Foundation wants enforcement of child rights, physically challenged

GOVERNMENTS at all levels in the country have been urged to focus on the implementation of Child Rights Act and employment of physically challenged persons.

   Executive Director, Child Dignity Foundation, Amaka Awogu, at the celebration of 2014 World Down Syndrome Day organised by United Nations in collaboration with Down Syndrome Foundation on Friday in Lagos, said the high percentage of people with the syndrome ought to be treated same way all children like to be treated: with respect, fairness and friendship.

   In the word of the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, “Too often, persons with disabilities, including those with Down Syndrome face stigma, discrimination and exclusion. The lack of full participation of those with Down Syndrome affects not only individuals and their families, but also society at large.”

   “Let us therefore, take concrete action toward the inclusion of all persons with disabilities, including those with Down syndrome,” Ban said.

   Ban’s message was presented by the Head of Lagos Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Mrs. Josephine Smith.

By Adeniyi Idowu Adunola

Coscharis partners Ford to tackle spare-parts counterfeiting

BUOYED by the frenzy that heralded the new automotive policy, which has brought in various brands of vehicle, Coscharis Motors in collaboration with Ford Motor Company recently launched a world-class garage that takes care of maintenance and genuine spare-parts access to motorist.

    The initiative tagged Certified Pars Wholesale Dealer (CPWD), is expected to midwife Quick Service Centers and Quick Lane Facilities to be manned by certified technicians, which would be replicated in strategic locations across the country.

     Speaking at the launch in Lagos, the Chairman, Coscharis Motors, Cosmos Maduka said the idea to set up this dealer network came as a result of effort to assist the firm’s valuable customers and other stake-holder, through feedback mechanism.

    He said, “some of our customers live in or operate their businesses in remote areas of the country and as such do not have easy access to our facilities whenever they have issues bothering on spare-parts, lubricants and other after-sales products and services.”

    According to him some of these customers end-up patronising unscrupulous spare-parts dealers who specialise in selling counterfeit and sub-standard spare-parts to the public

   “The use of these counterfeit spare-parts has exposed some motorists to untold and avoidable hazards include, breakdowns, part failures accidents, which has lead to loss of property and lives,” Maduka said.

   While giving insight into the motive behind the project, Maduka said, “we cannot provide all the after-sales needs all by our self, the idea of collaborating with well intended spare-parts dealers in our local market to make Ford Motorcraft Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) spare-parts available and accessible in every nook and cranny of this country.

    He disclosed that the company has appointed over 100 certified spare-part dealer who, with the support of the oversea partner-Ford Motor Company, will be empowered to stock and sell genuine Ford Motorcraft spare-part to customers.

    The Lagos Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Chidi Nkwonta said that human factor constitutes about 90 per cent of Road Traffic Crashes (RTC).

    He said Road Safety required not only driver fitness but also vehicle fitness. “A well maintained vehicle speaks volume.”

   Speaking on the importance of effective maintenance of vehicles, Nkwota said “effective and proper maintenance provides many benefit to the vehicle which includes, saving fuel and money, reducing long-term maintenance cost.

    The Dealer Operations Manager, Sub-Saharan Africa Ford, David Lawrence, said Ford was committed to providing customers throughout Sub-Sahara Africa with exceptional customer service. 

   The facility has begun operation in the country and the services are now available in Yaba,  Lagos.

   The Commissioner of Transport, Lagos State, Kayode Opeifa, who spoke through Director, Control and Regulation of License, Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA), Mr. Bunmi Odukoya said this development was a welcome relief to all its Ford customers and applauded Ford Motor Company for such strategic intent and programme.

   He urged Coscharis to extend the gesture to other brands that they deal with towards ensuring service excellence and also to the mechanics. 

By Adeniyi Idowu Adunola

Firms introduce security printers to Nigeria

TO manage the ongoing challenge of documents fraud faced by many organisations most especially the banking sector, Crosswalk, a Nigeria database company in collaboration with TROY Group a worldwide leader in secure on-demand printing has enhanced HP Printers which is consumables for use in secure printing work flows.

  TROY's line security printers provide built-in features, which safeguard your preprinted forms against unauthorised removal.

