Alimosho Youths defeated the Nigerian Airforce 403 EMD, Shasha, Ikeja, in a football match organized to promote cordial relationship between the force and its neighbourhood. The match ended 5-3 in favour of Alimosho Youths.
The match, organized by the Commander of the division, Air Commodore, Inalegwu Agbeje took place at the Airforce Playing Ground in Shasha, to end the sports season for the year 2013.
The match was witnessed by thousands of football enthusiasts with the Alimosho Boys taking home the golden cup donated by Agbeje as well as cash prize. The match started by 9 a.m. and ended peacefully at noon.
Presenting the Cup to the Alimosho Boys, Agbeje said the match was organized to promote unity, friendship and peaceful co-existence between his men and the neighbouring community, stressing that the football match would be an annual event.
Agbeje specifically stated that the football match was one of the ways of addressing the challenges arising from the ongoing armed insurgence, appealing to members of the public to see members of the force as their friends at all times.
He advised the youths to desist from criminal activities and obey the law always.
By Adeniyi Adunola
Friday, 27 December 2013
Tuesday, 24 December 2013
Experts canvass Nigeria’s industrialisation for global competitiveness
FOR Nigeria and indeed other African countries to command adequate respect in the global economy, the need for improved industrialization has been stressed.
According to experts, who gathered at the African Product Forum Lagos 2013, organised by the Institute for Government Research and Leadership Technology in Lagos, at the weekend, the African economy is heavily dependent on the production and exports of primary products and currently suffers from the associated risks of this dependence.
To them, the continent currently accounts for a negligible three per cent share of global industrial output and manufactured exports, stressing that only a few country in the continent have manufacturing and value added GDP share of up to 15 per cent.
According to them, Nigeria reported an average of four per cent industrial contribution to GDP over the last decade.
Executive Chairman, Toky Chemical Manufacturers limited, Olawuwo Oni noted that exporting of goods to other countries is not a child play and that the business is not meant for those who were not properly initiated.
Considering the desirability of active participation in the global market, he said “Exportation is of great importance to the economy of any country because it impact greatly on the value of local currency and create employments.
“No nation of the world can significantly grow its economy by simply trading with itself, it has to trade with other countries around the world to grow its economy to an enviable size.”
Oni said that the benefit of international trade hinged on comparative advantage, stressing that exporting products in which its absolute advantage was greatest and importing product in which its absolute advantage in comparatively less.
Relating the comparative advantage to Nigeria economy, he said “our vast array of natural resources and things we can do namely solid mineral, agricultural products cassava, yam maize, cashew nut amongst, giving us potentially huge source of competitive advantage in the export market place.
He said that Nigeria has the challenge of adding value to its exportable product through product developments, saying “we import high cost value added product and sell low value product. “
To the immediate past president of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Goodie Ibru, Nigeria and other African countries must take advantage of new opportunities offered by globalization by launching enterprises, putting in place for upgrading, developing human resources, strengthening its capacities for innovation, by accepting the facts of industrilsation.
“Industrilisation is a critical engine of economic growth and development. The fact that Africa remains the poorest region of the world, where 34 out of the 50 least developed countries in the world are located and in which poverty is on the increase, is a reflection of its low level of industrialization and product acceptability in global space. There exists a strong linkage between industrial productive capacity, economic growth and level of development,” he stated.
According to him, opening up the African market to the world ought to have moved from a vision to a reality in the past decade, saying that while the continent still struggles with poor intra-trade relations, opening up its market to the world may seem to be a challenging but not impossible task.
For Africa’s products to gain acceptability on the global space, Ibru said some critical priorities need to be addressed at national, regional, continental and international levels, which include; policy on product and export diversification; management and development; infrastructure development; human capital development and sustainability, innovation, science and technology; development of standards and compliance.
Others are development of legal, institutional and regulatory framework, resource mobilisation for industrial development and so on.
