Day: September 26, 2024

Mr O’tega Ogra, the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Digital Communication and Engagement, on Wednesday, said the economic policies of the Federal Government were achieving the desired results.

Ogra said this while briefing State House correspondents alongside Mr Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President, Information and Strategy, in Abuja.

He said statistics recently released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicated that the agriculture sector had expanded by 3.2 per cent, with more enhanced production expected.

‘We’re seeing a lot more exports. The same thing with the telecommunications industry, which has expanded by about 9.1 per cent because of new investments in digital infrastructure.

‘For instance, they’re laying fiber optics across the country, and there are also new investments in technology,’ he said.

He added that Foreign Direct Investments had continued to rise as well as foreign reserves.

‘But most importantly, a couple of days ago, Coca-Cola came here and t
hey finally pledged to, invest one billion dollars over the next five years in certain key areas.

‘And the manufacturing has also grown by about 4.2 per cent this year. Also in the past two weeks, Nigeria and the United States had a series of engagements, amongst which is the modernisation of the power grids,’ he said.

According to him, this project, which is a result of meetings held by the U.S.-Nigeria Business Council, will be based on clean, renewable energy.

He added that the project would improve the country’s energy security and industrial productivity.

See also Amaechi inspects Apapa Port to ascertain Lagos-Ibadan rail completion

Onanuga also said there were positive signs that the economic policies of the Tinubu government were working.

‘It takes some time before people can begin to feel the impact of what we are witnessing.

‘The Gross Domestic Product is rising, balance of trade is in surplus, inflation is receding, and so on.

So, I’m sure gradually people will begin to feel the impact of wh
at we are witnessing, what the indicators are showing.

‘It’s not going to be immediate, but you are going to start feeling it much more,’ he said.

He said the NBS figures reflected what was happening in the economy, and that from all indications, there was light at the end of the tunnel.

Onanuga said things would keep improving and the people would soon begin to feel the impact of the improvements in all the facets of the economy.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday congratulated Oba Rashidi Ladoja as he marked his 80th birthday.

The president described Ladoja, who clocked 80 on Wednesday, as an accomplished businessman who served as Governor of Oyo State from 2003 to 2007.

In a statement issued by Mr Bayo Onanuga, his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, the president noted that the traditional ruler also served as a senator in the Third Republic.

‘He was elevated from Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland to a beaded-crown-wearing Oba by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, on Aug. 12.

‘President Tinubu joins family, friends, and the people of Ibadanland to celebrate the elder statesman on this milestone.

‘The President commends Oba Rashidi for his strength of will and courage in pursuing justice and lofty ideals,’ said the statement.

Tinubu saluted Ladoja for his service to the nation and dedication to the cause of a greater Nigeria.

He recalled his time at the Senate during the short-lived Third Republic when pr
ovidence crossed their paths, and thanked the traditional ruler for his friendship and support over the years.

‘President Tinubu prays for unceasing wisdom, robust health and strength for Oba Rashidi as he marks this significant occasion,’ said the statement.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Fame Foundation, a gender biased Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has called for an end to all forms of femicide in Nigeria.

Femicide is the act of killing a woman by a domestic partner or a member of a criminal enterprise.

The Executive Director of the Foundation, Aderonke Atoyebi, at a news conference in Abuja, stressed the need for government and all stakeholders to collectively fight it in Nigeria.

She decried the fact that femicide is often concealed in Nigeria due to societal stigma, fear of retaliation, while emphasising the need to change the narrative.

Atoyebi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the foundation was working round the clock to raise awareness about the problem and also advocating for stronger legal protections for women and girls.

‘The girl child, young women, young female adults are endangered in Nigeria.

‘Femicide has become a pandemic and a state of emergency needs to be declared on this often-overlooked issue. Victim blaming must end,’ she said.

Atoyebi said that
over 89,000 women were killed globally in 2020 and at least 401 deaths recorded from sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) in 2022.

‘The situation of femicide is now critical, as the Federal government has recorded 27,698 SGBV cases in the last three years in Nigeria.

‘At least five female murder cases recorded from different states this year were highlighted, some of the cases got justice while some didn’t get till date,’ she said.

Atoyebi, therefore, stressed the need to strengthen existing laws that address SGBV and ensure its enforcement, while stressing the need for perpetrators of femicide to be adequately punished to deter future crimes.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

No fewer that 1000 school girls are expected to take part in the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC)/Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) Women’s Criio Festival.

Uyi Akpata, president of the NCF, said this on Tuesday at a media briefing aimed at analysing activities by the federation in recent years.

Akpata spoke on the backdrop of the federation’s partnership with the world governing body, ICC, and the opportunities the country has gained.

‘We are going to have a launch of a super female involvement in cricket through a modified format. It is the women’s criio festival.

‘We are bringing between 600 to 1000 school girls in Abuja to come and have fun and it is going to be on the back of the National Women Championship.

‘We are going to have best female cricketers around and we will be inviting ICC women representative as well, and the criio template will be replicated to other parts of the country.

