Sunday 23 June 2013
Path to success of firms, others, by bank chief
NO organisation in the world can be profitable if its customers do not believe and support its vision, African Banker of the Year and Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje, has said.
According to him, “there is a direct relationship between a company’s level of profitability and public perception about its brand. When people see a brand as a valued partner, they continue to do business with it, which ultimately translates to profitability. Companies on the other hand have a responsibility to ensure their customers are satisfied at all times and treated with respect. This knowledge is the base rock upon which our 2012 performance is hinged.”
Agbaje, who spoke just days after the bank published its audited 2012 results, attributed its successful outing during the financial year to customer loyalty.
GTBank’s results for the 2012 financial year showed a Profit Before Tax of N103 billion, the highest for any Nigerian bank from continuing operations at both bank and Group levels. The Group’s results also show improved Gross Earnings of N221.9 billion and 69 per cent improvement in Profit After Tax to N87.3 billion; (2011: N51.7 billion).
The bank closed the 2012 financial year with an On-Balance Sheet size of N1.73 trillion (2011: N1.608 trillion) while total assets and contingents stood at N2.26 trillion (2011: N2.14 trillion) representing a growth of 8 per cent and 6 per cent respectively. Additionally, the bank’s stance as an upstanding social citizen and commitment to full disclosure was evidenced by its 2012 tax liabilities, which came to over N16.3 billion, while total dividend payment for the financial year is projected at N45.62 billion (N1.55 per ordinary share of 0.50 kobo each).
Agbaje confirmed that the bank would continue to introduce products and alternative channels that will allow the public to undertake their banking activities quickly, safely and conveniently.
It was established in 1990 and has over 200 branches within the country and has banking subsidiaries in Cote D’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom.
In recognition of it service standards, management quality and financial performance, it has been the recipient of numerous awards over the years that most recently include the Best Bank in Nigeria Award for the fourth consecutive year from Euromoney Magazine and the Best Bank in Nigeria Award from EMEA Finance.
By Adeniyi Adunola
Group canvasses ways to reduce conflict
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| L-R Mrs Roseline Umenduka presenting an award to Hon Metche Nnaduke (middle) as Dr Charles Obi (JP) supports them |
Speaking at a seminar entitled “Peace and Security In our nation-The way forward” held at Ojo military Cantonment Lagos at the weekend, the President of the organization Mrs. Rose Umenduka canvassed for a greater effort at mutual understanding, and greater use of techniques of collaboration, competing, avoiding, harmonizing and compromising to effectively deal with conflict and ensure peace and security in the society.
She lamented the many crisis points in the nation, among them Boko Haram insurgency, violent communal disputes in Cross River and Ebonyi states, Anambra and Kogi states as well as within families even as she urged all hands to be on deck to check the trend. She said since “conflict is inevitable wherever there is human interaction, it therefore, becomes necessary for everyone to embrace a measure that would reduce or manage conflict so that the negative and divisive consequences do not get out of hand.”
She told newly-commissioned CCR officers to be ambassadors of peace and work to reduce conflict in the society Also speaking, the Secretary of CCR, Major John Audu urged the Federal Government to enter into dialogue and negotiations with aggrieved groups in the country with view to ending conflict and restore peace and harmony. He also urged all Nigerians to support security agencies with intelligence gathering and useful information, which could help nip conflict in the bud before it degenerates into crisis.
By Adeniyi Adunola and Aderonke Alabi
Anyaoku Fears
FORMER Secretary General of the Commonwealth Chief Emeka 
has expressed the fear that issues being thrown up by the Boko Haram insurgency in some parts of the country may adversely affect Nigeria’s relationship with other nations of the world with whom she had enjoyed cordiality.
Anyaoku who was special guest of honour at Island Club’s Diplomats Night on Tuesday lamented that security challenges like the terrorism in some parts of the north, and the kidnapping of locals and foreign nationals have become the painful point of contact with and communication about Nigeria and the outside world which does the country’s image no good.
Expressing delight that such unsavoury developments have not managed to stop the inflow of foreign investments into the country, Anyaoku wondered how much longer the insecurity challenges could remain unsolved before they begin to hurt efforts the country has been making to attract foreign investors which to a large extent depends on Nigeria’s image abroad now being put at risk by terrorism and kidnappings.
Calling for an end to the penchant Nigerians have to be in denial of the country’s basic problems, Anyaoku said the issue of political stability remains to be dealt with.
