Day: September 16, 2024

An advocacy expert, Mrs Margaret Olele, says the cultural, moral and ethical values in children are fast degenerating, calling on parents to pay more attention to their children’s development.

Olele said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos, while discussing her debut book – Corals of Youth.

According to her, in the past, Nigerian parents pride themselves in being able to inculcate strong ethical values which shaped the growth of children from childhood to adulthood.

‘Parents adopt various methods to train their children, including storytelling, extended family relationships, religious beliefs, love and attention from both parents.’

She said that poor parenting and peer pressure were driving the deterioration of ethical values and breeding social vices among youths.

Olele further called for improvement in the nation’s educational system, saying this was critical to shaping the future generations.

‘One thing that was common back then was parents bringing their ch
ildren from outside the country to schools in Nigeria.

‘Nigerian schools then, both secondary and university, were highly rated.

‘It’s a pity how the tables turned and Nigerians now spend millions of dollars to ensuring that their children have the best education,’ she said.

According to her, people have sold their cars and houses and gone into great debt to achieve this.

NAN reports that in ‘Corals of Youth’, Olele masterfully weaves a narrative that follows a young protagonist’s journey as she navigates the challenges of adolescence and grapples with her cultural identity.

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The book captures the essence of what it means to be young and female, to be unique, and to find one’s place in the world.

Olele said the book explores the intersection of cultures, traditions, including the role of women and identities, illuminating the universal challenges and joy of growing up.

She said the book would be launched at the Africa Creative Market, from Se
pt. 17 to Sept. 20, at the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

A 65 litres water capacity cylinder of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) which cost N3,500 to fill, will take a car from Abuja to Kaduna, a distance of about 191km, an expert has said

Mr Mas`ud Ya`u , an Engineer and Manager of ABG Conversion Centre, Dawaki, one of the Federal Government’s accredited CNG conversion centres in the Federal Capital Territory, disclosed this to newsmen.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports Ya’u spoke when the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGi) undertook an inspection tour and distribution of CNG conversion kits to six centres in Abuja

In an interview with newsmen after the inspection of his centre, Ya’u said: ‘CNG is safe, as the gas tank is fire and bullet proofed and the thickness of the tank is between 15mm and 20mm.

”65 litres water capacity of CNG will cover 170km to 200km distance, which means it can conveniently take you from Abuja to Kaduna.

‘To fill CNG of 65 litres water capacity will cost N3,500,’ he said

NAN reports that the driving distance between Abuja and
Kaduna is 191km, and it takes approximately two hours 30 minutes.

NAN also reports that a car using petrol, will use approximately 20 litres of pms to cover the same distance, costing N17,940 at N897 official pump price in FCT.

Ya’u said CNG also improved engine performance and extends its longevity

According to the Engineer, before conversion, if it takes three months to service a car, after conversion it will extend to five months before servicing without affecting the oil viscosity.

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Ya’u said the CNG conversion process is a division of labour and they usually convert about four cars in a day at the centre.

‘The process involves installation of the kits in the engine with gas cylinders in the trunk of the vehicle

‘We also conduct detailed inspection to determine if the car is standard enough for conversion,’ he said.

At Mijo Gas Auto, another conversion centre in FCT, the head of the centre, Mr Gaurav Goyal, described CNG as v
ery safe and clean.

‘We want every Nigerian to go green. CNG is a good initiative for bringing down the price of PMS, with a spiral effect of reduction in prices of foods, commodities and other items,’ he said.

Speaking at another conversion centre, Udechukwu Ejike, a Bolt driver whose car is being worked on said: ‘I’m doing this because petrol price is higher than CNG.

‘For instance, in a day, I buy petrol of about N25,000 to N30,000, but with CNG I am to spend between N3,500 and N7,000.

‘I am happy with this initiative, and I advise everyone to consider converting their vehicles from petrol usage to CNG. It is very cheap and good,’ he said.

NAN reports that the six conversion centres inspected by the team are, NIPCO Oil and Gas Station Airport Road, Kia Motors at Utako, Mijo Gas Auto in Jahi, ABG CNG, Kubwa, Bovas Filling station, Wuse Zone 5 and CandL Mart Energy Solutions Ltd at Lokogoma,

Earlier, Mr Micheal Oluwagbemi, leader of the inspection team and Programme Director, Presidential CNG Initiativ
e (PCNGi) said the programme would provide cheaper and cleaner vehicle fueling alternative for Nigerians.

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‘President Bola Tinubu has assured that we are making one million conversion kits available for free to the commercial sector and at reasonable discounts for the private vehicles

He said Nigeria had been subsidising petrol to the tune of 10 billion dollars a year, consistently in the last 15 years and every single dollar of that had been borrowed.

‘A country that has the largest gas reserve in the world, should has no business consuming petrol and diesel to the level we are doing,’ he said.