‘ICC identified two countries in Africa, Nigeria and Rwanda to champion this initiative and this is b
ecause of what we have done in women’s cricket.

‘We have won global and continental awards and accolade in the cause of women’s cricket and we can as this investment is bearing fruits already,” Akpata added.

On the federation’s achievements so far, Akpata said leadership and good governance structure played a key role.

‘When we were riding on the back of serious misgivings about our leadership and governance, we revamped our leadership structure.

‘At the time, it was led by Prof. Yahaya Ukwenya, a surgeon and myself, who was the vice president, though having a pedigree as one of the senior members of Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) at the time.

See also Australian Open players to be shifted to new quarantine hotel

‘It was not about credentials but about implementation.

‘So, we put up that structure and the rest of the board came along and saw how deliberate we were in terms of transparency and they keyed in.

‘This was to the extent that when the template of effective governance structure was given to a
ssociate countries in Africa by the ICC, they had to tell us to review and see whether it was consistent with best practices.

‘That is what we did. Now, we have become a positive reference point and we must always align ourselves with ICC and their templates,” Akpata added.

Bronze winning Nigeria Women’s Cricket team at the African Games in Ghana in March

Also at the event, the NCF brand ambassador for women’s cricket, Adaora Sydney-Jack, said she would be using her experience in community journalism to drive awareness for the game.

‘When I look at women’s cricket in the country, I see the future is near.

‘If we begin to appraise women’s cricket in countries like India, South Africa, Australia and more, we see that they have done well for themselves due to strategic partnerships.

‘As a brand ambassador, that is the area I will be looking at strategic partnerships and community development.

‘This is where you see cricket playing a key role and I will be using my brand as a mainstay in community journal
ism, that is an area I will need to drive,” Sdyney-Jack said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Nigeria’s U-19 Women’s Cricket team, on Wednesday, defeated Malawi by 86 runs to finish top in Group B of the ongoing Africa U-19 World Cup qualifiers in Rwanda.

The win for Nigeria makes it three wins in three games and sets a mouth-watering semifinal clash with Rwanda, who finished second in Group A.

In the game played at Gahanga B cricket oval, Nigeria won the toss and opted to bat first.

Nigeria U-19 Female Cricket Team

Opening batters Victory Igbinedion, scored 66 runs off 72 balls and Promise Eguakun contributing 27 runs of 20 balls to help Nigeria reach a total score of 147 runs for the loss of four wickets.

In defence of their score, Nigeria limited the East Africans to 61 runs all out in 18.1 overs.

Nigeria win by 86 runs.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a total of eight teams are currently taking part in the tournament, with only the top team gaining ticket to the World Cup in Malaysia 2025.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has assured the Nigeria Sustainable Cooling Project (NSCP) of support in its campaign for efficient energy consumption in the country.

Malam Ali M. Ali, Managing Director of NAN, said this when a delegation from the NSCP, led by Dr Shehu Mustafa, Project Director, paid him a courtesy call in Abuja.

NAN reports that the visit was to solicit the agency’s partnership to sensitise the public about the organisation’s project tagged ‘Scaling Up Energy-Efficient and Climate-Friendly Cooling in Nigeria’s’

The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) has said that demand for cooling solutions was expected to increase to protect people from rising temperatures, to keep food fresh, vaccines viable and economies productive.

‘By 2050, the demand for cooling is expected to double electricity consumption and an associated surge in greenhouse gas emissions,’ the UN body said.

Ali said that NAN would deploy its strength to the campaign as Africa’s biggest content provider with offic
es nationwide; 12 zonal and 36 states offices.

‘You could not have come to a better medium for partnership and we are representing everything in all the senatorial district and we will take the message to the grassroots.

‘Your campaign on energy consumption efficiency will cost a lot of resources and the agency is a public medium, we are here to give you public service.

‘We will cover all your activities so long we are invited and if need be deploy a permanent reporter, including multimedia to report your activities.’

See also Why Nigeria must succeed on its democratic journey

The MD said over the years people are becoming more energy smart nationwide by making conversion from petrol to other efficient alternative.

Ali tasked NSCP on interagency collaboration with the Standard Organisation of Nigeria and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to assist in public enlightenment.

Mustafa, while citing example with air conditioners, explained that while old air conditioners consume current
of about 10 kilowatts, modern efficient air conditioners may consume less than one kilowatt.

He said Scaling Up Energy-Efficient and Climate-Friendly Cooling in Nigeria’s project is funded by the Clean Cooling Collaborative (CCC) and supported by the UNEP.

He explained that energy efficient air conditioners could significantly reduce Nigeria’s energy consumption in residential, commercial and public buildings.

According to him, the project aims to accelerate the adoption of energy-efficient ACs, which will reduce electricity bills, optimise the grid system and lessen pressure on transformers.

Mustafa identified NAN as the ideal partner for spreading the important message to both rural and urban populations.

NAN reports that UNEP is presenting a report at the 79th UN General Assembly on Wednesday that will provide a blueprint for financing sustainable cooling with an emphasis on mobilising private investment.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria