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http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Emma Amaize W ARRI —CHAIRMEN of Gbaramatu Communities in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State,  yesterday, appealed to their neighbouring Itsekiri ethnic group to embrace peace and work towards the successful take-off of the Nigerian Maritime University, NMU, Okerenkoko, in October. Chairman of the group, Mr. Sheriff Mulade, who made the call in a statement in Warri, said: “There is need for the prevailing peace between Ijaw and Itsekiri in Warri to be sustained and clearly, the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, is for the good of all Nigerians. “We strongly appeal to our Itsekiri neighbours to embrace peace and let us work together because the establishment of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko is a welcome development for us as a people. All hands must be on deck to ensure the early take-off of the university. “Let us not create unnecessary tension in Gbaramatu Kingdom to prevent smooth academic take-off of the univers...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Emma Amaize W ARRI —CHAIRMEN of Gbaramatu Communities in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State,  yesterday, appealed to their neighbouring Itsekiri ethnic group to embrace peace and work towards the successful take-off of the Nigerian Maritime University, NMU, Okerenkoko, in October. Chairman of the group, Mr. Sheriff Mulade, who made the call in a statement in Warri, said: “There is need for the prevailing peace between Ijaw and Itsekiri in Warri to be sustained and clearly, the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, is for the good of all Nigerians. “We strongly appeal to our Itsekiri neighbours to embrace peace and let us work together because the establishment of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko is a welcome development for us as a people. All hands must be on deck to ensure the early take-off of the university. “Let us not create unnecessary tension in Gbaramatu Kingdom to prevent smooth academic take-off of the univers...

http://ift.tt/2r44hZu William Penn Good leadership is not elusive. It isn’t exactly rocket science. Centuries ago, William Penn established an unusual colony dedicated to the principles of religious tolerance, participatory government, and brotherly love. He believed that “no people can be truly happy if abridged of the freedom of their consciences.” “Governments, like clocks, go from the motion men give them. And as governments are made and moved by men, so by them they are ruined, too,” said Penn, a philosopher and beneficent colonizer, in his First Frame of Government, written in 1682. He, thus, further posited, in his rare fecundity: “Let men be good and the government cannot be bad. If government becomes ill, good men will cure it.” This positive view of human nature formed the structure of Penn’s government in Pennsylvania in the United States of America. Penn governed in a seventeenth-century world inured by violence, religious persecution, and arbitrary authority. P...

http://ift.tt/2r3Fsgw Foluke Ademokun A non-governmental organization, Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation (AAAF) recently took students away from the classrooms to appreciate nature and its endowments. About 30 students and adults have so far benefited from the gesture. Speaking at the occasion, Executive Coordinator, AAAF, Mrs. Foluke Ademokun disclosed that the trip to Lekki conservation centre in Lagos with the students would broaden their horizon and enables them to appreciate nature. According to her, “Some of the students have never left the comfort of their homes for the village to experience nature, but visiting the Lekki conservation centre gives them a first- hand experience. Ademokun who used the event to shed more light on the activities of the foundation, said AAAF has as its priority, counseling, skill acquisition for widows as well as economic empowerment and human capacity development. A member of the education unit, Nigeria Conservation Foundation, Mrs. Bolan...

http://ift.tt/2r3YlQp Obaseki Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki has said that the appointment of 192 Special Assistants his representatives in all the wards in the state constituted a call to service to the Edo people, noting that the task ahead was enormous and did not require excessive celebration. A statement by the Chief of Staff to the governor, Taiwo Akerele said that the appointments came on the heels of the submission of the report of the committee that reviewed the recommendations of eligible candidates from the various wards and council areas. ‎ “We congratulate all those who have been appointed and state categorically that this is a call to service. This is not the time for too much celebration, as the task ahead is enormous and comes with a high sense of responsibility, decorum, humility and leadership,” the statement said. It added that the special assistants were mandated to support the governor in project monitoring and evaluation, liaison with various stak...

