Rights groups urge Lagos to lift restriction on tricycles

Group of protesters protesting against the ban of tricycle in Lagos

A group of human right organizations under the aegis of Concerned Human Right Nigeria has appealed to the Lagos State Government to rescind it decision on restriction of tricycles in Lagos state.

The National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Declan Ihekaire said at a press briefing yesterday that the sufferings the restriction has inflicted on the masses is massive. “Lagosians have been going through serious trauma to catch up with appointments owing to the restriction on okada’s in some areas in the state.”


Meanwhile, the state government has begun a clampdown on the operations of the tricycles in Ikeja, Surulere, Victoria Island, Ajah, Ikoyi and its environs.

By Adeniyi Adunola

PDP congratulate APC

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the successful registration of their new party describing it as healthy development for the nation’s democracy.

The party, in a statement signed by its Acting National Publicity Secretary, Barr. Tony Caesar Okeke however said the registration of the new party poses no threat to the PDP. The statement said the ruling party still maintains its pre-eminent position and enjoys the widest
popularity and acceptance among Nigerians across the country.

The PDP said with the registration of the APC, Nigerians now expect the leaders of the opposition party to eschew all forms of bitterness and desperation and desist from politics of propaganda which characterized their former parties.

The PDP urged the APC leaders to focus on issues and engage in more robust debates on the economy and other issues of governance in the general interest of the country.

“The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) congratulates the leadership of the All Progressive Congress on the successful registration of their new party. This is very healthy for our democracy. We hope that from now the opposition will eschew all forms of bitterness and desperation and desist from politics of propaganda which characterized their former parties.

“We hope to see a vibrant opposition that will constructively engage the PDP on issues of governance in a way that Nigerians will be the utmost beneficiaries instead of overheating the polity by promoting violence and hatred among the people”, the PDP said.

Insisting that the APC poses no threat to it, the PDP said it “will continue to maintain its preeminent position in the polity adding that it remained the party with the widest acceptance and popularity among Nigerians across board”.

The PDP however noted that Nigerians are not deceived by the change of flag by the opposition. It said such does not remove their dictatorial tendencies and penchant for deceit and propaganda for which Nigerians have rejected them irrespective of party name.

INEC Registers APC

The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) has registered the All Progressives Congress, APC.

In a statement signed by the Secretary to INEC, Abdullahi Kaugama on Wednesday, the electoral body said it has approved the application by three political parties – the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) – to merge into one, to be known as the All Progressives Congress.

“On considering the application, the Commission found that the applicant-parties have met all statutory requirements for the merger, and has accordingly granted their request.

“Consequently, the Commission has approved the withdrawal of the individual certificates of the applicant-parties, and the issuance of a single certificate to the All Progressives Congress.”

Lions Club to build health, youth centre in Lagos. improve

THE new District Governor of Lions Club District 404B Yinka Bolarinwa has pledged that the club during his tenure would improve on the delivery of services  that  improve the lot of mankind especially in the areas of providing good quality  healthcare as well as alleviating the pain of the less privileged, particularly youths.
 In his inaugural speech at presentation and fund raising programme at Shaba Center Mobolaji Bank Anthony, Lagos on Sunday, Bolarinwa said in a bid to actualize  such goals, the club has secured a parcel of land from the  Lagos State government on which to erect a multipurpose building.
 He said the building will be designed as a Primary Health  and Youth Empowerment Center as well as permanent district secretariat  from where direct management and supervision of the center will be provided.
“The primary health center will cater for the underserved community while the youth empowerment center will impact positively on the lives of our young adults across district 404B through training and skills acquisition,  he added.
''This year,  we intend to impact on more lives than we have ever done before.
Both the district and the club will carry out other important activities and projects such as; preservation and restoration of sight, screening for diabetes, environmental improvement programmes, feeding the under privileged,  training of potential Lion leaders, provision of potable and drinking water among others.
 Bolarinwa urged members of Lions Club not forget the  theme for the year :  ‘Together We Raise The Bar'.
“To be proactive is to prognose into the future and strategically plan in both long-term and short-term, while raising the bar is not to settle for status-quo which is a quiet determination to make the world better than we met it.