“Africa has the potentials for its products to become competitive at the global market but only if we put our infrastructure right and allow our goods to be of good standards, then we can begin the journey of acceptability of our products globally,” he stated.
By Adeniyi Idowu Adunola
According to experts, who gathered at the African Product Forum Lagos 2013, organised by the Institute for Government Research and Leadership Technology in Lagos, at the weekend, the African economy is heavily dependent on the production and exports of primary products and currently suffers from the associated risks of this dependence.
To them, the continent currently accounts for a negligible three per cent share of global industrial output and manufactured exports, stressing that only a few country in the continent have manufacturing and value added GDP share of up to 15 per cent.
According to them, Nigeria reported an average of four per cent industrial contribution to GDP over the last decade.
Executive Chairman, Toky Chemical Manufacturers limited, Olawuwo Oni noted that exporting of goods to other countries is not a child play and that the business is not meant for those who were not properly initiated.
Considering the desirability of active participation in the global market, he said “Exportation is of great importance to the economy of any country because it impact greatly on the value of local currency and create employments.
“No nation of the world can significantly grow its economy by simply trading with itself, it has to trade with other countries around the world to grow its economy to an enviable size.”
Oni said that the benefit of international trade hinged on comparative advantage, stressing that exporting products in which its absolute advantage was greatest and importing product in which its absolute advantage in comparatively less.
Relating the comparative advantage to Nigeria economy, he said “our vast array of natural resources and things we can do namely solid mineral, agricultural products cassava, yam maize, cashew nut amongst, giving us potentially huge source of competitive advantage in the export market place.
He said that Nigeria has the challenge of adding value to its exportable product through product developments, saying “we import high cost value added product and sell low value product. “
To the immediate past president of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Goodie Ibru, Nigeria and other African countries must take advantage of new opportunities offered by globalization by launching enterprises, putting in place for upgrading, developing human resources, strengthening its capacities for innovation, by accepting the facts of industrilsation.
“Industrilisation is a critical engine of economic growth and development. The fact that Africa remains the poorest region of the world, where 34 out of the 50 least developed countries in the world are located and in which poverty is on the increase, is a reflection of its low level of industrialization and product acceptability in global space. There exists a strong linkage between industrial productive capacity, economic growth and level of development,” he stated.
According to him, opening up the African market to the world ought to have moved from a vision to a reality in the past decade, saying that while the continent still struggles with poor intra-trade relations, opening up its market to the world may seem to be a challenging but not impossible task.
For Africa’s products to gain acceptability on the global space, Ibru said some critical priorities need to be addressed at national, regional, continental and international levels, which include; policy on product and export diversification; management and development; infrastructure development; human capital development and sustainability, innovation, science and technology; development of standards and compliance.
Others are development of legal, institutional and regulatory framework, resource mobilisation for industrial development and so on.
“Africa has the potentials for its products to become competitive at the global market but only if we put our infrastructure right and allow our goods to be of good standards, then we can begin the journey of acceptability of our products globally,” he stated.
By Adeniyi Idowu Adunola
Monday, 23 December 2013
Honeywell partners FRSC on road safety campaign
HONEYWELL Flour Mills Plc, in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Ojota Unit, recently organized a road show in Lagos. The show was an avenue to educate motorists on how to avoid all acts that would lead to road accidents, especially during these ember months.
Tagged: “Change We Can Make On Our Road,” the road show took off from Honeywell Flour Mill Company, Ikeja, down to Ojota and Yaba.
Delivering a lecture, the Ojota Unit Commander of FRSC, Mr. Ganiyu Kehinde Hamzat, urged motorists to avoid over- speeding, drunk driving, over-loading, use of handsets while driving, gauge tyres and service their vehicles properly and use their seat belts before embarking on a journey.
“Most of the accidents on the road are not caused by any ember months, but are caused by our own faults. Motorists should drive carefully during these ember months to avoid road mishap. We need to be patient enough while driving, because 60 per cent of road accidents happen because of impatience.”
