#Agric: W’Bank Distributes 25m Fingerlings to Boost Nigeria’s Fish Production

The West African Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP), a World Bank agricultural enhanced project has distributed over 25 million fingerlings to farmers across the country.

WAAP also provided processing equipment, including detachable smoking kiln, solar tent dryer and fish cooling boxes to support the fish value chain.

Published in the Thisday Newspaper on Sunday, 7^th February, 2016

#Power: That Africa May Have Sufficient Electricity, Dangote Champions Power Africa Initiative

Dangote Group leading efforts to significantly increase access to electricity in Africa through Power Africa, an initiative of President Barack Obama, writes Kunle Aderinokun

Electricity is fundamental to economic growth and development. It is a major driver of activities in an economy. Developed nations have adequate supply of electricity while developing ones struggle with electricity supply, with frequent power outages. Electricity consumption per household is a measure of economic development.

Published in the Thisday Newspaper on Sunday, 7^th February, 2016

#SDGs: FG poised to achieve sustainable development in environment sector

THE federal government has reiterated its commitment to the sustainable use and management of the environment in the flight against poverty and food security.

The minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed made the commitment in Abuja, when a business delegation from Finland, led by the Finnish Deputy Minister for External Economic Relations, Mr. Matti Anttonen paid her a courtesy visit.

Published in the Vanguard Newspaper on Sunday, 7^th February, 2016

#Award: Ondo, GTBank, Etisalat, DLM others win consumersng awards

Ondo State, GTBank, Dunn Loren Merrifield, Etisalat are among 16 corporate entities/governmental bodies listed as the 20 Consumers Brands of the year by consumersng, an online platform advocating for a consumer-centric ambience.

Published in the Vanguard Newspaper on Sunday, 7^th February, 2016

#CSR: DHL, SOS sign 3-year pact on youth development

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to enhance the growth of Nigeria’s economy, DHL Global Forwarding Nigeria, has invested a huge sum in SOS Children Villages in Nigeria to support indigent children. DHL also admitted 12 youths from SOS to participate in its intern-ship programmes, thereby exposing them to operational activities of the company.

Published in the Vanguard Newspaper on Sunday, 7^th February, 2016

#Philanthropy: Dana Drugs Donation

Dana Drugs Limited, a foremost drugs manufacturing company in Nigeria, has donated a new delivery van to the Ogun State Hospital Management Board.

The makers of Paradana brand of Paracetamol made the donation on January 21, 2016, at the Ogun State Ministry of Health Secretariat premises in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Published in the Punch Newspaper on Sunday, 7^th February, 2016

#MoU: FG Signs MoU with NASCO Foods on National School Feeding Programme

The federal government, at the weekend signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NASCO Food limited, Jos, Plateau State, for commercial production of high nutrient density biscuits to feed about 30 million school children below the age of 13.

The Minister of Science and Technology, Mr. Ogbonnaya Onu, who spoke at the signing ceremony in Abuja, said the MoU was necessary in order to advance the implementation process of government desires to enhance a healthy development of children through the programme.

Published in the Thisday Newspaper on Monday, 8^th February, 2016

#Economy #Welfare: Implementation of Welfare Programmes for the Poor Starts Once Budget is Passed

…Payments for Conditional Cash Transfer directly to beneficiaries

Implementation of the Welfare programme for the poor will begin immediately the 2016 budgets is passed, Senior Special Assistant Media and Publicity in the Office of the Vice President, Mr. Laolu Akande,has said.

Published in the Thisday Newspaper on Monday, 8^th February, 2016

#ICT: Harrybaker launches digital learning passport

Harrybaker Training Institute, an AXELOS and APMG accredited partner in IT Service Management (ITSM), Project, Programme, Portfolio and Risk Management (PPRM), has lunched her multi-media digital learning products to help working professionals in private and public organisations break time, cost and location barriers to learning.

Published in the Businessday Newspaper on Monday, 8^th February, 2016

#Award: Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) announce 2016 Excellence Award Winners

The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) announced winners of the 2016 Excellence Awards in a press briefing recently.

Tony Ejinkeonye, the Chamber president, during the press briefing in Abuja, said that the Chamber is a non-profit and non-political organisation made up of members drawn from businesses and institutions in Abuja and across the country. He noted that the Chamber represents the common interests of the organised private sector.

