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http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Onozure Dania W ARRI —AN almagam of Itsekiri intellectuals under the auspices of Itsekiri Summit Group, ISG, has concluded arrangements for the maiden Itsekiri International Summit as part of strategies to seek solution to the poor infrastructural and human capital development of Itsekiri land amid its huge deposits of crude oil and gas as well as agro-allied potentials. Spokesman of Itsekiri Summit Group, ISG, Monoyo Edon, in a statement in Warri, Delta State, explained that the summit, with the theme, Iwere Development: Where is the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality in Today’s Nigeria? will feature keynote addresses by Itsekiri professionals and opinion leaders, from youth bodies and political analysts to come up with a blue print on the place of unity and security in Iwere development. The statement said that the event is slated for June 4 at Mom Civic Centre, Airport Road, Warri, as it enjoined all well meaning Itsekiri sons and daughters to attend the summit...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Gabriel Ewepu ABUJA — WOMEN under the auspices of Virtuous Women and Youth Empowerment Initiative, VWYEI, have called on the government to adequately protect them against herdsmen attacks. This was stated by the National Coordinator, VWYEI, Mrs. Esther Akwo, while lamenting pains women go through these attacks with their families in the country. Akwo said security agencies have to properly synergise with the state governments and communities to protect women and girls who have been major victims of the violence. She said: “We are seriously pained by the violent attacks by herdsmen on women and girls on the farms and homes. These women have been traumatised by their experiences with these heartless herdsmen who use their AK 47 rifles to assault them, rape and even kill some of these women. “Many also have lost their husbands property worth millions of Naira in this violence. Their lives have become miserable and frustrated by the brutality and inhuman t...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Johnbosco Agbakwuru THE management  of National Productivity Centre, NPC, has rolled out a five-year strategic plan to serve as  roadmap in repositioning and refocusing the Centre’s policies, programmes and activities. The strategic plan primarily focuses on the development of the private sector, especially Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs, to grow the economy, create employment, generate revenue and improve the standard of living of the populace. The plan according to a  statement by the Director, Corporate Affairs of the Centre, Gbenga  Bamiduro, also took a holistic view of the  programmes  and contributions of the Centre to the  Nigerian  economy in the next  five years. The statement noted that at an in-house official launch of the plan,  the Director-General, of the NPC, Dr.  Kashim  Akor,  said  the plan had become  necessary to draw up a...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Amaka Abayomi AS part of its Girls Power Tech Global Mentoring Initiative, celebrated in support of the annual United Nations’ International Girls in ICT Day, employees at Cisco offices worldwide spent the day with girls aged 13-18, mentoring them on the importance of education and choosing career paths in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). The Nigerian leg of the Girls in ICT event had girls from the Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Ojo, Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba; Federal Government College, Ijanikin, and Saint Michael’s Anglican College, Sururele, all in Lagos who were given insights and opportunities about women in technology. Cisco Systems annually supports Girls in ICT Day, a global event founded by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Girls Power Tech is a special learning opportunity directed at female students to connect using Cisco telepresence and Jabber collaboration solutions to interact with other fema...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Dave Osho FOR his efforts at changing the orientation of former Niger Delta militants, Dr Benjamin Irikefe, has bagged the award of the Niger Delta Personality of Inestimable Value and Role Model to the Younger Generation. The award was given to him by the National Association of Niger Delta Students NANDS. At a well-attended ceremony in Warri, Delta State, National President of NANDS, Lucky Emonefe, while presenting the award to Irikefe, said the group had watched over time the activities of the man they described as the trainers’ trainer, not only in the Niger Delta region but the entire nation. NANDS added that Irikefe, who is a training consultant with the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, had impacted lives in the region, hence the decision of the group to honour him. According to Omonefe, who is a student of the University of Benin, Irikefe had turned many former militants “from gun-wielding militants to pen militants” in his efforts at repositioning t...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J   Restricts FRSC to highways; Ambode’s right — FRSC  By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Theodore Opara L agos —Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday, put the uncertainty surrounding the absence of Vehicle Inspection Officers, VIOs, on Lagos roads to rest, once and for all, stating categorically that he has asked them to stay off the roads permanently. Governor Ambode, who said this at the commissioning of Pedestrian Bridges, Lay-bys and Slip Road at Ojodu Berger, also urged the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, to limit its operations to the fringes and highways and steer clear from the main streets of the state.   FRSC reacts The spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Mr Bisi Kazeem  reacting to the governor’s comment said: ‘’FRSC has already as a matter of policy asked its staff to concentrate mainly on highways especially in all the states that have their traffic management outfits such as Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, LAST...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J A BUJA — The trial of the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), on alleged corruption charges was aborted by the refusal of the Federal Government to produce him in court for trial. The trial slated before an Abuja High Court, yesterday, could not go on after the judge and senior lawyers had waited for over three hours without Dasuki being brought to court as agreed at the last adjourned date. Dasuki, who had been granted bails by four different judges in the last two years, has remained in the custody of Department of State Services, DSS, without detention warrant and in disobedience to the court orders on bail. Meanwhile, the trial judge, Justice Baba Yusuf, however, gave the Federal Government till today to produce Dasuki in court for the continuation of the trial, adding that the prosecution should do the needful to assist the court with the presence of the defendants in court. Earlier, prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN,...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Henry Umoru ABUJA —The Senate, yesterday, expressed concern over the failure of federal agencies to submit their 2017 budget proposal to the National Assembly in line with extant law for consideration and approval. Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, who drew the attention of his colleagues to the abnormality during plenary, yesterday, said it was wrong for agencies to spend money that has not been appropriated by the legislature. The Senate President, who condemned the practice where agencies of government spend money without statutory approval by the National Assembly, ruled that the issue be debated and resolution taken by the Senate today. Saraki said: “We are already in May. How can parastatals be operating without a budget, especially in this time of the fight against corruption to ensure that there is transparency in governance? We need to take this matter seriously because clearly, these agencies are just flouting the guidelines and bre...