By Adeniyi Adunola

Bloodbath in Borno as Boko Haram kills 20 Civilians

Suspected Islamist militants also known as Boko Haram attacked
a fishing settlement in northeast Nigeria over the weekend,
killing 20 civilians, the military said on Sunday.

The assault targeted Baga, a town on the shores of Lake Chad,
until recently a stronghold for Islamist sect Boko Haram.
A concerted military crackdown in the northeast since mid-May
has weakened the four-year-old insurgency, which is fighting to
carve an Islamic state out of religiously-mixed Nigeria.

But it has also pushed the militants into hiding, mostly along a
mountainous area near the Cameroon border, intelligence
sources say, from where they can launch devastating attacks.
"The sect members came armed and started shooting
sporadically, killing 20 civilians," said Lieutenant Haruna Sani,
spokesman for the multinational force of soldiers from Niger,
Chad and Nigeria tasked with security along Nigeria's porous
northeastern borders. The attack was on Saturday.

Baga was the scene of a clash between the multinational force
and the Islamists that killed dozens of people in April - the army
said 37 people were killed, but local leaders said around 185,
most of them civilians, died in the violence.

President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in
Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states on May 14, ordering in extra
troops. Nigerian forces say their offensive has enabled them to
wrest back control of the remote northeast, destroy important
bases and arrest hundreds of suspected insurgents.

In response, the sect has turned its attention to civilians. Boko
Haram - whose name roughly translates as 'Western education
is sinful' - has attacked at least four schools there over the past
month, killings dozens of pupils.

Civilian vigilantes have sprung up, helping Nigerian forces to
identify and arrest Boko Haram members.
Some have been killed in retaliation.

Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, spokesman for Nigerian forces
in Borno state, where Baga and Maiduguri lie, said one vigilante
youth was killed and one wounded in the village of Mainok.

Source: Reuters

A Final Word On Child Marriage

According to the respected islamic scholar Professor Ishaq Akintola there is 'no age restriction in islamic marriage'. He may well be right and I honestly believe that islam, like christianity, is a humane and compassionate faith which seeks to protect the weak and guide its adherents on the path of righteousness and light.

I must however point out that Nigeria is not a muslim or indeed a christian state. She is a secular state and she is governed by secular laws. Religious laws have no place in our land or constitution.Our constitution is a secular docuement which specifically says that the state shall not adopt any religion. This must remain so if we do not want a divided country and if we do not want continued controversy, strife and possibly even a fully blown religious conflagration and conflict. We should all keep our religious sensitivities out of certain matters if we want continued peace.

Paedophilia, child sex, child slavery, child rape and child marriage cannot be justified under any circumstances in any civilised country. It is not a matter of religion. It is a matter of human rights, civil liberties and basic morality. There is nothing more repugnant to the natural mind and wholesome soul than the prospect of a fully grown man mounting, defiling and having carnal knowledge of a child that is between the ages of 6 and 18.

Every child, whether she be a christian, a muslim, a pagan, an atheist or an agnostic has the right to be fully protected by the state and by the laws of our land from sexual predators, sexual deviants, statutory rapists, unrepentant perverts and child molestors. That much we ought to be able to achieve and we ought to insist on. We are meant to protect our children and not bed them.

Like I said earlier on elsewhere in this debate, even animals don't sleep with their own infants. Some may hate me for these words today but I speak nothing but the truth and tomorrow people will thank me for them. This is my final contribution to this heated debate. Outside of this I have nothing more to say on this vexed and contentious issue

Jonathan Mourns Veteran Journalist Alade Odunewu’s death

  On behalf of himself, the Federal Government and the people of Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan commiserates with the family of foremost journalist, public affairs analyst, administrator and role model for media professionals,

Veteran Journalist, Alhaji Alade Odunewu

Alhaji Alade Odunewu “Allah De” as he was popularly know who passed away yesterday at the age of 85.