Published in the Businessday Newspaper on Monday, 8^th February, 2016

#ICT: Harvard alumni association launches Technology Circle

As part of its efforts to support the development of policy that affects the technology space in Nigeria, Harvard Business School Association of Nigeria (HBSAN) has launched its Technology circle.

Two leading entrepreneurs in the industry and Harvard alumi, Raphael Afaedor and Collins Onuegbu,will head the Technology Circle, according to a message from the association.

Published in the Businessday Newspaper on Monday, 8^th February, 2016

#Empowerment: US Consulate supports Street Foundation’s creative youth boot camp

Street Project Foundation, with support from the US Consulate in Lagos, will hold a three-week Creative Youth Boot Camp themed ‘Do what you love’. The camp is scheduled to take place from April through to May 2016, at The Brook, 6, Point Road, Apapa GRA, Lagos. The boot camp is expected to train 100 young people from ages 16 to25, on life skills using performing Arts as the tool for engagement.

Published in the Businessday Newspaper on Monday, 8^th February, 2016

#SDGs: Etisalat asks govt to prioritise goals

ETISALAT Nigeria has called on all levels of government to prioritise meeting the critical development needs of the nation in their renewed efforts at achieving the Sustainability Development Goals agenda of the United Nations.

The Vice President, Regulatary and Corporate Affairs, Etisalat Nigeria, Ibrahim Dikko, made the call in Abuja, while speaking at the seventh edition of the thought leadership breakfast series, Sustainable Conversations, organised by Thistle Praxis Consulting in partnership with Etisalat Nigeria.

Published in the Punch Newspaper on Tuesday, 9^th February, 2016

#Economy: CBN backs real sector with N1.3tn

THE Central of Nigeria says it has supported the real sector of the economy to the tune of over N1.3tn as part of its efforts to tackle the challenges facing the economy.

The support, according to the CBN, includes the N300bn Real Sector Support Facility; N220bn Micro-Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund; N75bn Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending; and the N213bn Nigeria Electricity Market Stabilisation Fund.

Published in the Punch Newspaper on Tuesday, 9^th February, 2016

#Philanthropy: Alakija presents N1bn building to Ajayi Crowther varsity

THE Alakija family has presented a building worth N1bn to the Law Faculty of the Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo.

At the inauguration of the building, the state Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, commended the couple, Mr. Modupe and Mrs. Folorunso Alakija, for the gesture.

Published in the Punch Newspaper on Tuesday, 9^th February, 2016

#Health: Nigeria gets snake bite neutraliser

FORMER Chief Medical Director, Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Dr. Nandul Durfa has called on the Ministry of Health to adopt Echitab to treat cases of local snake bites as it instantly neutralises snake poison.

Durfa also claimed that the issue of snake bite from carpet viper is a faster killer than Lassa fever and the country has lost a significant number of persons daily basics of which the government has paid no attention.

Published in the DailySun Newspaper on Tuesday, 9^th February, 2016

#Innovation: Nigerian in Diaspora unveils first multi-lingua keyboard

AGAINST the backdrop of deploying technology to build the nation, a Nigerian in diaspora, Ms Adebunmi Adeniran has come up with a keyboard with 12 Nigerian languages to be used in all schools of the federation.

Speaking with Daily Sun, recently, Adeniran who studied Russian language alongside Italian and Yoruba language from the University of Lagos, noted that most Nigerians are bi-lingual; they speak at least two languages; it was based on that she conceived that idea.

Published in the DailySun Newspaper on Tuesday, 9^th February, 2016

#Infrastructure: Nigeria solid minerals revenue may top N5trn annually on proper regulation

With support, proper regulaton and availability of crushing infrastructure, Nigeria can generate at least N5 trillion annually from mining and export of its vast solid mineral deposits.

This will have multiplier effects on job creation, government revenue and growth.

Published in the Business Day Newspaper on Tuesday, 9^th February, 2016

#IndustryPulse: LagosHOMS repositions, strengthens board with new GM

As part of efforts at repositioning and ensuring continuity with improvement in the operations of the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (LagosHOMS), the state government has approved the appointment of Dehinde Tunwashe as the new General Manager of board of the company-the Lagos Mortgage Board (LMB).

