CSR NEWS SUMMARY ISSUE 161

#Infrastructure: Delta Spends N32.9b on Roads, Outlaws Contractors’ Mobilisation Fee

To improve road networks in Delta State, the authorities said it have embarked on 71 road projects at a total cost of N32.9 billion between May 2015 and November 2016. The State Commissioner for Works, Mr. James Augoye who spoke in Asaba at a ministerial press briefing explained that over 282 kilometres of roads and 136 km of concrete lined drains have been constructed by Okowa-led administration since he assumed office on May 29, 2015.

Published by the Guardian Newspaper on Monday, December 5, 2016

#Award: AXA Mansard Wins CFO Awards

AXA Mansard has emerged winner of the 2016 Nigeria CFO awards for the second consecutive year.The finance team of AXA Mansard won bronze in the finance team of the year category and a special award in the Finance and Technology award category. Receiving the award, the Chief Finance Officer of AXA Mansard, Mrs. Rashidat Adebisi appreciated the organisers for the recognition and dedicated the awards to members of its Finance team.

Published by the Guardian Newspaper on Monday, December 5, 2016

#Business: Ecobank Reiterates Support for Businesses, Finances Abia Mall

Ecobank Nigeria has restated its commitment to sustain support for projects that impact positively on the lives of the people and economic development of the country. The Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Charles Kie, who gave the assurance during the commissioning of Abia Retail Shopping Mall (Shoprite) in Umuahia, Abia State, said such support is part of the bank’s policy.

Published by the Guardian Newspaper on Monday, December 5, 2016

#Health: Huawei, Access Bank, PHN Stake N50m on Health Scheme

Huawei Technologies in collaboration with Access Bank Plc and Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PHN) has staked N50 million to support the drive for eradication of diseases in the country. The move is part of efforts to complement Federal Government’s effort in achieving its malaria pre-elimination goals by 2020, tagged ‘Malaria-To-Zero’ initiative.

Published by the Guardian Newspaper on Monday, December 5, 2016

#Philanthropy: NEMA Supplies Food Items To 80,709 Nigerian Refugees In Cameroon

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) at the weekend provided 1,460 bags of assorted food items to 80,709 Nigerian refugees in the Republic of Cameroun.

Published by the Guardian Newspaper on Monday, December 5, 2016

#Agric: Farmers to Make Rice Affordable By 2017

Rice farmers have assured Nigerians of their readiness to make the price of rice affordable and accessible by 2017. Mr. Aminu Goronyo, the National President, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), gave the assurance in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

Published by the Guardian Newspaper on Monday, December 5, 2016

#Education: Nigerian Graduates Need Analytical Skills – Expert

An Economist, Mr Olakunle Fakiyesi, on Tuesday said that Nigerian graduates needed to imbibe analytical skills and verbal reasoning to succeed in their future endeavours. Fakiyesi, the Chief Executive Officer of Famolex Integrated Consult, spoke at a seminar on GMAT Africa Career Readiness Programme (GACRP), organised by the company at the Fountain University campus, Osogbo.

Published by the Punch Newspaper on Tuesday, December 6, 2016

#Stakeholdersaction: Release White Paper on Bsc/HND Dichotomy, Rector Tells Buhari

 

The Rector of the Ogun State-owned D.S Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori, in the Ewekoro area of the state, Dr. Alfred Fatade, has called on the Federal Government to put an end to the discrimination against holders of the Higher National Diploma in the country, by releasing the White Paper on the BSc/HND dichotomy.

Published by the Punch Newspaper on Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Investment: Nigeria To Issue N95bn Bonds Dec 14

 

Nigeria plans to sell N95 billion (302 million dollars) worth of bonds on Dec. 14, its last debt auction for the year, the Debt Management Office (DMO) said on Tuesday. The office said it would sell N35 billion of a bond maturing in 2036; N25 billion of paper maturing in 2026 and N35 billion of debt maturing in 2021, using the Dutch auction system.

