Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Author: Alpha Maidawa

Ongoing reform will guarantee 70% local content in broadcasting says Lai Mohammed
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has reiterated that the ongoing reforms in the broadcasting industry will guarantee 70 per cent local content and ensure content owners are given their dues by stakeholders.
The minister gave the reassurance on Monday in Lagos when he met with members of Electronic Media Content Owners Association of Nigeria (EMCOAN)
He said that local content is being given priority in the new model because of its importance in promoting indigenous culture and passing moral values to the younger generations.
Mohammed admonished content producers to break the bound of conventional contents and develop more of local contents particularly as related to culture and children programmes.
“We are people of rich culture and history and we do not need to dig so far to develop and produce quality indigenous cultural programmes.
“We can get first class local contents out of our rich cultural heritages and I will therefore challenge you to go to the roots and be original in your productions,” he said.
The minister also decried the situation where content producers have become increasingly over-reliant on sponsorship.
He said such development skewed the authenticity of their creative output in favour of a few decision makers, instead of the millions of TV viewers.
In addressing this, the minister said he had set up a task team to Identify best practice Audience Measurement System that will support the sustainable growth of the Nigeria Creative and Entertainment Industry.
He said the task team is expected to come up with a Payment and Disbursement Framework among the key stakeholders in the industry that will ensure that the system is transparent and rewarding.
Mohammed noted that it was wrong for content producers to finish their works and start scouting for advertisers before they can be aired.
He said, rather, contents should be measured and remunerated by viewership while advertiser should be the one looking for good content producers.
“What drives the Television is the contents and not even the technology but unfortunately, content owners are not given their dues by stakeholders.
“Advertisers need the content producers more than you need them and they should be guided by an authentic and scientific measurement of how many people view a particular Programme,” he said.
The minister reassured them of a new dawn in the broadcasting industry that will ensure that stakeholders earn their right dues.
Mohammed also assured that the board of Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) would be reconstituted very soon and all relevant stakeholders would be carried along.
Earlier, the President of EMCOAN, Mrs Jibe Ologeh said the group is responsible for 85 per cent of media content in the country and boasts of over 70 major media content owners.
Ologeh commended the government for the decision to ensure 70 per cent local content in broadcasting, stressing that it is a development they had been waiting for.
She said TV stations in Nigeria are dominated with foreign contents and “foreign contents pretending to be local” which is detrimental to the growth of the industry and promotion of indigenous cultural heritages and values.
She said Nigeria is rich in contents and EMCOAN will partner with government to make the decision a reality.
The Secretary of the group, Mr Alayande Stephen urged the government to priotise the completion of the Digital Switch Over for the benefit and growth of the industry.
He underscored the need for their group to be represented in the board of APCON and also solicited the support of the minister towards a successful hosting of Nigeria Braodcast Contents Market Award they are organizing.
The Acting Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba who accompanied the minister to the event acknowledged that EMCOAN is a long term investor in the creative industry in the country
He recalled a time when TV contents went dim, noting that it was the group that took the bull by the horn and invested their money to generate contents for viewership.
Idachaba assured the group of government’s support through deliberate policies and programmes that would benefit them. (NAN)
March 9, 2020
IWD: Akeredolu tasks pregnant women on safe motherhood practices
Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, Wife of Ondo State Governor, has tasked pregnant women across the state to embrace safe motherhood practices in order to reduce maternal and child mortality rate in the state.
Anyanwu-Akeredolu stated this at the Comprehensive Health Centre, Ebute in Okitipupa Local Government area during an interactive session and gifts presentation to pregnant women, as part of activities lined up for this year’s International Women’s Day celebrations.
The governor’s wife was represented by Mrs Mary Adesanya, wife of Okitipupa Local Government Chairman, on Monday.
In her goodwill message, she urged pregnant women to practise personal hygiene and exercise regularly so as to deliver their babies safely.
She stressed the importance of balanced diet for the pregnant women and the need for them to visit the hospital regularly, for both ante-natal and post-natal, to avoid untimely death.
“Pregnant women should imbibe regular exercise for safe delivery and ensure regular visit to hospital for ante-natal and post-natal to reduce untimely death,” she said.
Anyanwu-Akeredolu presented some baby gifts to the expectant mothers and urged them to make proper use of them, especially the mosquito nets that could help to prevent malaria which, she said, could affect the foetus.
Speaking on behalf of the pregnant women, Mrs Ajoke Ikuomola, thanked the governor’s wife for the gesture, which she described as first of its kind.
She promised that they would make judicious use of the gifts and heed to her advice in their own interest.
The United Nations General Assembly has set aside March 8 of every year as International Women’s Day to promote issues relating to the welfare of women. (NAN)
March 9, 2020
Coronavirus: FG to cut down 2020 budget as Buhari constitutes committee – Minister
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday constituted a committee to assess the impact of the Corona virus outbreak on Nigeria’s economy with a view to cut down the size of the 2020 budget and reduce the 75 dollars oil benchmark.
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, announced this while addressing State House correspondents after closed door meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Nigeria’s
President Buhari had in December 2019 signed the 2020 budget of N8.83 trillion into law.
The budget, tagged; “Budget of Sustaining Growth and Job Creation”, which key assumptions and parameters was based include crude oil production of 2.18 mbpd while the benchmark oil price was 57 dollars.
The budget assumed a deficit of 1.52 percent of the estimated gross domestic product – representing around 2.18 trillion naira – to be financed through foreign and domestic borrowing.
However, the minister revealed that the committee, which will revisit the crude oil benchmark and lower the price, is expected to submit its report to the President by March 11.
She said: “We just met with the President to discuss the matter of the impact of the Coronavirus on our economy and Mr President has formed us into a committee, with the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, the Central Bank Governor, the GMD NNPC and myself as members.
“Our mandate is to make a quick assessment of the impact of this Coronavirus on the economy, especially as it affects the crude oil price.
“We will be writing a report and brief Mr President tomorrow or Wednesday morning and after that we’ll also have more substantial information for the press.
“But it is very clear that we will have to revisit the crude oil benchmark price that we have of $57 per barrel, we have to revisit it and lower the price. Where it will be lowered to is the subject of the work of this Committee.
What the impact will be on that is that there will be reduced revenue to the budget and it will mean cutting the size of the budget. The quantum of the cut is what we are supposed to assess as a committee.’’
The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Sylva, who also fielded questions from the correspondents, said in the coming days, when all oil producing nations begin to see the effect of the reduction of oil prices, OPEC might meet again and reconsider its position on cutting production.
On the issue of engaging Russia, Sylva said: “We as a member of OPEC are not in a position to take that engagement on our own unilaterally.
“There was a disagreement between OPEC and OPEC+, it’s not just Russia, but the biggest producers within OPEC and OPEC+ are Saudi Arabia and Russia.
“We believe that in the coming days when all of us would have begun to see effect of the reduction of prices, OPEC and OPEC+ might need to meet again and reconsider our positions.
“Meanwhile, we expect also that a lot of discussions are going on at the level of Saudi Arabia and Russia, but as Nigeria, we are not in a position to begin to engage members on this matter.’’(NAN)
March 9, 2020
Access Bank unveils ‘TraderLite’ for micro businesses to strengthen economic growth
Determined to stimulate economic growth, Access Bank Plc has inaugurated an account tagged “TraderLite’’ for micro businesses with turnover between N50,000 and one million naira.
Mr Victor Etuokwu, the bank’s Executive Director Retail Banking made this known in a statement on Monday.
Etuokwu said that the TraderLite enables Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to operate their businesses with Individual name or registered business name.
He noted that the account was specially designed for micro businesses with the aim of providing financial inclusion for businesses in that segment.
Etuokwu added that it was inaugurated with the aim of equipping micro businesses with the required skills to grow their businesses.
“TraderLite, a variant of the Diamond Business Advantage account within the bank’s emerging businesses portfolio, is specially designed for micro businesses with the aim of providing financial inclusion for businesses in that segment.
“The future of Nigeria’s economy is Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises because they can provide more than enough jobs to the unemployed if empowered.
“And that is why the bank’s passion is to offer more than financial services to its customers and also work with them in growing and expanding their businesses.
