferred its fellowship on 63 engineers across various sectors in Nigeria.

Its President, Margaret Oguntala, conferred the fellowship on them at the Society’s Special Dinner on Wednesday in Abuja.

Oguntala, in a remark, said that the conferees had made exceptional contributions to the field of engineering, and urged them to continue to adhere to the codes and ethics of the profession.

She said they had been at the forefront in the drive for progress and development across various sectors including infrastructure, energy, healthcare, information technology, among others.

She also said they had overcome challenges and pioneered solutions with their unwavering commitment to excellence, tireless pursuit of knowledge and dedication to the advancement of the profession.

‘Each fellow being conferred represents the epitome of engineering excellence and serves as an inspiration to us all.

‘As we celebrate, we must acknowledge the challenges that lie ahead. The world
is evolving at an unprecedented pace driven by technological advancements and societal changes.

‘As engineers, it is our responsibility to adapt to these changes, to embrace innovation and to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible.’

Oguntala called on the conferees to remain steadfast in NSE’s commitment to promoting diversity and inclusivity within the profession.

According to her, engineering is a collaborative endeavour that thrives on the contributions of individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

‘By fostering an environment that values and respects diversity, we not only enrich our profession, but also ensure that our solutions are equitable and sustainable.

‘Undoubtedly, the expectations of NSE and the larger society from our honourable conferees are high, with regards to the strict adherence to professional codes and ethics.’

Oguntala said the NSE reserved the right to revoke and withdraw the Fellowship certificate of any member enmeshed in breaches, if such breaches ar
e brought to the notice of the NSE.

She added that the conferment of fellowship was an opportunity to be of greater service to NSE by supporting its projects and programmes and providing mentorship to our young engineers.

She charged them to continue to prove themselves as worthy ambassadors of the NSE.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Board of Fellows, Kamila Maliki, congratulated the conferees for their exceptional and extraordinary prowess in the engineering field.

Maliki said that the conferment of the fellowship by NSE represented the pinnacle of achievement for any engineer, and urged them to use their ideas to contribute to the infrastructure and economic development of Nigeria.

Responding on behalf of the conferees, James Arukhe commended the NSE for counting them worthy of the fellowship.

Arukhe said that engineers held the keys to driving the society forward through innovative solutions.

He pledged the commitment of the conferees towards upholding the highest standards of ethics and integrity of
the profession.

‘There will be no need to withdraw the fellowship from any of us; no form of wrong doing shall be found among us,’ he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

U.S. sports envoys, B-Girl and Lyons, have called on the Nigerian youth to embrace Breakdancing, to enhance their dancing skills and enable them participate in future Olympic breakdancing sport events.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that breakdancing is an officially recognised Olympic sport, set to debut at the upcoming Paris Olympic Games.

The duo stated this during their grand performance hosted by the U.S. embassy’s public diplomacy section, in collaboration with FAME Foundation, on Wednesday night, in Abuja.

B-Girl, whose real name is Ms. Macca Malik, stressed that through breakdancing, Nigerian youngsters could demonstrate their creativity and skills and represent their nation on a global scale.

Being a leading female competitor in the breakdancing community, B-Girl noted that Nigeria had a rich cultural heritage, and advocated for the active involvement of young women in the dance sport.

According to her, Nigerian youth participation in breakdancing will align with global standards in Ol
ympic sports events.

‘As an officially recognised Olympic sport set to debut at the upcoming Olympic Games, Breakdancing’s dynamic movements and creativity present a significant opportunity for Nigerian youth,’ she stressed.

Also speaking, Lyons, whose real name is Jacob ‘Kujo,’ and who is a representative of the deaf and hard of hearing community in breakdancing, urged the Federal Government to invest in breakdancing, as a sport.

‘We urge the Federal Government of Nigeria to consider investing in breakdancing infrastructure and training programmes.

‘The substantial positive impacts of such endeavours will be felt in youth empowerment, skill enhancement, and international representation are undeniable,’ he said.

He said that fostering a robust breakdancing community in Nigeria could enhance the country’s global sports presence and strengthen national pride and unity.

Aderonke Ogunleye-Bello, Executive Director, FAME Foundation, expressed gratitude to the U.S. sports envoys for providing Nigerian Breakda
ncers with valuable guidance to pursue success.

‘We believe that through this training, Nigeria can progress towards meeting international standards in Breakdancing and prepare its youth for Olympic participation.