Published by the Punch Newspaper on Tuesday, December 6, 2016

#IndustryPulse: Nigeria Will Not Experience Food Crisis in 2017 – Expert

An Agriculture economist, Dr Alexander Coker, says in spite of the recession, Nigeria will not experience food crisis in 2017 considering the policies of  the Federal Government. Coker spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja at an African Economic Conference with the theme, “Feed Africa through agro-allied industrialisation’’.

Published by the Punch Newspaper on Tuesday, December 6, 2016

#Education: Government Alone Can’t Fund Education – Group

A non-governmental organisation, Ace Charity, has said the responsibility of educating youths cannot be left to the government. It said this was what informed its vision of lending support to the development and increment of the quality of education for underprivileged people all over Africa starting with Nigeria. To this end, Ace Charity said it had recently completed 12 functional libraries to be commissioned in various states before the end of the year.

Published by the Punch Newspaper on Tuesday, December 6, 2016

#Education: Adeyemi College, Birmingham Varsity Partner on Yoruba Studies

The Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo State, is set to hold an international conference on the lives and activities of people living in the coastal part of Yorubaland. According to the Provost of the college, Prof. Olukoya Ogen, the conference, which is in partnership with Insa Nolte of the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, will begin today at the college.

Published by the Punch Newspaper on Tuesday, December 6, 2016

#IndustryPulse: Tower Firm Promises to Deepen Broadband Penetration

Pan African Tower Company Limited has pledged to serve over 70 per cent of mobile network operators in Nigeria and help to deepen broadband penetration in Africa. The company said its major focus was on broadband penetration given that most African governments depended on it for growth and improvement of Gross Domestic Product.

Published by the Punch Newspaper on Tuesday, December 6, 2016

#Innovation: Firm Introduces App to Curb Vandalism, Power Theft

A new mobile app with the capacity to cut down on activities of vandals and energy thieves in the electricity industry has been introduced into the country. At the inauguration of the software in Abuja, the acting Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr. Anthony Akah, said the use of the software would enable electricity distribution companies in the country to record a significant decline in power theft and vandalism.

Published by the Punch Newspaper on Tuesday, December 6, 2016

#Power: Poor Power Supply Hinders N3tn Investment in Data Centres

The prolonged struggle to overcome the power crisis is a major obstacle to broadband penetration in the country, OZIOMA UBABUKOH writes. The Federal Government must resolve the power infrastructure shortcomings in the country and formulate good broadband policies to attract N3tn investment in data centre deployment, analysts have said.

Published by the Punch Newspaper on Tuesday, December 6, 2016

#Oil: Oil Slips On Doubts That Output Cut Will Be Deep Enough To End Glut

Oil prices slipped on Wednesday on persistent doubts whether a planned crude production cut led by OPEC and Russia would be deep enough to end a supply overhang that has dogged markets for over two years.

Published by the BusinessDay Newspaper on Wednesday, December 7, 2016

  

#Oil: FG Targets Oil Output Of 2.1mn Bpd In Jan – Kachikwu

 Nigeria hopes to boost its oil production to 2.1 million barrels per day next month, the country’s oil minister Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu said on Wednesday. Kachikwu also said he was expecting more production cuts from non-OPEC producers at Saturday’s meeting of oil producers in Vienna, and that he hoped to see oil prices at $60.

Published by the BusinessDay Newspaper on Wednesday, December 7, 2016

#Agric: Nigeria Plans $3.2 Bn Capitalization For Farming Lender

Nigeria plans to capitalize its state-owned Bank of Agriculture with 1 trillion naira ($3.2 billion) and will allow the lender to take deposits as Africa’s most-populous nation seeks to boost farming output and reduce food imports.

Published by the BusinessDay Newspaper on Wednesday, December 7, 2016

#Agric: High Cost Of Feeds Threatens Nigeria’s Fish Farming  

Nigeria’s quest for self-sufficiency in fish production is being threatened by high cost of quality feeds, which may widen the country’s food import bill.

