Friday 5 October 2012

CSR News Summary Issue 31


We must sustain dream of free egalitarian society, says Imoke

As the nation celebrates her 52 independent anniversary Governor Liyel imoke of Cross River State has called on present generation of Nigerians and their leaders to sustain the dream of a free egalitarian society that the founding fathers fought for.
He said the country looks forward tothe centenary of our amalgamation in 2014, it was pertinent to take stock of how far we have come and how much further we can go.
Published on Tuesday, 2nd October, 2012 in The Daily Sun Newspaper.

 Stakeholders to brainstorm on cash-less policy
The Central Bank of Nigeria, international and local institutions and stakeholders will converge on Lagos for a conference on the cash-less policy introduced by the CBN.

A statement made available TO OUR CORESPONDENT ON Tuesday said the experts would be drawn from various relevant sectors of the economy like banking, manufacturing, telecommunications, services, the informal sector outside Nigeria.
Published on Thursday, 4thOctober, 2012 in The Punch Newspaper.

Ogoni Community decries exclusion from UNEP Report
The people of Goi community, Bodo in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State have decried the exclusion of the community in the environmental assessment report carried out in the Ogoniland by the United Nations Environmental Programme.

Indigenes of the area who trooped out enmasse to welcome the Bukola Sarai-led Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, described the area as the most impacted in terms of environmental degradation in Ogoniland.
Published on Thursday, 4thOctober, 2012 in The Punch Newspaper.

 Turkey Projects N320 bn trade Volume with Nigeria in 2013.
The Bilateral trade between Nigeria and Turkey, which currency stands at $1.3 billion, is expected to rise to $2 billion (N320 billion) by the end of 2013.

The Commercial Counsellor, Embassy of Turkey in Nigeria, Bulent Ferik, disclosed this on Tuesday in Lagos, at the inauguration of the Nigerian-Turkish Business Council (NTBC).
Published on Thursday, 4thOctober, 2012 in The Punch Newspaper.

Nigeria records 90 polio in nine months
Nigeria has continued to transmit the wild Polio Virus(WPV) with two new type one (WPV1) cases reported in the past week from Kaduna and jigawa states, bringing the total number of cases for 2012 to 90.

According to Weekly Polio Update, published by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), the case from Kaduna is the most recent in the country and had onset of paralysis on September, 2012, and the next subnational Immunization Plus Days (IPDs), which started yesterday, September 29, will run till Tuesday October 2, 2012.
Published on Thursday, 4thOctober, 2012 in The Punch Newspaper.

Focus On Parastatal Under The Federal Ministry Of Education
President Goodluck jonathan has often stated that Education is at the heart of his administration’s Transformation Agenda, the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) which formulates policies for the sector, must have the right approach and answers to the multifaceted problems facing it.

However, to undertake this very vital task, the Ministry relies on its 21 parastatals, which must not only have competent hands, but must work together in a well-caculated manner.
Published on Thursday, 4thOctober, 2012 in The Punch Newspaper.

LASU students take lectures under trees
Lagos State wears the toga as the nation’s Centre of Excellence. But the student of the Lagos University (LASU), Ojo have tales of woes on their lips.

For several days, some student of the Adebola Adegunwa School of Communication, studied under tree shades at the popular students’relaxation Centre popularly called Abe Igi.
Published on Tuesday, 2nd October, 2012 in The Daily Sun Newspaper.

CBN reviews agric sector financing criteria
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has set new rules for lending to the agricultural sector of the economy.

The apex bank took the decision after reports from banks and discount houses indicated that lending to the subsector remains a high-risk, which should be followed with caution.
Published on Wednesday, 3rd October, 2012 in The Nation Newspaper.

FirstBank backs cocoa transformation agenda.
First Bank of Nigeria Plc is committed to improving cocoa production and contribution to the economy.

The bank in a statement, said it will achieve this using its support for the Cocoa Investment Conference slated for October 4 to 5, in Ibadan.

Published on Wednesday, 3rd October, 2012 in The Nation Newspaper.

Development agenda for Western Nigeria: Prospects and challenges.
Perhaps, it will suffice to say that the coming of the crude oil, while it may have done more harm than good to the western region, because since that time, (post-Awolowo era) successive governments from the region go to Abuja, at the end of every month with their ‘’begging bowls” to take crumbs from the national government in form of the federations account while neglecting out natural endowments that could have been ad-equate tapped for optimum advantage and growth.

The propriety or otherwise of such endeavor in a county laying claims to practicing federalism in an issue for another discuss.
Published on Wednesday, 3rd October, 2012 in The Nation Newspaper.

NIMASA to train youth.
The Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has concluded arrangement to train some youth from the southeast. Their conterparts from southsouth had enjoyed the priviledge.

Speaking with the Nation in his office last week, NIMASA’s Director-General, Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi said there are many job opportunities in the maritime sector, but unfortunately they are not open to Nigeria because they lack necessary training.
Published on Wednesday, 3rd October, 2012 in The Nation Newspaper.

CBN, Banks partner.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and banks are implementing fresh measures aimed at empowering farmers financially and providing favourable fiscal policies for their operations.

It said it had granted zero tariffs for the importation of agricultural machinery and equipment. The bank said it took the action to create a robust agricultural sector and provide an enabling environment for investments.
Published on Wednesday, 3rd October, 2012 in The Nation Newspaper.

 MfBs groan under huge tax burden

MICROFINACE banks are battling MfBs huge tax burdens and botched attempts to get tax holidays form the government, The Nation has learnt.
According to the annual reports of some of the banks, huge taxes is common to all the entities.
Published on Wednesday, 3rd October, 2012 in The Nation Newspaper.

Govt, World Bank collaborate
THE Federal Government and the World bank are partnering to create a sustainable job funds. The initiative, which is expected to take over $80 million, will help in training graduates of tietary institutions in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), as well as related job skills.

The initiative is being implanted through science and Technology Education Post-Basic (Step-B) project under the Federal Ministry of Education.
Published on Wednesday, 3rd October, 2012 in The Nation Newspaper.

 Organisation designs web to promote electricity
A website has been opened to showcase appraise Nigerian Leaders who pay attention to the suffering of the fellow Nigerians a result of the devastating effect of electricity on the economy.

According to the National Co-ordinator of Project Light-Up Nigeria, Mr. Frank Ukpabi, the step was taken to allow stakeholders in diaspora appraise Nigerian leaders with view to rewarding these set of concerned citizens according to their performances vis-à-vis generating power in November, 2012.
Published on Wednesday, 3rd October, 2012 in The Guardian Newspaper.

Farm sues Unity Bank over agric loan
For acting in an alleged manner that denied it from assessing a N500 million loan unders the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS), jigna farm has dragged Unity Bank to the Federal High Court Bwari, Abuja for adjudication.

A statement by the farm in Abuja on Monday blamed Unity Bank for not acting in a professional manner that frustrated it from obtaining the said loan for its expansion programme
Published on Wednesday, 3rd October, 2012 in The Guardian Newspaper.

 Clamour for govt to appeal Bakassi ruling mounts
AGITATION by Nigerians and the people of the oil rich area for the federal government to appeal the International Court of justice (ICJ) decision ceding Bakassi Peninsula to the Cameroun has heightend.

For example a formal Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (1999-2003), Chibudom Nwuche, and the Bakassi Peoples General Assembly have joined the clamour.
Published on Wednesday, 3rdOctober, 2012 in The Guardian Newspaper.

 World Bank seeks public private partnership on job creation
The World Bank at the weekend release its World Development Report 2013 with a fresh mandate to developing countries to make job creation a cardinal point of their development agenda.

According to the bank, developing countries would need to make job creation a cornerstone development, with a pay off far beyond income alone, stressing they are critical for reducing poverty, making cities work, and providing youth with alternatives to violence.
Published on Tuesday, 2ndOctober, 2012 in The Daily Sun Newspaper.

Women entrepreneurs to explore AGOA potentials
THE Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Business Women Group (NAWORG) has lamented the inability of the women entreprenurs to benefit from the opportunities available under the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA), due to poor access to fund.

The group also enjoined the Bank of Industry (BoI) to set up a special fund, which would assist women entrepreneurs explore international business environment such as AGOA.
Published on Wednesday, 3rd October, 2012 in The Guardian Newspaper.

Group holds CSR seminar
DEPUTY High Commission of Canada, in partnership with CSR-in-Action, an indigenous social enterprise; has concluded plans to hold a seminar titled “Sustainability in the Extractive Industries: Managing Your Value Chain”.

According to the organizer, the event scheduled for 18th of October 2012, at the Oriental Hotel is geared towards bringing together practitioners in sustainability and heads of government and business within the extractive industries in both Nigeria and Canada, culminating in a series of powerfully orchestrated panels and presentations from experts.
Published on Wednesday, 3rd October, 2012 in The Guardian Newspaper.

Govt inaugurates UNIDO country programme
THE Federal Government has Inaugurated Implementation Committees on the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) country programme for Nigeria.

The committees which comprises representatives from various relevant Ministries /Departments, Institutions and the Private Sector were inaugurated by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Mr. Dauda Kigbu at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja.
Published on Wednesday, 3rd October, 2012 in The Guardian Newspaper.

Military, others evacuate 76,000 Anambra flood victims
More than 76,000 victims of the devastating floods that hit about 200 communities in five local government areas of Anambra State are being evacuated from their homes to relief camps in Onitsha and Nteje.

The evacuation came as reports said two persons, a woman and a boy, died at Ogbaru following the flooding that submerged their homes on Sunday night.
Published on Wednesday, 2nd October, 2012 in The Punch Newspaper.

Microsoft targets 300 million youths with YouthSpark
Microsoft Corporation has said its newly introduced global initiative, Microsoft YouthSpark, will create opportunities for 300 million youths in more than 100 countries in the next three years.

The company said the initiative would be implemented though a range of global programmes in partnership with governments, non-profit organisations and other businesses.
Published on Wednesday, 2nd October, 2012 in The Punch Newspaper.

IBM tackles knowledge gap among Nigerian SMEs
Skills shortage, education and business management knowledge have been identified as the bane of Small and Medium-scale Enterprises in Nigeria and IBM has begun tackling the menace.

The company, during a recent training for 30 young entrepreneurs in a variety of industries in Lagos, said having the right knowledge, skills, tools and techniques would help deliver the right business results for SMEs in the country.
Published on Wednesday, 2nd October, 2012 in The Punch Newspaper.

 We are making progress on many fronts – Jonathan

Beloved countrymen and women, on this day, fifty-two years ago, our founding fathers brought joy and hope to the hearts of our people when they won independence for our great country. Nigeria made a clean break with more than six decades of colonial rule, and emerged as a truly independent nation. That turning point was a new beginning for our nation.

Those who witnessed the lowering of the Union Jack and the emergence of the Green White Green flag continue to relish the memory, because that ceremony was not just about the destiny of a nation, but the future of a people.
Published on Wednesday, 2nd October, 2012 in The Punch Newspaper.

 NMA advocates electoral reforms, good governance
Nigerian Medical Association has called on the Federal Government to be committed to the nation’s electoral reforms and the enthronement of good governance.
The association also flayed Nigeria’s health indices, saying the citizens are poorer than their counterparts in many African countries.

Published on Wednesday, 2nd October, 2012 in The Punch Newspaper.

‘Climate change, poor planning caused flooding’
Chairman, National Planning Committee of the Nigeria Urban Summit, Mr. Onibokun Abimbola, has said climate change as well as lack of planning is responsible for the recent flooding in parts of the country.

Abimbola, a town planner, stated this in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja on Monday.

Abimbola said, “There have been incidents of ravaging flood, collapsed buildings and security challenges in many quarters.
Published on Wednesday, 2nd October, 2012 in The Punch Newspaper.

Fayemi promises to expand social welfare scheme
Ekiti State Government said it was working on ways to widen the coverage of its social welfare scheme for the elderly to accommodate more aged people.

To achieve this, Governor Kayode Fayemi said he would increase the budgetary allocation to the scheme in the 2013 proposed appropriation bill.
Published on Friday, 5th October, 2012 in The National Mirror Newspaper.

 
FG to train 30,000 Nigerians on cocoa production

The Federal Government yesterday stated its determination to train 30,000 entrepreneurs to boost cocoa production, processing and marketing.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, spoke at the opening ceremony of the first International Cocoa Conference held at the Jogor Events Centre, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Published on Friday, 5th October, 2012 in The National Mirror Newspaper.

 
Gaidam approves employment of 3,000 graduates, others

Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State has approved the employment of 3,000 degree, HND and NCE graduates as well as other professionals to be employed into the state civil service.

The Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Goni Fika, disclosed this yesterday after the State Executive Council meeting held at the Government House, Damaturu.
Published on Friday, 5th October, 2012 in The National Mirror Newspaper.

 
Tutu wins Mo Ibrahim $1m award

Veteran peace campaigner Archbishop Desmond Tutu ha sbeen awarded $1 million by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation for "speaking truth to power".

The London-based Foundation called the cleric "one of Africa's great voices for justice, freedom, democracy and responsible, responsive government", BBC has reported.
Published on Friday, 5th October, 2012 in The National Mirror Newspaper.

 
Gombe spends N11.7BN on schools, infrastructure

The Gombe State Government has awarded N11.7 billion contract for the construction of schols and provision of infrastructure for them

The Commissioner for Education, Mrs Aishatu Mohamed, and her Higher Education counterpart, Dr, Isa Wade, started this while addressing journalists after the state executive council meeting on Wednesday in Gombe.
Published on Friday, 5th October, 2012 in The National Mirror Newspaper.