‘The encouragement from the U.S. sports envoys reminds us of the transformative impact of investing in diverse artistic expressions and athletic pursuits.

‘While the Nigerian Breakdancers may not partake in this year’s Olympic competition, this training equips them to compete effectively in future events,’ she said.

Ogunleye-Bello also called on the Federal Government and stakeholders to furnish facilities that would help dancers realize their ambition.

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, John Enoh, represented by Orok Effanga, pledged the ministry’s unwavering dedication to promote and facilitate the growth of Breakdancing in Nigeria.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Federal Government has promised to provide effective social care system to about 16.8 million aged population in the country.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Dr Abel Enitan, made the promise on Wednesday during the unveiling of the Older Persons’ Social Care in Nigeria.

The event with the theme: ‘Geriatric Social Care and Value Chain: A Case for Social Investment in Abuja’ was organised by the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event featured the inauguration and certification of 20 healthcare institutions across some states which will serve as older persons care centres in the country.

Represented by Mrs Agnes Aneke, the Director, Special Duties in the Ministry, Enitan said that the aged population was estimated to be more than 16.8 million by the year 2025.

Enitan explained that government was working towards developing effective policy guidelines on ageing, to address some of the challe
nges associated with the population in the country.

He said, the growing number of ageing population in the country remained a source of concern to government.

‘It is essential to note that older persons population in Nigeria is estimated to reach more than 16.8 million by the year 2025 with an increasing incidence and prevalence of multiple and chronic health conditions.

”These conditions, indeed, require new ways to address them’ he said.

On her part, the Director-General, National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) Dr Emem Omokaro, said, the national action plan on ageing had developed a well-paid skilled workforce for geriatric social care sector.

‘We are gathered here today to witness the foundation laying of what would be a journey to building an expansive Older Persons Social Care Quality Assurance System which is the bedrock of a very multi-dimensional care industry.

‘This development aims to ensure that the care workforce has the knowledge, skills and competencies to enable the workers to practice
older-person centered care.

‘It is also to build a paid quality social care workforce to ensure reduction of negative stereotypes about care giving to older people.

‘This is in line with the job creation, improved productivity and inclusion in line with the deliverables of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda’ she said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare says addressing public health challenges

requires a multi-sectoral approach that recognises the intricate interplay between various determinants of health.

Dr Binyerem Ukaire, the Director and Head, Family Health Department in the ministry, said this in Abuja during a two-day

National Health Promotion Stakeholders workshop.

Ukaire, who was represented by Mrs Chinyere Ogbonna, the Deputy Director, Health Promotion Department of Family Health,

said the workshop was to review and refine the National Health Promotion Coordination Framework.

According to her, it is a critical aspect of public health that enables people to increase control over their health and its determinants.

She said ‘the purpose of the workshop is to develop a framework, identify gaps and develop strategies to enhance effectiveness.’

She explained that ‘health promotion efforts cannot be siloed within the healthcare sector alone; instead, it must engage multiple

sectors such as education, envi
ronment, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), as well as

nutrition.

She said that such would create supportive environment that foster health and well-being.

‘This integrated approach acknowledges the role this sector plays in influencing individual and community health outcomes.

‘It is about empowering communities, improving health literacy, and creating supportive environments for healthy living,’ she said.

The director said Nigeria faced numerous health challenges, including communicable and non-communicable diseases,

maternal and child health issues, and lifestyle-related conditions.

According to her, addressing these challenges require a well-coordinated and robust framework to tackle.

‘Therefore, the development of the National Health Promotion Coordination Framework (NHPCF) is a process of establishing

strategic approach toward the prevention of public health issues in Nigeria.

‘Building the foundation to drive health promotion in effective multi-sectoral partnership and coordinated action,
engaging

stakeholders in advancing the nation’s health agenda as well as harnessing resources.

‘It is important to mention that the ministry has given a strategic focus and direction, carefully presented in the strategic blueprint.

‘On this backdrop, the ministry, in collaboration with key stakeholders, must provide policy enabling environment for

successful implemention of this strategic blueprint,’ she said.

During his representation, Mr William Anyebe, the Executive Coordinator, Treeshade Associate Nigeria Ltd, said that the specific

objective of the framework was to facilitate efficient coordination and harmonisation.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), says there is a need for proper regulation of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion to provide safe CNG vehicles.

Joseph Osanipin, the Director-General, NADDC, said this at a Stakeholders Engagement Meeting on Accreditation of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Powered Vehicle Conversion Workshops in Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.

