Category: Featured

By Our Reporter

The Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) has officially appointed Lafrique Promedia Limited as consultant for progressive development in the music industry.

Obi Okwudili Casmir, new PMAN President, said this in a statement signed by Ademola Adetunde, Legal Consultant of Lafrique Promedia Ltd on Wednesday in Lagos.

Casmir said that Lafrique Promedia would be responsible for effective distribution of music works in the country.

“Lafrique Promedia Limited will provide comprehensive technical and other relevant supportive advices and services to address challenges we are facing.

“The services will conduct comprehensive census, enumeration and database collation of practitioners in the entertainment and creative industry in Nigeria, as well as issuance of performing permit to Nigerian and non-Nigeria musicians;

”Negotiating convenient funding structure for music industry with the committee of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), collecting foreign and local performance levy.

”Protection of intellectual property right of members globally, provide media and communication services, aggressive anti-piracy in collaboration with the Nigeria Copyright Commission,” Casmir said.

He further said that Lafrique Promedia would set up Music Hall of Fame, organise Nigeria Music Awards and set up resolution centres for settlement of dispute-related issues in the industry.

According to him, all Nigerian music content must be inserted with Global Trade Identification Number (GTIN) and the International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) for easy identification and revenue accounting.

“The framework is aimed at putting in place transparency, accountability and traceable worldwide ecosystem for identification and distribution of music content across all dissemination platform,” he added.

The PMAN president said the step was part of the effort by his administration to bring in progressive development in the music industry in Nigeria. (NAN)

Mrs. Maryam Uwais, Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Investment, says the National Social Investment Office (NSIO), will continue to be guided by the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, in its expenditures.
Uwais spoke on Wednesday when she led the management team of the National Social Investment Programme (N-SIP), to brief the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, on the outfit’s activities.
Uwais briefed the minister on the structure, financial standing, level of implementation of the various components, and challenges of the Social Intervention Programmes of the Buhari Administration.
“The NSIO expenditure has strictly remained consistent with the financial work plan defended and approved by the National Assembly.
“The NSIO reports consistently to a Steering Committee chaired by the Vice President; that committee comprises of nine ministers.
“The Ministry of Budget and National Planning is the custodian of all our budgetary releases. It serve as the accounting and procurement arm of NSIO.
“No funds are hosted by us and all of our expenditure has to be budgeted for, because the ministry keeps an eye toward ensuring that the right thing is done.
“To this end, our expenses are always totally in line with the work plan that we defended before the National Assembly.
“However, insufficient budgetary releases remain a major challenge in the execution of the Social Investment Programme in the last three years.
“Budgetary releases have remained insufficient for NSIO activities because the beneficiaries are growing at a much faster rate than the funding available,” Uwais said.
She further explained that with the support of the budget and national planning ministry, her office had made huge strides.
She added that her office intended to continue to explore how the monthly releases they get could cover essential needs, because “there are many things we have not been able to do”.
Uwais, however, said that in spite of the shortfalls in budgetary releases to the NSIO, the National Social Investment Programme had made a significant difference in the lives of millions of poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
She noted with delight that some of the beneficiaries were beginning to take ownership of their lives.
“We have 6,620,000 cash transfer beneficiaries being paid across 29 states currently.
“We have also verified that beneficiaries in 20 States have formed savings groups, out of which in 17 States, the beneficiaries have saved N567 million from the monthly payments of N5,000.
“Also, 18,210 of them have taken loans from the money saved, and less than 1,000 of them have defaulted.
“So, these women are working very hard to set up their own businesses, growing productive day by day.
“This has become possible because of the support they get from the trained community facilitators, who visit them every week, to advise, mentor and coach them on savings group formation, financial skills, nutrition, hygiene and sanitation,” Uwais said.
In her remarks, Farouq thanked the NSIO delegation for the visit, and expressed hope of a good and fruitful working relationship between the ministry and the agencies it supervises.
The Social Investment Programmes of the Federal Government was recently relocated from the Office of the Vice President to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. (NAN)

By Our Reporter

The National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), says it has concluded arrangements to honour female ministers and legislators who were serving as torch bearers for other female politicians in the country.

