Author: straightnewsng.com

By Akanimo Sampson With only six weeks to go until the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25, it is crunch time for all partners to secure firm commitments to realise the promise of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), and get the job done by the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Executive Director of the Lebanese American University’s Arab Institute for Women, Dr. Lina Abirafeh, had said “please let it happen in my lifetime. I don’t want to go to ICPD50 on September 26 during Join Us on the Road to Nairobi, an event organised by…

A former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Professor Charles Soludo, says it is important for Nigeria to be innovative. Soludo explained that this was necessary for the country to remain relevant among the comity of nations, noting the signing of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA). “The implication (of the signing) is that insularity will no longer be an option; the name of the game of the future in an increasingly integrated world is innovate, compete or die,” Soludo said while giving a speech at The Platform, an annual programme organised by the Covenant Christian Centre,…

…Says Wilfera is a Blackmailer, Fraudster seeking to defraud his company .. Warns him on attempt to pitch him Against Udom, Ephraim Inyang By Koko Robson The Chief Executive Officer, Beijing Jindixin Sheng Company Limited(BJCC), Chief Sunny Udonsek, has described as unfounded, malicious and defamatory a publication in a local tabloid, The Ink, of Tuesday, 1st October, 2019 by one Mr. Wilfera Era Odiete. Mr Wilfera Odiete who is the CEO, Wilfera Dredging and Marine Services Limited (WDMSLTD) had in the said publication accused Chief Udonsek among other things of breeching the terms of contract he signed with his company,…

Stakeholders in the Niger Delta region were divided, Tuesday, over President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-assignment of the supervision of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, from the office of the Secretary to the Federal Government to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. While some applauded the move, describing it as strategic and a well-thought out decision to breathe a new lease of life in the interventionist agency, others said it will not change anything. Former Provost-Marshal of the Nigerian Army and South-South leader, Brigadier-General Idada Ikponmwen (retd) and the leadership of Benin National Congress, BNC, frowned at the move to place…

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Usman, has directed Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, not to introduce new projects in their 2020 budget. The directive was contained in the 2020 Budget Call Circular marked:  BD/2000/EXP/S.800/I/3/27, issued by the minister. According to her, the thrust of the federal government’s capital expenditure programme in 2020 will be the completion of as many ongoing projects as possible, rather than starting new projects. She said: “MDAs are, hereby, advised that new projects will not be admitted into the capital budget for 2020 unless adequate provision has been made for…

The commissioner for Labour and Manpower Planning, Prof. Victor Daniel Inoka, has reiterated the state Government’s readiness to partner Sterling Oil Global Company in the provision of jobs for the citizenry in the oil and gas sector. Speaking during a familiarisation tour to the company in Iko Town, Eastern Obolo local government area, Akwa Ibom, Inoka who is the immediate Commissioner for Education harped for synergy between the company and the state government to ease industrial harmony, job creation and training programmes among them. He assured the company of the government’s commitment to providing the needed support, safety and peaceful environment…

Former Head of State, Abdulsalam Abubakar, has said ex-President Goodluck Jonathan was not been given enough credit for conceding defeat after the 2015 presidential election. Jonathan in 2015, became Nigeria’s first incumbent President to lose re-election, after he promptly accepted defeat to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari and congratulated him. Abubakar in an interview with Nigeria Now Newspaper to commemorate Nigeria’s 20th year of democracy, said: “People keep harping on the role of our Peace Committee in convincing President Goodluck Jonathan to concede defeat to Muhammadu Buhari. ”Nigerians have not given adequate credit to President Johnathan because he took the decision…

As a way of cementing bilateral relations between Nigeria ans South Africa, the South African government has granted Air Peace Airlines’ request to commence commercial flights to Johannesburg. This is coming on the heels of President Muhammadu Buhari’s departure Wednesday on a three-day state visit to South Africa. The visit of one of Nigeria’s responses to the zenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, which has resulted in evacuation of 502 Nigerians resident in that country back home. Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ferdinard Nwoye, who stated this in a statement in Abuja Monday, said: “The Ministry…

President Muhammadu Buhari’s 59th Independence Anniversary speech, Tuesday, elicited kudos and knocks in the polity. While some said the president addressed burning issues in the country, others disagreed and said he shied away from key issues. Aside the president’s claim on boosting the economy, and how he is tackling insecurity, one of the issues that elicited strong response was his perceived diminishing of the powers of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo by moving the special intervention programmes to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. Buhari said he took the decision in order to institutionalize the programmes. Among…

By Akanimo Sampson In collaboration with the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) and the Organisation africaine de la propriété intellectuelle (OAPI) with the support of the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the Government of Zimbabwe, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is organising a conference on Intellectual Property, Innovation and Value Addition for Business Competitiveness in Africa. It will be holding from November 5 through 8 in Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe. Participants will explore: The challenges and opportunities for Africa in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution; Ways to harness the potential of universities and research…