President Jonathan joins the Odunewu family in mourning the veteran journalist who attained national fame with his popular and widely read satirical newspaper columns with which he entertained, educated and edified an adoring public.

The President believes that as Alhaji Odunewu is laid to rest in Lagos today, his family, relatives, associates, admirers and the many media professionals for whom he was an inspiring mentor and role model should be comforted by the knowledge that his place alongside the greats of Nigerian journalism is assured.

President Jonathan also believes that Alhaji Odunewu will be eternally remembered and honoured as a nationalist and patriot whose notable contributions to  national development extended well beyond his chosen profession of journalism to the public service of his state and Nigeria where he served with distinction as Commissioner, member of the Federal Electoral Commission and Chairman of the Nigerian Press Council.

As they mourn him, the President urges the present generation of Nigerian journalists to strive to emulate Alhaji Odunewu’s exemplary craftsmanship, courage, forthrightness, fairness, patriotism, honesty and moral rectitude  which were most apparent in his life and also evident in “Winner Takes All”, the collection of writings which he has bequeathed to posterity.

He prays that God Almighty will receive Alhaji Odunewu’s gentle
soul and grant him eternal rest.

CAN Rejects Senate Resolution on Child Marriage

Believe in yourself

Dream what you want to dream; Go where you want to go;
Be what you want to be; because you have only one life
and one chance to do all the things you want in life!

Whatever you achieve or fail to accomplish in your lifetime,
is directly related to what YOU do.
Nobody chooses their parents or their childhood,
but you can and must choose your own direction in life.
Everyone has problems and obstacles to overcome,
but how you handle them is what will set you apart from losers.
You can change anything in your life,
IF you want it enough to do "whatever it takes."
Excuses come from the mindset of losers;
Those who take responsibility for their actions are the real winners.
Winners meet life's challenges with their eyes wide open
knowing there are no guarantees of success, but always aiming towards their goals.
Don't ever think it's too early or too late to decide to go after your lifelong dreams.
Time plays no favorites and will pass you by whether you choose to act or not.
Take control of your life. Dare to dream, set goals and take risks......
You must be willing to consistently pursue your goals to attain them.
Most importantly,
Set your standards high, You deserve the best.
Go after what it is that you want. Never settle for less.
Believe in yourself, No matter what goals you choose.
Keep a winning attitude, "Never Give Up", and you won't lose

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!

Is your vision a heart-centered one?

We are often mistaken into believing that it is something else we want. We join schemes, ventures and programs each time with a lot of excitement. We become sold because we hear that our neighbor, friend or a celebrity participated.

Not wanting to lose out, we invest money, time and effort…..until the moment - which usually does not take very long to happen - when our excitement fizzles out.

Then, we realize that perhaps, we are not that interested after all.

We have a ton of reasons why this is so: not cut out to do sales, do not like the product, do not like the management, no more interest and so on.

We lament, haw and hum until the next shiny object comes along.

And the cycle repeats.

Not that there is anything wrong with going on a search per se.

It is all part of the learning process.

Because by knowing what we do not want, we become more certain of what we do want.

Then again, we can go on looking for years and not find anything meaningful that we really want to do.

To your success
sweetwealth

Change your life

Don’t live in “No Man’s Land,” that place where you’re not really happy, but you’re not unhappy enough to do anything about it. Don’t passively accept what comes your way; drive your life toward what you really want.

See things as they are, not worse. Then see it better than it is, and then make it the way you see it.

Don’t avoid failure. Failure is necessary for real learning to occur. Overcoming obstacles gives us psychological strength—the very thing that forms character.

Don’t focus only on achievement. Extraordinary accomplishment does not guarantee joy, happiness, love and a sense of meaning. You must also focus on fulfillment.

Decide what you will no longer stand for and what you’re committed to. Clarity is power.

Take massive action. You have to be willing to do the things you don’t want to do. You have to build a momentum that consistent action produces.

Notice what’s working and what’s not working. When it is not working, change your approach. Keep changing until you finally achieve what you are committed to.

THE RISK-TAKERS: THE HISTORY MAKERS.

