SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
Try "researchers"
Home Blog Page 2134

Nigeria’s Mortgage Bank Inaugurates 100 Housing Units In Adamawa State

Confidence Okwuchi
-
0

The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN has inaugurated 100 housing units in Adamawa State.

FMBN’s Manager, Mr Madu Hamman said this at the inauguration of the houses in Yola, the Adamawa State Capital.

He said the bank funded the project to reduce housing deficits and challenges being experienced by Nigerians to own houses.

“Under this phase the bank is delivering to off-takers 40 units of three bedroom semi-detached bungalows at N8.3 million and 36 units of two bedroom semi-detached bungalows at N6.8 million.

“And 24 units of one bedroom semi-detached bungalows at 3.1 million,” he said.

Mortgage Financing

According to Hamman, the bank provides mortgage financing for purchase of the houses to the buyers at the rate of six per cent with repayment period of over 25 years.

He said the estate was designed with basic infrastructure such as roads, drains, electricity and water reticulated to the houses, to create conducive and liveable environment.

He appreciated the support of state government by providing land for the project.

Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa state appreciated the FMBN for taking up to its responsibility, and urged it to sustain the tempo.

The governor pledged continued support to the project, stating that the government would provide access road at the estate.

Also speaking, President, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr Ayuba Waba lauded the bank and the developer for the quality job.

He urged the state government to provide land to facilitate smooth take-off of the second phase of the project in the state.

Malam Ahmed Muhammadu, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries thanked the bank for the gesture, adding that “it is a priority of every civil servant to own a house”.

He urged the bank to expand the scope of the programme to promote participation.

 

NAN/Confidence Okwuchi

Filmmaker Urges States and LGs To Embrace Opportunities In Film Industry

Confidence Okwuchi
-
0

Award-winning Nollywood filmmaker, Emmanuel Eyaba, has urged State and Local Governments to embrace empowerment opportunities that abound in the Nigerian film industry to create jobs for creative Nigerian youths.

Eyaba, who is the Project Director of 2ET Media Network, organisers of  “Unleash Your Creativity”, annual  filmmaking capacity-building reality TV show for youths, said Nollywood was a springboard that could lift youths from unemployment.

He says, ”As the nation grapples with increasing youth unemployment, it is high time governments, especially at the state and local government levels,  take deliberate steps towards making their localities filmmaking hubs.

He said  that organisers of the “Unleash Your Creativity” capacity building show, which has been holding since inception in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, was willing  to take the event to the grassroots for enhanced youths participation.

“We will be pitching the project to state and local  governments this year to see how more young people can benefit from it.

“Unleash Your Creativity, also known as UUC, is fashioned to capture, nurture, equip and empower industrious and creative youths, thereby cutting down drastically the rising unemployment rate in Nigeria and Africa at large.

 “The show uniquely incorporates youth empowerment, tourism development and cultural orientation through filmmaking.

“In this last edition , as we have always done, we had trainings from scriptwriting, costume and make up, acting, YouTube monetization, producing, Cinematography, Direction to Post production,” the filmmaker said.

Training

Eyaba said 20 young filmmakers were trained  in the just concluded  edition of the show, which  was held in collaboration with the Cross River Government, under its Ministry of Tourism.

He explained that movie production  projects were already arranged for the participants with the support of major film production companies in Nigeria.

“In  the recently concluded season 6 edition of the show, Nya  Margaret emerged as the Best Producer, Uduanya Emmanuel  as  Best cinematographer and Ukonyi  Ukorunyi  stood out as the Best scripter.

“Other winners are Young  Charles – Best editor, OyiBo Agbero- Best  Male Actor, Edna Jones -Best Female Actor , James Anekan- Best Director,  and Nya  Margaret emerged the   Face of UUC 6 .

“These young people will not just become self-employed, but will become employers of labour themselves, and that is the ripple effect of the industry opportunities.

“That is why urge states and local governments especially,to embrace what we are offering as industry if they really want to curb youth unemployment and restiveness,” he added.

NAN/Confidencw Okwuchi

South Africa Begins Mourning For Anti-Apartheid Heroine

Christopher Ojilere
-
0

South Africans will begin seven days of mourning in honour of Frene Ginwala, who became the founding speaker of South Africa’s first democratically elected parliament.

Ms. Ginwala died on Thursday night aged 90.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast around the country until the evening of January 24, 2023.

Meanwhile, more details will be announced later on an official memorial service that will take place in Johannesburg next Tuesday.

During the 1960s and 1970s Ms. Ginwala lived in exile in Mozambique from where she helped many prominent members of the banned African National Congress, ANC escape abroad.

Ms. Ginwala also travelled around the world drawing international attention to the abuses of the apartheid era.

 

BBC/Christopher Ojilere

Turkish Spy Chief Holds Talks With Sudanese Leaders

Christopher Ojilere
-
0

Turkish spy chief, Hakan Fidan has met with the Sudanese military leaders in Khartoum.

Report says intelligence sharing and other issues of common interest with Sudanese military leaders were discussed.

Meanwhile, Mr. Fidan separately met the head of Sudan’s ruling Sovereign Council Lt Gen, Abdel al-Burhan, and his deputy, Lt General, Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo.

Report says both meetings were attended by Sudan’s spy chief Lt Gen, Ahmed Mufadal.

Mr. Fidan conveyed his country’s support for the framework agreement the military leaders signed with some pro-democracy groups on December 5, 2022.

Turkey was among the members of the international community that backed the deal, which was meant to pave the way for the return of civilian rule in Sudan.

However, pro-military and Islamist groups have opposed the deal.

 

BBC/Christopher Ojilere

Nepal Plane Crash Searchers Rappel, Fly Drones to Find Last Passengers

Shakirat Sadiq
-
0

Searchers used drones and rappelled down a 200 metres, 656 feet, deep gorge in west Nepal on Tuesday to search for two passengers still unaccounted for after the country’s deadliest plane crash in 30 years, which killed at least 70 people.

“Difficult terrain and inclement weather was hampering rescue efforts” near the tourist city of Pokhara, where the Yeti Airlines ATR 72 turboprop carrying 72 people crashed in clear weather on Sunday just before landing.

“There is thick fog here now. We are sending search and rescue personnel using ropes into the gorge where parts of the plane fell and was in flames,” Ajay K.C., a police official in Pokhara who is part of the rescue efforts, told Reuters.

Searchers found two more bodies on Monday before the search was called off because of fading light.

“There were small children among the passengers. Some might have been burnt and died, and may not be found out. We will continue to look for them,” K.C. said.

Television channels showed footage of some weeping relatives waiting for the bodies of their loved ones outside a hospital where autopsies are being conducted in Pokhara.

On Monday, searchers found the ‘cockpit’ voice recorder and flight data recorder from the flight, both in good condition, a discovery that is likely to help investigators determine what caused the crash.

 

 

 

 

Reuters /Shakirat Sadiq

NNPP Presidential Candidate Pledges Affordable Education For All

Confidence Okwuchi
-
0

The Presidential Candidate of the New Nigeria People Party, NNPP, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwoso has promised to make education affordable and accessible to children of the poor so they could compete favorably with kids from rich homes.

Kwankwaso stated this during his nationwide campaign rally in Lafia, North-central Nigeria Nasarawa state capital.

He further said that Nigeria needs to move in a different direction for the country’s economic growth and prosperity.

Diversifying the Economy

The presidential candidate stated that he would diversify the country’s economy into an export-based one that would provide agriculture and other allied products to the world.

Meanwhile, the party national chairman, Professor Rufa’i Alkali, said Kwankwaso has the required experiences and credentials to move the country to its desired destination.

“I can assure you that Kwankwaso has an outstanding pedigree and immaculate antecedents in public service which I strongly believe he will replicate and possibly surpass if given the chance to be president of Nigeria in the next general election.

“Kwankwaso is a man of commission, empathy, and deep concern for the welfare of the people which should be of primary importance to policymakers,” professor Alkali stated.

Also in his speech, the vice-presidential candidate of the party, Bishop Isaac Idahosa, urged Nigerians to trust Kwankwaso with their votes, describing him as the awaited messiah that would take the country to the promised land.

Idahosa stated that Kwankwaso was not like the usual Nigerian politicians who would promise and fail.

“I urge Nigerians to vote all candidates of our party from top to bottom for a better and prosperous tomorrow,” he noted.

A chieftain of the party, Buba Galadima, eulogised the leadership virtues of Kwankwaso, saying the NNPP’s presidential candidate would take Nigeria out of her troubled state by revamping the economy and creating jobs for the teeming number of unemployed youths.

Also, the Nasarawa state gubernatorial candidate, Abdullahi Maidoya, said that he was ready to wage war against poverty, Insecurity, and banditry if given the mandate in comes March 2023 election.

He described insecurity and other forms of criminalities going on in the state as uncalled for.

“The People of Nasarawa state are tired of being under bandage in the hands of leaders that lack focus or mission on how to move the state forward”, he said.

The Nasarawa campaign tour which was held at Lafia Square also saw the presentation of the party’s flags to the governorship and senatorial candidates of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the seven states of the North-central geopolitical zone.