He expressed doubts that said the structure of government in Nigeria as it is at present can guarantee stability and peace.
He said this could only be achieved if Nigeria practiced true federalism, stressing that a situation whereby the 36 states of the federation with the possible exception of Lagos State are economically dependent on the centre cannot make for peace and stability.
“I believe, that the present structure fans the religious and the ethnic diversity we have because the competition to grab the power at the centre is destructive.
“I believe that the nation should return to six federating units so that we can recapture the development and stability which we had in the immediate years after the nation’s independence when we had a federation in which the regions were sufficiently viable and sufficiently powerful to develop at their own pace.”
He spoke of how prosperous the regions were, with the north thriving on hides and skins and groundnuts , the west on cocoa, the east on palm produce and the Mid west region on rubber , lamenting that all that had disappeared as Nigeria is now overwhelmingly dependent on oil.
He said the return to six regions will save Nigeria the trouble of trying to invest so much resources in administration .
“At the moment, the country spends over seventy per cent of its resources on administration because there are 36 States of Assemblies , 36 Judiciaries, 36 Civil Services and so on and all these are expensive and no country has developed which has spent seventy percent of its revenue on recurrent expenditure.
By Adeniyi Adunola and Tolulope Okunlola
TREM honours members at community development award
THE Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) recently honoured its notable members who have contributed to the development of Ikorodu community.
Speaking at the event tagged: Ikorodu Community Development Award (ICDA), which was held at TREM Liberty Centre, Idowu Fatoki Street, Ikorodu, the Director of the Directorate of National Transformation, TREM Liberty Centre and Chairman of the Award Planning Committee, Mr. Austen Awulonu, said: “ICDA, basically, is a medium to celebrate individuals and organizations, who through significant positive service, have contributed to the development of Ikorodu.”
"Our concern is neither political nor religious or ethnic. It is purely developmental because we believe that a community that ceases to develop will sooner than later become extinct," he lamented.
He urged the awardees to keep the flag flying and pleaded with them to do more.
While unveiling the nominees, the Resident Pastor of TREM Liberty Centre, Pastor Mike Egwu, said: “The ICDA aims at the development of Ikorodu community.”
Egwu urged the Christians and all that were present, to be a change agents and follow the example of Jesus Christ, saying "we must demonstrate Christ-like love to the whole world.”
Meanwhile, the award was categorized into nine different categories, ranging from special recognition award, which was won by Rev. Felix Joshua. Also under category of Arts, veteran actress, Mrs. Sola Onayiga, Funke Akindele and Chidinma Ekile were nominated. Other categories included public service, commercial service, journalism, community banking, social responsibility and youth empowerment awards.
By Adeniyi Adunola
NISCN TASKS WORKERS ON WORKPLACE DISEASES.
Workers in both public and private sector in the country were on Monday advised to be careful and do everything possible to prevent attracting diseases that are associated with their respective nature of jobs.
The National Industrial Safety Council of Nigeria (NISCN) gave this advice on Monday at a seminar to mark the 2013 edition of World Day for Safety and Health at Work, held at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Lagos. The theme was “Prevention of occupational diseases”.
Speaking at the seminar, the Chairman of NISCN, Mr. Tunji Sekoni said the organization strongly believe that prevention of occupational diseases is best done when a system that is consistent in committing both employer and employee to health and safety in the workplace is created.
Sekoni added that social dialogue is another system that compliments the Employee Compensation Act by placing the responsibilities of inspection on the workers and employers themselves in cordial and harmonious manner. According to him, Nigeria is getting it right with Employee Compensation Act which is said to be a no-fault-scheme and has the potency of forcing employers to be more efficient in managing safety in the workplace.
Lecturing on the Employee Compensation Act (ECA), the director of National Social Insurance Trust Fund, Mr. Davidson Enwere said the main feature of the law is to minimize financial losses, reduce personal, physical and emotional suffering likewise encourage and promote safety in the workplace.
He said an employee is covered on death, injuries, mental stress, occupational diseases and healthcare in as much as these happen to him on the way to and from workplace and in the field of duty. And that such employee could only claim compensation if he notifies the employer of the related injury or illness within 14 days.
Also speaking, the Assistant Director, Federal Ministry of International Labour Organization, Mr. Shado Olawale who delivered a lecture on the “Place of social dialogue in safety system – the way forward”, said social dialogue is the type of negotiation that helps to boost and promote economic progress. He said information sharing as well as consultation and bargaining are the most effective means of exchanging views in social dialogue.