“Whichever category you fall into, we are here to work with you to take your business to a whole new level,’’ he said.
He noted that the product had two variants namely: DBA TraderLite Individual, which is for individuals with unregistered businesses and DBA TraderLite Business for registered businesses.
Access Bank is the leading retail bank in Nigeria with more than 600 branches and more than 40 million customers.
The bank offers products and services tailored to suit the lifestyle of every Nigerian irrespective of age and demography. (NAN)
March 9, 2020
COVID-19: impact on economy becoming severe, investment in agriculture key — CBN
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), says the impact of COVID-19 on economy is becoming severe, especially the declining global oil price and called for massive investment in agriculture.
The CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele made this known at the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) Senior Policy Seminar XXII in partnership with CBN in Abuja on Monday.
The seminar has as its theme: “Agriculture and Food Policies for Better Nutrition Outcomes in Africa’’.
Represented by Mr Isaac Okorafor, the Director, Corporate Communications Department, Emefiele said the outbreak of the coronavirus had dampened consumer confidence resulting to decline in private consumption and global demand slowdown.
He said the sad development had posed great threat to the economic gains achieved across Africa in the recent past.
Emefiele said the seminar could not have come at a better time than now when economies within the region were inundated with challenges resulting from the impact of the global economic slowdown, and currently facing further deterioration in global activity owing to COVID-19.
He emphasised the need for the countries on the continent to massively invest in agriculture.
“Very much like we have seen in the past, food is often one of the immediate causalities of any catastrophe on the African continent. The reason is not far-fetched, a sizeable proportion of the population is food poor.
“Africa is not winning the war against acute hunger and malnutrition. Food insecurity and malnutrition plague the lives of millions across the continent.’’
According to the 2019 Global Report on Food Crises, Africa remains dis-proportionally affected by food insecurity with more than half of the global 113 million, 58 per cent to be precise acutely food-insecure people living in 33 countries in Africa.
“Here is the irony, Africa holds 65 per cent of the world uncultivated arable land, particularly its vast 400 million-hectare savannas which are the world’s largest agriculture frontier.
“The continent of Africa should have no business with food insecurity. Regrettably, its agriculture continues to be vulnerable to climate- related shocks, disease, weak input supply chains, conflicts and economic shocks.
“Disturbingly, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has predicted that Africa could add an additional 38 million hungry people to the world’s number of hungry people by 2050 due to climate change,” he said.
Emefiele saidd that unlocking the huge potential of agriculture must therefore be at the heart of any meaningful engagement on economic and social development of the continent.
He said the region had the capacity and must become the food basket for the world, rather than a net importer of food.
He said importation of food by the continent was unacceptable, saying that Africa spent 35 billion dollars on importation of food annually according to report by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
According to him, the continent must urgently develop policy measures around building what has been termed grey matter infrastructure in Africa in order to end the scourge of malnutrition.
In his remarks, the Executive Director of AERC, Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u expressed delight for hosting the seminar in Nigeria as it had never been held in the country.
Ndung’u urged participants to always adhere to full implementation of resolution of this kind of policy seminar. (NAN)
March 9, 2020
FCT IRS targets N100bn revenue collection in 2020
The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT IRS) says it is targeting to collect N100 billion revenue in the territory in 2020.
The Executive Chairman of FCT IRS, Mr Abdullahi Attah disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.
He said based on the preparation put in place and the records of what the service had realised since it took over from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the target would be achieved.
According to him, the service to key into Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS) by the end of this year would help to double or triple collection of tax in FCT.
He explained that the service would continue to sensitise the public on their activities, adding that inadequate awareness creation was still a challenge the FCT IRS was being confronted with.
“One of our challenges is on awareness creation, in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, Nigerians then understood the value of taxation and they filed their taxes without being asked.
“We are now planning to sensitise the citizens in this regard so they can pay their taxes and file return voluntarily.
“I know it will take a while but we will get there with massive campaign and awareness creation,” he said.
The chairman emphasised the need to focus on tax collection to boost revenue, adding that relying on oil was not good for a country like Nigeria.
He said that if Nigeria developed a culture to pay tax, it would help to further increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.