 

Confidence Okwuchi

PDP Flags-off Governorship Campaign In Cross River State

Confidence Okwuchi
-
0

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has flagged off its governorship campaigns in Cross River State, south-south Nigeria.

The campaign train departed Calabar, the capital of Cross River State after a thanksgiving Mass held at the Saint Patrick’s Church, Ikot Ansa to commence the state-wide consultations and rallies, for Obanliku local government area in the northern district.

The PDP governorship candidate, Senator Sandy Onor said that the party was committed to sensitising the electorate.

Onor, who represent the central senatorial district at Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber, said that the campaign organisation chose to kick off the exercise with a special thanksgiving Mass to entrust the entire programme to the almighty.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Cross River State governorship candidate, Senator Sandy Onor (left), his wife and well-wishers at the Thanksgiving Mass to commence the stat-wide campaign.

He said, “in recognition that power comes from God, the team decided to start the journey of reclaiming our state with a view of restoring our lost glory was meant to replicate the steps taken by Nehemiah when he opted to rebuild the fallen walls of Jerusalem.”

Vote Buying  

The PDP gubernatorial candidate said that the campaign was highlighting policies and programmes, which resonates with the people across the 18 local government areas rather than resort to deception.

Onor described the plethora of recent appointments made by Governor Ben Ayade as fluke, which the PDP was raising voter awareness to counter, saying that the “rush hour appointments was a gimmick for vote buying ahead of the general elections.

“The people know that these dying minute appointments are a gimmick. They are giving appointments four months to their exit while a lot of those, who got the so called appointments, have not been paid salaries,” stated Onor.

He also said, “every facet of our state ranging from sports, tourism, security, agriculture, health, the civil service, local government councils and basic amenities are in chaotic states.”

According to him, the strategies adopted by the All Progressives Congress to gain the trust of the voters would be counterproductive since the PDP was “united and fired up by the fact that Cross River state was in a dark place and we are going to take it out for ourselves and the entire people of Cross River State.”

Critical For Victory

On the reason for kicking off the campaign in the northern senatorial district, Onor stated that the district was critical to the campaign as a contradiction since the incumbent governor hails from the area.

“We are here to let the people know that they should keep hope alive as a new leadership is coming and we will deliver all that ought to have been done, while we are also thanking them for their support in advance because we know they will vote for PDP.

“The north is indeed our stronghold and I need the people to know that we are reclaiming the state. The PDP is poised to regenerate, revitalize, re-energize Cross River. We will completely sanitize the processes and totally depart from the rot,” Onor stressed.

Speaking further he said, “we are going to reposition our state for real growth and development. I am seeking the mandate to become the next governor of our state because the situation we have found ourselves demands a man driven by human passion, vision, proven intellectual acumen, competence and experience.” 

The campaign train would spend three days traversing the five local government areas in the northern district of Cross River before moving to the central senatorial district.

 

 

Confidence Okwuchi

 

China’s Population Drops for First Time Since 1961

Shakirat Sadiq
-
0

China’s population fell last year for the first time in six decades, a historic turn that is expected to mark the start of a long period of decline in its citizen numbers with profound implications for its economy and the world.

The drop, the worst since 1961, the last year of China’s Great Famine, also lends weight to predictions that India will become the world’s most populous nation this year.

China’s population declined by roughly 850,000 to 1.41175 billion at the end of 2022, the country’s National Bureau of Statistics said.

Long-term, U.N. experts see China’s population shrinking by 109 million by 2050, more than triple the decline of their previous forecast in 2019.

“That’s caused domestic demographers to lament that China will get old before it gets rich,” slowing the economy as revenues drop and government debt increases due to soaring health and welfare costs.

“China’s demographic and economic outlook is much bleaker than expected. China will have to adjust its social, economic, defense and foreign policies,” said demographer Yi Fuxian.

He added that the country’s shrinking labour force and downturn in manufacturing heft would further ‘exacerbate’ high prices and high inflation in the United States and Europe.

Kang Yi, head of the national statistics bureau, told reporters that people should not worry about the decline in population as “overall labour supply still exceeds Demand.”

 

Reuters /Shakirat Sadiq

Agency To Build Agro-Machinery Institute in Cross River State

Confidence Okwuchi
-
0

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI, has laid the foundation for the construction of an agriculture equipment and development institute in Cross River State, south-south Nigeria.

The Chief Executive of NASENI, Professor Mohammed Haruna, who performed the ceremony in Obudu local government area of Cross River State, said the decision to site the institute in the northern district was in recognition of the Governor Ben Ayade’s strides in agro-industrialisation.

Ease Modern Farming

Professor Haruna, who described the Governor as one, who deserves to be celebrated, said that the institute would produce high tech agricultural equipment to ease and modernize farming.

He said, “we are here today not only to lay the foundation for the construction of Machinery Equipment and Development Institute, but to celebrate an achiever, Governor Ayade.

Cross River State Governor, Sir Ben Ayade and the Executive Vice Chairman / Chief Executive of National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure

“I must confess that it is his performance, his record that attracted our attention to decide that the institute was suitable to be sited in a cluster of industries in Obudu here in northern Cross River and the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari graciously approved our recommendation,” he stated.

Speaking further on the institute, the NASENI Chief Executive said, “this institute is not just a regular institute, it is a south-south zonal institute for agriculture. There would be only six in the country and one is located here. It is also among the first three in phase one of the construction and development of this institute.

“The institute has the mandate to research, develop and manufacture equipment to ease farming, to introduce mechanized farming – to ease cultivation, planting, weeding, harvesting, shelling, processing and preservation of food crops,” he further stated.

Essential for Growth

Responding to the gesture, Governor Ayade expressed gratitude to the Nigerian President Buhari for finding the state worthy of the project, saying “I celebrate the Nigerian President in a special way and also my friend, Professor Haruna. For those who know what I have done in Cross River, it is only in the fullness of time that you will see the manifestation of our dream.”

While reiterating the importance of agro-industrialisation to economic growth, the governor noted, “every nation must start with agro-industrialization and you cannot agro-industrialize without the basic equipment. The choice of Cross River for this institute is a result of the calibration of all that we have achieved in terms of agro-industrialization establishment of a plethora of agro-industries.”

 

 

Confidence Okwuchi

Heat Halts Play At Australian Open

Confidence Okwuchi
-
0

Scorching heat halted outdoor matches and sent fans scurrying for shade at the Australian Open on Tuesday before resuming late in the afternoon as players were given an early test of their endurance on a sweltering day two at Melbourne Park.

Organisers invoked their Extreme Heat Policy about three hours into the day session as temperatures nudged 36 degrees Celsius, 97F and searing gusts of wind blew through the venue.

The tournament’s Heat Stress Scale, which measures radiant heat, humidity and air temperature in the shade, crossed its highest threshold of 5.0, halting 10 outdoor matches at the Grand Slam.

Play continued under the roofs of the main showcourts, however, with former world number one Andy Murray sweating it out against Italian Matteo Berrettini at Rod Laver Arena.

Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia, who beat Katherine Sebov 6-3 6-0 on the main showcourt before Murray’s match, said she was not too badly affected earlier.

“I have to admit on Rod Laver Arena it was pretty nice. Obviously it was warm. It was nice to be able to walk in the shadow a little bit when you were able to serve but I didn’t feel that (it was) such warm weather.

“I don’t know in the crowd there is some AC or whatever, but it felt warm, but it felt okay, Garcia said.

Play on the outdoor courts resumed at around 5 p.m. local time (0600 GMT) when conditions improved.

The suspension of play was not welcomed by all players, with local man Jordan Thompson blowing his cool when his match on Court Three was halted when trailing American J.J. Wolf 6-3 1-3.

“When does that ever happen?” world number 88 Thompson barked at the chair umpire.

“I’ve been here when it’s like 45 degrees.”

The temperature was already nudging 30 degrees Celsius when matches started in the morning, and Canada’s Leylah Fernandez was glad to see off French veteran Alize Cornet in straight sets in the first match on Court 3.

“I think I did well to manage my emotions, and then especially manage the heat, try not to get too hot-headed,” Fernandez told reporters.

“So I was very happy with that.”

Extreme heat is a feature of the Australian Open, held in mid-summer in the country, with play occasionally suspended and leaving organisers with scheduling headaches.

Tennis Australia tweaked its extreme heat policy at the end of 2018 after a slew of players complained of health and safety risks under the previous system.

Novak Djokovic begins his charge towards a record-extending 10th Australian Open title in cooler conditions in the evening when he meets Roberto Carballes Baena.

A more pleasant day is expected on Wednesday, with the temperature set to drop by more than 10 degrees.

 

Reuters/Samuel Isaiah

1...2,1332,1342,135...3,625Page 2,134 of 3,625

HEALTH

ENTERTAINMENT & TOURISM

WORLD

NEWS COMMENTARY

NEWS FEATURE

Voice Of Nigeria Mission is “Reflecting Nigerian and African perspectives in our broadcasts, winning and sustaining the attention, respect and goodwill of listeners worldwide, particularly Nigerians and Africans in the Diaspora … making Nigeria’s voice to be heard more positively in the shaping of our world.”

More from CN

Contact

© Voice of Nigeria Broadcasting Service