Oluwagbemi assured that the initiative would address the economic sabotage of smuggling petrol across the nation’s borders.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Federal Government has commenced the distribution of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion kits nationwide, to fasttrack the change of petrol and diesel-powered vehicles to use of CNG.

Mr Micheal Oluwagbemi, Programme Director, Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGi) disclosed this during an inspection tour and distribution of the kits to six CNG conversion centres in Abuja

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the six conversion centres inspected by the team are, NIPCO Oil and Gas Station Airport Road, Kia Motors at Utako, Mijo Gas Auto in Jahi, ABG CNG, Kubwa, Bovas Filling station, Wuse Zone 5 and CandL Mart Energy Solutions Ltd at Lokogoma.

Oluwagbemi said the CNG initiative by President Bola Tinubu would provide cheaper and cleaner vehicle fueling alternatives for Nigerians.

‘The President has assured us that we are making one million conversion kits available for free for the commercial sector or at reasonable discounts for the private vehicles.

‘This is to enable transportation fare to
be moderated across the country over the next couple of years.

‘Of course, it is.technically and logistically tasking to get the kits across to Nigerians because the kits must be installed in these vehicles and they have to be done in a way that is safe and reliable as well,’ he said.

The coordinator said the federal government had signed up with over 75 conversion partners officially in eight states including Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Edo, Delta, Kogi, FCT, and Kaduna.

‘These eight states are the ones where the conversion incentive program has kicked off. In the next six to eight weeks, we’ll be having additional nine states.

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The states to be included are, Kwara, Ekiti. Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Abia, Enugu, Kano, and Niger.

‘These states will be joining the category of states where we have activated the program,’ he said.

Oluwagbemi said they were working with governors and the private sector to ensure the conversion kits were made available to beneficiaries.

‘
Of course, these kits are not manufactured in Nigeria at the moment. We are also enabling local manufacturers with capacity to ensure that we get them done locally.

‘We need to make sure that we move the nation’s economy in the right direction; Away from our addiction to petrol and diesel which truly is making the nation’s economy bankrupt,’ he said.

For her part, the Coordinator of Business Development and Strategy of the initiative, Mrs Omolara Obileye said the programme would reduce the dependence on fuel.

She reiterated that while the commercial transporters would have 100 per cent conversion-free, private cars are expected to pay a fraction of the cost of the conversion,

‘However, the cost depends on the vehicle size because there are different types of vehicles, and there is a need to understand exactly what we need to configure in the system.

‘We have over 12 conversion centres in the FCT; we will continue to increase the number and update the public,’ she said

Representatives of the management o
f the conversion centres, respectively commended the Federal government for the initiative and assured that it would go a long way in ameliorating sufferings if Nigerians.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society has begun the planting of over 1,000 soursop trees across the country, as part of activities to mark this year’s Eid-el- Maulud (commemoration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad).

The National Chief Imam of Al-Habibiyyah, Shiek Fuad Adeyemi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the Society had launched the ‘Project Make It Green’ on Sunday in Abuja.

He said the initiative aims at promoting a green friendly environment in line with the dictates of Prophet Muhammad, PBUH.

The cleric explained that 1,000 of the trees would be planted in Abuja and environs, while the remaining would be planted in designated areas across the country.

‘As we commemorate this year’s Maulud, we want the entire world to know what the Prophet Muhammad stood for, his missions and his messages.

‘I think part of his greatest messages is the sustenance and conservation of the environment.

‘The Prophet has given us lots of lessons and teachings as far as environment is concerned,’ he said.

Adeyem
i said that planting trees as encouraged by the Prophet will go a long way in addressing issues of climate change and other disasters like the recent floods in Maiduguri.

‘The Prophet mentioned that we should plant trees and that animals that eat from it, humans that eat from it, people that stay under their shades would be counted as ‘Sadakat-ud-Jariyya’, for us, both here and in the hereafter.

‘Also, if one look at the Maiduguri flood, it is 70% environmental related issue. Had it been we are proactive and listen to the messages of Prophet Muhammad I don’t believe this thing will have happened,’ Adeyemi said.

He said that the choice of the soursop tree is due to the fact that medically the leaf cures so many sickness and the fruit is also very valuable.

The Imam admonished Nigerians to cultivate the habit of planting trees as encouraged by the Sunnah (tradition) of the Prophet to mitigate some of the environmental challenges facing the country.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The National Universities Commission (NUC), says it will leverage foreign investors’ transnational-education initiative to enhance enrollment, bridge the gap on demand and supply for

higher education in Nigeria.

Dr. Chris Maiyaki, Acting Executive Secretary, NUC, stated this on Monday at the maiden Annual General Meeting of the International Studies Alumni Association, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, on Monday.

Maiyaki said the commission was confronted with a huge gap between demand and supply, adding that about two million prospective students seek administration into Nigerian universities annually.