Olawale also said judicious, skillful and enlightened use of social dialogue, information sharing and consultation among social partners on issue of safety must elient strong political will and commitment on the part of all stakeholders.
Adeniyi Adunola and Adebisi Olonade
Tinubu warns against inflammatory comments on Nigeria’s unity
AHEAD the 2015 elections, former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, has sternly warned politicians and other Nigerians to avoid taking measures or making comments capable of threatening the unity of the country.
Tinubu, who spoke yesterday at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, during the public presentation of Lest I Forget: Memoirs of Nigerian Career Diplomat, written by Ambassador Oladapo Fafowora, said that in recent times, self-acclaimed friends, as well as aides of the President have been making comments that could jeopardise the unity of the country.
He described those comments as insensitive, inciting and incendiary, adding that such threats are utterly irresponsible and unjustifiable. According to him, “one says if President Goodluck Jonathan is not re-elected in 2015, the tenuous peace now being enjoyed in the Niger Delta will not be guaranteed.
“Another builds on that, saying with all the crudity in his being that not only will there be no peace in the Niger Delta, there will also be no peace everywhere across the country.
“Earlier, a gregarious presidential aide boasted that he would no longer bear his name if by 2014 the new political platform called the All Progressives Congress (APC) has not vanished into thin air. These are pretty strong words.”
The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain said the statements must be seen for what they are because “words are like eggs dropped from great heights; you can no more call them back than ignore the mess they leave when they fall.”
He stressed that it was important “for us” to keep quiet when the dead-enders unleash these kinds of words, adding that the opposition parties must not allow the ethnic militias to ruin Nigeria’s democracy or untie the country’s unity.
“It is said that evil triumphs when good men do nothing,” he said. “It is, therefore, incumbent on all our acknowledged good men to speak out against these ethnic jingoists, or those that the Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, will call ‘lickspittle’.
“To the best of my knowledge, President Goodluck Jonathan was elected by Nigerians of different ethnic groups, and no single ethnic group, whether minority or majority, can single-handedly elect a President. No ethnic warlord or groveling aide can single-handedly elect a President.”
Tinubu disclosed that the framers of the country’s constitution apparently had it in mind when they said that, for a candidate to be elected President, he must win no less than one-third of the votes cast at an election in each of at least two-third of all states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
“There is strength in our unity, let us guard it jealously,” he said, adding: “Let us work hard to keep our country united. Above all, let us not take our unity for granted.”
By Gbenga Akinfenwa and Adeniyi Adunola
A Non-Governmental Organization, Reading Attitudes and Development Foundation has examined that education has problem because reading has problem. “ The various reason for the present low of education standard in Nigeria is poor disposition of student to reading.”
Speaking at the seminar entitled “Toward Building Reading Attitude in students” organized by Reading Attitude and Development Foundation on Tuesday at Odi-Olowo, Ojuwoye LCDA Hall, Lagos, the Chairman of the Foundation Mr. Sulayman Akinlawon said “it is a known fact that reading attitude is fast becoming a thing of the past in the emerging world particularly among student who prefer to spend most of their time on the internet. Internet is very veritable ground for learning and studying, it has been observed that children use it mainly for other reasons like Facebooking and the likes.”
Furthermore, he said reading culture is practically depreciating because students rely more on expos, microchips and the like to pass their exams instead of reading and studying which has produce great men of past years like Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka among others.
Mr. Fola Alimi a guest Lecturer University of Lagos urged the student to pay attention to lectures and create the habit and have the passion for reading even after school hours.
He said to bring back the value of reading depend on the parent, teachers, government and all stakeholder in the educational sector by killing the habit of parents paying for their children to pass.
Alimi advised that parents, teachers and government should consciously change the attitude towards education.
By Adeniyi Adunola and Tolulope Okunlola
RegCharles invests $130,000.00 in water production SME
IN furtherance of her empowerment of MSMEs in the real sector of the Nigerian economy, RegCharles Finance and Capital Limited has injected a long term investment of $130,000.00 into Sarvil Limited using a mixture of debt and micro-equity to expand their business, upgrade their production facilities, improve the distribution networks and facilities.
Sarvil Limited (formerly Sarvil Enterprises), commenced business October 14, 2011 and was incorporated April 28, 2012. Sarvil started a business relationship with RegCharles Finance and Capital Limited in August 2012 and since then has demonstrated a strong capacity to managing funds and improving their access to markets and opportunities. Being a small and growing business the company was struggling to survive amidst harsh business environment and lack of infrastructure supposed to enhance their competitiveness in the challenging market.
Speaking at the handover ceremony of the improved facilities, the MD/CEO Peter Damian Mbama explained the rationale and justifications behind the decision to invest in the business. HE SAID: “Hygienic water production is a viable business in Nigeria and can generate huge returns in excess of 30% per month. The market is colossal amidst the dearth of affordable and clean water in the country.”
Mr Mbama went further to state that as a non-banking financial institution licensed by CBN, RegCharles is at the forefront of empowering entrepreneurs and business owners in the MSME segment to achieve their goals in life.
HE WENT ON: “MSMEs remain at the pivot of the survival of any economy in the world. They remain the highest employers of labour and contribute over 50% GDP besides the huge employment opportunities available. Sarvil is one out of over 70 entrepreneurs that have benefitted from our business model.
“At RegCharles Finance and Capital Limited we focus on financing and empowering Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in various sectors of the economy as well as Agriculture and Agro Allied Businesses in Nigeria. RegCharles Finance and Capital Ltd is renowned for her Social and Impact Investment capacity focusing on Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises. In this, we assess the social, economic and environmental impact of transactions and investments before funding any business.
”By providing tailored financial solutions and advisory services through our array of products and services, our target focus remains to reduce unemployment by empowering men, women and youths with great potentials in helping to grow the economy through employment generation and productivity.”
Asked how business the business model evolves in the creation of values, Mbama explained that prior to funding any entrepreneur various training programs are designed which will be inculcated into the ideas and practices of the business owner which last for a minimum of three days depending on the peculiarities of the transaction.
He added: “Every entrepreneur is meant to pass through pre-funding trainings in capacity development designed to imbibe them with the required skills to run a sustainable business. After we have advanced funds to the business owner, he will be enrolled into some post-funding training models involving mentorship programs and incubation.
“RegCharles strives to protect the funds provided to us by clients as well as handle the risks associated with our investments by being of the business. We discuss that the bane of entrepreneurship is fund diversion and insincerity hence we strive to mitigate the occurrence by being part of the business in totality. Our experience has demonstrated that collateral requirements do not guarantee repayment. We consider cash flow and character as the key to the success of the business and the protection of the investments. Hence we have been able to design our risk management models to accommodate these.
“The benefits of our involvement in the businesses of our clients cannot be over-emphasized at this time. We have a way of determining challenges in any business. Hence we target to assist our customers (the MSMES) by giving them Access to market; Access to business information; access to capital and finance; trainings on Entrepreneurship, vocational skills, financial management and basic book keeping skills; access to Information Technology outsourcing, Business Development strategies, Product development strategies, leadership and organizational development.”
The MD/CEO of Sarvil Limited, Mr Olusegun Adegunle explained that the partnership with RegCharles Finance and Capital Limited has made tremendous impact in his business.
His words: “Following the surge in our growth and the challenges we were facing meeting up with demand we approached almost all the banks in Nigeria for financial support to no avail. Most of the reasons adduced were lack of structure; lack of collateral; no audited financial statements; level of education and numerous reasons. The only bank that agreed to assist failed to understand the problems and proffer the right solutions.
“I approached RegCharles and they swung into action. First they conducted a proper due diligence of our company; they proceeded with the restructuring exercise and created a proper structure for us; RegCharles through their outsourcing company recruited and organized our employees; an accountant was recruited for us and an audit firm was engaged for yearly audit to enable us have the audited financials which made banks to run away from us. It did not end there. RegCharles prepared out 5 year strategic plan and business plan which was the fulcrum of our success till date. We passed through some training with them and today they have funded us for growth and expansion.
“With what we have observed, this is the company to focus on. They are actually empowering small and growing businesses in reality. I advise the entire public and government to support them by lending funds to them in various forms for proper deployment to our growth and empowerment.”
Mbama added: “RegCharles Finance and Capital Limited stimulates an improved business environment that will enable the MSMEs thrive successfully, Improve access to markets, business skills and information, improve the MSME financial Infrastructure, creation of new opportunities through innovation, support the creation of an environment through which SMEs will have access to debt, FDI and portfolio investments flows can be enhanced, provide the required advisory services clients in areas like business valuations, corporate strategy, investment appraisals, evaluating, structuring, negotiating monitoring, and closing transactions, M&A, portfolio restructuring, fund raising and capacity development etc in order to create financially stable entities for the SMEs
“Our port-folio is to support micro, small and medium enterprises, poor famers, and its counterparts to improve their capacity and build the growth strategy with sustainability for the long- term socio-economic development and job creation in Africa. This is Social and Impact Investing in action!”
By Adeniyi Adunola
In Lagos, Ogidi Union celebrates Chinua Achebe
SONS and daughters of Ogidi resident in Lagos State, under the aegis of Ogidi Union of Nigeria (OUN) at the weekend organized a service of songs in honour of one of their most illustrious sons, the literary icon Prof. Chinua Achebe, who passed on recently.
At the event, which was held at W Close, FESTAC Town at the weekend, speaker after speaker eulogized Chinua Achebe whom they called “the man that put Ogidi on the world map of literature and culture”, “the Bishop who used all his novels to preach to Nigerians and the world.”.
According to Rev. Kenneth Nwanonye Osita of St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Igbobi, who preached at the service, “the late Chinua Achebe used his novel Things fall Apart to prophecy to Nigeria and now things have begun to fall apart in Nigeria and the people are No Longer at Ease.
He said Achebe was a man who hated evil but pursued good.
“His death came at God’s own time’, Osita said.
He urged Nigerians and particularly, the people of Ogidi to respect Achebe and glorify God and use their God- given talent to inspire and motivate humanity just like Achebe did
Also speaking, Chairman, Organizing Committee and Vice-President, OUN Lagos branch, Chief Clement Chukwuka, said the service of songs was held in Achebe’s honour as one of the founders of the organisation, “and to tell the world that the finest hero that put Ogidi Town in the world and indeed, our great Iroko tree is gone.
“It is to celebrate the success story of the great legend and icon, who came, saw and conquered the world.
“It is also to thank God for blessing Ogidi Town and Nigeria with the greatest gift of Achebe as a super brand,” he added
By Adeniyi Adunola and Adebisi Olonade
Academy for skills acquisition debuts
APPARENTLY to bridge the unemployment gap among youths in the country , an Indian based training and development multinational organization, Centum Learning in partnership with the International Data Management Services (IDM) has launched Centum International Academy.
Speaking at the launch in Lagos recently, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Director, Centum Learning Sanjeev Duggal said: “The launch of Centum International Academy reiterates our vision to groom youth to develop vocational skills beyond India. By partnering with IDM, we will enable youth to acquire employable skills and thus generate income through regular employment or self-employment in Nigeria.”
In the same vein, Chief Operating Officer(COO) – Professional Education & Training, Centum Learning, Kamini Prasad ,said, “Centum International Academy is running successfully in Banglesh, so taking cognizance of the Nigeria market, we decided to tie up with a partner of international repute to offer quality education to students in the vocational education space.”
The Academy will offer high end vocational education programmes in various professions and equally “bridge the existing gap between the academia and industry requirements with its robust learning methodology, cutting edge courseware and best in class faculty.”
In addition, the partnership will provide short term and long term programmes covering vocations such as mobile repair, mobile engineering, telecom Call Centre executives, programmes for customer service executive managers for various industry segments (banks, insurance, IT product & services, telecom services, retail, logistics, etc), BPO services executive, hospitality etc. In the second phase, it will cover other conventional vocational training too.”
The course from the academy will be both short term certificate course as well as long term Diploma courses.
Chief Executive of IDM, Mr. Atul Kshetry said that IDM has established an international quality Voice based customer care centre in Abeokuta that is offering employment to over 1,000 persons in the region. The centre currently caters to the Nigerian Telecom industry. Such customer service centres require specialized skills that are very different from that offered in conventional schools and universities.
Country head of Tower Group of Companies and the Managing Director of IDM, Chief J.C. Dugad, added “The venture is part of the Tower Group’s commitment to the development of Nigeria youth.
He added that under the agreement, IDM shall enable a chain of Centum Learning academy centres across Nigeria and Ghana while Centum Learning would provide best in class content, conduct train-the-trainer at regular intervals, audit and will certify candidates jointly with IDM.”
Adeniyi Adunola
NITAD inducts new members, urges respect for ethics
The Nigerian Institute of Training and Development (NITAD) has inducted new members into its fold with a charge that they uphold the ethics of the profession and make meaningful contribution to the growth of the nation’s economy.
