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Defence/Security

Agency tasks officers on effective community policing

General Manager, LNSA, Dr Ifalade Oyekan, leading corps officers on a bicycle patrol in Lagos Island community.

 

Agency tasks officers on effective community policing

Patrol

By Adebola Adegoke/Franklin Ohaegbu

Lagos, April 11, 2023 (NAN) The Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency (LNSA), has charged its Corps officers to upgrade their monitoring duties by engaging in regular bicycle patrol to strengthen the community policing efforts of the agency. 

Its General Manager, Dr Ifalade Oyekan, gave the charge in Lagos on Monday, while addressing officers during a bicycle patrol drill on the Lagos Island area of the State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 30 participating officers rode from Oba of Lagos Palace through Idumagbo, Balogun, Marina to Onikan. 

NAN also reports that the agency embarked on the bicycle patrol on April 4 in the Surulere area of the State, led by the general manager.

During the April 4 patrol, 50 officers rode through Coker-Aguda, Itire-Ikate and Surulere areas of the state. 

Oyekan told NAN that it was part of efforts to strengthen the operations of the officers for effective community policing across the State.

He said the exercise was also aimed at ensuring that officers used the bicycles regularly for community patrol, in addition to foot and vehicle patrol, as was done in the past when the agency was established.

“When LNSA was established, we were known for always riding our bicycles around communities every Tuesday and Thursday.

“But in recent times, we have had people asking and wondering what happened that they don’t see us using bicycles for patrol.

“This is why we are encouraging our officers to put the bicycles to use because it can get to the interior of the communities to monitor events.

“When they do this regularly, members of the community will be reassured of our presence and they will have confidence in us that we are always on patrol,” he said.

Oyekan also disclosed that the agency was planning to hold a cycling competition in honour of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu where participating teams will be drawn from 57 local government areas of the State.

He said the bicycle patrol was also to get the officers physically fit and prepare them ahead of the competition coming up later in the year.

Oyekan assured that Gov. Sanwo-Olu was committed to the safety of lives and property of residents, as evidenced by the security and governance pillar of his administration’s THEMES Agenda.

He, therefore, said that the agency was committed to actualising this mandate through regular community engagement, patrol and intelligence gathering.

He also said that the agency had been at alert in maintaining peace in the communities throughout the pre- and post-election periods. 

“We have our officers in all the 57 local government areas of the State and we try our best to maintain peace in the communities.

“Whenever we have our meeting with the community development associations, we are always advocating for peace, oneness and love because we are all one in Lagos State,” he said.

He added that the agency had submitted several intelligence reports of its surveillance on abandoned buildings and vehicles, vandalism, suspected illegal immigrants, beggars and hideouts to the relevant agencies for appropriate action.

“We share intelligence reports with the Nigerian Police Force, Army and Department of State Security, periodically to engender partnership for the effective safeguarding of life and property,” he said. 

He called on residents to have confidence in the neighbourhood safety corps and always speak out fast whenever they noticed something unusual, “because security is everybody’s business.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

AI/FOE/KOLE/VAO

Edited by Remi Koleoso/Vincent Obi

Economy

IPO: Zimbabwe’s WestProp lists on Victoria Falls stock exchange

IPO

By Adebola Adegoke 

Lagos, March 27, 2023 (NAN) A leading Zimbabwean property company, WestProp Holdings has announced its official listing on the Victoria falls stock exchange.

Dr Michael Louis, Chairman of the board announced at a press conference held in Zimbabwe, on Monday that the company would formally be listed on April 29.

He said  the company had received approval to list two categories of share capital namely its ordinary shares and preference shares.

“It is my privilege to formally announce that on the 7th of March, the Registrar of Companies approved West Property Company Pvt Ltd., to become a public company and West Prop Holdings Ltd. was birthed and issued with its certificate of name change,” he said.

Louis said the shares would accordingly be opening an offer for public subscription for the securities from March 27 to April 21, 2023.

He said the decision was in line with the National Development Strategy of ZImbabwe to achieve an empowered upper-middle income society by 2030 to chart a new transformative and inclusive development agenda.