Published by the BusinessDay Newspaper on Wednesday, December 7, 2016

#Technology#Award: With N27mn Each, Cobranet, Swiftnework Win NCC’S 5.4GH Auction For 2 Slots

Following the bid for 5.4 gigahertz (GH) broadband spectrum for network deployment by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), for Lagos State slots after 11 round bidding process, two winners – Cobranet and Swift Network have emerged winners at the price of N27,659,347.10 each.

Published by the BusinessDay Newspaper on Wednesday, December 7, 2016

#IndustryPulse: Financial Services Industry Most Vulnerable To Internet Scams – Deloitte

Results from a research carried out by cyber security team of Deloitte Nigeria has revealed that organisations in the financial services industry (FSI) had the highest number of phishing websites and emails, followed by organisations in the telecommunications media and technology (TMT) industry in 2015.

Published by the BusinessDay Newspaper on Wednesday, December 7, 2016

#Health: Diabetes Fast Attaining The Status Of Mass Killer – Medical Expert

A medical expert, Sule Bathner, says diabetes is fast taking the position of mass killer, with the ailment causing the death of one person in the world every seven seconds.

Published by the BusinessDay Newspaper on Wednesday, December 7, 2016

#Technology: Nigeria Saves 2 Billion Naira Yearly From Local Routing Of Internet Traffic

The utilization of Nigeria’s Internet Exchange Point (IXP) by telecommunications operators is the country 2 billion yearly. Executive Vice Chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umaru Danbatta, said at the telecom Executive and Regulators Forum in Lagos yesterday that the two billion naira would have been paid out to international carriers in dollar yearly if the Ix or IXP facility was not available in the country.

Published by the Guardian Newspaper on Friday, December 9, 2016

#StakeholdersAction: Shareholders Approve Union Banks Plan To Float 50 Billion Naira Right Issues

Shareholders of Union Bank Nigeria Plc, have approved five resolutions authorizing the board of the bank to raise up to 50 billion naira by way of right issue. The shareholders gave their approval at the banks extra ordinary general meeting held in Lagos on Wednesday.

Published by the Guardian Newspaper on Friday, December 9, 2016

#StakeholdersAction: CIBN Tasks Government On Enabling Business Environment

The Chartered Institute of Bankers Nigeria (CIBN) has said that efforts at attracting the needed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to grow them economy may not yield the expected results unless government and relevant agencies enhance the ease of doing business in Nigeria. According to the institute, aside safety of the investment and huge returns, an average investor will operate in the environment where there are little or no hitches to maximize cost.

Published by the Guardian Newspaper on Friday, December 9, 2016

#Oil: Crude Oil Prices Drop Days After OPEC Output Cut

Brent crude oil price dropped by 1.87 per cent to $53.93 a barrel after hitting $54.19 a barrel following the decision by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries(OPEC) to cut production output a week ago. The price of BRENT crude oil had risen by 4.5 per cent to $54.19 a barrel, its highest level this year.

Published by the Guardian Newspaper on Friday, December 9, 2016

#Agriculture: Experts Rally Youths On Agric Enterprise

Experts at a forum on smallholder farmers have advocated for a new economy driven by agriculture and urged farmers to consider it as an enterprise. The call was made at a dialogue session targeted by youth farmers in the agriculture value chain, organized by the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of the Pan Atlantic University, in Partnership with the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF)

Published by the Guardian Newspaper on Friday, December 9, 2016

#Technology: Microsoft, Code.Org Target Beginner Coders With Minecraft Programme

With 30 million hours of last year’s ‘Hour of code’ tutorial, Microsoft and code.org believe their new minecraft will again introduce tens of milions to coding for the first time. It is coming on the heels of Microsoft’s coding workshops worldwide during computer science Education week.

Published by the Guardian Newspaper on Friday, December 9, 2016

#Technology: Techdev 2016 Makes Case For ICT Hubs In States

Governments of South Eastern states have been urged to set structures and various incentives to encourage the private sector to invest in the establishment of ICT hubs in the region. The call to action was contained in the communiqué iossued at the end of the maiden South East technology Development(TechDev) summit in Enugu which drew some of the best brains in the Information and communication Technologies(ICT) sector.