In his lecture titled: “HRD Challenge: Aligning Employee Learning and Development with Performance Management”, the guest speaker, Ola Azeez, highlighted the challenges of human resource development and exposed the audience to various practical approaches to optimally managing the performance of employees for efficient and effective service delivery in the world of work.
According to the tradition, the institute, through its first Vice–President, Mr. B.A. Salawu, gave the inductees orientation on the professional ethics, code of conducts and rules and regulations governing the institute to aid the inductees in the discharge of their professional duties to their clients.
Earlier in his welcome address, according to a statement, the President of the institute, Dr. K.A.B. Ogungbuyi, said that NITAD would continue to develop and maintain best practices in preparing workers generally for the world of work through skill enhancement programmes capable of making them deliver jobs at hand dutifully and preparing then for future challenges.
Ogungbuyi, who noted that knowledge is not static, said that the world of work had changed from what it used to be, as tools of work today had changed due to new innovations and improvement.
The president hinted about the African conference to be hosted by NITAD from November 16 to 19, 2013 in Abuja, saying the event would provide an opportunity to tackle youth unemployment through skills acquisition.
NITAD is a professional body registered in Nigeria to promote the science and practice of training, learning and facilitating development nationwide
By Adeniyi Adunola
UN, others, on World Environmental Day, urge end to food waste
AS Nigerians yesterday joined their counterparts worldwide to mark the “World Environmental Day” with the theme Think.Eat.Save: Reduce Your Foodprint, the United Nations (UN), Minister of Environment, Hadiza Mailafia and other stakeholders have called for more conscious efforts aimed at curbing the massive loss and waste inherent in today’s food systems, lamenting that tonnes of edible 
Produce are squandered yearly.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his message: “On this World Environment Day, I urge all actors in the global food chain to take responsibility for environmentally-sustainable and socially-equitable food systems,”
Currently, at least one-third of all food produced fails to make it from farm to table. “This is foremost an affront to the hungry, but it also represents a massive environmental cost in terms of energy, land and water.”
He further noted that in developing countries, pests, inadequate storage facilities and inefficient supply chains are major contributors to food loss.
Those who grow for export are also often at the mercy of over-stringent expectations of buyers who place a premium on cosmetic perfection. In developed nations, food thrown away by households and the retail and catering industries rots in landfills, releasing significant quantities of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.
“Food loss and waste is something we can all address,” Mr. Ban said, noting that the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and public and private sector partners have launched the “Think.Eat.Save: Reduce Your Foodprint” campaign to raise global awareness and showcase solutions relevant to developed and developing countries alike.
Mailafia added: “Given the imbalances in lifestyles, standards of living, economic status and the enormous environmental challenges facing our people, there is need for us to be more aware of the environmental impacts and economic consequences of the food choices we make to enable us make informed decisions on food management.”
Chinedum Uwaegbulam, Adeniyi Adunola, Tolulope Okunlola (Lagos) and Lillian Chukwu (Abuja)
NAFRC, LBS partner on vocational training for officers
NIGERIAN Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Oshodi, Lagos is partnering with the Lagos Business School of the Pan Atlantic University (formerly Pan African University) to bequeath managerial entrepreneurship skills to officers under NAFRC scheme.
The NAFRC Commandant, Air Vice Marshal M. A. Akinsanmi, who disclosed this at a press briefing yesterday, said the mandate of NAFRC is to equip retiring personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces with relevant trade and vocational skills.
According to Akinsanmi, the purpose of the vocational skills is to enable the retirees integrate into civil society and enjoy a productive and fulfilling life in retirement as they are now freemen. He said the officers need to be trained on what they can use as a means of living after retirement.
The AVM noted that the centre has introduced managerial and entrepreneurship training programmes from which close to 200 officers have so far benefitted.
“It is the training an officer received while in training that he uses to make a living when he becomes a civilian. NAFRC is to gradate 113 personnel on the 14th June 2013. The trainees to be gradated are 50 from Army, 53 from the Navy and 10 from the Air Force,” he said.
Akinsanmi debunked speculation that NAFRC is a dumping ground for officers, saying “if an officer’s retirement period happens to be while he or she is at NAFRC, so be it, but that does not mean it is the final bus stop.”
By Adeniyi Adunola and Adebisi Olonade
Group laments hardship to Lagosians from restriction on Keke Marwa
A GROUP of human rights organisations under the aegis of Concerned Human Rights Nigeria, has appealed to the Lagos State government to lift the restriction it placed on the operation of commercial tricycle operators also called Keke Marwa in some areas of the metropolis.