  Risk-takers are those who do not care of laying their lives in the race of success. They are ready to give up their last breath in other to achieve a goal or to make an impact. Risk-takers are those who never give up in searching and finding treasures, no matter how the devil may quakes and aches. Treasures are hidden in the secret places, only the risk-taker find it.
   
 Leo F. Buscaglia says, “The person who risk nothing does nothing has nothing is nothing and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simple cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live”

    Risk-takers are who are not fearful of every uncertainty; they take chances and gamble in hope of winning. The vision of the destiny maker lies in the risk he takes to create harmony in the life of each and every individual.

    Risk taker does not fear. Fear and doubt keep us from taking risk. They’re the two worst enemy of success of a great dreamer.
    Why are we so afraid of taking risk? Why are we not willing to leave the well-trodden path and do something that challenges us? The one that sleep too much will be poor. Wake up and do some good no two ways to success. Your success and history shall be determined by the product from the amount of input of risk that you take. Risk taker may not be a gain seeker but a history maker. 
   
What you should do is be willing to make mistake, anything you will ever do in life is risky. If you are not making mistake you are not going anywhere. Making mistake is part of taking risk and it is part of growing.
   
 A very nature of life requires risk taking. A small child would never learn to walk or talk without taking risk. You just have to hold unconventional position. Never be afraid to take on challenge. It take faith to make a strong man and fear to make a weak man. Always keep focused on your dreams and do something that force you to stretch well in all your pursuit.
   
Risk is the possibility of incurring loss or misfortune, so to be alive at all involves some risk. All exploration all growth is calculated. Calculating risk is where potential downside is limited but potential upside is unlimited. The pursuit of a desire will brings it reality the more you dig for treasure the more you’ll encounter.
    Learn to take risk with action. Action virtual for self-confidence.

By Adeniyi Adunola

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

Employ agric to tackle unemployment, food problems, entrepreneur urges govt

The Federal Government has been urged to employ agriculture to tackle the problems of insecurity, unemployment, energy and food crises in the country, as well as generate huge foreign exchange through export of agro-allied products.
This advice was given yesterday by an agric expert/innovative technologist, Prince Adekola Okedele, promoter of an Italian firm FENCO Food Engineering Company in Nigeria and Managing Director of Prince Ades Oke International Ventures Limited, while receiving a top Italian technologist and Consultant, Dr. Paolo Scisciolo in Lagos.
Okedele said “It is on record that Nigeria was once a revenue earner from agricultural and agro-allied products: groundnut from the North, palm produce and rubber from the East and South South while the South West contributed foreign exchange to the national till.
Giving an example, Okedele said if the Federal government adopts the FENCO Food Engineering’s small, medium and large-scale food processing technology it could provide millions of job opportunities to jobless Nigerians.
Okedele a former Customs officer-turned agric expert, said FENCO Food Engineering Company had installed 330 food processing lines all over the world that could process Nigeria’s major farm produce such as tomatoes, pawpaw, millet, guava, pinapples, Mangoes passion fruits and citrus for food consumption, exports and preservation as well as help local farmers to boost their harvests.
He advised the government to experiment the project by establishing at least, two plants in each of the six geopolitical zones of the country, as suggested to officials of SMEDAN in Abuja during his technology demonstration at the instance of SMEDAN director-general on March 13, 2012, result of which we are expecting till date.
Okedele said that by now President Goodluck Jonathan should have commissioned at least 12 processing plants in the country, which could have generated millions of jobs to farmers and graduates if SMEDAN had taken our suggestions and recommendations very serious.
For instance in Nigeria, a tomato processing plant with a capacity of 600 tonnes per 24 hours would need about 330 hectares of land for plantation, with 1,000 direct workers in the farm daily apart from hundreds of factory workers to sustain the plant.
Prince Okedele said that setting up two food processing plants in each of the six zones would need 3,960 hectres of land and generate at least 1.2 million jobs opportunities for Nigerians.
On energy, Okedele said, FENCO had supported its programme with another Italian company, Cipriani, to produce one megawatt of energy in container to power each plant.  This new Italian technology on power-renewal energy programme is worth supporting by the government and private sector if the country is to solve the acute electricity problems in the country, he said.