“The board thought of creative ideas to have a participatory inclusive economic model that really can help the poor and give everybody a secure future.

“We are further elated to announce that we have decided to list on the victoria fall stock exchange because of the numerous benefits it holds for shareholders, including but not limited to shares trading in US Dollars, no capital gains and minimum transaction costs.

“If you buy preference shares the company underwrites a minimum return of 7.5 per cent per annum on investments,” he said.

Louis added that WestProp’s IPO is to raise 30 million dollars in capital to accelerate the development of the company’s existing projects such as Pokugara Residential Estate, Millennium Heights, Pomona City, The Mall of Zimbabwe, Millennium Heights Office Park and the Hills Golf Estate.

This, he said, was in line with the company’s 2050 vision of one billion bricks resulting in thousands of jobs and a total value of five billion dollars.

“As we have now gone public, the board is convinced the time is now for individuals to be part of a bigger family to start investing in their long-term future and especially encourage the youth to start participating.

“To this end, the board will be investing in educational literacy programmes to transform and educate the public and especially the youth regarding their responsibility of securing a generational future,” he said.

Louis, the new chairman of the board acknowledged the achievements of Kenneth Sharpe, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and his team that have led the company to receive several international and national awards.

The awards included Company of the Year 2023 ( Zim land Developments and construction Awards); Property Development Company of the Year 2021. ( Property Magazine); Company of the Year National Awards 2021 (Zimbabwe Business Awards).

Others were Best Real Estate Innovative company of the year 2021 (Zim Infrastructure Investment summit);

Outstanding Property Development company 2022. (Zim CEO Network).

In his remarks, Sharpe announced that the company was offering one million ordinary shares at 10 dollars each and 5.4 million preferential redeemable convertible shares at 5 dollars each.

According to him, the preferential shares allow investors five years to decide to become ordinary shareholders during which time they will benefit from a minimum guaranteed return of 7.5 per cent per year as well as dividends from the company’s profits.

“This is likely to result in over 10 per cent per year being paid out which is an amount that no other listed company or bank in Zimbabwe is currently offering investors.

“We have a goal of taking our company from the current annual sales of 40 million dollars to over 100 million dollars within seven years and to create a balance sheet that will exceed one billion dollars in value which is more than five times the one today.

“All the shareholders will benefit from this growth. We know It is achievable and within our grasp,” he said

He said  the company’s corporate strategy statement was to pioneer world-class, vertically-integrated, premium lifestyle communities in Zimbabwe by 2025.

“It is not a coincidence that we have targeted one billion bricks if you look at our projected construction for the projects we have designed, it will take one billion bricks and five billion dollars to complete them.

“Every day we are putting bricks into the ground working towards the vision where we know that within the next 27 years, we will have laid one billion bricks.

“As of today, we have laid 5,298,975 bricks and we have 55, 626,972 committed bricks from our existing sales,” he said.

“This ensures we have smart cities encompass the live, work, shop and play model which means we provide social amenities like shopping malls, sporting facilities, creches, churches and many other recreational facilities in a safe 24 hour secure gated community,” he said.

He also assured the public that the benefits of investing in the company were multi-dimensional.

According to him, the company guarantees a secure investment where someone who’s investing 50 dollars will know that their money will still be there in one month, in one year and five years.

“It’s an alternative to the banks. There’s no cost we deduct for holding that value on behalf of the investor, and they are guaranteed that their investment is safe with us.

“Once they have invested with us, the investment doesn’t just stay at the 50 dollars that they invested. We give a solid return. The reason why we’re able to give them an expected return of over 10 per cent a year in USD is that we are highly profitable.

“We are saying that together with the public, we can join hands and build Zimbabwe because the opportunity to invest with us will allow us and the public to come together, hold hands and build our country brick by brick.

“We are doing this today through IPO and the listing, benefiting yourself in becoming a shareholder with us, you are joining hands in owning the assets that we own,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

AI/CHOM

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Edited by Chioma Ugboma

 

Environment

Stakeholders back afforestation for charcoal trade, export

Afforestation

By Adebola Adegoke/Mariam Akande

Lagos, March 16, 2023 (NAN) The National Association of Charcoal Producers, Dealers, Exporters and Afforestation of Nigeria (NACPDEAN) and stakeholders have stressed the need for aggressive afforestation and reforestation in sustaining the charcoal sub-sector.

They made the call at a stakeholders consultative meeting with government agencies organised by NACPDEAN, on Thursday in Lagos.

The event had the theme: “Sustainable Afforestation and Reforestation for Nigeria’s Posterity.”

The stakeholders said the call became necessary to increase the contribution of the charcoal sub-sector to the diversification drive of the economy, from oil to non-oil exports.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that afforestation is the process of planting trees in new areas not previously covered by trees, thereby creating new forest.

Reforestation is the process of planting trees in forests that have experienced decrease in the number of trees.

The National President, NACPDEAN, Mr Babatunde Edu, said the event was designed to reposition the charcoal sub-sector as one of the drivers of the economy.

Edu added that it was organised to facilitate the aggressive planting of trees and conversion of wastes to domestic and industrial charcoals.

He said the discussions would go a long way in opening the economy to local and foreign investors in the afforestation and reforestation programmes, while encouraging entrepreneurial development and self-reliance.

“Charcoal is an exportable commodity, and its global market in 2021 was valued at  $6.05 billion dollars, $5.98 billion in 2020, and the market size is estimated to reach $8.09 billion dollars 2028.

“Nigeria is ranked as the largest charcoal producer in Africa and second largest in the world, and as of 2020, Brazil, Nigeria and Ethiopia, produced 6.3 million tonnes, 4.8 million tonnes and 4.7 million tonnes respectively, and shared 29 per cent of the global production.

“The global review of economic indicator by the World Bank in 2020, noted that, Indonesia, China, Poland, Nigeria and Ukraine were the world’s largest exporters of charcoal with export earnings of  $289 million,  $153 million, $90.8 million, $75.7 million and $74.7 million, respectively.

“The rating is good for the nation’s economic growth provided the nation sustains it, through the establishment of more private forest estates and aggressive afforestation programmes sustainability,” Edu said.

He said the association was passionate and committed to afforestation and reforestation noting they were the keys to sustainable forestry and charcoal business.

“The United States of America and China are developing and promoting wood charcoal sub-sector due to its economic uses in medicine, cosmetics, industry and household, and Nigeria cannot be an exception.

“The focus of NACPDEAN is to fully embark on agrisilviculture (integration of trees and crops), establishment of more private indigenous plantations and creation of industrial alternative charcoal that will not come from wood but shafts and waste for the economic growth and development of Nigeria”, he said.

Edu added that NACPDEAN had started taking drastic steps to regulate the charcoal sub-sector with a concrete commitment to putting a stop to the illegal production and trade of charcoal.

The president added that the purpose of the event was to engage the stakeholders on the need for Charcoal National Association’s Compliance Requirement for all charcoal stakeholders along the value chain.

This, he said, was to enable the private stakeholders to replace the trees that were cut for exportation by ensuring aggressive afforestation and reforestation projects, since only the government cannot handle afforestation in the country.

“We also want to assist the government on charcoal data and manage the nonchalant attitude of charcoal stakeholders toward afforestation by ensuring that a little export and trade proceed is paid and channelled to replanting of trees in the country,” he said.

The Minister of Environment, Mr  Muhammed Abdullahi, represented by Dr Peter Bagudu, a Deputy Director, said the event was timely, following the recent lift on the ban on the exportation of processed wood, charcoal and other allied products.

Abdullahi said the lift on the ban was necessary due to the increasing cases of illegal logging and charcoal/wood exportation through illegal routes with attendant daily revenue loss.

He, however, noted that strict and coherent measures had been put in place for effective wood trade regulation and control in the country to eliminate illegalities in the sector.

According to him, some of the measures include: Review of Guidelines on Exportation of Processed Wood, Charcoal, and other Allied Products; Nigeria Timber Legality Standards; Constitution of the Inter-Ministerial Joint Task Force on illegal forest activities.

Mr Jude Amalunweze, Assistant Director, Commodities and Export Department, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, pledged continued support, adding that the ministry was committed to providing an enabling environment for the charcoal sub-sector to thrive.

Also, Mrs Francisca Odega, representative of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, urged members of the association to register their businesses with the council and other relevant agencies to facilitate trade and export of their goods.

NAN reports that other government agencies represented at the event include Nigerian Shippers’ Council, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, Nigeria Customs Service, Raw Materials Research and Development Council.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

AI/OMA/ARIS/JNC 

===============

Edited by Idowu Ariwodola/Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Health

Oral Health Day: NDA calls for increased access to dental care services

L-R Mrs Oiza Gyang, Marketing Director, Beauty, Wellbeing and Personal Care at Unilever Nigeria; Dr Gloria Uzoigwe, Head of Dentistry Division, Federal Ministry of Health; Dr Tope Adeyemi, President, NDA; Dr Tajudeen Sanusi, Registrar, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria at the media briefing on World Oral Health Day in Lagos.

 

Dental

By Adebola Adegoke

Lagos, March 15, 2023 (NAN) The Nigerian Dental Association (NDA) has called for collaborative efforts with government at all levels to increase access to dental care to reduce oral diseases and improve the general health of Nigerians.

The NDA President, Dr Tope Adeyemi, made the call at a media briefing on Wednesday in Lagos.

The media briefing was part of activities lined up to celebrate the 2023 World Oral Health Day (WOHD).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the WOHD is celebrated annually on March 20.

The theme for this year’s celebration is: ”Be Proud of Your Mouth for a Lifetime Smiles.”

According to him, this year’s theme seeks to inspire change by focusing on the importance of oral health at every stage of life.

Adeyemi said that the association celebrates the day in conjunction with Unilever Nigeria Plc, by carrying out oral health promotional activities nationwide for two weeks.

“These oral health promotional activities include visits to schools and markets; outreaches (free dental check-ups, scaling and polishing, glass ionomer cement fillings, simple extractions) to various communities including vulnerable groups.

“There would also be educational programmes such as quizzes, essays and spelling bee competitions, as well as, advocacy visits and awareness through the media and social media channels.

“The reason we should celebrate the WOHD is that, some of the world’s population suffer from oral diseases, most of which are preventable.

“With collaborative action to fund programmes for prevention, early detection and treatment, the effects can be mitigated.

“We strongly recommend that individuals, families, communities, and governments act with appropriate measures to reduce the burden of oral diseases.

“This is because oral diseases have an impact on general health, wellbeing and national economies,” he said.

Adeyemi said that it was pertinent to draw the attention of the government to the limited access to oral healthcare services in the country, especially in the rural areas.

“Nigeria has an estimated population of 218,541,212 in 2022. This gives an estimated dentist-to-population ratio of 1:53,828.

“This implies that a dentist is responsible for the oral health care of approximately 54,000 persons in Nigeria.

“This is far from the recommended ratio of 1: 5,000. This dentist-to-population ratio is worse in the rural areas due to near absence of personnel and oral healthcare services in primary healthcare centres in the rural areas in Nigeria,” he said.

Adeyemi, also a consultant orthodontist at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, commended the Federal Government for signing the National Health Insurance Authority into law to provide universal health coverage for Nigerians.

He, however, requested that preventive oral care services such as scaling and polishing, fluoride therapy, simple dental fillings, dentures and simple tooth extraction be included in primary care instead of secondary care services.

This, he said, would help prevent dental diseases, as well as, ensure prompt treatment of developing oral diseases.

He also recommended the full integration of oral health care into primary health care services to ensure more access to oral health care services, especially in the underserved rural areas at the primary health care centres.

“The NDA also earnestly calls for multi-sectorial efforts to increase the capacity of the training institutions for dentists in Nigeria.

“We also request for improved conditions of service and access to low-interest loans to enable young dental surgeons to establish dental clinics which will greatly assist in curbing brain drain, provide employment and ensure provision of quality oral health services to the citizenry devoid of quackery.

“There is a need for creation of a Directorate of Dentistry at all levels of government in the Ministry of Health to enhance the development of innovative, efficient and effective oral health policies,” he said.

The Registrar, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Dr Tajudeen Sanusi, said that the council was committed to tackling internal and external quackery in the profession to improve the services rendered.

“We have seen cases where technicians and assistants in dental clinics take up private practice, register dental facilities and perform the work of a dental surgeon.

“All state ministries of health have an inspectorate unit to carry out routine monitoring to inspect facilities for the practice of medicine or dentistry.

“When they discover such facilities registered under false names, they apprehend and hand them over to the appropriate law enforcement agency,” he said.

Sanusi added that it was crucial for state governments to have medical officers of health at the local governments to make it easy to incorporate dentistry at the Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs).

On her part, Dr Gloria Uzoigwe, Head of Dentistry Division, Federal Ministry of Health, said the ministry was planning to embark on community dentistry to enhance dental treatment in the communities.

This, she said, would address the lack of dental personnel at the PHCs in various local governments.

“We are going to visit the National Primary Healthcare Development Authority to address this issue by employing dental personnel and training community dental extension workers.

“We have obtained the World Health Organisation approved training manual for these cadres of staff which is mainly awareness creation, identification of dental problems and referrals. They are not going to be doing anything intensive, to avoid quackery,” Uzoigwe said.

Mrs Oiza Gyang, Marketing Director, Beauty, Wellbeing and Personal Care at Unilever Nigeria, said the focus for this year’s WOHD celebration was to take oral health care message to students in primary schools.

Gyang added that the company would embark on projects later in the year aimed at improving the access to dentists in rural areas. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

AI/ZI/JNC

========

Edited by Zubairu Idris/Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Economy

IoD unveils activities to mark 40th anniversary

Left to Right: Ms Bennedikter Molokwu, DF.IoD
Past President; Director-General/CEO, IoD, Mr Bamidele Alimi; President, IoD, Dr Ije Jidenma; Chairman, Anniversary Committee, Mr Yemi Akeju at the 40th anniversary press briefing on Tuesday, in Lagos.

By Adebola Adegoke

Lagos, Mar. 14, 2023 (NAN) The Institute of Directors Nigeria (IoD) has unveiled a year-long programme of activities to celebrate its 40th anniversary scheduled to kick off on April 28, at Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

Dr Ije Jidenma, President/Chairman, Governing Council IoD Nigeria, said this at a media briefing on Tuesday in Lagos.

Jidenma said the institute’s leadership as part of the activities would pay a courtesy visit to President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, March 16.

This, she said, was to brief the President about the institute’s 40th anniversary and all that had been put in place to celebrate the milestone.

The theme of the anniversary is “Celebrating 40 Years of Visionary Leadership and Corporate Governance.”

She said the theme was deliberately chosen to bring to the limelight the various contributions of the IoD Nigeria at enhancing the quality of corporate governance since its inception.

According to her, programmes lined up for the anniversary have been structured to add immense value to all players in the Nigerian corporate governance space.

“The anniversary celebrations promise to attract the largest gathering of Nigerian policy makers and crème de la crème of the Nigerian leadership in the private and public sectors, thus presenting for all attendees a good advantage for networking.

“We anticipate that the programmes will help crystalise a deeper understanding of good governance, which will have positive effects on all sectors, including public institutions and regulatory agencies across various professional and business sectors.

“Also, by amplifying its Young Directors Forum programme during the celebrations, the young directors will have opportunities to share their challenges and aspirations.

“The awards to be given during the programme will inspire recipients and non-recipients to increase their commitment to service excellence and the ideals of good corporate governance,” she said.

She added that special recognition would be given to the strategic partners, particularly the regulatory institutions that have supported IoD’s mandate to date.

These include the Nigerian Exchange Group, Securities and Exchange Commission, Corporate Affairs Commission and Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, among others.

“The climax of the flag-off will be the formal unveiling of the 40th Anniversary Logo of IoD Nigeria, which will be done by special dignitaries,” she said.

Mr Yemi Akeju, Chairman of the Anniversary Planning Committee, said some of the events to mark the day include a health and fitness programme, “Walk for Life” on May 6 in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Abeokuta.

Akeju said that this would be followed by a special Golf tourney in Lagos on May 12.

“A special Anniversary Gala is scheduled to hold on the anniversary day, May 17, 2023, at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

“This Gala, which would be the climax of the anniversary will present an opportunity for the institute to honour many individuals and organisations who have contributed immensely to the IoD story and journey.

“We are hopeful that President Muhammadu Buhari would be the Special Guest of Honour at the event.

He added that the institute would use the opportunity of the anniversary to hold the foundation laying ceremony of its national headquarters building, the “IoD Towers” in Lagos, on June 14.

According to him, the grand finale of the anniversary will come up on Dec. 14, when the institute hosts its Annual Director Dinner and Award at the Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. (NAN)(www.nannews.com)
AI/JNC
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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

General news

Foundations launch clinic for child survivors of sexual abuse

Foundation, NGO launch clinic for child survivors of sexual abuse

Ms Adetutu Ajibodu, Chief Executive Officer, Cece Yara Foundation, (Third from right), Dr Aniekan Makanjuola, Centre Manager at WARIF (fourth from right) and other stakeholders at the WARIF Satellite Clinic Launch in Lagos


Clinic
By Adebola Adegoke/Mariam Akande
Lagos, Jan. 31, 2023 (NAN) The Cece Yara Foundation, a child-centred NGO, in partnership with Women
at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) launched the WARIF Satellite Clinic for Child Survivors of Sexual Abuse.

Ms Adetutu Ajibodu, the Chief Executive Officer of Cece Yara Foundation, said at the launch in Lagos on Tuesday
that the clinic would operate at the Cece Yara Child Advocacy Centre in Lagos.

Ajibodu said the partnership was hinged on the need to prevent survivors of sexual abuse from moving from one child
protection agency to another, thereby preventing the retraumatisation of children who have experienced abuse.

She said that collaborating with WARIF was strategic in enhancing service delivery while maintaining focus as
a one-stop response centre for children who experienced sexual abuse.

She added that “there is an increasing rate of child sexual abuse and that is why as a child-centred NGO, we
focused on protection; we have put together all that a survivor needs to heal in one facility.

“What we have done with this is to provide a one-stop centre that provides accommodation, legal, medical,
forensic, psychosocial support services for survivors at no cost.”

According to her, the WARIF Satellite Clinic will give easy access to medical treatment and evaluation
aimed at adducing evidence to corroborate or otherwise, any allegation of child sexual abuse.

She said that the foundation would maintain the partnership with WARIF for technical support and collaborate
with other Sexual Assault and Referral Centres (SARCs) to sustain the operation of the clinic.

“We recognise the importance of partnering with a reputable organisation whose core values are in alignment with our own.

“We have known WARIF to be dependable co-labourers in this delicate field of keeping women and children protected
from sexual violence. It is, therefore, a pleasure to collaborate with them on this project.

“We will continue to partner WARIF for technical support to train more medical personnel in specialised sexual assault
response, use of rape kits, proper documentation of medical report, preservation of evidence, giving expert testimony in court.”

Dr Aniekan Makanjuola, the Centre Manager, WARIF, said the collaboration would ensure that women and child survivors of Gender-Based
Violence (GBV) have access to medical care, forensic examination, counselling and social welfare in Lagos State.

She said that “the WARIF Satellite Clinic located at CeCe Yara is a strategic implementation to offer holistic medical services.

“Beneficiaries at the facility will have access to resources and personnel from both WARIF and CeCe Yara.

“This collective approach will help to achieve the vision of a society free of rape, child abuse, and GBV, as WARIF continues to collaborate
with CeCe Yara and other like-minded organisations to ensure that we achieve this.”

Mr Dennis Onoise, a Child Protection Specialist at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), lauded both foundations for
providing a one-stop centre for child survivors of sexual abuse “in an efficient and dependable manner.

“There have been cases where parents of survivors get tired of moving from one centre or NGO to another, seeking help and justice.

“This is why having this centre is important for survivors as they will be able to get all the help they need in terms of medical, legal,
social welfare and psychosocial services in one centre.”

Dr Babajide Martins, the Director, Public Prosecutions, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, commended the strategic partnership, saying
it would complement the ministry’s efforts in prosecuting sexual offenders and provide justice for survivors.

He said “we cannot over-emphasise the importance of having this partnership that has birthed this clinic that serves to
provide forensic, medical and social support for survivors of sexual and GBV.

“This will no doubt help in adducing good evidential value to the testimony of the child and getting justice for them.

“We find this initiative commendable and assuring that we curb the menace of sexual abuse in our society.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Cece Yara Foundation is a child-centered non-profit organisation established
in 2016 to prevent child sexual abuse and to provide access to care, information, protection, and emergency intervention
for children who experienced abuse or are at risk.

NAN also reports that WARIF adopts a survivor-centered approach to ensuring that survivors get holistic essential
services that include medical care, forensic examinations, counselling, and social welfare. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

AI/OMA/KB/HA
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Edited by Kabir Muhammad/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

General news

Azimuth Junior Tennis Championship: I hope to play at major competitions soon – Nubari

Azimuth Junior Tennis: I hope to play at major tennis competitions – Nubari

Tennis

By Franklin Ohaegbu

Lagos, Jan. 22, 2023 (NAN) Rivers State tennis youngster and winner of the U-16 boys category of Azimuth Junior Tennis Championship, John Nubari, says he hopes to play at major international tennis tournaments in the nearest future.

Speaking after winning his final match late Saturday , Nubari expressed happiness over his victory,attributing it to hardwork and intense training.

“I promise to always stay focused, and very soon,I hope I will be able to play in major international tennis competitions,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nubari,  defeated Yahaya Sani, 7-5, 2-6, 4-10 to win in the U-16 cateory of the competition,held at the Lagos Tennis Club,Onikan ,Lagos.

Nubari, a mixed doubles gold medalist at the 2022 National Youth Games in Ilorin, displayed great dexterity over Sani in the match, which lasted over an hour.

Winners In other categories include: Gbolahan Olawale, who beat Edwards Davids 5-7, 1-6 im the U-14 boys and Chukwudubem Amasiani,who defeated Lagos-based Peter Ubiebi, 6-3, 6-1 in the U-12 category.

Also Bridget Emmanuel created an upset as she  beat Khadijat Mohammed, 7-5, 6-3, to win the U-16 girls, while a German-Nigerian, Loreley Hosendorff overwhelmed Ndidi Osaji, 6-3, 6-4 to emerge winner in the U-14 catogory.

Niger-based, Emmanuella Kwange, ousted Atilola Mofifunoluwa, in two sets winning 2-6,2-6 to emerge top in the U-12 girls category.

NAN reports than no fewer than 300 players participated in the fifth edition of the week-long tournament.

The competition ,which ended on Saturday ,was sponsored by Capt.Stephen Martins,Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer,Azimuth Shipping Lines Limited.

The players, who came from different parts of the country, competed in the U-12, U-14 and U-16 categories for both boys and girls.

Runner-ups received N50,000, while the winners in all the categories received N100,000 in form of education grants, with all the participants receiving medals.

Tournament Director, Richard Inyang, told NAN that the tournament was fast becoming one of the biggest juniors in Nigeria, especially because of the size as well as the generous rewards given to participants by the organisers (NAN)

FOE/ISHO/BHB
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Edited by Yinusa Ishola/Buhari Bolaji

General news

Azimuth Junior Tennis Championship: Davids advances to Q/finals

Azimuth Junior Tennis Championship: Davids advances to quarter finals

Tennis

By Franklin Ohaegbu

Lagos, Jan.18, 2023 (NAN) Edwards Davids, a top seed , has qualified for the quarterfinals of the fourth edition of Azimuth Shipping Line Junior Tennis National Championship, holding at the Lagos Tennis Club, Onikan,Lagos State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)reports that Davids on Wednesday defeated Oozen Ayoola in the U-14 boys category ,winning 3-5, 4-1,10-2, to qualify for the quarter finals.

The explosve game, which lasted over an hour, saw the number three seed,
, Davids, advance to the next round.

Davids told NAN that he was scared in the first set,but later gained confidence in the subsequent sets to defeat his opponent.

“He was a strong contender and the crowd was cheering him on and that was when I was scared and lost my cool.However,I got control back in the second set and that helped me a lot ’’, he said.

Meanwhile,David’s opponent ,Ayoola,said he was so confident initially, but lost focus in the game later.

“ I was so happy and confident that I won the first set and I thought it was going to be easy for me to win,but I lost focus’’, he said.

NAN reports that no fewer than 300 players registered to participate in the week-long event, sponsored by Capt. Stephen Martins, MD/CEO of Azimuth Shipping Lines Ltd.

The players, who came from different parts of the country, are participating in the U-12, U-14 and U-16 categories for both boys and girls.

Tournament Director, Richard Inyang, told NAN that the tournament was fast becoming one of the biggest juniors in Nigeria, especially because of the size as well as the generous package the organisers have for the participants.

After the screening exercise on Monday, the tournament officially served off with the U-12 girls and boys,mostly new entrants, playing their matches.

“Quarterfinalists will be go home with N20,000, semi-finalists will be go home with N30,000,and the runner-up will go home with N50,000,

“The winner will go home with N100,000″.

“The cash prizes are in form of education grants to the players, because we don’t give out cash to junior players,” the tournament director said.

Kayode Savage, the tournament’s chief Referee, said “We will do all we can to get to the semis for the U-12s today because of the size of the draw for the players”. (NAN)

FOE/GOM/BHB

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Edited by Gregg Mmaduakolam/Buhari Bolaji

General news

Lagos residents laud INEC over PVC collection

Lagos residents laud INEC over PVC collection

 

PVC

 

By Adebola Adegoke 

Lagos, Jan. 12, 2023 (NAN) Some voters in Lagos State have commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the ongoing Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) collection exercise.

This is as the commission cautions eligible voters against leaving collection of their PVCs until the last day.

Eligible voters, who came to pick their cards at some wards the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) visited in Surulere, Amuwo Odofin and Igando in Lagos State to monitor the exercise, described the process as seamless.

Mr Emmanuel Ofomata, who collected his PVC at Amuwo-Odofin, said he was impressed by the process and the promptness of the INEC officials at the venue.

“I was very impressed by the process because the INEC officials arrived before 9.00 a.m to start the process and I collected my PVC within two minutes.

“I hope that the voting process will also be seamless without any hassle,” he said.

Similarly, Mrs Amaka Ofomata said: “The process was easy and seamless. I just walked in, dropped my registration slip and collected my card.”

The situation was, however, different at Igando as some said the process took between 45 minutes to two hours before collection.

Mr Ezeronye Lucky, however, told NAN that he spent about three hours on the queue due to the crowd at the collection centre.

“I have been here for two to three hours trying to get my PVC.

“Though the queue was long due to the crowd, the process was organised,” he said.

Also, Mr Olusola Ogundipe, who recently transferred his polling unit to Igando from Alimosho, commended the exercise.

“The officials did not collect any money from me. The only thing they collected was my old PVC and slip and I got my new card within one hour,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ms Geraldine Oge, the Registration Area Officer at Gbaja Stadium, ward six in Surulere area of Lagos State, said there was a low turnout for PVC collection at the ward.

She noted that this was usually the case, as many Nigerians were fond of waiting until the last moment to do what could have been done earlier.

Oge urged residents to come out and to take advantage of the PVC collection at the ward level before the process ended.

“Nigerians have the ‘last minute’ syndrome of doing things when it is about to end. I don’t know what they’re waiting for.

“When people come to collect their cards and they see another person’s card, they notify them and this has also helped to improve the collection rate at this ward,” she told NAN.

NAN reports that there have been concerns over the low turnout for PVC collection in Lagos State.

INEC began PVC collection at the various local government areas nationwide on Dec. 12, 2022.

The commission devolved the exercise nationwide to the registration area/ward level on Jan. 6, where it will take place until Jan. 15, after which it would revert to its local government offices until Jan. 22.

Nine days to the end of the collection of the PVCs and with less than six weeks to the 2023 general elections, many eligible voters are yet to collect their PVCs.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng) 

AI/KTO/SOA 

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Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Oluwole Sogunle