He said at the federal level many of the FRSC personnel have been mobilised to major routes within the country to prevent accidents and criminal activities during Christmas. “Our men are out with enthusiasm, to discourage criminals and enlighten people.”
He added that the walk show would reduce road accident. “We want to sensitizes road users on the need to play save while using the road, we want to reach to commercial and private drivers, pedestrians and transport unions.
Hamzat urged road-users to obey traffic regulations because traffic offences would attract appropriate penalties. “Penalty for any violation is still the same, anyone caught without a Driver’s Licence, jail sentence is awaiting that person.”
The Managing Director, Honeywell Flour Mill Plc, Mr. Lanre Jaiyeola said the programme was special because it was meant to educate people to drive safely especially the leaders of transport unions and their members in busy areas like Ojota, Yaba amongst others.
“We need to be careful at this time of the year while we celebrate, we don’t pray things to end up in calamity. So all we are doing is to partner with the FRSC to create a level of awareness among road users as they go up and down and be mindful of commuters on the road.”
The Secretary Of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Ojota branch, Alhaji Dauda Danjuma appreciated the road show done by Honeywell and the FRSC, urging them to keep on carrying out such enlightenment.
He said. “Accidents do not happen only during ember months, but most of the festive seasons. Such road show should be carried out every month or mostly every festival period.”
Tagged: “Change We Can Make On Our Road,” the road show took off from Honeywell Flour Mill Company, Ikeja, down to Ojota and Yaba.
Delivering a lecture, the Ojota Unit Commander of FRSC, Mr. Ganiyu Kehinde Hamzat, urged motorists to avoid over- speeding, drunk driving, over-loading, use of handsets while driving, gauge tyres and service their vehicles properly and use their seat belts before embarking on a journey.
“Most of the accidents on the road are not caused by any ember months, but are caused by our own faults. Motorists should drive carefully during these ember months to avoid road mishap. We need to be patient enough while driving, because 60 per cent of road accidents happen because of impatience.”
He said at the federal level many of the FRSC personnel have been mobilised to major routes within the country to prevent accidents and criminal activities during Christmas. “Our men are out with enthusiasm, to discourage criminals and enlighten people.”
He added that the walk show would reduce road accident. “We want to sensitizes road users on the need to play save while using the road, we want to reach to commercial and private drivers, pedestrians and transport unions.
Hamzat urged road-users to obey traffic regulations because traffic offences would attract appropriate penalties. “Penalty for any violation is still the same, anyone caught without a Driver’s Licence, jail sentence is awaiting that person.”
The Managing Director, Honeywell Flour Mill Plc, Mr. Lanre Jaiyeola said the programme was special because it was meant to educate people to drive safely especially the leaders of transport unions and their members in busy areas like Ojota, Yaba amongst others.
“We need to be careful at this time of the year while we celebrate, we don’t pray things to end up in calamity. So all we are doing is to partner with the FRSC to create a level of awareness among road users as they go up and down and be mindful of commuters on the road.”
The Secretary Of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Ojota branch, Alhaji Dauda Danjuma appreciated the road show done by Honeywell and the FRSC, urging them to keep on carrying out such enlightenment.
He said. “Accidents do not happen only during ember months, but most of the festive seasons. Such road show should be carried out every month or mostly every festival period.”
By Adeniyi Idowu Adunola
Transport fares, foodstuff prices herald Xmas
• As travelers explain motives for going home
CHRISTMAS is here again with its flurry of activities to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It also marks the end-of-year activities, a time for stocktaking, reflection and family re-union.
Hence, many people are already winding down activities for the year while those who have not yet travelled are still making plans to visit their hometowns to celebrate the Yuletide.
As expected, the roads get extremely busy with human and vehicular traffic, which sometimes results in road crashes and loss of lives.
Another signpost of this season is the hike in the prices of commodities and services, particularly transportation, foodstuffs, clothes among others.