http://ift.tt/2pGfrmj PHOTO: transequality.org •Raises committees on harmonious relationship Doctors and pharmacists in the country have pledged to end further strikes in all government hospitals in the country.The President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Dr. Mike Ogirima and his Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN)’s counterpart, Ahmed I. Yakasai disclosed this in Lagos yesterday.They said the unions have raised some committees on inter- professional collaboration to ensure the implementation of the decision. Ogirima explained that this was a follow-up to the symposium on inter professional collaboration held last month by the PFN, in collaboration with the Nigerian Academy of Pharmacy (NAP). He stressed that both unions have advised their predecessors, Dr. Osahon Enabulele of NMA and Olumide Akintayo of PSN, to withdraw all lingering court cases and settle for peace. The PSN president said other issues of inter-professional collaboration would be addressed...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Godfrey Bivbere THE Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, has said that the alleged illegal activities going on at some of the 276 jetties across the country was due to multiple regulatory authorities set over licensing and monitoring of the functions of these facilities. NPA’s Assistant General Manager, AGM, Western operations, Innocent Ganboro, who made this known in Lagos, said that the NPA, National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, are presently empowered to license and monitor private jetties in the country. Ganboro noted that the present situation does not make for effective monitoring of these facilities. He had put the total number of private jetties in the country at 86 but was corrected by the Chairman of the Port Consultative Forum, Kunle Folarin, who said that the number of these facilities was 276. Ganboro said that NPA is effectively monitoring all the jetties under its supervisi...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Nkiruka Nnorom LAFARGE Africa Plc has disclosed plans to raise additional N140 billion from the capital market through a Rights Issue. The company said in a notice to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, yesterday, that it will seek shareholders’ approval during the 58th Annual General Meeting, AGM, scheduled to hold on June 7, 2017, to go ahead with the capital raising exercise. The Board of Lafarge is also expected to present to its shareholders at the AGM a merger scheme between United Cement Company Limited, UNICEM, Calabar, and Lafarge Africa for ratification. The proposals, according to the company, will strengthen its balance sheet and capital structure by reducing foreign currency exposure and optimizing the Lafarge Africa organization. “Combined with improved operating performance, the proposals will strengthen Lafarge Africa’s expansion in Nigeria. Unicem, a 100 per cent owned subsidiary of the company, has foreign exchange loan of approximately U...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J Football stakeholders in the country have heaped praises on the leadership of the Nigeria Women’s Football League over the successful conclusion of the first round of the league in the country last week. The league started March 26 with a curtain raiser in Akure, Ondo State and it has since been in the front burner. Edo FA Chairman, Frank Ilaboya, who spoke on behalf of most state FA Chairmen, said the giant strides of the league deserve the support of all Nigerians. He said lovers of women’s football must support the NWFL to take the game to new heights, adding that they believe in ability of the Aisha Falode led league body to break new grounds in women’s football. The umbrella body of Sports Editors in the country under the leadership of Tony Ubani, also issued a statement signed by Ben Alaiya, praising Falode for the modern trend and organizational skills that women’s football has seen since the new leadership took the reins. The two bodies also pleaded wit...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Eric Teniola I HAD the rare honour to serve under and work closely with seven successive Heads of State and Government in this country and I can claim to know the remaining two reasonably well. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, on the recommendation of the late Sir Tafawa Balewa as Prime Minister, formally appointed me to act as Permanent Secretary in July 1963 and I served as Permanent Secretary when the late General Aguiyi Ironsi was Head of the Federal Military Government in 1966. I worked closely with Alhaji Shehu Shagari as Permanent Secretary to the Ministries of Economic Development and the Finance when he was the Federal Commissioner for both Ministries under General Yakubu Gowon. As Secretary to the Federal Military Government and Head of Service, I served under General Gowon, General Murtala Muhammed and General Olusegun Obasanjo. The other two Heads are General Buhari and General Babangida. Of the nine, General Gowon and Alhaji Shehu Shagari probably lamente...

http://ift.tt/2putCd2 Ogunleye Professionals in the building sector have solicited cooperation among the key players to achieve quality housing in the country.They made the call at the opening of the 2017 edition of Lagos International Housing Fair, which had participants from within and outside the country. The Chairman, Lagos International Housing Fair Committee, Moses Ogunleye, said professionals, researchers and government must partner on matters affecting the sector. He spoke on the theme ”Quality Management in Housing Delivery,” at the annual exhibition of products and services in building and construction industry. Ogunleye said the country should not only be concerned with increasing the number of housing units in the states or settlements, but must ensure that they meet the recommended standard. He said: “There are no two opposing definitions for quality beside meeting the intended purpose, which is to protect the occupiers and give them maximum comfort. “The the...

http://ift.tt/2qwgNNP From out of the blue, I got a call from a proprietress, asking that I be a guest-speaker at a retreat for teenagers. She told me, that she got my number from my past Youth Speak Column, in The Guardian. Even though she praised me for writing well, I countered it by telling her that I was still a rookie. When I invite guests for TV shows, I prefer those who ask me about topics to be discussed in advance so they can prepare but not questions I intend to ask them on set. Asking for questions before the interview makes the chat mechanical during taping of shows. Some guests, even after asking to see questions, besiege me with requests not to deviate from the questions line-by-line. Such chats become dull and boring without the latitude to weave a tapestry into the discussion as I deem fit when inspired. ‬ So thereto I went with the topic in mind. My two fellow discussants (a lady and a gentleman) were highly religious. I didn’t expect them to talk less about the ...