The restriction, it says has brought suffering to the operators, who depend on it for a legitimate livelihood as the families of those affected are now going hungry.
The restriction at present is being enforced in the Government Reserved Area (GRA) Ikeja , Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Obalende and Victoria Island among others.
The National Cordinator, Concerned Human Rights Nigeria, Declan Ihekaire, who addressed journalists recently at the venue that was surrounded by the police, lamented that the restriction had also brought immense hardship on people, particularly women, the aged and children who are having difficulty finding affordable means of transportation.
The group wondered why the government that claims to have the interest of the masses at heart could go ahead and inflict so much pain on its citizens.
According to Ihekaire, “Lagos cannot lay claim to being a mega city than major cities in India, China and Korea where tricycle is being used as a means of transportation.
“If tricycle is better than motorcycles and the Lagos State government still wants to ban them, then it could be concluded that the current administration in Lagos is anti-masses.”
He also wondered why the government that banned motorcycles on roads in the state is alleged to be introducing CC 200 motorcycles.
“The motorcycles that the government may be planning to introduce is faster and more suitable even for the so -called robbery attacks that the government thinks they can curb by banning motorcycles”, Ihekaire said.
By Adeniyi Adunola and Tolulope Okunlola
Effortswill parents, teachers ‘walk for health’
THE important role regular exercise plays in overall good health and wellbeing was recently emphasized when parents and teachers of Effortswill Schools, Ejigbo, Lagos State embarked on a health walk that took them from Iyana Ejigbo to Egbe in the Ikotun-Igando Local Government Development Area, of the state.
During the walk, promotional flyers and handbills were distributed to motorists and pedestrians along the route.
Speaking at the end of the ‘Health Walk’ the joint chairman of the Parents Teachers Association (P.T.A.) of the schools, Pastor B. O. A. Alonge, said the exercise was meant to promote positive health values and that would contribute to the wellbeing of the parents and teachers.
He enjoined parents, teachers and indeed all Nigerian adults, to form the habit of regular exercise, which he stressed “is a big contributor to good health.”
He observed that the health walk was a huge success despite the rainfall before and during the walk, adding that the exercise was also an avenue for participants to have fun.
He said it was a big fun for both parties as fliers were given to motorists and passers-by to increase the awareness of the schools.
As the event was centered on improving the general health conditions of parents and teachers, there were also health talks, and drilling exercises by the Physical Education teachers of the schools.
During the health talk, the Guest Speaker, Dr. Essegine who spoke on “Stress management,” stated that an important aspect of stress management was for an individual to always engage in physical activities.”
He said:“ Over the years, people have broken down because of serious health problems such as stress, obesity and others, because they do not exercise or relax their muscles. A stress -free mind can be achieved if everybody makes it a habit to be always happy despite the challenges of life.”
The Proprietress of the schools, Mrs. Bose Adeyemo said she was overwhelmed by how hugely successful the ‘Health Walk’ was, despite the heavy downpour.
She particularly thanked the parents and invited guests for attending and promised that the health of parents, teachers and that of the pupils of Effortswill Schools would remain of great importance.
By Adeniyi Adunola
FESTAC Rotary to offer scholarships, amenities to community
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| Second left, District Governor Rotn. Kamoru Omotosho, presenting charted certificate to President of Rotary Club of FESTAC Central, Mrs. Anthonia Agugoes |
Speaking during the Charter Presentation Ceremony and Induction of the Board at Golden Tulip Hote, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, at the weekend, the Charter President of Rotary Club of FESTAC Central, Mrs. Anthonia Agugoesi, said those programmes and more, that improve lives “are the reason Rotary Club exits all over the world.”
“The Rotary Club of FESTAC Central intends to accomplish as many as possible these projects depending on the resources available to us. They include: construction of public toilets; provision of chairs and tables; granting of micro-finance credit to women; water projects, award of scholarship to five brilliant but indigent students, career talk for secondary school students and provision of artificial limbs Jaipur Project,” she said. Agugoesi said the challenges of starting a new club could never be over-emphasized.
“We are full of hope and optimism and are determined to employ our professional prowess to nurture and grow the club to an enviable position by maintaining quality memberships,” she added. She urged the members to always have at the back of their minds the club’s four-way test, which include: is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendship? And will it be beneficial to all concerned, which will make them to remain trustworthy and loyal to the community?