Investigations by The Guardian revealed that transportation cost to the Southeastern states, which used to be N2,500 has doubled, as at December 18. At G.U.O and the Young Shall Grow motor parks, both at Okota and Maza-Maza, the fare is now N4,500.
God is Good, SunQuick, Libra, Ekeson, Abia Line and other interstate transport services charge N4,100. The chances are high that these prices would again be inflated before Christmas on Wednesday.
The bug of price hike has also hit the markets, as prices of foodstuffs and livestock have increased marginally across markets in Lagos.
At Mushin, a measure of tomato brand of rice now sells for N330 as against the earlier price of N300, while other brands cost N280, compared with the former price of N250. A standard measure of local rice now costs N200 as against the former price of N180.
A fairly big chicken costs between N2,000 to N2,500 while normal size of goat is between N30,000 and N35,000. A fairly big cow sells for between N150,000 to N200,000.
A rice trader at Daleko, Ajoke Kilani, who noted that a bag of rice is now N12,000 as against the earlier price of N10,000, attributed the increase to Christmas and the New Year celebrations.
Kilani explained that the new price regime is reflecting the law of economics, which states that prices of commodities and services increases as the demand for it surges.
Some of those who were traveling home for Christmas bared their minds to The Guardian. For Mr. Nathaniel Igwenagu, who came to drop off his family at G.U.O Park on Okota Road, the celebration is all about family reunion.
“One mustn’t live all his life in a foreign land. There is need to go home and see what is happening over there. What we came here to do is to make money for the benefit of our lives and dependants back at home.
“Besides, we have been hustling since January and I don’t think it is normal and healthy for a right thinking person to continue working all year round without giving himself a break from the hassles of a city like Lagos.
“And at home in the East, when you stay away from your people for too long without coming back with your family, people will start raising eyebrow and asking if all is well. We all know the condition of the country but then, we can’t neglect home,” he said.
Chinaza Okoye, a native of Anambra State, said her main reason for travelling for Christmas is to enhance her chances of getting married, most especially someone from her town.
According to her, Christmas is when many unmarried men come home with the intention of picking wives for themselves.
“In my family, our father has specifically warned us that even if we will marry outside of our town, it should never be outside of our state, and I too prefer marrying a man from my town. Living all my life in Lagos might not guarantee me that, which is why I look forward to traveling home every year to be with my extended family,” she said.
By Kenechukwu Ezeonyejiaku, Adeniyi Idowu Adunola and Tolulope Okunlola
CHRISTMAS is here again with its flurry of activities to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It also marks the end-of-year activities, a time for stocktaking, reflection and family re-union.
Hence, many people are already winding down activities for the year while those who have not yet travelled are still making plans to visit their hometowns to celebrate the Yuletide.
As expected, the roads get extremely busy with human and vehicular traffic, which sometimes results in road crashes and loss of lives.
Another signpost of this season is the hike in the prices of commodities and services, particularly transportation, foodstuffs, clothes among others.
Investigations by The Guardian revealed that transportation cost to the Southeastern states, which used to be N2,500 has doubled, as at December 18. At G.U.O and the Young Shall Grow motor parks, both at Okota and Maza-Maza, the fare is now N4,500.
God is Good, SunQuick, Libra, Ekeson, Abia Line and other interstate transport services charge N4,100. The chances are high that these prices would again be inflated before Christmas on Wednesday.
The bug of price hike has also hit the markets, as prices of foodstuffs and livestock have increased marginally across markets in Lagos.
At Mushin, a measure of tomato brand of rice now sells for N330 as against the earlier price of N300, while other brands cost N280, compared with the former price of N250. A standard measure of local rice now costs N200 as against the former price of N180.
A fairly big chicken costs between N2,000 to N2,500 while normal size of goat is between N30,000 and N35,000. A fairly big cow sells for between N150,000 to N200,000.