By: Adeniyi Adunola

Reverse Alamieyeseigha’s pardon, CAN, Catholics, others tell Jonathan

FUMING at what they consider as a mockery of the nation’s anti-corruption campaign , groups and the nation’s  leaders   have  urged President Goodluck Jonathan to reverse  the state pardon  the Federal Government granted former Bayelsa State Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha .
   The Christian Welfare Initiative (CWI), an arm of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN),  wondered  why such a pardon should be granted someone who was convicted by a London court for corruption and financial embezzlement.
   In a statement in Lagos, the National President of CWI, Archbishop Magnus Adeyemi Atilade, described the whole act as being based on tribalism, nepotism and lack of the  fear of God, and a negation of Jonathan's perceived war against corruption.
   Atilade pointed out that the pardon granted to all the former military officers including Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya could be acceptable to the generality of Nigerians on the grounds that the alleged coup for which they were convicted was questionable. But  they  said  that  the pardon for Alamieyeseigha could not be justified for any reason because of the large amount of money involved.
   According to CWI, Jonathan is indirectly endorsing corruption by this singular pardon of an ex-convict. The Christian body said if Alamieyeseigha deserved a pardon, all the gates of the nation’s  prison yards should as well be flung open for the inmates, both convicted and awaiting trial for presidential pardon because their offences were not as heavy as those of Alamieyeseigha who embezzled his state's money.
    CWI recalled that Jonathan was Alamieyeseigha's deputy when the former governor committed the offence for which he was convicted. 
   “It is therefore a height of nepotism and tribalism for the same Jonathan to turn round and grant pardon to his former boss. And this is not acceptable to Nigerians; he should rescind the pardon immediately because he is laying a gangrenous precedent for other future leaders.
  “Whether Jonathan knows the implication of what he did or not, it should be pointed out to him that the said pardon is a big dent on his government, and the honorable thing to do is to rescind the pardon for Alamieyeseigha now”, the CWI added.
    The Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) (a non-governmental,  non-partisan organization and the main social-development arm of the Catholic Church), condemned the pardon.
    Addressing journalists at  the weekend on the state of the nation to mark JDPC Week at JDPC Secretariat, Sabo-Yaba, Lagos, the Executive Director of the Group, Rev. Father Emmanuel Fadele  lamented the position of  Nigeria  as 135th out of 176 corrupt countries in the world according to the  Global Corruption Perception Index.
“According to Human Right’s Watch, Nigeria lost $38b to corruption between 1999 and 2007; in 2010, the civil servants pocketed N450billion in the present administration alone while about N5 trillion could not be accounted for.  They loot mindlessly and mercilessly.
“Nigeria has organs like the EFCC, Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC)  charged with the responsibility of sniffing out corrupt people and dealing with them accordingly, but they work discordantly, pursuing ephemeral small thieves like internet scammers, cash couriers, pipeline vandals among others …
“The current EFCC website ‘celebrates’ successful conviction of a beggarly 19 out of 300 cases and none of these 19 is a high-profile criminal.  Two brothers, Ikechukwu and Avoaja received 91 years jail term for sealing N21 million while a John Yusuf, who admitted stealing N23.3 billion was sentenced to two years or option of fine of N75,000,” the group said.
   It recommended that to seriously fight corruption, anti-graft agencies should have defined functions and should be independent, fearless, impersonal, transparent above board and be focused.
  Also, a member of the House of Representatives and Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Bimbo Daramola  said that the pardon  was not well- thought out.
   But  the senator representing Edo South senatorial district, Ehigie Uzamere,  at the weekend, said that the Senate would further encourage  Jonathan to grant pardon to Nigerians who may have unjustly incurred the wrath of past governments in the country for political reasons.
  He said the United States  was ignorant of what led to the travails of Alamieyeseigha when it condemned the pardon granted to him by Jonathan.
   Uzamere spoke to journalists in Okada when the chairmanship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Ovia North East, Mrs Lucy Omagbon commenced her campaign.
  The Chairman of the Ikeja branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Monday Ubani yesterday  condemned the pardon as provocative .
   Ubani, who was reacting to the comment by presidential spokesperson, Dr Doyin  Okupe on the state pardon said the  anti-corruption fight of
the Federal Government was clearly in trouble.
   He said: “So far the explanations from the government aides are not only, watery but also provocative. The explanation of people like Dr
Doyin Okupe tells you that Nigeria is in serious trouble.
“He presented President Jonathan as an unrepentant monarch whose various infractions cannot be questioned by his subjects. Dr Okupe
needs to be educated that Nigeria is in democracy and her rulers need to exercise their powers in the interest of the nation” , he added.
   In a similar manner,  Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa , who was perturbed by the state pardon said  although the
power  given to the president to grant pardon does not specify the categories of crime that may or may not merit state pardon, such pardon should not have come from a president that is  concerned with the fight against corruption.
 According to him, it is for the person exercising the power to work out the modalities or set out conditions under which the power will be
exercised.
   On his part, retired Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Dr. Abubakar Tsav has said the state pardon was a mere charade to favour Jonathan’s  former master thus encouraging corruption in the country.
   Tsav who made the condemnation in an interview with The Guardian in Makurdi at the weekend stated that himself like many other Nigerians had continued to be disappointed in Jonathan’s unpopular policies and decisions.
  He maintained that the inclusion of the names of Diya and Adisa among others on the list was meant to deceive Nigerians and justify his nepotism; noting too that Diya and Adisa were already granted state pardon by Gen. Abdulsalami in 1999.
 Tsav    questioned  why  Jonathan did not include Almustapha’s  name on the pardon list.

From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu  (Benin City), Terhemba Daka  (Abuja), Joseph Wantu  (Makurdi),  Bertram Nwannekanma,
Adeniyi Adunola  and   Isaac Taiwo (Lagos)

Jonathan urged to redress marginalisation of S’West

CHRISTIAN Welfare Initiative (CWI), a political arm of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has expressed sadness and utmost concern over what it called the marginalisation of the South Western part of Nigeria by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
  In a statement in Lagos yesterday signed by the National President, Archbishop Magnus Adeyemi Atilade, the CWI, said: “When we studied the figure of last presidential election in 2011 region by region, the South-West region overwhelmingly voted for President Jonathan. In fact, Jonathan won in five states of South-West convincingly and in Osun State, he was placed second with a little margin above Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN’s) candidate.”
  “With the analysis at our disposal, we are not happy with this marginalisation and we say without mincing words that the marginalisation is very unfair and uncalled for. We call that this anomaly should be corrected now for equity, oneness of Nigeria and fair play. President Jonathan should treat the matter with the urgency it deserves,” the Christian Welfare Initiative stated.
  It restated its earlier call on Lagosians that a Christian should be the next governor of the state come 2015 in the interest of justice and fair play, recalling that all the civilian governors who ruled Lagos State since its creation were Muslims, including Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Raji Fashola, the incumbent governor.
  The CWI also used the medium to call on the security agencies to checkmate the unwarranted killing of Nigeria farmers by the nomadic cattle herdsmen, who migrated from the Niger Republic to Nigeria. It called on the Federal and state governments to create ranches in the northern states for the herdsmen and stop them from coming to the southern states to destroy private farms.
  The CWI also urged the President to call the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to order in his unguided utterances. “Let him face his national assignment as head of CBN or resign his appointment and join politics”, it stated

By Adeniyi Adunola

Atilade makes case for alternative medicine

MEMBERS of the Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Practitioners and stakeholders, drawn from all over Nigeria met in Ikeja, Lagos urging the Federal Government to pay more attention to the alternative medicine for cheaper and very effective Medicare.

  The meeting held at the Lagos Airport, Ikeja was attended by a cream of top alternative medicine practitioners, and convened by National President of the Association of Physicians of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Prof. Magnus Adeyemi Atilade.