Osanipin, represented by Dr Fidelis Achiv, the Director, Research, Design and Development, NADDC, said according to Autogas Africa, there are over 120 CNG conversion centres with 466 skilled technicians operating across the country.

He said these workshops had a capacity to convert a minimum of two petrol vehicles to CNG per day, indicating that CNG conversion was increasingly gaining acceptance and the market was expanding in the country.

‘These CNG conversion centres are unregulated, which raises safety concerns on the standards and code of practice used in the conversion.

‘ The market expansion, safety concerns and
unregulated conversion centres have necessitated the council to roll out programmes to standardise CNG conversion centres.

‘Also to upgrade skills development through training of auto technicians on conversion, repair and maintenance of CNG vehicles.

‘The workshop aims to enlighten stakeholders on the developed council’s guidelines and requirements for the accreditation and certification of all workshops that are interested in undertaking CNG conversion.’

Osanipin said the accreditation and certification would ensure that workshops operated in compliance with workplace best practices and standards.

‘The guidelines and expression of interest form will be available online through the council’s website, therefore, it is required that all CNG workshops should apply for the accreditation and certification,’ he said.

Achiv, who spoke on the sidelines, said the council was ensuring compliance by the CNG conversion workshops.

‘We are going to go round the workshops to ensure the minimum requirements are met and
for those who do not meet the requirement we will not accredit their workshop for conversion.

‘If on their own they go ahead to do any conversion, the conversion will not be reckoned with and when they go to get CNG gas in any station they will not be served.

‘After the conversion, they are going to be given a QR code which will go with every vehicle they have converted. It is that QR code that will be used to serve them gas in the gas stations.

‘So if they do not meet the minimum requirement, they will not be served at the stations.’

He said a workshop was expected to have four personnel which include a mechanic, welder, auto electrician and an ICT personnel before it could be accredited.

Achiv said the council proposed a registration fee of N250,000 to be paid by the CNG converters, saying this would wade off converters who would want to circumvent the conversion process.

Zayganu Tobo, the Programme Coordinator, Regulatory Compliance and Facilitation, Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGI) said the initi
ative was a bold and decisive programme that was strategic and realisable

‘By 2027, we anticipate one million vehicles running on CNG. We hope in four to five years, we will have 11,000 different CNG platforms and infrastructure.

‘We anticipate 25,000 technicians and allied professionals will be trained and three billion dollars of investment with multiple effects on our economy will be realised in four to five years.’

Tobo said a CNG app would be inaugurated to help people identify CNG infrastructure, and conversion centres closest to them.

Chukwunonso Okeke, the Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), said SON had 82 standards that guide the standards of CNG conversion in Nigeria.

Okeke, represented by Ega Ijachi, the Group Head, Mechanical and LPG, said the standards had been achieved by working with different stakeholders.

‘Out of the 82 standards, 28 are strictly on the conversion kits and these standards state the safety requirements of these kits. For example, the cylinders hav
e to go through 18 tests before they can be used.

‘CNG is safe for use, and SON is poised to ensure quality assurance of the kits used for the conversion, he said.

Ramalan Yerima, the Assistant Corps Marshal, Corps Safety Engineering Officer, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), said the corps’ role was to enforce the standards and enforce the usage of CNG when the time comes.

Yerima said the FRSC would continue to work with SON to ensure standards of CNG conversion were met.

Mr Simon Agenyi, the Director, Procurement, Federal Ministry of Finance, encouraged all participants to support NADDC in ensuring the CNG conversion becomes a reality.

Agenyi, Represented by Adigwe Ebube, Chief Procurement Officer, said the conversion to CNG would improve the welfare and lives of Nigerians as he pledged the ministry’s support to the mission.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure on the preferential access for small scale fisheries co-operatives to public works facilities.

The MOA between the two departments will cover areas such as small fishing harbours, forestry villages, expanded public works as well as government offices and facilities.

‘This MOA will enable us to solve a long-standing problem of access for small scale fishers to public works facilities in small harbours. This will include facilitating small scale co-operatives to enter into longer term leases of up to 10 years for public works buildings,’ Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Barbara Creecy said on Wednesday.

Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Sihle Zikalala said this preferential access will enable co-operatives to invest in developing freezing, storage and processing facilities in small harbours.

The MOA and related
implementation plans are expected to be completed in the second quarter of the financial year.

Source: South African Government News Agency