Dr Jumai Ahmadu, an official of the body, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

She said that NCWS President Gloria Laraba Shoda has approved Oct. 24, 2019 as the date to honour tseven female ministers, six female senators and 22 female members of the House of Representatives.

She revealed that resource persons had been invited to speak on the theme: “Mentorship: A Panacea for Capacity Building of Women In Politics and Governance”, at the event slated to hold at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.

“Though the number of women in politics and governance, both at the state and national levels, falls short of our expectation, we are determined to encourage our fellow women, who are either elected or appointed, to serve as torch bearers to others.

“It is our sincere hope that the award will spur them to work assiduously to change the narrative in the next political dispensation,” she said. (NAN)

By Our Reporter

Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti on Wednsday, signed six new bills into law to commemorate his one year in office, saying stiffer penalties now await convicted Gender-Based Violence offenders in the state

Speaking after signing the six bills into law in his office, the governor observed that it was a collective responsibility of all Ekiti people to contribute towards building a virile state that would be the pride of
all.

The governor said that community naming and shaming to the sexual violence offenders register and incorporating stiffer penalties for convicted offenders were particularly added to the re-enacted law.

The bills that were signed into law include Ekiti State (Transition) Law 2019; Ekiti State Gender-Based Violence (Prohibition) Law 2019; Ekiti Kete Fiscal Responsibility Law 2019 and Ekiti State Board of Internal Revenue Law 2019.

Other bills are College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti Law 2019 and Ekiti State College of Health Sciences and Technology Law 2019.

On Ekiti State Gender-Based Violence (Prohibition) law 2019, Fayemi said that the re-enacted Gender-based prohibition legislation improved on the earlier 2013 law in light of the inadequacy of the earlier law.

One of the bills, which has now become law is the Ekiti State Transition Law 2019.

According to the governor, the bill was hinged on “the difficulty experienced by our incoming administration in the event of
power transfer, which is often better left imagined.

” That is what informed the decision to set in specific terms, expectation of incoming and outgoing government during transition,” he said.

On the Ekiti state Fiscal Responsibility Law 2019, he said that the law represents a key finance instrument in regulating the behavior of government with regards to public finance management, fiscal responsibility and transparency.

Fayemi said, “I have no doubt in my mind that the new set of legislations that I have just signed will also enhance our restoration agenda and make meaningful impact in the life of our people.”

Fayemi stated that with the cooperation of all arms of government, a stronger state aimed at enhancing the values restoration agenda of his government and making life more meaningful to the people
would be built.

He added that since his government was building from the rubbles of
the immediate past, he was counting on their support to actualize that
collective dream of repositioning the state for greater heights.

The governor said the set of legislation being signed into law
would enhance good governance.

He commended the state legislature for living up to their constitutional responsibility of legislation, representation, appropriation and oversight.

According to him, the three arms of government as we all know are to complement one another for good governance, peace and harmony

” I am glad that our lawmakers are living up to their constitutional responsibility, legislation, representation, appropriation and oversight.

”These they must continue to carry out with the larger interest of Ekiti people at the back of their minds.

“The effectiveness and efficiency of our lawmakers excite me, what they have done within four months in office can only be made possible where there is peace and harmony among the rank and file of the assembly.

“This has further shown their readiness, dedication and
commitment to serve Ekiti people,” he said.

Fayemi thanked members of the State House of Assembly for being great partners in his administration’s efforts to reposition the state, saying ”they have done a lot to impact on the people towards achieving a stronger Ekiti of our dreams.”

Earlier, Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Funminiyi Afuye, who was accompanied by his deputy and other principal officers of the legislature, commended Gov Fayemi’s administration for working for the best interest of the people of the state.

Afuye said the bills signed into law by the governor would impact positively on the lives of the people, adding that Fayemi had kept faith with his electioneering promises to reclaim the land of Ekiti and restore its values.(NAN)

By Our Reporter

The Director General, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Qu Dongyu, has called for healthy, sustainable, accessible and affordable diets for everyone.

Dongyu made the call in Tudun-Wada, Nasarawa State, at the 11th edition of the Agricultural Show and Exhibition to commemorate the 2019 World Food Day. The theme for this year is “Our Actions are our Future. Healthy Diets for A #ZeroHunger”.

He said that the 2019 world food day was focused on healthy diets and that eradicating hunger was FAO’s top priority.

Dongyu, who was represented by the Nigeria Country Director of FAO, Dr Suffyan Koroma, however, noted that all forms of malnutrition had to be addressed.

He said, “the latest data shows that malnutrition is increasing across all regions and income groups.

“In Nigeria, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adults keep increasing and it is currently 7.8 per cent.

“One in three children is stunted and underweight is currently at 19.9 per cent, which is higher than the globally accepted numbers. Overweight and obesity in adults are on the rise and 48.5. per cent of women of reproductive age are anaemic.

“World Food Day 2019 calls for action to make healthy and sustainable diets accessible and affordable to everyone.”

He noted that to make healthy and sustainable diets accessible and affordable to everyone, partnerships were fundamental.

He pointed out that farmers, governments, researchers, the private sector and consumers all had roles to play.

“Farmers need better incentives to increase and diversify the production of high quality food.

“Governments need to adopt policies, food standards and regulations that prioritise the availability and affordability of safe and nutritious foods.

“Research institutions need to provide the best scientific advice and push the boundaries of knowledge and technology.

“The private sector can positively influence the food environment by adapting its product to modern nutritional recommendations.

“Individuals also need to think about their food choices and eating patterns through awareness and learning,” he said.

The director general pledged FAO’s continued support to its member countries in their efforts to make sustainable healthy diets a reality for all.

He said that FAO, as a knowledge organisation, would strengthen the capacity of countries to evaluate and monitor the nutrition situation, supports knowledge transfer and provides food standards.

He added: “we also want to increase the production and consumption of high quality foods through investments in agriculture regulatory frameworks, technologies and innovations.

“Food system transformation requires strong political commitment for collective synergy and a holistic design of agriculture and food chains strategies.

“For FAO, nutrition indicates health, productivity and overall wellbeing of people and prosperity of the societies. Let us commit to a nutrition for a happier healthier and better life.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Kabir Ibrahim, has commended the Federal Government for its focus on agriculture in its diversification bid.

He further commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the various interventions aimed at repositioning the agricultural sector as well as the recent closure of borders which, he said, was beneficial to Nigerian farmers.

While pledging on behalf of Nigerian farmers to continue to play active role in ensuring food sufficiency and food security in the country, Ibrahim pleaded with the government to keep up the momentum.(NAN)

By Our Reporter

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), said 49 per cent of children under the age of five in the country do not grow well as they are either stunted, wasted or overweight.

UNICEF Nigeria said this in a statement and added that malnutrition remains a major public health and development concern.

It said breastfeeding can save lives but regretted that only 27 per cent of children under six months of age were exclusively breastfed and an increasing number of children were fed infant formula.

“This means many Nigerian children are missing out on the life-saving benefits of breastmilk which is a baby’s first vaccine and offers the best possible nutrition at the start of life.”

UNICEF warned that poor eating and feeding practices started from the earliest days of children’s life put them at risk of poor brain development, weak learning, low immunity, increased infections and, in many cases death.

It said the malnutrition level in the country should be tackled and appealed to government, private sector, donors, parents, families and businesses to help children grow healthy.

It said that should this by investing more resources in interventions aimed at preventing malnutrition among young children and supporting treatment when prevention fails, supporting nursing mothers to adequately feed and care for their children.

It also advocated the the empowering of families, children and young people to enable them to “demand nutritious food, including improving nutrition education and using proven legislation such as sugar taxes to reduce demand for unhealthy foods.”

UNICEF said healthy food environments for children and adolescents should be built by using proven approaches such as accurate and easy-to-understand labelling and stronger controls on marketing unhealthy foods.

It also said supportive systems on health, water, sanitation, education and social protection should be mobilised to scale up nutrition results for all children. (NAN)