A rice trader at Daleko, Ajoke Kilani, who noted that a bag of rice is now N12,000 as against the earlier price of N10,000, attributed the increase to Christmas and the New Year celebrations.
Kilani explained that the new price regime is reflecting the law of economics, which states that prices of commodities and services increases as the demand for it surges.
Some of those who were traveling home for Christmas bared their minds to The Guardian. For Mr. Nathaniel Igwenagu, who came to drop off his family at G.U.O Park on Okota Road, the celebration is all about family reunion.
“One mustn’t live all his life in a foreign land. There is need to go home and see what is happening over there. What we came here to do is to make money for the benefit of our lives and dependants back at home.
“Besides, we have been hustling since January and I don’t think it is normal and healthy for a right thinking person to continue working all year round without giving himself a break from the hassles of a city like Lagos.
“And at home in the East, when you stay away from your people for too long without coming back with your family, people will start raising eyebrow and asking if all is well. We all know the condition of the country but then, we can’t neglect home,” he said.
Chinaza Okoye, a native of Anambra State, said her main reason for travelling for Christmas is to enhance her chances of getting married, most especially someone from her town.
According to her, Christmas is when many unmarried men come home with the intention of picking wives for themselves.
“In my family, our father has specifically warned us that even if we will marry outside of our town, it should never be outside of our state, and I too prefer marrying a man from my town. Living all my life in Lagos might not guarantee me that, which is why I look forward to traveling home every year to be with my extended family,” she said.
By Kenechukwu Ezeonyejiaku, Adeniyi Idowu Adunola and Tolulope Okunlola
Sunday, 22 December 2013
Covenant University receives best higher institution 2013
Covenant University's leading position in the tertiary education
landscape of Nigeria has been affirmed has the best university 2013.
The university was om Friday conferred with the best performing higher
institution of the Year Award 2013 by the Centre for Democratic
Governance in Africa (DGA).
According to the Chairman DA, Dafe Okpocha said the university has
emulated good governance and this is among what keep the country
growth. ''the one thing that outstanding the university was their
input to develop good governance''.
The centre is one of the group that practice good governance and sees
to the development of the country. ''the aim of the organisation is to
preach good governance to Africa, Nigeria in particular. Whereas
education environment is not left out of these. If its not practice on
these sector the country is going no where'' he added.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, professor Charles Ayo who
received the Award on behave of the university said the university is
the leading university both in academy standard and a godly standard.
''. Will consider the university as a failure, if our graduate join
the band-wagon of the unemployed looking for job.''
he said their drive is to be among the top leading Christian mission
university in Africa in the next 10 years.
The university was founded to stir a unique class of people who will
make Nigeria a better place. ''the chancellor has formed a body that
will address the problems of leadership setting in the country by
January 2014.''
By Adeniyi Idowu Adunola
landscape of Nigeria has been affirmed has the best university 2013.
The university was om Friday conferred with the best performing higher
institution of the Year Award 2013 by the Centre for Democratic
Governance in Africa (DGA).
According to the Chairman DA, Dafe Okpocha said the university has
emulated good governance and this is among what keep the country
growth. ''the one thing that outstanding the university was their
input to develop good governance''.
The centre is one of the group that practice good governance and sees
to the development of the country. ''the aim of the organisation is to
preach good governance to Africa, Nigeria in particular. Whereas
education environment is not left out of these. If its not practice on
these sector the country is going no where'' he added.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, professor Charles Ayo who
received the Award on behave of the university said the university is
the leading university both in academy standard and a godly standard.
''. Will consider the university as a failure, if our graduate join
the band-wagon of the unemployed looking for job.''
he said their drive is to be among the top leading Christian mission
university in Africa in the next 10 years.
The university was founded to stir a unique class of people who will
make Nigeria a better place. ''the chancellor has formed a body that
will address the problems of leadership setting in the country by
January 2014.''
By Adeniyi Idowu Adunola
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