According to him, the 274 nation’s universities put together can only accommodate between 500,000 and 700,000 applicants; adding that, ‘by this scenario, a huge chunk of the applicants are left unaccounted for.

‘As a matter of policy, the NUC consummated a transnational-education initiative where foreign investors would come into the country and open branch campuses and undertake training arrangements
, open teaching institutions among other several arrangements.’

The initiative, he said, would be under strict adherence to the regulatory provisions of the NUC.

While reflecting on the AGM, Maiyaki said: ‘At a moment like this, we need to look back to our alma-mater towards harnessing its potentials.’

He added that alumni were potential sources of support all over the world and commended the interim committee of the International Studies Alumni Association for its ability to galvanise resources for the AGM.

Maiyaki urged the Departmental Alumni and general body of ABU Alumni Association to tap on their huge resources, networks and groups’ dynamics to bear in moving forward the frontier of knowledge starting with ABU.

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Earlier, Alhaji Muntari Kaita, the Interim Chairman of the Association said the association consist of seasoned diplomats, academicians, specialised diplomatic journalists and other professionals.

Kaita said the aim of the associatio
n was to encourage relationships between the university community and the association.

‘Our members are determined to create synergy of giving back to our great alma-mater in order to motivate the lecturers and students to aspire for greater heights.

‘In doing so, the association has donated hundreds of books and other literary works to the Department of Political Science and International Studies Library,” Kaita said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event featured paper presentation entitled ‘ECOWAS and challenges of regional integration in Africa’ by Prof. Abdullahi Shehu.

New executive members of the association were also elected at the event.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Col. Anorph Akaubong, Director of Training, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center (KAIPC), Accra, Ghana, has called for collaborative strategies to confront violent extremism and terrorism within the ECOWAS subregion.

He stated this at the third training for defence and security sector actors on violent extremism and terrorism, organised by KAIPTC in collaboration with German, Nigerian governments and ECOWAS, on Monday in Abuja.

Akaubong reminded participants that their coming from diverse backgrounds and fields within the security sector meant that they were united to engage, learn, and deliberate on violent extremism and terrorism.

He said the event was a capacity building mechanism, which would reshape their understanding, broaden their perspectives, and forge a positive impact within the context of Nigeria and ECOWAS subregion.

‘The very complexities of the country’s current situation, as well as its resonance within our coastal states, present us with an unprecedented opportunity – a
n opportunity to squarely confront the issue of Violent Extremism and Terrorism.

‘The interconnected nature of these challenges underscores the urgency for our concerted efforts, collaboration, and innovative thinking.

‘The collaborative potency of our diverse expertise is the cornerstone for sculpting solutions that transcend geographical divides and pave the way for tangible transformation in our societies.

‘I implore each participant to bring forth their unique perspectives and insights on the subject, for it is through this tapestry of thought that we will embark on a journey of exploration and discovery,’ he said.

Declaring the training open, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, said that the event was particularly important due to the dynamic shifts in strategies on violent extremism and terrorism.

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According to him, violent extremism and terrorism, particularly in the Sahel, is spreading to
the coastal regions of West Africa, and the situation will require multifaceted efforts to counter the threat.

Musa, represented by Brig.-Gen. Olurotimi Adejoro, noted that confronting the prevailing threat of violent extremism and terrorism in West Africa necessitated bringing together a large number of actors to chart the way forward.

‘We’re also aware that insights in the 2024 Global Tourism Index show how the rate of violent extremism has climbed in the Sahel and in the West African subregion in particular.

‘It is therefore not a course that is being done just for the purpose of running a course. It is a serious threat we are confronting now and we are likely to confront in the future.

‘Therefore, I implore each participant to bring forth their unique perspectives and insights on the subject so that we can use our diversity of ideas and experience to bring about worthwhile solutions,’ he said.

One of the participants, Patience Dakop, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) from the Force Headquar
ters, said she was elated to be nominated for the course.

According to her, it will help to broaden my knowledge of violent extremism and terrorism, West Africa’s security challenges generally, and how to tackle them.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the five-day capacity building course attracted no fewer than 40 security operatives from across Nigeria’s various security segments.

It aims to engage them in learning and deliberation on critical subjects such as violent extremism and terrorism, in order to equip them with the knowledge and solutions needed to address these threats.

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NAN reports that KAIPTC is one of the three designated ECOWAS Training Centres of Excellence, and a premier institution dedicated to advancing peace and security across Africa.

It is globally recognised for its commitment to providing cutting-edge training, research, and education tailored to the complex challenges of peace and security on the cont
inent.

The Centre plays a pivotal role in building the capacity of military, police, and civilian personnel, ensuring they are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to engage effectively in peace and security efforts in Africa and beyond.

KAIPTC’s mission is rooted in the vision of fostering stability on the continent by enhancing the operational effectiveness of key international and regional actors.

These actors include the AU, ECOWAS, and various national and international peacekeeping forces, which rely on its expertise to address pressing security challenges.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria