The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, STI, Dr Adeleke Mamora has called on the Organised Private Sector to take advantage of the research results and prototypes showcased at the just concluded 2023 STI EXPO for the socio economic development of Nigeria.
The Minister said this at when he declared the five day event closed in Abuja Nigeria’s capital.
The gathering was the 7th edition of the Science, technology and innovation EXPO which brought together researchers, innovators and inventors for the purpose of commercialisation.
Dr Mamora said that the government was committed to supporting the innovators as they bring their ideas to the market.
“Your contributions have been invaluable, and we are proud to showcase the talents and capabilities of our nation’s brightest minds. We encourage you to continue to pursue your ideas and innovations, as they are the driving force behind the diversification of our economy. We are truly impressed by the level of creativity and ingenuity on display, and we are committed to supporting these individuals as they bring their ideas to market. We believe that supporting young entrepreneurs and inventors is key to diversifying the Nigerian economy and creating new opportunities for our people”he said.
Dr Mamora noted that in as much as there was a strong interest in investing in Nigeria, there was still work to be done in creating a more conducive business environment for local entrepreneurs.
He therefore pledges the ministry’s commitment to work with the government and private sector to address the issues and attract more investments to the country.
International Partners
The Minister further acknowledged the role of international partnerships in driving innovation and development in Nigeria.
He says, “We need to remind ourselves that the role of Science, Technology and Innovation in diversifying the Nigerian economy is not a one-time event; it is a continuous process that requires the effort of all stakeholders. We must sustain the momentum, continue to support and encourage the growth of technology and innovation and also create an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive”.
The permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Monilola Udoh noted that the EXPO was a testimony of the Ministry’s bold initiatives towards developing a sustainable and inclusive industrial growth of the economy in the years ahead.
“l wish to reiterate further that these initiatives are aimed at creating the right atmosphere for industrial growth; promoting the synergy and collaboration between the industry and academia and at the same time, strengthening the innovative skills of researchers, backed with other policy measures that encourage the patronage of Local Content such as leather & leather products, renewable energy, import substitution on chemicals, among others. At this point, we can boldly state that the Science, Technology, and Innovation Expo has provided the needed impetus for entrepreneurship development and innovation in Nigerian STI Eco-system”she said.
Highlights of the events were the presentation of awards and prizes to the best three out of each category of exhibitions from research institutions, tertiary institutions, states ministry categories, technology entrepreneur’s categories, and the Junior Engineers Technicians and Scientists JETS.
The five days event had the theme, Actualizing Effective Diversification of Nigerian Economy through Science, Technology and Innovation.
Juventus have been docked 15 points following an investigation into the club’s past transfer dealings, Italy’s football federation (FIGC) says.
The Serie A giants were accused of fixing their balance sheets by artificial gains from club transfers.
Juventus had been in third place but the penalty will drop them to 10th.
The club’s board of directors, including former president Andrea Agnelli and vice-president Pavel Nedved, resigned in November.
Juventus have denied any wrongdoing and confirmed they will appeal the decision.
In a statement, the club said they “await the publication of the reasons of the decision” but have started bringing an appeal to the Sport Guarantee Board of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI).
The FIGC’s sanction is tougher than the nine-point deduction prosecutors had requested.
The club’s board of directors, including former president Andrea Agnelli (L) and vice-president Pavel Nedved (R) resigned in November
Juve’s former sports director Fabio Paratici, now Tottenham’s managing director of football, has been banned for 30 months.
The FIGC has also hit Agnelli and the club’s former chief executive Maurizio Arrivabene with two-year bans, while current sports director Federico Cherubini has been given a 16-month ban.
A total of 11 former and current Juventus executives have received sanctions, with Nedved given an eight-month ban,
The FIGC says all the bans include a request for the sanction to be extended to Uefa and Fifa and therefore then apply worldwide.
Reopened investigation
Juventus were initially acquitted alongside 10 other clubs, including current Serie A leaders Napoli, in April 2022. Paratici and Agnelli were among 59 individuals to also be cleared.
The investigation was reopened in December after the federal prosecutor decided to appeal that ruling.
It followed new evidence from a separate investigation into Juve’s finances conducted by prosecutors in Turin.
The request to reopen the trial and apply sanctions concerned nine of the original 11 clubs investigated, including Serie A sides Juventus, Sampdoria and Empoli, as well as 52 of the executives at those clubs.
Juventus’ lawyers said the FIGC’s sanctions “constitute a clear disparity of treatment against Juventus and its managers compared to any other company or member”.
They added: “We point out, as of now, that only Juventus and its managers are attributed the violation of a rule, that the same sports justice had repeatedly recognised that it did not exist.
“We believe that this is also a blatant injustice towards millions of fans, who we trust will soon be remedied in the next degree of judgement.”
In a statement in November, the outgoing board said their resignations were “considered to be in the best social interest to recommend that Juventus equip itself with a new board of directors to address these issues”.
Juventus won nine Serie A titles in a row during Agnelli’s 13-year tenure, but finished fourth last season and made a 254m euro (£220m) loss – a record in Italy.
A new board of directors was approved at a Juventus shareholders meeting on Wednesday, with Gianluca Ferrero replacing him as chairman.
Juventus are also facing an investigation from Uefa over potential breaches of its club licensing and financial fair play regulations, which was announced last month.
Juve’s next league game is at home to Atalanta on Sunday.
Students of the Godfrey Okoye University are currently undergoing a two-day training on digital economy.
The training of 3000 students is being done under the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA Economic Employment Programmes.
The training covered topics on digital space, social media marketing, e-Business, digital marketing and branding.
No fewer than 500 students are taking part in each of the six batches of the training.
Declaring the exercise open on Friday, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Reverend Father Christian Anieke, said it was organised to equip the students with practical skills.
He said the skill was what they needed to be gainfully employed and become self reliant after their studies.
According to him, the training became necessary because of the importance of the digital skills for economic employment.
He advised the students to be time conscious always in order to succeed in all their activities.
The Lead Trainer, Mr Jerry Guma, advised the students to show greater interest in digital technologies.
Guma described efficiency in digital technology as the fastest way to become self-employed or promote ones business.
The training is taking place at the Peter Mba Law Auditorium of the university.
The National Orientation Agency, NOA has begun sensitisation to the need by the public to deposit old Naira notes in their bank accounts.
NOA officials visited Churches, Mosques and motor parks to enlighten the people about the economic benefits of the CBN measure.
The NOA Acting Director in Zamfara State, Mallam Aminu Ibrahim said the exercise was to enlighten the public on the dangers of continuous keeping of old Naira notes in their possessions beyond Jan. 31 as the date remained unchanged.
He urged the people to discard all rumours circulating on the shift of the date for depositing old notes of N1000, N500 and N200 as legal tender.
He stated that the commercial banks had been directed to cooperate with the Central Bank of Nigeria to ensure that citizens deposited their old money.
Ibrahim said that they had been directed to stop dispensing old cash notes to customers.
He said that NOA was out to reach communities through media and public places, to ensure that everyone complied with the cashless policy.
The Gombe State Government says it has concluded arrangements for the implementation of a 32 million dollars erosion control project, to address land degradation and other environmental challenges.
The project tagged “Agro-Climate Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes, ACReSAL is being implemented with the support of the World Bank.
The Project Coordinator, Mr Sani Jauro stated this when he paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Gombe, Abubakar Shehu-Abubakar III.
He said the visit was to seek for the royal father’s support ahead of the project launch.
He said the state had secured approval for the implementation of the project with the support of Governor Inuwa Yahaya.
The Coordinator said the World Bank aporoved 18-month work plan of the project at the cost of 32 million dollars.
He said the state government had contributed its counter part fund to facilitate smooth execution of the project.
Drains
He stated that 31 kilometers of drains would be constructed to control gullies at Federal College of Education (Technical) – Arawa – Angwan Uku – Railway – Doma communities.
“In view of the fact that land degradation and erosion negatively affect food production, livelihoods and the soil quality.
“The Inuwa Yahaya’s administration prioritised projects aimed at addressing such environment-related challenges.
“Aside addressing the erosion challenges, there is the agriculture component of the project which seeks to engage key stakeholders towards harnessing the irrigation potentials of the state to boost food security,”he said.
Job Opportunities
The project, he said, would create job opportunities for the youths through this component as several hundreds of hectares would be cultivated.
He said that part of the requirement of the project was active engagement of community leaders to create awareness and mobilise support for its effective implementation at the grassroots.
Jauro commended the governor for his commitment towards addressing erosion, land degradation and other environmental challenges in the state.
“Under the Yahaya-led administration, the partnership of the state government and World Bank assisted project of Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) had addressed a N2.9 billion erosion project in Gombe State University.
“That particular intervention saved a lot of the state’s varsity infrastructures threatened by erosion; this is commendable and we appreciate the effort of the governor,” he added.
Responding, Shehu-Abubakar pledged support to projects designed to address social, economic and environmental challenges to help improve the lives and livelihood of the people of the state.
He said with the impact of climate change around the world, it was important for such projects to be supported, “so I support the project 100 per cent.
“My doors are always open, and I will also send out the message to ensure the success of the project for the benefit of our people,” he added.
The Arab bank for economic development in Africa has entered into partnership with the Borno State government on economic development of the State.
The managing Director of the Arab bank, Dr Sidi Tah made this disclosure during a courtesy visit to the Borno State governor Professor Babagana Zulum, at the Government house in Maiduguri.
Dr Sidi Tah, said after the visit of his Excellency, Prof Babagana Zulum to the Bank’s headquarters in Sudan, the Bank sent a technical team to the state for feasibility study.
He said, “the report of the technical team was what prompted their courtesy visit to Borno State to indicate their readiness for the partnership, we are really delighted to be with you today in Borno State as a testimony of the commitment of the Arab Bank for economic development in Africa to the partnership with Borno State.
The MD further said, “the technical team are also preparing the pilot scheme for the State, the Bank has sent to Borno State a technical team to prepare a pilot scheme and that project has been approved by the bank. with the commitment of the Borno State government, the Bank will scale up it’s intervention to address the need of the people of the state.”
Conducive environment
In his response, the executive Governor of Borno State Prof Babagana Zulum while appreciating the managing Director of the Arab Bank for economic development in Africa and his Team for choosing Borno State for project assured them of conducive environment for their operation.
Anambra State Governor’s wife, Mrs Nonye Soludo has affirmed free cervical screening and treatment for women across the state.
The first lady called on women and girls to participate actively in the exercise since both screening and treatment are free.
Mrs Soludo who made the call in Awka, the state capital while assessing the exercise so far, said that though an appreciable number of women are showing interest in the ongoing programme, she still looks forward to seeing more women and girls take part in the exercise.
While restating how crucial the exercise is to defeating cervical cancer, Mrs Soludo explained that the six-month time frame for the current programme is long enough to accommodate more women irrespective of their schedules and locations.
Mrs Soludo also commended health workers who are providing the services.
She urged them to give every woman equal priority and to ensure that those whose results come out positive are well catered for.
She further urged parents to ensure that all their girl children in their reproductive age also get screened, assuring that the designated health facilities for the screening and treatment processes boast adequate human and technical expertise.
WHO partnership
Anambra State Ministry of Health in partnership with the World Health Organization, WHO, and others had last year, kicked off free cervical cancer screening and treatment for five thousand women and girls in the state.
The programme which is scheduled to last for six months in its first batch will continue in subsequent folds but to be enjoyed only by women who are registered with the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme.
Twenty-five accessible health facilities have also been selected for the exercise with plans to increase the number in due course.
The centres are Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital Amaku, Awka, General Hospital, Enugwu Ukwu, General Hospital, Umueri, General Hospital, Ekwulobia, Primary Health Centre, Ozalla Isuofia, Primary Health Centre, Nkwelle Umunachi.
Others are Primary Health Centre, Akwaeze, Primary Health Centre, Eziani, Primary Health Centre Atani One, Primary Health Centre, Atani Two, Primary Health Centre, Nawfia, Maternal and Child Health Centre, Amawbia, Maternal and Primary Health Centre, Nkpor Uno, among others.
Activities in Nigeria’s equities market summed up bullish as the NGX All-Share Index and Market Capitalization appreciated by 0.16% to close the week at 52,594.68 and N28.647 trillion.
Similarly, all other indices finished higher with the exception of NGX CG, NGX Premium, NGX Banking, NGX Pension, NGX AFR Bank Value, NGX AFR Div. Yield, NGX MERI Value, NGX Consumer Goods, NGX Industrial Goods, NGX Insurance and NGX Growth indices which depreciated by 1.17%, 1.18%, 2.60%, 0.64%, 2.66%, 2.05%, 2.34%, 0.40% and 1.06% respectively, while the NGX ASeM and NGX Sovereign Bond indices closed flat.
A total turnover of 1.241 billion shares worth N15.668 billion in 18,560 deals was traded this week by investors on the floor of the Exchange, in contrast to a total of 1.286 billion shares valued at N29.634 billion that exchanged hands last week in 19,816 deals.
The Financial Services Industry when measured by volume led the activity chart with 1.010 billion shares valued at N5.924 billion traded in 9,165 deals; thus contributing 81.37% and 37.81% to the total equity turnover volume and value.
The Conglomerates Industry followed with 46.761 million shares worth N112.918 million in 641 deals. The third place was the Consumer Goods Industry, with a turnover of 42.121 million shares worth N2.134 billion in 2,886 deals.
Trading in the top three equities namely Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc, Sterling Bank Plc, and Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, when measured by volume accounted for 605.879 million shares worth N2.120 billion in 1,631 deals, contributing 48.82% and 13.53% to the total equity turnover volume and value.
In course of the week, 39 equities appreciated in price lower than 51 equities in the previous week. On the flipside side 30 equities depreciated in price higher than 27 in the previous week, 88 equities remained unchanged, higher than seventy-nine 79 equities recorded in the previous week.
ETP
A total of 2,063 units valued at N1.505 million were traded this week in 59 deals compared with a total of 7,591 units valued at N1.726 million transacted last week in 58 deals.
BONDS
In the bonds section of the market, a total of 21,845 units valued at N21.565 million were traded this week in 14 deals compared with a total of 51,785 units valued at N51.600 million transacted last week in 16 deals.
The All Progressive Congress APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will flag off his campaign in Abia state on Tuesday.
The state party chairman of APC, Dr. Kingsley Ononaogbu, disclosed this in Umuahia and urged APC faithful in Abia to troop out en mass for the flag-off.
According to the state party chairman, Dr. Kingsley Ononaogbu, “Tinubu is a man that believes in human capacity.
“The upgrade of Enugu airport, expansion of Sam Mbakwe airport, completion of Niger bridge, Enugu Aba Port Harcourt road among other projects including electricity project at Ariaria were done by APC federal government.
“The free school feeding going on in Abia is being sponsored by APC. Let us be part of this by voting massively for APC. We have the opportunity now to bring something to the table.”
He pleaded with Abians to give the party strength through voting so they could go authoritatively and ask for what ordinarily should come to the state.
According to the chairman of the presidential and Governorship campaign rally in Abia, general Charles Okoro retired, Tinubu was coming to give Abians the gospel of APC and said everything is in order.
Speaking on the position of Uche Ogah in Abia APC, the Abia party chieftain said that there is only one APC in Abia State, adding, “we are working towards the APC at the state and federal levels.”
Better leadership
He expressed his optimism that the party in the state has the number of winning and is committed to better leadership and used the opportunity to wish the PDP governorship candidate in Abia, Prof. Uche Ikonne, a quick recovery.
The campaign Director General of Ikechi Emenike, Chief Uche Ogboso, stressed the need for a change of government that is affecting virtually everybody.
He promised that APC is the only transparent party to change the fortunes of Abia state.
He added that adequate security is assured of controlling the crowd attending the rally.