Speaking on the call to bring informal sector to the tax net, Attah said it was a welcome development.
He noted that though the service under his leadership was currently working to leverage the formal sector by ensuring those due to pay tax do so.
According to him, in spite its concentration on the formal sector, effort is also ongoing to bring the informal sector like traders and artisans to the tax net in due course.
“We may not get revenue from informal sector as much as we can from formal sector, for instance the tax you collect from 1,000 tricycle owners you can collect from few residents of Asokoro and Maitama.
“We are now concentating on the ‘Parato Principle’ of 20, 80, that is focusing on 20 per cent of people that will give you 80 per cent of the revenue.”
The chairman commended FIRS for the smooth hand over of tax collection to the FCT.
He also commended the FIRS for donating facilities, vehicles and personnel for the smooth take-off of FCT IRS in January 2018. (NAN)
March 9, 2020
Ministry of Industry applauds KADCCIMA for successful trade fair
Dr Nasiru Gwarzo, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has commended the Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA) for successful conduct of 41st Kaduna International Trade Fair.
Gwarzo made the commendation at the closing ceremony of the fair on Sunday in Kaduna, saying that the fair achieved feat with participation of 13 countries and 9 states.
He noted that the 41st Trade Fair recorded successes due to improved turnout of people and participation of exhibitors, investors and dignitaries.
“Improvement in the number of people; dignitaries, the presence of the military that added color to the fair,our neighbours, number of countries has increased to 13, and number of states from 6 to 9 as well as increase in the number of local manufacturers.
“Over 50 exhibitors and so many made in Nigeria products including made in Nigeria armoured vehicles,” he said.
He noted that the contribution of KADCCIMA to the development of national economy was well appreciated and reiterated government commitment to work with the agency to achieve the vision of sustainable and inclusive growth of the economy.
Gov. Nasir El-Rufai also congratulated KADCCIMA for successful hosting of the fair in the state.
El-Rufai, who was represented by Idris Nyam, Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology, noted that Kaduna was a fertile place for investment especially in agriculture urging prospective investors to feel free and invest in the state.
Also speaking, the President KADCCIMA, Dr. Muhibbat Dankaka, thanked the investors, exhibitors and other stakeholders who assisted in making the trade fair successful.
Dankaka commended El-Rufai for providing conducive environment for investors, manufacturers and other participants to carry out their activities peacefully during the fair.
The president also commended the Nigerian military for supporting KADCCIMA and agreeing to partner with the chamber every year.
Awards were presented to some dignitaries and best exhibitors.
The fair witnessed high turnout as families and other consumers were seen patronising vendors displaying local and foreign goods.( NAN)
March 9, 2020
IWD: Women in Parliament demand more women in elective, appointive positions
Women in Parliament (WIP) Committee of the National Assembly on Sunday called for inclusion of more women in elective and appointive positions in the country.
In a communique after its one-day retreat for female legislators in Lagos, the group frowned at the decline in the number of women in appointive positions in the country.
WIP Coordinator, Taiwo Oluga, commended the leadership of the Senate for deliberate inclusion of all female senators in the Constitution Review Committee and urged the House of Representatives to do the same.
This, she said, would ensure that critical issues of concern to women were brought to the attention of the committee in both chambers.
“Out of 469 members of the National Assembly, there are only 21 women; and women represent only 4.43 per cent of 991 legislators in the state Houses of Assembly.
“This act of political exclusion is no longer acceptable, Nigerian female legislators, therefore, call on their colleagues in the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly to take drastic action.
“In the spirit of this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD), #EachforEqual campaign, we need to take intentional steps in the ongoing constitution review and electoral reform process to promote women inclusion in governance and politics through gender-specific provisions.
“WIP notes that the language of Nigerian laws is gender-biased and insensitive to women,” Oluga said.
She said the constitution, for instance, had gender insensitive words mentioned about 66 times and the Electoral Act also had gender insensitive words mentioned about 68 times.
She called on the National Assembly Constitution Review Committee to review the drafting style by deleting the descriptive pronoun ‘He’ as presented in the constitution and replacing it with ‘He or She.