Published by the Guardian Newspaper on Friday, December 9, 2016

#Infrastructure: Poly’s Stadium, Other Projects Commissioned

A 14,000 capacity stadium built by Delta State Polytechnic Ozoro with the support of the government, the first of its kind in any tertiary institution in Nigeria and eight other Projects executed solely with internally generated revenue by the school, have been commissioned by Governor Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa at the Isoko North Local Government Area’s headquarters.

Published by the Guardian Newspaper on Friday, December 9, 2016

CSR NEWS SUMMARY ISSUE 160

#Event: Nigerian-British Chamber Seeks Sustainable Development through Infrastructure

Given the current state of recession in Nigeria, the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) wants the country to achieve sustainable development through infrastructure. The chamber has, therefore, concluded plans to hold its third quarter advocacy roundtable on infrastructure for the year in Lagos.

Published in the Business Day Newspaper on Monday, November 28, 2016

#Education: Africa’s Biggest Company Sees Education as New Growth Market

Naspers Ltd. plans to expand in education software as Africa’s biggest company by market value searches for a repeat of the profitable bet it made on Tencent Holdings Ltd. of China.

Published in the Business Day Newspaper on Monday, November 28, 2016

#Economy: Households Hurt As Income Contracts for Second Consecutive Year

Average incomes in Nigeria contracted for the first time in 7 years in 2015, and may have stretched to negative 3 percent this year, pushing more households deeper into a poverty hole. GDP per-capita income, which measures the average income earned per person in a given area, fell 17.57 percent to $2,640 per annum

Published in the Business Day Newspaper on Monday, November 28, 2016

#MSMEs: Nigerian Small Businesses to Attract $2 Million Credit Facility

Nigerian medium and small enterprises could attract up to $2 million from Grassroots Business Fund (GBF or the Fund), an investment fund that aims to aims to reduce poverty by building companies which provide sustainable incomes and cost-savings for poor populations in lower-income countries.

Published in the Business Day Newspaper on Monday, November 28, 2016

#StakeholdersAction: NBCC Says Economic Prosperity Hangs On Manufacturing Sector Performance

Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) says economic prosperity of Africa’s largest oil producer depends on the performance of the manufacturing sector.

Published in the Business day Newspaper on Monday, November 28, 2016

#Health: First New HIV Vaccine Trial Begins In Africa

Ahead of the World AIDS Day 2016 on Thursday, scientists have launched the first Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) vaccine efficacy study anywhere, for over seven years, in South Africa. According to the United States National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the study, called HVTN 702, is to test whether an experimental vaccine regimen safely prevents infection among South African adults. It involves a new version of the only HIV vaccine candidate ever shown to provide some protection against the virus.

Published in Guardian Newspaper on Tuesday, November 29, 2016

#Health: Don’t Cut Health Budget, Minister Appeals To National Assembly

Stressing That The 33 Percent Cut In The 2016 Budget Posed Serious Funding Challenge And Portrayed Nigeria As A Country That Pays Lip Service To Serious Issues, The Minister Of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, Has Enjoined The National Assembly Not To Tinker With The Ministry’s Estimates In The 2017 Appropriation Bill To Be Presented By President Muhammadu Buhari.

Published In Guardian Newspaper on Tuesday, November 29, 2016

#StakeholdersAction: Stakeholders Strategise To Make Debt Capital Market Attain World Class Position By 2020

While announcing the establishment of the Debt Capital Market Development (DCMD) project would transform the nation’s DCM into a world-class functioning market by 2020, the FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange (FMDQ) has unveiled strategies to achieve the set objectives.

Published in Guardian Newspaper on Tuesday, November 29, 2016

#Economy: ‘Ebonyi Will Generate Over N6b From Local Rice Soon’

Going by the assessment of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ebonyi State would soon become a hub for local rice production and supply in the South East and generating more than N6 billion yearly. Agriculture minister, Chief Audu Ogbeh, who made the disclosure at the weekend in Abakiliki, Ebonyi State, said the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is revolutionary in the management of the sector’s strategy.

Published in Guardian Newspaper on Tuesday, November 29, 2016

#StakeholdersAction: Elumelu Urges Government to Encourage Entrepreneurs

Worried by the alarming rate of unemployment in Nigeria, Chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group, Tony Elumelu, has urged government at all levels to create an enabling environment in ensuring the transformative growth of entrepreneurship in the nation and across the African continent.

Published in Guardian Newspaper on Tuesday, November 29, 2016

#Health: HIV/AIDS - FG Develops Plan to Eliminate Mother-To-Child Transmission

The Federal Ministry of Health has developed a National Operational plan for the Elimination of Mother-to-Child transmission of HIV (2017-2018), aimed at halting the spread of the scourge by 2030. Dr Deborah Odoh, the Assistant Director, HIV/AIDS Division of the ministry made this known at the National Conference on HIV Prevention in Abuja on Wednesday.

Published by the Vanguard Newspaper on Wednesday, November 30, 2016

#Infrastructure: Kano State Govt. Signs $1.8bn Light Rail Contract with Chinese Firm‎

The Kano State Government has signed contracts valued at 1.8 billion dollars with China Railway Construction Group C18 for the construction of light rail line in the state.‎ ‎Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje signed the contract in a brief ceremony on Wednesday in Kano.

Published by the Vanguard Newspaper on Wednesday, November 30, 2016

#Economy: FEC Approves 2017 Budget Estimate for Submission To NASS – Udoma

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved the 2017 budget proposal for onward submission to the National Assembly for final approval. The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Mr Udoma Udo Udoma, made this known when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the FEC meeting.

Published by the Vanguard Newspaper on Wednesday, November 30, 2016

#Oil: OPEC Cuts Output By 1.2 Million Barrels per Day, Exempts Nigeria

After seven hours of deliberation, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has agreed to reduce oil production by around 1.2 million barrels per day from Jan. 1, 2017. However, Nigeria and Libya were exempted from the cut, while Indonesia suspended its membership after refusing to agree to the deal.

Published by the Vanguard Newspaper on Wednesday, November 30, 2016

#IndustryPulse: 3,000 Workers Lose Jobs in Steel Sector – Union

The National Union of Iron and Steel Workers on Wednesday said 3,000 of its members lost their jobs in the last quarter of 2015 following closure of steel companies. Mr Kasimu Kadiri, General Secretary of the union said in Lagos that the current economic recession had increased the number of unemployed people.

Published by the Vanguard Newspaper on Wednesday, November 30, 2016

#Infrastructure: Reps Urge FG to Complete Warri-Kaduna Rail Project

The House of Representatives on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to complete the country’s rail central corridor from Warri Port to Kaduna on standard gauge. The House also mandated its committees on Land Transport and Appropriation to engage the Minister of Transportation and relevant agencies for the project’s inclusion in 2017 budget.

Published by the Vanguard Newspaper on Wednesday, November 30, 2016

#Health: Thousands Get Free Chevron Mosquito Nets, Malaria Treatment n Delta

Efforts at kicking out malaria from Nigerian gained a boost yesterday in Koko, headquarters of Warri North Council, with free distribution of three thousand mosquito nets to residents as more were diagnosed and treated for various malaria ailments in the Delta state locality.

Published by the Vanguard Newspaper on Wednesday, November 30, 2016

#Philanthropy: Gates Donates $2m To Governors’ Forum 

The Nigeria Governos’ Forum and Bill Medlinda Gates Foundation on Thursday in Abuja, announced a new partnership, which they said was aimed at strengthening cross-state policies in Nigeria. The policies, it was stated, would also strengthen financial resources that they said would benefit the poorest people in the country. Chief Strategy Officer at the Gates Foundation, Mr. Mark Suzman, made the announcement at a press briefing.

Published by the Punch Newspaper on Thursday, December 1, 2016

#Infrastructure: Lagos to Start Rent To Own Scheme on December 8

The Lagos State Government on Thursday said it would commence its ‘Rent to Own and Rental Housing schemes’ with 12 housing estates on December 8. The Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal, told a news conference in Alausa that the policy was in response to the yearnings of residents for affordable and decent housing. He said that the `Rent to Own’ policy would target low-income earners in both formal and informal sectors, while the `Rental Housing’ policy would cover the working class.

Published by the Punch Newspaper on Thursday, December 1, 2016

#Education: Private Varsities Lack Quality Manpower to Perform – Former VC

Former Vice-Chancellor of Uthman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, Prof.  Riskuwa Shehu, says private universities in Nigeria lack qualified academic and non-academic staff to offer quality education. Shehu, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ilorin said that most senior teaching staff in private universities were either employed on sabbatical, visiting or on adjunct basis. He said such situation existed because the institutions had difficulty in attracting quality staff.

Published by the Punch Newspaper on Thursday, December 1, 2016

#IndustryPulse: Terror Attacks Loom at Nation’s Airports over Porous Security

Security experts in the aviation industry yesterday warned that terror attacks were imminent at airports around the country. The experts, after a close look at happenings in and around the aerodromes, said that the news of another stowaway on Arik aircraft suggested that attacks might just be closer than the authorities were aware.

Published by the Guardian Newspaper on Friday, December 2, 2016

#Health: Nigeria Ranks top in AIDS-related Fatalities

Nigeria has the highest number of human Immuno-Deficiency Vius (HIV)/ Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)-related deaths in the worldf with 180,000 toll yearly. She also contributes one in every three new infections among children.

Published by the Guardian Newspaper on Friday, December 2, 2016

#IndustryPulse: Minister Urges Patronage of Indigenous Scientist, Engineers

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu and his Water Resources counterpart, Suleiman Adamu, have stressed the need to engage the services of indigenous scientists and engineers to correct the mistakes of the past.

Published by the Guardian Newspaper on Friday, December 2, 2016

#IndustryPulse: Brain Drain Hits LUTH, 20 Doctors Resign in a Year

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) chapter has raised alarm over the brain drain in the institution due to poor welfare.

Published by the Guardian Newspaper on Friday, December 2, 2016

#IndustryPulse: CBN Plans Extension of Modern Financial Services

The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele yesterday said there were plans to provide financial services to rural areas across the country by the end of 2020.

Published by the Guardian Newspaper on Friday, December 2, 2016

#Power: Benin Disco Provides 500 Distribution Transformers

Benin Electricity Distribution Plc. (BEDC) has provided over 500 distribution transformers to ensure reliable power distribution to its customers. The company also has constructed 10 dedicated distribution lines for commercial and industrial customers, including replacing failed ones, in addition to 398 distribution transformers provided in the review period.

Published by the Guardian Newspaper on Friday, December 2, 2016

#IndustryPulse: Pan African Tower debuts, to Promote Telecoms

Pan African Tower Limited has begun its West Africa operations in Nigeria, to serve over 70 percent of mobile network operators on the continent. Its presence will also help to accelerate African strong appetite for broadband penetration, which is a major focus of most African governments in the quest for growth and improvement in Gross domestic Product (GDP).

Published by the Guardian Newspaper on Friday, December 2, 2016

#Partnership: NOTAP Seeks Partnership between ICT Industry and Universities

Dr Dan Azumi Mohammed Ibrahim, director general of the National Office for technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has called for improved collaboration between the information and communication technology (ICT) industry and the university communities to boost locally developed solutions.

Published by the Guardian Newspaper on Friday, December 2, 2016

#Partnership #MSMEs: CWG Partners OLX to Offer SMERP Solution to SMEs

CWG Plc has inked a partnership deal with OLX, one of the world’s leading classified platform in growth markets, to offer its SMERP Solution to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria for free. CWG, largest Information Technology Integration Company in Nigeria built the SMERP Solution to enable Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) manage their business operations efficiently.

Published by the Guardian Newspaper on Friday, December 2, 2016

CSR NEWS SUMMARY ISSUE 159

#Education: 4,403 Ebonyi Teachers Fail Certificate Screening

The Ebonyi State Universal Basic Education Board has said that a total of 4,403 primary schoolteachers in the state failed a test conducted by the board. The leader of the board’s investigating committee, PNKLrof. Anthony Ani, announced this in Abakaliki, the state capital on Friday while presenting the committee’s report to the board.

Published by the Punch Newspaper on Monday, October 24, 2016

#Power: Power Firms Demand 200% Increase in Tariff

There may be a fresh increase of over 200 per cent in electricity tariff being paid by residential consumers if a proposal by power distribution companies to raise the average energy charge to N105 per kilowatt-hour from the current rate of 22.8KWH is approved. This is coming less than eight months after about 45 per cent increase in tariff was imposed on electricity consumers nationwide.

Published by the Punch Newspaper on Monday, October 24, 2016

#Business: Eight Months of Forcados Shutdown Cost Nigeria N689bn

The country has lost at least N689bn to the suspension of exports of Forcados, one of the nation’s largest crude oil grades, since February. Friday, October 21, 2016 marked exactly eight months that Shell declared force majeure on the export of Forcados.

Published by the Punch Newspaper on Monday, October 24, 2016

Business: Recession - Dangote Sacks 36 Expatriates, 12 Nigerians

The current recession rocking the Nigerian economy has hit one of the biggest employers of labour in the country outside of the government as the Dangote Group, belonging to Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has fired 48 members of staff.

Published by the Punch Newspaper on Monday, October 24, 2016

#Power #StakeholdersAction: Power Firms Seek FG’s Intervention on Tariff

To avert an increase of over 200 per cent in electricity tariff payable by residential consumers in the near future, the Federal Government has to intervene in the sector, power distribution companies have said. According to them, the government’s intervention is vital in order to address the N809bn revenue shortfall in the industry.

Published by the Punch Newspaper on Monday, October 24, 2016

#Industry: Nigeria Mining Week to Tackle Sector Reform

Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, is billed to address the issues limiting the country as a mining destination at this year’s Nigeria Mining week put together by the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) in partnership with Spintelligent and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Nigeria, to address the deficit witnessed in the sector.

Published by the Vanguard Newspaper on Tuesday, October 25, 2016

#Power: Three-Week Power Generation Averages 4,154MW

Nigeria’s power supply maintained an average of 4154 megawatts (mw) in the first three weeks of this month, with generation for the period under review recordinga peak of about 4362mw on the 12th of October.

Published by the Vanguard Newspaper on Tuesday, October 25, 2016

#Technology: Systemspecs Releases Remita Mobile, Targets Pan-African Expansion

Systemspecs will release the mobile version of Remita e-payment and e-collection platform before year-end, as it targets pan-African expansion. From their smart and feature phones, millions of Nigerians will now be able to make payments from any of their commercial or micro-finance bank accounts or through any debit or credit card to thousands of merchants and billers in Nigeria when SystemSpecs, creators of the Remita e-payment platform, releases the mobile version of the application by the end of this year.

Published by the Vanguard Newspaper on Tuesday, October 25, 2016

#Oil & Gas: ExxonMobil Divestment: Investors Pull Back Bullish Sentiment

The divestment of ExxonMobil, United State-based international oil company, from the Nigerian subsidiary, Mobil Oil Nigeria (MON) Plc, may have resonated positively with the Nigerian investors as the company’s stock recorded significant appreciation in the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, in the first few days trading, post-divestment announcement.

Published by the Vanguard Newspaper on Tuesday, October 25, 2016

#StakeholderActions: Government to reduce number of agencies at ports

Worried about the loss of business to neighbouring countries arising from low competitiveness, indications emerged at the weekend that the Federal Government may further reduce the number of agencies at the nation’s ports. This is part of measures to address complaints bordering on the ease of doing business. The Government said efforts are underway to reduce human intervention at the ports, some of which have been responsible for the poor operational efficiency, by deploying technology and increasing stakeholder collaboration on regulatory frameworks.

Published by the Guardian Newspaper Tuesday, October 25, 2016

#MSMEs: #BoI, Benue government seal N2bn MSMEs financing deal

The Bank of Industry (Bol) has co-launched a N2 billion Micro Small and Medium Enterprises(MSMEs) development fund with the Benue State government. Under the financing model, BoI will contribute N1billon which will in turn be matched in equal sum by the Benue State Government for on-lending to mainly businesses that have high employment generating potential and value addition to local raw materials.

Published by the Guardian Newspaper Tuesday, October 25, 2016

#Environment: Climate Change Adaptation Key Component Of Agric Policy – Ogbeh

The minister of agriculture and rural development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has said that climate change adaptation for environmental sustainability and increased food production is a key component of the Agricultural Promotion Policy of the federal government.

Published by the Leadership Newspaper on Wednesday, 26th October, 2016

#Investment: AfDB Assures of Accelerated Investment to Solve Africa’s Energy Crisis

The President of the African Development Bank, AfDB, Akinwumi Adesina has reiterated the bank’s determination to fund critical power projects in Africa with hope of ensuring the continent get over the recurring energy crises.

Published by the Leadership Newspaper on Wednesday, 26th October, 2016

#Empowerment: N500m Fund Will Help The Disabled Realise Potentials – Ambode

Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday inaugurated the Governing Board of the Office for Disability Affairs to manage the N500million Disability Trust Fund. He said the fund would help people living with disabilities to bring out their potentials and be self-reliant.

Published by the Leadership Newspaper on Wednesday, 26th October, 2016

Investment: Nigeria Safe for Investors – Shittu

The Minister of Communications, Barrister Abdur-Raheem  Adebayo Shittu yesterday  in Abuja further reiterated the present administration’s resolve to make Nigeria’s business environment safe and conducive for investors.

Published by the Leadership Newspaper on Wednesday, 26th October, 2016

#Agric #Investment: Investment in Agricultural Panacea to Economic Recession

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has identified massive investment in the agricultural sector as panacea to the prevailing economic recession.

Emmanuel said agriculture has the potential of increasing the revenue base of the country, create wealth, generate employment as well as sustain the economy.

Published by the Leadership Newspaper on Wednesday, 26th October, 2016

#Agric: Agric Bank to Assist Farmers, Youths with Loans

The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) has pleged to provide financial and other support services to farmers and youths  in the country to boost food production through mechanised farming system.

Published by This Day Newspaper on Thursday, 27th October, 2016

#Infrastructure: FG to Spend 61% of External Borrowing on Power, Rail, Other Infrastructure Projects

Details of the federal government’s $29.96 billion External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan for 2016-2018 have revealed that 61.2 per cent of the foreign loans have been earmarked for bankable infrastructure projects while social programmes in health and education, the federal government’s budget support facility, agriculture and the Eurobond issue account for the balance.

Published by This Day Newspaper on Thursday, 27th October, 2016

#Empowerment: Releases N25bn for Social Intervention Programme

After several months of touting its social intervention programme, the federal government finally announced Wednesday that it had released N25 billion, translating to five per cent of the N500 billion earmarked for the programme in the 2016 budget.

Published by This Day Newspaper on Thursday, 27th October, 2016

#Power: No Plan to Raise Electricity Tariffs

Dousing mounting concerns over another hike in electricity tariffs, the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) Wednesday said it had no plan to increase the current tariffs being paid by consumers.

Published by This Day Newspaper on Thursday, 27th October, 2016

#Health: Sokoto to Administer 3.6m Doses of Anti-Malaria Drugs

Following reported outbreak of malaria in some parts of Sokoto town, which has led to the death of five persons this month, the state government said it would administer 3.6 million doses of anti-malaria drugs on the people of the state in the next four weeks.

Published by This Day Newspaper on Thursday, 27th October, 2016

#Health: USAID Donates 4.5 Million Mosquito Bed Nets to Oyo State

The Mission Director Representative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Nigeria, Dr. Rick Niska has handed over 4.5 million bed nets to Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi for the state.

Published by This Day Newspaper on Thursday, 27th October, 2016