  Atilade was elected as the leader and the spokesman for the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Practitioners and Stakeholders at the meeting.

  In his opening address, Atilade said the meeting was convened as a gathering of eminent professionals with characteristics of caring for the sick, coupled with nationalistic and patriotic tendencies, which he explained hopefully, was the reason they chose the alternative medicine profession and field of service.

  “We the practitioners should cooperate with the Federal Ministry of Health and the officials of Medical Council of Nigeria to work towards the opening of the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Abuja, Lagos, and Enugu,” he said.

  He, on behalf of the practitioners and stakeholders, commended the Health Minister, Prof. Onyebuchi, the Federal Ministry of Health officials and officers of the Medicine council of Nigeria for their initiative and the very successful meeting at the Federal Ministry of Health Ministries Conference held recently in Abuja.

  According to Atilade, the minister was forthright, unbiased, accommodating, and very cordial. “He (minister) stands to be commended and appreciated by all CAM practitioners,” he emphasized.

Atilade concluded: “We the practitioners need to come together, to unite in action in looking and planning ahead for our interest, what is good for us and our profession. We cannot expect others to do it for us. We must do it ourselves. Let us put hands in order.

   “I am guided and inspired by the commentary of a legendary leader. Prophet Moses; who refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction, forsaking the rights and privileges as a registered practitioner to champion the cause of those behind as we have done with the principle of the grandfather clause to open the doors for many others to come in. This is the reward we are all looking for and should all be united in action to work for.”

Author of this article: By Adeniyi Adunola

‘Why we initiated Inter- Schools ICT quiz competition’

A LEADING Information Technology (I.T) training organization and authorized partner of Microsoft & Oracle in Nigeria, United Global Resources Limited (UGRL) has said that it was  the need to expose children early to IT  education that   informed its introduction of UGRL Inter-Schools ICT Quiz Competition.

Speaking to journalists at Ikeja, Lagos recently during the 2nd UGRL Inter-Schools ICT Quiz Competition which took place at the The Scholastic Hall International School, Ikeja, Lagos , UGRL  General Manager, Vipul Gajjar said the  firm also pioneered  the  ICT quiz  as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) of  giving back to society that informed  the training, learning and teaching of IT education in primary and secondary schools since its inception in Nigeria, eight years ago. He added that the   programme was currently operational in over 50 schools in Nigeria training over 6000 students yearly.

Also, in  a statement , Managing Director of UGRL, Mr. Sunil Dhanuka, emphasized need for IT training from childhood to produce world class IT professionals in Nigeria. He briefed that UGRL has developed its own proprietary curriculum for schools which leads to international certifications. As part of five year contract with schools, this specialized curriculum is adopted by school and compulsorily every student of school undergoes training.

By the time student is passing out SS3, he can write 8 international certifications.

At the Inter-Schools ICT Quiz Competition which was supported by Indomie,  15 primary schools participated and pupils  from primary 4 and  5 took part in the event.

The First Place winners was  Role Model School, Ikeja, with  The  Lord Seeds School, Gbagada emerging Second Place winners while The Scholastic Hall International School emerging the  Third place winners.

The schools that participated included The Lords Seeds Children School Gbagada, The ScholasticHall Ikeja, Daisy School Ijegun, Childline Private School Ikeja, Role Model School Oregun, Ikeja, Viscum Private School Omole Phase 2, Crescent Hall International School Ikeja, Acehall School Ikeja, Bellina Nursery & Primary School Akoka, Yaba, AlphaSmart School Ikeja, Lea Valley School Iju, Gem Private School Omole Phase 1 Ikeja, Ezekiel International School, Iju.

Author of this article: By Adeniyi Adunola

Group deplores money politics

A Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Egbe Alatunto (The Reformers) has said that money politics was ruining the country, adding that when politicians spend billions of naira during elections, the first thing they do when they assume power is to recoup the money spent during polls.