By Adeniyi Adunola
Principal challenges parents on children’s future
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| Mr. Peter Yates, principal of British International School (BIS) |
By Adeniyi Adunola and Adebisi Olonade
What does it takes to Succeed?
What does it take to succeed? A positive attitude? Well, sure, but that’s hardly enough. The Law of Attraction? The Secret? These ideas might act as spurs to action, but without the action itself, they don’t do much.
Success, however it’s defined, takes action, and taking good and appropriate action takes skills. Some of these skills (not enough, though) are taught in school (not well enough, either), others are taught on the job, and still others we learn from general life experience.
Below is a list of general skills that will help anyone get ahead in practically any field, from running a company to running a gardening club. Of course, there are skills specific to each field as well – but my concern here is with the skills that translate across disciplines, the ones that can be learned by anyone in any position.
1. Public Speaking
The ability to speak clearly, persuasively, and forcefully in front of an audience – whether an audience of 1 or of thousands – is one of the most important skills anyone can develop. People who are effective speakers come across as more comfortable with themselves, more confident, and more attractive to be around. Being able to speak effectively means you can sell anything – products, of course, but also ideas, ideologies, worldviews. And yourself – which means more opportunities for career advancement, bigger clients, or business funding.
2. Writing
Writing well offers many of the same advantages that speaking well offers: good writers are better at selling products, ideas, and themselves than poor writers. Learning to write well involves not just mastery of grammar but the development of the ability to organize one’s thoughts into a coherent form and target it to an audience in the most effective way possible. Given the huge amount of text generated by almost every transaction – from court briefs and legislation running into the thousands of pages to those foot-long receipts you get when you buy gum these days – a person who is a master of the written word can expect doors to open in just about every field.
3. Self-Management
If success depends on effective action, effective action depends on the ability to focus your attention where it is needed most, when it is needed most. Strong organizational skills, effective productivity habits, and a strong sense of discipline are needed to keep yourself on track.
4. Networking
Networking is not only for finding jobs or clients. In an economy dominated by ideas and innovation, networking creates the channel through which ideas flow and in which new ideas are created. A large network, carefully cultivated, ties one into not just a body of people but a body of relationships, and those relationships are more than just the sum of their parts. The interactions those relationships make possible give rise to innovation and creativity – and provide the support to nurture new ideas until they can be realized.
5. Critical Thinking
We are exposed to hundreds, if not thousands, of times more information on a daily basis than our great-grandparents were. Being able to evaluate that information, sort the potentially valuable from the trivial, analyze its relevance and meaning, and relate it to other information is crucial – and woefully under-taught. Good critical thinking skills immediately distinguish you from the mass of people these days.
6. Decision-Making
The bridge that leads from analysis to action is effective decision-making – knowing what to do based on the information available. While not being critical can be dangerous, so too can over-analyzing, or waiting for more information before making a decision. Being able to take in the scene and respond quickly and effectively is what separates the doers from the wannabes.
7. Math
You don’t have to be able to integrate polynomials to be successful. However, the ability to quickly work with figures in your head, to make rough but fairly accurate estimates, and to understand things like compound interest and basic statistics gives you a big lead on most people. All of these skills will help you to analyze data more effectively – and more quickly – and to make better decisions based on it.
8. Research
Nobody can be expected to know everything, or even a tiny fraction of everything. Even within your field, chances are there’s far more that you don’t know than you do know. You don’t have to know everything – but you should be able to quickly and painlessly find out what you need to know. That means learning to use the Internet effectively, learning to use a library, learning to read productively, and learning how to leverage your network of contacts – and what kinds of research are going to work best in any given situation.
9. Relaxation
Stress will not only kill you, it leads to poor decision-making, poor thinking, and poor socialization. So be failing to relax, you knock out at least three of the skills in this list – and really more. Plus, working yourself to death in order to keep up, and not having any time to enjoy the fruits of your work, isn’t really “success”. It’s obsession. Being able to face even the most pressing crises with your wits about you and in the most productive way is possibly the most important thing on this list.
10. Basic Accounting
It is a simple fact in our society that money is necessary. Even the simple pleasures in life, like hugging your child, ultimately need money – or you’re not going to survive to hug for very long. Knowing how to track and record your expenses and income is important just to survive, let alone to thrive. But more than that, the principles of accounting apply more widely to things like tracking the time you spend on a project or determining whether the value of an action outweighs the costs in money, time, and effort. It’s a shame that basic accounting isn’t a required part of the core K-12 curriculum.
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