  The Regional Manager Europe and Middle East and Africa, TROY Group, Mark Bond at an exhibition on costs effective high-end document security printing solutions, said that each printer utilised the built-in capabilities of HP print drivers providing the ability to map to specific tray and the ability to release print job utilising PIN authentication.

  Bond said that TROY security printers integrated paper tray locks and security shielding on the back of the paper tray assuring the highest level of protecting against paper and documents theft.

  Other features included disable jam recovery, which helped to prevent fraudulent creation of cheques by the unauthorised operation, who might choose to create a jam.

  "It help enterprise to manage frauds, operational risk and comply with regular issues and government regulation related to protecting information privacy,” he stated.

  Security features on the finished document with TROY secure check flow secure print enterprise and transactions.

  He said that TROY 601 security printers provide customers 45 pages per minute; MICR 602 printer series price to 52 pages per minute. The 602 MICR printer series low cost of ownership, increased speed and higher Input capacity bring a new class of printing to all levels aspect of a secure check printing work flows.

  With MICR 806, it robust print capabilities is 55 pages in a minute. TROY 806 is integrated to secure document production in high end distributes printing environment. It has a vast array of accessories providing the ability to meet high production demands.

  Bond added that HP also introduced the low melt toner requiring less energy by reducing less energy by reducing the fusing temperature.

  "The adding of the troy software, hardware utility allows users to easily add digital signatures, logos, customised patterns or forms macros to their printers.

  "A unique watermark of user defined variable data printed diagonally across the back of each prescription with field and quantities this intelligent anti tampering technology help to verify that each prescription has to be altered,” he said.

By Adeniyi Idowu Adunola

NIBSS, banks up advocacy on use of e-payment platforms

The Nigeria Interbank Settlement Scheme (NIBSS) and deposit money banks have urged Nigerians to embrace e-payment platforms as the best option for payments of business transactions. 

  The appeal, which is part of the renewed awareness campaign aimed at enlightening the public on the benefits of e-payment, may have become necessary as the nationwide rollout of the cash-less project by July 1, 2014, is fast approaching. 

  The e-payment platforms like Point of Sale (POS) and Instant Payment, among others, have been promoted for assessed convenience, safety and receipt of instant value, facilitating payments for transactions through ATM cards, mobile phones, laptops, desktops, notebooks and I-Pads.

  Already, banks in conjunction with NIBSS have commenced a communication awareness campaign to enlighten Nigerians on the benefits of these e-payment platforms, encouraging their usage and adoption.

  According to a statement from the Head, Corporate Communications, NIBSS, Lilian Phido, the need to embrace the e-payment platforms was due to its safety, reliability and efficiency offerings, coupled with the attendant security issues associated with cash transactions.

 “There is also need to embrace the e-payment platforms because they have become globally acceptable means for financial transactions.

 “The e-payment platforms enhance greater penetration and accessibility to financial services by the unbanked and under-banked populace and can be enhanced with improved infrastructure,” Phido said.

  The statement added that the on-going media campaign for the new payment platform will be complemented by the use of consumer engagement activities- road shows, one-on-one contact marketing, digital and online advertising.

By Adeniyi Idowu Adunola

Unified examination for Lagos private schools begin June

The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Lagos State Chapter says it would commence unified examinations for pupils in private schools in the state in June.

  The association’s President, Mr. Abayomi Otubela, speaking in Lagos said the development was part of efforts to ensure standards in private schools in the state.

  Otubela said that the examination to be held every session would enable all proprietors to assess the performance of their pupils and make improvements where necessary.

  “All private schools will be writing a joint examination aside from their final exams, these are all measures to ensure qualitative education.”

  According to Otubela, a maiden quiz competition among private schools is scheduled to hold on March 19 at the ward level during the NAPPS South-West Delegates Conference.

  Otubela also spoke on the gruesome murder of students just as he condemned the abduction of 15 female students in Yobe State by gunmen, describing the act as barbaric.

  “We challenge them to direct their cause if any, to their target enemies and not at innocent school children. We also call on the Federal Government to do more in tackling the excesses of these insurgents.

By Adeniyi Idowu Adunola