Published in the Business Day Newspaper on Tuesday, 9^th February, 2016

Empowerment: ICAN drives entrepreneurship prospects for members to boost productivity

In a bid to deepen entrepreneurship capacity amid the growing economic uncertainties in the country today, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria through its entrepreneurship initiative organised a seminar to broaden the productivity level of members.

Published in the Business Day Newspaper on Tuesday, 9^th February, 2016

#Industry Pulse: Microsoft showcases continuum with launch of Lumia 950, 950XL in Nigeria

Microsoft Nigeria has unveiled two of its latest Windows 10 mobile flagship smartphones; Lumia 950 and 950 XL, which share the same code-base with Windows 10 desktop OS.

These are the newest flagship devices to join the Lumia portfolio and the first to ship with windows 10, the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL deliver a familiar and consistent experience that extends across your Windows devices, including innovation features like Windows Hello beta for Lumia and Continuum for phones.

Published in the Business Day Newspaper on Tuesday, 9^th February, 2016

#Innovation: CloudWare Technologies create online solution for access to Forex

As a solution to the unavailability of foreign currencies to people who require the for genuine and important reasons, a platform, Sabo.ng has been created by CloudWare Technologies, the brains behind the Ebola Prevention App and Nigeriadecide.org.

Published in the Business Day Newspaper on Tuesday, 9^th February, 2016

#Technology: Pipeline sabotage validates adoption of advanced technology in monitoring

Adoption of advanced technologies in pipeline monitoring can reduce the prevalence of pipeline vandalism said to be costing Nigeria 470 million daily loss of revenue.

BusinessDay Investigation revealed that oil producing countries are taking proactive steps to protect their critical infrastructure.

Published in the Business Day Newspaper on Tuesday, 9^th February, 2016

#MSMEs: Corruption, others stifle MSMEs growth, say World Bank

THE World Bank Country Programme Director, Nigeria, Mr. Rachid Benmessaoud yesterdat said survey has ranked access to finance, power, infrastructure, taxes and corruption as major constraints to the growth of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises.

Benmessaoud spoke during the launch of Business Innovation and Growth (BIG) platform in partnership with Growth and Employment Project (GEM) World Bank Group in Abuja, stating that the project is aimed at stimulating job creation.

Published in the Nation Newspaper on Wednesday, 10^th February, 2016

#Energy: ‘Refineries to resume month end’

NIGERIA’S refineries are expected to restart before the end of the month after attacks on their feedstock pipelines forced their closure in January, the head of refining at the state oil company said yesterday.

The oil company halted crude flows to the refineries around mid-January after the key pipelines feeding the plants were attacked. The refineries were then shut down a few days later.

Published in the Nation Newspaper on Wednesday, 10^th February, 2016

#IndustryPulse #Infrastructure: Obasanjo opens BAT’s head office

FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has described the commissioning of British American Tobacco Nigeria head office, which is located in Ikoyi, Lagos, as a major milestone and also a testament to government’s efforts geared towards attracting foreign direct investment (FDI). Tracing the return of BAT to Nigeria, which began with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the government and the company in 2001, Chief Obasanjo said BAT was among the first companies that heeded his government’s invitation to invest in Nigeria.

Published in the Nation Newspaper on Wednesday, 10^th February, 2016

#Infrastructure: ‘$4.5b Ajaokuta Steel Mill ‘ll be completed this year’

NIGERIA is aiming to hand over the $4.5 billion Ajaokuta steel complex to private operators this year as part of a plan to kick start its industrial and mining industries, Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dr. Kayode Fayemi has said.

Published in the Nation Newspaper on Wednesday, 10^th February, 2016

#CSR: Residents of Ayedun community in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti are excited about a local health insurance scheme initiated by Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Dr. Kayode Obembe

NIGERIAN Medical Association (NMA) president, Dr. Kayode Obembe has given his kinsmen in Odo-Ayedun, a rustic community in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State something to cheer about by making affordable health care delivery accessible to them.

Published in the Nation Newspaper on Wednesday, 10^th February, 2016

#Economy: Naira drops further to 318/dollar as stocks rise

THE naira on Wednesday continued its fall against major currencies on the parallel market, closing at 318 against the United State dollar.

Mature obligation overseas companies by Nigeria importers, causing acute shortage of foreign exchange have reportedly made the naira to fall further on Wednesday.

But the stock index climbed up to 24,000 points for the first time in almost a month, according to a report by Reuters.