Speaking at the seminar organised by the group, titled ''Implication of money on politics'' held at Mushin, Lagos yesterday, the Convener, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, Debo Adeniran said: ''Politics in Nigeria is a game of life and death while election periods are those of lawlessness. At such periods, killing of political opponents and arson become a way of life and money controls the senses of security agencies and thus turn them into political war dogs.''

He said: ''Many Nigerians have fallen into the abyss arising from ignorance of what their rights are as voters and candidates to be voted for. They have no clue that they can make their community better and individually richer if they eschew corruption and insolence of politicians.

 He added: “The dominant themes in Nigerian parties seem to be ethnicity, religion and money at the expense of the empowerment of the masses. What we have encountered so far is the resort to the politics of ''trial and error.”
By Adeniyi Adunola and Tolulope Okunlola

Apapa NSE woos students, challenges them on diligence

THE Apapa branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), has urged secondary school students to consider careers in engineering, which would lead to their living fulfilled lives.

Speaking during a career talk organized for science students from eight senior secondary schools under Mainland Zone of Local Education Authority, District IV, Yaba-Lagos by the branch, the General Secretary, Reuben Eboh, said the idea was to create awareness among the students of how exciting and rewarding their studying and qualifying as engineers can be.

Also, speaking at the event, the National President of Association of Professional Women Engineers (APWEN), a division of NSE, Mrs. Olayinka Abdul told the students that, “engineering is a daily activity, from the time one wakes up till bedtime involving much creativity which determines what the engineer achieves.”

She also told them that a hallmark of engineers is a disposition to help others, to make a difference and always aiming at doing things in a better way.

She said pupils hoping to become engineers must have a team spirit and be able to share knowledge.

She urged them to be focused, diligent and hardworking and not to allow their parents choose a career different from the one they have passion for.

One of the pupils, Olatunde Afeez of Mainland Senior High School told The Guardian he found the career talk very helpful and it has showed him the way to becoming an engineer by knowing the basic subjects he should pay more attention to in class.

Another pupil, Kehinde Adeshina of Anwar-udeen Senior High School said the programme would assist them choose their careers and remain focused and diligent in future.

The programme which was held at Mainland High School also drew participants from Methodist Girls High School, Fazt-I-Omar Senior High School, Eletu-Odibo Senior High School, , Herbert Macaulay Senior High School, Anwar-udeen Senior High School, Wesley Girls Senior High School and Birrel Avenue Senior High School.

Author of this article: By Adeniyi Adunola and Toyosi Ajayi

Foundation tasks govt on creation of ministry for the elderly

AN organization of senior citizens of Nigeria, Lieber Unity Friendship Foundation (LUF) has called on the Federal Government to create a ministry for the elderly.  This call was made by Founder and General Secretary of the foundation, Kelvin Lawrence, at its first quarterly meeting and health check, which took place in Surulere, Lagos on Saturday.

While addressing the elderly at the event, Lawrence lamented the plight of senior citizens in the country, asking how it could be resolved.

He further said that the LUF foundation had entered the year 2013 with greater determination to find a lasting solution to the social and economic problems of retired Nigerian workers, including the aged and the elderly in the society.

“We are more concerned with the critical situation, where the cost of living is becoming unbearable,” he said.

Lawrence resolved that something drastic must be done this year to provide effective relief to the retired workers.

According to him: “The rate at which the elderly are dying in the society, as a result of inadequate healthcare and poverty, is quite alarming and embarrassing to the country.”

He lamented the poor attitude of political office- holders towards the elderly, while further calling on the Federal Government to establish a ministry for the elderly to ensure better attention for them.

Lawrence explained that LUF was set up to improve the health and economic conditions of the elderly, create a forum for interaction among them, create a forum for the advancement of the care of the elderly, assist them to engage in simple business activities to mitigate the ravaging poverty as well as mobilize to stop the incessant delays in payment of the benefits and other entitlements and advocates for the right of the elderly.

“Bear in mind that no matter how strong you may be today, one day, you will surely grow old. Also bear in mind that no matter how long you may wish to work in your offices, one day you will retire or be retired,” he asserted.

Author of this article: By Adunola Adeniyi and Tolulope Okunlola