“Changing the descriptive pronoun to he or she will promote an inclusive constitution that acknowledges women,” she said.
Usman Abdullahi, Deputy Chairman House Committee, Women in Parliament, National Assembly, said that political parties remained the only vehicle to contest elections in the country.
He said that the WIP was concerned about the lack of internal party democracy and political will to ensure women’s political inclusion and representation.
“We call on our colleagues to use the ongoing reforms of the Electoral Act and the Constitution to ensure that political parties adopt a quota system in their manifesto with women and men alternating (50:50) on its candidates’ list.
“For all elective positions, there should be an intermix of both genders, particularly positions requiring running mates.
“For example, where a man contests for the governorship, a woman shall be the deputy and where a woman contests, a man shall be the deputy.
“Only parties who are intentional about women’s participation will receive women’s votes in the 2023 elections, ” Abdullahi said.
Female legislators from across the country converged in Lagos at the retreat to review critical national issues, particularly as they affected women and children in commemoration of 2020 IWD.
The retreat was an opportunity to enhance the technical capacity of female legislators and design an agenda for improved political inclusion of women in politics and governance. (NAN)
March 9, 2020
IWD: Women can make or mar a nation, says Group
Some Catholic women on Sunday said that the role of mothers in nation building was inevitable because they can make or mar a nation.
They spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the end of a women’s symposium in commemoration of the Year 2020 International Women’s Day (IWD) held at Saints Joachim and Anne Catholic cpChurch in Ijegun, a suburb of Lagos.
The guest speaker, Mrs Amaka Ukwedike, Vice President of Catholic Women Organisation, (CWO), said women should not be limited by gender to take up any profession or responsibility.
“Women can make it in every sphere of life. In fact, they hold the key to the success of any nation because they give births to children who in late years become either husbands, doctors, pastors or even presidents.
“Women should not be denied any course of study because they can function well in all aspects, including governance.
“Government should appoint more women into key positions, and encourage outstanding ones that performed their responsibilities well,” she said.
Ukwedike, a civil servant, then appealed to mothers not to discourage their female children from taking up professions such as: Engineering, Carpentry, Architecture, Pilot that are considered tedious for them to handle.
Also, a music artiste, Mrs Ifeoma Nwosu, urged mothers to rise up to their domestic responsibilities, saying, “a good and well trained husband, was once a well trained boy by a good and well trained woman.
“A mango tree cannot produce an orange fruit, a good mother must surely produce a good son who will turn out to become a good husband or a good president.
“Women are inevitable tools to the success of a nation, that is why we should be given the best training and aid.”
She advised mothers not to reserve some house chores for the girls and others for boys, they should all be given the same domestic upbringing irrespective of their genders.
Also speaking, Mrs Anthonia Okoase, said women should be given more privilege in acquiring education because an exposed woman would produce exposed children.
“I think the government should bring out special consideration in the education of the girl child because they in turn, educate the nation.
“Scholarships should be offered to indigent girls that cannot afford the cost of going through formal education,” she said.
Similarly, Mrs Blessing Eromousele appealed to men to desist from battering or maltreating their wives in the name of cultural practice.
“God created a woman as a helper and to keep the company of her husband and not a second class citizen nor slave, we are equal creations of God and should be given adequate opportunities in life,” she said.
The women shared gender discrimination experiences among themselves and resolved to pioneer the call for positive change and resolutions.
IWD is a global day for celebrating social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women all over the world.
The theme for this year is “I am Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Rights.” (NAN)
March 9, 2020
Birthday: Buhari calls Osinbajo, salutes his loyalty, intellectual capacity
President Muhammadu Buhari has originated a phone call to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday afternoon to congratulate him as he celebrates his 63rd birthday.
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu in Abuja, quoted the President as commending Osinbajo’s loyalty and dedication to the administration.
Buhari told the vice president that his intellectual capacity had impacted positively on the overall accomplishments of Federal Government, notably the economic and social intervention programmes.
The President wished Osinbajo’s family members, friends and associates a joyous birthday celebration.
He prayed almighty God to endow the Vice-President with greater wisdom and long life to continue to serve the nation and humanity. (NAN)
March 9, 2020