CSR News Summary Issue 26

ERA/FoEN flag Minister’s comment on UNEP

The Environmental Rights Action / Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has carpeted Environment Minister Hayija Hadiza Mailafiya for blaming the delay in implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Assessment on Ogoniland on the January 2012 protests over fuel subsidy removal.

The groups described the statement credited to Hayija Hadiza Mailafiya as far-fetched misleading and unacceptable.

Published in Nation Newspaper, Monday, 13th August, 2012

Ekiti, firm graduates 200 trainees

The Ekiti State Government, in collaboration with Odu’a Investment Company Limited, yesterday graduated 200 trainees under the Ekiti-Odu’a Skill Acquisition Scheme. 

The graduates underwent skill acquisition in Electrical Wiring and Motor Rewinding; Painting/Arts and Craft; Catering and Events Management; Carpentry and Joinery; Fashion Designing; Auto Electronics and Mechanical Work; Computer Hardware/Telephone Repairs Metal Fabrication and Welding. 

Governor Kayode Fayemi urged the graduates to face their vocations.  The governor advised them to open their businesses in the rural communities to spread development. 

Published in Nation Newspaper, Monday, 13th August, 2012

FG releases N300bn for Capital Projects

The Federal Government on Thursday released N300bn for capital projects for the third quarter of the year.

The N300bn, according to the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, brings the total release for capital projects so far to N704bn under the 2012 national budget. She said this at a media briefing in Abuja.

Published in Punch Newspaper, Monday, 13th August, 2012

12 tertiary institutions in Nigeria get N25b special impact fund

The Federal Government has approved N25 billion for the 2012 Special High Impact Programme Fund. Twelve tertiary institutions will benefit from the fund.

They include: Moshood Abiola University, Lagos; The Polytechnic, Ibadan; Anambra State University, Uli; Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education (AIFCE); University of Calabar (UNICAL) and Delta State College of Education, Agbor.

Others are Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero; The Federal Polytechnic, Kauran Namoda; Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola; Bauchi State College of Education, Azare; Benue State University, Makurdi and Federal Polytechnic, Nassarawa.

Published in Nation Newspaper, Monday, 13th August, 2012

Nigeria: ‘Cassava production to create over 1m jobs’

Cassava production will create over one million jobs in the country, the Minister of Agriculture Dr. Adesina Akinwumi has said.  He was speaking in Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State capital, where the federal government’s agric programme, Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES), was inaugurated.

Akinwumi who was represented by the Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mbucho Kreni, said the teeming youths in the state would be fully engaged in the scheme.

Published in Guardian Newspaper, Tuesday, 14th August, 2012

Oil firm announces winner of environmental sustainability project

First Hydrocarbon Nigeria Company Limited (FHN) has announced the winner of the best Environmental Sustainability Project at the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Challenge in Lagos.

The competition marked the second year that FHN has sponsored the SIFE National Competition. The team with the best Environmental Sustainability project was named as Bayero University, Kano, which involved in a truly relevant project that supports their local communities in efforts to eradicate malaria, combat desertification and create jobs for disadvantaged citizens through the cultivation and manipulation of the Neem tree, which grows in abundance in the region.

Published in Guardian Newspaper, Tuesday, 14th August, 2012

UNICEF urges stronger national policies on breastfeeding

AS part of measures to reduce high child deaths in developing countries, the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) yesterday called for stronger national policies supporting breastfeeding.

UNICEF, on the 20th anniversary of World Breastfeeding Week (WBW), said strong national policies supporting breastfeeding could prevent the deaths of around one million children under five in the developing world each year.

Published in Guardian Newspaper, Tuesday, 14th August, 2012

Nigeria: Minister alerts on plots to deny farmers access to fertilizer

Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has warned farmers, particularly those in the South – West to be wary of the new antics of those he referred to as political ‘fertiliser merchants’.

He added that the merchants were desperate to rob the farmers of having access to the states’ and Federal Government subsidised fertiliser.

Published in Guardian Newspaper, Wednesday, 15th August, 2012

48 firms to invest N170.5bn in Lagos FTZ

The Lagos Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) has attracted investment commitments of over $1.1 billion from 48 local and foreign investors.

The Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga, who made this known at the Lekki Free Zone Investment Forum and opening ceremony of the Eko 2012, at the weekend, said that the investment would contribute significantly to the development of the Nigeria Economy.

Published in Guardian Newspaper, Wednesday, 15th August, 2012

Nigeria plans new model in tackle climate change challenge

An innovative model to support prospective analysis, planning of national and regional development, especially on climate change issues may soon be considered for adoption by stakeholders as a means of promoting open and participatory debates on development issues

The Director, Department of Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment, Dr Samuel Adejuwon recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan pushed for greener economy at the just concluded UN Conference on Sustainable Development Summit and re-affirmed government’s determination to crate greater employment opportunities.

Published in Guardian Newspaper, Wednesday, 15th August, 2012

Embrace alternative energy, save environment – LASG

The Lagos State Government on Monday urged residents to use alternative sources of energy to address environmental challenges and reduce carbon emission responsible for global warming.

Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Energy and Mineral Resources, Dr. Fouad Animashaun, during the opening of the fourth Alternative Power Exhibition in Lagos, said science had provided alternative options for sourcing energy without destroying the environment.

Published in Punch  Newspaper, Wednesday, 15th August, 2012

Diamond Bank secures IFC’s $70 million facility

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, and the Africa Capitalisation Fund, a private equity fund managed by IFC Asset Management Company, has sealed a pact with Diamond Bank Plc to provide $70 million in convertible loans to the Nigerian financial institution.

IFC Advisory Services will provide further assistance to help Diamond Bank enhance its range of financial services for agricultural sector clients.

Published in Guardian Newspaper, Thursday, 16th August, 2012

IITA, UI seek fresh collaboration

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and the University of Ibadan on Wednesday outlined areas of possible collaboration in an attempt to improve Africa’s fortunes.

According to a statement by the IITA on Thursday, areas under consideration comprise the capacity building, establishment of a biotechnology platform, soil health, Geographical Information Science, fund raising for research, food and nutrition and capacity building. IITA Director-General, Dr. Nteranya Sanginga, said during a courtesy visit to the university.

Published in Guardian Newspaper, Thursday, 16th August, 2012

Sanofi partners government to tackle diseases

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), to provide quality health care system to Nigerians, Sanofi, a pharmaceutical company has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Health to eradicate communicable and non communicable diseases in the country.

Published in Guardian Newspaper, Thursday, 16th August, 2012

NHRC tasks media on Human Rights Reportage
Following its on-the-spot assessment of areas marked for demolition by the governments of Rivers and Lagos States as well as the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) mar release an interim report of its findings today.
Published in Guardian Newspaper Thursday, 16th August, 2012

Shell denies oil spill in Bayelsa
 

The Shell Petroleum Development Company has denied reports of an oil spill at its Nembe three flow station near Ewelesuo community, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The Nembe Chairman of Oil and Gas, Mr. Nengi James, told our correspondent that a major oil spill occurred in the area midnight Tuesday.

 Published in Punch Newspaper Thursday, 16th August, 2012

ExxonMobil is investigating reports of an oil spill in Nigeria not far from the site of one of its facilities, a spokesman confirmed.

A flyover of the area along the coast of Akwa Ikom state has already been conducted by local officials and the Nigerian joint venture of the US supermajor, company spokesperson Nigel Cookey-Gam said in a statement on Wednesday.

Published in Punch Newspaper Thursday, 16th August, 2012

World Bank says Nigeria has the “Most Attractive” Investment Environment in Africa

The World Bank has described Nigeria’s investment environment as the “most attractive” despite the current infrastructure challenge facing it.

Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly, Country Director, World Bank, Nigeria made this assertion yesterday at the launch of the World Bank’s Investment Climate Assessment (ICA) report in Abuja.

She, however, said there was need for the country to improve its business environment in order to maximise the hugely untapped investment opportunities that exist across the country.

Published in Guardian Newspaper, Friday, 17th August, 2012

Chinese firms to invest in Nigeria’s Aerotropolis project, says minister

China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd (CSCEC), has indicated readiness to invest in the development of Nigeria’s aviation sector, especially the construction of Aerotropolis within the major international airports in Nigeria.

Vice President of the Corporation, Yu Zhende made the declaration at the headquarters of the corporation in Beijing, China during a visit by the delegation from the Nigeria’s ministry of aviation.

Published in National Mirror on Friday, 16th August, 2012

FUTA supports Environmental Protection

Authorities of the Federal University of Technology, Akure on Wednesday pledged to lead the campaign on environmental protection and sustainability in the country.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola, stated this in Akure at the inauguration of the tree planting campaign, known as “FUTA Greening 2012″.

According to him, the campaign, which would be done through knowledge transfer and high quality environmental education, would not be limited to the university.

Published in Punch  Newspaper, Friday, 16th August, 2012

Tourism Ministry committed to Empowerment

The Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Mr. Edem Duke, on Friday reiterated the ministry’s commitment to the sustainability of economic empowerment through art exhibition.

Duke, who was represented by the Director of Culture in the ministry, Mr George Ufot, said this in Abuja at the opening of a 10-day Australian Art Exhibition in Nigeria.

The theme of the exhibition was ‘Message Stick: Indigenous identity in urban Australia.’

Published in Punch  Newspaper, Friday, 16th August, 2012

SERAP requests details of Spending on Maternal HealthCare

A group, Socio-Economic Rights and ccountability Project (SERAP), has requested the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, to provide within seven days, information on spending relating to maternal healthcare delivery and prevention in the country in the past fivr years.

SERAP, in the request dated August 13, 2012 and signed by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, said it is concerned about what it described as worsening rate of maternal mortality in Nigeria. 
Published in Punch  Newspaper, Friday, 16th August, 2012

Health inequities threaten MDG target

In recent times, the world is confronted with the challenge of addressing communicable diseases within the African continent. Non-communicable diseases have also continued to pose a huge problem. this, the World Health Organisation, (WHO) believes, has contributed to a rise in chronic diseases. 

Published in BusinessDay Newspaper Friday, 17th August, 2012

Senate Committee Warns Firms Aiding Oil Spills

Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Senator Bukola Saraki, Thursday threatened to recommend for any oil facility to be shut down if it is traced to the source of oil spill.

Saraki in a statement signed on behalf of the committee by his Special Assistant on Media and Advocacy, Mr. Bamikole Omisore, warned that such oil facilities would not be opened until a responsible party emerges to clean up, compensate and take liability for the action.

Published in ThisDay Newspaper Friday, 17th August, 2012